Perfectly good crab cake sandwich and fried okra. Ridiculously good mahi mahi sandwich, and this is from someone who doesn't like fish. This place is a nice little roadside stand, so if it is miserably hot and you don't want to eat outside, get your order to go. But on a nice day, after a morning at the beach? Wonderful. read more

Dolphin boat pure battered fried and greasy good golden delicious. The other items we got were also good and a great value. Finding a good meal for a bargain is not easy in the obx but John's is a place to do that. read more

One of my absolute favorite places to eat at when in the area. I always get a burger, cheese fries & a shake because they have the greatest shakes ever!! If you are even within 20 miles you should make the trip to enjoy their delicious stuff. Definitely one of the best places to eat at in OBX. read more

Mahi Mahi bites were great. I wouldn't re-order the fried okra. They had great coleslaw and onion rings. If you're looking for an unhealthy and fried lunch, this is the place to go. read more

French fries, milkshakes, and hush puppies are amazing. The prices were fair and reasonable. I would come back here. It was worth the 15 minute wait. Unfortunately parking is limited. There are tables to eat outside which is convienient. Love it! read more

My first trip here. Definitely get the dolphin bites and a shake! The fish is really mahi-mahi, not dolphin (a mammal). I got a peach shake. DELICIOUS! Their onion rings were pretty good too. The cocktail sauce has a delicious kick. Parking is a bit tricky but we got a good spot. read more

Awesome place! Very authentic beach feel and the food was excellent! We ordered the Mahi Mahi pieces, Mahi Mahi sandwich and fries and a couple shakes. Impressed!!! We had to wait about 15-20 minutes but it was worth the wait! This place is on our "to do" list when we come back to OBX next year! read more

This place has some of the best food, I've ever eaten, and not expensive. It's a small place with outdoor seating on picnic benches. It was a little difficult finding a parking space. As far as the food.... the Mahi Mahi bites were out of this world! I went with 6 people and everyone loved them. I had the same bites at another restaurant farther north and it didn't compare. The Chocolate Peanut Butter milkshake is also awesome. I'll be coming back to this place every year. read more

Easiest 5 star review I've ever given. The people complaining about it not having Gluten-free, the parking, or the wait don't understand Johns. It's a old, popular BURGER DIVE PLACE, it's not a white table cloth restaurant. Yes, they still use a calculator to "tally" your total. No, you can't order ahead or online, and No, there isn't a place to eat indoors. WHO CARES! For what it does, it's the best - period. I always get a burger (best at OBX), a Mahi-Mahi (Dolphin) sandwich (amazing) and a cajun crab (insanely good). I never walk away without ordering each of those three. Put it this way, if I had to choose one place to go to on vacation at the OBX/DUCK, I would chose Johns. read more

Had a delicious bacon cheeseburger and fries. Very reasonably priced and great location being right across from the beach. My husband had the dolphin sub with cocktail sauce and said it was excellent. I wish we had tried the milkshakes but we will next time! read more

Drove 20 minutes to get a crab cake and fish sandwich. Asked for extra tarter sauce on all. Paid a high price got my food and drove home. No crab cake instead a naked double hamburger the fish sandwich had cocktail sauce instead of tarter sauce. Could not eat it. There phone did not even work to see if they would fix it. Check your order place not worth it. read more

Disappointed. Waited too long for our food - several families who placed orders after us were served before us. When I checked to see if there might be a problem with the beeper I was given and explained the situation, the girl at the window quickly and curtly replied that the orders just come out that way. She didn't seem to really listen to the issue - possibly a beeper malfunction. Once our order arrived, we were missing some items. When we addressed the issue, the staff insisted that they find our original check and come compare our delivery at our table. This worker wasn't very pleasant either, short and impatient. The sandwiches were just okay. The fries were undercooked and soggy, the mint shake tasted like fake syrup. Definitely not worth the hype. read more

This place is AWESOME! I suggest the dolphin boat. All of their sauces are home made, and you can tell. The people are amazingly friendly and the fries are outstanding. Don't forget to get a milkshake!!! read more

John's is the taste of summer to me. I've been going since I was a kid. Dolphin basket and a chocolate malt, please. Best lunch on the beach. Best milkshake ANYWHERE. Don't bother ordering the non-seafood items unless you have picky kids who won't eat anything else. Parking's tricky during, but you can usually find a spot at the public beach access up the street if the little lot is full. All outdoor seating of course; or you can take your lunch to the beach if you don't mind getting it a bit sandy. I just wish it was open year-round. Last I checked (a couple of years ago), it was memorial day to labor day, closed wednesdays. read more

Claims to have the best milk shakes on the planet... Not the best on the planet. Drove 20 minutes to wait 15 more minutes to get said milk shakes only to be let down. read more

Best dolphin baskets on the beach. Best shakes in the world. Oh and you tourists need to show some respect to the workers here and stop being obnoxious. Not everyone here is on vacation. read more

We had lunch at John's this morning on our way home from Corolla and were glad we made the extra stop. The feel of the place is perfect and the experience was exactly what we were looking for! read more

We decided to go here, instead of the local Sonic, because it had better reviews. The food was okay. The chocolate milkshake was yummy. The dolphin was delicious according to my husband. The burgers were bleh... kinda yuck. I couldn't finish it. The line was long. I probably wouldn't return. read more

This review will short and sweet! We found out about 4 years ago. Since then, every time we're down at a house called "The Only Place" in Kitty Hawk, NC, we walk over and get hamburgers, dolphin boats, bbq sandwiches popcorn shrimp and most importantly...milkshakes! All of it is delicious! Please stop by this place and heck it out. You will not regret it! read more

Great shakes and I recommend the Dolphin Boat. Yum. :-)

This place is good but there is really nothing too special here. Parking sucks and the wait to order and receive food can be long. One person has to hold your seat at the picnic table if you don't want to take it to go if it's busy. My dolphin sandwich and milkshake were very good. They use Breyers ice cream to make their milkshakes. Cook Out is a big Fast food chain in NC and I would say the milkshakes aren't better than Cook Outs. At the time we went were living in the OBX and one of my local friends recommended it so I made my boyfriend check it out with me. His bbq sandwich was just ok. It wasn't worth the drive in my opinion from our apartment in Nags Head but if your staying close by and heading back up North then you may want to check it out. read more

This is one place I read about and just had to visit, if its loved so much by locals it has to be good. The dolphin (mahimahi) boat did not disappoint. Perfectly cooked golden fish and fries plus a vanilla peanut butter shake. So happy we braved the rain for this wonderful spot. We hit the last weekend of the season so if you are in Kitty Hawk and this spot is open you need to go! read more

Breastfeeding not welcomed here! Don't go if you have a nursing child. My family has been going here for years and the food has always been great, an obx tradition for us. I was very discreetly nursing my baby at a back table away from the crowd, within minutes I was reprimanded by the owner and felt very embarrassed. I had made certain to remain very covered and sit in the back facing away from the crowd. Never have I ever felt so discriminated against. Bikini clad women are welcomed but breastfeeding is not. We won't be back. So sorry my family's 25 year tradition ends today. read more

A Kitty Hawk staple. I've been eating here since I was a little kid. The dolphin boat... doesn't get better than that! The parking lot floods bad, but I wear my rain boots! read more

BEST milkshakes HANDS DOWN. We stopped here over the summer to grab a quick and inexpensive bite to eat. This place gets crazy busy in the summer so be prepared to wait. This place is nothing fancy, but their burger hit the spot and the milkshake was to die for. We always return here when we're down in the outer banks. They are closed durning the colder seasons so keep that in mind if your wanting to try this place out. read more

Just copying what everyone else saying. The mahi mahi sandwich is delicious and their milkshakes bring all the boys (and girls) to the yard. And yes, they're better than yours. read more

This is a fun stop for a very casual meal. The dolphin basket was really delicious, as was the fried okra and the hamburger. The shakes are also top notch. Highly recommend, but be aware they close about 6 pm, so get there early. read more

Just as I remembered it! A very sweet childhood memory for me. Dolphin boat with okra this time. Super delicious! And I got my 40th anniversary hat! read more

Great dive, been around forever. Food and shake was great. Mahi Mahi sub was great. Pup cup was good.

My son enjoyed his chicken strips and French fries and my husband said his mahi mahi boat was juicy and tender, but a tad oily. Parking can be rather difficult since there are limited spots and there may be a lengthy wait time for food after ordering depending on the number of customers ordering food. read more

Dolphin and cheeseburgers were excellent! Milkshakes were perfect. Skip the fries though, not impressive.

I am a local and every year this place gets a little more slack. The food is good but it's hit-and-miss. Today, I paid for a 1/2 lb burger and received a 1/4 burger. The fries were cold and the burger tasted like frozen meat, not fresh beef. The owner (John) and his workers got snappy when making simple (included in the price) requests. I don't think it's going to get any better when the summer rush comes. read more

John's Dolphin Boat is one of my favorite things about the beach when they are open in summer time. Sometimes their staff can get a little overwhelmed which is the only downfall but the food is always great! read more

Every time we visit OBX we make a point to stop here. The mahi mahi (bites and sandwich) are delicious. Be warned - there is VERY little parking, so carpool if you have a big group! And because it is so popular and the food is made fresh, you will have to wait a while - but personally I think it is worth it. read more

In OBX again and that means a visit (or two) to Johns; a OBX MUST. Yes it is a "dive" kind of place...that it has been around so long, always has a crowd, and the "locals" eat there should tell you something. Great burgers, outstanding shakes. read more

Everything good that's left about the Outer Banks, family run, integrity, good quality, reasonable prices, very good fresh, local seafood, no frills. I hear all the other offerings are also exceptional. Delightful that they are still in business. I highly recommend (closed Wednesdays and daily after 5pm). Yes, there's a line in the busy season, its worth it. read more

This is the spot to go if you want an amazing shake...absolutely delicious...also try the dolphin sandwich...will definitely return next year! read more

the BEST and first we go to-been fans for 20 years. the mahi mahi boat or sandwich is the best way toget kids t try seafood-sure, deep fried, but who cares? and the peach shake is to die for. put their number on your phone to call ahead for you order-the place is always packed at lunch time and parking can be difficult, but the wait is worth it. read more