I haven’t done a hidden gem review in a while, and in Corolla, NC, I found an excellent Mexican restaurant. The back story is we were planning on going to a taco stand and bring home some tacos. After a walk on the beach, we stopped by to review their menu. The man said they operated as a food truck which seemed sketchy to me, and since I was on Tyler Florence’s Great Food Truck Race last month, I was now thinking about other choices. The man behind the counter also informed us he may be closing for the day at anytime because business was so slow.

My wife suggested that we try a place in a little enclave within walking distance of our condo. The meals up to this point had been OK but nothing to write a blog about. So this hidden gem was a great surprise.

The Corolla Cantina has both excellent food and service. I had the seafood burrito. Great flavor and balance, plenty of shrimp and crab with black beans, pico de gallo, coconut rice, and spiced perfectly. We had been here almost a week, and this was the best meal out we had had. At the table, we ordered a veggie quesadilla and fish and chips; all were excellent. The fish and chips were unique because they used rock fish which makes them less dry than cod. The fries were crispy and tender.

Our server was an engaging lady from Ukraine named Mariia (not a misspelling). She joked with us, the service was great, and she made dinner more enjoyable. If you’re in the Outer Banks near Corolla, this is a great choice.