Best Restaurants In Murrells Inlet, SC--Where Locals Actually Eat

by Coastal Carolina Group

🍴 Lifestyle Guide • Murrells Inlet, SC

Best Restaurants in Murrells Inlet, SC:
Where Locals Actually Eat

The Seafood Capital of South Carolina — here’s the insider guide to the MarshWalk and beyond.

The Best Restaurants in Murrells Inlet, SC

The best restaurants in Murrells Inlet, SC are Lee’s Inlet Kitchen for traditional Southern seafood, Drunken Jack’s for the full MarshWalk experience, Dead Dog Saloon for live music and waterfront dining, Hot Fish Club for date night, Barnacle Bill’s for local value and $1 oysters, and Inlet Crab House for classic coastal cooking. The Lick is the top new spot locals are excited about in 2025–2026.

But Murrells Inlet is more than a list of restaurants. It’s a working fishing village on U.S. Business 17, about 10 miles south of Myrtle Beach — the self-proclaimed Seafood Capital of South Carolina, and it earns that title every single day. Here’s everything you need to know before you go.

📋 Quick Reference — Murrells Inlet Restaurants at a Glance

RESTAURANT	ADDRESS	DON’T MISS	BEST FOR
Lee’s Inlet Kitchen	4460 US-17 Bus.	Hush puppies, fried flounder, She Crab Soup	The institution — go first
Drunken Jack’s	4031 US-17 Bus.	Shrimp & crab fondue, hush puppy sundae	MarshWalk classic
Dead Dog Saloon	MarshWalk	Blue Crab Nachos, Fried Green Tomatoes	Live music & groups
Hot Fish Club	US-17 Bus.	Lobster Pot Pie, Blue Crab Dip	Date night
Barnacle Bill’s	3552 US-17 Bus.	$1 oysters Fri & Sun, crab legs, ribeye	Best local value
Inlet Crab House	US-17 Bus.	She Crab Soup, oyster roasts, fried baskets	Casual & local
The Lick	Murrells Inlet	Crab cakes, pork chop, steaks — share everything	Best new spot 2025–26

Source: TripAdvisor, Yelp, Southern Living, Visit Myrtle Beach CVB · 2025–2026

Start Here

🚶 What Is the Murrells Inlet MarshWalk?

The Murrells Inlet MarshWalk is a half-mile public boardwalk along a natural saltwater estuary off U.S. Business 17 — and it’s the social center of the community. Waterfront restaurants, multiple bars, live music Wednesday through Sunday in season, and views across the marsh that stop people mid-sentence.

Local tip: Walk the full MarshWalk before you commit to a table. Every restaurant has outdoor decks visible from the boardwalk — check the vibe, see where the crowd is, and then decide. Arrive by 5:30 PM or after 8:30 PM on weekends to skip the peak dinner rush. Free public parking is available near the boardwalk entrance off U.S. Business 17.

The MarshWalk also hosts the 41st Annual Boat Parade every 4th of July — one of the best free events on the Grand Strand — and is walking distance from the Lost at Sea Memorial at Morse Park Landing. Nearby, Brookgreen Gardens and Huntington Beach State Park are within a 5-minute drive and worth building into your visit.

Restaurant Guide

⭐ The Best Restaurants in Murrells Inlet, SC — Reviewed

1. Lee’s Inlet Kitchen — The Institution

4460 US-17 Business, Murrells Inlet • Mon–Sat 4:30 PM • One family, 78 years • Best Seafood in SC (Southern Living)

If you only eat one meal in Murrells Inlet, eat it here. Eford and Pearl Lee bought an old gas station on the steps of the Horry County Courthouse in Conway for $800 in 1948 and opened a seafood kitchen. The Lee family — now in its third generation — has been running it ever since, with the dining room expanding six times to keep up with demand and the recipes unchanged throughout.

Southern Living named it the Best Seafood Restaurant in South Carolina and called it out again in 2025 for the legendary hush puppies brought to every table, the hand-peeled cold-boiled shrimp from nearby McClellanville, and thin, crispy onion rings. It is not on the MarshWalk. It doesn’t need to be.

Order: Start with the hush puppies (they keep bringing them — let them). Cold-boiled shrimp, fried flounder, She Crab Soup, fried green tomatoes. Hours 2026: Monday–Saturday, 4:30 PM to close. Call ahead off-season — the restaurant reduces hours in winter.

2. Drunken Jack’s Restaurant & Lounge — The MarshWalk Classic

4031 US-17 Business, MarshWalk • Lunch & Dinner daily • Open since July 1979

Named for a genuine piece of Murrells Inlet pirate folklore: Blackbeard’s crew left a sailor named Jack behind in the inlet with a supply of rum, returned two years later, and found 32 empty casks and his remains. The restaurant in his honor has anchored the MarshWalk since 1979 — views of Goat Island from the outdoor deck, warm ship-inspired interiors, and a menu built entirely on fresh-cooked-to-order seafood. Nothing is pre-cooked or frozen. Nothing.

The hush puppy sundae for dessert is real, it’s iconic, and ordering it is not optional.

Order: Shrimp and crab fondue, Low Country She Crab Soup, stuffed flounder, crab cakes, hush puppy sundae. The margaritas have a devoted local following. Best for: Families, first-timers, large groups, anyone who wants the quintessential MarshWalk dinner.

3. Dead Dog Saloon — The Live Music Hub

MarshWalk, Murrells Inlet • Open daily • Three bars • Live music nightly

The MarshWalk’s live music anchor, rebuilt bigger and better after a fire in 2012. Three bars, outdoor decks with marsh views, and a menu that goes seriously beyond bar food. The Blue Crab Nachos and Fried Green Tomatoes topped with fresh shrimp and goat cheese are dishes people drive to Murrells Inlet specifically to order. Families by day, packed social scene by night — both versions are worth experiencing.

Order: Blue Crab Nachos, Fried Green Tomatoes with shrimp and goat cheese, the Heavenly Inlet Trio (house crab cake, shrimp, and scallops), shrimp and grits with red pepper and bacon cream sauce. Best for: Live music, groups, anyone wanting the full MarshWalk energy.

4. Hot Fish Club — History Meets Coastal Dining

US-17 Business, Murrells Inlet • Dinner nightly • History to the 1700s

The Hot Fish Club’s history traces to the 1700s, when it operated as a social club — making it one of the oldest social clubs in the United States. Remains from the original club are visible near the coast of Huntington Beach State Park. The current restaurant carries that legacy without making it feel like a museum: fresh locally sourced seafood, Blue Crab Dip, Grouper Bites, Lobster Pot Pie, Blackened Mahi with Crabmeat, and seafood steampots. The gazebo bar out back with live music is one of the best outdoor drinks spots on the Inlet.

Order: Blue Crab Dip, Lobster Pot Pie, She-Crab Soup, scallops, shrimp and grits. The gazebo bar is worth the visit alone. Best for: Date night, a more polished experience without losing the coastal soul.

5. Barnacle Bill’s Rum & Raw Bar — Best Local Value

3552 US-17 Business, Murrells Inlet • Open daily • $1 oysters Fri & Sun • Live music weekly

The Inlet’s original pirate hideaway — over a decade of local credibility, waterfront setting on the marsh, and some of the best value on the entire strip. Friday and Sunday bring $1 oysters (raw or steamed), $2 Bloody Marys, 80-cent shrimp, and a $7 burger and fries deal that regular visitors plan their trips around. The ribeye and Oysters Rockefeller are genuinely excellent at prices that undercut most of the MarshWalk. Weekly live music schedule, not just special occasions.

Order: $1 oysters on Fridays and Sundays, ribeye, Oysters Rockefeller, Cajun seafood boil, crab legs. Best for: Anyone who wants a local experience with real value — and $1 oysters.

6. Inlet Crab House — Classic Coastal Cooking

US-17 Business, Murrells Inlet • The charming pink-roofed local favorite

Don’t let the unassuming pink roof fool you — Inlet Crab House is a local favorite with a devoted following for good reason. Some of the best She-Crab Soup on the Grand Strand, oyster and clam roasts at the seafood bar, peel-and-eat shrimp, Crab Pizza Dip, Oysters Rockefeller, and conch fritters. The focus is simple, well-prepared Southern seafood — no fuss, no pretension, just good food at honest prices. For non-seafood fans, burgers, pasta, and steaks round out a broad menu.

Order: She-Crab Soup, Crab Pizza Dip, oyster roast, peel-and-eat shrimp, fried flounder basket. Best for: Casual family dinners, anyone who wants the real local Murrells Inlet experience without the boardwalk price tag.

7. The Lick — Best New Restaurant in Murrells Inlet

Murrells Inlet • Yelp’s top-rated new restaurant in the area 2025–2026

The newest name generating the most buzz in Murrells Inlet right now — and for good reason. Reviewers are calling it one of their new favorites across the Carolinas after going family-style through the crab cakes, pork chop, steaks, and fresh bread. It’s the kind of place that earns devotion quickly. If you want to see where the Murrells Inlet dining scene is heading alongside where it has always been, The Lick is your answer.

Order: Crab cakes, pork chop, steaks — go family-style and share everything. Best for: Anyone who wants something chef-driven and fresh alongside the established Inlet classics.

Hidden Gems

💎 Off the Boardwalk — What Only Locals Know

The MarshWalk gets all the attention. But some of the best experiences in Murrells Inlet happen away from the boardwalk — and the people who know about these spots are the people who live here. That instinct toward the authentic over the obvious says a lot about the kind of community Murrells Inlet actually is.

Southern Hops Brewing Company Murrells Inlet

A craft brewery with serious local credibility, great outdoor space, plenty of parking, and food that goes beyond typical brewery fare — blackened shrimp burritos, Lowcountry dishes, collards. The Woo-Tang seltzer is a local cult item. The kind of spot you end up at on a Thursday with no particular plan and stay for three hours.

Nance’s Creekfront Restaurant Murrells Inlet

Waterfront, unpretentious, good prices, live music, and the kind of neighborhood seafood energy that doesn’t need a boardwalk to feel authentic. Popular with locals on weeknights. Arrive early — it genuinely fills up. Worth knowing about if you’re here for more than a weekend.

Before You Go

📌 Practical Tips for Dining in Murrells Inlet

📅 Reservations

Lee’s Inlet Kitchen fills up — arrive by 5 PM or call ahead. MarshWalk restaurants are generally walk-in but expect waits Friday and Saturday nights in summer. Arrive by 5:30 PM or after 8:30 PM to skip peak rush.

🕘 Best Time to Visit

Wednesday or Thursday at sunset in summer is the sweet spot — warm enough for deck dining, live music in full swing, less crowded than weekends. Spring and fall are when locals have the MarshWalk mostly to themselves.

🚗 Getting There & Parking

Murrells Inlet is about 10 miles south of Myrtle Beach on U.S. Business 17. Free public parking is available near the MarshWalk. In peak summer, arrive early and walk — most restaurants are within a 5-minute stroll of each other.

🎵 Live Music

Live music runs Wednesday through Sunday in season at multiple MarshWalk venues. Dead Dog Saloon has the most consistent nightly schedule. Check individual restaurant social pages for that night’s lineup before you go.

💡 Local order of operations: Walk the full MarshWalk first. Stop at Dead Dog Saloon for a drink and the view. Eat dinner at Drunken Jack’s or Hot Fish Club. Come back the next night for Lee’s Inlet Kitchen. Catch $1 oysters at Barnacle Bill’s on a Friday. That’s Murrells Inlet done right.

The Real Estate Angle

🏡 What the Dining Scene Says About Buying Here

A food scene this consistent — restaurants with 47-year and 78-year track records, a craft brewery that draws regulars from across the Grand Strand, a new spot already earning comparisons to Charleston dining — doesn’t happen by accident. It happens in communities where people put down roots, show up consistently, and invest in what surrounds them.

💰 The Market Right Now

The Murrells Inlet market shifted to a buyer’s market in June 2026 with 9.22 months of inventory — more choices and more negotiating room than buyers have had here in years. Median sold price was $432,000 in June 2026, reflecting the community’s desirability along the Hammock Coast.

📍 Location & Lifestyle

Murrells Inlet sits within minutes of Brookgreen Gardens, Huntington Beach State Park, and the Waccamaw Neck Bike Trail. It’s quieter than Myrtle Beach, more established than many Grand Strand communities, and the kind of place people move to and stay in.

People who visit the MarshWalk and fall in love with Murrells Inlet tend to come back — and eventually start asking what it would actually take to live here. We’ve seen it happen dozens of times. The dining scene, the fishing village character, proximity to Brookgreen Gardens, and the tight-knit community feel are exactly the things that drive long-term property value in a market like this. People don’t leave places like Murrells Inlet willingly. That’s not a sales line — it’s what the data shows.

We’ve helped buyers find homes throughout Murrells Inlet — from waterfront properties overlooking the inlet to established neighborhoods with easy access to everything the community offers. No matter where you’re starting from, we’ll make sure you go in with a clear picture of what’s available, what’s realistic to negotiate, and what living here actually looks like day to day.

Thinking About Making Murrells Inlet Home?

Let’s show you around. We’ll walk you through what’s available, what the neighborhoods feel like, and yes — where to eat while you’re here.

No pressure. Just a real look at what life here actually feels like.

FAQ

❓ Common Questions About Dining & Living in Murrells Inlet

What is the best seafood restaurant in Murrells Inlet, SC?

Lee’s Inlet Kitchen at 4460 US-17 Business is the consensus choice — named Best Seafood Restaurant in South Carolina by Southern Living Magazine, family-owned since 1948, now in its third generation. For MarshWalk dining, Drunken Jack’s at 4031 US-17 Business has been the institution since 1979. Both are essential on any serious visit.

What should I eat on the Murrells Inlet MarshWalk?

At Dead Dog Saloon: Blue Crab Nachos and Fried Green Tomatoes with shrimp and goat cheese. At Drunken Jack’s: shrimp and crab fondue, She Crab Soup, and the hush puppy sundae. At Barnacle Bill’s: $1 oysters on Fridays and Sundays, crab legs, Cajun seafood boil. At Hot Fish Club: Lobster Pot Pie and the gazebo bar. Walk the full boardwalk first and let the vibe guide you.

Where can I get $1 oysters in Murrells Inlet?

Barnacle Bill’s Rum & Raw Bar at 3552 US-17 Business offers $1 oysters raw or steamed every Friday and Sunday — a longstanding local tradition. Sunday also brings $2 Bloody Marys, 80-cent shrimp, and a $7 burger and fries. It’s one of the best value dining experiences on the entire Grand Strand.

Is Murrells Inlet worth visiting?

Yes — unequivocally. The MarshWalk at sunset is one of the best free experiences on the South Carolina coast. The seafood is as fresh as it gets anywhere in the state. The community has a character and authenticity that’s harder to find the further north you go on the Grand Strand. It’s also within minutes of Brookgreen Gardens (one of SC’s genuine cultural gems) and Huntington Beach State Park. Most people who visit once start looking at real estate on the second trip.

What is it like to live in Murrells Inlet, SC?

Quieter and more locally rooted than Myrtle Beach — a working fishing village with a genuine community identity, a dining and entertainment scene that punches above its population, and access to some of the best natural spaces on the South Carolina coast. The market shifted to a buyer’s market in mid-2026 with 9+ months of inventory, making it more accessible than it’s been in years. People who move here tend not to leave. Reach out and we’ll walk you through what’s available right now.

Restaurant details sourced from TripAdvisor, Yelp, Southern Living Magazine, Visit Myrtle Beach CVB, Hammock Coast SC, and individual restaurant websites · 2025–2026. Market data from Realtors Property Resource® June 2026. Hours and menus subject to change — always call ahead.

Coastal Carolina Group • Myrtle Beach, SC
For informational purposes only. Not real estate or financial advice.