Leland is one of the fastest growing towns in North Carolina, so of course, it’s filled with restaurants. If you’re trying to figure out where to eat, this list of Restaurants In Leland, North Carolina To Try will help.
For more help planning your visit, check out all of our posts about Leland.
When people ask where we live, we always say Wilmington, NC. It’s a huge city. It’s where One Tree Hill and Dawson’s Creek were filmed, and people have heard of it.
The truth is, we actually live in Leland, the town next to Wilmington. And a few years ago, we went on a self-dubbed Culinary Tour Of Leland every Wednesday with the goal of checking out all the restaurants in town.
Honestly, there are a lot to places to eat in Leland, NC. According to the local news station WWAY, Leland is the fastest growing town in North Carolina.
It makes sense. Property taxes are lower and homes are cheaper in Leland than in Wilmington, so people move here and travel there for work or to hang out downtown. But, the growth isn’t just in population. It’s in amenities too
Since we’ve moved here, a brand new huge town hall was built, we got not one but two Starbucks coffeeshops, there are tons of apartments, new homes are popping up quickly, and there are a bunch of places to eat.
So if you come to visit, you might actually get overwhelmed by the number of restaurants. We’re here to help. We put together this list of restaurants in Leland to help you decide where to eat.
If you don’t mind crossing a small, non-toll bridge, there are a ton of restaurants across the water too. So, be sure to check out our list of Must Try Restaurants In Wilmington, North Carolina too.
Restaurants In Leland, North Carolina To Try
When I make these lists, I focusing on local restaurants only. Local chains are fine, but no national chains. If you can find them anywhere, you won’t find them on this list.
Also, this list isn’t inclusive of every restaurant in town. Yes, there are more. Yes, there are some that didn’t make the list. But, those are restaurants that we just wouldn’t recommend. It’s that simple.
Jade Garden
Address: 1735 Reed Rd NE
Cuisine: Chinese
Jade Garden is our go to Chinese take out restaurant. There are two Chinese take out restaurants closer to us, but I will drive all the way to Jade Garden because the food is that much better.
There are a ton of wontons in the wonton soup, the cream cheese wontons are just that (no imitation crab hidden inside), and the lo mein is so flavorful.
Plus, we’ve seen the owner’s kids grow up over the dozen years we’ve been going there and I love supporting a family-run business like that.
What should you order at Jade Garden? Sweet & Sour chicken, Pork Lo Mein, and Cream Cheese Wontons
Does Jade Garden have outdoor seating? No.
Shuckin’ Shack Oyster Bar
Address: 1175 Turlington Ave
Cuisine: Seafood
Don’t be fooled by the word “oyster” in the name of Shuckin’ Shack Oyster Bar. There are more than just oysters served.
You can get everything from a lobster roll to chicken wings to a bean burger. And yes, of course, there are oysters and oyster shooters if you’re into that. I watched my brother do one at Shuckin’ Shack and that’s enough of that for me.
What should you order at Shuckin’ Shack? The Ahi Tuna appetizer
Does Shuckin’ Shack have outdoor seating? Yes. And a ton of it.
Local’s Tavern
Address: 1107 New Pointe Blvd #9
Cuisine: Bar food
Quick backstory about this place.
There was a popular local bar in this location that closed (suddenly). Some of the locals there got together and started Local’s Tavern. Honestly, it doesn’t get more local than that.
The feel is the same as the previous bar, but the menu is a little but more playful.
What should you order at Local’s Tavern? Southwest Egg Rolls
Does Local’s Tavern have outdoor seating? Yes, there is a nice sized patio in front.
P.T.’s Olde Fashioned Grille
Address: 1035 Grandiflora Dr
Cuisine: Burgers
P.T.’s Olde Fashioned Grille holds a special place in my heart because it was the first meal my parents and grandma had after buying a house in Leland. That just happened to be on my dad’s birthday too, so it was really special.
But we love P.T.’s for the food too. You can get a burger, turkey sandwich, bean burger, and more. With each sandwich, you get a drink and a choice of either a salad or fries. Go with the fries. I don’t know what they season the fries with, but I need to own that blend (and, actually, you can buy it there).
What should you order at P.T.’s Olde Fashioned Grille? Grilled Chicken Sandwich (with bacon!) and fries
Does P.T.’s Olde Fashioned Grille have outdoor seating? Yes, there’s seating on the outdoor patio.
Cape Fear Seafood Company
Address: 143 Poole Rd
Cuisine: Seafood
When we first moved here, someone recommended we go to Cape Fear Seafood Company in Wilmington solely for the fried okra. Of course, we obliged.
A few years ago, the restaurant opened a second location in Leland — but I’ve gotten asparagus as a side to my crab cakes. Sorry to the okra, but the asparagus pairs so well with the almost-all-crab cakes I love.
What should you order at Cape Fear Seafood Company? Saltimbocca (it’s made with white fish!) but also, everything we have had there — even chicken alfredo — has been amazing.
Does Cape Fear Seafood Company have outdoor seating? Yes, but there are only a few tables.
Papi’s Chicken
Address: 1108 New Pointe Blvd Ste. 140
Cuisine: Peruvian
Papi’s Chicken‘s thing is, well, chicken. But it is Pollo a la brasa style, which is a Peruvian rotisserie chicken that’s marinated and then roasted
You can order a full chicken at the restaurant, plates of chicken, or items like the Papi’s Salad and Chaufa (Peruvian style fried Jasmine rice) that you can top with the chicken.
Our honest opinion: The Chaufa was pretty bland, so go with something else.
What should you order at Papi’s Chicken? A full rotisserie chicken to go. Don’t forget to ask for the sauces. The spicy sauce is so good.
Does Papi’s Chicken have outdoor seating? No.
Chingon Taqueria
Address: 1132 New Pointe Blvd
Cuisine: Tex-Mex
Suddenly, and sort of inexplicably, there are a lot of Mexican restaurants popping up in Leland. Chingon Taqueria was the second of three to debut here.
Chingon is fast casual with an exceptional toppings bar filled with salsa, tomatoes, beans, and more. So you can order what you want and then completely customize it after you get it.
Side note: It’s the same owners as Papi’s Chicken.
What should you order at Chingon Taqueria? A choose two combo with a taco and tostada
Does Chingon Taqueria have outdoor seating? No.
San Felipe Mexican Restaurant
Address: 1114 New Pointe Blvd #140
Cuisine: Mexican
San Felipe Mexican Restaurant is the OG of the trio of Mexican restaurants Leland has, although it’s not the original.
When we moved here, Mexico Viejo was here and was amazing, then it changed to Plaza Mariachi which was not as great (and has since closed). At that time, San Felipe opened and people flocked there for the food and not-watered-down margaritas. Since then they’ve had really good staying power in town.
I love Mexican food, and this is a little bit of a let down in my opinion. But if you want sit down Mexican food in Leland, it’s the only option.
What should you order at San Felipe Mexican Restaurant? The Mexican Street Corn
Does San Felipe Mexican Restaurant have outdoor seating? No.
Islands Fresh Mex Grill
Address: 2013 Olde Regent Way #110
Cuisine: Mexican
I figured I would put all three of the Mexican restaurants in a row to help you pick one for your dinner.
We refer to Islands Fresh Mex Grill as “Mexican Subway” when we’re describing it to people. You choose what you want and then go down the line and tell your toppings to the worker who adds them to your meal.
The best thing about Islands is the price, though. After 5pm, you can get $1 tacos (up to 4) with the purchase of a drink. You’re getting exactly what you think you’d get for a dollar taco, but if you’re feeing a family, it’s a good deal.
What should you order at Islands Fresh Mex Grill? $1 tacos
Does Islands Fresh Mex Grill have outdoor seating? No.
Farmhouse Kitchen
Address: 1120 E Cutlar Crossing
Cuisine: Homestyle/breakfast
I like the story behind this location.
Bessie Burger was a hamburger joint that was known for good fries. A car drove into it and although we heard it was supposed to reopen, the restaurant seemingly took that as a sign to close and actually never reopened. But that opened the location for Farmhouse Kitchen to arrive.
It’s only open for breakfast and lunch daily, so don’t head there looking for a dinner menu. The items are typical breakfast items that you can make at home, like avocado toast and omelets, so we don’t go often. But Pete’s dad loves it and goes a lot. I think it’s because they serve his favorite BLT Bloody Mary.
What should you order at Farmhouse Kitchen? Eggs Benedict
Does Farmhouse Kitchen have outdoor seating? Yes, there are a bunch of tables outside.
Wheelz Pizza
Address: 59 Waterford Business Center Way
Cuisine: Pizza
There’s a lot of chain pizza in this area, but there’s also a lot of local pizzerias too. Not as many as when I lived in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. That place has something like five pizza places for every resident (just kidding, but it’s close).
The most popular of the chains gave us raw pizza, then blamed the fresh tomatoes, so that’s why it’s not on the list. Of course, that’s not Pete’s favorite anyway (and you know, he’s a pizzatarian). His favorite is Wheelz Pizza, which is made on a sourdough-like crust, giving it a really unique taste.
What should you order at Wheelz Pizza? The margarita pizza
Does Wheelz Pizza have outdoor seating? No.
Six Happiness
Address: 1114 New Pointe Blvd
Cuisine: Asian
We tried Six Happiness, but we used to have a really great Asian restaurant in town, which was so much better, so we would choose it over Six Happiness.
But, that place is gone now, so if you want non-grocery store sushi in Leland, your only option is Six Happiness. Because it fills that void, it’s on this list. But, to be very honest, we don’t really recommend it.
What should you order at Six Happiness? Sushi
Does Six Happiness have outdoor seating? No.
The Fuzzy Peach
Address: 4134, 1109 New Pointe Blvd # 4
Cuisine: Frozen yogurt
I love The Fuzzy Peach. It reminds me of moving here so much. The frozen yogurt chain was started in Wilmington and has a ton of locations. It has also outlived all the other frozen yogurt chains that have opened (and closed) since we moved here.
I love The Fuzzy Peach so much that we actually had it bring a full yogurt bar with 18 toppings, four syrups, and a huge spinning yogurt to our wedding rehearsal dinner.
What should you order at The Fuzzy Peach? Frozen yogurt and all the toppings
Does The Fuzzy Peach have outdoor seating? There are a couple seats outside.
Bridgewater Wines & Dines
Address: 48 Waterford Business Center Way (Note the address changed in October 2025)
Cuisine: Upscale pub food
Bridgewater Wines is a wine store. Mostly. It also serves really good pub food.
The flat breads are good and the charcuterie boards are fantastic. And the menu is really extensive, so you’ll definitely find something to pair with your favorite wine (which you can have by the glass or bottle while you eat).
If we’re being honest, though, we’ll steer you away from the nachos. They looked good, but we didn’t love them. Everything else, though, has been tasty.
What should you order at Bridgewater Wines? Bavarian Pretzel
Does Bridgewater Wines have outdoor seating? No.
New Day Café
Address: 497 Olde Waterford Way STE 100
Cuisine: Breakfast/lunch
New Day Café opened in the location where I used to get my all time favorite pad thai was, so I’m still a little heartbroken. But, that’s the restaurant life, huh?
New Day Café originally was only open for breakfast and lunch, but it started serving dinner a few years ago (although we haven’t been there for dinner, just for brunch).
What should you order at New Day Café? Any of the French Toasts
Does New Day Café have outdoor seating? Yes, there are a few tables outside.
Leland Smoke House – Closed in November 2025; reopened the same day as The Pit BBQ
Address: 503 Olde Waterford Way Ste 100
Cuisine: Smoked BBQ
If you like barbecue (like smoked meats, not pulled pork … but also, pulled pork) Leland Smoke House is the spot for you.
It’s the second location for the brand, which has its original location in Southport (known, mostly, for being the backdrop for numerous Nicholas Sparks books and movies).
The restaurant serves smoked BBQ, which means it’s gonna have those pretty smoke rings and pink insides. If you’re not used to that, you may be alarmed and think your food is raw, which is what happened to numerous patrons who posted on Nextdoor when it first open.
The food is delicious, the sides are plentiful, and the sauces are so good (get the ‘Bama White sauce, trust me).
What should you order at Leland Smoke House? Ribs
Does Leland Smoke House have outdoor seating? There’s a section for outdoor seating, which the restaurant before it used, but Leland Smoke House doesn’t use it.
Which of these restaurants in Leland, North Carolina would you like to try first? Be sure to let us know in the comments.