Where to eat in Daytona Beach

I recently had the chance to visit the Daytona Beach area and had every intention of making a full trip out of it. Boutiques, the Speedway, Slingshot, you name it. I wanted to do it all. In typical fashion, I succeeded in eating and drinking and not much else. I’m not ashamed though. Each of the seven pounds I gained was worth it as none of the restaurants picked were disappointments. The food was all around outstanding with impeccable service to match. And because it’s Daytona, you know stunning ocean views and sunsets were pretty much a given.

Here are five restaurants you need to check out if you’re looking for where to eat in Daytona Beach.

Where to Eat in Daytona Beach

DJ’s Deck

Under the Dunlawton Bridge and just down the street from our Airbnb, but considered Port Orange. DJ’s Deck is a laid-back seafood restaurant with great views of the Intracoastal Waterway. They have a variety of seafood options and offer a full bar. I had the fried fish, shrimp, and oyster platter and loved every single bite. It came with hush puppies too, and they were phenomenal.

79 Dunlawton Avenue, Port Orange, FL 32129

The Cracked Egg Diner

The Cracked Egg Diner is a diner owned by brothers Chris and Kevin Purucker. It’s on the A1A and a Daytona Beach Shores staple. They boast of making you feel at home with hearty food and friendly, yet exemplary, service, and we had just that. I ordered what ended up being some of the best banana pancakes I’ve ever had. I didn’t expect the bananas to be sliced but I loved them and still dream of them

3280 S. Atlantic Ave Suite D, Daytona Beach Shores, FL 32118

Ocean Deck

Ocean Deck is an awesome three-story waterfront establishment that offers amazing seafood, burgers, and live music. The Cajun mahi-mahi fish tacos were absolutely flavorful with a good bit of spice. The sweetness from the mango salsa added a nice contrast and balance to the heat. We watched a performance as we ate with the Atlantic in the background and it made for a spectacular time.

127 S. Ocean Ave, Daytona Beach, FL 32118

Caribbean Jack’s

Near the Loggerhead Marina, Caribbean Jack’s offers amazing Florida sunsets, waterfront views, and Caribbean-inspired cuisine. I cannot stress enough how important it is that you order their gator bites. Yes, it’s important. I’m afraid to have gator bites anywhere else because I’ll forever be comparing them to the ones I had here. Crunchy exterior, tender Florida gator tail meat, served alongside a spicy Creole aioli sauce for dipping… BOMB.COM! The calamari was equally amazing. They have awesome Daily Specials, including Margaritas and $5 Kick Ass Margaritas on Tuesdays!

721 Ballough Road, Daytona Beach, FL 32114

Crabby Joe’s

Recommended by our Airbnb host, Crabby Joe’s is a chill restaurant on a pier directly above the Atlantic Ocean. I loved that the calamari also came with fried peppers and broccoli. The red peppers were sweet, the broccoli still had some crunch, and it was just a light fry so the veggies were still flavorful. The sauteed mussels in marinara sauce were devoured with record speed. I ordered the red royal shrimp special, which also came lightly fried. They were like succulent baby lobster. Yum.

3701 S. Atlantic Ave, Daytona Beach Shores, FL 32118

Headed to the beach soon? Check out this post on essentials to pack for a day at the beach!