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    Dirty Al's

    3.3 (639 reviews)
    ModerateSeafood
    Open 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

    Dirty Al's Photos

    DIRTY AL'S ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Stuffed crab
    Cary S.

    This is always a great place to stop by when you're in South padre Island. The food really is good. It has a nice sitting area outside where you can watch the boat and the staff is always very friendly. They have some fun merchandise and bait shop attached. We opted for the stuffed crab appetizer and a couple beers and it was amazing.

    Melanie S.

    Excellent experience here in the slower season, it was still busy with people. They were highly recommended and we are glad we went. The seafood could not be fresher and I enjoyed all the seasoning they prepared everything with. I recommend the fried shrimp basket and left no crumbs!! A mariachi band came in during dinner and performed. They also have lots of seating and it's a very casual spot. The staff check in on you frequently and are friendly.

    Outside watching the TV video shows very good looking battered shrimp but that's not what you get served.
    Andrew A.

    Very sad to say, had a less than good experience as far as fish and chips. The batter was not crunchy. The size of the fillets were skittles, the servers were friendly however they knew the fillets were small, but did not say anything until after it was served. Two of the pieces tasted like it was frozen and then defrosted it. The texture was more on the Chuy side and I'm not talking about your uncle Chuy but the kind of gives you a mouth cramp. What a huge disappointment. I had to eat half of my wife's buffalo wing chicken sandwich to get full. She chose daddy's, but I wanted to come here. We should've went to daddy's.

    Menu
    Matt K.

    Casual sit down seafood restaurant just before the causeway bridge going to south padre. Really good deal on the dozen oysters so we got two dozen for the three of us. We all ordered the blackened flounder and it was very good. Wish I could have tried more of the menu. Only knock is the outdoor seating has no real seats (just bench style) so not that appealing - indoor seats were much more comfortable.

    dry ass burger

    Absolutely disgusting experience - DON'T EAT HERE The name Dirty Al's is painfully accurate, and we learned that the hard way. We originally went here because it had good reviews, but we were sorely mistaken. This ended up being one of the worst dining experiences we've had in South Padre Island. Starting with the food: the Oyster Rockefeller came out with cheese on top that wasn't fully melted all the way through. Parts of it were still cold, which made the dish feel rushed, sloppy, and poorly prepared. The burger was somehow even worse. It was extremely dry, with absolutely no juice and no flavor whatsoever. Every bite felt like chewing dry, flavorless meat. No seasoning, no moisture, no effort. When I calmly mentioned that the burger was dry and flavorless, instead of apologizing or fixing the issue, the manager immediately got defensive. I was told I was wrong and that they "have really good burgers." No accountability, no attempt to make things right, and zero customer service skills. After asking for the check and to have the food boxed, we were then left sitting there for about 20 minutes with no check and no follow-up. I eventually had to get up and go to the server stand myself just to get our bill and have the disgusting food comped off. That should never happen at any restaurant. The cleanliness of this place is just as bad as the service. The tables were sticky and gross, and the overall atmosphere felt dirty and unclean. Nothing about the restaurant felt sanitary or welcoming. Between the inedible food, defensive management, being ignored, and gross environment, this place is an easy skip. South Padre Island has far better dining options. I would not recommend Dirty Al's to anyone!

    Daiquiri, margarita, and piná colada!
    Keith R.

    Some of the finest cocktails I've had on the island.All told, our group had four Piná Colada's, Margarita, and Pain Killer! Everyone was delicious. In addition, we had tasty seafood delicacies. Two 1/2# orders of NOLA fresh boiled gulf shrimp, and a dozen oysters on the half shell. Sitting outdoors and the beautiful climate of South Padre Island made it all that much more wonderful..

    Interior
    Van D.

    This place is known for their whole grilled snapper. It's right next to Sea Ranch rv park which has been around for over 50 years. The restaurant is extensive and has indoor and outdoor eating on the bay. Lots of fried and fresh seafood available. The service was okay stood at hostess stand a minute while folks walked around and completely ignored our group so the experience started out on a sour note. The hostess finally arrived and after seating the server was attentive. They are a dog friendly restaurant as well. The food is okay. The Layla's shrimp appetizer is quite tasty and of course can be a meal as well. The raw oysters came out on ice but no Tabasco available and their cocktail sauce lacked horseradish. The Po-Boy's are on a big roll and you get mostly bread when you bite into it. The seafood puppies as an appetizer were good. The Dirty Sampler was also good but all fried. The calamari wasn't great but the stuffed jalapeños were ok. The salads are just lettuce and tomato simple simple. This place is not fancy on the outside nor on the inside. It's just classic laid back come as you are and eat. It's a local staple and the prices aren't crazy. They also advertise they will cook your catch so that's super cool. They have an extensive food and drink menu so there is something for everyone. They have a guy walking around taking group and couple photos for $15. Only one photo - the group pic- has the Dirty Al logo. All in all it's worth a venture just to sit around with your peeps, your pup take in the bay views and eat, drink and be merry without breaking your pocket book. Come as you are to Dirty Al's!

    Mango margarita
    Lacy A.

    The views of the water is nice. The drinks were good and a good value. The food is decent, more of that home cooked meal feel. The Service was good.

    Ashley C.

    absolutely loved their shrimp tacos, one of the best of the island. definitely make sure to try menu items with seafood as the seafood down here is amazing. more upscale ambiance with a gorgeous view of the ocean.

    Whole red snapper

    The whole grilled red snapper was amazing. Beautifully presented and tasted very fresh. They allow you to pick your red snapper from their seafood counter. The almondy was an interesting dish topped with a creamy sauce and three small crab legs on top. The generous garlic mashed potatoes were very garlicky, but savory. I would recommend the coleslaw as a lighter side. The blackened black drum was well seasoned with a crispy crust. The white cheese sauce on the steamed broccoli was a perfect combination. Service was excellent as we were one of very few customers. We were there middle of the week at about 3 PM. The ambience is nice, with Bay views throughout.

    Jumbo shrimp

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    11 days ago

    Best Fried Shrimp and Seafood Botanas. Everything I've eaten here has been delicious!

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    1 year ago

    Love dirty Al's. Their breaded shrimp is the best, sat at the bar and the service sucked and it wasn't even that busy. Food was great

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    The Grouchy Gringo

    The Grouchy Gringo

    4.1
    (37 reviews)
    1.7 mi

    If you find yourself anywhere near South Padre Island, do yourself a favor and order the shrimp…read morescampi at The Grouchy Gringo. It is nothing short of outstanding. The shrimp are perfectly cooked--tender, plump, and buttery--so fresh they practically melt with each bite. The garlic-infused sauce is rich without being heavy, coating the pasta in a silky finish that brings everything together beautifully. But what truly elevates this dish are the tomatoes. They are delightfully sweet, bright, and bursting with flavor, adding a fresh, vibrant contrast to the savory scampi. Every forkful strikes that perfect balance of citrusy zest, garlic warmth, and natural sweetness. The Grouchy Gringo may have a playful name, but there's nothing grouchy about this plate. It's the kind of dish that makes you slow down, savor each bite, and already plan your next visit before you've even finished. Absolutely five-star worthy.

    The Grouchy Gringo is a new restaurant since the last time we visited SPI two years ago. We like…read morecajun-creole food so were attracted to this restaurant right away. On our first visit, we were enthusiastically welcomed for lunch. The dining area is to the right side of the main entrance. Our waiter was very friendly and accommodating. He stayed a bit at our table to tell us a little bit about the restaurant. The menu you is very fun to read. For lunch, I ordered a cup of chicken and andouille sausage gumbo. The "cup" was large enough to share although I really didn't want to share it. I can't imagine how large a bowl of gumbo will be. I love good gumbo and this was very tasty. A slice of garlic bread is included with the gumbo. Delicious! I also ordered the "fried yardbird" sandwich which is a batter-fried chicken sandwich with crispy lettuce and a large tomato. French fries are included with the sandwiches. My husband purchased the "Friday Special" which was a flounder, nicely breaded and fried and a side of the french fries. We returned on Sunday for breakfast. This Sunday happened to be a cold windy day, and we were the first customers to arrive - definitely grouchy gringos due to the cold and the wind. We had a different waiter this time, and he was so friendly and greeted us warmly. He changed the ambiant music that was playing to a nice selection of soft "blues" which happens to be our favorite music. We both ordered Polly's Biscuits and Andouille Sausage gravy. Polly's Biscuits and Gravy includes two small, but very flaky biscuits and a generous portion of gravy. We also ordered scrambled eggs as an add-on. We were pleased with this selection for breakfast. By the time we left the restaurant, we were pleased to see many other people arriving for breakfast. The Grouchy Gringo is a very large venue, so I hope that it will become a very popular location in SPI because it is definitely a "keeper." It will be awhile before we return to the island, but we will definitely return to The Grouchy Gringo.

    Photos
    Crab cake Benedict
    Crab cake Benedict
    The Grouchy Gringo
    The Grouchy Gringo

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    Louie's Backyard

    Louie's Backyard

    2.7
    (1k reviews)
    1.8 mi
    $$

    Decent food, poor service! Overpriced, need to replace broken dishes!…read more Nice view of sunset, live music is good addition

    We were there last week. Myself husband and 2 kids. My husband and myself ordered buffet and the…read morekids had regular menu items. Ordered a few cocktails too. Watched the fireworks. It was great! But Imagine my utter shock and embarrassment when your waitress comes running after us full force yelling these words exactly " did you plan on paying your tab?!?!" In front of everyone outside in the parking lot After I spent 10mins searching for her to pay the tab and couldn't find her. So when I realized I had the ticket on the table I simply asked the female security guard at the front door who I could pay since I couldn't find my waitress and was ready to leave. She pointed me to a gentleman behind the bar where I not only paid my $200 tab but also left the waitress a tip despite the fact that at this point it was no longer busy and the fireworks crowd had already cleared out, she had ignored my inquiry completely about a bunch of weird black stuff in the bottom of my cup, and continuously was no where to be found. Then when I respond with "girl, I paid it already and left you a tip, you need to get out of my face being loud, wrong and embarrassing.... and if you don't stop yelling at me I might have to smack you in the mouth." (Wrong I know, however I was incredibly embarrassed and had just dropped a decent amount of $) so she responds with "my dad's the manager! Do you want to talk to him?!?!" Still yelling. Girl, YES! YES I do want to talk to your father the manager so I can tell him how much he fucking failed with you and your training. I can understand a waitress freaking out for a second, but the words used were embarrassing and unprofessional asf considering I had indeed paid my entire bill plus tip. Someone teach that girl that "excuse me maam, I assume you handled your tab?" Is way better than screaming publicly whether I intended to pay something I had already paid.

    Photos
    Good
    Good
    Crab legs
    Crab legs
    The view was beautiful.

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    The view was beautiful.
    Nautico Island Grill

    Nautico Island Grill

    4.6
    (278 reviews)
    1.3 mi
    $$

    What a hidden gem! Honestly, the outside doesn't do this place justice. It's like opening an…read moreoyster--the exterior is simple and unassuming, but once you walk inside, it's modern, beautiful, and has such a fun, welcoming atmosphere. The fried fish tacos were absolutely incredible and easily the star of the meal. The grilled fish tacos weren't quite as amazing, but they were still fresh and delicious. The real MVP, though, is the green cilantro sauce--they seriously need to bottle it and sell it in stores! And if you like a little heat, the red chipotle sauce is spicy but packed with incredible flavor. The service is wonderful and I absolutely appreciate the wonderful ladies helping us make these great choices! If you eat at one place while on the island let it be here!

    2 stars (3.5 for island food)…read more The menu's a mix of local seafood and Tex-Mex. My family ordered a variety of the seafood dishes, and they were not that good. I went with a Mexican plate. Mexican plate, $13.90:Tostada -- really good, Beans -- fine, Rice -- fine, Enchiladas -- just slightly better than frozen. Fettuccine Alfredo, $16.99 (+$4.99 chicken add-on) -- my daughter got this and it was one of the better things on the menu. She finished the whole plate. Nacho trio, $15.99 -- the salsa was fine, the guac was really good, but the queso was a 1-star. This is one of those places that doesn't know how to do queso but puts it on the menu anyway. More like just melted Velveeta. Beyond the food being mediocre at best, we had a few service issues. My order came out wrong, I asked for cheese and got beef enchiladas. I'd also ordered a drink that never came; when the server finally made another round, I asked about it so she finally put it in. Service was pretty slow and a few things came out wrong, but we were hungry and it was so busy that we didn't really bother making a fuss. In general it's probably okay food for the island, but I would not return.

    Photos
    Fish on the wall and local artwork for sale.
    Fish on the wall and local artwork for sale.
    Ceviche was so fresh and delicious!!
    Ceviche was so fresh and delicious!!
    Frozen Basil Limeaide and Mimosa flight

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    Frozen Basil Limeaide and Mimosa flight
    Sea Ranch Restaurant Bar

    Sea Ranch Restaurant Bar

    4.0
    (866 reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $$

    I'm so glad I finally made it back to Sea Ranch. One of my favorite restaurants at SPI. I went for…read moremy birthday dinner. I ordered the scallops that comes with rice pilaf and another side. I ordered the potato scallops at the recommendation of our server. My husband had the red snapper filet. Both of our dishes were very good. Our server Uzi also did an amazing job checking on us and making sure we had what we needed. We will always return when we come to SPI. My only recommendation to the restaurant is that is probably due for an face lift. It still has dark walls, table, chairs, and floors. Compared to the newer restaurants in SPI that compare with the same type of food is that this one is dated. The newer ones are more modern and brighter. I know it doesn't make a difference with the food but I do think the ambiance would be better.

    The food was great, and the food runner was awesome. He checked on us several times and was more…read moreattentive than our actual server. Our server, Irvin, unfortunately wasn't very attentive. I totally understand that food runners help out, but we had more interactions with the runner than with our server. We were never asked how everything was, if we needed anything, or if we wanted refills. We're not the type to complain and we're very low-maintenance when we go out to eat. We had a long day and just wanted a light dinner, so it was a little surprising. This was actually the best food we've had at any restaurant we've visited this week, which made it even more disappointing that the service didn't match the quality of the meal.

    Photos
    Sea Ranch Restaurant Bar
    Captain dan
    Captain dan
    Steak

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    Steak

    Dirty Al's - seafood - Updated July 2026

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