Food + Dining

Find Coastal Comfort Food at Island Cafe

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There are few places in Port Aransas that offer coastal comfort food quite like Island Cafe. Beloved by locals, it’s an easy-going restaurant with great food for beach-lovers in Port A.

From classic breakfast favorites to fried seafood for lunch, Island Cafe offers a little something for everyone in a down home atmosphere. It’s an ideal spot to grab a quick meal before spending the day on the water in Port Aransas.

Island Cafe in Port Aransas TX | www.portaransastex.com

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What it’s like inside

Once you step inside the bright yellow building, you’ll find it bright and open inside as well. The booths and tables inside Island Cafe are spaced generously and are pretty comfortable.

Island Cafe almost has a diner-style atmosphere with a simple menu with classic coastal dishes and comfort food.

Island Cafe in Port Aransas TX | www.portaransastex.com

My kids liked trying to name the fish they saw on the walls and marvel over the single huge fish in the fish tank by the door.

Island Cafe in Port Aransas TX | www.portaransastex.com

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What to order

Island Cafe is certainly known by locals to be a great no-frills breakfast restaurant. It’s a morning hotspot for coffee and conversation, as well as breakfast classics like eggs, bacon, omelets and biscuits with gravy. So go early and enjoy a quick morning meal before venturing out to the beach.

However, on our most recent visit, we stopped in for lunch since most of the nearby restaurants were super busy. It was a great choice because we managed to get seated with no wait.

We ordered the fried shrimp with fries and a side salad. The salad was fresh and the shrimp tasted great. My youngest ordered the kid’s chicken strips and loved it, especially the crinkle-cut fries.

Island Cafe menu in Port Aransas | www.portaransastex.com
This menu may have been updated since June 2020.


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Our meal was served fast, tasted great and our whole meal took less than 30 minutes. It was a perfect quick lunch before heading off to Roberts Point Park for some turtle-watching.

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Where to find it

Island Cafe & Smokehouse
301 South Alister Street
Port Aransas, TX 78373
361-749-1741

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Jill Clark

Jill Clark is the creator of Port Aransas Explorer, an independent guide dedicated to helping travelers experience the best of Port Aransas, Texas.

After 20+ years of exploring the island, she created this site to share practical tips most visitors only learn after several trips — from the best beach access points and casual seafood restaurants to top sunset spots and dolphin-watching along the ship channel. Everything here is based on real experience and a genuine love for this little stretch of the Texas coast.

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