Tacky Jacks - Gulf Shores

Tacky Jack's Gulf Shores is a classic Gulf Shores vacation restaurant. It is a right of passage to add your piece of colorful duct tape to the restaurant walls.

TL;DR Don't have time to read the full article? Here are my top finds:
🏨Hotels and Vacation Rentals
📍Tours
✨What's New in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach

Tacky Jacks Gulf Shores

Tacky Jack's Gulf Shores isn't just a restaurant, it's a Gulf Coast rite of passage. Since opening its doors, this waterfront institution has welcomed generations of beach-goers with cold Bushwackers, fresh Gulf seafood, and one quirky tradition: adding your own piece of colorful duct tape to the walls.

Whether you're fueling up with the legendary Farmer's Omelet (named one of Alabama's 100 Dishes to Eat Before You Die) or digging into Mexican Garbage Nachos, Tacky Jack's delivers that classic Gulf Shores vacation vibe that keeps families coming back year after year.

I still have photos from our first visit to Tacky Jack's Gulf Shores 10+ years ago. We were so in awe of the colorful duct tape all over the restaurant. I remember sitting in the restaurant feeling like we were finally at the beach and on vacation.

Located in Waterway Village, Tacky Jack's serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner with waterfront views and that laid-back Gulf Coast vibe you're craving. Don't forget to grab some duct tape and add your family's colorful message to the walls before you leave, it's tradition.

Indoor Seating

Tacky Jacks Gulf Shores has a large indoor seating area that can fit larger families and groups. We have seen tables of 8 people together.

Indoor Bar

There is a great indoor bar on the main level of the restaurant.

Outdoor Seating

There is covered outdoor seating available if you want to feel the breeze off the Intracoastal Waterway.

Tacky Jacks Gulf Shores Menu

Tacky Jack's Lunch & Dinner Menu

Signature Appetizers:

• Mexican Garbage Nachos - Beef and cheese nachos loaded with everything: meat, two cheeses, tomato, onions, black olives, sour cream, jalapeños, and salsa
• Smoked Tuna Dip - Coastal favorite served with toast points
• Gator Bites - Half pound of gator tail, deep fried or blackened with remoulade
• Seafood Queso - Shrimp and crawfish queso with fresh-made tortilla chips
• Seared Ahi Tuna - Sliced tuna on sesame ginger slaw with soy and wasabi aioli
• Crawfish Tails - Fried and spicy
• Fried Green Tomato Fries - French fry cut, lightly breaded with ranch

Seafood Specialties:

• Tacky Shrimp - Shrimp in spicy island-style broth, served over rice or angel hair pasta with French bread for dunking
• Shrimp and Grits - Grilled shrimp over Gouda grits with Conecuh sausage and spicy Tacky sauce
• Kick'n Cajun Pasta - Creamy lemon Creole sauce with shrimp, Conecuh sausage, mushrooms, peppers, and onions
• Crab Cake Dinner - Jumbo lump crab cakes with mashed potatoes, green beans, and Cajun remoulade
• Steamed Snow Crabs - With corn on the cob, red potatoes, and butter
• Steamed Reds - The "Queen of the Gulf" with all the fixings

Burgers & Sandwiches:

• Recovery Cheeseburger - Two hand-smashed burgers with fried egg, bacon, and cheddar
• The TJ Burger - Two hand-smashed quarter-pounders with all the fixings
• BBQ Cheddar Burger - Topped with fried pickles, BBQ, bacon, and cheddar
• Fried Chicken Sandwich - With Applewood bacon, provolone, and Peruvian Gold sauce
• Philly Cheese Steak - Thinly sliced ribeye with onions, peppers, and cheese sauce on French loaf
• Triple Decker BLT - Bacon, lettuce, tomato, American cheese, and mayo on Texas toast
• Crab Patty - Crab cake with remoulade, lettuce, and tomato

Po'boys & Tacos:

• Po'boys - Shrimp, Firecracker Shrimp, Fried Oyster, Gator, or Catch of the Day
• Tacos - Flaky Fish, Shrimp, Firecracker Shrimp, Mahi Mahi, or Catch of the Day (fried, grilled, or blackened)

Platters:

• Flaky Fish Platter - With fries, hushpuppies, and tartar sauce
• Fried Seafood Trio - Shrimp, oysters, and flaky fish with all the sides
• Shrimp Platter - Fried, grilled, or blackened
• Oyster Platter - Fried oysters with hushpuppies

Kids Menu

• Breakfast: Lil Sunrise, Biscuits and Gravy, Sand Dollar Pancakes, Belgian Waffle
• Lunch & Dinner: Chicken Strips, Shrimp, Mac and Cheese, Grilled Cheese, Fish, or Cheeseburger

Gluten-Free options

Based on the menu, here are potential gluten-free options (always confirm with the restaurant as preparation methods and cross-contamination can vary):

Breakfast: Eggs (scrambled, fried, poached), Gouda Grits, Breakfast Potatoes, Hash Browns, Applewood Smoked Bacon, Sausage Patty, Canadian Bacon, Corned Beef Hash, Omelets (without biscuit) - Farmer's Omelet, Shrimp Omelet, Meat Lover's Omelet, Veggie Omelet, Shrimp & Grits (without the biscuit)

Lunch & Dinner:

Appetizers: Smoked Tuna Dip (request without toast points, substitute veggies or confirm GF crackers available), Seafood Queso (request GF chips or confirm tortilla chips are GF), Seared Ahi Tuna (on sesame ginger slaw), Crab Claws (steamed only, not fried)

Salads: Jack's House Salad (no croutons), Caesar Salad (no croutons), Fried Chicken Salad (request grilled chicken instead of fried), Taco Salad (confirm tortilla bowl can be omitted, just the salad contents), Add grilled proteins: Grilled Chicken, Grilled Shrimp, Salmon, Ahi Tuna

Seafood (Grilled or Blackened): Grilled or Blackened Shrimp, Salmon, Catch of the Day (grilled or blackened), Tacky Shrimp (served over rice, confirm sauce is GF), Shrimp and Grits (confirm Tacky sauce and grits are GF), Steamed Snow Crabs, Steamed Reds

Rice Bowls: Seared Ahi Tuna Rice Bowl (confirm sauces are GF), Firecracker Shrimp Rice Bowl (confirm sauces are GF)

Sides: Coleslaw, Corn on the Cob, Mashed Potatoes, Baked Potato, Loaded Baked Potato, Collard Greens, Gouda Grits, Fresh Steamed Broccoli, Green Beans, Broccoli Salad

Steak: Ribeye Steak (with baked potato), Grilled Ribeye Combo (confirm any sauces are GF)

Vegan Options

Based on the menu, vegan options are limited. Here are possibilities (always confirm preparation and ingredients with the restaurant):

Salads (with modifications): Jack's House Salad - Crisp romaine lettuce, shredded carrots, red cabbage, cucumber, diced tomatoes (request NO cheese, NO croutons, use Oil & Vinegar or Vinaigrette dressing), Caesar Salad - (request NO cheese, NO croutons, NO caesar dressing - substitute Oil & Vinegar or Vinaigrette if vegan), Taco Salad - (request NO meat, NO cheese, NO sour cream, confirm beans and tortilla are vegan-friendly)

Sides: Fresh Steamed Broccoli (confirm no butter), Corn on the Cob (request no butter),

Vegetarian Options

Breakfast: Veggie Omelet, Belgian Waffle, Banana Puddin' Waffle, Wheelhouse Pancake, French Toast (request without bacon), Basket of Beignet Bites, Cinnamon Roll, The Sunrise - Two eggs your way with Gouda grits and buttermilk biscuit (request no sausage)

Breakfast Sides: Eggs, Buttermilk Biscuit, Toast, Breakfast Potatoes, Hashbrowns, Gouda Grits

Lunch & Dinner Appetizers: Fried Pickles, Mozzarella Logs, Fried Green Tomato Fries, Beignet Bites

Salads: Jack's House Salad, Taco Salad (request no meat),

Handhelds: Tot's Grilled Cheese

Pasta: Pasta Alfredo

Sides (Vegetarian-Friendly): French Fries, Coleslaw, Hushpuppies, Mac & Cheese, Baked Potato, Mashed Potatoes, Fresh Steamed Broccoli, Corn on the Cob

Tacky Jack's Breakfast Menu Highlights

Must-Try Items:

• Farmer's Omelet - Named one of Alabama's 100 Dishes to Eat Before You Die! Loaded with potatoes, onions, green peppers, mushrooms, sausage, ham, plus American and cheddar cheese inside and out
• Shrimp & Grits - Southern tradition with seasoned grilled shrimp over Gouda grits, topped with signature Tacky Sauce
• TJ's Southern Breakfast Bowl - Potatoes, peppers, mushrooms, sausage, ham, scrambled egg, sawmill gravy, cheddar cheese, and bacon

From the Griddle:

• NEW! Banana Puddin' Waffle - Banana pudding, bananas, whipped cream, wafers, and caramel atop a Belgian waffle
• Chicken & Waffle - Fried chicken on a Belgian waffle with syrup (add Mike's Hot Honey for sweet and spicy)
• French Toast - Thick sliced, topped with powdered sugar and syrup
• Biscuits & Gravy - Classic buttermilk biscuits with sawmill gravy

Bennys:

• Crabcake Benny - Open-faced biscuit with signature crab cake, poached eggs, and hollandaise
• The Jack Benny - Canadian bacon, poached eggs, and hollandaise
• Redneck Benny - Sausage, scrambled eggs, smothered in sausage gravy

Sweet Starters:

• Beignet Bites - Rolled in cinnamon sugar with caramel or dusted with powdered sugar and raspberry sauce
• NEW! Cinnamon Roll - Classic warm cinnamon roll

Signature Cocktails

Tacky Jacks Famous Buschwacker, Bahama Mama, Tacky Mule, Mojito, Island Jumper, Hurricane Jack, Tacky Apple Mule, Mango Bango, Bloody Mary's, Margaritas, and more.

Why you will love Tacky Jacks Gulf Shores

• Kid friendly restaurant in Gulf Shores
• Colorful tape you can write on and put on the wall
• Large menu so there is something for everyone

 

Things to know when planning a visit to Tacky Jacks Gulf Shores

Address - 240 E 24th Ave, Gulf Shores, AL

Part of Waterway Village

There are also Tacky Jack's Locations in Orange Beach and Fort Morgan

Phone - 251-948-8881

Hours - 7:30 am - 9 pm Sunday through Thursday, 7:30 am - 10 pm Friday and Saturday

Please confirm with the restaurant to ensure that hours have not changed.

Accessibility - There is accessible paved parking spaces on the left side of the restaurant towards the water. There is an elevator on the other side of the building that has access to the main dining area.

Plus Size Seating - The chairs do not have arms and are pretty comfortable

Dress Code/Suggestions - Casual

Pets - I believe the outdoor areas of Tacky Jacks Gulf Shores are Pet-friendly.

Parking  - There is parking in front of the restaurant

Restaurants and Attractions near Tacky Jacks Gulf Shores

Pelican Scoops Ice Cream - Super cute new Gulf Shores Ice Cream Shop right across the street.

The Ugly Diner - Open for breakfast and lunch! They serve comfort food done right with a casual fun atmosphere.

Hope's Cheesecake - Local gourmet cheesecakes by the slice or whole cheesecakes.

Galway Irish Public House - Right down the street is a great Irish pub and restaurant.

Cowbell Rolled Ice Cream - Delicious rolled ice cream made to order

China Dragon - serves authentic Chinese food for delivery, take-out meals, or dine in.

Additional Orange Beach and Gulf Shores Articles

Ice Cream Shops in Gulf Shores - If you are looking to cool down on a hot day make sure to check out these epic local ice cream shops.

Best pizza in Gulf Shores - Best pizza in Gulf Shores from a local perspective! Who offers delivery and who has great flavor.

Donut Shops in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach - Start your morning with a sweet treat!

Best local coffee shops in Gulf Shores - Grab your favorite coffee or tea at one of our favorite local coffee shops.