K38: A Wilmington Legend

Things I will Miss

The original

I recently found out that K38 is opening a second restaurant in Carolina Beach. I rarely make that trek down there—traffic has always been a bitch.

But, the PCD had a nice piece on the opening here. From the article:

Founded by Josh Vach in 1993, K-38 has always embraced a surfer’s lifestyle, offering laid-back vibes and simple, yet satisfying Baja fare, which includes a fusion of Mexican cuisine blending California freshness. The menu includes enchiladas (don’t sleep on the shrimp, pineapple, and bacon), tostadas, tacos, fajitas, rolls and more, not to mention top-shelf margs, ice-cold beer and homemade salsa and chips.

By the way, I highly recommend you go there if not to only buy their salsa and chips.

As the article notes, K38 is a popular surf destination…in Mexico from way back in the day when surfing was the craze.

K38—the one in Mexico

Every trip I made back in the 1990s, after a surf session—usually at the Crystal pier (where I caught my very first wave)—we’d hit K38.

Such good times.

I believe K38 has other satellite restaurants in the area besides the 2 I mention, but if you ever want to try out a Wilmington classic, with excellent food and drinks, you must go to K38, and go to the original spot on Oleander.

As a bonus, I have in my stash of saved videos from the era, a video from the early 2000s shot by fellow surfers, and they caught Josh, the owner of K38, out on the waves. Wait for it, and thank you Josh for the memories:

I will have to say something about the infamous Iceman one day. He was a great guy, and called many a swell back in the day.

There’s a lot of history to this land here, if but people would care to know it.