Runners Seafood Restaurant & Market
A family-owned Ocean Beach I favorite combining a casual seafood restaurant, takeout service and fresh fish market.
Ocean Beach · Ocean County · Jersey Shore
Ocean Beach Food & Drink
From fresh seafood and early-morning donuts to ice cream after the beach, Ocean Beach has a small but memorable collection of seasonal favorites serving Ocean Beach I, II and III.
Seafood
Breakfast
Donuts & Bakery
Ice Cream
Takeout
Eating in Ocean Beach
Ocean Beach is primarily a residential shore community, so its food scene is more compact than nearby Lavallette or Seaside Heights. That is part of its appeal: several long-running businesses sit directly along Route 35 and are easy to reach from the Ocean Beach neighborhoods, while the surrounding barrier island adds many more dining choices within a short drive.
NJTGO covers Ocean Beach I, Ocean Beach II and Ocean Beach III together on this page. Where a business is clearly associated with one of the three units, that unit is identified below.
Updated for the 2026 shore season: Shore businesses often change hours between summer and the off-season. Call or check the business website or social page before making a special trip.
Find What You’re Hungry For
Ocean Beach I, II & III Dining Guide
I
Ocean Beach I
Summer Sweets
A classic shore dessert stop serving ice cream, ices, sundaes, candy, fudge, salt water taffy and other take-home treats.
II
Ocean Beach II
Donuts Plus
A long-running Ocean Beach breakfast stop known for fresh donuts, breakfast sandwiches, bagels, pastries and coffee.
Cowabunga Creamery
A surf-inspired ice cream shop that opened for the 2026 shore season, serving scoops, soft serve, sundaes, cones and specialty treats.
Ice Cream Plus
A neighborhood Ocean Beach II dessert stop offering hard serve, soft serve, water ice and classic summer treats.
III
Ocean Beach III & Ocean Beach Marina
Channel Marker Cafe
A seasonal waterfront restaurant inside Ocean Beach Marina on Barnegat Bay, known for sunset views, dock-and-dine access and seafood-forward dinner choices.
Breakfast, Donuts & Bakery
Donuts Plus
One of the area's classic early-morning stops, with donuts, breakfast sandwiches, bagels, pastries and coffee. Summer mornings can be busy, so earlier is usually better.
Colonial Bakery North
The seasonal north location of Colonial Bakery sits at Route 35 North and Joseph Street, immediately serving the Ocean Beach-area shore communities with breads, pastries, cakes and bakery favorites.
Seafood, Lunch & Dinner
Runners Seafood Restaurant & Market
Ocean Beach's strongest all-around seafood stop, with dine-in meals, takeout and a fish market under one roof.
Channel Marker Cafe
A bayfront dinner option where the setting is part of the experience. The marina location makes it especially convenient for sunset dining and boaters.
Ice Cream & Sweets
Summer Sweets
Ice cream, ices, sundaes, fudge, candy, taffy and frozen treats for a traditional shore-night dessert stop.
Cowabunga Creamery
A newer surf-themed creamery that joined the neighborhood in 2026 with hard ice cream, soft serve, sundaes and cones.
Ice Cream Plus
A neighborhood choice for hard serve, soft serve and water ice.
More Dining Nearby
Ocean Beach sits in the middle of a very active stretch of the northern barrier island. If you want a larger restaurant selection, nearby Lavallette, Normandy Beach, Ortley Beach and Seaside Heights add breakfast spots, pizza, Italian food, seafood, bars and boardwalk dining within a short drive.
Lavallette
The closest concentrated downtown dining area, with breakfast, pizza, restaurants, coffee, ice cream and nightlife.
Normandy Beach
Additional seafood, markets and casual dining options north of Ocean Beach.
Ortley Beach
Head south through Lavallette for casual shore restaurants, pizza, ice cream and takeout.
Seaside Heights
Boardwalk food, bars, family restaurants and late-night options for visitors looking for more activity.
Get Your Food Business Listed on NJTGO
NJTGO is building useful local directories for New Jersey residents and visitors. Restaurants, bakeries, markets, coffee shops, ice cream stands, caterers and other food businesses serving Ocean Beach can request a listing or ask about enhanced placement.
Business owners: If your business is missing, has changed ownership, moved, or needs updated information, contact NJTGO. Featured placements and advertising opportunities are also available for businesses that want greater visibility on town and county pages.
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NJTGO is an independent informational guide. Business hours, menus, prices and seasonal operating schedules may change. Always confirm current details directly with the business before visiting.