By The Myrtle Beach boardwalk is a fine place to grab a funnel cake and watch the waves, but the Grand Strand’s best meals are waiting just past the neon. From a tucked-away seafood landmark to a marsh-front strip locals call the seafood capital of South Carolina, the food scene here rewards anyone willing to drive a few minutes off Ocean Boulevard. Here is where to eat in Myrtle Beach when you want a real taste of the Lowcountry coast.
Murrells Inlet MarshWalk: The Seafood Capital of South Carolina
If you eat one dinner away from the boardwalk, make it here. Roughly 15 minutes south of central Myrtle Beach, the Murrells Inlet MarshWalk is a half-mile wooden boardwalk lined with independent restaurants overlooking a tidal saltmarsh and a working fishing fleet. Murrells Inlet began as a fishing village, and that heritage still shows up on the plate. Locals and the regional tourism board alike refer to the inlet as the seafood capital of South Carolina, and on a warm evening the whole strip hums with live music drifting between decks.
Drunken Jack’s Restaurant & Lounge
The anchor of the MarshWalk, Drunken Jack’s has been serving the inlet since 1979. It is the spot for a classic Lowcountry spread: she-crab soup, shrimp and crab fondue, oysters on the half shell, and the restaurant’s famous hush puppies. Ask for a table on the inlet side and you may catch shrimp boats coming in at dusk.
- Address: 4031 Business Hwy 17, Murrells Inlet, SC 29576
- Phone: (843) 651-2044
- Hours: Open daily, generally 11:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. (hours shift seasonally, so call ahead)
Wicked Tuna and the Rest of the Strip
For a “hook to plate” experience, Wicked Tuna runs its own fishing fleet, so the tuna, grouper, and shrimp on the menu are about as fresh as it gets, served as elevated Lowcountry plates or sushi and sashimi. The rest of the MarshWalk gives you plenty of range: Dead Dog Saloon is the rowdy, fun-loving choice with fried green tomatoes and steampots, The Claw House ships in New England lobster for a traditional raw-bar dinner, and Mojo’s Marina Bar & Grill is the family-friendly newcomer with blackened shrimp tacos and live music. You can browse the full lineup and the live-music calendar on the official Visit Myrtle Beach MarshWalk guide. A smart strategy: arrive before sunset, walk the boardwalk to compare decks and menus, then settle in wherever the view and the music suit you.
A Myrtle Beach Seafood Landmark: Sea Captain’s House
Back in the city, Sea Captain’s House proves you do not have to leave the oceanfront to escape the tourist-trap buffets. Housed in a converted 1930s beach cottage on North Ocean Boulevard, it is one of the most beloved restaurants on the Grand Strand and a favorite for special occasions. The window-lined dining room and oceanfront porch look straight out at the Atlantic, and the kitchen leans into Lowcountry classics: she-crab soup, shrimp and grits, and fresh-caught fish. It is popular for breakfast too, when you can watch the sunrise over the water with a plate of crab-cake Benedict.
Plan Your Visit
- Address: 3002 N Ocean Blvd, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
- Phone: (843) 448-8082
- Website: seacaptains.com
- Hours: Open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner; exact times vary by season, so confirm by phone or online before you go. Reservations are not typically taken, so arrive early or expect a wait at peak dinner hours.
Upscale and Sustainable: Hook & Barrel
When you want dinner that feels like a night out rather than a beach stop, Hook & Barrel is the move. Led by Chef Pierre Gabbant, this stylish spot on the north end built its reputation on sustainability, sourcing local seafood and produce and participating in South Carolina’s Fresh on the Menu program, which spotlights restaurants committed to locally grown ingredients. Expect refined Lowcountry plates, a strong cocktail and whiskey list, and a daily happy hour in the early evening. It is one of the higher-end tables in town, so reservations are wise on weekends.
- Address: 8014 N Kings Hwy, Myrtle Beach, SC 29572
- Phone: (843) 839-5888
- Website: hookandbarrelrestaurant.com
- Hours: Dinner service, typically afternoon into the evening with happy hour early; closed some days of the week, so check ahead and reserve for prime times.
Breakfast, Brunch, and Pastries: Croissants Bistro & Bakery
Skip the chain pancake houses and start your day at Croissants Bistro & Bakery, which sits in the same north-end plaza as Hook & Barrel under the same culinary leadership. This is the locals’ answer to breakfast and lunch: house-baked croissants and pastries, egg dishes, salads, sandwiches, and a glass case of desserts that is genuinely hard to walk past. It is a relaxed, bright spot for a leisurely brunch or a midday break from the sand, and the counter handles quick coffee-and-pastry runs into the evening.
- Address: 8014 N Kings Hwy, Myrtle Beach, SC 29572
- Phone: (843) 448-2253
- Website: croissants.net
- Hours: Monday to Friday 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for full service (counter service for coffee and pastries until 9:00 p.m.), Saturday from 8:00 a.m., closed Sunday. Hours can change seasonally, so confirm in advance.
How to Eat Like a Local in Myrtle Beach
The Grand Strand stretches roughly 60 miles, and the best eating is spread across distinct pockets rather than concentrated downtown. A few tips to make the most of it:
- Head south for seafood. Murrells Inlet and the MarshWalk consistently deliver the freshest catch and the liveliest waterfront atmosphere. It is worth the short drive.
- Go early or late in summer. June through August is peak season on the Grand Strand. The most popular tables, especially those without reservations, fill up fast around 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
- Watch the seasons. Many independent restaurants trim their hours in the off-season (roughly late fall through early spring), so a quick phone call before you drive over saves disappointment.
- Use the local tourism board. For the current list of openings, festivals, and seasonal restaurant weeks, the Visit Myrtle Beach dining hub is the most reliable, up-to-date resource.
One last planning tip: if your trip falls in late winter, watch for Restaurant Week South Carolina, a statewide event when many Grand Strand kitchens, including several featured here, offer special prix-fixe menus. It is the single best window to sample a string of standout restaurants without breaking the budget.