Best Restaurants in Panama City Beach, FL (2026 Updated Guide)

Panama City Beach has no shortage of places to eat. Between beachfront seafood restaurants, oyster bars, casual local spots, and restaurants packed with tourists, the harder question is figuring out which ones are actually worth your money.

That's what I'm trying to find out.

I'm eating my way through Panama City Beach and personally reviewing restaurants along the way. Every restaurant I review gets a Sam Score, my overall rating based on the food and experience.

Bayou Bill's Crab House, McGuire's Irish Pub, All American Diner, Ford's Garage, Dusty's Oyster Bar, Sharky's and Kilwins are the PCB restaurants with a Sam Score so far, ranked below by score, and this guide will keep growing as I try more, so check back as places get added.

No paid reviews. No bought ratings. Every Sam Score reflects my actual experience.

Tip: hover over any $ price tag below to see what it means.

⭐ Bayou Bill's Crab House

Neighborhood: Front Beach Road

Sam Score: 8.9/10

Best For: Crab legs, big seafood platters and families

Price: $$$

Bayou Bill's has been on Front Beach Road since 1986, a wood-lined seafood hall with mounted fish and model ships, plus a fenced pond of live alligators outside that you can walk up to.

I got Wisconsin Cheese Curds, Blue Crab Dip, and the Ultimate Feast for 2: a pound each of snow crab, king crab and shrimp plus two cold water lobster tails. It's my highest rated PCB restaurant so far. Service was quick, though there can be a wait to get in. Read Sam's full review →

⭐ Personally Reviewed by Eat With Sam K · Read my full Bayou Bill's review →

⭐ McGuire's Irish Pub

Neighborhood: Front Beach Road

Sam Score: 8.8/10

Best For: Steaks, Irish pub food, big groups and a late dinner

Price: $$$

McGuire's is a 550-seat Irish pub and steakhouse across Front Beach Road from the Gulf, the third one after Pensacola and Destin. Signed dollar bills cover the ceiling and every wall, they brew their own ales in house, and Irish musicians play late every night.

I got the McGuire's Root Beer, the 18¢ Senate Bean Soup, Reuben Egg Rolls, a Filet Mignon, the Pasta Rustica and the Garlic Mashed Potatoes. It gets busy, and the kitchen runs until 2 a.m. if you'd rather go late. Read Sam's full review →

⭐ Personally Reviewed by Eat With Sam K · Read my full McGuire's review →

⭐ All American Diner

Neighborhood: Front Beach Road

Sam Score: 8.4/10

Best For: Cheap all-you-can-eat breakfast

Price: $

All American Diner is a chrome-sided diner with "Steaks, Shakes, Pancakes" across the front, a checkerboard floor and counter stools. The draw is the all-you-can-eat breakfast: pancakes, bacon, eggs, biscuits and gravy, grits and home fries.

I got the All-American Diner Spread, with bacon, scrambled eggs, tater tots and a pancake. It's quick, it's cheap, and parking is free. It does get busy. Read Sam's full review →

⭐ Personally Reviewed by Eat With Sam K · Read my full All American Diner review →

⭐ Dusty's Oyster Bar

Neighborhood: Front Beach Road

Sam Score: 8.1/10

Best For: Oysters, fried seafood and a proper local room

Price: $$

Dusty's is the old-school Florida oyster bar people keep telling you about, a loud room off Front Beach Road with dollar bills stapled across every inch of the ceiling. Their own slogan is "Home of warm beer, lousy food and ugly waitresses," so you know what you're walking into.

I got the Dusty's Oyster Sampler and a half dozen seafood oysters, plus the world famous fried green tomatoes and frog legs. It's busy, and that's the one thing to plan around. Read Sam's full review →

💬 Sam Says: "Coolest room I've eaten in around PCB, and the oysters back it up."

⭐ Personally Reviewed by Eat With Sam K · Read my full Dusty's review →

⭐ Ford's Garage

Neighborhood: Pier Park

Sam Score: 8.1/10

Best For: Burgers, families and a quick sit-down meal

Price: $$

Ford's Garage is a burger and craft beer spot styled like a vintage Ford service station, with a Model A up on a lift over the bar and a long wall of beer taps behind it. It's in Pier Park, so it's easy to fold into a day of shopping.

I got the Giant Funnel Tower of Piston Onion Rings, the Model A burger and the Patty Melt. Food came out quick even though it was busy, there's a patio, and it's an easy pick with kids. Read Sam's full review →

⭐ Personally Reviewed by Eat With Sam K · Read my full Ford's Garage review →

⭐ Sharky's Beachfront Restaurant

Neighborhood: Front Beach Road, on the Gulf

Sam Score: 7.9/10

Best For: Families, big groups and eating with a view

Price: $$

Sharky's is a Panama City Beach institution sitting right on the sand, a big open-air place with a tiki bar and tables looking straight out at the Gulf.

The view is the headline, and the seating and service keep up with it: plenty of tables and food out fast even when it's busy. Worth knowing that it's mostly open-air, so the weather is part of the experience. Read Sam's full review →

💬 Sam Says: "The best view of any meal I've had in PCB, and the food holds its own."

⭐ Personally Reviewed by Eat With Sam K · Read my full Sharky's review →

⭐ Kilwins

Neighborhood: Pier Park

Sam Score: 7.8/10

Best For: Ice cream and fudge after dinner

Price: $

Kilwins is the chocolate and ice cream shop in Pier Park, with a copper fudge kettle by the door and ice cream scooped into house-made waffle cones.

I got Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough and Cookies & Cream in waffle bowls. Service is quick and parking is free, but the seating is the patio tables out front, so there's nowhere to sit inside. Read Sam's full review →

⭐ Personally Reviewed by Eat With Sam K · Read my full Kilwins review →

More Panama City Beach Restaurants Worth Knowing

I'm still working my way through Panama City Beach, so the restaurants below haven't received an official Sam Score yet.

Rather than assigning rankings to places I haven't personally reviewed and published yet, I'm keeping them on my radar and will update this guide as I go.

🐟 Mike's Cafe & Oyster Bar

If you're looking for another casual seafood and oyster option, Mike's Cafe & Oyster Bar is one of the local names worth knowing. The menu leans heavily into the kind of seafood you'd expect on a Florida beach trip, including oysters and other Gulf Coast favorites.

Best For: Casual seafood and oysters

🦐 Local Steamer Seafood Market

Local Steamer is particularly interesting if your priority is the seafood itself rather than a traditional sit-down restaurant experience. Seafood boils and Gulf Coast favorites make this a spot I'd consider for anyone wanting a more casual PCB seafood meal.

Best For: Seafood boils, shellfish and casual takeout

Photo via their website, not personally taken

🍽️ Hunt & Gather Raw Bar & Pub

For something a little more chef-driven, Hunt & Gather is one of the Panama City Beach restaurants on my list to try. It offers a different experience from many of PCB's large beachfront and tourist-oriented restaurants, making it especially interesting if you're looking for a more food-focused dinner.

Best For: Date night and a more elevated meal

✨ Firefly

Firefly is another option to consider when you're looking for a nicer dinner in Panama City Beach. Rather than the ultra-casual beach atmosphere you'll find at many PCB restaurants, Firefly is geared more toward an elevated night out.

Best For: Date night, celebrations and nicer dinners

🏆 My Sam Score Rankings

Every restaurant in this guide that I've personally reviewed, ranked by Sam Score. It updates automatically each time I add a review.

Only restaurants I've personally visited and reviewed are eligible for this ranking.

Best Panama City Beach Restaurants by Occasion

As I personally review more restaurants, these picks will increasingly be based on my own Sam Scores.

What Food Is Panama City Beach Known For?

Seafood is the obvious answer. Being on Florida's Gulf Coast means you'll find plenty of oysters, shrimp, fish, crab and seafood boils throughout Panama City Beach.

But that's also why I wouldn't spend an entire PCB trip eating at restaurants simply because they're on the water. I'm looking for the places where the food itself is worth the visit, whether that's a seafood shack, oyster bar, burger joint, breakfast restaurant or an upscale dinner.

Where Should You Eat in Panama City Beach?

If it's your first trip, I'd mix up your restaurant choices rather than eating at the same type of place every night.

Try an old-school seafood or oyster bar, have at least one nicer dinner, and leave room for some of the less obvious restaurants away from the biggest tourist areas.

As I review more PCB restaurants, I'll update this page with my personal rankings so it's easier to decide where your money is actually worth spending.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best restaurants in Panama City Beach?

I'm currently eating my way through Panama City Beach and rating restaurants using the Sam Score. Bayou Bill's Crab House leads at 8.9/10, ahead of McGuire's Irish Pub (8.8) and All American Diner (8.4), then Ford's Garage and Dusty's Oyster Bar at 8.1, Sharky's at 7.9 and Kilwins at 7.8. More restaurants get added as I get to them.

Where should I eat seafood in Panama City Beach?

PCB has a huge number of seafood restaurants. Dusty's Oyster Bar (8.1) and Sharky's Beachfront Restaurant (7.9) are the two I've personally reviewed, while places like Mike's Cafe & Oyster Bar and Local Steamer Seafood Market are also on my radar as I continue exploring the area.

Where can I get oysters in Panama City Beach?

Dusty's Oyster Bar, at 8.1/10. I had the oyster sampler and a half dozen seafood oysters. Mike's Cafe & Oyster Bar is another option worth knowing about.

What are the best restaurants in Panama City Beach for date night?

Hunt & Gather Raw Bar & Pub and Firefly are two restaurants worth considering for a nicer evening. I haven't personally Sam Scored either yet, so I'll update this section once I do.

What is a Sam Score?

The Sam Score is my overall restaurant rating. Restaurants can't pay for a Sam Score, and sponsored content doesn't influence ratings. I pay for my independent review experiences so the score reflects what I actually thought about the food and experience.

The Sam Score

Every restaurant that receives a Sam Score has been personally visited and reviewed by me, food quality, value, service, and atmosphere all factor in.

Restaurants cannot pay for a Sam Score or a better rating. My goal with Eat With Sam K is simple: try the food myself and tell you whether I think it's actually worth your money.

Eating My Way Through Panama City Beach 🌴

This guide is only the beginning. I'm currently eating my way through Panama City Beach, trying restaurants around PCB and figuring out which ones are actually worth visiting.

Every new restaurant I review will be added here with its Sam Score.

Follow @eatwithsamk on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube to watch the reviews as they're released.

Good food. Real reviews. Good times.

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