Working-waterfront seafood town

Restaurants in
Murrells Inlet

MarshWalk decks, old-school seafood rooms, oyster roasts, she-crab soup, and fresh catch from a village built around the inlet.

What Makes Murrells Inlet Different

Murrells Inlet's dining identity comes from commercial fishing, charter docks, and a long line of seafood restaurants along Business 17. A MarshWalk table buys the sunset and live-music scene; Lee's Inlet Kitchen and Russell's Seafood Grill offer old-school dining away from the busiest boardwalk decks; Hot Fish Club suits a quieter, more polished meal. Ask what is local that day instead of assuming every fish on a coastal menu came through the inlet.

Must-Try Dishes

Lowcountry seafood feast spread
  • Shrimp & Grits — The Lowcountry classic. Creamy stone-ground grits topped with fresh local shrimp, bacon, and a rich tasso ham gravy. Order it at least once.
  • She-Crab Soup — Rich, cream-based crab bisque made with blue crab roe — a true SC delicacy. Warming and deeply savory.
  • Steamed Oysters by the Dozen — Local oysters, steamed in the shell and served with crackers, cocktail sauce, and melted butter. Simple, perfect.
  • Deviled Crab — A Lowcountry blue crab seasoned, shaped, and baked until the top browns. Compare house recipes by crab flavor and seasoning rather than expecting one standard version.
  • Fried Flounder — Whole or filleted, fresh-caught flounder lightly breaded and fried golden. Comes with hush puppies and coleslaw.

Match the table to the night

MarshWalk sunset, old-school seafood, or a quieter dinner

Decide whether the view, a traditional seafood menu, or a calmer full-service meal matters most, then reserve around sunset and live-music crowds.

For a MarshWalk sunset

Wicked Tuna fits sushi, a raw bar, and an elevated inlet view; Drunken Jack's is the more traditional seafood-room choice. Dead Dog Saloon works for a louder casual meal, while The Claw House fits crab pots and a deliberately messy family table. Book or arrive early on summer weekends when a deck table matters.

For old-school seafood

Lee's Inlet Kitchen is the fried-seafood and Lowcountry-staple move without making the boardwalk show the point of dinner. Russell's offers fresh catch and an easier family table away from the densest foot traffic.

For a planned dinner

Hot Fish Club is the best fit for a quieter, more polished night south of the busiest decks. Reserve it when a full sit-down meal matters; use a casual MarshWalk lunch when sunset views are not worth the dinner wait.

Where to eat

Five local restaurants, three different dinner moods

Compare a MarshWalk sunset table at Wicked Tuna or Drunken Jack's with longtime seafood rooms at Lee's Inlet Kitchen and Russell's, then use Hot Fish Club for the more polished dinner.

Special dinner

Hot Fish Club

The strongest fit for a quieter, more polished Lowcountry dinner south of the busiest MarshWalk decks. Choose it for she-crab soup, seafood, and a full sit-down meal; reservations make sense for weekend evenings and special occasions.

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First-night pick

Wicked Tuna

A polished MarshWalk choice for sushi, seafood, a raw bar, and an elevated inlet view. It fits a sunset reservation or mixed group that wants more than fried seafood; summer dinner waits and the livelier waterfront setting are part of the tradeoff.

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After the outing

Drunken Jack's

A longstanding MarshWalk seafood room with hush puppies, she-crab soup, fried platters, and a waterfront deck. It suits families earlier in the evening and visitors seeking the classic boardwalk experience; expect crowds and more noise when live music builds.

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Casual meal

Lee's Inlet Kitchen

An old-school Murrells Inlet dining room known for fried seafood and Lowcountry staples rather than sunset spectacle. It is a dependable family choice when food tradition matters more than a waterfront deck; confirm seasonal hours before building the evening around it.

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Local icon

Russell's Seafood Grill

A local seafood restaurant away from the densest MarshWalk foot traffic, useful for fresh catch, oyster-season meals, and a calmer table. It fits families and fishing-day dinners that do not need nightlife; check current specials and waits before arriving.

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