6 Must-Eat Myrtle Beach Restaurants

If you’ve never been to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina then I assume you’re either 1.) Not from Ohio or 2.) Missing out!

My family and I have been traveling to Myrtle Beach since I was a wee little Caitlin. We’ve since graduated to North Myrtle Beach (less crowds/noise, less air brushed T-shirts, and nicer beaches), but we still travel down to MB for some good eats! I’ve compiled a list of our favorite spots to hit (including a few new finds!) as recommendations for anyone heading down to the shore. This list includes restaurants from both Myrtle and North Myrtle Beach so feel free to explore!

STICKY FINGERS RIBHOUSE
4200 Highway 17 South
North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582
(843) 663-PORK{This photo of Sticky Fingers Rib House is courtesy of TripAdvisor}

Before we dug into the seafood extravaganza that would (and should) be happening during any beach trip, we chose to load up with some southern BBQ. Sticky Fingers has been one of our NMB staples for years. We even went twice in one week during one of our trips…

It’s just good ol’ fashioned BBQ. Massive quantities of delicious, perfectly prepared and flavored, good ol’ fashioned BBQ.

I ordered the hickory-smoked {half} chicken with mac and cheese and collard greens. The chicken was absolutely out of this world. I figured there was no way I’d be able to eat all of it since this was my first real dinner after my 12 week weight loss challenge, but don’t you worry, I devoured it. I don’t know where the other half of this chicken got to, but if it had been on my plate I would have eaten that too. As a side note, I was feeling pretty sassy about my new love for collard greens following my Blue Apron experience. I was really excited to try southern style collard greens but realized about 0.15 seconds in that I am not an avid collard greens lover. I feel like such a poser now. 🙁 You also can’t beat the witty signs that Sticky Fingers has to offer! 🙂 And the best part?! You can buy their sauces in stores (at least the ones near me in Ohio) so you can attempt to master their BBQ skills and bathe the meat in their sauces even when you’re back home! Or if you’re like me, you can have the BBQ brothers whip up some delicious meats then slather it in the sauce yourself! 🙂

GIANT CRAB SEAFOOD RESTAURANT
9597 North Kings Highway
Myrtle Beach, SC 29572
(843) 449-1097{photo credit to Joanne at Follow The Sun Blog}

Alright alright alright….let’s get down to seafood business. Don’t for one second tell me you can go down to the beach and NOT go to an all you can eat seafood buffet! It can’t be done. When I take a beach trip I want to eat all of the sea creatures, and a buffet is the perfect way to try them all because if you don’t like it you can set it aside and go grab another plate full of stuffed clams, oysters, crab legs, or other various types of fresh fish! Although we’ve been known to frequent Bennett’s Calabash Buffet, my sister’s friend recommended the Giant Crab buffet and it definitely did not disappoint. It had every type of sea creature I ever dreamed of eating. Plus sides! So many sides. So many fattening, delicious, buttery, carby sides. The above picture is just one of the many buffet lines. They also have a hibachi grill, soup and salad bar, and a separate section devoted to freshly steamed crab legs. With over 170 items you definitely won’t walk away hungry! Because we’re 80 years old, we arrived to the Giant Crab for our dinner right at opening time (3:30 pm). It was the second time in my life I’ve ever seen a completely untouched dessert buffet bar. The first time was at our resort in Riviera Maya, but since I was only wearing a bathing suit and cover up I didn’t have a camera on me! The world rewarded me with another unicorn sighting so this time I knew I had to capture it! Look at all those precious, decadent desserts just waiting to be devoured!
Can we just talk about how much I ate? Here is plate one. Any item that was stuffed, I stuffed it into my face. And chased it with mac and cheese. Because I’m a health nut like that. On plate two I loaded up with crab legs, more sea creatures, more mac and cheese and mashed potatoes. I can’t even tell you how good everything was! Buffets tend to get sketchy but every item was fresh, warm, band-aid free and high quality!

Apparently by dessert (or maybe around plate 3 of hush puppies and rolls) I forgot to take pictures. Likely because guilt and complete and utter shame had begun to sink in. Still worth it! If you’re looking for an amazing seafood buffet in Myrtle definitely check this one out! But first stop by your local Food Lion or Piggly Wiggly to get a coupon! 🙂

Behold, the most perfect place in all of Myrtle Beach to relax, eat, drink and enjoy Monday Night Football! I might be biased since this is where I watched my MNF, but it really is a cool place! This was our first time at this restaurant, but we really enjoyed the food and ambiance. Plus, the restaurant is right by the boardwalk so after your meal you can go enjoy shopping, a ferris wheel ride, or those always popular air brushed T-shirts! 😉

If you don’t hit this restaurant, you at least need to check out their website because it’s probably one of the most impressive site I’ve ever seen!

I ordered the bangin shrimp tacos, fries and a delicious drink that I can’t remember the name of….(and it wasn’t even one of their signature fish bowls so I have no excuse for the forgetfulness 😛 )

I loved my meal. Everything about it. The fries tasted like the classier cousin of Arby’s curly fries and the tacos were incredible. I especially enjoyed watching MNF on the patio while being able to people-watch the tourists walking toward the boardwalk. We will definitely be putting this restaurant on repeat!

THE CLAW HOUSE

4097 Highway 17 Business
Murrells Inlet, SC 29576
(843) 651-4415

Although it was a really close race, The Claw House definitely wins my vote as the BEST restaurant in the Myrtle Beach area. Notice I said area, because this restaurant is actually in Murrells Inlet, but it is well worth the drive. The Claw House just opened earlier this year but it feels like they’ve been open for a decade. The service is excellent, the food is divine, the ambiance and music is modern, fun and relaxed and the wine is amazing! My sister actually discovered this restaurant on an episode of Tanked where they were building this immaculate creation for The Claw House. The 360 degree fish tank features various exotic salt water fish, sting rays, and even sharks! It’s enormous, entertaining, beautiful, and is the focal point of the restaurant upon entering. Just past the fish tank, the restaurant opens up into an eating area complete with a massive vaulted ceiling bar, and continues out into a covered patio for inlet view dining. I don’t know who decorated this place, but I want to hire them to decorate my home. The entrance to the bathroom is more gorgeous than any decor I’ve put together. The BATHROOM. What. Anyway, back to the food. I ordered the baked scallop cake stuffed shrimp topped with lobster sauce with a side of mac and cheese and mashed potatoes. The mashed potatoes were so-so (I don’t like potato peel in my mashed taters!) but the mac and cheese and stuffed shrimp was DY-NA-MITE!! I paired it with a refreshing glass of moscato and I was in heaven. Absolutely, positively, worth the drive. I also enjoyed the unique soundtrack in the restaurant, as I was being serenaded by the The Killers, The Lumineers, Mumford & Sons, and the like. Highly recommended!After your meal at the Claw House, you can then walk around Murrell’s Inlet where there is no shortage of live music, string lights, and just overall good vibe bars and restaurants. Unfortunately we were walking around after sunset so I didn’t get great pics, but below are some of my favorite finds!

FILET’S ON THE WATERFRONT
2120 Sea Mountain Hwy # 1100
North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582
(843) 280-5200{This photo of Filet’s on the Water is courtesy of TripAdvisor}

This restaurant was a complete accidental find as we drove over the adjacent bridge one evening and saw what appeared to be a secret little waterfront dining gem! Turns out we were right! I absolutely love waterfront dining during vacation (or not on vacation for that matter) so I was really excited about this spot. My sister was pretty excited about it too because Filet’s is known for steak, seafood and sushi, and no one else in our family likes sushi so she was finally able to order some during a family dinner!  

I ordered ev-er-y-thingggg. I seriously gorged during this dinner. I started with a wedge salad that was beautiful, fully loaded, and had a perfect blue cheese to lettuce ratio (don’t skimp me, restaurants, don’t you do it!) Their salad was perfection! 

For my main course I ordered the 12 oz New York Strip Steak with Oscar Topping (crab meat, asparagus, and béarnaise sauce) with a side of garlic mashed potatoes and the vegetable de jour which was green beans. Excessive? Yes. Gluttonous? Also yes. I don’t know what I was thinking ordering a 12 oz steak like a boss, but I ended up passing half of it out to my family. I call that delegating. Also a boss move.

I also enjoyed a pomegranate martini (or two) with my meal. I loved being able to sip and look out over the water. The food was amazing, the martini was on point, there was live music and an outdoor deck built around a palm tree (with string lights!!) what more could you want?! Definitely a great place to check out, just make sure you go early or bring some bug spray with you because once the sun goes down the bugs go on the attack!

DUFFY STREET SEAFOOD SHACK
319 Sea Mountain Highway
North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582
(843) 249-7902

We discovered Duffy Street last year, as the original location is right around the corner from our condo in Cherry Grove. There is a second location in NMB but we’ve never been there, and honestly, it doesn’t look quite as fun as the original! This place isn’t fancy, so feel free to leave your heels and dress shirts at home. Get in, get to cracking some peanuts and throwing shells on the floor, and get ready for some delicious seafood and even better drinks! For dinner I was torn between crab legs and a shrimp po’boy but opted for the crab. I think I got a not-so-great batch this time around so I wish I would have gone po’boy but I ate enough hush puppies and old bay fries to make up for it! Best hush puppies I had during my whole NMB stay! I also ordered a mango madness rum punch which was so good it was gone by the time I took this picture 🙂 We mainly go for the relaxed shack feeling, great staff, and unique atmosphere, but this place has a huge menu with tons of seafood (and land lover) options so it’s sure to please everyone!

BOARDWALK BILLY’S NMB
1407 13th Ave N.
North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582
(843) 249-0900

Another new find and addition to our favorites list this year was Boardwalk Billy’s in NMB, which is only one of their 3 locations. We kept seeing huge signs advertising the restaurant with giant arrows so how could we not try it out? We quickly learned what the big arrows were all about! This location sits pretty far back off the road overlooking a marina so it was kind of difficult to find but definitely worth the search. 

The patio game at this restaurant is so strong. When you first walk out you walk directly into the HUGE circular bar which cascades into a deck with additional seating and a stage. 

I have a newly found obsession with decks built around trees so I was really digging this set up. 🙂Prior to hitting up Boardwalk Billy’s we found a coupon for a free crab dip. And who can turn down a good coupon? Or a free dip?! After one bite I honestly could not comprehend why on God’s green earth this restaurant would give this dip away for free. I would have sold them my soul for this dip. Then bought it back and sold it to them again.  My new life’s journey is to recreate this dip. Unbelievable! We also ordered a side of hush puppies that were apparently of the dachshund variety. I don’t think I’ve ever eaten a hush puppy that wasn’t round? But I’m also from Ohio so my hush puppy game is pretty weak. Their hush puppy game was not weak. They were amazing and served with a cinnamon butter that was even more amazing. 

For dinner I got my shrimp po’boy that I was craving the night before when we went to Duffy Street. It was definitely worth the wait! My stomach was in legitimate pain from trying to eat all of it and I only ate half the bun! You definitely get your money’s worth at Boardwalk Billy’s! 

I also ordered a side of mac and cheese and was delighted to be introduced to the most southern version of mac and cheese I have ever had. As an Ohioan my ‘southern’ references are purely based off guestimates, but it was thick, creamy, artery clogging and felt like a sin as I was eating it so I assume it was high quality southern dish! 😛

(BT dubs, if this picture is rotated on your phone it’s because nothing in this world make sense. I’ve rotated it a million times and it just won’t quit being sassy.)

My drink of choice for our last evening in South Carolina was a mango/strawberry mixed daiquiri. In case you can’t tell I have a ‘type’ when it comes to vacation drinks. And it usually rewards me heavily with a nice dose of heartburn! #worthit #imoldnow

ORIGINAL PAINTERS HOMEMADE ICE CREAM
2408 Hwy 17 South
North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582
(843) 272-6934

As someone who has eaten a disgusting amount of ice cream in their life, I can honestly tell you that Original Painters Ice Cream is possibly the BEST I’ve ever had. (And they’re so popular apparently they don’t even need a website! 😛 ) I ordered the Fancy Nancy Sundae…okay well actually I ordered all of the ingredients in a Fancy Nancy Sundae and the gentleman at the counter nicely drew my attention to a poster hanging directly next to my face that had everything I had just listed in one of their pre-named sundaes. Apparently people in SC have great taste; great minds think alike! Seriously though I can’t even put into words how good this was. So creamy and rich! You have to try this for yourself!

I especially enjoyed my stop at one of their ice cream stands because after finding out I was from Ohio they pointed out the Jim Tressel signed photograph on their wall of celebrity visits. They sure know the best way to an Ohio girl’s heart! Another ice cream place we had to hit during our stay was Friendly’s. I know it’s a chain. I know it’s nothing special. BUT we no longer have them in Ohio (that I’m aware of) so we wanted to order an old favorite: the Reese’s peanut butter cup sundae! Ahh, memories.

I mainly wanted to share this pic because I love the “Life with Extra Sprinkles” bag and I think it’s a fitting way to end my Myrtle Beach Restaurant review! Although I need to get back on track with healthy eating now that I’m back home, I think this little ice cream bag is an awesome reminder to treat yo’self when you’re on vacation! So go forth and live with extra sprinkles, guys! You deserve it! 🙂

Thanks for reading! If you happen to stop at any of these locations let me know what you think! And if you have any other recommendations for my next trip down, let me know! I am always on the hunt for new, delicious restaurants! 🙂