Calabash

Calabash is a coastal town in Brunswick County, North Carolina, situated along the Calabash River with numerous waterfront restaurants and fishing docks. The town sits within a network of rivers and creeks extending toward South Carolina, shaping how life revolves around the water.

The settlement took its name from calabash gourds, local bottle-shaped plants used as drinking vessels at wells in earlier times. The community grew for decades through fishing before becoming officially incorporated as a town in 1973.

The local restaurants here developed a distinctive seafood cooking method that turned fried fish into a regional specialty. This cooking style shapes how the dining spots look and operate today, attracting visitors interested in tasting this traditional approach to preparing fresh catches.

Visitors will find parking near the restaurants and waterfront docks, though the roads are narrow and locally oriented. It works best to visit during daylight hours when fishing boats are active and the dining spots are fully operating.

The local fishing fleet supplies fresh catches directly to numerous restaurants, some of which are operated by fishing families themselves. This close connection between the boats and the kitchens means the restaurants can prepare their dishes daily with the most recently landed fish.