Best Restaurants in Ocean City

It offers tons of options to keep you full, from a boardwalk stroll to a romantic dinner. Sample some of the city's best, from variations on the proverbial Maryland crab cakes to what many call the best French fries anywhere. Start your beachside vacation on the right foot by tasting local fare at one—or all—of these favorite Ocean City eateries.

Boardwalk Bites: The Atlantic Stand

Take in the sights on the sand or the sounds of street performers as you stroll along the Ocean City boardwalk and head to your next meal. There’s plenty to eat along the way, including a bucket of Thrashers French fries, a must-taste snack in Ocean City.

Succulent Seafood: Hooked

Get hooked on Hooked, a Coastal Highway spot where fresh fare and breezy outdoor seating offer a break from the bustling boardwalk. As the name implies, Hooked serves up seafood in a cozy atmosphere. Lunch offerings include an oyster po'boy with blue cheese and a classic remoulade. Try a local crab cake with Israeli couscous and horseradish chimichurri for dinner, or red curry roasted salmon with coconut ginger rice. There's even a kids' menu offering "guppy bite" sizes.

Martini Mixer: Liquid Assets

This restaurant's name might sound like a place where you come just to imbibe, and the classy eatery doesn't skimp in that department. The martinis at Liquid Assets include one laced with Kentucky bourbon and coffee, another that mimics hot chocolate, and one that will leave you "Wide Awake" with its blend of espresso. Cheese has a menu all its own here—you can drink and nibble on decadent domestic and imported selections of brie, blue and Gouda. Liquid Assets offers a full dining menu as well, with selections including the Wagyu Burger or fried shrimp with creamy chorizo grits.

Doughnut Heaven: Layton's Family Restaurant

You can grab a good breakfast at many places in Ocean City, but the homemade doughnuts at Layton's Family Restaurant are to die for. They've been an institution in the city for decades. You'll find them smothered in frosting, marshmallows, sprinkles, coconut and chocolate—and even bacon. The owner knows you'll be clamoring for more after he offers you a free sample. But it's not just sugar shock here—this Philadelphia Avenue restaurant serves up full breakfast fare, including the Neptune Benedict—think of the traditional dish with crab cakes in place of the ham—and biscuits smothered with chipped beef. Layton's is open through lunchtime.

Ready to travel? Find hotels in Ocean City.