After the Churkeychanga, try these Thanksgiving specials at Wilmington-area restaurants

The Margaret is a Thanksgiving seasonal special at The Half restaurant, 510 1/2 Red Cross St. in Wilmington.
The Margaret is a Thanksgiving seasonal special at The Half restaurant, 510 1/2 Red Cross St. in Wilmington.

There are some must-do annual holiday traditions in Wilmington. One of them is enjoying seasonal sandwiches and other specials that local restaurants add to their menu in November. Last year, we did a taste test of two popular ones -- the Churkeychanga at Flaming Amy's Burrito Barn and The Gobbler from Pine Valley Market. (Spoiler: They're both delicious.)

But there’s more, much more, out there as other local eateries get in on the holiday fun. Here’s a look.

The Margaret at The Half

This seasonal sandwich adds house-made cranberry sauce, green bean casserole, stuffing, and gravy mayo to turkey and white bread. You can also get it with marinated tofu for a vegan option. Look for it Nov. 18-22 at 510 1/2 Red Cross St. in Wilmington.

The Thanksgiving Benedict at Eternal Sunshine Café

This popular breakfast/brunch restaurant at 420 Eastwood Road in Wilmington regularly offers seven or more versions of Eggs Benedict. As well as this seasonal special made with pumpkin bread-corn bread stuffing, pulled turkey, fresh cranberry gel and poached eggs topped with a gravy hollandaise.

The Thanksgiving Benedict at Eternal Sunshine Cafe, 420 Eastwood Road in Wilmington.
The Thanksgiving Benedict at Eternal Sunshine Cafe, 420 Eastwood Road in Wilmington.

Grandma's Girthy Gobbler at Jax 5th Avenue Deli

This deli and ale house has brought back a favorite -- with Boar's Head mesquite turkey, stuffing, and gravy layered with a house-made apple and cranberry chutney with walnuts. It's served on a buttery toasted Kaiser roll and fried onion straws at 5046 New Centre Drive in Wilmington.

Thanksgiving Pizza at Jay's Incredible Pizza

The magic that happens at the "pizza lab" at this restaurant at 3600 College Road in Wilmington is always special. But this one is full of holiday dreams -- a deep-dish pizza shell filled with turkey gravy, sausage stuffing, turkey, mashed potatoes, corn, mozzarella and cheddar jack cheese with a cranberry drizzle on top. It's available beginning this week.

Thanksgiving Pizza is available Nov. 2023 at Jay's Incredible Pizza at 3600 College Road in Wilmington, N.C.
Thanksgiving Pizza is available Nov. 2023 at Jay's Incredible Pizza at 3600 College Road in Wilmington, N.C.

The Smashgiving Burger at Mess Hall

This popular burger spot has been offering a monthly burger special. For November, it's this smash burger with ground turkey-and-stuffing patties, fried mashed potatoes, herb gravy, collards, and a sauce made with kombucha from Panacea Brewing Company. It's available all month at 2136 Wrightsville Ave.

Turkey Stromboli at Italian Bistro

The Porters Neck location of this restaurant at 8211 Market St. brought back this special on Nov. 6. The pizza restaurant that also serves a variety of Italian specialties is stuffing turkey, dressing and mozzarella into dough. Gravy and cranberry sauce come on the side.

Thanksgiving Pretzel at Crofton's Pretzels

If you're interested to checkout a condiment known as "gravy butter," now's your chance. This pretzel spot at 1620 Market St. specializes in stuffed pretzels, including this one stuffed with pulled turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry butter and the option of gravy butter on the side.

Thanksgiving Waffle at Molly Pitcher’s American Grill

It's worth it to follow this restaurant on social media. They regularly post a selection of unique specials every day. This month, you're likely to see a stuffing waffle that is topped with turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy and cranberry-pear relish from time to time. It's at 4001 Wrightsville Ave. in Wilmington.

The Leftovers Sandwich at CheeseSmith

The Leftovers Sandwich is a November special at CheeseSmith, 624 S 17th St., Wilmington, N.C.
The Leftovers Sandwich is a November special at CheeseSmith, 624 S 17th St., Wilmington, N.C.

In Wilmington's Cargo District, this grilled cheese restaurant brought back this sandwich. It has smoked turkey breast, muenster cheese, cornbread stuffing, potato chips, cranberry spread and a rosemary-sage mayo. It comes with a side of gravy and is available until Black Friday at 624 S. 17th St.

Sweet and Savory Crepes at Our Crepes & More

Wilmington's crepe restaurant at 3810 Oleander Drive offers a regular rotation of seasonal specials throughout the year. This month, the savory selection is melted brie, cranberry relish and turkey topped with glazed walnuts. The sweet selection is a take on pumpkin pie with melted marshmallow and a drizzle of chai spice honey.

Turkey Empanadas at Block Taco

Look for these on a limited basis at this window-service restaurant in Wilmington's South Front District at 120 Greenfield St. They are stuffed with chili marinated turkey leg, cornbread stuffing, corn, poblanos and cheese. A veggie version features roasted sweet potatoes with brown butter.

Apple Harvest sandwich at Beach Bagels & Subs

The four locations of this restaurant (at downtown, Seagate and Monkey Junction in Wilmington and Wrightsville Beach) is offering this special until the first day of winter. Get turkey breast, melted brie, baby spinach with a spiced pecan apple butter on a bagel or sub roll.

The Pilgrim at PrimoHoagies

For a limited time, this popular chain offers a seasonal sandwich including at the Wilmington location at 3710 S. College Road. It has house-made stuffing, cranberry sauce and oven roasted turkey. It's served with mayo on the signature Primo Bread roll.

Thanksgiving Day Sandwich at Moe's Original BBQ

For those who crave these flavors year-round, this sandwich is a regular weekly feature at Moe's locations, including the Wilmington one at 5818 Oleander Dr. On Thursdays, look for smoked turkey with cornbread dressing, cranberry and Alabama white sauce on a bun.

The Holiday Sandwich at The Kitchen Sink

This restaurant at 622 N. 4th St. in Wilmington's Brooklyn Arts District is now offering this new sandwich with turkey, house-made spiced cranberry sauce, The Kitchen Sink stuffing and melted provolone a flaky, toasted croissant.

The Fat Turkey at Southport Coffee Co. & Kitchen

November's special sandwich at this coffee shop and cafe is this selection featuring Boar’s Head Ovengold Turkey, bacon, cranberry mayo, French fried onions, cheddar, lettuce, tomato, on toasted white bread.

More: Looking for a place for a holiday party? These Wilmington-area restaurants have private rooms

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Allison Ballard is the food and dining reporter at the StarNews. You can reach her at aballard@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Wilmington restaurants offer Thanksgiving sandwiches, Churkeychangas