Galveston is a beautiful city with a laid-back, serene vibe. But what many visitors overlook about Galveston is the fantastic restaurants it has on offer.
Number 13 serves delicious steak and seafood at a beautiful location on Pelican Rest Marina that will take your breath away.
The number 13 is usually associated with bad luck, but there is no luck involved when dining at the Number 13 restaurant – you’re always guaranteed to have a fantastic, mouth-watering meal!
The amazing views while you’re enjoying your meal make it one of the best places to eat in the city.
So what should you eat at Number 13? Well, the sautéed Gulf shrimp is a delightful appetizer that’s sure to excite your palate for the rest of the meal!
Meanwhile, the king crab, lobster tails, oyster, shrimps, smoked salmon, and yellowfish tuna are excellent for sharing.
However, for a real taste of luxury, we recommend the center-cut filet Mignon that is wet-aged to give it a distinct taste.
Yamato has been the go-to Japanese restaurant in Galveston since 1988, thanks to their fresh sushi on offer. In fact, some people even come to Galveston just for their specialty roll!
Diners also flock to Yamato because of its casual, laid-back vibe that makes it a great place to catch up with friends over masterfully made Asian dishes.
Yamato has a special lunch offer, serving their spicy tuna roll with pieces of sashimi. You should also try the Yakisoba, which is a warming dish of a stir-fried egg in a noodle soup.
For a truly fun dining experience, check out their bento box packed with teriyaki chicken, steamed rice, and the house salad.
Leon’s opened in 1986 and has been welcoming fans of smoked meat ever since! A favorite among locals as well as tourists, dining at Leon’s is the best way to immerse yourself in the Galveston lifestyle.
If you’re a barbecue fanatic you have to eat at Leon’s while you’re in Galveston. They’ve perfected their barbecue flavors, so they are tantalizing and irresistible!
But that’s not all, Leon’s menu is super affordable. No wonder it’s a Galveston favorite!
You can’t go to Leon’s and not try the Leon’s cut and prime beef brisket. But if you prefer handheld food, then we would recommend the young and tender spare ribs sandwich.
Then for dessert, round off your smoky meal with the bread pudding and rum sauce.
Shrimp N Stuff is a Galveston staple, as they’ve been serving fresh seafood for over forty years.
If you love Southern inspired food then you need to go to Shrimp N Stuff. Their fresh and flavorful dishes simply can’t be matched.
Plus, like any good Galveston restaurant, they have a laid-back vibe that just adds to the charm – especially when you sit on the patio!
After a long day of sightseeing, you can come to Shrimp N Stuff and fill your boots with oysters, shrimp and tilapia.
We also recommend the shrimp gumbo and the po boys to sample the best of their Southern cuisine. The desserts on offer include cheesecake with cherries and key lime pie.
From one Galveston staple to another, Maceo opened their doors in 1944 and is famous for being the original producer of herbs and spices in the city.
As soon as you step into this specialty store you’ll be hit by the aroma of their unique spices. These spices not only smell great, but they make food taste delicious!
At Maceo you can enjoy sandwiches, spaghetti, and red beans, but you can also purchase condiments, spices, and even meat.
One of the delicacies on offer at Mateo include Muffaletta, which is a sandwich made with cheese, meat, and olive salad. This is definitely their signature dish!
Another favorite is the meatball sub and roast beef sandwich. It’s a real savory treat. If you love Italian cuisine, they also serve an excellent cannoli for dessert.
Gourmet sandwiches are the star of the show in Eatcetera which you can find near top Galveston attractions, such as the Galveston Railroad Museum.
After a long day of visiting Galveston’s best attractions, pop into Eatcetera to sate your hunger! Their tasty creations are sure to delight your taste buds.
No matter your dietary restrictions they’re sure to have something for you!
We recommend the hickory-smoked turkey sandwich with bell pepper, chipotle cream, field greens, and onions, and their mouth-watering bacon, mozzarella, and tomato panini with habanero aioli.
If you have a sweet tooth, why not try out a slice of their lemon bundt cake to get your sugar fix?
Opened in 1976, La King’s Confectionery has an old-school atmosphere that takes you back in time when you step inside – in a good way! If you have a sweet tooth, this is definitely the place to be in Galveston.
La King’s Confectionery uses a traditional formula that is inspired by old-world candy makers, but they also strive to keep up to date with modern innovations too.
Their classic favorites include banana split, hot chocolate, and hot fudge sundae, and their ice cream flavors include Butter pecan, mocha, and even New York cheesecake.
On a hot day we also recommend their cookies and cream shake. It’s the perfect way to cool down.
Little Daddy’s Gumbo Bar brings New Orleans flavors to Galveston, and they also have a location in the League City area.
If you love the taste of Louisiana, you’re going to love Little Daddy’s Gumbo Bar.
This unique restaurant is a past winner of the Best Gumbo award, and their wide range of food on offer makes choosing what to have for dinner pretty hard.
But whatever you choose you’re guaranteed a delicious meal!
If you’re sharing and really want to indulge, we recommend Little Daddy’s big sampler that includes bacon-wrapped shrimp, fried okra, garlic bread and jalapeños.
However, make sure you leave some room for the Mumbo Gumbo. It’s a favorite at Little Daddy’s and is highly praised, packed with crab, chicken, oysters, prime rib, shrimps, and sausage.
We also recommend the grilled smoked boudin with crawfish étouffée on the side.
Mosquito Café is a laid-back eatery that is one of the best places to have lunch in Galveston. The setup is simple and unfussy, and the 1870s building it’s housed in has a beautiful, old-school charm.
The food on offer is healthy, tasty, and sure to fill you up for the day.
It’s a favorite among tourists who always leave rave reviews after eating there, and we’re sure you’ll be singing its praises too!
Start off your lunch with pecan-crusted brie as an appetizer, and then order a soothing plate of linguine doused in a creamy, rosemary alfredo sauce for a taste of Italy.
But if you’re in the mood for a filling, hearty sandwich we recommend the Chick Stack.
Tucked away by the harbor, the Shark Shack Beach Bar & Grill is one of the most buzzing beach bars in Galveston. If you really love beach bars, Shark Shack is the place to go.
But Shark Shack doesn’t just do seafood, they also serve gourmet burgers and you have to try their specialty drinks!
Shark Shack is open from lunchtime, but if you’re looking for more of a party atmosphere we recommend coming along in the evening, where you’re sure to meet fun, interesting characters.
So let’s get into the highlights of the Shark Shark menu!
Cajun shrimp fondue and Shark bites are a favorite amongst diners, and we also recommend the Cali Beach Burger with avocado, bacon, chipotle mayo and Swiss cheese.
Another favorite amongst regulars is the Texas Red Fish Taco, so give that a try too.
Final Thoughts
It’s safe to say that the cuisine on offer in Galveston is one of the many features of the city that make it a great place to visit!
Whether you have a sweet tooth or are more of a savory fan, or whether you love Italian, Japanese, or Cajun food, Galveston is sure to have a restaurant serving hearty, delicious meals you’ll enjoy.
We hope our guide has given you a good idea of what’s on offer in Galveston, and we hope you try some of these places out when you visit.
One thing’s for sure, you’ll never go hungry in Galveston.
Hi, my name is Robert Miller, and I have lived in Texas all my life. I am proud of my state, and decided to set up this site to share its beauty with others. Through Texans United, I will be talking readers through everything they need to know about Texas. From the best places to eat, and sites to visit, to its history and useful information.
