Soul Food in Myrtle Beach: 3 Best Restaurants for Fried Chicken and More

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Myrtle Beach, SC, has a diverse food scene that showcases the best of southern cuisine. The city is particularly known for its delicious soul food offerings, which are deeply rooted in African American culinary traditions. 

Soul food in Myrtle Beach includes classic dishes such as fried chicken, collard greens, mac and cheese, and more. 

On our quest for authentic food specialties in South Carolina, we savored many unique specialties at amazing southern restaurants in Myrtle Beach.

For the best Southern hospitality and traditional soul food in Myrtle Beach, here are our favorite top restaurants.

Use this guide to the best soul food restaurants in Myrtle Beach for authentic and traditional southern specialties.

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What Is Soul Food?

Fried Chicken Soul Food In Myrtle Beach by Authentic Food Quest
Fried chicken is an iconic soul food cuisine dish

Soul food originated in the southern United States and includes hearty, flavorful dishes that are often made with inexpensive ingredients and slow-cooked to perfection. 

The most popular soul food is the classic deep-fried chicken. Other staples of this cuisine include macaroni and cheese, collard greens, black-eyed peas, cornbread, and sweet potato pie. 

What is the Difference between Soul Food and Southern Food?

Shrimps and Grits Hominy Grill Best Restaurant in Florence South Carolina Soul Food Myrtle Beach
by Authentic Food Quest
Shrimp & Grits, a Southern’s favorite

Soul food is closely associated with African American culture and originated during the era of slavery. 

Southern cuisine, on the other hand, includes a wider range of dishes and ingredients that vary by region, such as biscuits and gravy, shrimp and grits, and barbecue. 

Best Southern Restaurants in Myrtle Beach Map

Find the top-rated restaurants in Myrtle Beach that specialize in the regional cuisines. From fried chicken to collard greens to She Crab soup, these spots offer authentic flavors and unforgettable dining experiences. 

Join us on a culinary journey through the best southern cuisine in Myrtle Beach!

AUTHENTIC FOOD QUEST TIP: While in Myrtle Beach, we stayed at Island Vista Resort, a 4-star hotel with amazing ocean views.  Enjoy spacious rooms and easy access to the beach and boardwalk. Relish beautiful sunsets and sunrises over the ocean from your balcony. 

Best Southern Restaurants in Myrtle Beach

1. Big Mike’s Soul Food – One of the Top Soul Food Eateries in the U.S.

Big Mike's Soul Food Best Soul Food Dishes by Authentic Food Quest
Inviting entrance to Big Mike’s Soul Food in Myrtle Beach

This family-owned local eatery has been named one of the top soul food eateries in the country

A local favorite, soul food dishes like fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, biscuits, rice, and gravy keep people coming back.

The first indication that you’re going to be well-fed is right on the door as you walk into Big Mike’s Soul Food

The huge lettering on the door “Soul Food the Way Yo Mama Made It” had us salivating right away. 

Big Mike’s Soul Food Menu

Blue Plate Specials at Big Mike's Soul Food for Best Southern Comfort Foods by Authentic Food Quest
Find the daily specials on the dry-erase board

The first place to check when you get to Big Mike’s is the white dry-erase board that lists their daily specials. 

If you aren’t immediately drawn to the day’s traditional soul food offerings, their regular menu offers much more.  

You’ll find satisfying starters, soups and salads, sandwiches, and chicken or seafood baskets served with fries, hushpuppies, and coleslaw.

Big Mike’s Soul Food Daily Specials

Fried Chicken Big Mike's Soul Food for Best Southern Comfort Foods soul food in myrtle beach by Authentic Food Quest
Plateful of Soul Food classics at Big Mike’s

As we got seated in this homey soul food restaurant with red checkered plastic tablecloths, our waitress pushed the floor-standing whiteboard specials menu toward our table.

The first thing that caught our eyes was the “Meat and Three” Blue Plate special. With this, you can choose one meat, three sides, and cornbread.

We learned that blue plate specials date back to the first half of the 20th century, offering blue-collar workers home cooking at a low price. 

Also attractive to restaurants, these specials allowed cooks to use food surplus or get rid of food stocks on the verge of going bad.

AUTHENTIC FOOD QUEST TIPS: Get more from your stay in Myrtle Beach as you explore the ocean and nearby areas. Depending on how active you want to be, consider any of the tours below.

Surf Lessons – Enjoy Myrtle Beach in the sun with surfing lessons for all skill levels

Myrtle Beach History on a Trolly Tour – Spend 2+ hours on a historic tram exploring the city’s rich music and movie history 

Segway Tour – Outdoor enthusiasts will love exploring nature and wildlife in on a 2-hour segway tour around Huntington Beach State Park in Myrtle Beach

Favorite Soul Food Dishes At Big Mike’s

Big Mikes Soul Food Restaurants In Myrtle Beach by Authentic Food Quest
You can’t go wrong with tasty fried chicken at Big Mike’s

While looking over the menu, we glanced at the tables around us and noticed the huge portions of food. 

With that, we decided to share a meal and ordered the “blue plate special” with an additional side of meat.

We chose fried chicken and chicken bog, along with the typical soul food sides of macaroni and cheese, collard greens, and fried okra. A piece of cornbread completed the plate.

  • Best Fried Chicken in Myrtle Beach: Fried chicken at Big Mike’s is a specialty and the star of Southern soul food. And at  Big Mike’s, the fried chicken is done just right. The bone-in chicken is battered and fried in oil, resulting in textures and flavors that work in perfect harmony.  Once you taste it, you’ll quickly understand why it is known as the best-fried chicken in Myrtle Beach.
  • Chicken Bog – A South Carolina Tradition: One meat that surprised us was Chicken Bog, a food we had never heard of before and couldn’t wait to taste. Chicken bog is a comfort food dish made with chicken, rice, and sausage. At Big Mike’s Soul Food, the chicken bog was perfectly seasoned. The rice and shredded chicken were full of flavor, and the bites of sausage added a unique texture and taste. This popular South Carolina food quickly became a favorite.

Best Soul Food Sides at Big Mike’s

Corn Bread Fried Okra Mac & Cheese at Big Mike's myrtle beach Soul Food by Authentic Food Quest.
Spotlight on the mac & cheese, cornbread and fried okra
  • Macaroni and cheese: this popular American comfort food is an incredible side dish at Big Mike’s. Elbow macaroni layered with creamy cheese wrapped in Big Mike’s soul food love. Each bite was heavenly.
  • Fried okra, a beloved staple in the south: it was crispy and fluffy with little hints of green peering through. We enjoyed fried okra best with a few drops of vinegar and hot sauce.

A moist piece of cornbread completed our meal. And at Big Mike’s, the cornbread is perfect for sopping up all the flavors of the Blue Plate Special.

Where To Eat The Best Soul Food in Myrtle Beach

Big Mike’s Soul Food Myrtle Beach Soul Food by Authentic Food Quest
Big Mike’s proudly showcases its award and press feature

Big Mike describes soul food as “any food that is cooked with love and passion, and it’s got to be fried and seasoned just right.”

When you eat at Big Mike’s, you taste the love in the cooking. In the cozy environment full of Southern hospitality, get ready to enjoy Southern soul food at its best.

Go for lunch and enjoy the “Blue Plate Special.” Affordably priced at $13.25 for one meat, three sides, and cornbread, don’t miss this soul food gem in Myrtle Beach.

Big Mike’s Soul Food

Address: 504 16th Ave North, Myrtle Beach, SC

Hours: Open Mon-Sat,11:00 am – 9:00 pm, Closed Sunday

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Other Restaurants in Myrtle Beach For Southern Food

While Big Mike’s in Myrtle Beach stands out as the Soul Food eatery, there are a couple of other restaurants to consider for Southern food.

2. Back Home BBQ – Southern Foods Buffet Style

Prosser's BBQ Lunch Buffet Best Southern Comfort Foods soul food in myrtle beach by Authentic Food Quest
People line up early to get the best of the buffet

Back Home BBQ, formerly Prossers BBQ, is one of the best places in Myrtle Beach to enjoy Southern cooking. 

Although you can order off a menu, the main attraction is their large country buffet filled with Southern comfort foods. 

Buffet-style Low Country Dishes

Prosser's BBQ Lunch Buffet Best Southern Comfort Foods Soul Food Myrtle Beach by Authentic Food Quest
The buffet also features a full salad bar with the low country offering

The country-cooking buffet offers a bounty of Lowcountry dishes. Lowcountry food traditionally refers to the food made in the coastal regions of South Carolina and Georgia.

Back Home BBQ offers pulled pork, BBQ ribs and chicken, fried fish, fried chicken, fried pork chops, fried oysters, shrimp, flounder, and more. 

Sides such as collard greens, green beans, candied yams, and other vegetables are plentiful. They also have a full salad bar with potato salad, cole slaw, and crab salad. 

Favorite Southern Dishes At Back Home BBQ

Soul Food Plate Prosser's BBQ Best Southern Comfort Foods by Authentic Food Quest
Delightful mix of Southern comfort foods

The following are some of the favorite dishes at Back Home BBQ.

  • Pulled Pork: Choosing the food from the buffet, we recommend starting with a Southern-style BBQ favorite – the pulled pork. Slow-cooked and smoked over flavorful hickory coals, the tender pulled pork is served with a traditional vinegar-based sauce.
  • Sweet Potato Pie: Southerners love sweet potatoes. Sweet potato pie, a traditional comfort food, can be eaten as a side dish or a dessert. It’s a great add for a sweet contrast to the savory pork. 
  • Peach Cobbler: Save room for dessert! Back Home BBQ’s peach cobbler is a thick layer of juicy, sugary peaches sandwiched between a sweet, crumbly, buttery dough. This beloved comfort food is served warm, and you can add ice cream or whipped cream for a cool contrast. Their banana pudding is also quite popular. 
  • Southern Sweet Tea: The perfect drink to go with our hearty Lowcountry dishes, sweet tea is a staple in Southern cuisine. The refreshing, sweetened iced tea commonly includes a lot of sugar and sometimes sliced lemons to add a touch of tartness.

Best Place to Eat Southern Comfort Foods in Myrtle Beach and Murrells Inlet

Back Home BBQ Soul Food In Myrtle Beach by Authentic Food Quest
A go-to spot for comfort foods in Myrtle Beach – Photo credit: Back Home BBQ on Facebook

With so many delicious Southern comfort foods to offer, Back Home BBQ is a must eat place on the Grand Strand near Myrtle Beach SC. 

They bring home cooking to your table with traditional, tasty, Southern dishes. 

The restaurant is also very affordable. With an all-you-can-eat lunch buffet for $10.50, go early and with an empty stomach.

Back Home BBQ 

Address: 3750 US-17 BUS, Murrells Inlet, SC

Hours: Tues – Wed; 11:00 am – 8:00 pm; Thur – Sat; 7:30 am – 8:00 pm; Sun; 7:30 am – 3:00 pm. Closed on Mondays.

3. Hook & Barrel – Low Country Cooking in Myrtle Beach

Hook And Barrel Steam Gallery soul food restaurants in myrtle beach by Authentic Food Quest
Seafood dishes are prepared in front of our eyes from the “Steam Gallery”

Hook & Barrel in Myrtle Beach SC is dedicated to sustainable seafood dishes and local produce in an eco-friendly restaurant.

Owner Heidi Vukov is recognized as a South Carolina Chef Ambassador. She tells the remarkable story of South Carolina’s food heritage through cooking demonstrations, educational activities, and dishes created in the restaurant. 

She is also the author of the popular cookbook “Bonjour, Y’all”, featuring her European heritage and Southern fusion recipes.

Hook & Barrel Menu

Hook & Barrel Menu Soul Food Myrtle Beach by Authentic Food Quest
A diverse menu for the seafood lovers

Hook & Barrel’s menu offers plentiful options for the fresh seafood lover. 

You’ll find enticing dishes such as Golden Spiced Tuna, Flounder Etouffee, Smoked Shrimp and Grits, and Blackened Salmon. 

Beyond seafood, you’ll also find a delicious selection of beef, chicken, pork, and salads.

Favorite Low Country Seafood Dishes At Hook & Barrel

Hook And Barrel She Crab Soup Oyster Stew  Best Food South Carolina Soul Food Myrtle Beach by Authentic Food Quest
She Crab Soup & Oyster stew, two local and popular soups

Seated across from the open “Steam Gallery,” we watched two chefs work harmoniously to prepare the seafood dishes. 

Mussels were shucked and chilled, shrimp cocktail appetizers and seafood towers were assembled. This is also where the oyster stew and popular Charleston She Crab Soup were prepared.

We made our selections and anticipated the flavors. From fresh oysters in their shells to crab cake sliders, oyster stew, She Crab soup, and fish bites, we savored the incredible tastes of local and sustainable seafood.

  • She Crab Soup: the rich and creamy She-Crab Soup was absolutely delightful. This South Carolina specialty is made with heavy cream, fish stock, sherry, and blue crab meat for a savory, bisque-like appetizer. 
  • Roasted Oysters: the Oysters Ala Heidi were another highlight of the meal. Stuffed with bacon, spinach, onions, mascarpone, sambuca, and a tarragon hollandaise, these are not your ordinary oysters. 
  • Smoked Shrimp & Grits: shrimp and grits is a staple in southern food. This version, made with andouille sausage, tri-colored peppers, and smoked tomato broth, was the ideal combination of creamy and smoky. 

Best Restaurant For Low Country Cooking in Myrtle Beach

Hook & Barrel Soul Food Myrtle Beach by Authentic Food Quest
Enjoy Low country cooking at Hook & Barrel – Photo credit: Hook & Barrel on Facebook

Delicious food aside, we love that Hook & Barrel is committed to reducing their environmental impact. 

From using the trees that were cut down from their lot to using unbreakable dinnerware and eco-friendly “paper” products, they make every effort in the name of sustainability. 

Hook & Barrel

Address: 8014 N. Kings Hwy., Myrtle Beach, SC

Hours: Mon- Thur; 4:00 pm – 9:00 pm; Fri – Sat; 4:00 pm – 9:30 pm. Closed Sunday.

READ MORE: The 10 Best Charleston Food Tours To Taste Southern Cuisine

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In Summary

When you want soul food in Myrtle Beach, these three restaurants offer a taste of Southern cooking and provide a unique dining experience for locals and tourists alike.

Whether you choose Big Mike’s meat and three, Back Home BBQ’s fried fish or bbq ribs, or the incredibly fresh seafood at Hook & Barrel, you’ll get a taste of good comfort food that will leave you wanting more. 

What’s your favorite Soul Food or Southern comfort food? Please tell us in the comments below.

Savor The Adventure!

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Soul Food in Myrtle Beach by Authentic Food Quest

Disclosure: Our time in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina was in partnership with Discover South Carolina Tourism All views and opinions expressed are our own. Full bellies and happy taste buds too!

24 Comments on “Soul Food in Myrtle Beach: 3 Best Restaurants for Fried Chicken and More”

  1. I love the sound and look of every dish. You’d have to be working hard labor to keep up with these calories though!! Nice to hear that sharing a plate is acceptable. I hate wasting that delicious kind of food. Thanks for the culinary tour too.

    Reply
    • Thanks Elaine, and glad you enjoyed the article. Sharing the meals was the only way to make it through the delicious eats in South Carolina 🙂 Lots of delicious Southern delicacies for sure. Worth visiting for food, if you haven’t been recently. Thanks for stopping by!

      Reply
  2. Ohhhhh, soul food! Even the name is comforting. Huge fan of fried chicken, mac ‘n cheese and okra. I haven’t heard of chicken bog before, it sounds really yummy and I will for sure try it when I’m in town next.

    Reply
  3. They all look so delicious. I haven’t tasted any of them but they look similar in texture to the local food we have here. This post gives a great idea about the different kinds of comfort food.

    Reply
  4. I love fried chicken. It’s definitely one of my comfort food. Fried Chicken at Big Mike makes my mouth water. I’ve always known that fried chicken is part of the culinary fabric of America, but yet to try the real deal! You know, not many people like okra because they’re a bit slimy. But I love them. I’m going to deep fry them next time like the ones at Big Mike. I bet they make a great snack!

    Reply
    • That’s wonderful that you love fried chicken as well. Big Mike and Prosser’s both deliver on this tasty cultural iconic dish. Fried okra does get rid of the slimy texture and yes, they do make an incredible snack. Thanks, Fairuz

      Reply
  5. By reading your post I was thinking about my comfort food. To be honest, I don’t think I have any particular one. But I like having food in a cozy restaurant which has friendly staffs. If I were you I would have chosen fried chicken and rice too.

    Reply
    • Part of the experience of comfort food is eating in a home-like environment. A place that feels like your grandma’s kitchen with simple and delicious food is what it’s all about. The Chicken bog was one of those dishes. Thanks for stopping by.

      Reply
  6. Wow, I love low country food especially in all those local style eateries. I’ve never heard of the bog dish, it does sound very hearty and comfort oriented – no tomato like a creole style dish?

    Reply
    • Thanks Noel and glad to learn you are love low country cuisine. It’s so delicious and comforting 🙂 Looking for Chicken bog, a simple dish worth seeking out. We didn’t run into much tomato based dishes, that might be more of a New Orleans style cuisine.

      Reply
  7. I enjoy a lot of southern food and really enjoy shrimp and grits and cornbread especially. I had some great comfort food in New Orleans and Natchez and this year I had an awesome shrimp and grits in St Augustine Florida. I like the look of the peach cobbler, another delicious southern dish to try!

    Reply
  8. I so wish I was in Myrtle Beach right now instead of the office in London, UK (where I am writing from). For lunch I sure want to try some of the mac & cheese, cornbread and fried okra, that does look mighty tasty for me.

    Reply
  9. My mouth is watering so much reading your post. My parents are both Southerns, so I grew up eating most of these foods. Banana pudding is actually one of my very favorite desserts. I haven’t had chicken bog before, but it sounds amazing. I need to find a recipe and try it out. I totally agree that the sweet tea is crazy sweet in the south. I have a hard time with it as well. Smart to go half and half.

    Reply
    • Lucky you for having grown up with such tasty Southern food all around. Chicken bog was one of our favorite discoveries. This simple and flavorful dish is worth asking your parents to make it for you. True, we needed to cut down on the sugar in the sweet tea. Sharing meals helps alot as well. Thanks, Kathleen.

      Reply
  10. The last time I was in Myrtle Beach was ages ago and I travelled with a smaller child. So you can imagine what we ate!! Although when I saw you started with fried chicken and macaroni and cheese, I know even he could have been happy! It is a good reminder about how big the portions are. We usually do a HAM meal when we travel in the U.S. – “half a meal” – one meal shared for two. That way we could try more of these tasty dishes. Southern BBQ is always a favourite. So glad you had a few suggestions.

    Reply
    • Love that expression “HAM” meal. That’s truly what we had to do with the size of the portions. It’s worth a visit back to Myrtle Beach and enjoy the delightful comfort food. So glad you enjoyed the article and the trip down memory lane. You truly can’t go wrong with mac & cheese. Thanks, Linda.

      Reply

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