The Best Country Cooking in Myrtle Beach
Eat like a local and treat yourself to Southern food in Myrtle Beach at these spots serving the best Lowcountry cuisine, soul food, and barbecue around. While this area offers visitors and locals many award-winning restaurants and creative cocktail bars, there’s no better way to really indulge in the local food scene than to taste the area’s homestyle dishes.
Myrtle Beach country cooking is Southern cuisine at its finest, and the menus in the area nearly always include perfectly battered and fried chicken or seafood, plus creamed vegetables and greens on the side. The country cooking staples you need to try in Myrtle Beach include all the fried favorites (seafood, chicken, tomatoes, hush puppies), but also the tasty pulled pork and brisket from local smokehouses. Don’t let the popularity of seafood dishes here let you forget that this is barbecue country and some of these pitmasters have decades of experience cooking whole hogs slow and low.
Another must-try comfort food is Myrtle Beach soul food, a culinary tradition distinct from Southern food. The term ‘Southern’ can mean nearly any signature dish in the area, but soul food and Lowcountry are specific styles of cuisine you need to taste for yourself to really define. These foods have roots going back generations: Bubbling, rich seafood gumbo is a Lowcountry staple, red rice dishes and Hoppin’ John trace back to Gullah culture, and pan-fried chicken, field peas, and collards are shining examples of soul food.
Now that your mouth is watering, book your stay and make a plan to feast your way across the Grand Strand. Start your food tour with these restaurants serving the best comfort foods and Southern cuisine in Myrtle Beach:
Bubba’s Fish Camp & Smokehouse
The menu here reads, “Put some South in your mouth,” and that’s exactly what Bubba’s offers. Choose from a variety of comfort foods and soulful dishes at this spot. Bubba’s meats are slow-smoked fresh daily and when they’re gone, they’re gone. Come here for ribs, chicken, brisket, pulled pork, and all your favorite sides. They also offer excellent seafood, including all-you-can-eat catfish.
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Sea Captain’s House
This is a local favorite for dining, and the menu features a delightful mix of Southern cuisine. The Award-winning She Crab Soup is a beautiful meal starter to whet your palate for the signature dishes of Jambalaya and Shrimp and Grits Cakes. Or, try the Seafood Muddle, a nod to a Lowcountry boil in a delicious tomato broth.
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Tupelo Honey
This restaurant is a destination for anyone seeking Southern food in Myrtle Beach. The contemporary twists on classic dishes and the comfortable experience are what keep locals and visitors coming back to dine at Tupelo Honey. This eatery southern-fries everything from tomatoes to pickles and cauliflower, and of course, their famous chicken. Try the hot fried chicken and waffles, made with a mac-n-cheese twist, or dig into the Shrimp & Grits, a signature dish.
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Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen
This restaurant is located at Broadway at the Beach and it’s a favorite stop for anyone looking for good country cooking near Myrtle Beach. Dishes here are served family style in true Southern tradition. Select from a variety of “Down Home” dishes on the menu to enjoy Chicken & Dumplings, Southern Fried Chicken, Pot Roast, Jambalaya, and Georgia Fried Catfish. Side dish options include creamed corn, collard greens, and fried okra, and they’re as comforting as you’d expect. And, no one leaves the table without dessert—select from seasonal cobbler, butter cake, or banana pudding.
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Little Pigs BBQ at Surfside
Southern food in Myrtle Beach doesn’t get any more signature than genuine Carolina barbecue. This BBQ joint has been serving the Grand Strand since the 1970s. The menu offers something for every taste: Meats are hickory smoked to perfection and include pork, beef brisket, and ribs. Options in barbecue toppings include a mild or hot tomato sauce, mustard-based Carolina gold, Lexington-style, and a brown sugar sauce.
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