04/02/2025
Nowadays, it seems more rare than not to speak candidly with someone who knows what they want and are equally as passionate about it, so the conversation with island local, Tyler Naughton, was particularly refreshing when discussing his food truck, Toucana Grill. Located in the Teach’s Lair Marina parking lot, Toucana Grill has been a Hatteras Village hot spot ever since it opened its windows on June 3, 2024, but we’ll get back to that later. First, a little backstory…
Tyler’s family moved to Hatteras Island when he was in the 5th grade, graduating from Cape Hatteras Secondary School before packing his bags and setting out for the big city lights of Los Angeles, California. Food was always his passion, so he stuck with it, eventually making his way through the ranks of Konbi, a national Instagram sensation and one of Bon Appetit Magazine’s “Best New Restaurants in America” in 2019 (I will also note that while scoping this out, Bon Appetit also lists Konbi as number one on the said “Hot Ten” list and the “Restaurant of the Year” for 2019). However, no amount of accomplishment or success could match the following 4 years of a global pandemic paired with all of the hurdles involved in being a small business in California. Konbi shuttered permanently on January 22, 2023.
With that, Tyler took to the streets, cooking out the back of his car on the side of the road in LA. That same summer, he ventured back home for vacation, hosting his first pop-up at Café Pamlico in Buxton. A smashing success, investors came forward and Toucana Grill was born, opening a short year later in Hatteras Village and serving breakfast and lunch.
Simply put, Toucana Grill’s menu is giving “California Cuisine” as it is inspired by all of Tyler’s favorite food trucks in LA. The goal was to bring back his favorite flavors for all of his friends back on the island to try and love. On his menu, you can chow down on his favorite smash burger or a variety of footlong hot dogs, or go a little more exotic with a beans and rice bowl (my personal favorite), a plethora of taco and burrito options, or one of his daily specials that will keep you dreaming about it days later!
With no desire for the headaches that come along with a brick-and-mortar restaurant, his energy is contagious. Pumped for all of the possibilities that lie ahead, living for the day-to-day “FUN” found in the intimate space frequented with island regulars, and passionate about his work, it’s very clear that he’s exactly where he’s meant to be. Along with their tasty eats, he also brought back some of California’s cool vibes, all accentuated by his relaxed style and chill demeanor, making the ambiance in his little corner of the parking lot all that more enjoyable. Good food and a smile with a view of the water?! Who doesn’t want that? Exactly. We’ll catch you there!
