10 Unique Restaurants in Delaware: Belly Dancing, Malaysian Eats, & More

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Ready to discover Delaware’s most unique restaurants? This gem on the East Coast offers everything from all-you-can-eat sushi at Mikimotos in Wilmington to authentic Russian dumplings at Baba’s Kitchen in Rehoboth Beach and waterfront crab feasts at Fenwick Crab House in Fenwick Island. For a fun vacation in the US, Delaware is one of the unique places to visit.

Savor the Moroccan-inspired dishes at The House of Coffi in Dover or dig into towering sandwiches at Casapulla’s Subs in Newark. From cozy cafes like Old World Breads in Lewes to upscale dining at Bluecoast Seafood Grill in Bethany Beach, Delaware’s culinary scene is packed with flavor.

In this guide, I’m sharing 10 of the most unique places to eat. Get ready to explore unforgettable meals and see why Delaware is a food lover’s paradise.

👉 Pro Tip: Test your skills with the Crime Solving Detective Experience in Dover! While cracking clues, scout out local food spots to refuel—think cozy cafés or quick bites. It’s a fun way to explore the city and its eats!

Unusual places to eat in DE

Ready to fly to Delaware and explore its best eateries? From an enchanting Moroccan spot in New Castle with belly dancing to a vibrant Jamaican eatery in Wilmington, Delaware is a foodie’s dream. Join me as we uncover the most unique restaurants in DE.

1. Casablanca Moroccan Restaurant

• 📍 Location: Wilmington (North Wilmington area)
• 💲 Price range: $25 – $50 per person
• 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Authentic Moroccan
• 🔥 Standout Features: Moroccan decor, multi-course feasts, belly dancing entertainment, flavorful tagines/couscous.
• 🎯 Perfect For: Moroccan food, cultural dining, live entertainment fans, groups feasts, and trying tagines.

Transport yourself to Morocco at Casablanca Moroccan Restaurant! This Wilmington gem offers an authentic taste of North Africa, complete with traditional decor, multi-course feasts, and mesmerizing belly dancing performances. It’s a magic carpet ride for your taste buds!

Ordering the lamb tagine slow-cooked with apricots and almonds is a great choice. The savory chicken bastilla (a sweet and savory filo pie), or a flavorful couscous royale with mixed meats and vegetables, are also fantastic.

2. Krazy Kat’s Restaurant

• 📍 Location: Wilmington (Inside The Inn at Montchanin Village)
• 💲 Price range: $50 – $100+ per person
• 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Upscale New American / French Influences
• 🔥 Standout Features: Cat-themed decor (zebra print/portraits of cats in military attire!), historic location, fine dining with a playful twist.
• 🎯 Perfect For: Cat lovers (with a sense of humor!), fine dining, special occasions, and experiencing historic charm.

Get ready for a dining experience that’s the cat’s meow at Krazy Kat’s! Housed in a historic blacksmith shop at The Inn at Montchanin Village, this fine dining spot is famous for its whimsical and wonderfully eccentric cat-themed decor. It’s purrfectly peculiar!

Savor upscale New American cuisine with French influences. Consider their perfectly seared scallops with seasonal accompaniments. Rich braised short ribs or creative preparations of local game birds like pheasant also showcase their artful presentation and sophisticated flavors.

• Read Next: 12 Places in Delaware That Will Leave You Speechless

3. Bardea Food & Drink

• 📍 Location: Downtown Wilmington
• 💲 Price range: $40 – $80 per person
• 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Modern Italian / Creative Small Plates
• 🔥 Standout Features: James Beard-nominated, Italian-inspired shareable plates.
• 🎯 Perfect For: Sharing small plates, stylish downtown dining, special occasions, and trying unique pasta dishes.

Experience Italian cuisine reimagined at Bardea Food & Drink in downtown Wilmington. This James Beard nominated restaurant is celebrated for its innovative and artfully presented small plates that encourage sharing and exploration. It’s modern Italian with a creative spark.

You should definitely try their unique pasta dishes, which are always a highlight and change seasonally. Other popular choices include inventive crudos, flavorful vegetable preparations like roasted cauliflower with bagna cauda, or creative meatball variations. Bardea offers a sophisticated and delicious dining adventure.

4. Ali Baba Mid Eastern Restaurant

• 📍 Location: Newark
• 💲 Price range: $15 – $30 per person
• 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Middle Eastern / Mediterranean
• 🔥 Standout Features: Classic kebabs, falafel, hummus.
• 🎯 Perfect For: Middle Eastern food and affordable ethnic eats.

Open sesame to deliciousness at Ali Baba Mid Eastern Restaurant! This Newark institution has been serving authentic and beloved Middle Eastern fare for years, offering a treasure trove of classic dishes in a casual, welcoming setting. It’s a 40-flavors kind of place!

Feasting on perfectly grilled shish kebabs (chicken or lamb) is a good plan. Crispy falafel platters with tahini sauce, creamy hummus with warm pita bread, or savory chicken shawarma are also consistent favorites. The quality makes Ali Baba a go-to spot.

5. K & R International Restaurant & Bar

• 📍 Location: Wilmington
• 💲 Price range: $15 – $35 per person
• 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Liberian / West African
• 🔥 Standout Features: Liberian/West African cuisine (rare find!), flavorful stews/rice dishes, fufu/jollof rice.
• 🎯 Perfect For: West African food, adventurous eaters, fufu/jollof rice, and global flavor fans.

Discover the vibrant flavors of West Africa at K & R International Restaurant & Bar! This Wilmington spot offers a rare opportunity to dive into authentic Liberian cuisine, known for its rich stews, flavorful rice dishes, and unique ingredients. It’s an amazing taste of Africa!

Exploring traditional dishes like hearty jollof rice with chicken or fish is highly recommended. Various savory stews, such as peanut soup or cassava leaf stew, served with fufu (a starchy dough for dipping), or flavorful grilled tilapia, provide a genuine culinary window.

6. Red Square Caviar Bar & Russian Cuisine

• 📍 Location: Rehoboth Beach
• 💲 Price range: $125 – $300+ per person (Entrees ~$55, Caviar ~$125+)
• 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Authentic Russian Fine Dining / Caviar Bar / Vodka Emporium
• 🔥 Standout Features: Exclusive dining, owner-hosted, large vodka selection, caviar.
• 🎯 Perfect For: Russian cuisine, caviar/vodka connoisseurs, and intimate dinners.

Prepare for an unforgettable dining experience at Red Square in Rehoboth Beach! This elegant oasis offers an intimate and luxurious dive into authentic Russian cuisine, hosted by the passionate owner, Victoria. It’s a privilege to dine here.

Victoria will guide you through the origins of each course. The mind-blowing borscht is a must. Stellar entrees like the rich and vibrant satsivy (a Georgian chicken or turkey dish with walnut sauce) or perfectly prepared pelmeni are fantastic. Experiencing their exquisite caviar service is essential.

7. Harpoon Hanna’s

• 📍 Location: Fenwick Island (On the water – DE/MD line)
• 💲 Price range: $25 – $50 per person
• 🍽️ Cuisine Style: American Seafood / Bar & Grill
• 🔥 Standout Features: Waterfront restaurant/bar, bay views/sunsets, multiple bars/dining areas, lively entertainment/events, tiki bar.
• 🎯 Perfect For: Waterfront dining, sunset views, boaters/beach-goers, and classic seafood/bar food.

Anchor down for food and fun at Harpoon Hanna’s! This massive waterfront restaurant and bar on Fenwick Island (straddling the DE/MD line) is a legendary beach destination. It’s where the party meets the pier!

Enjoying fresh seafood dishes like their popular crab cakes or steamed shrimp is a great idea. Classic burgers, such as the “Hanna’s Burger,” or their fish tacos are also crowd-pleasers while soaking in stunning bay views, especially at sunset.

8. Striper Bites

• 📍 Location: Lewes
• 💲 Price range: $20 – $45 per person
• 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Upscale Casual Seafood / American Bistro
• 🔥 Standout Features: Fresh/local seafood, bistro ambiance, creative daily specials.
• 🎯 Perfect For: Seafood lovers, bistro dining, and creative seafood dishes.

Get hooked on fresh, local flavors at Striper Bites in historic Lewes! This beloved bistro offers a cozy, nautical atmosphere and a menu that shines with creatively prepared seafood and American fare. It’s a reel-y good catch!

Diving into dishes showcasing the best of the local catch is essential. Consider the perfectly seared scallops with seasonal risotto. Flavorful rockfish preparations, a nod to their name, or their popular crab cakes with a zesty remoulade, make Striper Bites a favorite.

9. Sakura Japanese Restaurant

• 📍 Location: Rehoboth Beach
• 💲 Price range: $25 – $50 per person
• 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Authentic Japanese / Sushi / Hibachi
• 🔥 Standout Features: Traditional Japanese decor, extensive sushi/sashimi menu, hibachi grill tables for live cooking shows.
• 🎯 Perfect For: Sushi and sashimi lovers, hibachi show fans, authentic Japanese cuisine, and interactive dining.

Say “Konnichiwa” to deliciousness at Sakura Japanese Restaurant in Rehoboth Beach! This spot offers an authentic taste of Japan, from delicate sushi and sashimi to the fiery entertainment of hibachi grill cooking. It’s a journey to Japan, by the beach!

Indulging in fresh, expertly prepared sushi rolls, like a classic spicy tuna or a creative specialty roll, is a good plan. Gathering around a hibachi table for steak and shrimp or chicken and scallops, prepared with dazzling flair, is also a fantastic choice.

10. Nasi Malay Thai Sushi

• 📍 Location: Rehoboth Beach (Route 1)
• 💲 Price range: $20 – $40 per person
• 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Eclectic Asian Fusion (Malaysian/Thai/Japanese Sushi)
• 🔥 Standout Features: Combination of Malaysian, Thai, and Japanese (sushi) cuisines, diverse menu, flavorful dishes.
• 🎯 Perfect For: Asian fusion lovers, adventurous eaters, and exploring global flavors.

Embark on a Pan-Asian flavor tour at Nasi Malay Thai Sushi! This Rehoboth spot offers a unique menu bringing together the distinct cuisines of Malaysia, Thailand, and Japan all under one roof. It’s an Asian flavor trifecta!

Explore a diverse menu. Starting with Japanese sushi, like a fresh salmon roll, is popular. Moving on to a fragrant Malaysian beef rendang, or a spicy Thai green curry with chicken, makes for a fun and adventurous meal.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the quirkiest restaurants in Delaware

Are you searching for more information about where to eat in Delaware? Here are some common questions (and answers) I get asked a lot about Delaware’s most unique restaurants.

Does Delaware have a state food?

You might be surprised to find out that Delaware doesn’t officially have a state food. However, if you ask the locals, many will tell you that scrapple, a dish made from pork scraps and cornmeal, is a quintessential Delaware treat.

Is Delaware a beautiful state?

In my opinion, Delaware is one of the most beautiful states and one of the best-hidden vacation spots in the US. From the serene beaches of Rehoboth and Dewey to the enchanting landscapes of the Brandywine Valley, Delaware is a picturesque gem. Don’t miss a sunset at Cape Henlopen State Park – it’s breathtaking.

What is the best city in Delaware for foodies?

Wilmington is the spot for any foodie exploring Delaware, making it one of the top places to live and visit in Delaware. This city offers everything from gourmet dining to unique international cuisines. Make sure to explore the Riverfront area and Trolley Square for some top-notch eats.

What is one fun fact about Delaware?

Did you know that Delaware is the only state without any national parks, forests, or monuments? It’s pretty unique in that regard. But don’t let that fool you – Delaware’s state parks and beaches are absolutely stunning and can compete with the best of them, making it one of the top places to live and visit in the US.