A white sandy beach, stretching 27 miles along the Gulf of Mexico, is the perfect spot for your toes-in-the-sand getaway. In between all the swimming, tanning, and beach games, you will want to try out these delicious local restaurants in Panama City Beach.
With a location right on the water, you expect fabulous seafood. There are plenty of restaurant options showcasing seafood dishes that are cheerfully served in new and interesting ways. I’ve highlighted a variety of options from food trucks to iconic dining experiences, because when we travel, we want lots of choices!
My list of Panama City Beach (PCB) restaurants is in no particular order.
Note: Some information in this piece was obtained during a sponsored press trip, but all recommendations are my own.
1. Andy’s Flour Power
If you ask a local where they go to have a great breakfast, Andy’s Flour Power Bakery & Cafe is the top recommendation. The casual coastal vibe paired with carefully crafted cuisine is the hallmark of Andy’s.
What To Order At Andy’s Flour Power Bakery & Cafe
The Flour Power French toast served with strawberries, powdered sugar, and toasted nuts will fill you up for a day of exploring the beach scene. If you want something a little more bikini-friendly, the veggie frittata is filled with all the good-for-you veggie rainbow colors.
The adult drink menu is filled with perfectly crafted classics along with inspirational beverages to tickle your fancy. I recommend trying the breakfast martini, a citrusy sensation that will wake up your palate in the best way possible.
2. FINNS Island Style Grub
FINNS Island Style Grub is everything you want from a sea-shack outdoor dining experience. They have the freshest food, grilled to perfection, and served on long polished picnic tables in the Florida sunshine. Place your order, grab a seat, and pick up your yummy grub when they call your name.
What To Order At FINNS Island Style Grub
You can never go wrong with the daily specials; it’s what makes the cook happy on any given day and happy chefs cook great food. The breakfast hash is unctuous and salty: just what you need when you’ve had a long night or need to power through the morning.
The tacos are loaded and delicious. Try the ahi tuna taco with cabbage, pico, cilantro, wasabi, and sriracha; or the “Killer Carnita Taco” with smoked pork, cabbage, pico, cilantro, chili lime, and white sauce. You get two tacos per order, so bring a friend and share several plates.
3. Runaway Island
If beachfront dining is on your PCB bucket list, then you need to stop at Runaway Island. The back deck is perched on the sand offering views of the beach and waves as you dine on umbrella-shaded tables.
What To Order At Runaway Island
You can make a meal of the Baja rolls appetizer — you won’t want to share them. The rolls are filled with blackened chicken, corn, spinach, black beans, and cheese fried to perfection and served with a sweet Thai dipping sauce.
The blackened mahi taco served with cabbage, cilantro ranch, and pico de gallo, and the shrimp tacos filled with fried shrimp, cabbage, and a lime cilantro aioli and pico de gallo are a celebration of the Florida seafood and sunshine.
4. Capt. Anderson’s Restaurant & Waterfront Market
Capt. Anderson’s Restaurant & Waterfront Market is more than simply one of the best restaurants in PCB, it is an institution. This family-run establishment has been serving fresh seafood flavors since 1967.
What To Order At Capt. Anderson’s Restaurant & Waterfront Market
The restaurant serves hundreds of people each night, so you will have time to sip a drink at the bar while waiting for your table. The piña colada is cool and sweet, served in a take-home souvenir glass. It is a fun way to celebrate your vacation getaway.
Their extensive menu is all about serving the freshest seafood. For starters, try the sesame-crusted ahi tuna kissed by the grill. With so many delicious options, it is difficult to narrow them down. The grouper imperial with fresh lump blue crab and the filet of snapper are house specialties and excellent choices. If you are in the mood for a turf plate, the tomahawk ribeye or the filet mignon are cooked to perfection.
5. American Charlie Grill & Tavern
American Charlie Grill & Tavern serves classic American cuisine just the way you want it — super tasty.
What To Order At American Charlie Grill & Tavern
If you are looking for a sumptuous plate of pub grub, order the Uncle Sam Jam, a double beef patty with American cheese, mushrooms, bacon, and queso blanco. You will need to open wide for this burger. Pair it with some beautifully fried onion rings or crinkle-cut french fries for an all-American classic pub dinner.
For dessert, finish your meal off with a throwback: a classic root beer float.
6. Sharky’s Beachfront Restaurant
Sharky’s Beachfront Restaurant is difficult to miss. It’s the place with the larger-than-life shark posing picture-perfectly for your iconic PCB photo opportunity. Buckle up, your beachfront dining experience is about to commence.
What To Order At Sharky’s Beachfront Restaurant
Go in for the gumbo — shrimp, crawfish, andouille sausage, and chicken served over rice in a spicy gumbo sauce. If that’s too hot, try the shrimp ceviche — lime juice-marinated shrimp served with tomatoes, cilantro, cucumbers, onions, jalapenos, and tortilla chips. It’s perfectly chilled for lunch on a scorching Florida day.
Po’ boy sandwiches are just what you want for on-the-beach food. Order a shrimp po’ boy, or if you are feeling a little adventurous, try the Gator po’ boy; that’s right, alligator nuggets fried to a golden brown. Both are served on a hoagie roll with a spicy remoulade sauce.
7. Rollin Cuban
The Rollin Cuban is a food truck on the move in PCB. Authentic Cuban cuisine on the go is the way they roll. You need to follow them on Facebook to see where they are serving up lunch. Hunting them down is half the fun.
What To Order At Rollin Cuban
I love Cuban cuisine and at Rollin Cuban, their Cubano — a Cuban ham and cheese sandwich — is killer. The beef empanadas are delicious as well. What’s not to love about hand-held beef pies?
8. The Juicy Seafood
Across the south, The Juicy Seafood is known for its Cajun-inspired cuisine served in a casual, family-friendly atmosphere.
What To Order At The Juicy Seafood
You can order your food just how you like it. Pick a protein like blue crab or crawfish. Then, decide what type of seasoning you want from options like Cajun or lemon pepper. Finally, you can choose the heat level — from no spice to extra hot and everything in between. It’s all custom-made for your dining enjoyment.
9. RC Weddings + Events
Now, I know you are saying to yourself, “Why is a catering company in a food story about delicious local restaurants?” Well, I was at the PCB UnWineD festival and saw this stunning tray of passion fruit cocktails. Made with Chinola passion fruit liquor, vanilla vodka, and Cava with tupelo honey and spicy Tajin, it was amazing!
RC Wedding + Events caters weddings but also family reunions. Since PCB is a fabulous spot for a multi-generational vacation, you would want at least one meal where everyone could gather together, right? RC Wedding + Events will organize the location, food, and beverages — all you have to do is show up. Sounds like a family getaway I want to attend.
Hampton Inn & Suites Panama City Beach-Beachfront
After you have eaten all the great food in PCB, it’s time to find a spot to rest your head and enjoy the glorious Florida beaches. The Hampton Inn & Suites Panama City Beach-Beachfront is the perfect spot for family gatherings and multi-gen getaways. It is right on the beach where you can enjoy all the toes-in-the-sand fun and simply walk back to your cozy room for a mid-day siesta.
Pro Tip: There are two Hampton Inn & Suites in PCB. Be sure to check out the one called Beachfront.
Panama City Beach Restaurants
Casual dining with expertly prepared local seafood is the hallmark of restaurants in the Panama City Beach area. More than just a family beach vacation spot, PCB is a burgeoning foodie town offering diners variety and value in their restaurant selections.
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