9 Best Restaurants in Myrtle Beach, Myrtle Beach and the Grand Strand

The windowed porch overlooking the ocean houses the best seats at this nautical-themed restaurant in a 1930s beach cottage (unless it's a perfect spring or fall day to sit outside in the ocean breeze). Menu highlights include sautéed crab cakes and jambalaya; it's the rare Myrtle Beach seafood restaurant that offers vegetarian and gluten-free menus. The fireplace inside the wood-panel dining room is a warm welcome on cool off-season evenings. Breads and desserts are baked on the premises; save room for a slice of cheesecake du jour.

Cut, trimmed, and seasoned to order, steaks sizzle on their way to the tables and then melt in your mouth at this Italian-style steak house. Pasta is served up on the daily Italian buffet, featuring standard favorites such as spaghetti, meatballs, lasagna, and tortellini Alfredo. A tableside magic show is performed Tuesday through Saturday. If you visit one all-you-can-eat buffet in Myrtle Beach, there's a strong case for Angelo's.

Comic-strip characters Dagwood and Blondie could split one of the masterful meat-packed sandwiches at Dagwood's Deli, where locals line up on their lunch break. There are the usual suspects—ham, turkey, and homemade chicken salad—but you won't regret trying one of the more distinctive creations like the Hogpound, pork tenderloin doused in melted Swiss and provolone. Salads and burgers round out the menu, and the restaurant delivers to most of Myrtle Beach. Dagwood's also has a sports-bar location in Surfside Beach. After dinner, stop next door in Myrtle Beach to Bumsteads Pub.

Owner Laura Smith is legendary in Myrtle Beach for her sushi artistry. In addition to sushi masterpieces, she creates a slew of authentic Thai noodle dishes and signature seafood creations like Coco Shrimp and jumbo soft-shell crabs. Inside, the sleek eatery is more metro than its Myrtle Beach peers. A sister location is located in Pawleys Island.

If you're a hungry hippo, then slide a stool over to a maximo plate of nachos at this hip corner cantina in three locations: the Market Common, North Myrtle Beach, and inside the airport. It's bold, fresh, and fun—from the funky wall and ceiling decor to the creative Mexican dishes. Wee hungry hippos will be happy with Hungry Hippo games available at the hostess station.

It's all about family at Villa Romana, where owners Rinaldo and Franca come in early to make the gnocchi and stick around to greet customers. It's hard to resist filling up on the stracciatella (Italian egg-drop) soup, bruschetta, salad, and rolls (perhaps the best on the Strand) that accompany every meal, but try.