Some of the best meals in South Carolina hide behind faded signs, gravel lots, and screen doors you might drive right past. You pull over because you are hungry, and you leave planning your next trip back.
A warm bowl of she-crab soup and a plate of local shrimp can turn an ordinary drive into a memory. Grab your appetite and a full tank of gas, because these spots are worth every winding mile.
1. Seewee Restaurant, Awendaw, SC
Checkered tablecloths, mismatched country decor, and the smell of something frying set the mood the second you step inside. Out on Highway 17, with the Francis Marion National Forest stretching nearby, this rustic spot feels like a family kitchen that happens to serve the public.
Start with a bowl of she-crab soup, then order shrimp grilled Seewee style with a side of fried okra. The combination platter of shrimp, oysters, flounder, and scallops is a favorite, and the scallops here earn plenty of loyal fans.
Southern comfort plates like blackened catfish and chicken fried steak round out the menu.
Service moves fast, and kids get their own menu plus high chairs. Dogs are welcome inside and out, which is rare and charming.
Reservations are not taken, so aim for a weekday lunch if you want to skip the Saturday crowd. Expect to spend about $20 to $30 per person.
2. The Sea Shack, Hilton Head Island, SC
Forget the resort dining rooms. Tucked off the main highway on a quiet side road, this blue-walled counter joint is where island locals actually eat, and the line out front proves it.
Order at the counter, grab a seat, and wait for paper plates piled high. The she-crab soup is the headliner, creamy and loaded with shredded crab meat.
Pair it with a grilled shrimp po boy, fries, and slaw, and you may not need dinner the next day. Popcorn shrimp, conch fritters, frog legs, and a crab cake platter keep repeat visits interesting.
Prices land around $10 to $20 per person, a real bargain for this island. Hours run 11 AM to 3 PM and 5 to 8 PM, Monday through Saturday, closed Sunday.
Evenings get busy fast, so arriving right when doors open at 5 is a smart move. Takeout works well too.
3. Wreck of the Richard & Charlene, Mt Pleasant, SC
Finding it is half the fun. You wind through the quiet residential streets of Old Village Mount Pleasant until Haddrell Street simply ends at the water, and there sits a bare-bones seafood house with creek views.
Nobody comes here for fancy linens. They come for Lowcountry-style fried seafood done right, starting with a cup of she-crab soup and moving on to the shrimp and scallops plate.
Fried flounder, fried green tomatoes, and boiled peanuts fill out the table nicely. Save room, because key lime pie and banana pudding are waiting.
Dinner is the only meal served, Tuesday through Sunday from 5 to 8:30 PM, and Mondays are closed. Reservations are not accepted, so weeknights are easier than weekends.
Budget roughly $20 to $30 per person. Outdoor seating lets you watch the creek glow as the sun drops behind the marsh.
4. Lee’s Inlet Kitchen, Murrells Inlet, SC
Since 1948, families have pulled off US-17 Business into this Murrells Inlet institution for supper. Few seafood houses in the state can match that kind of staying power.
The fried inlet creek shrimp are the reason to make the drive, small, sweet, and wildly addictive. Begin with she-crab soup, and do not skip the hush puppies with homemade honey butter.
Deviled crab is another old-school treasure. If you prefer something grilled, shrimp and scallops over pimento cheese grits make a rich, satisfying plate, and a broiled seafood platter is available too.
A fireplace adds warmth on cool evenings, and the service is attentive without fuss. Hours are Wednesday through Saturday, 4:30 to 9 PM.
Unlike many spots here, reservations are accepted. Kids and seniors get their own menus, and dinners usually run $20 to $40 per person.
5. Hudson’s Seafood House On The Docks, Hilton Head Island, SC
Here is a fun bit of history: the building started life as a seafood factory in 1912, and part of it still processes fish today. Dayboat catches travel only a few steps from the docks to your plate.
At the end of a waterfront lane overlooking Skull Creek, tables spill onto the dock with sweeping views. Order the she-crab soup, then choose between fried shrimp, coconut shrimp, or the shrimp and grits.
Raw oysters on the half shell, a Lowcountry boil, and hush puppies make sharing easy.
The kitchen opens daily, 11 AM to 9 PM most days and 10 AM on Sunday for brunch. Reservations are not taken and evenings typically bring a wait, so stroll the docks while you linger.
Prices hover near $20 to $30 per person. Live music some nights adds even more coastal charm.
6. The Crab Shack, Folly Beach, SC
Buckets. That is the word to remember at this laid-back Folly Beach favorite, where shellfish arrives by the bucketful and napkins disappear quickly.
Getting here means crossing scenic tidal salt marshes to the barrier island, which builds an appetite. The Charleston Steamed Seafood Bucket brings snow crab clusters, large shrimp, and steamed oysters all at once.
Before that, try the she-crab soup, creamy, rich, and almost buttery. Peel-and-eat shrimp, house-made Carolina crab cakes, chilled blue crab dip, and crab-stuffed flounder are also strong choices.
Doors stay open late, until 10 PM most nights and 10:30 PM on Friday and Saturday. Parking can be tricky near Center Street, so plan a few extra minutes to circle.
Expect about $20 to $30 per person, and families will appreciate the kids’ menu. Weekend evenings get lively with live music.
7. Drunken Jack’s Restaurant & Lounge, Murrells Inlet, SC
Ahoy, matey! Pirate decor and nautical flair greet you at this big, multi-level spot perched right on the docks of the Murrells Inlet marsh.
Grab a seat on the lower covered deck for some of the best inlet views around. The famous hushpuppies arrive warm, and they vanish faster than buried treasure.
Low Country she-crab soup is a must, followed by a heaping order of Boom Boom Shrimp with a little kick. Baked stuffed flounder and a triggerfish sandwich are worthy picks, and a salad bar plus a full vegetarian menu please everyone in the crew.
Hours run daily from 11 AM, closing at 9 PM most nights and 9:30 PM on weekends. Reservations are accepted, which helps since a wait is common.
Plates generally cost $20 to $30 per person. Kids get high chairs, changing tables, and their own menu.
8. Ladys Island Dockside, Beaufort, SC
Golden hour over the marsh might be the prettiest side dish on this whole list. Sea Island Parkway carries you across tidal creeks to Lady’s Island, where this nautical-themed waterfront eatery buzzes every evening.
Fried shrimp with sweet cornbread is a classic order here, especially with a glass of southern sweet tea. The she-crab soup is exquisite, smooth and comforting.
Jalapeno hushpuppies bring gentle heat, and fresh oysters and swordfish steak keep seafood lovers happy. For a splurge, twin broiled Maine lobster tails or pan-seared ahi tuna fit the bill.
Doors open daily from 4 to 10 PM, so plan an early supper to catch sunset. No reservations are taken, and Friday and Saturday evenings bring the biggest crowds.
Dogs are welcome, and a full vegetarian menu is offered. Most meals fall between $20 and $30 per person.
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