A full day of lunch and dinner service right on Ocracoke's main road
Dajio serves lunch through dinner on Irvin Garrish Highway, the main road through Ocracoke village, with hours that run 11am to 9pm, seven days a week. It's a mid-range spot ($$), one of a limited number of full-service restaurants on an island with no bridge or road connection to the mainland — every visitor and every delivery arrives either by the free ferry from Hatteras village or the longer toll ferries from Cedar Island and Swan Quarter.
The village itself is compact, built up around Silver Lake Harbor, so Dajio is easy to find without much searching once you're off the boat. Hours that span both lunch and dinner without a midday closure make it a reliable option if you're timing a meal around a ferry schedule or coming in after a day at the beaches or the pony pens north of the village. Call ahead or check the restaurant's website for current menu details, since specifics beyond hours and price range aren't listed here.
1,181 reviews
3 weeks ago
We always have the best experience. The location is absolutely gorgeous inside and out. The food is delicious, fresh, hot, prompt. We always have a great server as well. They even have the best logo on their shirts so buy one of them too. 😆😇
2 months ago
Absolutely loved my birthday dinner at Dajio. My other half and I came out on Friday evening to celebrate my birthday. Despite it being packed, we were told 30 minutes for a table, but only waited 10! The service, food, and even the music was outstanding. We were sat on the patio and the ambiance was perfect! The wedge salad is one of the best wedges I have ever had, that green goddess ranch was great! I enjoyed the crab cake dinner with sautéed veggies of the day and house made slaw. My other half enjoyed the chicken sandwich but hold the pimento cheese. Everything was flavorful and delicious, the band sounded awesome, and our server was attentive and friendly. We cannot wait to come back when we visit the island again! ❤️❤️❤️
2 months ago
Ate here twice while in Ocracoke last week. First time was with friends and we had some apps which were amazing. The Fried Green Tomatoes and Ahi Tuna Nachos were dynamic, probably my favorite things I had on the island. Went back for dinner and had the mahi entree which was good but I should have had what I knew I was going to enjoy. Good drink selections. The place seems to get overwhelmed with guests at the bar and in the outdoor dining area. Would go back again and see about a seat inside next time.
a year ago
Nice vibe, with a balance of indoor and outdoor seating. Great service and good food. The menu was not as clearly marked for gluten as I would like, but our server was knowledgeable and thorough with double checking with the kitchen. I safely enjoyed some fish tacos with tasty rice and beans. I would highly recommend and go back if I get to make it to the island again :) If you have a car on the island parking is limited but there’s plenty of parking that’s not a far walk from the restaurant. We were there end of May so I’m not sure if that changes in peak tourist season.
4 months ago
We first ate at Dajio about three years ago on a previous trip to Ocracoke, and it was one of the places we were excited to return to this time around. It did not disappoint food wise. Service is another story. The atmosphere is one of the best on the island, with an expansive outdoor deck, a lively patio bar, and a cozy indoor dining room that perfectly captures the relaxed Ocracoke vibe. The food is fantastic, especially if you enjoy local coastal classics. During this trip we enjoyed the fried green tomatoes, ahi tuna nachos, blackened drum topped with crab, the shrimp platter, and a flank steak salad. Everything was fresh, flavorful, and the portions are HUGE, so come hungry or plan on taking leftovers home. The flank steak salad was very tasty, although the chef could improve the presentation and tenderness by slicing the flank steak thinner and at a 45-degree angle against the grain. Even so, the flavor was excellent. The drink program is also a nice surprise, with a small but interesting wine list and some well-crafted, innovative cocktails that fit the island setting perfectly. One thing we appreciated is that even though they do not take reservations, we only had a short wait both times we visited on this trip, which was impressive considering how popular the restaurant is. Service can be a little hit or miss depending on the waitstaff you get. Better training would probably help consistency, but we also understand how difficult it is for seasonal businesses to find and keep quality staff these days. Parking is limited, but we used a golf cart and had no issues at all — there always seems to be room for another golf cart on Ocracoke. Dajio is open daily during the season from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and remains one of our favorite dining spots on the island. We’ll definitely be back again.