The Grand Strand is a seafood coast first and foremost. Fishing boats still work out of Murrells Inlet and Little River, the menus lean on shrimp, oysters and local fish, and one particular style of fried seafood is so tied to this stretch of coast that it has its own name. Here is how to eat well without falling into the tourist-trap buffets.
Calabash style, explained
Calabash-style seafood takes its name from Calabash, a small fishing town just over the North Carolina line from Little River. The method is simple: fresh shrimp, fish, oysters, clams or crab are dipped in a light batter and fried until just golden, then served in generous portions with hush puppies at a modest price. The shrimp are usually small, often listed as creek, popcorn or baby shrimp. The largest concentration of Calabash-style seafood houses runs along the South Carolina coast from Little River to Murrells Inlet. Names to know include The Original Benjamin's Calabash Seafood and Captain Benjamin's Calabash Seafood in Myrtle Beach, Bennett's Calabash in North Myrtle Beach (with two Myrtle Beach locations), Hook's Calabash Seafood Buffet in Myrtle Beach, Crabby Mike's in Surfside Beach, Hot Fish Club in Murrells Inlet and the long-standing Sea Captain's House on the Myrtle Beach oceanfront. Order the mixed platter the first time; it is the dish the coast is famous for.
Murrells Inlet: the seafood capital
If you only have one seafood evening, spend it in Murrells Inlet, which calls itself the seafood capital of South Carolina. The MarshWalk, a free half-mile boardwalk along the salt marsh, is lined with seven restaurants and bars: Bovine's for wood-fired steaks, seafood and pizza; Wahoo's Fish House with Southern dishes and a deck over the marsh; Drunken Jack's, the pirate-themed local favorite; Creek Ratz, known for its fried shrimp and live music; Dead Dog Saloon, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner with frequent bands; The Claw House for lobster, oysters and more than ninety beers on tap; and The Wicked Tuna, which buys fish from local boats and adds prime beef and sushi. The local strategy is to arrive before sunset, walk the full boardwalk to see where the music and the space are, and turn dinner into a slow crawl across two or three decks.
Broadway at the Beach: easy, central, crowd-pleasing
For families staying centrally, the restaurants around Lake Broadway are the practical choice, with more than 20 places to eat including Hard Rock Cafe, Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville, Joe's Crab Shack, Paula Deen's Family Kitchen and Wahlburgers. A lakeside seafood restaurant, Big Fish, is planned. Ole Smoky Distillery and Yee-Haw Brewing has opened for those who want a tasting with dinner, and The Hangout pairs Southern-style seafood with live music on its outdoor stage.
Barefoot Landing: dinner on the waterway
In North Myrtle Beach, Barefoot Landing's restaurants sit along the Intracoastal Waterway, which makes for relaxed sunset meals: LuLu's, Big Chill Island House, Flying Fish Public Market and Grill, Taco Mundo Kitchen y Cantina and Bully's Pub and Grill on its lakefront deck. Pair dinner with a show at the Alabama Theatre or House of Blues.
Resort dining and self-catering
Many Grand Strand stays are condos with full kitchens, and eating in for breakfast and a lunch or two keeps a family budget in check. Resorts often have a casual oceanfront bar and grill, such as The Rusty Reel at The Breakers, or a more ambitious restaurant, such as Black Drum Brewing at Kingston Resorts, with 40 Carolina beers on tap.
Eating on a budget
The Grand Strand is good at value. Calabash houses serve big platters at modest prices, buffets are everywhere for hungry families, and a condo kitchen covers breakfast and beach lunches. The MarshWalk's live music costs nothing, so a drink and appetizers at sunset can be an affordable highlight even if you eat dinner elsewhere. Early-bird timing helps too: arriving before the dinner rush in summer means shorter waits and better tables with a view.
Beyond seafood
Not everyone in the group will want fish every night, and the coast covers that easily. Steak is easy to find, from Bovine's wood-fired grill on the MarshWalk to resort steakhouses such as the one North Beach Plantation has long run on site (known for dry-aged beef; confirm current hours), Southern comfort cooking is a staple, and Broadway at the Beach has burgers, Tex-Mex and family chains. Ice cream is practically a food group on the boardwalk, and many resorts have Ben & Jerry's or Starbucks on site for the morning. For a nightcap, Black Drum Brewing at Kingston Resorts pours dozens of Carolina beers, and Ole Smoky Distillery at Broadway at the Beach adds moonshine tastings.
What to order and when
Shrimp is the constant, and local shrimp in season is the best version. Oysters are traditionally a cooler-month food, so the off-season is your chance for oyster roasts and raw bars. Fish of the day from local boats is worth asking about everywhere. Hush puppies come with almost everything; save room. And if you want to take the coast home with you, ask at the seafood counters and markets around Murrells Inlet and Little River about local shrimp to cook in your condo kitchen, the cheapest way to eat the catch of the day.
The off-season table
From November to March the dining scene calms down. Waits disappear and waterfront decks become easy to get, but some restaurants shorten hours or close on certain weekdays, and live music concentrates on weekends. Check hours before driving to Murrells Inlet on a weeknight, and treat a sunny, mild afternoon as an invitation for an early dinner on a deck over the marsh.
