Local Eats Near the Beach: Our Handpicked Favorites

Rockin Tacos, located on Okaloosa Island's bustling Boardwalk, is a vibrant culinary celebration of Mexican flavors and Gulf views. It's far from your ordinary taco joint. Here, each dish, from fried avocados and Baja fish tacos to Mexican burgers, is a fiesta of taste, expertly blending traditional Mexican spices with the freshest local seafood.

At Rockin Tacos, every meal is an adventure. With house-made tortillas and wild-caught local seafood, they create a perfect fusion of border-style zest and beachside freshness. Whether you're craving burritos, quesadillas, tacos, or nachos, each plate is a colorful explosion of flavors, as delicious as they are vibrant.

STEWBY'S Seafood Shanty in Fort Walton Beach is a charming, family-oriented take-out and dine-in restaurant. It prides itself on offering the freshest local seafood at affordable prices. The restaurant has a rich history, tracing back to Sam’s Oyster House, and maintains tradition with dishes like Sam’s gumbo and signature sandwiches. They ensure freshness by sourcing their seafood locally, with fish from the docks in Destin and oysters fresh-shucked from Bon Secour Fisheries in Alabama

The Crab Trap, a beloved beachfront icon since 1991, offers more than just a meal – it's a culinary journey along the Florida panhandle. With multiple locations, including one at James Lee Park in Destin, The Crab Trap has become a tradition for both locals and visitors, all seeking the quintessential beach dining experience.

At the heart of The Crab Trap's commitment to fresh, local seafood is their Seafood Commissary, situated on The Boardwalk at Okaloosa Island. This facility is a testament to their dedication to quality and freshness. It's here that over 250,000 lbs of fresh Gulf seafood, including shrimp, grouper, snapper, mahi-mahi, cobia, wahoo, and amberjack, are processed annually, ensuring that every dish served is as fresh as it gets.