Must-Eat Myrtle Beach Restaurants To Try Now

Whether you’re already on the Grand Strand or you’re still planning your vacation, finding the best restaurants in and near Myrtle Beach is a big part of the fun. But it can also be a challenge. Myrtle Beach is best known for its seafood, but the area’s must-try food also includes burgers and Mexican, Thai, Italian, and Middle Eastern cuisines. Eating in Myrtle Beach is less expensive than you might expect for such a popular tourist destination, with prices for casual meals ranging from $10 to $20 per person and more upscale options charging between $50 and $75. The good news? Most visitors can afford to get a taste of some of the Grand Strand’s best eats. There are plenty of restaurants in Myrtle Beach we’d call the best of the best — those exceptional local establishments you’ll only find on the Grand Strand. Just a few of the must-eat restaurants you should try in Myrtle Beach include Mr. Fish Seafood Restaurant, Sea Captain’s House, Thai Season, and BisQit.  Here’s our guide to the best places to eat in Myrtle Beach, organized by location:

Must-Eat Central Myrtle Beach Restaurants

Central Myrtle Beach serves up an array of delicious flavors, from fresh-caught seafood to Southern comfort food. Plus, many of the area’s best restaurants are within easy reach of top Myrtle Beach attractions, including SkyWheel and the Boardwalk. Here are our picks for the best places to eat in Central Myrtle Beach:

Mr. Fish Seafood Market & Grill

Address: 6307 N. Kings Highway Unit B, Myrtle Beach Phone: (843) 492-0374 

Cuisine: Seafood

Seafood fans will love the incredible creations at Mr. Fish Seafood Market & Grill. Offering a large selection of fresh whole fish, filet fish, and fresh shellfish to buy. Stay a while and enjoy a sandwich, seafood platter, or tacos, or prepare your own homemade meals in your oceanfront suite at Dunes Village Resort.

The Library Restaurant

Address: 6613 N. Kings Highway Unit D, Myrtle Beach Phone: (843) 448-4527

Cuisine: Fine dining

For a romantic dinner or an upscale meal, visit The Library Restaurant. This restaurant opened in 1974 on the 1200 block of North Kings Highway, next to Chapin Library. In 2017, The Library Restaurant moved to its new home. But it continues to serve exquisite dishes while providing exceptional service. This location also features 88 Keys, Myrtle Beach’s only upscale piano bar. You may wish to start off with the Escargot a la Chablisienne, followed by the Steak Diane for your entreé. The Library also offers more than 200 distinctive wines from around the world. Ask your server for their recommendation of the perfect wine to pair with your meal.

Jerusalem Mediterranean Restaurant & Bar

Address: 205 N. Kings Highway, Myrtle Beach Phone: (843) 946-6650

Cuisine: European and Middle Eastern

Eating at the Moroccan-themed Jerusalem Mediterranean Restaurant & Bar is a must-try food experience in Myrtle Beach. Owner Maksim Garby blends flavors from Greece, Morocco, Turkey, Egypt, and Israel to create traditional and creative Mediterranean dishes that look as good as they taste. We recommend starting with dolma and baba ganoush, then ordering the slow-roasted chicken tagine as an entreé.

Johnny D’s Waffles

Address: 3301 N. Kings Highway, Myrtle Beach

Cuisine: Breakfast and American lunch options

Who doesn’t love breakfast? Johnny D’s Waffles offers a fantastic breakfast and lunch menu. Meet Chef Jamie Daskalis when you visit Johnny D’s—she created all the menu items you'll love and enjoy. Great breakfast choices include the Punch of Protein Omelet and the Pecan Waffle. For lunch, try the Breakfast Burger or the French dip. Johnny D's Waffles recently opened two more locations—in North Myrtle (3900 Highway 17 South) and Surfside Beach (1200 Highway 17 Business). Looking for more breakfast restaurants? Check out our Myrtle Beach breakfast guide.

Sea Captain's House

Address: 3002 N. Ocean Blvd., Myrtle Beach  Phone: (843) 448-8082  Cuisine: Southern seafood Anyone who has experienced Sea Captain's House will tell you it’s one of the best places to eat in Myrtle Beach. The restaurant serves traditional seafood dishes in a beautiful 1930s cottage at the seaside. Read about this historic spot on the menu as you wait for your meal. Get up early for a Seafarer Omelet for breakfast, or try the she-crab soup or shrimp stir fry for a wonderful lunch. For dinner, the pappardelle pasta and grilled mahi are incredible. Top it all off with a hot fudge brownie.

Captain George's Seafood Restaurant

Address: 1401 29th Ave. N., Myrtle Beach  Phone: (843) 916-2278  Cuisine: Seafood buffet When you insist on a delicious buffet experience in Myrtle Beach, Captain George's is the place to be. Enjoy fresh seafood and exemplary service in a lively setting. We recommend steamed clams, Sea Leg Salad, and homemade bread. Captain George's stuffed mushrooms are delicious, too. Save room for cherry cobbler for dessert!

RipTydz Oceanfront Grille & Rooftop Bar

Address: 1210 N. Ocean Blvd., Myrtle Beach Phone: (843) 945-1204  Cuisine: American and seafood Expect a jovial crowd any night of the week on the patio at RipTydz Oceanfront Grille & Rooftop Bar. The ocean views are spectacular, and it's likely to become a must-eat restaurant on all your Myrtle Beach visits. We recommend the Smoked Gouda & Chicken Egg Rolls or the Rip'n Shrimp as an appetizer. The Mac N Cheese Burger and Fried Shrimp Boat are popular entreés.

Winna's Kitchen

Address: 507 Ninth Ave. N., Myrtle Beach  Phone: (843) 848-8181  Cuisine: Comfort food Winna's Kitchen is a quaint restaurant with an amazing mission. (Ask about helping to provide meals to those in need.) This community-based family eatery serves a chef's menu daily. This means it's an unpublished lineup that includes four to five courses of flavorful dishes. Anything among Winna's breakfast entreés will delight your tastebuds. Reservations are required; tell the staff if you have dietary restrictions.

More Must-Eat Central Myrtle Beach Restaurants

While planning your itinerary, make sure to visit two of Myrtle Beach’s top area attractions. We have guides for the finest bites at The Market Common and Broadway at the Beach.

Must-Eat North Myrtle Beach Restaurants

The must-eat restaurants in North Myrtle Beach offer local charm and global flavors. Options here run from authentic Italian dishes to fresh seafood and hand-cut steaks. Plus, many top North Myrtle Beach restaurants are just minutes from Barefoot Landing or the Cherry Grove Pier. This makes them perfect places to refuel while seeing the local sights.

Villa Tuscanna

Address: 97 Highway 17 N., North Myrtle Beach Phone: (843) 280-2288

Cuisine: Italian

If you want authentic Italian cuisine, look no further than locally owned family restaurant, Villa Tuscanna. “Momma” arrives early every day to prepare the fresh marinara sauce and stocks, meatballs, and dressings. To start, we recommend the zuppa di cozze, followed by the classic and delicious penne alla vodka.

Thai Season

Address: 1004 Highway 17 S. Suite A, North Myrtle Beach Phone: (843) 663-9300

Cuisine: Thai

Thai Season is locally owned, with a menu full of flavors, variety, and authenticity. For a starter, we recommend the shrimp cake. For an entreé, try the basil eggplant. You can customize whichever dish you choose to the spice level you desire. Sweet Ice, a rolled ice cream and bubble tea stand, is located in front of Thai Season during the summer. Please note: Thai Season closes in January each year.

LuLu's North Myrtle Beach

Address: 4954 Highway 17 S., North Myrtle Beach Phone: (843) 491-5011  Cuisine: American File this eatery away under fun. One of the best places to eat in North Myrtle Beach, LuLu’s is a lively joint where you can get delicious burgers, seafood, and sandwiches. Kids will love the menu and the outdoor playground, and adults will love the full lineup of beer, cocktails, and wine. We recommend the Smoked Tuna Dip or Classic Southern Wedge Salad as starters. For dinner, you can’t go wrong with Gulf Shrimp and Grits.

21 Main

Address: 719 N. Beach Blvd., North Myrtle Beach  Phone: (843) 315-3000  Cuisine: Steak and seafood How about a pour of stellar merlot and a sensational steak for al fresco dining? 21 Main offers seafood and dry-aged beef entreés in a romantic Southern setting. It’s a superlative experience, from appetizer to dessert to ambiance. Open with Oysters Rockefeller or French onion soup. Favorite entreés include Prime Delmonico Ribeye, Filet Mignon, and Coldwater Lobster Tail.

Hoskins Restaurant

Address: 405 Main Street, North Myrtle Beach  Phone: (843) 249-2014  Cuisine: Diner Never compromise on the restaurant you choose for dinner. Hoskins is a family-owned establishment that serves American seafood, sandwiches, and steak for all three meals. Visitors have been coming for years and expect a delicious meal every time. For breakfast, we recommend hotcakes and country ham. If you’re eating lunch, try the chopped barbecue or fried pork chop. Dinnertime favorites include sea scallops and seafood platter.

Must-Eat Restaurants South of Myrtle Beach

South of Myrtle Beach, you’ll find a mix of must-try seafood restaurants and hidden gems serving up comfort food with a coastal twist. Many of the best places to eat south of Myrtle Beach are also minutes from top attractions, such as the Murrells Inlet MarshWalk and Brookgreen Gardens. Our recommendations for the top eateries south of Myrtle Beach include:

BisQit

Address: 10880 Ocean Highway, Pawleys Island Phone: (843) 979-2747

Cuisine: Southern comfort eats

This cute hideaway restaurant is in the Hammock Shops Village in Pawleys Island, and it’s well worth the drive. BisQit has some of the most delicious burgers and fresh-cut Belgian fries in Myrtle Beach. We recommend cauliflower wings to start with. Then, get the American Beauty Burger and Lowcountry Slaw for your entreé.

Dagwood’s Deli & Sports Bar

Address: 600 Highway 17 Business N., Surfside Beach Phone: (843) 828-4600

Cuisine: American

Another local favorite, Dagwood’s is a sports pub with a family-friendly atmosphere. From the bar or your booth, you will see many flat-screen TVs playing sports, sports, and more sports. There are billiard tables, dartboards, and video games to keep everyone entertained. Dagwood’s also has a location on Mr. Joe White Avenue in Myrtle Beach. Both restaurants offer the same favorable menu and prices. Choose from burgers and baskets or out-of-this-world deli sandwiches. We recommend the Hail Mary Dipper sandwich, with ham, turkey, Swiss, and homemade dill mayo.

Sara J's Seafood Restaurant

Address: 314 Atlantic Avenue, Garden City Phone: (843) 651-1657 

Cuisine: Seafood

Sara J’s is a family-owned seafood restaurant that is no longer a local’s secret. On summer evenings, there will be a long wait, but it’s worth it! On the walls of Sara J’s you will see four giant fish, the owner’s prize catches. There are also many fishing pictures and articles, and the dining room has a spectacular view of the Inlet. Depending on when you visit, Sara J’s has specific menus for early-bird dining and regular hours. For early birds, we recommend the hamburger steak. To start off your dinner, try the buffalo shrimp, Oysters Rockefeller, or jumbo lump crab cake. For an entreé, the J’s lowcountry boil or filet of flounder are must-try dishes.

Russell’s Seafood Grill 

Address: 4906 Highway 17 Business, Murrells Inlet Phone: (843) 651-0553

Cuisine: Seafood

Another must-eat restaurant south of Myrtle Beach, Russell’s has served fresh seafood to locals and visitors since 1989. The menu at Russell’s hasn’t changed much over time. It offers the same amazing seafood platters and raw bar options guests have loved for decades. There are also specials featuring the Catch of the Day. We recommend the fried pickle chips and calamari to start with, and crab legs or oyster stew as your main course.

More Must-Eat Restaurants South of Myrtle Beach

For more of the best places to eat in the Myrtle Beach area, check out our guide to the Murrells Inlet MarshWalk. The MarshWalk has seven locally owned restaurants with live entertainment every night.

Dine In With the Comforts of Home

Looking to eat closer to your Myrtle Beach home away from home? With Dunes Village Resort’s awesome in-room amenities, you can hit up the grocery store and cook some meals in your suite. Dunes Village also offers on-site dining options, including:

• Admiral’s Room
• Cabana Tiki Bar
• Captain’s Cafe
• Perk’s Up Coffee Shop

We hope this guide makes you hungry and has heightened your excitement for a Myrtle Beach vacation! Before you book your room, check out the hotel specials running at Dunes Village Resort to find the right deal. Didn’t see what you wanted in our guide to must-eat restaurants in Myrtle Beach? Here are a few more amazing restaurants near Dunes Village Resort to check out. Happy bites!