Buckle up and bring your appetite! This coastal Texas road trip is one for the books. Starting in Port Neches and winding down to Corpus Christi, this food-focused adventure hugs the Gulf Coast for over 250 miles, with plenty of pit stops for fresh seafood, Gulf Coast flavors, and waterfront views. Along the way, you’ll cruise through salt marshes, cross bays by ferry, and hit some of the most beloved coastal towns in the Lone Star State. Whether you’re slurping oysters in San Leon, digging into Greek comfort food in Kemah, or wrapping up the day with an upscale seafood feast in Corpus Christi, every bite is a postcard from the Texas coast.
From the laid-back charm of Neches River Wheelhouse to the refined dishes at Water Street Market, this journey dishes up a little bit of everything: beachy vibes in Galveston, hidden gems on the Bolivar Peninsula, and Port Aransas favorites that locals swear by. With 12 mouthwatering stops, you could make this trip in a long weekend, but you’d be hustling. It’s better savored slowly, over a few days, one plate at a time. Enjoy!
Neches River Wheelhouse / Port Neches
Start your Gulf Coast tour in Port Neches, where comfort-food classics meet Cajun spice at the Neches River Wheelhouse. Here, you can kick back and relax with friends on the riverfront patio, share a bucket of beers, and enjoy a cheeseburger in paradise. The boudin pizza and boudin quesadilla will make your taste buds sing!
Pier 6 / San Leon
A 90-minute drive from Port Neches – and just 30 miles outside Houston – you’ll find San Leon, the next stop on this food frenzy! The sleepy beach town of San Leon is home to Pier 6, a seafood and oyster house with entrees so elegant, you’ll think you’ve never left the big city. Pier 6 offers seafood so fresh, they call it “tide-to-table.” They’re well known for their super-fresh oysters plucked straight from the Gulf by one of the owners, a second-generation oysterman. Try the Louisiana Blue Crab cakes served with lemon, torn herbs and an Old Bay tartar sauce. Don’t skip the flights of frozen cocktails and the Bloody Mary that’s brunch in a glass!
Bakkhus / Kemah
As you leave San Leon, don’t get comfortable. You’ll arrive at the next stop in just 15 minutes! Tucked inside the tiny seaside town of Kemah, Bakkhus Taverna dishes up authentic Greek bites like tender gyro meat, succulent Souvlaki and one showstopping, flaming Saganaki that will have you shouting ‘Opa’!
Tookie’s Seafood / Seabrook
Your next stop is the little seaside town called Seabrook where you’ll find Tookie’s Seafood. Hang out in Tookie’s treehouse where fresh fish comes straight from the Gulf and crave-worthy crawfish is brought to you by the bucket! Dock for their succulent shrimp and creamy Texas state grits and be dazzled by chargrilled oysters fired on a massive grill — all dreamed up by Tookie’s motorcycle-lovin’ chef CJ Johnston.
Stingaree Restaurant & Marina / Crystal Beach, Bolivar Peninsula
Next up, you’ll hit the jewel of the Texas coast, the Bolivar Peninsula, where you’ll find Crystal Beach. On that beach is a Gulf Coast gem – Stingaree Restaurant & Marina. You can pull up to this sensational seafood restaurant in a boat with your fresh catch and they’ll cook it up for you right at the restaurant! Their motto is: ‘You hook ‘em, We cook ‘em!’ Fan favorites include the Bolivar Boiler stacked with shrimp, crab, sausage and more; the classic deep-fried seafood platter; and the fried soft shell crab tacos. The most popular dish is the Cajun-style Redfish Louie served on a bed of dirty rice and topped with crawfish etouffee with a side of fried crawfish tails. Yum!
The Spot / Galveston
Next, make your way down to Galveston where there’s surf, sand and sensational views at The Spot – easily among Galveston Island’s most popular dining destinations. It’s quite the spectacle now, but this beachfront burger joint comes from humble beginnings–and thrives today thanks to one dishwasher with a dream! Pop in for a fabulous spread featuring countless tropical temptations from the bars (yes, plural), PLUS locally caught seafood from the Gulf!
Rudy & Paco / Galveston
While in Galveston, don’t miss the fresh seafood at Rudy & Paco, which is caught just blocks from the restaurant. This hot spot was named in the ‘Top 100 Restaurants’ in 2017 and ‘Most Romantic Restaurants in America’ in 2018 rated by OpenTable. The father and daughter owners who run the restaurant are inspired by their Central American heritage and it shows in dishes like the Pargo Simpatico — plantain-crusted snapper topped with jumbo lump crab.
Vargas Cut and Catch / Galveston
The same entrepreneurs who brought us Rudy & Paco also own and operate the incredible Vargas Cut & Catch in Galveston. People come from all over to try their GIANT prime steaks, fresh-caught seafood and epic desserts. Trust us: you’ll want to save room for the show-stopping “Paco Dome,” a slice of chocolate coffee cake topped with cinnamon ice cream and encased in a dome of chocolate. The whole thing transforms right before your eyes as hot chocolate sauce is drizzled over the top.
Mario’s Seawall Italian / Galveston
Our last stop in Galveston is a must-visit restaurant. You’ll transport yourself to Europe and enjoy a slice of Sicily at Mario’s Seawall Italian Restaurant. The Italian family running the shop has been throwing the dough here for more than half a century. However, you’ll find more than piping hot pies. They also serve fresh-from-the-gulf seafood like the Cioppino bursting with mussels, shrimp, clams and a mountain of crab claws. That’s amore!
Venetian Hot Plate / Port Aransas
Now, you’ll make your way South – WAY south to Port Aransas, four hours from Galveston. Take in all the seaside charm that Port A has to offer and grab a dinner to remember at Venetian Hot Plate, where the sizzling Italian food is as bold as the owner, Linda Halioua. This spot is celebrating its 30 year anniversary this year. One bite and you’ll taste why this place has such long-lasting success!
La Playa Mexican Grille / Port Aransas
Stay in Port Aransas and grab lunch before you leave at La Playa Mexican Grille. This place is a longtime Port A favorite for Tex-Mex. Grilled shrimp here is a must, but don’t miss their enchiladas (especially the buttery crab ones). Hurricane Harvey dealt this spot a huge blow, but La Playa came back better than ever! It’s a hidden gem that’s well worth a visit.
Water Street Market / Corpus Christi
To end your Gulf Coast culinary tour, head to Corpus Christi and post up at Water Street Market where fresh-from-the-bay Cajun-inspired seafood is on the menu. A surfer turned restaurateur brings beach food to this coastal enclave that sports three unique concepts: an oyster bar and full restaurant, a sushi spot and an outdoor venue with live music and fantastic burgers. Then, hang ten at Texas’s only surf museum just next door!
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