Restaurants in Myrtle Beach
Myrtle Beach is the most exciting city along the 60-mile stretch of the Grand Strand. What used to be a burgeoning town dotted with some mom-and-pop shops, guest houses, and eateries has become one of South Carolina’s major centers of tourism, attracting more than 20 million visitors every year.
The Myrtle Beach food scene can be described as diverse, eclectic, and exciting. With more restaurants per capita compared to New York City and Paris, Myrtle Beach is a mecca for local and international cuisines.
It would be difficult to eat your way to more than 1,500 eateries in the city, so here are the 10 best restaurants on Myrtle Beach that should get top priority on your next South Carolina food trip.
Rioz Brazilian Steakhouse
“Brazilian Steakhouse” conjures up images of succulent cuts of barbecued meats on large skewers served Rodizio-style. If you have a sudden craving for an authentic Brazilian churrascaria, no one does it better than Rioz in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
It’s organized chaos when you enter this family-friendly restaurant. Your senses will be assaulted by the smoky smell of perfectly grilled meats served by roving waiters.
By ordering the Full Rodizio, you’ll get to taste all the meat you can eat. With more than 15 different cuts of pork, beef, chicken, lamb or fish to choose from, you’re in for a Brazilian steakhouse awakening.
And if you think the place only serves sizzling meats on skewers, you’re badly mistaken. Rioz has a spread of fresh market selections that feature some of the most delicious seafood and sushi creations you’ll ever taste. With the tastiest meats and the freshest seafood at the ready, you can create an unbeatable surf and turf combo.
Rioz brings Brazilian cooking to South Carolina with a unique style and flair that gives diners a truly unforgettable dining experience.
Flamingo Grill
For more than three decades, the Flamingo Grill has been serving up Lowcountry cuisine to hungry locals and travelers. Regulars can’t stop raving about the phenomenal blackened prime rib, the Lowcountry crab cake, the lobster tail dinner, and the famous Filet Oscar.
Flamingo Grill is known for its exceptional menu just as much for its upbeat atmosphere and art deco. The neon lights and the iconic signage scream 1980s, but the interior is reminiscent of a diner straight from 1950s Hollywood. It’s flashy, eclectic, and exciting.
Lowcountry classics will always be Flamingo Grill’s signature dishes, but their pasta game is on par with some of the best Italian restaurants on the Grand Stand. Flamingo Grill is that kind of place that you can afford to be adventurous when ordering because their dishes satisfy even the most discerning palates.
Bummz Beach Cafe
No trip to Myrtle Beach is complete without going to Bummz Beach Cafe. Nestled in between towering hotels and massive resorts is a laidback beachfront cafe where you can enjoy the calming view while sampling some of the best beach grub on this side of Myrtle Beach.
Bummz rocks the beach house look with its wooden tables and chairs and Georgia pine interior. The regulars know that the best spot in the cafe is its open-air deck overlooking the vastness of the ocean.
The tiki bar is overflowing with beer, frozen drinks, and exciting cocktail creations. Drink to your heart’s content while you listen and dance to nightly live music headlined by local bands.
Bummz is popular among the locals because the food is delicious and the service is impeccable. Anyone who has ever eaten at Bummz will recommend the Bummz Burger— a freshly made burger topped with cheese, onion, chili, and slaw. The Philly Chicken Sandwich is a very close second. Do what we do, order both and have a beach food gastronomic experience.
Hook & Barrel
Their “One Nibble & You’ll Be Hooked” slogan was put to the test when we ordered their signature dishes and let’s just say it’s pretty darn accurate!
Hook & Barrel knows how to impress with their seafood dishes. You’ll know straight away that they are freshly caught and cooked to perfection. If you want a sampling of their oysters, crab legs, shrimp, mussels, and lobster tails, get the Seafood Tower and you will not be disappointed.
Oysters Ala Heide (a creation of SC Chef Ambassador Heidi Vukov) is a must-try if you have a hankering for baked oysters stuffed with Rockefeller mix and topped with rich tarragon Hollandaise. It’s definitely a palate pleaser.
Hook & Barrel is one of the few restaurants along Myrtle Beach that has a “green operation”. They use sustainable products and eco-friendly equipment to reduce their environmental impact. This makes eating their food even more satisfying.
Simply Southern Smokehouse
Simply Southern Smokehouse stays true to its name with its no-frills BBQ and country buffet. Sometimes, you just want to eat homemade southern comfort food without having to go through a list of dishes with fancy names and even fancier ingredients.
Sometimes, you just want fried chicken, pork chops, hamburgers, sausage, hot wings, or fried fish. And that’s exactly what Simply Southern Smokehouse offers to the hungry guests who come in droves at lunch time. It’s simple, fast, and oh so delicious!
The buffet menu comprises simple dishes cooked to perfection the way a Southern grandma would have cooked them—with homemade side dishes to boot. They’re not only satisfying, but also comforting.
Lunch specials at the Smokehouse vary daily, so not only the deliciousness of the food will keep you coming back, but also the element of surprise. We don’t mind fried pork chops on Tuesday, baked spaghetti on Wednesday, sausage & onions on Thursday, hot wings on Friday, and hamburger on Saturday. Next week could be an entirely new menu altogether.
ART Burger Sushi Bar
We found a burger and sushi paradise on North Ocean Blvd, Myrtle Beach and we ended up raising our burger and sushi standards tenfold. When your burger gold standard is a Big Mac or a Whopper, you’ll be blown away when you eat any of the gourmet burgers on the menu at ART Burger Sushi Bar.
Each burger is named after a famous painter, artist, or artwork as a way to promote art and support local artists. But if you really go deep into the burger lore, you will realize that each burger is a work of art in itself. They’re not your ordinary burger. They’re your Remington, Picasso, Michelangelo, and Van Gogh burgers (to name just a few).
The burger patties are made from antibiotic- and hormone-free South Carolina beef. The rest of the ingredients are combined to bring out the deliciousness of the burger masterpiece.
Their sushi game is on another level entirely. Their rolls are flavor bombs that explode in your mouth. For a truly exciting sushi experience, go for the omakase, where the sushi chef will design and prepare a roll exclusively for you.
Villa Romana Italian Restaurant
If you ask the locals where you can treat yourself to fine Italian cuisine in Myrtle Beach, they will point you to Villa Romana on Kings Highway. They serve authentic Italian dishes cooked and prepared in the traditional way—from scratch.
It’s love at first bite at Villa Romana with their delectable veal and chicken entrees as well as their pasta dishes. Their menu features a diverse selection of dishes from different Italian cities and regions. You’ll find specialities from Tuscany, Sicily, Lazio, and other parts of Italy. There are exciting dishes on the menu that you don’t usually find in other Italian ristorantes.
Villa Romano is the kind of place that even Italian grandmothers would be excited to go to. And that’s saying a lot considering how tough and discerning their Italian palates are.
Carolina Roadhouse
There are three things that would make you a Carolina Roadhouse believer—fall-of-the-bone tender baby back ribs, The Killer Dog, and fried seafood platter. These are just three of the reasons why Carolina Roadhouse is one of the most popular eateries in Myrtle Beach.
Its casual and laidback atmosphere makes it a favorite hangout of large groups that want to enjoy a hearty meal served in large portions. In fact, Carolina Roadhouse is Golf Magazine’s choice for “Where to Eat with your Buddies” and we couldn’t agree more.
Aside from the amazing food and ambience, Carolina Roadhouse draws more diners with its wide-open show kitchen where a small army of chefs strut their culinary stuff for everyone to see. The wrap-around bar is overflowing with all sorts of alcoholic beverages and some of the best cocktail creations you’ll ever taste.
Cafe Old Vienna
This cozy little café in Myrtle Beach has been serving authentic German-Austrian dishes since 1997. It’s where folks go when they want to have some really good German beer and traditional German food. The dishes are a farcry from the Lowcountry fare, but they are as hearty and as enjoyable to devour.
Bratwurst & Sauerkraut is undeniably a popular combo that many diners order at Cafe Old Vienna because it’s familiar. But if you want the German version of soul food, the Viennese Kettle Gulasch is the way to go. This beef stew has the right amount of kick to it with its thick Hungarian paprika sauce. Fork-tender chunks of beef melt in your mouth and satisfy your soul. It’s served in a traditional kettle over candle. The large portion is good for sharing, but with food this amazing, you may never want to share.
Folks stay for the happy hour to treat themselves to a selection of German draft beer and handcrafted cocktails that pack a powerful punch. If you want to taste all 6 beers on draft, get the sampler paddle and figure out which lager fits your beer palate.
River City Cafe
This quaint little café serves up crazy tasty burgers that you can’t wait to sink your teeth into. Their iconic burgers have reached legendary status in Myrtle Beach. With over 20 burger creations, there’s plenty of reasons to keep coming back.
It’s no secret that River City Cafe never uses frozen ground beef to make their burger patties and that really makes the difference when it comes to taste and freshness. Their burgers are perfectly seasoned every single time.
You can choose from a list of traditional and specialty burgers, customize it to your heart’s content, and pick the perfect appetizer to go with it. In our case, the Carolina chili cheeseburger spoke to us and we paired it with the giant hand-dipped onion rings. Other worthy appetizers are crispy hand-cut fries, banana peppers, and fried mushrooms.
Can’t decide? Just get your hands on the “kitchen sink” burger platter. What’s not to like with a double patty burger stacked with more than ten toppings and served with a pile of fries, blooming onion rings, and slaw? Wash them all down with the River Rita or any of the refreshing house-made cocktails.
