Myrtle Beach Seafood Spots, Ranked

A big part of the experience of Myrtle Beach is eating amazing seafood. If you're overwhelmed by the choices and don't know where to go, we've got you covered. We've compiled a list for you of the highest-rated and most popular places to eat seafood in and around Myrtle Beach. 

You can't go wrong with any of the Myrtle Beach seafood spots on our list. They all have different personalities, so it depends if you're looking for something quiet or touristy, with added attractions or special views, or even homey or upscale. Three of the top seafood spots in Myrtle Beach are Calabash seafood buffets. If you're not familiar with the term "Calabash," it comes from the nearby city of Calabash, North Carolina, (just over the state line) which calls itself the Seafood Capital of the World. Calabash-style seafood comes fried with a light coating of cornmeal. However, there are plenty of other seafood styles available in Myrtle Beach restaurants. Find ones that suit you and enjoy!

Manta Steak and Seafood Sushi Bar is the place to go for good seafood and sushi, excellent live music, and friendly and attentive service. A reviewer on Google said, "The service, food, atmosphere, music was def checking all the marks. I felt like I was in Miami!"

There are tons of regular and sushi appetizers available at Manta, but the one that customers rave about most is crab rangoon. You can also get sushi platters, pressed sushi, nigiri, sashimi, a seafood platter, grilled salmon, and grilled ahi tuna. Beyond seafood, the restaurant offers soup, salad, hibachi-style food, noodles, meat like steak and lamb, and dessert. So, you don't have to be in the mood for sushi to enjoy eating here.

Manta is located on Kings Highway near public beaches. While the restaurant stays open to satisfy your seafood cravings from 11:30 a.m. until midnight most days of the week, it closes at 11:00 p.m. on Sundays and Mondays. And don't miss happy hour specials, which are available every day from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.

If you can't guess based on the restaurant's name, Hook & Barrel's focus is seafood and alcoholic beverages. It has a lovely nautical theme with jellyfish lamps hanging over the bar. There's also a Southern-style wrap-around porch available for outdoor dining. While the menu is seafood-centric, you can also find salads, a harvest grain bowl, and a limited selection of meat dishes available.

Your server will start you off with freshly-made pimento cheese, which diners love. Another trendy favorite is the smoked shrimp and grits, which comes with tomato gravy and sausages. However, the menu item customers talk about most is the she crab soup. A Google reviewer said, "As a Marylander I can honestly say that the soup was a work of art. Crunchy minced trinity, amazing flavor."

Hook & Barrel is another restaurant on Kings Highway in the Grande Dunes area. It's open from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday, staying open until 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday night. A specific happy hour menu is available from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. While the restaurant once served Sunday brunch, it's now closed all day.

Lee's Inlet Kitchen is a 75-year-old seafood tradition, with ownership going back multiple generations, so it has also served multiple generations of South Carolinians. With a Southern-food history going back that far, you know the food has to be good.

The restaurant's extensive menu contains a variety of fried, grilled, blackened, and broiled seafood entrées, soups, salads, char-grilled meats, sides, and desserts. When the restaurant asked customers on Facebook to name their favorite dish, one customer said, "That's like being told to choose which child is your favorite. There hasn't been one that we didn't like." Customers enjoy the hushpuppy and honey butter starter a lot. Various types of shrimp (including shrimp and grits), she crab soup, and stuffed flounder seem to top the list of faves.

The restaurant is in Murrells Inlet on Business Highway 17 — a 5-minute drive south of Myrtle Beach. Don't be surprised if there's already a line at 4:30 p.m. when the restaurant opens. Customers arriving before 5:30 p.m. can order off the early-bird menu for less. The restaurant stays open until 9:00 p.m. every evening and is closed all day Sunday.

As you can guess by the name, The Shack doesn't put on any airs. It looks like an old-fashioned cafe on the inside with wooden walls and benches. Plus, there's outdoor patio seating. However, the food is top-notch if you're looking for Lowcountry Southern favorites.

The Shack has daily seafood and non-seafood lunch and dinner specials. Various grilled and fried seafood entrées and non-seafood entrées are available. Scallops and flounder are favorites for both meals. A popular dinner option allows you to choose a meat and two or three sides, or a three or four vegetable plate. The Shack's tasty sides include homestyle favorites like rice and gravy, green beans, cabbage, butter beans, and mac and cheese. While you can get entrées, "shackwiches" are also available (many of which feature fish). Other non-seafood faves include The Shack's hush puppies with honey butter, tomato pie, and chicken and dumplings.

The Shack is just past the main drag on Sea Mountain Highway in North Myrtle Beach. It opens from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. for breakfast and lunch, and again from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. for dinner every day except Sunday.

Pirate's Table Calabash Seafood Buffet is a destination within itself. This huge 500-seat restaurant has a 105-foot buffet built to look like a pirate ship. There's plenty of pirate decor everywhere inside, with pirates walking around and live mermaids swimming in the mermaid pool. There's even a Hollywood Pictures photographer to take pictures of your memorable visit (one picture is free).

The cost is around $50 per person, which isn't bad when considering seafood prices and all the fond memories you'll make here. The buffet includes Calabash-style and other types of seafood, along with meat dishes, Southern-style sides, a salad bar, soups, kids' foods, and desserts. You can also buy wine, beer, and cocktails. Everyone comments on the amazing prime rib and the all-you-can-eat crab legs. The buffet may not have as much variety such as places like Crabby's Mike's, but most people find the food quality comparable or better. Plus, the lines aren't as long.

Pirate's Table is across Kings Highway from Ocean Lakes Family Campground. It's open every day of the week from 3:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. So, you can come in early or stay late.

Captain Benjamin's Calabash Seafood Buffet is at the top of the list for Calabash seafood buffets in Myrtle Beach. So, be sure to go to the better one. The buffet has a nautical theme, which includes lots of taxidermied fish on the wall and ceiling.

The buffet at Captain Benjamin's contains over 200 items, and there's no limit on how much of any one thing that you can get. Expect plenty of fried, steamed, and baked fresh seafood and meat. There's also a salad bar, cold bar, Southern-style veggies, fresh fruit, and desserts, along with a sizeable drink menu. Customers tend to be impressed with the chocolate fountain, salad bar, and all-you-can-eat crab legs. A reviewer on Google said, "I'll be honest, I was expecting to be let down by a $50 buffet, but I was impressed."

The new restaurant on 401 S. Kings Highway has far better food than the Original Captain Benjamin's. It's within easy walking distance of the beach and is next to Family Kingdom Amusement Park. The buffet opens at noon every day and stays open until 10:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and until 10:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

The best place for Myrtle Beach seafood is the Hot Fish Club. The atmosphere, creekside location next to Morse Park Landing, and food all come together to make the perfect seafood experience. You can enjoy live music while sitting outdoors in the gazebo. Even if you don't get outdoor seating, there are murals of the marshes on the indoor walls. There's even a playground outside and cornhole games to enjoy while waiting for your table.

The food all looks so delicious that you may have difficulty deciding what to eat. Many of the seafood selections come with flavorful broths, fancy sauces, and chutneys with elevated ingredients. You can choose from appetizers, seafood club specialties, inlet-style platters, sushi, non-seafood meals, soups, salads, sandwiches, and small plates. The dishes customers talk about most often are char-grilled grouper, lobster pot pie, shrimp and grits, she crab soup, and steampots.

The Hot Fish Club opens for dinner at 4:00 p.m. every day. You can eat until 9:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday. Many people stay late listening to music, eating, and drinking on Fridays and Saturdays until 1:30 a.m.