El's Drive-In

El’s Drive-In is a Morehead City classic for a reason — they’ve been doing it right since 1959! You can roll up, stay comfy in your car, and they’ll come right out to take your order (no need to even unbuckle). The carhops are quick, friendly, and somehow always smiling — even when it’s hotter than hush puppies in July. Now let’s talk about the food. The Super Burger Carolina Style is next-level — juicy, loaded with slaw, chili, and all the fixings that make you need extra napkins and zero regrets. The chili cheese fries? Pure comfort food magic. And the onion rings… oh my word. Crispy perfection with that golden crunch you can hear. Easily the best I’ve ever had anywhere on the coast. They’ve also got shaded picnic tables under big old oak trees if you’d rather sit outside, but honestly, nothing beats eating in your car with the windows down and the smell of salt air rolling in. El’s isn’t just food — it’s a whole vibe. If you’re anywhere near Morehead City, stop what you’re doing and go. Your stomach will thank you.

Super cool drive in restaurant. They come to your car to take your order. On the recommendation of a friend I had the shrimp burger. Yummy!! If you like shrimp, try the sandwich!! Granddaughter said the cheeseburger and chocolate shake were excellent too!

I was out this way for work and hungry pulled in and what a surprise! Great food and service! Mary came out to my car as I was getting out to go up to order and I didn't realize I could sit right in my car order pay and eat. I've got a little bit of a drive back home so this was perfect for me this evening. Will definitely be back when I'm back this way

The food is as awesome as it has always been! I haven't been since the new renovations and rebuild, but it looks great! The flagpole mount was my favorite!

Stopped by El’s for the first time today. It didn’t disappoint! The food was great. I had th Els burger and a small shrimp burger for lunch. Food came out quick. The service was top notch! Jessica (my server) was very welcoming and informative of what I should order! Great employee! Will be back soon!

Old fashioned drive-in. Bellhop comes to your car for orders. Great food. Great price. Bathrooms were extremely clean.They now take cash and card. Very friendly and fast service. Food was made exactly how it was ordered, came out hot. Would eat there again. Fully recommend.

Have been coming here for years when scuba diving in the area! Great spot for a quick meal, snack, shake or anything. Food is always great as are the staff! Super friendly and the burgers are very good! Highly recommend this local small business! This is a drive in, no inside dining.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ El’s Drive-In is a local gem! El’s Drive-In never misses! Their hot dogs have that perfect snap, the hamburgers are juicy and full of flavor, and the shrimp is always hot, crispy, and seasoned just right. Add in their huge variety of sides, and you’ve got the perfect comfort-food lineup every single time. But what truly makes the experience special is Mary. She is absolutely amazing—always friendly, fast, and on top of everything. Her energy, kindness, and the way she takes care of customers make every visit feel welcoming. She’s one of the reasons El’s feels like home. Great food, great service, and the best staff—especially Mary. El’s Drive-In is a must-visit!

First of all, the satellite El's is in Smyrna, NC. While El's is under renovation, you can still get an El's Burger All The Way, a Shrimp Burger, killer Fries, and Onion Rings. Go. You won't be disappointed and it's worth the trip. My mom passed away in August. My brother Bob & I vowed to eat Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner everyday while we were in Morehead city for the funeral. Sadly, El's is closed, but, thankfully the owners opened El's East in Smyrna, NC. It's a trailer and a parking lot with a few picnic tables. I've been making my family go to El's as a religious event whenever we are in town. El's East is a walk up counter in a black trailer. Don't care. It is wonderful and if you are in the area it's a must. We had perfect weather which made the journey to Davis, my mom's home town, a treat. The burger all the way was deliciously heavy and rich. The Shrimp burger, fresh & tender shrimp, lightly breaded. Onion Rings will probably kill me but I do not care. I must. I must. And I have devoured them. My apologies for no pics. The food didn't last. Yelp couldn't find the Smyrna address so the El's address in Morehead shows up. Google El's East in Smyrna, Down East, NC. I'm thankful the owners cared about their devote followers enough to open El's East in 2024. Now, what are you waiting for? Go!

Always great. Servers do an incredible job with keeping up with the cars even though you can literally park anywhere. Wish I lived down there so I could visit more often.

Have known this place for many years One of my favorite restaurants for hot dogs and hamburgers and the staff is always very friendly also I Tell newcomers about it when visiting the area.

Went there just before the renovation. I wanted to like this place and had my expectations high. But was just disappointed. The service was great, the car hops were quick, friendly, and helpful. However the food was just OK. I got a shrimp burger, oyster burger, onion rings, cherry shake. Nothing really impressed me, it was all just OK. Plus I really thought the value for we quality was lacking. I think the biggest warning is they put ketchup (or similar) on the burgers. Yuck. I'm not 3 years old. The ketchup really hides and overpowers the seafood flavor. Never going there again, especially with so many other options around the area.

I love This place the hotdogs are the best. I've never been disappointed one time. I have been eating here for a many of years.

Got to love this place -it's a classic drive up with burgers shakes and fries -cash only but they have an ATM -waitresses bring it to your car no dine in option

Yummy yummy in my tummy! This is what I call a shrimp burger baby! Best shrimp burger I ever ate! Only shrimp burger I ever ate! Oooohhh baby it's good!

Best hot dog I have had in a long time ... only down side is that it's a cash only establishment

It is a cash-only business that has been around since the 1940's. A great stop after a day at the beach. This is a cash-only drive inn, just remember that. The local favorite is the shrimp burger.

Legendary food! It's a must stop in when visiting the Crystal Coast! Drive up, order, and enjoy a little piece of heaven!!

You stay in your car. They bring the menu and food out to you. Go hungry. Huge portions. The servers come straight out to your car. Pretty traditional hamburger and hot dog fare, plus seafood options because its on the coast. On the one hand my throwing-out-food guilt makes me hate this place, but on the other hand, they fill you up. Burgers and fries are really good and you may take a bunch home with you. On the downside, for me, lots of fried, fried, fried, so food can be heavy. You're in your car, so based on your vehicle choices, you choose your ambiance depending on what part of the drive-in you park. Really excellent grill/fried food, but heavy, so go hungry.

Love the food. Shrimp burgers are the best. Call ahead in the summer if you don't want to wait a long time. But if you do it's worth it

El's is authentic, great food with car hops taking and then running your order out to you. You'll feel like you're back in the 50's.One note it is currently closed for renovations (4/8/24) but they will likely be open by Memorial Day 2024. Call before you go but definitely don't miss this gem of the Crystal Coast!

Fun Nostalgia, plain food nothing special and maybe a little over priced. Service you in your vehicle.

We always hit El's for their shrimp burger and onion rings..always delicious and always worth the stop.

Nothing fancy with this old school drive in. I had the cheeseburger with slaw with fries. Just the right amount of food. I like that it's cash only. Just roll in, hang out, order and chill. Great way to round out an afternoon at the beach. I'll go back.

Stopped by on our way out of town- great portions and great prices! The oyster plate was delicious!

5 Stars for the Hush Puppies alone! They are outstanding! Highly recommend them. Any trip to MHC requires a stop at this institution

We were looking for a quick bite and pulled into El's. This is an old school drive in where waitresses come to your car to take your order. We got shrimp platters and chicken and all of it was amazing. The shrimp plate was enormous and the hushpuppies were delicious. Price was reasonable and everyone that worked there was really helpful and friendly. Definitely recommend El's and we will be back. Thanks for a great meal!!

Full disclosure - I would definitely give this place another try because I think it could be better than my first go-around. I love a good roadside stop, especially one that that looks like it's been here for decades, which after looking them up, they have! (1959!). I tried the supercheeseburger 'all the way', fries, onion rings, and hushpuppies. After calling in the order, it was ready to pickup within 10 minutes and your food is brought out to your car. The cheeseburger was pretty big - hence the name lol. It was pretty thick and also large in diameter on a bigger than standard sized bun. Other than coleslaw and cheese, I'm not really sure what else was actually on this burger. The flavors were pretty muddled and I ended up adding ketchup. I don't *think* mine (or my husband who ordered the same thing) had neither chili or mustard that was supposed to be included as well. My husband really liked the hushpuppies - only $1 for 6. The onion rings were not something I would get again - these are not ones that have an actual onion ring inside the batter and instead have more of an onion mash. Basically what I would get buying a bag at a grocery store :-( The fries were okay, but not salted or seasoned. While they gave s&p on the side, salt doesn't stick unless they are immediately seasoned after being fried, so they were really bland fries even after shaking on salt. All in all, I would try something different next time and ask for the fries to be seasoned if I ordered again.

Excellent food worth stopping and you dont need to get out of your car. Shrimp burger is awesome! Park under the big oak trees for shade. My wife aaid she has been comming here sense the 70's.

First time trying El's Drive In and we loved it. Simple but yummy shrimp burger. Yumminess

This is the kind of place that makes you feel like you've stepped back in time. You pull off the highway into the parking lot and without much rhyme or reason just put your car in park. There aren't lines on the pavement and at any given time you're likely to see a big RV or boat on a trailer pulling through. But just pick a spot and park nearby, the servers are very skilled at keeping track of cars and orders and newcomers! The menu is displayed on a large board across the top of the building. They have dinner plates (seafood, bbq, hamburger steak, fried chicken, etc) and sandwiches (po boys, burgers, etc) and quite a variety of offerings. A server promptly walks up to your car window with pen and paper in hand and you simply tell her everything you'd like to order! A couple minutes later they'll return with a paper bag full of food and whatever you ordered to drink. The "drive-in" concept may not be quite as quick as a fast food drive through but stopping by for lunch at El's is a must if you're in the area!

If you're new here, know that El's is part dining, part nostalgic experience for anyone who grew up in the area, part vital lunch service to busy hospital & college employees nearby. It's fast, usually friendly, and extremely affordable. And for the price, the food is really good! It's also a true drive-in, so know that it's not going to have some of the standard services and amenities that a full service restaurant does. El's is such an establishment that most people are fiercely protective of it staying exactly the way it is: a tiny midcentury brick kitchen with walk-up, from which process an endless stream of servers toting neon paper menus and white bags. You eat in your car here. You want tables, fancy restrooms, and more ambiance than 25 vehicles and huge live oak trees? Look elsewhere. But don't miss some of the favorites here. El's legends are Super Burger and Shrimp Burger, among others. Burgers will have mustard and chili as NC mandates, and the soft bun filled with tiny shrimp that comprises the Shrimp Burger should be ordered super sized and includes NC sweet coleslaw. Milkshakes are old fashioned and a great accompaniment. Oh, and fries are crinkle cut and really, really good when they're hot. If none of that is your thing, it could be argued that coastal NC might not be for you, but El's does have a lengthy menu of sandwiches.

Drive up and order from your car. Great food! Always delicious. Everything we order is great. Cash only

It's fried, drive in food but omg it is worth it. There is no indoor seating--you eat at the picnic tables for from your car but you will not be disappointed. Have the shrimp burger.

I don't see what all the fuss is about this place. Food is just ok at best and way overpriced. Plus slaw does not belong on a hot dog ! ‍

Waited over an hour and our food new came. We called and asked for an update and they said it would be right out. We tried to waved down a waitress but that didn't work either.

Wow. This worth all the hype. Fantastic (and fast/hard working staff) service to your car! Delicious food...had the shrimp burger (MINUS ketchup) , oysters (soooo many!), And small order of hushpuppies. We will return always ..and are VERY glad they are open year-round. This is truly a GREAT stop!

Writing another review (I guess the old one just bounced out because it's been so long). You can see how many folks love the place, let me just add this: a few years ago, a water spout popped up and ran over Atlantic Beach, crossed the sound, went over the community college and crossed the road to the hospital. The community reaction? "OMG! Is El's ok?" A truly beloved place.

Amazing shrimp burger! Made to order, worth waiting in line for a few minutes! Sweet servers bring the food to your vehicle.

Just pull up and they'll wait on you! We tried to call in but they're internet and phone are broken until July 12. Really fast nonetheless! Get the shrimp burger and a shake! Good hush puppies. Skip the fries.

What a step back in time! Ol'schook style joint, you don't even have to leave your car. Bummer we missed the chicken salad and wish I would have ordered the shrimp burger b/c it's suppose to be amazing. What we did order was the 1/4 pound cheese burger w/ bacon and grilled onions and the shrimp platter. Super happy with both!

Stopped in after nice day on the water and attempted to call in my order. It's was about 7pm and I was told they were closed. Google said they closed at 11p, Facebook and yelp gave hours until 10p.

This throwback to the 60s or even the 30s have some of the most of fordable fresh seafood in the Crystal Coast. Where other places want eight and nine dollars for a shrimp burger it's five dollars here although you can giant size it for a few bucks more they're oyster burger was one of the best I've had in a long time I have to admit I used to go here 28 years ago and I come back now and it's still a wonderful place you should try it at least twice every time youVisit

These folks bust their buns running around taking orders and bringin em to ya. Leave your visa in your pocket its cash only, you'll need it to tip these hardworking friendly folks. Ill update this once I've eaten this superburger I'm getting Update: ok I'm going to mange some expectations here, it was a good greasy hamburger with a hint of chili and the slaw was sweet. Annnnd my girl forgot my sweetener. ‍

Always good- a local favorite since I was a child. Cheeseburger and shrimp burger are my go-tos

Excellent food at the beach. The shrimp burgers are a must! I also tried the Super Cheeseburger and it was delicious! Highly Recommend

I've eaten here countless times over the years, dating back to shortly after Elvin Franks opened this true drive-in in 1959 - I wish I had changed as little as this place has! Alice had never eaten here, so on our recent visit to New Bern, we made it a point to come here. In fact, one of the reasons we chose New Bern for a short visit was it proximity to both Morehead City and Ayden. We wanted to eat at El's and Big Oak on the same day, and the next day eat at both Skylight Inn and Bum's in Ayden - same day comparison's are a lot of fun. This place is as throw back as it gets - asphalt parking lot, no inside seating, lady carhops (some with attitudes), so you never have to get out of the car. This place is about Shrimp Burgers, Oyster Burgers, Super Burgers (their signature burger), Chili Dogs, and even a little Chopped Pork BBQ. They also offer Fried Shrimp Plates & Trays, Fried Oyster Plates & Trays, even Fried Chicken - but go for the sandwiches, that's what El's is, and always has been! We ordered the Super Cheeseburger (basically, a Chili Cheeseburger or Carolina Burger), a Shrimp Burger, a Chili Dog with M, C, & O, and FFs. Order was out in about 10 minutes, hand delivered in a paper bags - they don't do trays on the windows anymore, probably because people drive off with them. The food here is solid, even very good, but there is nothing here, other than the experience itself, that is life changing. The Super Cheeseburger is a bit small (1/4 pound burger) with a sweet slaw, a bit of onion, a dab of mustard, and a very good chili, all wrapped up in a very wrinkled, very standard hamburger bun. It is good, it is not great, imo - though it has been featured in both Our State Magazine, and Guns & Gardens Magazine. The Shrimp Burger was nice, as well, with a nice amount of fresh, fried shrimp, along with ketchup and the same sweet slaw. I ordered it this way because that is their traditional way of serving it up - I would rather go with tartar sauce or cocktail sauce, or mayo and a bit of lettuce. The FFs were a bit of a disappointment - bland, limp, and without salt. The Chili Dog was, like the burger, good, not great. The chili here is very nice, though a bit thin, but the wiener was more than a little over cooked, almost black - if I were the suspicious kind, I'd think it was left over from the night before, we did arrive early. And the chopped onions were put on last - party foul - several will almost always slip off, with a bit of chili attached, directly on to you hand washed jeans - all who see you will know you has an accident, of sorts. But, in the end, it tasted good! Why the 4 stars? Maybe a little nostalgia. Maybe because sometimes it's about the experience, almost as much as the food, and this old school, kick ass place needs to be experienced while it can be.

We had read all about El's Drive In and had to see what it was all about! We pulled up into their huge parking area and was greeted shortly after by a waitress who handed us a menu and said she'd be back to take our order. The parking area is a bit haphazard but the waitresses are super organized and will check often to make sure everyone has ordered or has food. We ordered various items from cheeseburgers to shrimp burgers to cherry shakes. Everything was just like you'd expect it to be, delicious! I love nothing more than when a burger tastes like a burger and theirs was the best! Pressed patty with cheese and LTM. It was awesome! The fries were crispy and the big surprise fore was the cherry milkshake! It was so good! The prices are low and the food is awesome! Definitely worth a trip to experience this gem!

I absolutely love this little drive-in. They have real southern style hotdogs like I can get back home in WV. Will absolutely visit them over and over. The wait is a little long but I'd wait even longer, without complaint.

Everything I could ask for! Fast, Delicious and a great staff. Just here for the weekend but will always be stopping here when I come down.

Incredible shrimp burger... after 20 years the flavor can still bring me home! The super shrimp burger all the way is the way to go in my opinion.

Best shrimp burgers! Wait can be long but we'll with it. When we drive by and saw such a crowd, we knew it was a place to stop!

Amazing !! I love thier hotdogs if I'm anywhere within an hour distance I go out of my way to stop and get food.

El's Drive-In has been around since the 1960s and even survived hurricane Florence. It is definitely fast food but so very different from McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy's, etc. They only own the one place and they are not corporate owned which makes it more personable. If you want great milkshakes, want to try a shrimp burger, & have got fries...This place is for you! The service come out to take your order and then they will bring it out to your car where you can either stay in the parking lot and eat or take it home with you.

Wow. This place is still open. I used to go here as a kid. It was amazing to people come out to your car and take your order. This was back in the 80's. So many people would come here. So it was great to see they were still here. Burgers are great here. Stop by and eat.

Nostalgic throw back true drive in. Be aware it is CASH ONLY. It is also not fast food. But a very decent shrimp burger for $4? Sure, I'll wait!

Oh my goodness. Where to begin. I had the shrimp burger which had huge and fresh local shrimp on it with slaw and ketchup. My daughter had the chicken fingers and said the were the best ever. The onion rings, fries and burger that my Mom had were delicious also! Wait staff was efficient and friendly even in the heat at this busy drive in place. A unique experience for sure. Sweet tea was perfect! Don't skip this place. Trust me, the line and wait was well worth it. You can call your order in ahead of time. Wish I'd have known that before we went but we enjoyed the experience anyway.