A crispy tale of tartar, tradition, and who really wears the crown.
Down here on North Carolina’s Crystal Coast, there’s a sandwich that stirs more opinion than the Eastern vs. Lexington-style barbecue feud—and that’s saying something. It’s called the shrimp burger, and if you know, you know.
It’s simple at first glance: mounds of golden fried shrimp stacked on a warm, steamy bun with slaw, tartar, and a whisper of ketchup. But what lies between those buns is not just lunch—it’s lineage. It’s local history, coastal pride, and family tradition wrapped in wax paper and handed out of a drive-thru window or food truck.
The shrimp burger’s roots trace back to the galleys of shrimp boats. Picture it: hard-working folks hauling in the day’s catch, firing up a pan, and slapping shrimp between bread with whatever condiments were on hand. Over time, that humble sandwich made its way inland, catching fire in small-town kitchens and local dives across the Crystal Coast.
These days, the debate over the best shrimpburger could split families faster than a game of Monopoly at Thanksgiving. Some swear by the one they grew up on, never straying from their hometown favorite. Others bounce from stop to stop like a shrimp burger tasting tour, loyal only to flavor and fry.
So, in the name of journalistic integrity, we ate all three in one day during the Big Rock Fishing Tournament last weekend, risking full bellies and seagull attacks so you don’t have to. Here’s our totally unbiased, extremely serious report.
El’s Drive-In – Morehead City
Tasting Notes:
Hints of nostalgia with a strong finish of fry grease and seagull drama.
The first stop—or the last, depending on how you time your beach run—is El’s Drive-In, a Morehead City icon that still slings orders carhop-style like it’s 1963. Cash only, thank you very much. Seagulls circle like it’s their inheritance you’re eating.
Their shrimp burger is classic, straightforward, and clearly a fan favorite. But—and we say this with love—it came with the least amount of shrimp. Good flavor, the best slaw, great setting, but the portion left us yearning. Like your cousin who always shows up with a six-pack and drinks twelve.
Big Oak Drive-In & Barbecue – Salter Path
Tasting Notes:
A well-balanced blend of briny and buttery, with an oaky undertone of drive-thru chaos.
Nestled under the trees of Salter Path, Big Oak is big on nostalgia and even bigger on flavor. Their shrimp burger lands somewhere in the middle in terms of size but brings solid seasoning and consistent crunch.
While the shrimp burger didn’t knock us over with volume, the flavor was spot on. Still, the sleeper hit here? One of the best Carolina-style cheeseburgers you’ll find in the state. Trust us—order it all the way: mustard, chili, onions, and slaw. You’ll thank us before the chili hits your chin.
Captain’s Kitchen Food Truck – Indian Beach
Tasting Notes:
A tidal wave of shrimp with bright slaw, punchy tartar, and undertones of “good Lord, that’s a lot of shrimp.”
This is the new kid on the bun, and y’all—Captain’s Kitchen is not playing fair. The shrimp-to-bun ratio is absurd. You have to eat a solid quarter-pound of shrimp before you even locate the bread. It’s shrimp abundance. It’s shrimp royalty. It’s… shrimp tyranny, in the best possible way.
Between the piping hot shrimp, creamy slaw, and generous portioning, this one was the clear favorite of the day. As soon as they handed it over, I looked down and whispered to myself, “I’m the captain now.”
The Verdict
Most Shrimp: Captain’s Kitchen (by a nautical mile)
Best Flavor: Captain’s Kitchen
Best Nostalgia: El’s
Best Cheeseburger: Big Oak
Best Overall: Captain’s Kitchen
Shrimp Burger Truths We Hold Self-Evident.
- Bring cash for El’s unless you enjoy awkward carhop rejections.
- Don’t sleep on Big Oak’s cheeseburger—seriously.
- If your shrimp burger doesn’t require two hands and a prayer, it might not be worth it.
So whether you’re loyal to the old guard or ready to crown a new captain of the Crystal Coast, just know: shrimp burgers aren’t just food around here. They’re tradition, they’re memory, and they’re a whole lot of messy fun.
Now go get yourself one—maybe even three. We won’t judge. We’ll be right behind you.
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