Restaurants in Myrtle Beach
Eating out is a real pleasure in Myrtle Beach, with a plethora of choices from mouthwatering Lowcountry classics, fresh seafood and steaks, to tempting pastries and desserts. Prices are no measure of quality here; dining costs are unexpectedly moderate at even the better restaurants.
Best of the Beach Chains
Hard Rock Cafe 1322 Celebrity Circle, Broadway at the Beach (tel. 843/946-0007; www.hardrock.com/cafes/myrtle-beach). The giant 70-foot pyramid makes this outpost of the rock n’ roll franchise hard to miss, though the food is otherwise standard Hard Rock fare (burgers, nachos, and American comfort food). Check out guitars owned by Carlos Santana, Eric Clapton, BB King, and Brian Wilson, and black leather boots worn by Johnny Cash. It’s open Sunday to Thursday 11am to 11pm, and Friday and Saturday 11am to midnight.
Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville 1114 Celebrity Circle, Broadway at the Beach (tel. 843/448-5455; www.margaritavillemyrtlebeach.com). Love it or loathe it, this classic slice of Americana is a big hit in Myrtle Beach, so expect a wait to be seated. The food is so-so but pricey, and you really need to be into the booze, the music, and the whole “parrot head” scene to make the most of this. It’s open Sunday to Thursday 11am to 10:30pm, and Friday and Saturday 11am to 11pm.
Johnny Rockets 1216 Celebrity Circle, Broadway at the Beach (tel. 843/448-8575; www.johnnyrockets.com). The 1950s–style diner chain serves up decent burgers, fries, and shakes, for reasonable prices in this part of town. It’s open daily 11am to 9pm.
LandShark Bar & Grill 1110 N. Ocean Blvd (tel. 843/788-0001; http://myrtlebeach.landsharkbarandgrill.com). Part of the Jimmy Buffet empire, this hip seafront venue serves up great comfort food (chicken wings, burgers, tater tots, club sandwiches, and so on), and plenty of LandShark beer. It’s open Sunday to Thursday 11am to 10pm, and Friday and Saturday 11am to 11pm.
Planet Hollywood 2915 Hollywood Dr., opposite Broadway at the Beach (tel. 843/448-7827; www.planethollywoodintl.com). This franchise seems a little dated these days, but the Myrtle Beach outpost is still a lot of fun, with friendly staff, a decent gift shop, amazing fries, and the bizarre Thursday morning (8:30–11am) “breakfast bingo.” It’s otherwise open daily 11am to 10pm.
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- American
8th Ave Tiki Bar & Grill
If you're looking for adult beverages on the boardwalk and some solid pub-style food, this fun-loving tiki bar does not disappoint. Get there early to get a table close to the outdoor carnival just outside the doors and order a vodka and ginger ale in a mason jar. Come on a weekday…$Around Town - Greek
Abraham's Gyros
Shades of fine dining on the Aegean this is not, but for basic, no-frills, well-prepared gyros, Abraham's is hard to beat. Located right on the boardwalk and close to the celebrated SkyWheel, this spot offers families a nice place to pick up a quick lunch. The menu is short and to…$Around Town - Italian
Amici's Brick Oven & Italian Bistro
The pizza, at this solid if basic Italian American joint, is head and shoulders above the other fare here. Guests choose from eight speciality pies, including the "Molto Meat" (meatballs, pepperoni, bacon, ham, and sausage) and the "Pizza da Napoli," which is covered in white sauce,…$Around Town - American Nouveau
Aspen Grille
As the locavore culinary winds blow, almost everyone wants to jump on the CSA-style bandwagon. From a modest location here on Kings Highway, Chef Curry Martin and his staff are doing just that, and doing it well. The restaurant has established quite a reputation, so you'll need to…$$Around Town - Southern/Soul Food
Big Mike's Soul Food
Soul food is best consumed in tiny places that offer true home cooking. Big Mike's, despite its large name, is just such a place, and if you're looking for healthy, low-fat, or reduced-fat options, you should probably just keep walking. The specialty here is crisp and moist fried…$Around Town - Seafood
Bimini's Oyster Bar and Seafood Café
Strip malls and oysters: not the most appealing combination. But this modest looking spot (yes, it's in a strip mall) serves up mighty fine bivalves, which go down extra smooth when coupled with bar specials. (The key is to come during happy hour, 5 to 7pm, weekdays, when beer and…$Around Town - German
Cafe Old Vienna
Werner and Martina Horvath (a husband and wife team) learned their trade in the Tyrolean Alps at a ski resort and the food they serve up is wonderfully authentic. The excellent entrées include almond veal Wiener schnitzel and Viennese goulash, both of which come with a modest salad…$$Around Town - Mediterranean
Collectors Cafe
Artsy cafe, replete with jazz music, ambient light, and the work of local painters displayed throughout (and for sale). Eat in one of six themed areas, from the elegant main room or Old Victorian Gallery, to the cozy Lion’s Den with comfy lounge chairs, or snug Hideaway with its…$$$Around Town - Breakfast
Compass Rose Restaurant
The grits are good and so is everything else on the expansive breakfast buffet set up daily by the Compass Rose, located on the grounds of the Compass Cove Resort Hotel. With over 50 items on offer, this is where to bring the finicky eaters in your group.$Around Town - Southern/Bakery
Croissants Bistro and Bakery
Chef Bradley Daniels oversees the menu here, bringing a nice touch of Southern contemporary cuisine to Myrtle Beach. With white linens and fresh flowers (sunflowers make a frequent appearance) on the tables, Croissants is particularly noteworthy as an alternative to the generic…$$Around Town - Lowcountry/International
Cypress Room
The best place for a splurge on the strip, with the Southern breakfast especially popular: the sweet-potato pancakes with maple-pecan butter are crazy good. Dinners are more expensive and elegant affairs but still feature wholesome Lowcountry cuisine, including baked goat-cheese…$$Around Town - Breakfast
Eggs Up Grill
If you walk into a small breakfast eatery that has an "Egg Count" meter in the corner that reports on the number of eggs consumed on premises, you're at the Eggs Up Grill. This mecca of morning meals is one of eight locations scattered around the South and it's a reliable choice. A…$Around Town - Gastropub
Fire & Smoke
Opened in 2012, this is one of the few gastropubs in Myrtle Beach, and it's a nice addition to the existing mix. It attracts a fun, chatty crowd, with folks wearing everything from sandals and a beach towel to more buttoned-up pastels and boat shoes. The beer list is quite deep, with…$Around Town - International/Australian
Greg Norman’s Australian Grille
This Australian-themed restaurant is especially good for big, juicy steaks, all wood-grilled and premium black angus. The seafood isn’t bad either, with the buffalo shrimp dip and local grouper the standouts. Lunch is a much better deal, with a classic Foster’s beer-battered shrimp…$$$Around Town - American
Joe's Bar & Grill
Joe’s is a classic crab shack, with a cozy all-wood interior lined with fishing paraphernalia, real fireplace, and the Raccoon Cove Deck Bar out back, overlooking a saltwater marsh. Though it does seafood, this is another spot that excels at steaks, with the signature 6-ounce filet…$$Around Town - Pizza
Mellow Mushroom
Folks visiting from pizza meccas such as NYC or Chicago may look askance at a pizza-centric restaurant in Myrtle Beach like Mellow Mushroom. But the pies here are actually quite solid, and the rather sizable dining room makes it a good choice for families and larger groups. The…$Around Town - Tex-Mex
Nacho Hippo
It's a curious thing to think about the merger of a nacho and a hippo, but this rather raucous and fun establishment makes it all seem quite natural. The interior has the look of a brightly colored roadhouse, replete with artfully arranged twist-off beer caps and multi-colored…$Around Town - Ethiopian
Redi-et Ethiopian Cuisine
A short walk from downtown Myrtle Beach, this rustic Ethiopian spot is a welcome change of pace. The staff are warm and friendly and the décor includes decorative African wall hangings and handsome place mats that feature scenes of pastoral life. First-timers to the world of…$Around Town - Seafood
Sea Captain's House
It is an ironclad rule of any seaside town that there will be a venerable seafood restaurant with nautical tchotchkes galore. In Myrtle Beach, the Sea Captain's House is that culinary hub. On weekends during the high season it gets particularly busy, with folks lining up for tables…$$Around Town - American
Sea Captain’s House
This oceanfront diner is loaded with character, built back in 1930 as a family beach cottage and serving as a restaurant since the 1960s. The views of the sea and beach remain a major draw, while the menu, unsurprisingly, is loaded with fresh seafood. Crab-cake benedict is the pick…$$Around Town - Snacks
The Donut Man
As you approach the glowing neon donut at the entrance to this emporium of fried goods, you'll smell what awaits within. Yes, there are donuts galore, and the coffee is quite fine, and those two menu items come highly recommended in tandem. Although the uniforms and general setup…$Around Town - Steakhouse/International
The Parson’s Table
Though located out of town in the village of Little River, this gem is well worth the drive. The main dining room was actually the original Little River Methodist Church built in 1885, serving as a church until 1952. The original hand-hewn heart-of-pine floors, and original clapboard…$$Around Town - Italian
Toscana Italiano Bistro
With its white tablecloths, handsome murals depicting scenes of Cinque Terre, and low-key elegance, this Italian restaurant is perfect for a couple's night out. Start off with a glass of sangria and the house garlic bread, which is deliciously enhanced with a roasted red pepper and…$$Around Town - Seafood
Wicked Tuna
Located a few miles south of the Grand Strand in Myrtle Beach, this fish palace is right on the water in the town of Murrells Inlet. With its calming light green and blue interior (yes, an under-the-sea theme) it makes a calming respite from the somewhat frenetic town outside its…$$Murrells Inlet
