Best Cheap Eats in Kitty Hawk, NC: Affordable Outer Banks Dining
Capt'n Franks
When you’re in Kitty Hawk and craving some delicious yet affordable food, Capt’n Franks is the place to go. Known as one of the cheap eats in OBX, this eatery has gained a reputation for serving mouthwatering hotdogs, sandwiches, and fries since its establishment in 1975. In fact, Capt’n Franks has been around even before Kitty Hawk was officially recognized as a town.
Despite its popularity, Capt’n Franks’s menu is reasonably priced. The most expensive items are the loaded specialty fries, which cost $9.99 and come with toppings like homemade chili and pulled pork. The cheesesteak is also $9.99, but the average price of the hotdogs that Capt’n Franks is famous for is around $4.50. Therefore, Capt’n Franks is not only one of the most affordable dining options in town but also one of the most delicious, making it a top choice for the best budget restaurants in Outer Banks.
Spanky's Grille
There’s a restaurant called Spanky’s Grille that is known for serving affordable food. Their primary focus is providing quick service, cooked-to-order food and reasonable prices. Their specialty lies in burgers and hotdogs, which are considered the best in Kitty Hawk and the whole of Outer Banks.
The Seafood Combo with two choices, fries and hushpuppies, is the most expensive menu item, costing $15.99. There are also the crabcake sandwich with fries, alligator bites with fries, and the Big Bacon, a ½ pounder with cheese and three slices of double-smoked oversized applewood bacon, all priced at $11.99 each. The remaining menu items are priced at an average of $6.00.
You can also find some great deals at Spanky’s. For example, on Mondays and Tuesdays, you can get a single burger for only $4.00 or a double for $6.00. On Wednesdays and Thursdays, you can get a small BBQ plate for $4.00 or a large one for $6.00. And if you’re in the mood for a steak or chicken Philly, Fridays are the day to visit – you can get one for just $9.99.
With these specials and their delicious food at affordable prices, Spanky’s is one of the best places to dine on a budget in Kitty Hawk, offering cheap eats in OBX that everyone can enjoy.
Bad Bean Baja Grille
If you’re craving some delicious Mexican food, then you’re in luck! Bad Bean Baja Grill offers a delightful variety of tacos, burritos, quesadillas, and more, all at affordable dining prices. Bad Beans is committed to serving only the freshest and most flavorful food, inspired by Latin America, California, Tex-Mex, Asia, and, of course, Mexico and Coastal Carolina.
The most expensive items on the menu are fresh seafood tacos and burritos, which are priced according to the market, and “The Shredder,” a giant burrito stuffed with seared skirt steak, griddled cheddar cheese curds, cilantro garlic fries wrapped in a flour tortilla and smothered in a red chile enchilada sauce. It costs $16.99 and comes with chips. Though these items are a little expensive, the rest of the menu is reasonably priced, with most items averaging around $6-8. While some items fall in the $10-13 Art’s, this Mexican food is both affordable and delicious, aligning perfectly with the cheap eats in OBX.
Art's Place
Art’s Place is a great restaurant that serves delicious food at affordable prices. Start your day off right with a hot and tasty breakfast. The breakfast platters are enormous, and they come with two fried or scrambled eggs, your choice of home fries or grits, and a buttermilk biscuit or toast. The three-egg omelets are just as big and come with your choice of home fries or grits and a buttermilk biscuit or toast. Of course, you can also try the house specials, like pancakes and French toast, and because you are in the South, the menu has to have biscuits and gravy.
The most expensive items on the menu are, you guessed it, the platters, which range from a plain egg breakfast for $7.50 to a country ham breakfast for $13.50. For the omelets, three specialty options average around $12.00 and a “make your own” option for $9.00, with additional charges for added ingredients. The house specials, on the other hand, average around $9.00.
Art’s Place offers a range of delicious appetizers for the lunch or dinner menu, from classic mozzarella sticks priced at $7.00 to jalapeno pimento cheese dip with tortilla chips for $13.50. You can also try Art’s famous burgers, starting with a plain burger for $12.00, adding cheese for $13.00, or cheese and bacon for $14.75. In addition to burgers, the menu features specialty burgers that average around $14.00, as well as salads, Art’s sandwiches, and wraps, all priced around $12.00. The most expensive item on the menu is the crabcake sandwich, priced at $15.00. Art’s is a popular local hangout that has been welcoming locals for years, as their website states: “Locals welcomed, tourists tolerated…sometimes.”
Duck's Deli
Duck’s Deli is located a bit further north in Duck, NC, but it deserves a mention because it has been serving some of the best food in town since 1987. The menu is diverse, and although not entirely budget-friendly, there are plenty of cheaper options. The appetizers average around $5.00, and the burgers range from a plain one for $8.25 to the Duck Buster, which is two 4.5 oz. All beef patties topped with pork BBQ, cheese, onion rings, and BBQ sauce. It is served on a Kaiser roll for $17.30.
Ducks Deli offers a range of menu items, including sandwiches, subs, and family platters. The sandwiches are priced between $12.50 for the fresh fish sandwich and $14.50 for the crabcake sandwich. Subs are priced at $13.85, and you can choose from options such as Philly cheesesteak, Italian, and smoked chicken salad. The family platters include wings, ribs, pulled pork, smoked chicken, and crabcakes. Ducks Deli started as a BBQ joint, so you can expect their BBQ to be delicious!
