Best Lunch Spots in Myrtle Beach, SC: A Local's Honest Guide to Where to Eat Midday

Finding a good lunch in Myrtle Beach is harder than it should be. I've lived along the Grand Strand long enough to know that the loudest signs and the busiest parking lots usually don't lead to the best meal. After getting burned more than a few times by tourist-trap kitchens charging beach-view prices for freezer-aisle food, I finally decided to put together a proper local guide. I spent about a week eating lunch out across the area, talking to bartenders and regulars, and writing down what actually held up. If you're looking for the most honest take on lunch Myrtle Beach has to offer, this is it.

One thing I'll mention upfront. Lunch hours in this town are unusual. A lot of the better kitchens here either open later in the afternoon or run dinner only, which threw me off when I first moved down. So when I say lunch, I'm including that 3 to 5 PM window where some of the standout spots start serving. That window is honestly where the locals eat, partly because it skips the tourist rush and partly because that's just when the better kitchens fire up. The list below covers a mix of classic noon options and a few late-lunch favorites that have earned their reputation.

What Locals Actually Want from a Lunch Spot Around Here

Before I get into the spots, here's what I kept hearing when I asked people in the area what they look for. Nobody wants a heavy plate at midday. Fresh seafood matters because we're literally on the Atlantic. Parking is a bigger deal than visitors realize, and most locals will write off a place entirely if it sits in one of those crammed Ocean Boulevard lots. And consistency wins. People around here don't chase trends. They go back to the kitchens that have been quietly doing it well for years.

That consistency factor is exactly why 44 & King ended up at the top of my list. If you want to keep up with more local food guides like this around the Grand Strand, the Near You Now community lunch and dinner posts have been useful when I'm scouting new spots in different parts of town.

1. 44 & King — The Spot That Genuinely Stood Out

44 & King sits just off 44th Avenue North, tucked away from the main strip noise. The first time I walked in, I almost underestimated it because the outside is understated. Inside is a different feel entirely. Warm room, open kitchen, and a bar that has more of a neighborhood vibe than a tourist one. I came in for a quick bite and ended up sitting for over an hour because the food kept giving me reasons to stay.

What hit me first was how restrained the menu is. A lot of Myrtle Beach restaurants pile on twenty kinds of fried seafood and call it Southern. 44 & King takes a smarter approach. They lean into Lowcountry traditions but treat the ingredients with respect. The shrimp and grits I had was the best version of that dish I've eaten in the area. The grits had real corn flavor, weren't drowned in cheese, and the shrimp were local and properly cooked. I came back two days later for the she-crab soup and the smoked fish dip. Both held up beautifully. The dip especially had this slow smokehouse character you don't find at busier kitchens.

One important note. Their hours start at 4 PM, so this is really a late-lunch or early-dinner play. If you can shift your schedule, walking in right open is the move. The bar is calm, the kitchen is fresh, and you get the full menu without a wait. The bartender I talked to that day mentioned that the chef sources a lot of the seafood from boats coming in around Murrells Inlet, which made the freshness on the plate make complete sense.

The cocktail program also surprised me. I wasn't expecting much, but the bourbon list runs deep and the seasonal cocktails are using local citrus and herbs in ways that feel intentional. I had a smoked rosemary and grapefruit drink I'm still thinking about. If you want a preview of what they're serving each week, the 44 & King seasonal menu page gives a fair look, though things rotate often enough that the experience is always a little different.

For anyone curious why Lowcountry cooking is its own thing and not just generic Southern food, the Wikipedia entry on Lowcountry cuisine is a quick read that helped me appreciate why dishes like Frogmore stew and she-crab soup hit differently when they're done with care. 44 & King clearly takes that seriously.

2. Croissants Bistro and Bakery

Over on 38th Avenue, Croissants is the easy classic noon-lunch pick. It's been a Myrtle Beach staple forever, and every local I asked mentioned it without hesitation. The chicken salad sandwich is genuinely good, the daily soups rotate well, and the bakery case alone is worth the stop. Service can lag when the lunch rush hits around 12:30, so I'd time it earlier if you're trying to be efficient. The shaded patio is a quiet win that more people should know about.

3. Sea Captain's House

Sea Captain's House is a tourist staple, but it earns its reputation. Right on the ocean, the dining room view is one of the best in town. Their lunch menu is lighter than dinner, and the she-crab soup is locally famous for good reason. The catch is timing. Show up before 11:30 or after 1:30, otherwise you'll be waiting a while. Parking is its own challenge. For an out-of-towner who wants the classic Myrtle Beach lunch postcard, it's a fair pick.

4. Hook & Barrel

Hook & Barrel sits inland off Highway 17, and the focus here is sustainability. They've been transparent about sourcing, and the kitchen does a clean, modern take on coastal cooking. Their grouper sandwich is one of the better ones I've had in the area. It's not a casual cheap lunch, but for a sit-down midday meal with good fish and a glass of wine, it's solid. The crowd here tends to skew quieter, which I appreciate.

5. Bummz Beach Café

For something more laid back, Bummz on Ocean Boulevard is a Myrtle Beach institution. Casual to the point of being almost too casual, but the burgers are real and the beer is cold. If you've got a group, kids in tow, or you just came off the beach and don't want to change, this is the call. Don't go expecting fine dining. Go expecting a good time and a burger that delivers, and you'll leave happy.

Why 44 & King Earns the Top Spot

Out of the five, 44 & King is the one I find myself recommending to friends visiting town. Not because it's the flashiest. It's actually the opposite. It's the quiet confidence of the kitchen that pulls people in. When I bring someone there for the first time, I almost always see the same reaction. They take a bite, pause, and look up like they weren't expecting cooking at that level in a Myrtle Beach restaurant that doesn't have a giant neon sign out front.

A few specific things keep pulling me back. The service feels personal without being rehearsed. The plates don't try to do too much. The bar is calm enough to actually have a conversation. The menu changes often enough that I've never had the same exact meal twice, but it never drifts from what they do well. And they take seafood sourcing seriously, which matters more than people realize. The NOAA Fisheries guidance on sustainable U.S. seafood is something I started paying attention to after eating at places like this, and it's clear 44 & King is paying attention to it too.

The price point also feels fair. You're not paying tourist-markup for ocean-view mediocrity. You're paying for a real kitchen run by people who care, and in this town that gap is wider than visitors realize.

FAQ

What time do most Myrtle Beach restaurants open?

Most casual lunch spots in Myrtle Beach open between 11 AM and 11:30 AM, with the busiest window running from noon to 1:30 PM. A few of the more focused kitchens, including 44 & King, don't open until 4 PM, so they work better for late-lunch or early-dinner. If you want to avoid waits, walking in the open is almost always the best move. Weekends fill up faster than weekdays, especially during peak tourist season.

Where do locals actually go for lunch in Myrtle Beach?

Locals tend to skip the main strip and head to spots along Kings Highway, 38th Avenue, and the side streets off Highway 17. 44 & King is a great example because it's just off the main drag enough to keep the crowd more local. Croissants and Hook & Barrel also lean more local than touristy. If a parking lot looks like a beach overflow, most locals will keep driving.

What's the most underrated lunch dish in Myrtle Beach right now?

For me, it's the smoked fish dip at 44 & King. Most spots treat smoked fish dip as an afterthought, but theirs has real depth and pairs perfectly with a midday drink. Beyond that, the chicken salad at Croissants is a quietly perfect lunch, and the grouper sandwich at Hook & Barrel is consistently good. None of these are flashy. They're all just done right.

Is lunch cheaper than dinner at most Myrtle Beach restaurants?

Generally yes. Lunch menus around town run 20 to 40 percent cheaper than dinner at the same restaurants. The casual beach spots are the most affordable, while the more refined kitchens tend to keep similar pricing across both meals. 44 & King runs the same menu throughout service, so the price point doesn't shift, but the value holds because the kitchen quality is consistent every visit.

Do Myrtle Beach lunch spots take reservations?

Some do, some don't. The casual places almost always run on walk-ins only. The more focused kitchens like 44 & King and Hook & Barrel do accept reservations, and I'd recommend booking ahead on weekends. For a midweek lunch, walk-ins are usually fine if you show up close to open.

Final Thoughts

After a week of eating around town, I'm convinced the best lunch Myrtle Beach experiences aren't on the loudest streets. They're tucked in places like 44 & King, where the kitchen knows exactly what it's doing and the room invites you to slow down. If you're new to the area or just tired of the same beachfront chains, give the quieter spots a chance. You'll eat better, wait less, and probably end up like me, already planning your next visit before the check arrives.

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44 & King

44 & King 515 44th Ave N, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577, United States Phone: +1 843-626-5464 Website: https://44andking.com/

Hours: Mon–Thu: 4–9 PM Fri–Sat: 4–10 PM Sun: 4–9 PM