Armstrongs Seafood

I’m not typically one to write reviews, but I found this restaurant through Unilocal so I figured I would return the favor. The restaurant is a small «hole in the wall» that you probably wouldn’t come across without looking for reviews. There are about 4 tables inside and they are only open til 7. The owners were so friendly from the minute we walked in. They have a great selection of fresh seafood and by at the best crab legs I have ever had in my life (and I’m a crab leg connoisseur), they were cooked perfectly! We will definitely return here upon our next OBX vacation!

The seafood here is so yummy! Probably the best service in town too. I was craving coconut shrimp, but they didn’t have it on the menu. I asked the owner if there was a chance they might have any, and he went ahead and made me some! That’s above and beyond normal customer service in my books. The family does every step of the process on their own… from catching the fish all the way to serving it up. I’m so glad we found this place. It will definitely be a family tradition to come here from now on.

Nags head’s best kept secret for fresh seafood, especially steamed, and friendly customer service. It may not look like much, but you won’t get better seafood anywhere. We wait an entire year to eat here and cant wait when we get to nags head for some steamed shrimp, corn on the cob, and butter potatoes. You wont regret it!

It is a small restraunt/​retail seafood counter. We were lucky with no waiting and the very friendly guy who was running the front was great. He made it all fun. It’s not gimmicky or loud. Definitely not a tourist trap! The food is amazing and very fresh. If you are into buying, eating and supporting local shops then this is a great place to go!

Great local fresh seafood. For some reason, there is something in me that says «if a local diner serves food on paper plates, it means their focus is on food not presentation.» Fried shrimp with okra and picked beets. Kids had a kid’s fish plate and they said they loved it. I even had a chance to win a free PBR.

If you’re looking for fresh quality seafood that won’t break the bank this place is a must. It’s a small place where you can order from the menu or pick your food from the cooler to go or to eat in. The atmosphere is casual,
Thank goodness because we’re still dusting the sand off. The staff was friendly and attentive.
I have a happy and full hubby.

What a great spot! This is totally not a touristy location, but a local spot. The food was affordable, pretty fast, and perfectly cooked. I had the fried shrimp and it had just the right amount of light breading! My husband had the scallops… delish…and the corn on the cob is a must.

This seems like more of a place to pickup seafood for a grill out rather than a place for lunch. The staff was very friendly and served us quickly. However the food was served in very small portions and the Oysters seemed a little old. I think if they put out cocktail sauce, and tarter sauce I would have left feeling better but it seemed like I was chasing down the lady to get this and that. Great staff, but their processes need some work.

Flounder, fries, hush puppies, fried okra, buffalo shrimp, and corn nuggets were all amazing!!! Cocktail sauce was great!!! The crab cake sandwich was a little squishy though. I would eat here again! Love the décor and southern «charm.» If service was a little faster and my sweet tea was refilled timely I’d go for 5 stars. This place definitely has ALOT of potential!!!

Great meal. True traditional southern coastal cooking. Most seafood restaurants overdue the breading, often to compensate for not so good food. Not so at Armstrong, they use fresh seafood and just enough coating to add the right amount of flavor.
I have been eating coastal seafood for over 30 years and can honestly say Armstrong is some of the best I’ve experienced. Don’t go for the ambiance, but the friendly people and good food are worth the trip.

Every year that I visit the Outer Banks, I have a need to find a seafood place that features the freshest possible offerings from the ocean. Armstrong Seafood is a surprising gem tucked away in the Pirates Quay shopping center. You will be greeted by Momma Khan, Miss B, Yum Yum and Dirt. (I kid you not, this is how they referred to each other.) The proprietors of this establishment are former commercial fisherman so they’ll know a thing or two about the local seafood scene.
If you’ve come here expecting a high brow setting then you’re in the wrong spot, what Armstrong Seafood excels at is the honest to goodness fruits of the sea served up in a no nonsense OBX way. Steve «Dirt» was our server and he is definitely a character that will keep you entertained all while plying his wares. The other person with me had the steamed shrimp platter which comes with your choice of side. The shrimp came Old Bay spiced «medium» with a side of drawn butter and cocktail sauce. The shrimp were sweet and correctly steamed, where you are able to peel off the shell with minimal effort. The fried okra had a cornmeal coating which was light and crisp
I opted for the Fresh Fried Oysters & Lightly Fried Shrimp with Old Bay Potatoes and Hush Puppies. The fried oysters were very fresh and had the right bite, not over done and rubbery like at other places I’ve eaten. The lightly fried shrimp were done perfectly and made it so that the shrimp were still juicy and tender. The one thing I would like to see spiced up a bit more were the Old Bay Potatoes, it could have used a bit more seasoning, but the hush puppies made up for it.
If you decide to order any sides, I’d pick the hush puppies every time. I think that Miss B must have some magic dust back in the kitchen because all the seafood that was consumed this day was perfect. Lunch time is the best time to eat-​in or carry out. The prices for the quality of food you get is the best on the Outer Banks. I see many lunches being spent here with «Dirt» and am happy to have found my seafood joint on the beach. I highly recommend!

Perfectly cooked fried shrimp, cleaned well and cooked fresh. The food was out and hot by the time i finished my first beer. Not overly breaded. Hushpuppies were on point and the fries were great.
Staff was friendly and prompt, made you feel very welcome. This will be a regular lunch spot for me for a while.

What a great find! We were staying in Duck and returning from Roanoke when the hungries hit. It had great reviews and was just what we were looking for, seafood. It’s a relatively small place that also has fresh fish for sale. But unlike many places that sell fish, it didn’t have any noticeable fish smell, a good sign.
We arrived in time for the lunch menu so the prices were very good. I ordered the special that included a crab cake and shrimp along with coleslaw, hush puppies, and boiled redskin potatoes; everything was done perfectly. My wife ordered boiled shrimp with Old Bay seasoning, hush puppies, and boiled potatoes and again, all seasoned perfectly. Oh, and all orders included a drink. Service was friendly; Armstrong’s definitely has it all.

First, thanks to the prior Unilocalers. The reviews helped us pick Armstrong out from others in the area.
I was looking for for some fresh seafood while finishing a long drive up through the outer banks.
We had stopped in Savannah, Charleston, and Morehead during our trip. The food quality was the best seafood of the trip.
The owner served us and doesn’t like social media after being burning by a Yorker, so he won’t see my post…
What this place had was very fresh oysters and fresh cod, scallops using a very light batter cooked perfectly…
We sat at the bar and in an hour saw handful of locals buying seafood to go and just looking at the fresh selection I was sold.
As for the dine in experience; we caught them when they were were not in they busy season… so waiting was not an issue …
The owners told us about how his family is in the oyster business and the ones we had were fantastic…
I would eat here every week if it was close by. I love simple, fresh and this has it I covered.

This tiny place located in Pirates Quay is an OBX treasure. Armstrong’s really knows how to fry seafood, and they serve really delicious meals for excellent prices. It’s not fancy, but it is clean and inviting and I make it a point to stop every time I am in the area.
Two points in addition to all the other rave reviews: I love clam strips, but often they end up being more breading than meat and/​or taste like SeaPak from the freezer. Armstrong’s served me literally the largest clam strips I have ever seen, some thicker than my thumb. They were delicious too. Second, I have never really been a fan of oysters, but my wife ordered fried oysters; they were the best I have ever eaten. I have only ever had fried seafood from Armstrong’s, but every morsel, whether shrimp, crab, clam, or oyster, has been fried just right and has tasted phenomenal. If you like fried seafood, check this place out.

The Lunch Boats at lunch are a great deal. I got the fried shrimp with hush puppies. The shrimp were lightly fried, not heavily battered yet crispy. The hush puppies were some of the best I’ve ever had.

This is a very plain building however the clam strips, coconut shrimp, scallops, & fried okra are FABULOUS!!! I wish we would have discovered Armstrong seafood before our last supper in Nags Head. If you like fried seafood this is the place to come in Nags Head.

My review varies a lot from the general assessment of Armstrong’s. Frankly, we found the place to deliver average to poor food and service. It took a very long time to get served. Our food came out cold (the mussels were rubbery and luke warm in an uninspired butter sauce). The crab cake sandwich came out on a hamburger bun sans any sort of garnishes. Just a cake and an untoasted, cold, hamburger bun on a styrofoam plate. Not what we expected. All of the food was the same way.
If you are looking for a good version of this kind of seafood market/​dining establishment, then go to «I Got Your Crabs» in Kitty Hawk. It’s small with a few booths. Great selection of seafood and a much more professional delivery. I think you’ll like it.

Really enjoyed. Was looking for sea food on a budget. Chose fried clams and had the best I’ve ever had. Very large, lightly fried, tasty. Okra and fresh corn on the cob for sides. Food is very good. Service very friendly. If you arent looking for fancy this will suit you well, come in and relax, have a beer or sweet tea and some fresh seafood. They also cook their fresh fish to suit your taste. Im going to try the lovely tuna strak next time I’m not in a hurry.
They do run out of selections, they are a seafood market, so call ahead if you want something specific.

This fabulous spot is easy to miss (however make it a destination if you are in the Outer Banks)! Located in a strip mall it is quite a surprise when you enter and realize it is a true fave spot for the locals. A mum and son team make this spot so welcoming. We arrived for a late lunch and were delighted with the internal set up, a fun variety of décor, local flavor and as each person entered the owners knew them and encouraged them to sit at the bar, got them a drink and continued to deliver delicious food.
My honey had the daily special (flounder sandwich) and I enjoyed the steamed shrimp (or prawns as we call them in Australia). Both delicious. I tried the fried okra (as I have never had that before and it was enjoyable, admittedly I am not a fan of anything fried). We enjoyed their homemade coleslaw and pickled beets. The real surprise was when mum asked us if we wanted dessert (not something I would expect from a seafood spot) however every day she makes fresh cakes and my honey ordered the coconut cake (holy guacamole… if I wasn’t GF I would have consumed it in a hot minute). I had a taste of it and it was the most moist cake ever!
Do yourself a favor, check out this great spot, enjoy the food, chat to the owners, order a beer from their large selection and support the local community.