Virginia Beach, you certainly know how to feed a girl. There are some good foodie eats in your ‘ville, and they’re worth sharing, so I put together a list of restaurants in Virginia Beach worth trying.
I’ve done my best to group them geographically to make planning a little easier for everyone.
Boardwalk Area
Doc Taylor’s
The locals must be keeping this gem of a restaurant plenty busy on their own because there’s no big flashy sign outside beckoning tourists to visit. Thankfully I heard about it, and stopped in for lunch.
The restaurant used to be a doctor’s office in the late ’30s, and now it’s serving up breakfast and lunch open kitchen-style. Really neat place, with friendly staff, and feel-good sandwiches.
(Website) Open daily 7am-3pm. 207 23rd St. Virginia Beach
Waterman’s Surfside Grille
I couldn’t resist trying the famous Waterman’s Orange Crush cocktail, so we made it the last stop of the evening and sat in the heated outdoor patio with a beautiful view of the ocean as we sipped.
There are lots of “crush” cocktails available, but the bartender highly recommended getting the original Orange Crush if we hadn’t tried it before.
We really enjoyed them and almost ordered another round, but we were driving, so responsibility won out. We’ll be back for another Orange Crush and a meal next time!
(Website) Open daily, Happy Hour Sun-Fri 3-6 pm. 5th St and Atlantic Ave Virginia Beach Valet parking available.
Chesapeake Bay Beach area
Bubba’s Seafood Restaurant & Crabhouse
This longstanding Chesapeake Bay restaurant serving fresh local caught seafood really draws in the crowds, and it’s no wonder.
The food is delicious, and the dining room has a beautiful sweeping view of Lynnhaven inlet. We had a seat right next to the window, and watching the birds and boats come and go was really fun. Great lunch spot!
(Website) 3323 Shore Drive Virginia Beach
ViBe Creative District (near Boardwalk area)
The restaurants in the ViBe district were my favorite of the bunch. They’re on top of current food trends with clean eating and locally sourced fresh ingredients, and the food is superb!
Commune
Virginia Beach’s first farmer-owned eatery uses sustainable, seasonal and local ingredients (many from the on-site garden) to make unbelievably delicious and memorable food.
Surprising ingredient combinations result in unexpected flavors, so be prepared to fall in love with Commune at first bite.
Staying true to its name, seating is community-style with tables and counters, but it’s a fairly small place, so go early if you’re on a time crunch, or just grab something from the bakery.
(Website) Open daily for breakfast and lunch. 501 Virginia Beach Blvd. Virginia Beach
The Stockpot
It’s all about healthy comfort food, and yes… soup at The Stockpot, and this unique little eatery doesn’t disappoint.
Everything is made from scratch with locally sourced ingredients whenever possible, and the food is outstanding. The full menu is available all day, so you can order breakfast, lunch or dinner.
Soups are served with tasty little rosemary biscuits for dipping, sopping, or popping — your choice.
(Website) Open Mon-Sat. 700 19th St. Virginia Beach
Esoteric
Esoteric is where you’ll find the best craft beer selection in Virginia Beach along with a diverse and carefully curated menu.
The restaurant shares a garden with Commune, so many of the ingredients used are sourced right from their own backyard. I ordered one of their amazing cocktails – the Boozy Apple, and we shared an order of their award-winning cinnamon sugar sweet potato donuts. Fantastic!
We’ll definitely be back to sample the full menu though.
(Website) Open Mon-Sat at 4pm. 501 Virginia Beach Blvd. Virginia Beach
Hearth Wood-Fired Cuisine
If you’ve got a craving for a great wood-fired pizza, Hearth (which originated as a food truck) is the place to go.
If you can dine between 5-6 pm during Pizza Happy Hour (Tues-Sun) even better because pizzas are just $10!
The restaurant’s rustic decor and fireplace add a cozy warmth, and the staff is very friendly. If you like cocktails, the signature “Hearth Mule” is excellent!
(Website) Open Tues-Sun 5pm. Reservations recommended.
Downtown
The Royal Chocolate
Escape from the beaches for a while, and head to Town Center for the popular Chocolate Fondue dessert at The Royal Chocolate.
Choose from three different types of chocolate and four dipping items, or choose the package which includes a drink and three pieces of chocolate.
We ordered the full package with frozen hot chocolate drinks, and everything was sensational!
The servers were super friendly and helpful, and it made the experience even better. Highly recommended!
(Website) Open daily. 164 Central Park Ave. Virginia Beach
As you can see, I ate a lot on my recent trip to Virginia Beach, and not a bad meal was had. I received complimentary gift certificates to use for my meals at Commune and Bubba’s, and the remainder of the meals I paid for myself. I’m really impressed with the culinary offerings in the area, especially with what’s happening in the ViBe district, and I’m looking forward to seeing what else pops up there over time.
Psssst… Don’t miss my post on things to do in Virginia Beach—I highly recommend visiting the Virginia Beach lighthouses—and check out visitvirginiabeach.com for more information on the area.
Where are your favorite restaurants in Virginia Beach? Have you tried any of the restaurants I mentioned?
Check out these restaurants in Norfolk VA also. (20 minutes from Virginia Beach)
Comments & Reviews
Oh wow! These places look amazing. I want to try Doc Taylor’s in the worst way the next time we get to Virginia Beach.
I had no idea Virginia Beach had such a great food scene! Thank you for the recommendations!
This is a foodie’s dream post! One of the best parts of Virginia Beach is the food. I’m bookmarking this for our next trip to the area.
All of these look amazing…but that Casey’s Philly Cheese…. omg I need that in my life! Thanks for these great suggestions!
Whenever I get to Virginia Beach I will definitely be taking a tour of all these places. I absolutely love food and love to check out places like this.
All of the food is amazing. I will keep these restaurants in mind if I am every in the area.
This post just made me so hungry! What are the odds I can convince hubs to take me to VB just for food? LOL
Those cornmeal waffles look amazing! I’ll have to keep this list in mind if I ever go to Virginia Beach
These all look great and worth adding to my list. I think Hearth would be my favorite.
So lucky you got to eat at all of those places. Those cornbread waffles look TDF!
Oh my gosh, Moscow Mule!!
I have recently gotten into them. I wasn’t too big into ginger beer, but somehow, when it’s in a Moscow Mule, it tastes delicious!
Oh My look at all that wonderful food. I am so in for this kind of trip. I love to eat.
Well, I wasn’t hungry until I read this post! All of the food looks delicious! I have to add these restaurants to our list for when we travel to Virginia Beach! So hungry now…LOL
WOW! All this food looks amazing. I am especially partial to the Rudee Inlet. Must check these places out the next time we are in Virginia Beach.
These are great suggestions! Thanks so much for sharing! Adding this to our list!
We have been to Watermans! It was good. I can’t remember off the top of my head other places that we ate at. There was an awesome Greek one right on the boardwalk!
Oh my gosh, now I”m so hungry! They all look so good! I’d have to have a bit of everything and truly enjoy them all as well!
As many times as we have been there I never really have gotten around to enjoying the local food. I’ll have to keep these places in mind!
We went to a steakhouse the last time we were there and loved it. I need to find the name of it, though!!
I have never tried any of these places when I have been there. I am definitely going to have to look into them!
I was going to say something about which of these restaurants I would love to eat at, but honestly they all look good. The heirloom cornbread waffles at Commune look especially good though.
I haven’t been to Virginia Beach, but now I’m jonesing for a trip. Looks like a foodie paradise there!
All of this food looks so amazing. I have always wanted to go to Virginia Beach. It looks like such a great place. If I ever go, I’ll definitely be stopping here for food.
Wow they have a great selection of resturants in Virginia Beach. I want to try the Casey’s Philly Cheese Steak sandwich first.
I loved Virginia Beach and would love to go back. It was a few years ago so I am due for a trip soon. I will definitely try out a few of these places.
Those cornbread waffles are enough to make me want to go to Virginia Beach right now. These are all fantastic restaurants to try out.
Man! Now I want to take a trip out there just for the food! It is one of my favorite parts of a vacation, local cuisine. Thanks for the advice!
Holy cow ALL of the food looks to die for! I would love to make a trip there just to stop and eat at every one of these places!
I have never been to Virginia Beach before. But the food looks amazing! I know where to go now that I’ve seen all these pictures!
Wow! Everything looks phenomenal. I would love to try those cornmeal waffles!
No, I have not tried any of these yet, but I want to try them all. The food looks amazing!
These look amazing! This should be on our must-see list! Wish I can visit Virginia Beach this year! 😀
I would go there for the seafood! Yum. The cornmeal waffles and bacon, the biscuits and gravy. the coleslaw. Oh my goodness. I wish I lived close to Virginia Beach!
Amazing places! And the foods looks delicious. I will be happy if i can try atleast one.
Of all the places I have been, Virginia Beach is not one of them. You’ve certainly bumped it up to the top of this foodie’s list!
Oh the choices!!! I spent a month or so in Virginia Beach when I was a teen. I loved it!
I enjoy trying new restaurants when we are traveling. Everything looks so delicious I wouldn’t know where to start.
I have not been to Virginia Beach before.
However, I think I would love to hit some of these restaurants if I were to go.
These all look amazing and the food looks incredible. These posts seriously make me want to get in a plane and visit. I will have to keep all these in mind, would love to have some of that pizza it looks AMAZING.
These look amazing! I would go to Virginia Beach for these lovely dishes and restaurants. There’s nothing better than going on vacation to enjoy good food
Thank you so much for sharing! Whenever we go traveling I always like to get restaurant recommendations and now I know exactly where to go our to dine when I visit Virginia Beach!
I love Virginia Beach and all it has to offer. These restaurants look so good!
Wood Fire cuisine is one of our favorite! We visited Virginia and didn’t know about this place, so glad you are sharing with us! Looks fun and delicious! That donut? OMG!!!! Yummy!
I love Virginia Beach! There are a ton of great places to eat there. You have some of my favorites listed. Very cool.
I don’t get a chance to eat a lot of east coast foods, but looking at these makes me crave it! I guess that’s at least one reason to visit Virginia Beach.
Virginia looks like it has some delicious places to eat. I can’t wait to visit and eat with the family there.
I love it when you find the local favs! Can’t wait to get to Virgina Beach & try some of the yummy food.
I’ve never been to Virginia Beach, but you can bet that if I ever get the chance to visit, I’m heading straight to Bubba’s Seafood Restaurant & Crabhouse!! The food on their website looks soo freaking good!
Some wonderful list of nice restaurants all around Virginia which could come handy during our trip. Every restaurant looks amazing with some delicious & unique recipes to try out, a treat for food lovers!
I’d like that pizza and the fresh coleslaw that was phenomenal! I never liked cabbage much as a kid, and now I eat it all the time.
Well, I am convinced that I need to visit Virginia Beach now. Seriously I am sitting here drooling on my keyboard. That all looks so dang delicious I can’t help myself. May have to book a trip today lol.
Never been to VA and I didnt reallize it was such a foodie spot! Great places and now I would like to go there and get my grub on!
I am so hungry after seeing this post. All of the food looks super yummy!
I love this area of Virginia. I think you definitely hit up all the best local spots..yummy!!
OK- I’m so drooling at your The Royal Chocolate photos! Those look so yummy. Also- I do have to say that Doc Taylor’s looks kinda sketchy from the outside but looks are so deceiving because it really is some good food!