5 Local Gem Restaurants in Portsmouth, Virginia that Serve the Best Food Ever

Portsmouth is a historic waterfront city with a food scene that leans heavily into massive flavor and coastal comfort. Behind the brick facades of Olde Towne, these five hidden gems are serving up the best food in the city.

Billy D’s Seafood & Chicken

Operating as a takeout-only seafood and chicken shack on Stamford Road, Billy D’s is a true one-man wonder. The owner cooks every single massive portion to order with superb, heavy seasoning. Locals will tell you it is the absolute best place in the area to get perfectly fried chicken livers, hushpuppies, and deep-fried corn fritters. Make sure you grab the homemade banana pudding for the road.

Lobscouser Restaurant

A true Olde Towne Portsmouth staple since 1987. Lobscouser was built on the idea of providing a fine dining experience without the pretentious, inflated pricing. Housed on High Street, this family-operated gem serves up an incredible, unhurried dining experience with fantastic seafood. It is the perfect spot to grab a leisurely dinner after walking around the historic district.

Still Worldly Eclectic Tapas

If you want a modern, high-end experience hidden in the historic district, you book a table at Still. They opened in 2008 and have completely mastered the craft of elevated tapas. With Chef Ty at the helm, the kitchen turns out fresh, elegant, and unforgettable small plates that blend hometown heart with refined, global culinary techniques.

Chef Skip 757

Do not let the storefront-style atmosphere fool you; the food here is wildly good. Chef Skip 757 serves fresh, hot, and highly seasoned seafood dishes that locals absolutely rave about. Their crab cake sandwiches are made with massive lumps of real crab meat, and the fish tacos are a massive hit. It is a casual, paper-plate spot that delivers five-star flavor.

Yaadvybz Bikkle

Nestled along Hodges Ferry Road, this is Portsmouth’s shining gem for authentic Jamaican cuisine. They capture the absolute essence of Caribbean flavors, serving massive, deeply comforting portions of oxtail, jerk chicken, and curry goat. The sides are just as heavily seasoned as the mains, with the cabbage and rice and peas acting as the perfect bed for all that flavor.