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Seasonal Seafood, Freshly Cooked. Good Fish, That’s the Hook.® Drawing inspiration from classic American fish camps and waterside seafood shacks, SALTBOX Seafood Joint in Durham, NC celebrates local, fresh NC seafood. Chef and Owner Ricky Moore was awarded Best Chef: Southeast by the James Beard Foundation in 2022 and was named a semifinalist of the James Beard Foundation’s prestigious national Outstanding Chef Award in 2025.
Buzzy counter-serve offshoot of a popular roadside shack known for its local, seasonal seafood.
Address and Contact Information
Address: 2637 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd, Durham, NC 27707
Phone: (919) 237-3499
Website: http://www.saltboxseafoodjoint.com/
Menu Photos
Order and Reservations
Order: Order online
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Related Web Results
Saltbox Seafood Joint
His popular ‘fish shack’ style restaurant Saltbox Seafood Joint®, located in Durham, North Carolina, is beloved by locals and critics for its elevated, seasonal …
Saltbox Seafood Joint | Durham NC – Facebook
Their seafood is fresh and simply prepared, and the hush-honeys are a *cannot* miss side. Saltbox Seafood Joint is at 2637 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd. in Durham.” …
The Eats – Saltbox Seafood Joint
the Eats · Spring. Blue Crab Bluefish Clam Grouper Kingfish King Mackerel Mahi-Mahi Oyster · Summer. Black Sea Bass Blue Crab Clam Grouper Spanish Mackerel Mahi …
Reviews
Will
Was on a journey to find some seafood when I came across this worthy spot. Very small but overall amazing. The guy who took our order was really nice and gave us some suggestions on items. He was very helpful and pleasant the entire time. This will definitely be my seafood spot when I am in the mood for some seafood. We had the flounder, trout, catfish, spicy Mahi and shrimp. Everything was amazing and very flavorful. Ohhhhh and the honey hush puppies or whatever they are were amazing as well as the 1/2 lemonade 1/2 sweet tea was delicious!!!!!
… moreSean
Absolutely fantastic seafood joint that never disappoints. I’ve never been disappointed here. Every item is delicious. The food is always fresh, local, and well seasoned. The owner and staff and kind, passionate, and genuine. The location and decor itself really reflect NC seafood in a fun and unique way. Every item I’ve tried on the menu is delicious, and it makes the decision on what to order a tough one every time!
… moreParents of WLA
First time trying SALTBOX. It was on my radar after seeing it listed in DURHAM MAGAZINE. The place is so cute — decorated appropriately with lots of nautical themed art and tchotchkes. The staff welcomed us — even the chef said hello and thanked us for coming! We ordered the crabcake platter with coleslaw and came with their fried potatoes/green peppers/onions, a trout roll (which comes with slaw on it) and a slice of lemon pie. I was very happy to learn that the crabcakes are baked, not fried. The crabcake was nicely seasoned and tasted great but different than the Maryland lump crabcake. The coleslaw was perfect — vinegary with a little sweetness, and the potatoes were a revelation! Thinly sliced a lightly fried with a crisp outside and soft potatoey inside — I have never had anything like this dish and they were amazing. The trout was plentiful in the roll — lightly seasoned which allowed the flavor of the fish to come through. We enjoyed everything — including the lemon pie which was similar to a key lime pie. I didn’t think to take a before photo, but here’s the evidence of our enjoyment in the after! We will return!
… moreKi & Tye (BlackGirlsBlackWorld)
I’ve had Saltbox on my list for a while, and finally made a trip to Durham to try it, and it absolutely lived up to the hype.
We ordered the crab cakes with crispy potatoes, the spicy mahi sandwich, an order of hush-honeys, plus drinks: Uncle Waithley’s ginger beer and an Arnold Palmer. Everything was fresh, flavorful, and clearly made with care. You can really tell that all the sauces and sides are made from scratch—it elevates the entire meal. The crab cakes were tender and perfectly seasoned, the sandwich had just the right amount of heat, and those hush-honeys were the kind of sweet-savory bite you dream about later.
The atmosphere sealed the experience for me. They had blues playing in the background, which gave it that warm, soulful vibe that just fits. I also loved seeing Uncle Waithley’s (a Black-owned brand) as a beverage option: it shows intention and community in the details.
If you’ve been eyeing Saltbox like I was, make the trip. It’s one of those restaurants that not only delivers on flavor but also feels good to support. I’ll definitely be back.
… moreWe ordered the crab cakes with crispy potatoes, the spicy mahi sandwich, an order of hush-honeys, plus drinks: Uncle Waithley’s ginger beer and an Arnold Palmer. Everything was fresh, flavorful, and clearly made with care. You can really tell that all the sauces and sides are made from scratch—it elevates the entire meal. The crab cakes were tender and perfectly seasoned, the sandwich had just the right amount of heat, and those hush-honeys were the kind of sweet-savory bite you dream about later.
The atmosphere sealed the experience for me. They had blues playing in the background, which gave it that warm, soulful vibe that just fits. I also loved seeing Uncle Waithley’s (a Black-owned brand) as a beverage option: it shows intention and community in the details.
If you’ve been eyeing Saltbox like I was, make the trip. It’s one of those restaurants that not only delivers on flavor but also feels good to support. I’ll definitely be back.
Nik Snacks
I really don’t like seafood. It’s not my thing, but I appreciate well-prepared food no matter what it is. I got grouper bites, lemonade (wow-oh-wow it was good! Not tart, not too sweet) and a bunch of dipping sauces. They were all excellent. The star of the show was the hush-honeys, though. I wish I’d gotten TWO orders!
… moreX Z
Staff here are extremely friendly and genuinely make you feel taken care of every time you visit. The food is authentic, fresh, and so flavorful you can really tell they put love into what they make. I absolutely love this place and will definitely be coming back again!
… moreDylan G
Just fantastic! The fish was fresh and had amazing flavor, and the hush hunnies were excellent. Also enjoyed the lemon pie. Service friendly too.
… moreElizabeth Cheney
Phenomenal food and service. We loved our rolls (one shrimp and one grouper). The side of Brussels was also delicious. There are no words for how good the coleslaw is… and beautiful to boot!
… moreKATRINA MCKINNON
Hubby & I were trying to decide where to eat before an event we were to attend. Stopped by and ate here on a Friday evening. Let’s just say from the great customer service to the food…everything was a 10+. We can’t wait to return
… moreAshieana Worley
This place is an indefinite 10 in my book. The customer service was great, the cashier, Tavion, made some great recommendations and was super personable and polite. Based on Customer Service alone, I would have come back. I happen to see this restaurant on a TikTok video and decided to try it out with my son after a track meet we were at got rained out. We got the catfish, the fried shrimp, the crispy potatoes, the honey hush puppies, and the collard greens. Everything was delicious. The catfish was delicate and flavorful, the shrimp were crispy and juicy, the honey hush puppies were the perfect combination of sweet and savory, the crispy potatoes were delicious, and I loved the peppers and onions in them, the tartar sauce, and the cocktail sauce were not your run of the mill versions and we’re so flavorful and delicious, and the greens were a home run. The aesthetic for the restaurant was very on team for the type of food they served and it was super clean inside and had a good size parking lot. When we came in there was no wait but quickly thereafter the line piled up and I can see why. If I had to give any criticism I would say I wasn’t a fan of the sweet tea, but wasn’t a big deal for me at all because I was able to grab a fountain drink instead so honestly not an issue for me at all. I’ve already recommended this place to several people and it’s only been about four hours since us being there. The next time we are in Durham, we will definitely be making another stop to try some other menu items and I can’t wait! I really want to thank this restaurant for such great food and service. I feel like the combination is that times a rarity when eating out so it was much appreciated.
… more