Spending a few days in South Padre Island this week. I like the White Sands Restaurant in Port Isabel. What others are recommended?

White Sands was shut down for a spell after COVID and went into BK or was repo'ed. It has since opened back up but I don't think a member of the Marchan family is running it. I haven't eaten there since it changed hands, thus it might be real good or might suck. Just have to check it out.

All the Mexican seafood places in PI are pretty good, I think that Los Tortugos place is the most popular. The Mexican place next to the Tortilleria in PI is really good, I can't remember the name. But if interested just do a search for Tortilleria and the place next to it would be it.

Gulf Seafood Market in PI is always good, and it is one place I do eat at. Joe the original owner recently passed, RIP, but Ricky is still running it. Their sandwiches and Poboy's are the best in the local area and it is about the best value locally.

I avoid the Island nowadays for the most part. But if I went I my go to place has always been, and will likely always be Blackbeards. The original owners, KC and Lou, always took painstaking pride in making sure there ingredients were top notch and fresh. I believe that has continued, I have never had a bad meal at Blackbeards.

We go the the island often. Here are some of my favorites:

Breakfast: Yummies (plan on a wait), Josephine's Kitchen, The Cafe on the Beach, Grapevine Cafe, Karma has good coffee

Lunch/Dinner: Viva is on the bay, owned by Yummies' folks, Mahi Nic - casual spot by the boats on the south end of the island, Dirty Al's for fried seafood, Gabriella's for dinner, F&B if you're looking for upscale dinner, Liam's for steak and seafood, also a bit upscale.

Blackbeard's is going to get a lot of mentions because its an institution, but I'm not a huge fan, unless you're looking for a burger. The rest of the menu is too industrial for me. Tom & Jerry's has a good burger, casual dining. Meatball Cafe is pretty good for lunch.

As mentioned, Port Isabel if you're looking for Tex-Mex. Lots of options. I haven't been to the White Sands in years but it was consistent, especially the whole fried flounder or whole fried snapper.

Have fun!

Thank you for the replies!

If the Island places are too crowded for you, Pelican Station in Port Isabel is owned by Dirty Al's too. A nicer place than Dirty Al's. I've always been happy with my meals there.

RGV, el Jefe restaurant is what you are looking for next to the Tortilla factory

OP if you want a nice dinner, I did not see it mentioned above but FNB is probably the nicest dinner establishment and great food.

The other folks covered the best of the rest

Pelican station has really taken a dump in the last couple years. The history is amazing on the walls but the food is terrible in my experience

Thank you sir, El Jefe is it. The one other place in PI that I have always liked, as I used to know the original owners, is Mexiquito. Back in the day the ladies that owned it were married to Shrimpers and they would have the best and freshest shrimp of any place in PI. They had really good lunch specials.

I agree on Pelican Station, it has never been "Wow" to me.

I have known Al and his brood since he only had the bait shop concession at the Sea Ranch. There isn't a harder working or more dedicated bunch in Cameron county. My hat is truly off to him. That being said I will never lose the memory of Al offering to buy the bait he sold folks back from them and he would then refreeze it and sell again, LOL.

Sadly I no longer know the "it" places on SPI. Too much change.

You and I need to get together one of these days….Would love to compare notes.

I was on the island in the 80's and early 90's then left for 20 years and came back to the valley in 2015.

Trying to catch back up with everything.

But yes, I miss the good old days

Going to meet my great grandparents nieghbors In San Perlita next month and really interested in hearing those stories

Agree, I am sure it would be interesting.

If you were running around SPI/PI in the late 80's and early 90's it is likely we have met and if nothing else have mutual contacts. I ended up working in Mex starting around 93' and slowly drifted away from down there, especially when I ended up with the wifa.

The 80's through the mid to late 90's was really a fun and special time on SPI. It had grown enough to pretty cool all year long by then but was not so overcrowded that it was still a small, close knit, and very egalitarian community. I have always considered the building and then opening of Schlitterbahn(sp) to be the line of demarcation in terms of when the Island began to change at a much faster pace. It seems like in that time frame the amount of "non-locals" that "discovered" the SPI/PI really increased. That time frame marked the increased arrival of chains and franchises as well as sustained, driven development.

I don't know if I have been on the Island in a couple of years, but every time I visit I am just amazed that I no longer recognize it and the realization that I no longer know a good portion of the population saddens me. But such is life.

I had always planned on retiring down there, and I still own property. But I don't think that is gonna play out as while it may be a great place, it isn't the place I loved in the past. With SpaceX and the LNG deal it is gonna change even more.

I second Mahi Nic's & Dirty Als.

D Pizza Joint is great. Ceviche Ceviche is really good if you like that.

Port Isabel has Stripes breakfast tacos and Joe Ouster Bar!

Yes sir agree. My take on when it all
Changed was after the oil bust and the arrival of the Israelis and their t shirt shops.

Although you are right that when they bulldozed Charlie's for schliterbahn, everything from Demographics, to development trends changed.

Seems like the island is on a bit of a high end swing again for the first time since the early 80's and again there is excitement for the new causeway.

Was at a grand opening for a high end restaurant the other night and it was really good to see all the usual suspects there along With some New folks.

However I will tell you that the egalitarian aspect is slightly shifting to be a bit more of a selective crowd