Mahi Nic
Seafood restaurant · Cameron County ·

Mahi Nic

Seafood restaurant · Cameron County ·

Burgers, seafood, and huge fries with harbor views

mahi tacos
huge fries
friendly staff
mahi sandwich
outdoor seating
waterfront view
great food
blackened mahi
Mahi Nic by null
Mahi Nic by null
Mahi Nic by null
Mahi Nic by null
Mahi Nic by null
Mahi Nic by null
Mahi Nic by null
Mahi Nic by null
Mahi Nic by null
Mahi Nic by null
Mahi Nic by null
Mahi Nic by null
Mahi Nic by null
Mahi Nic by null
Mahi Nic by null
Mahi Nic by null
Mahi Nic by null
Mahi Nic by null
Mahi Nic by null
Mahi Nic by null
Mahi Nic by null
Mahi Nic by null
Mahi Nic by null
Mahi Nic by null
Mahi Nic by null
Mahi Nic by null
Mahi Nic by null
Mahi Nic by null
Mahi Nic by null
Mahi Nic by null
Mahi Nic by null
Mahi Nic by null
Mahi Nic by null
Mahi Nic by null
Mahi Nic by null
Mahi Nic by null
Mahi Nic by null
Mahi Nic by null
Mahi Nic by null
Mahi Nic by null
Mahi Nic by null
Mahi Nic by null
Mahi Nic by null
Mahi Nic by null

Information

33384 State Park Rd 100, South Padre Island, TX 78597 Get directions

$10–20

Restroom
Accepts reservations
Popular for lunch
Popular for dinner
Cozy

Information

Static Map

33384 State Park Rd 100, South Padre Island, TX 78597 Get directions

+1 956 243 0279
facebook.com
SPImahinate

$10–20

Features

•Restroom
•Accepts reservations
•Popular for lunch
•Popular for dinner
•Cozy
•Trendy
•Family friendly
•Good for groups

Last updated

Jan 21, 2026

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The Best Restaurants on South Padre Island, Texas | Eater Houston

"Housed on a South Padre Island dock, only steps away from the water, Mahi Nic is a top spot for dining with waterside views. The menu is straightforward, with pulled pork-loaded nachos, thick-cut fries, burgers, and other sandwiches and tacos featuring the namesake fish, mahi mahi. Check out its frozen margaritas and frozen lemonade, too, to quell the Texas heat." - Lane Gillespie

https://houston.eater.com/maps/best-18-restaurants-food-drinks-south-padre-island
Mahi Nic

Sergio

Google
Went for lunch and this place its fantastic. We went in November and it was nice but i believe that in summer must be hot because the place its out side sitting. You have to go to the cashier and order there and pay before you get the food. No fountain drinks no refills just on the teas. Waiter was really good she was there all the time. We order the ceviche but its not like the mexican style but it was good. Kids hotdog, the shrimp tacos are delicious, burger and the chicken burger are good. My wife order the nachos those were really good. Let me tell you something the fries are delicious best fries ever.

Cootimaa M

Google
The service was excellent and the food was good. The waiter and waitress checked in often to make sure we had everything we needed, which was really nice. It’s definitely a popular spot, so getting a table wasn’t easy, but the prices were reasonable and the overall experience was worth it. Great place to dine!

Jamie F.

Google
We stopped in for a late lunch. It’s a little odd to figure out where to go and where to order so - ASK. The service there was FANTASTIC! The staff is exceptional! The hostess, Janie, suggested a few items including their new Taco Salad. They substituted the meat with Mahi Mahi and WOW! I highly suggest it! We also had the Blackened Mahi Burger and their fries??? You won’t believe them until you try them! This is definitely the place to go! Five Stars

Jennifer W.

Google
We were looking for delicious food and we found it!!! Blackened chicken sandwich w/chipotle mayo & their signature homemade fries & blackened mahi tacos w/a side of elote! Phenomenal! Outdoor seating only, with a view of the bay and beautiful boats! Would recommend and go back. Had we found it sooner we probably would have eaten here everyday!!!

Kylie L.

Google
Went on Christmas eve for late lunch with our two small dogs. Our food was delicious, french fries were hot and fresh. Best french fries on the island. They catered to our dogs as well bringing them water and treats. Will definitely be coming back.

Les Dolezal (.

Google
Completely outdoor dining. We always stop at Mahi Nic whenever we are on the island. We usually get the mahi sandwich which is really good but today we got the dockside nachos with Mahi Mahi. Wow, were these good. The atmosphere is dockside open air. Staff is very friendly. Feels like a family run restaurant. You really need to try them if you find yourself on SPI.

James R.

Google
Maji Nics is my go to for a special treat for me and my family. i’ve tried almost every restaurant and local eats but this is my favorite. The food is great , tons of flavor! You already know the food portions are enormous. My wife likes the mahi sandwich and my favorite is the mahi tacos and elote. My own little request is if they had draft beer. The beers i’ve been served are always cold and also reasonably priced, i just prefer a draft. I recommend this little gem to anyone in the area.

Brittany K.

Google
The best ceviche I’ve ever had! Food is always excellent and the happy dads are always ice cold! Service is top notch and the views can’t be beat. Always a must stop when on the island
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Donna G.

Yelp
The bartender at Margaritaville recommended this place. So glad we went, it was AWESOME!! I got the iron skillet blackened shrimp, OMG it was amazing. I was dipping those huge fries in the butter sauce. My husband got the mahi tacos and he loved them. If you go to south padre this is a must!! So good!
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Kyle S.

Yelp
Had really high hopes based on reviews. Decor/service: prime outdoor spot but if it's storming you should probably avoid dining there as you'll probably end up soaked. The staff was awesome and very friendly. 5/5 Food/drinks- the mixed drinks were good and had a solid blend of alcohol to its accompaniments 4/5 Pulled pork fries- overall a good appetizer. It's quite a big portion and the bbq had good flavor 4/5 Burger- the burger was just okay. Small thin patties and almost had a McDonald's burger flavor. Obviously it was better than that but that's what the flavor profile reminded me of. 2/5 Shrimp tacos- average tacos that you can get at any authentic taco place in the US. Expected more from a place right on the water 3/5
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Susie M.

Yelp
It's still wonder full love the Mahi burger and love the fries . Nice view of the water and watching the birds . It's outside so some days it can be humid or a nice breeze. Oh, doesn't feed the birds lol you feed one and then all will join.:) KEEP Austin Beautiful & Organically Weird
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Mary T.

Yelp
Did not realize it was an outdoor only options, unfortunately we went on a hot very humid day. Food was good and fresh. I got the iron skillet, I was sooo good, loved the sauce. Got a pina colada, it was good. My son got the mahi tacos. Had good portions overall.
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Kristina H.

Yelp
Mahi Nic IS just a great as all the reviews say!!! And more!! The staff were so friendly and over the top hospitable. When you walk inside Mahi Nic, there is an order station (in case you get confused on how it works). The order board lists amazing food items and drinks. We ordered the Mahi tacos with double fries no slaw, the elote corn, and Chief Burger with sweet tea. The fries were huge and fresh. Our Mahi taco tasted THE BEST I've ever had, especially with lime squeezed on top, FANTASTIC! The chief burger was delicious as was the Elote corn. I have no complaints in any way. This is definitely the place to try :D

Victoria K.

Yelp
This place was a GREAT find! The blackened Mahi sandwich was so good! The fillet was really thick and tasty! And, they are SUPER dog friendly! They had ice water waiting for our pups, and each had a treat left on the table for them! I HIGHLY recommend this place!!!
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Amber K.

Yelp
Delish! Mahi tacos, shrimp tacos, pulled pork and beans and rice! Go right off the beach and enjoy a drink and wonderful food!
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Brayden M.

Yelp
Fantastic seafood. I can see why many say it's the best seafood in all of Texas. Very simple menu, so there are not a lot of choices, which is sometimes a good thing.
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Ann P.

Yelp
This is a South Padre star. Great food and the epitome of beachside carefree ambiance (although technically not off the beach but a marina). Loved being out in the open watching the boats. Definitely kid-friendly. Orders are placed counter side and then brought out to you. Service was excellent. Everything we had was shockingly delicious. Husband absolutely loved his 2 burgers (8 mile comes w 2) and I had the mahi fish tacos. He said the burger patties were really juicy and flavors were bursting through. I'm a creature of habit in some ways and was definitely getting my mahi fix while in SPI for spring break. This was the best fish I had while on the island by far. Seasoned super well and just tasted fresh. A touch salty but delicious nonetheless. I also subbed the elote for the fries which seemed to be a special and omg! Came with 2 half cobs on a stick loaded with sauce, queso fresco and limes, so good! Kids loved their burgers and humongous French fries. Of course I sampled the fries and they were pretty good, not oily at all, certainly seemed fresh cut and not out of a bag. Lemonade was so good and tasted fresh, perfectly tangy and sweet. If we had stayed longer in SPI and hadn't discovered this gem on the tail end of our trip we would probably have gone here again. Definitely a spot to put on your SPI bucket list. Not the cheapest but on par with most restaurants on the island w similar menu items. $15 and up for most mains. No pics bc we didn't stop more than 5 seconds before our food was brought to our table to dig in. Did I mention free drink refills on the lemonade? Awesome place!

Madeline G.

Yelp
Great food and quick service! Burgers and Mahi tacos were outstanding! Was busy on a Friday night and still got everything in a reasonable amount of time and had plenty of places to sit!
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Don B.

Yelp
We have lunch here every time we come to SPI. It wasn't as crowded as it usually is today, or we timed it right - definitely gets busy when the dolphin watch boat comes in. We had a loaded hot dog and a side of fries to split. It was served pretty quickly and was very good. The fries are huge, and always served hot. Was the perfect amount of food for two of us - we didn't feel like stuffing ourselves today for lunch. Service was attentive. Be back soon!

lindsey m.

Yelp
The food was amazing! I had the elote which was 10/10 and the "SPI burgers" which were sooo amazing! They tasted like the comfort from a family cookout but if the chef was a professional using the best ingredients! The drinks were great and the ambiance being right by the water was awesome! I'm definitely making this a staple every time I'm on the island!

Amber M.

Yelp
I really recommend this spot not only is it local but the food ,service and atmosphere is great! 10/10 recommend with big fries!

R M.

Yelp
Great food !!! Found on Yelp & did not disappoint. On the docks. Very casual atmosphere under tents. Right near marina for the dolphin cruises so super convenient. We ate there twice while visiting. Recommend the Mahi tacos & burgers.
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Jenny W.

Yelp
A little pricey $18 for my burger and fries, but it was very good. Great atmosphere- we did a dolphin boat tour right before that, so it was perfect to have dinner right there afterwards. They have the largest fries I've ever seen! lol kids really enjoyed that!
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Tracy M.

Yelp
Saw this place on TEXAS BUCKET LIST tv show & bookmarked it on YELP for our trip here. This place did NOT disappoint! Great service, from learning about menu items, to impeccable attention by waitstaff. It's all a covered area on the water by the boats towards the end of the island. Food is DELICIOUS. I got a BIG CHIEF burger- but just 1 burger instead of the 2 listed on menu. Husb got Mahi sandwich. Both came with the fabulous fried. They are seriously amazing... and huge! Great little beachy spot that we'll enjoy again next time too! Go there HUNGRY!
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Lauren M.

Yelp
Mahi sandwich was delicious! And fries too! Staff were super friendly! We brought our dog and they gave him a nice cool bowl of water and a dog treat! Highly recommend if you are looking for a pet friendly place and a great meal!!!
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P B.

Yelp
Food: Wow! We chose to eat here as our 'try something new for us' last night on the island Dinner spot waterside during the Winter Break. Mahi Nic did not disappoint. The Mahi Burger is a new favorite and the Peruvian Shrimp, 'well put that on a flip flop and eat it all day long' fantastic. The French Fries were the freshest - we gobbled those up in a hurry. Service: Outstanding! Smiles all around even during a difficult time with the grill. Ambiance: if outdoors, overlooking the bayside, marina and pelicans dancing on the water is your style, this is the place. So serene. Our daughter received a job offer to work which meant the world to her. We look forward to returning to this hidden gem of a place, really the best kept secret on the island, in 2024.
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Pearl G.

Yelp
Came in on a busy Sunday early afternoon but was able to order food and eat within half an hour. All shaded, outdoor seating overseeing the marina. Staff is extremely helpful and friendly. Establishment is dog friendly, they'll happily provide your pup with a water bowl and cookie treat. Hubs opted for the burger which he devoured. Comes with a hefty portion of crinkle cut which are superb. I ordered the Mahi tacos which comes with queso fresco, tomatoes, onions and cilantro accompanied with a side of homemade slaw & fries. Everything paired well and I was very satisfied with my meal. It's always nice to eat good & have a pleasant view of the water. Family friendly, fur baby friendly, on the water, tasty eats, come thirsty, leave happy!
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Bob S.

Yelp
When you come in right around closing, you don't get to sample what makes this place great. So my review is based strictly on their French fries. Five out of five. Like the sign says, the biggest fries in Texas! Super hot and crunchy! Now if they had some house made ketchup. That would be amazing!
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Shashikala P.

Yelp
If it was just food I would've given 4stars, but the lady(dint get her name, she's bit older woman but full of life) who bought our food provided a good service so rounding of to 5stars. Husband and kiddo ordered mahi sandwiches, i sandwich without bun, it's a nice thick fillet and was good, fries on the other hand was disappointing, not even a single fries was crispy and they were greasy, that's why 4stars for food. When a lady bought our food, we asked if they have tartar or any kind of sauce, and she bought chipotle mayo, and warm salsa, and green salsa/sauce, both were very flavorful, well balanced, you can taste that cumin, garlic, tomatillos and peppers, it was perfect. Margarita was good, mangonada was too sweet, kiddo like lemonade.
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Heather N.

Yelp
What a great surprise! I didn't expect much in a tourist town, but this place exceeded all expectations. It has an order counter and covered open air seating. The food was all excellent, great prices, and nice service. We were offered refills and checked up on.

erika g.

Yelp
Mahi Nic has been our best meal on South Padre Island so far. We got the mahi tacos, shrimp tacos (blackened), and a kids cheeseburger. Their food was all flavorful and much tastier than their neighbor Sea Ranch restaurant. All meals came with a generous portion of their delicious fries. The service was great, the prices were fair, and our bellies were full. Mahi Nic is a must if you're a fan of seafood.
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Sean Z.

Yelp
Trust the Yelp rating on this one. This shack looking place may not look it but it's actually pretty good. They have many parking spaces that's designated for this establishment and the partnering tour services. The place has open views of the pier. However, you cannot see open ocean water. The cool breeze runs thru, felt pretty good. The restroom is on the side, it's like public park style restroom but fairly cleaning. The food was brought to my table 10 minutes after the order was placed and paid. The hostess informed me it would take about 15 minutes for the food to get ready, so 10 minutes of the actual waiting time wasn't too bad, considering the Mahi meat was very fresh and tasty. The big plate came with 3 tacos, Cole slaw and giant cut of wavy fries. It was really fulfilling. The taste wasn't the best but wasn't bad. The food was fresh, so that's what matters. Overall, I enjoyed it, this place gets a 4.7 out of 5 in my book.
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Angela G.

Yelp
Delicious food! I had the Mahi-Mahi burger and it was perfection. The fish was very soft and savory which was complimented well by the soft and buttery buns. The fries have a very homey feel and were very enjoyable. We also ordered the garlic butter shrimp tacos. They were good. Not bad but nothing remarkable. Staff were also very friendly and helpful! Overall, I would definitely be going back for that fish burger.
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Dolly M.

Yelp
Chicken wings were seasoned well but next time I'd request all flats, service was awesome, very nice people & accommodating. One thing for sure it was a vibe because i loveeee the water & i don't mind a view with yachts & boats while I'm enjoying lunch. My friends had the shrimp tacos but said that they were tasting too fishy. I ordered the burger & it was good as well as the French fries!! Margaritas were different but made well.
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Bob N.

Yelp
Mahi Nic is a great little outdoor restaurant in a marina south of the bridge. We had the 3/4 lb burger and it was fantastic, one of the best we have ever had. It is not cheap, but well worth the price and enough to share with your date. Comes with thick cut potatoes akin to steak fries. The service was friendly and the food came quickly. A must do place to eat when in SPI.

Farrah S.

Yelp
The food was absolutely amazing and the drinks didn't disappoint either! I had a hard time choosing what to order!

Brett A.

Yelp
Wow - the loaded fries covered in pulled pork and the mahi mahi sandwich were the best!
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J P.

Yelp
Off the top the service encountered was excellent even with the large amount of people being served. To continue the food was delicious definitely worth the try as the reviews I had read did not lie. Started off by ordering the mahi ceviche appetizer and the portion was a solid size with plenty of mahi present. Paired this with the mangonada drink and let me tell you that on a hot beach day it definitely hit spot. Main entree was the mahi tacos and the way they were prepared were delish, not to include the two sauces provided with the dish were a level up but did not even need it. I was skeptical about the size of the potatoes thinking they would be soggy or maybe raw on the inside considering the mass of them but even the fries tasted great with a solid potato flavor cooked in peanut oil, but dip them in the sauces and you will not be disappointed. Definitely would recommended for anyone wanting to do lunch on the island.

Mark P.

Yelp
Fantastic food and location. This was our favorite lunch during our five day stay in SPI. Shrimp tacos and the loaded pulled pork dish were both excellent. Great flavors and presentation. Enjoyed the location and ambiance on the dock. Staff were friendly and attentive. Highly recommend.
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Karen P.

Yelp
Mahi Tacos-delicious, fresh ingredients, tangy, crunch-great sauce!. The fries are huge and very good. Great restaurant with covered/uncovered seating. Super friendly staff, they really know that place like the back of their hand! Fast fresh food right next to boat tour place. A lady noticed the fries and came over just to take a look and I ended up giving her and an extra for her friend because why not...I had more than enough and it was funny. Great spot! I took 0 pics
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Anna Lisa G.

Yelp
Really enjoyed our meal at this rustic dockside cafe. It was a hot day, but we took advantage of the bar to have some pina coladas that were absolutely delicious. Our meals were great and were all served with the most amazing hand cut fries. Great fresh fish and burgers. My daughter enjoyed the blackened Mahi Sandwich and I ordered the shrimp tacos. We also ordered some burgers and some orders of chips and salsa to enjoy with our drinks. It is a seat yourself type of place with no menus, you go up to the bar to order your drinks and entrees which are posted in a board and they bring it to your table when it is ready. Enjoy!
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Britny N.

Yelp
This is one of my all time favorite spots I've ever been to. It's laid back and the view of the boats and water is so relaxing. You walk up to order, sit down wherever you'd like and they bring the food to you. We ordered the mahi sandwich with the fries (YOU HAVE TO GET THE FRIES) and the mahi nachos. I must admit I didn't care for the nachos themselves. The chips were good but I didn't really like the sauces that they put on them BUT the mahi made up for it, it was so good. Also, everyone was so kind. We highly recommend checking this place out.
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Stacy J.

Yelp
Great food. Great prices with a really nice ambience. The owners are great people and take pride in their food and customer service Try the HUGE fries. Hand made / hand cut fresh everyday

Alexandra S.

Yelp
This is by far the best place in South Padre! And I'm so sad we only found out on our way out of town and got it to go! This was the best meal I've had since we moved to Texas 3 years ago! Incredible Mahi fish tacos! And the fries...my gosh! Gigantic and SO good!! And the hot dog! And the bonus is most of the menu is GF and safe for my son who has Celiac! The owners were super friendly and lovely!! Oh and the frozen lemonade! WOW! And the sweet tea is delicious too! I could just keep going! I already am planning our return to South Padre just so we can eat here again! I'll be dreaming about it until then!
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Lydia D.

Yelp
Food was delicious! Service fantastic! Ambiance terrific. You're sitting by the water watching the boats come in and go out. Worth coming. I know I'll be back again! The fries were huge and freshly made! Big Chief Burger Mahi Mahi Burger
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Gus P.

Yelp
Best breakfast sandwich on the Island! Here for the launch so they opened early and I'm so glad they did. Service was great and made you feel very welcome. Right on the docks where many tour boats go out. I'm using Breakaway to go see the Starship launch. Fly baby Fly!
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Lisa G.

Yelp
We got the signature Mahi Mahi Burger. It was huge, and delicious. A little pricey tho.. The fries were hand cut and perfectly fried. Great place.
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Amanda G.

Yelp
finally got around to coming to Mahi Nics & it hit every single one of my expectations & beyond. i got the iconic Mahi Sandwich with a side of fries & tore that thing up! I gave my sister ojo till she let me try a piece of her burger which blew me AWAY they're definitely on my roster of recommendations with the guaranteed great food and service!
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Jay L.

Yelp
Great food and dockside outdoor seating. Very casual spot with fresh mahi (almost forgot what fresh tastes like). Fries are uniquely cut large crinkle. Simple food done well with nice servers. 5 star!
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Matthew T.

Yelp
Awesome spot. Great portions. Great service. Great food. Hidden gem. Great for dogs too.
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John Paul Y.

Yelp
Fries were the HUGEST crinkle cuts I've ever seen! The texture was noooiice! Made it delicious. Seafood tacos are all three talk here and they were pretty good bit nothing to write home about Also a nice atmosphere by the dock with boats

Jacob C.

Yelp
Pros: HUGE fries and burger, outside seating by the water with nice cool winter weather, super friendly staff, flavorful food Cons: The napkins are really thin, but I can live with that given that everything else about this place is 5 stars. Nice job Mahi Nic!
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Brandon L.

Yelp
The Mahi at this place is AMAZING! We got the loaded nachos with Mahi (superb), the Mahi Sandwich (delicious and they use a potato bun), and the Mahi tacos (delightful)! The fries were huge and very tasty. The quantity of food is plentiful. Overall, food alone pushes this to a 5. However, the staff was very professional, friendly, and courteous. The man who received my call was super friendly and easy to order with. They were also amazing with other customers when I picked up the food. A great place overall!
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Ramelle B.

Yelp
Good burgers (you get 2 so big enough to split). Biggest fries you'll ever find. Brown bag beer for $2 can't be beat.
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Shelby S.

Yelp
First night on the island we decided to try Maui Nic's for dinner. The Mahi mahi tacos, burger & fries were great. Blackened shrimp tacos had very small shrimp & little seasoning unfortunately. The frozen pina colada drinks were fantastic & the food came quickly. The staff were very friendly & attentive, they helped describe the menu & made great suggestions. The view of the water is obstructed by large boats but the whole experience still feels authentic & a fun place to visit while enjoying local food.
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Ryan F.

Yelp
The food is always so good. The fam and I always make it a point to eat here when we are in south padre. Everyone that works there are always super nice and the restaurant has a chill vibe that is right next to the water. Definitely try their fish/shrimp tacos that come when their homemade fries (insanely good fries).

Eva T.

Yelp
Delicious food! Amazing fries!! Casual outdoor atmosphere with some of the most hospitable service on the island.
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Kelly A.

Yelp
What can I say about the blacked cast iron skillet shrimp? It was fresh, delicious, amazing! The fries made from a while potatoes were perfectly crisp on the outside and flaky on the inside. I think we will eat here the night before we depart our vacation. This is going in my fav list. It is an outdoor patio grill and bar with only outdoor seating so if it's super hot or humid, consider that. They have local micro brews and a variety of beers and alcoholic beverages as well as frozen and nonalcoholic drinks. Nice yachts parked on the boardwalk. Reminds me of a lot of similar places but the food at this one is stellar!