Where to Eat in Myrtle Beach: A Local's Guide to the Best Restaurants
The restaurants worth your time and money in Myrtle Beach, SC
The Parson's Table: Southern fine dining in Little River
Housed in a beautifully restored 1885 church in Little River, The Parson's Table serves refined Southern cuisine in one of the most romantic settings along the Grand Strand. The stained-glass windows, original wooden pews (repurposed as seating), and candlelit tables create an atmosphere of reverent beauty. The menu features dishes like pan-seared duck breast with fig compote, she-crab soup that's among the best in the Carolinas, and Lowcountry shrimp and grits elevated with locally caught shrimp and stone-ground grits from a South Carolina mill.
Pro Tip
Reservations are essential — request a window table near the original stained glass. The she-crab soup is the must-order appetizer.
Mr. Fish: Seafood in Murrells Inlet
Mr. Fish in Murrells Inlet is both a seafood market and restaurant, which means the fish on your plate was quite possibly swimming that morning. The fish tacos are outstanding — lightly battered with a tangy slaw that provides the perfect counterpoint. The fried shrimp basket with hand-cut fries is a beach classic executed flawlessly, and the daily catch, prepared grilled or blackened, is always the freshest option on the menu. The market counter lets you take home fish to cook yourself.
Pro Tip
Buy from the market counter for a fraction of the restaurant price — perfect for cooking at your rental. The grouper, when available, is the best fish they sell.
Prosser's BBQ: Southern barbecue in Murrells Inlet
Prosser's has been smoking pork and serving all-you-can-eat barbecue in Murrells Inlet since 1970. The buffet features slow-smoked pulled pork, fried chicken, ribs, and a spread of Southern sides — collard greens, coleslaw, mac and cheese, sweet potatoes, and hush puppies — that represent the authentic flavors of Lowcountry home cooking. The buffet format and family-friendly atmosphere make it a multigenerational tradition for locals and returning visitors.
Pro Tip
Go at lunch for smaller crowds and the same menu. The hash and rice (a South Carolina specialty) is worth trying alongside the barbecue.
Sea Captain's House: Coastal Southern in Myrtle Beach Oceanfront
Perched directly on the beach in a 1930s oceanfront home, Sea Captain's House has been serving visitors since 1962 and is the most beloved traditional restaurant on the Grand Strand. The setting — waves crashing just beyond the windows — elevates dishes like the award-winning she-crab soup, the seafood-stuffed flounder, and the broiled seafood platter. Breakfast is also served and may be the best way to experience the place — scrambled eggs and grits with an ocean view.
Pro Tip
Breakfast is less crowded and offers the same spectacular ocean view. Request a window table for the full experience.
Hook & Barrel: Modern seafood in North Myrtle Beach
Hook & Barrel represents the new generation of Myrtle Beach dining — a sleek, modern space serving creative seafood dishes that go beyond the standard fried basket. The seared tuna with wasabi pea crust is a standout, the lobster mac and cheese is indulgent but refined, and the fresh oyster selection features varieties from both Carolina coasts. The rooftop bar with views of the Intracoastal Waterway is the best spot for sunset cocktails in the area.
Pro Tip
The rooftop bar is the place to be at sunset — arrive early for a table. The happy hour specials on oysters and drinks (4-6 PM) are excellent value.
Beyond the Usual: Exploring Myrtle Beach's Food Scene
Myrtle Beach's dining scene extends far beyond these highlighted restaurants. The city's neighborhoods each bring their own culinary personality, from ethnic enclaves serving family recipes passed down through generations to ambitious young chefs redefining what Myrtle Beach food means. The best strategy for eating well in Myrtle Beach is to stay curious, ask locals where they eat (not where they take visitors), and be willing to follow a recommendation into a strip mall, a food truck, or a hole-in-the-wall that doesn't look like much from the outside but serves food that stops you mid-bite. The restaurants listed above are proven starting points, but they're doors into a much larger world. Every neighborhood has its own food story, and the best meals in Myrtle Beach are often the ones you discover by accident — turning down a side street because something smelled incredible, or sitting at a counter because the only table was taken. Trust your instincts, tip generously, and eat with the kind of open-minded enthusiasm that Myrtle Beach's best chefs bring to their kitchens every day.
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