southern cooking in Myrtle Beach

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Big Mike’s Soul Food: Look for the giant surfboard out front, or simply follow your nose to this popular establishment, Located on 16th Avenue North just off Kings Highway, Big Mike’s serves soul food classics for lunch and dinner. Fried chicken and pork chops, meatloaf and mashed potatoes with gravy, mac ‘n’ cheese and collard greens are among the favorites on the meat-and-three menu.

House of Blues: This national chain cooks up some surprisingly down-home meals from the homeland of the blues, including Carolina shrimp and grits, Memphis-style ribs and Louisiana jambalaya. Although the menu also includes healthier fare, the House of Blues is famous for its Southern classics, including a Sunday Gospel Brunch featuring live music and tasty breakfast and lunch favorites.

Magnolia’s at 26th: Ocean Boulevard is lined with hamburger stands and pizza joints, so quality Southern cooking just steps from the beach is a rare find. Located at the cross street of 26th Avenue North, Magnolia’s serves a buffet for three meals a day that packs the house. Smothered steak, fried chicken and rice with gravy are among the top choices, but be sure to save room for the massive dessert table.

Paula Deen’s Family Restaurant: Put some South in your mouth at the Queen of Southern Cuisine’s new restaurant at Broadway at the Beach. Serving three family-style meals a day, Paula Deen’s delivers passing dishes piled high with country classics directly to your table. Her famous fried chicken and country-style steak are among the main courses, with a seemingly endless supply of Southern side dishes. Y’all save some room because the desserts are to die for.

Sea Captain’s House: Southern-style seafood is a long-running tradition for this Myrtle Beach oceanfront institution. Specializing in broiled or deep-fried seafood platters and the signature she-crab soup and shrimp and grits, Sea Captain’s House has a down-home feel and an unbeatable view. The daily breakfast buffet is a great way to start the day, and dessert with a cup of coffee on the veranda is a great way to end it.

Tupelo Honey: This regional chain takes Southern cuisine to the next level with a creative menu that puts a modern twist on traditional country cooking. With an emphasis on fresh, farm-to-table ingredients and improvements on tried-and-true recipes, Tupelo Honey delivers a unique lineup of dishes with a distinct Southern flavor, like the Shoo Mercy Shrimp and Grits or the Sweet Tea Roasted Chicken. Located in nearby Market Common, Tupelo Honey serves breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner.

After filling up at one of these Southern cooking hot spots, head back to North Beach Plantation for some recovery time. It’s a delicious way to enjoy your Myrtle Beach vacation.