VA Beach Top Fried Seafood Joints

Every year my family takes a vacation to Virginia Beach for a week. I’ve gone to the beach for at least a weekend since I can remember. I have lived in Nags Head, NC for a summer and have stayed in Duck, Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills, Corolla and Cape Hatteras, but Virginia Beach is where I feel most comfortable. (The Carolina beaches and Virginia Beach are the popular coastal retreats for most Richmonders.)

Feeling this comfortable in Virginia Beach would make you believe that we know where to eat as far as seafood restaurants are concerned.

Well, it wasn’t until this year, about 30 years in the making, that we’ve finally settled on the top seafood spots in VA Beach.

Here they are folks, the top 3 FRIED seafood joints in VA Beach:

1) Croaker’s- the best fried soft-shell crabs on the beach! Their platters offer up 3 good-size soft-shells with plentiful corn muffins and your choice of 2 sides. My vote is for their spinach casserole!

Softshell Sandwich at Croaker's

2) Surfrider Grill- this hidden gem sits on the water at Marina Shores. We highly recommend their fish tacos or fried fish/crabcake sandwich! The kids loved their shrimp baskets complete with fries! Stroll around the marina afterwards and you might be lucky enough to tour their yachts!

Those aren't crab legs!

3) Nick’s- This is truly a dive and is famous for their early dinners. Arrive at 5:30 folks to beat the crowd. You can’t go wrong with their steamed shrimp or any of their fried specials. Did I forget to mention the basket of hush puppies that comes first!?! Yum. Best deal on the beach!

Strolling on the beach.

Now we've been searching for years to find the best spot.  If you can top these, please tell me.  The price and what comes with it was the best so far.