3 Best Restaurants in South Padre Island and Port Isabel, South Texas and the Coast

Dirty Al's serves fresh seafood but in a noticeably informal—and sometimes rowdy—environment. This place gets packed with pilgrims who have heard about its delicious fried shrimp and reasonable prices. The people-watching is often fantastic.

Once tourists have satisfied their urge to taste the fruits of the sea at island establishments, they discover that many of the best alternative places to eat are located in Port Isabel. One place visitors and locals alike go nuts for is this tiny taco joint near the lighthouse. The tacos are bigger than your head and filled copiously with whatever you want. Those in the know say the humongous breakfast tacos are the real gem. This place often has a wait, so get there early.

This is one of the pricier restaurants on the island, and the seafood here is worth it. The view of the returning boats late in the day also draws people for a drink on the outdoor deck. The restaurant prides itself on the freshness of its fish, especially the house specialty, red snapper. This is not a place to wear your bathing suit or shorts.