15 Seafood Joints In Myrtle Beach, Ranked

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina is one of the most frequented vacation destinations in the United States. In 2018 alone, over 20 million people visited the Myrtle Beach area. 

Unsurprisingly, the city owes a great deal to tourism, as Karen Riordan, president of the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention and Visitors Bureau, explained: "Tourism accounts for more than 57,000 jobs in our area and supports world class attractions and events that both visitors and locals enjoy. Continued growth in tourism is vital to ensuring the long-term success of local residents and business owners."

Aside from its many golf courses, theaters, and outlet stores, this tourism has made Myrtle Beach home to a plethora of restaurants. Some estimates put the total number above 2,000. While many types of restaurants are located nearby, those that serve seafood are among the most popular. Given the abundance of natural marine life and the wonderful coastal setting that Myrtle Beach offers, this should come as little surprise. What remains startling, however, is how widely the quality of both the seafood — and overall dining experience — can vary from one restaurant to another.

Wicked Tuna at Myrtle Beach is a small chain made up of three restaurants: there's one in Myrtle Beach and two in nearby Murrells Inlet, South Carolina. All three locations have menus on the expensive side. Higher prices invariably mean higher expectations. With many of Wicked Tuna at Myrtle Beach's dishes costing around $50, expectations are high.

Sometimes, Wicked Tuna meets these expectations. The restaurant's sushi, for example, is highly thought of. California rolls, sashimi, rainbow rolls, and many other options seemed to be made from fresh fish and demonstrated impressive flavor. Less enjoyable are Wicked Tuna's other dishes, a fact that leaves guests with very mixed experiences. This was explained by one guest on TripAdvisor: "We got the happy hour sushi and it was great! fat crab and tuna roles were awesome. The drink in the pineapple was tasty. But then the oysters were .. dry. I've never had an oyster come out that was dry. I felt like they'd been shucked and left to sit."

At such high prices, consistency across the menu should be a given. For this reason, Wicked Tuna at Myrtle Beach ranks at the bottom of our list.

Pirate's Table is a themed seafood buffet restaurant located in Surfside Beach, just south of Myrtle Beach. Entry to the buffet costs $48.99 for adults and $22.99 for children. Those under four years of age eat free with an adult. While these prices are in-line with other seafood buffets in the area, Pirate's Table stands out for two reasons: the strength of its theme and the quality of its food.

There is no mistaking Pirate's Table for your regular restaurant. A gangplank leads you into the restaurant, the 105-foot buffet table designed to look like a ship, and the servers dressed up as pirates dispel that notion fairly quickly. If that doesn't convince you that there is nowhere like Pirate's Table, the mermaids that swim in the restaurant's pool surely will. Such attention to detail makes Pirate's Table the ultimate destination for families with young children.

It is difficult to ensure consistency at buffets, yet Pirate's Table manages it, serving up a reliable range of options including both fresh and fried seafood as well as soups and meats. The quality of the food is amplified by exceptional service, as one customer highlighted on TripAdvisor: "What a selection! Plenty of variety. Primarily seafood, but also chicken options, and prime rib ... Super service. Our waiter took away our used plates promptly, and very attentive to our drink levels."

In terms of location, there is no beating Pier 14 Seafood Restaurant & Fishing Pier. As its name suggests, the restaurant is located on one of Myrtle Beach's piers, suspended above the Atlantic Ocean. Such breathtaking views ensure a near-constant stream of visitors to Pier 14 Seafood Restaurant. Given this demand, it is a welcome surprise to see that the restaurant's prices remain reasonable.

Reviews of Pier 14 are mixed. One menu item, the massive fish sandwich, has been consistently panned, with diners decrying a lack of fish and overabundance of breading. That being said, other menu items consistently impress. The shark bites, fried white fish served with homemade boom boom sauce, are frequently lauded by customers as one TripAdvisor review highlights: "Pirate punch is the best drink. The appetizer- Shark Bites was the best food we had in Myrtle Beach. Fries were crispy and delicious."

Given its exceptional location, Pier 14 is well worth a visit. If all the menu items could reach the level of these appetizers, it could be one of the best seafood joints in Myrtle Beach.

Flamingo Grill is an instantly recognizable part of Myrtle Beach's dining scene. This is thanks to both its decades-long history and the eye-catching art deco design that defines the building both in and out.

Unlike other restaurants on this list, seafood only plays a part in Flamingo Grill's menu, with pasta and steak being the restaurant's other areas of specialty. If you can look past the impressive array of steaks, a selection of seafood presents itself, including pan-seared peppercorn tuna and flounder. Those really looking to indulge can select from a variety of surf and turf options such as the N.Y. strip and lobster tail.

The overall experience of dining at Flamingo Grill is excellent. One patron said as much in a review on TripAdvisor: "Very lively place, atmosphere of 1950's restaurant. If visiting Myrtle Beach this is definitely a place to visit. Wait staff was very attentive and helpful when inquiring about menu selection. They offer small plates for those who don't need full dinner. The lobster bites were excellent along with garlic mashed potatoes."

In a city as touristy as Myrtle Beach, the greatest compliment you can pay a restaurant is to call it a local's spot. That, undoubtedly, is what Hoskins Restaurant is. Open since 1948, Hoskins Restaurant has built a dedicated following of Myrtle Beach locals and repeat vacationers. The result of this reputation is a frequent queue to get into Hoskins. Fortunately, it moves quickly and the food is worth waiting for.

One reviewer described their Hoskins experience on TripAdvisor as follows: "If the locals eat here, you know the tourists are going to enjoy it! Make sure to arrive 'before' meal time, if you don't want to stand in line. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and the place stays full. Mainly people come here for the seafood, but they also have daily specials. Small salad bar, but sufficient. Meals are reasonably priced."

Specials change from day to day, but a solid selection of seafood features on the menu no matter what. Standouts include a seafood platter that features shrimp, flounder, scallops, oysters, and crab cakes.

Another local's spot that is more than happy to accommodate everyone is Bimini's Oyster Bar & Seafood Market. This spot is a quintessential beach bar. Thankfully, the laid-back vibe does not translate into lazy food; on the contrary, Bimini's has some of the best seafood anywhere in Myrtle Beach.

Standout dishes at Bimini's include the classic steam pot, which includes a gobsmacking array of seafood. The oyster roast is another great choice; it features 42 roasted oysters served with the bar's famous hush puppies. One reviewer described it via TripAdvisor: "We are always on the lookout for a restaurant in Myrtle Beach that serves the Oyster Roast and this place is by far the best we have ever had there ... We had to wait a very short time before we were seated. Our waiter was very prompt in taking our order for drinks and our meal. We ordered the Oyster Roast and steamed shrimp. The food came out HOT and delicious. The oysters were cooked to perfection."

It's important to point out that over the more than three decades Bimini's has been open, the quality of both its food and service has not gone unnoticed. The restaurant is no hidden gem, it is a well-loved spot that often gets busy. As such, there can be long waits to secure tables in peak season. Thankfully, there is an outdoor bar that helps pass the time.

Hook & Barrel comes in a narrow second on our list, thanks to its excellent range of seafood, enjoyable atmosphere, and attentive staff. As with many of the restaurants on this list, the seafood at Hook & Barrel is exceptionally fresh, well-prepared, and perfectly cooked to order. While the she-crab soup, oysters, and mussels are all delicious, it is the more inventive dishes — like citrus-rubbed tuna and blackened salmon — that really make the restaurant stand out.

It's not just the kitchen staff that is extremely talented; the bartenders have created a brilliant drinks menu that spans wine, beer, and cocktails. The latter are inventive and fun without being over-complicated, much to the joy of one customer who posted on TripAdvisor: "Cocktails were excellent. I especially liked the jalapeño margarita. All 6 of us agreed it was the best we have had in a long time!" All in all, Hook and Barrel is a dining experience that is hard to beat.