El's has been a Carteret County tradition since 1959, when El Franks and his wife Helen opened at the present location. This is an old-fashioned drive-in, which means you are waited on by a carhop and sit in your vehicle and eat or enjoy sitting at one of the picnic tables under the ancient oak trees. El's has great burgers-fresh every day-never frozen, hot dogs, fries, and milkshakes. The Superburger, assembled with mustard, onion, slaw and chili, is a Carteret County favorite. You must try their famous shrimp or oyster burger or a shrimp or oyster tray, or freshly fried chicken (worth a twenty-minute wait). This is a much-enjoyed lunch and dinner spot for locals, so go early to get a parking place. And don't forget to lob a french fry or two out the window to the waiting seagulls. El's is open from 10:30 AM to around 10:30 PM every day, and usually stays open until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. Take home an El's t-shirt or sun visor. Inside they have a large selection of t-shirts sizes for kids to adult 3x. El's accepts cash and checks, but no credit or debit cards. There is an ATM machine inside accessed for a fee. Free wi-fi is available while visiting.
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