Headed to Panama City Beach and looking for the best spot to enjoy some scrumptious seafood, especially oysters? Look no further...
Dusty’s Oyster Bar & Dining
16450 Front Beach Rd, Panama City Beach, FL 32413, United States
850-233-0035
https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Seafood-Restaurant/Dustys-Oyster-Bar-117669928258426/
Beloved by residents and visitors alike for their beautiful selection of raw food, at Dusty’s you can get a decadent bite of seafood at a casual price, right by Front Beach. Anyone who’s anyone has had Dusty’s oysters in Panama City!
Get them served just how you like ‘em: raw, steamed, baked, fried, Casino, Mexican, Rockefeller, Jalapeno Baked, or the famous Dusty Baked style.
Open from 11 AM to 11 PM Monday through Friday, you can sate your hankering for clams at any time of day, and they also have a fully licensed bar if you want a nice cold beer to wash everything down with.
With seating inside and out, it’s up to you where you dine. Plus, it’s child and adolescent friendly, so the whole family can enjoy a bite to eat. There’s also on site parking, but you can’t make a table reservation, unfortunately.
Bayou Bill’s Crab House
23100 Front Beach Rd, Panama City Beach, FL 32413, United States
850-235-1010
http://bayoubills.com/home/1948613
Bayou Bill’s is known for two things: monster portions and live alligators. Yes, really! Right outside the restaurant, you can watch - and sometimes even take pictures with - real life gators as you wait to be seated. That’s one way to get kids to behave!
Another joint that’s equally loved by tourists and locals, it has two locations, with the other at Santa Rosa Beach. That’s how you know the food is good! Especially popular is their hefty Crab Feast, but in terms of oysters, their grilled special is divine.
You can either eat in or order to go, but they have lovely seating indoors and outside. Menu wise, there’s plenty for kids, even fussy ones: their children’s menu features pizza and fries for those who turn their noses up at seafood.
There’s even an adorable gift shop where you can grab such cool souvenirs as a gator shirt or your very own crab cracker for authentic eating at home.
Dee’s Hangout
529 N Richard Jackson Blvd, Panama City Beach, FL 32407, United States
850-249-4264
http://www.deeshangout.com/
Serving delightful dinners daily from 3 pm to 9:30 pm, with to-go, Happy Hour and Early Bird specials too, Dee’s Hangout is a local legacy boasting local cuisine and seafood, as well as cajun and creole dishes and veggie-friendly options.
Their southern coastal menu is a hybrid of that classic Panama City seafood mixed with a little cajun charm that will capture your taste buds and your heart. There’s a simple kid’s menu that will please even the fussiest child, too.
Oysters are served both raw and baked in various styles: many customers recommend the Oyster Medley Dozen, which gets you 3 each of every baked oyster Dee’s offers, all for under twenty bucks.
Located conveniently by Rock’It Lanes, it’s easy to find and away from the hustle and bustle of PCB.
Dat Cajun Place
2705 Thomas Dr, Panama City, FL 32408, United States
850-588-5314
http://datcajunplace.com/
Promising an easygoing, lighthearted dining experience, Dat Cajun Place is another of PCB’s secret gems. With regular live music and entertainment on a nightly basis, you’ll get dinner and a show and enjoy every minute of it!
There’s a daily special worth checking out from Monday to Sunday, as well as classics like Po’Boys, seafood baskets, and other delicious ocean-caught delicacies, with an added cajun twist.
The oyster section of their lengthy menu is delicious and lengthy, from cold fresh shucked oysters to chargrilled or baked all-in style. You could even try their sampler platter, which comes with three of every customer favorite, to really get the idea.
Those seeking a refreshing alcoholic beverage will also appreciate the happy hour they have every day, so you can get a great deal on oysters and beer.
Shuckums Oyster Pub & Grill
15614 Front Beach Rd, Panama City, FL 32413, United States
850-235-3214
http://www.shuckums.com/
Serving more than a dozen different types of baked oysters, as well as a family friendly atmosphere and accompanying kid’s menu, this seafood eatery has all the charm of a British pub and is packed to the rafters with delicious fish!
Not only can you enjoy some truly decadent fried fish, sandwiches and other treats, but they even offer live entertainment every night of the week, which is always kid-appropriate, so no need to worry.
There’s even a karaoke machine if you’re so inclined, so you can take the whole family out for an enjoyable dinner that’s as entertaining as it is delicious. Another place that locals love and tourists flock to!
They’re open from 11 AM to 10 PM Sunday through Thursday and then until 11 PM on Friday and Saturday nights, so if you were going to get a sitter, aim for the weekend!
Bayou On The Beach Cafe
11115 Hutchison Blvd, Panama City Beach, FL 32407, United States
850-249-3478
http://bayouonthebeachcafe.com/
Serving up New Orleans style seafood, classic sandwiches, and more since 1990, all in a gorgeous, relaxed setting which the owners describe as “down-home” so you know you’re in for a good old-fashioned relaxing meal.
Promising you Mardi Gras celebrations every day of the week, their authentic cajun cooking is whipped up from scratch daily. Especially popular are their raw, fresh-shucked oysters and the notorious Who Dat Shrimp dishes.
No time to sit in and grab a bite? No problem! You can order yourself some steamed seafood anytime during their opening hours online, picking it up to go as soon as it’s been prepared for you.
Daily lunch specials happen Tuesday to Friday, and they make a point of noting that every single item on the menu, from their tartar sauce to the olive salad, has been made from scratch that very day.
Buddy’s Seafood Market
111 S, FL-79, Panama City Beach, FL 32413, United States
850-234-2609
http://www.buddysseafoodmarket.com/
Another place with a second location in Santa Rosa, Buddy’s is a great place to grab some oysters to-go, without committing to a full night out.
Enjoy all the deliciousness of their fresh seafood, relaxing right there on the beach in front of the ocean if you want!
You can either grab your dishes raw or pay a little extra to have them freshly steamed - bear in mind that some menu items must be cooked before eating, so make sure you’ve got the ability to prepare food where you’re staying if necessary!
Although there’s a relatively small menu, you can get all of the fixings of a seafood platter, including oysters prepared in different ways, though being as it’s more of a store than a restaurant, their opening hours are a little different to most eateries.
If you’re after more than the average amount of oysters, you might want to call ahead - they usually only have a few on hand ready-shucked at any one time, so bigger orders require a heads-up.
Mike’s Cafe And Oyster Bar
17554 Front Beach Rd, Panama City Beach, FL 32413, United States
850-234-1942
http://www.mikescafeandoysterbar.com/
Both a down-home diner and a seafood bar, as well as having its very own donut shop right next door, Mike’s is right in the heart of Front Beach and a staple in the local area for delicious oysters. They’ve been serving PCB since 1971!
If there’s anyone in your party who isn’t into seafood, don’t worry: they have all your diner favorites and classics available too, and the best part is they start serving breakfast at 6 AM!
There’s also a daily Happy Hour at the oyster bar to take advantage of.
If you’re looking for a vacation souvenir, you can swing by their merch section to pick up a sweet t-shirt, tote bag, or sports cap, amongst other super cool swag in a variety of sizes.
The Back Porch Seafood & Oyster House
16220 Front Beach Rd, Panama City Beach, FL 32413, United States
850-233-1750
http://www.theback-porch.com/#home
Colorful and unique, the Back Porch has been a Panama City favorite since 1974, serving up Gulf Coast delicacies for more than forty years! They also have a location in Destin, Florida, which is the original restaurant - the menus differ slightly.
Down at PCB, you can expect oysters for days, either fried, breaded, or raw, depending on your preferences. The prices are a little more expensive than some of the other oyster joints on this list, but the quality and taste are absolutely worth it.
Kids can get fish, chicken, or pizza with a variety of sides, so it’s easy to feed any fussy youngsters joining you on your trip. There’s even a separate gluten-free menu for any customers with additional requirements to be easily accommodated.
Opening hours are slightly earlier than other restaurants nearby, opening at 11 AM and closing at 9 PM - 8 o clock on Sundays - so be sure to make time if you want to go check it out.
Pompano Joe’s
16202 Front Beach Rd, Panama City Beach, FL 32413, United States
850-233-1790
http://www.pompano-joes.com/
Last but not least we have Pompano Joe’s, a delicious local eatery serving gulf seafood in Destin and Panama City Beach. Featured on the Travel Channel as the ultimate beach snack shack, this is a must-see for tourists by the sea.
With fresh fish delivered to them daily, directly from the nearby ocean, they prioritize presenting delicious food that’s cooked and delivered professionally in keeping with local traditions.
Their outdoor seating has fantastic views, and if you’re looking to try something other than oysters, they’ve won the Sandestin Gumbo Festival three times for their amazing Seafood Gumbo recipe, which is well worth sampling.
