Restaurants in Surfside Beach
Surfside Beach is one of South Carolina’s towns you need to visit if you’re looking to feel like a local. Known as “The Family Beach,” Surfside is a tight-knit and friendly community where everybody knows everybody’s name. At Surfside, not only do you get picturesque waterside views, but you also get family activities that create lasting memories. Of course, that includes the delicious local eats that Surfside has to offer.
Bubba’s Fish Shack
Bubba’s Fish Shack is a family-friendly dive you’ll find along Ocean Boulevard. While not that close to the water to be called an oceanfront restaurant, they’re at the perfect distance where you can enjoy a meal and still feel the Surfside Beach breeze. Bubba’s serves fresh Southern seafood staples along with meats and treats.
One Bubba’s Fish Shack crowd-favorite is their fresh, light, and melt-in-your-mouth catfish. The best part is you can even get it as an All You Can Eat platter, so you get to cram in as much as you want. They also serve ribs, salads, and sandwiches. You might need to go there early to avoid the wait since this joint is extremely popular. But with food this good, it’s definitely worth the wait.
Dagwood’s Deli & Sports Bar
Dagwood’s Deli & Sports Bar is the sports bar of your dreams. They’ve got huge TVs for your viewing pleasure, and what’s even better is that each booth has a flat-screen TV of its own. Dagwood’s also has billiards, darts, and video games for you to enjoy. Not only do they have these awesome amenities, but they also have great food and great drinks to boot.
Dagwood’s is known for its mastery of sandwiches. Their sandwich selection is made to satisfy — piled high in true Dagwood fashion. Some of the notable must-haves are The Drew Parks Dipper, filled with sliced corned beef and pastrami with melted Swiss and bacon bite, homemade dill mayo in a sub roll, and The Hog Pound — which has roasted pork tenderloin with melted Swiss and provolone and served on a classic brioche bun.
JB’s Jerk Shack
JB’s Jerk Shack is a rustic, down-to-earth grub hub for Southern staples and cold, fresh beer. It’s got this homey, laid-back facade that comes from being a family-owned restaurant. JB’s Jerk Shack offers honest Southern comfort food and is served with Southern hospitality. If you ask the locals about this amazing spot, they’ll have nothing but good things to say.
JB’s Jerk Shack’s dining experience best starts with their tasty appetizers, and we recommend their egg rolls lovingly called the Cuban Cigars. Then, you might want to try their unique Blue Moon Burger that’s topped with caramelized onions, blue cheese crumbles, and blackberry moonshine jelly. They also have a top-notch drink bar for those who want to have fun and a delicious coffee bar for those who had too much fun the night before.
Neal & Pam’s Bar and Grill
Neal & Pam’s Bar and Grill is where the fun’s at. This neighborhood tavern has over 35 years of experience in keeping Surfside residents happy and full. They’re the go-to place when the sand’s getting too hot and you’re looking for a place to cool down with air conditioning and a good drink.
Neal & Pam’s breakfast offerings are one of the local and crowd favorites. They’ve got these absurdly awesome Hangover Specials that are designed to get you up and running after an intense night out. Also, they offer delicious burgers, salads, sandwiches and seafood for your lunch and dinner cravings. There’s always something happening in Neal & Pam’s Bar and Grill, so if you’re looking for a night out with good food and good drinks, this is the dive you need to be in.
Malibu's of Surfside Italian Restaurant
Malibu’s of Surfside is a family-owned Italian joint with honest-to-goodness Italian roots. You can find this humble restaurant and its homey, inviting facade along Surfside Drive. Once inside, you’ll be greeted with what can only be described as an amalgamation of Italian and Southern hospitality, making every visit here cozy and memorable.
Malibu’s of Surfside serves high-standard Italian classics. We recommend starting your dining experience with Mozzarella Caprese or the Fried Capellini Cakes. If you’re in the mood for pasta, you might want to try their Penne Primavera and the Lobster Ravioli. For your meats, you should sample their Shrimp La Monica. Remember to leave room for dessert because you will want to have their delicious and special Mama’s Cheesecake.
River City Cafe
River City Cafe is the go-to burger joint of Surfside. If you’re heading on to the beach through N Seaside Drive, you won’t miss their fun and colorful facade. If you do miss it, then you’re making one of the biggest mistakes in your Surfside stop. Their award-winning burgers are the kind of delicious bite you need before you start or end your beach day.
In a perfect world, we’d recommend you’d try every single burger on their menu — they’re that good. But if you want, we recommend the Surf-N-Turf Burger, with fried popcorn shrimp, spicy chili glaze, Pepper Jack, tomato, and lettuce. If you’re feeling tropical, there’s the Big Island Burger that’s decked with hickory-smoked bacon, jalapeños, teriyaki sauce, Swiss, and juicy, sweet, and delectable pineapple rings.
Joey Doggs
Joey Doggs is a well-hidden gem near N Kings Highway. It’s a humble hole-in-the-wall that’s a real local spot. So if you ever want to dine like a local, this is the spot for you. Joey Doggs keep it simple, and it’s in this simplicity that they’ve mastered their menu to give you a good time every time.
Joey Doggs serves American favorites that we’ve grown to love — wings, burgers, chicken, sandwiches, and of course, hotdogs. We recommend the Carolina Burger that has their delicious house-made chili, slaw, onions, and mustard. The Italian Dog is also a must-have: Beef Franks topped with perfectly sauteed peppers and taters on Italian pizza bread. If you’re out to get some good old American comfort food, Joey Doggs is the joint you’re looking for.
Original Valentino Italian Restaurant
If you get a craving for good Italian food, make sure to stop by the Original Valentino Italian Restaurant. The owner of this restaurant, Sal Bommarito, has been in the business for a good 50 years. His experience is evident with the quality of food, service, and atmosphere while retaining an unpretentious and humble vibe.
Original Valentino’s has an expansive menu filled with filling Italian goodness. You may start off your meal with their delicious antipasti, but we do recommend the Mozzarella Caprese and the Clams Oreganata. For your mains, you can get chops, steaks, chicken and fresh seafood. If you’re looking for something more familiar, their Sicilian pizzas are out-of-this-world good. Save room for their delectable desserts, namely their cannolis and heavenly Lemoncello cake.
Crabby Mike's
If you’re on Surfside Beach for a family vacation, you might be looking to enjoy good food in a family destination. Crabby Mike’s is the local joint that you and your kids are sure to fall in love with. They’ve got this “under the sea” theme going, where you have fish, boats, and dolphins above your head. This, matched with their cozy interiors, make for a memorable dining experience with your family.
Crabby Mike’s is best known for its all-you-can-eat seafood buffet famed for the Alaska Snow Crab Legs. But if you’re in a carnivore mood, their buffet also serves steaks, fried and baked chicken, ham, and their local-favorite slow-roasted prime rib. Your kids are sure to fall in love with their dessert bar. It’s got brownies, ice creams, cheesecake, pies, and so much more. No matter what your family is craving, Crabby Mike’s is sure to satisfy everyone.
Pizza Hyena
Pizza Hyena is irrefutably one of Surfide’s favorite watering holes. Located in Ocean Boulevard S, this oceanfront pizza joint is the place to be for good beer and good pizza. They also serve good food to boot. The restaurant has a great menu filled with tasty appetizers, crisp salads, filling sandwiches, and of course, fresh, hot and delicious pizzas for your pleasure,
Their Wild Fired 10″ personal pizzas are all Neapolitan style flatbreads cooked in their roaring hot 700% oven that came all the way from Italy. The good news is that they also offer cauliflower crusts for those who are avoiding gluten. Their drink menu is also expansive — they’ve got beer, wine, daiquiris, margaritas, cocktails, sangrias and mimosas. We recommend you try the Hyena Bloody Mary to really get a taste of what Pizza Hyena can mix up for you.
