Growing up in Ontario, Myrtle Beach was one of those classic family road-trip destinations. Coming back as an adult brought back that nostalgia, but this time I experienced the destination through its food. I came home wanting to recreate some of the dishes I couldn't stop thinking about, so these seven recipes are my own takes inspired by what I ate along the way.
Want to taste the originals? Start planning your own food-filled trip with Visit Myrtle Beach, then use these recipes to bring a little Myrtle Beach home with you.
Myrtle Beach-Inspired She-Crab Soup
Inspired by Sea Captain's House, Myrtle Beach
Few restaurants feel as connected to Myrtle Beach as Sea Captain's House. Its oceanfront building began as a private beach cottage in 1930 before becoming a restaurant in 1962, and more than six decades later, it remains a local institution for coastal Carolina cooking and Atlantic views.
Its award-winning She-Crab Soup is one of the signatures. Rich, velvety and finished with sherry, it's exactly the kind of comforting seafood dish that tastes like it belongs beside the ocean. My version takes inspiration from those flavours with plenty of crab and a creamy base you can recreate at home.
MAKE IT: Myrtle Beach-Inspired She-Crab Soup
Carolina-Style Crab Cakes
Inspired by Aspen Grille, Myrtle Beach
Aspen Grille shows a more refined side of Myrtle Beach dining, combining Southern hospitality with fresh seafood, locally sourced ingredients, USDA Prime steaks, seasonal dishes and a global wine list. It's polished without losing the warmth that makes dining in the South so memorable.
The crab cake was the dish I wanted to bring home. For my Carolina-inspired version, the goal is to keep the crab front and centre, using just enough binding to hold everything together before cooking until golden outside and tender inside.
MAKE IT: Carolina-Style Crab Cakes
Coastal Ocean Prime
Inspired by Wicked Tuna, Murrells Inlet
Wicked Tuna is known for seafood, sushi and its Hook to Plate philosophy, supported by its own fishing fleet and fish house. It's the kind of waterfront restaurant where you expect the seafood to be the thing you're still talking about after dinner.
Wicked Tuna
But for me, dessert stole the show. The Key lime pie was my favourite dessert of the entire trip. Creamy, tart, refreshing and just sweet enough, it immediately became something I wanted to recreate. My version pairs a crisp crust with a bright, creamy lime filling.
MAKE IT: Coastal Ocean Prime
Sticky Bourbon-Glazed Bacon
Inspired by Hook & Barrel, Myrtle Beach
By the time I arrived at Hook & Barrel, everyone had already told me one thing: order the Bourbon Bacon. That much anticipation can be dangerous, but this was one of those dishes that actually lived up to the hype.
Hook & Barrel is known for its commitment to sustainable seafood, local produce and responsible sourcing, but this dish is pure indulgence. My home version starts with thick-cut bacon coated in a sticky bourbon glaze for that same sweet, smoky and savoury combination.
MAKE IT: Sticky Bourbon-Glazed Bacon
Loaded Brekkie Cereal Bowl
Inspired by Lekker Eats, Myrtle Beach
Lekker Eats brings a fresh, globally influenced approach to the Myrtle Beach breakfast scene. Owner and executive chef Jordan Heyd developed the concept after culinary school in Cape Town and years of travelling and cooking internationally, with a menu built around colourful, from-scratch dishes.
The Brekkie Cereal combines homemade granola with strawberries, banana, blueberries, chia, hemp seeds, bee pollen, toasted coconut and almond milk. My version keeps that combination of fruit, crunch and texture for an easy breakfast you can prep ahead and assemble in minutes.
MAKE IT: Loaded Brekkie Cereal Bowl
East Coast Seafood Roll
Inspired by Rivertown Bistro, Conway
A short trip inland takes you to historic Conway and Rivertown Bistro, where Darren and Cyndi Smith have been part of the local dining scene since 1994. Darren built relationships with nearby farmers, fishermen and artisans long before farm-to-table became restaurant shorthand, and his cooking combines Southern roots with broader culinary influences.
The East Coast Roll was my inspiration here. My home version keeps seafood at the centre, creating something fresh, satisfying and just indulgent enough to make an ordinary lunch feel a little more like vacation.
MAKE IT: East Coast Seafood Roll
Red Velvet Cake Batter Waffles
Inspired by Johnny D's Waffles & Benedicts, Myrtle Beach
Johnny D's combines the comfort of a classic breakfast spot with chef Jamie Daskalis's more playful approach to waffles, Benedicts and scratch-made dishes. Its Red Velvet Waffle is probably the most fun dish in this entire story.
What makes it so interesting is the technique. Jamie developed the waffle by experimenting with cake batter and waffle batter rather than simply flavouring a traditional waffle. My version follows that same inspiration, pairing red velvet richness with crisp waffle edges and finishing everything with cream cheese icing.
MAKE IT: Red Velvet Cake Batter Waffles
A Cocktail Worth Recreating: I Only Smoke When I Drink
The food may get most of the attention in Myrtle Beach, but the cocktail scene deserves a spot at the table too. At O.A.K. Prime Kitchen & Bar, I Only Smoke When I Drink was one of the standout drinks of the trip. It’s the kind of cocktail that turns ordering a drink into part of the experience, with smoky character and a presentation that immediately makes it memorable. It was exactly the sort of drink I wanted to bring home from Myrtle Beach and recreate for cocktail hour.
Bring Myrtle Beach Home
These recipes are my way of bringing some of my favourite Myrtle Beach food memories back to my own kitchen. Make them at home, save the restaurants that inspired them, and when you're ready for the real thing, head south and taste the originals.
Ready for your own Myrtle Beach food trip? Explore more and start planning with Visit Myrtle Beach.
