Tabor City: What Are My Options?

By Justin Williamson

This week I am going to begin a series called: “What Are My Options” where I will be sharing the known establishments to grab a bite or brew in each section of our wonderful county. It’s my job to shine a light on the folks working hard to give you guys a well-earned meal. Large or small, old or new, fine dining or food stand, I’m gonna try and cover them all. No ratings, just information.

I was shocked to know that as of December 2024 there are 16 operating restaurants in Tabor City, according to the Chamber of Commerce. From breakfast to dinner, there is definitely something for everyone here in the southern corner of CoCo. I want to give a special thanks to Cynthia at the Tabor City Chamber of Commerce for the info on the options to grab a bite or brew. If I missed anyone please forgive me. I’m trying to be as thorough as possible.

I’m happy to share that I’ve eaten at all but three of these options and I assure you that you can definitely find a good meal in this town. Let’s jump in.

Downtown Area:

Ana’s Tex Mex – Mexican

Betty & Buddy’s – Family restaurant

Friendly Seafood – Seafood and fresh catch market

Fowlers Grill – Grill/dinner

Jin Jin’s – Chinese

Mama’s Restaurant – Breakfast only

Mt. Tabor Manna – Diverse menu with daily specials

Yoko’s – Sushi and hibachi

Outside of the downtown area:

Adam’s – Seafood and Steaks

Coleman’s Drive-in – Grill/Dinner

Dale’s – Seafood

The Creamery at Daddy Joe’s –Ice cream/desserts

The Grill at Daddy Joe’s (technically for campers only, but if you’re over there, it’s an option.)

Fast Food: Three, all located on 701 bypass and offering their well-known menus:

McDonalds

Subway

Burger King – temporarily closed due to fire.)

So, have you eaten at all of these local venues? If you haven’t broken the mold and tried something different, can you even call yourself a foodie? If you’ve been bored recently of all the same old thing, try a new spot this week, you might be surprised at what you find. You could even find a new favorite joint. There really is something for everyone over in Tabor City. Find out more info on Tabor City at: www.townoftaborcity.org or call the chamber at (910) 377-3012. Please support our local restaurateurs and keep our economy going strong.

Here’s a few fun challenges:

If you haven’t eaten at Mt. Tabor Manna, get over there and try his fresh take on Southern fusion. (More on these guys soon.)
Eat the same menu item from all three Dale’s locations and let me know what is the best.
Find one new place in Tabor City to try this week.
Try your favorite Mexican or Chinese dish at Ana’s or Jin Jin’s to see how they compare to your usual spot.

Thanks for reading. Check back next week for more Bites and Brews.

Write to me at: positiveflownc@gmail.com to share your thoughts and suggestions on new places/experiences I can discuss with our readership.