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10 Best Casual Restaurants in Myrtle Beach

10 Best Casual Restaurants in Myrtle Beach

The ten best casual restaurants in Myrtle Beach include Hook and Barrel, The Hangout, Salt and Lime, Carolina Roadhouse, Drift, RipTydz Oceanfront Grille and Rooftop Bar, Bummz Beach Cafe, Bubba's Fish Camp and Smokehouse, Flavor Hills, and Joe’s Crab Shack. The local food culture centers on oceanfront architecture and bustling entertainment districts. Eateries in Myrtle Beach can be found in the main Boardwalk, the northern Kings Highway stretch, and the Broadway at the Beach complex. Restaurant types range from oceanfront seafood grills to Calabash-style fish camps, coastal breakfast cafes, and large entertainment dining venues. Dining at a casual restaurant in Myrtle Beach costs between $15 and $60 per person.

The top casual eateries in Myrtle Beach gain fame from memorable dishes, from the Calabash-style fried flounder at a rustic fish camp to massive crab steampots and Cajun shrimp and grits. Hook and Barrel stands out as the best overall for sustainable seafood sourcing, eco-friendly restaurant practices, and a refined coastal atmosphere. Drift serves excellent avocado toast and lemon ricotta pancakes for a quick morning meal. Flavor Hills offers a more sophisticated dinner experience with modern soul food. Drift provides extensive vegan options on the breakfast menu, and Salt and Lime has numerous gluten-free options, including corn tortilla tacos and birria bowls.

The top casual restaurants in Myrtle Beach are listed below.

10 Best Casual Restaurants in Myrtle Beach are listed below.

1 The Hangout
2 Drift
3 Riptydz OceanFront Grille & Rooftop Bar
4 Bummz Beach Cafe
5 Flavor Hills Restaurant
6 Joe's Crab Shack
7 Hook and Barrel
8 Salt and Lime
9 Carolina Roadhouse
10 Bubba's Fish Camp and Smokehouse

What Makes Casual Restaurants in Myrtle Beach Famous?

Casual restaurants in Myrtle Beach are famous for Calabash-style seafood, massive crab legs, and oceanfront dining experiences. Food tourism thrives on the pairing of fresh Atlantic catches and classic Southern soul food recipes. Cooks utilize techniques like lightly breading and deep-frying flounder or steaming shellfish with garlic and herbs. Key ingredients found in these coastal dishes include blue crab, stone-ground grits, and fresh Gulf Stream fish.

What Types of Casual Restaurants are Commonly Found in Myrtle Beach?

Common types of casual restaurants found in Myrtle Beach include oceanfront grills, Calabash-style fish camps, and entertainment dining complexes. These different kinds of Myrtle Beach restaurants make up the well-known food offerings.

Oceanfront Grills: These dining spots serve fresh seafood with direct views of the Atlantic Ocean. Menus feature raw oysters, crab cakes, and grilled fish. RipTydz Oceanfront Grille and Rooftop Bar fits this description.
Calabash-Style Fish Camps: These rustic eateries focus on lightly battered and deep-fried seafood served in generous portions. Bubba's Fish Camp and Smokehouse is a key example.
Southern Comfort Food Spots: These relaxed bistros serve gourmet soul food and hearty American classics. Flavor Hills falls into this group.
Entertainment Dining Complexes: These massive venues mix full-service dining with live music, interactive games, and outdoor activities. The Hangout is a primary example.
Coastal Breakfast Cafes: These bright, contemporary cafes focus exclusively on morning meals and brunch items. Drift represents this category.

Does Myrtle Beach Have an Authentic Casual Restaurant?

Yes, Myrtle Beach has authentic casual restaurants, including Bubba's Fish Camp and Smokehouse, Flavor Hills, and Carolina Roadhouse. Bubba's Fish Camp and Smokehouse stays true to the original Calabash method of lightly frying fresh catches, operating as a traditional rustic fish camp. Flavor Hills dedicates the kitchen to genuine Southern soul food practices, focusing on classic recipes like Cajun shrimp and grits. Carolina Roadhouse provides a genuine lodge-style American dining experience, serving massive portions of comfort food like the famous Killer Dog and baby back ribs.

Do Casual Restaurants in Myrtle Beach Offer Easy Online Reservations?

Yes, many casual restaurants in Myrtle Beach offer easy online reservations through websites and third-party platforms like OpenTable and Resy. Upscale-casual dining rooms like Hook and Barrel, Drift, and Flavor Hills use these services for bookings, a highly recommended practice during the busy summer tourist season. Salt and Lime also accepts reservations online through the website. High-volume spots like The Hangout and Bummz Beach Cafe operate on a first-come, first-served basis and do not take reservations.

What are the Signature Dishes of the Best Casual Restaurants in Myrtle Beach?

The signature dishes of the best casual restaurants in Myrtle Beach range from Calabash-style fried fish to massive crab steampots. The following list describes some of the most notable food in Myrtle Beach.

Calabash Seafood Platter: A generous portion of shrimp, oysters, and flounder lightly coated in cornmeal batter and deep-fried. Bubba's Fish Camp and Smokehouse serves this traditional regional specialty.
Cajun Shrimp and Grits: Sautéed shrimp served over creamy, stone-ground grits with a spicy Cajun sauce. Flavor Hills is famous for this Southern comfort dish.
Crab Steampots: Large pots filled with snow crab legs, mussels, clams, corn on the cob, and potatoes steamed in garlic and herbs. Joe’s Crab Shack is well-known for this interactive meal.
Killer Dog: A foot-long hot dog smothered in chili, cheese, and french fries. Carolina Roadhouse serves this oversized American classic.
Pan-Seared Scallops: Fresh, sustainably sourced sea scallops seared until golden and served with seasonal vegetables. Hook and Barrel cooks this using eco-friendly practices.

What is the Average Meal Price at Casual Restaurants in Myrtle Beach?

The average meal price at casual restaurants in Myrtle Beach is between $15 and $60 per person. A single meal at a breakfast cafe like Drift or a beach bar like Bummz Beach Cafe costs between $15 and $30. A group meal for four people at a high-volume entertainment venue such as The Hangout or Joe’s Crab Shack falls between $80 and $160. A full dinner with drinks at an upscale-casual seafood grill like Hook and Barrel or Flavor Hills costs $30 to $60 per person.

Are There Vegan Options at Casual Restaurants in Myrtle Beach?

Yes, vegan options at casual restaurants in Myrtle Beach are available at eateries like Bay Naturals, Kindbelly Cafe, Drift, and Lekker Eats. Bay Naturals provides a full organic deli counter featuring plant-based sandwiches and smoothies. Kindbelly Cafe serves vegan breakfast burritos, grain bowls, and fresh salads. Drift offers modified avocado toast and fruit-based breakfast plates. Lekker Eats focuses entirely on healthy, plant-based meals, serving vegan wraps and nutrient-dense salads.

Do Casual Restaurants in Myrtle Beach Offer Gluten-Free Options?

Yes, casual restaurants in Myrtle Beach offer gluten-free options at dining spots like Hook and Barrel, Salt and Lime, Flavor Hills, and Carolina Roadhouse. Hook and Barrel uses gluten-free breading for certain seafood dishes and offers modified fresh catch plates. Salt and Lime identifies gluten-free items clearly on the menu, including the birria bowls and corn tortilla tacos. Flavor Hills serves gluten-free shrimp and grits alongside modified soul food classics. Carolina Roadhouse provides meat-centric dishes like baby back ribs and steaks that do not contain wheat.