What is Calabash seafood, and who does it best in Myrtle Beach?
When evening rolls around in Myrtle Beach and diners emerge in search of dinner, dozens of neon signs light up with the same two words: Calabash seafood.
For newcomers to the area, the words might not mean much, but to local foodies and restauranteurs, Calabash seafood is a local gem — which grants some local Calabash buffets thousands of five-star reviews. The seafood style is actually named for the nearby North Carolina fishing town it hails from. Calabash, North Carolina, is widely renowned for its fresh-caught seafood, perfectly fried in a crispy coating.
According to Calabash connoisseurs, it’s that coating that sets Calabash seafood apart from your average fried shrimp or clams.
But where can you get real Calabash seafood in Myrtle Beach?
Making seafood the Calabash way
“We got the name ‘Seafood Capital of the World’ with lightly battered, deep-fried, locally-caught seafood,” Kurt Hardee, co-owner of Beck’s Restaurant Calabash said of his town.
Calabash has more than 30 restaurants serving up seafood, despite being a small town with a few thousand residents. The Calabash seafood tradition can be traced back to the 1930s, when fishermen would batter and fry their daily catches at community picnics called “fish camps,” The Sun News previously reported.
Hardee and his sister used to operate Ella’s of Calabash, another Calabash seafood restaurant that burnt down in 2023. But Hardee’s hopes of sharing Calabash seafood with others didn’t go down in flames.
“It’s all I’ve ever known,” he said. “It’s all I’ve ever wanted to do.”
Hardee said that part of what makes Calabash-style seafood so special is that someone comparing it to traditional fried seafood would “absolutely” be able to tell the difference.
“It’s lighter, it doesn’t sit heavy in your stomach,” he said. “You can taste the goodness in it.”
That lightness and crispiness comes from the frying process, he explained. At Beck’s, Hardee said seafood is sprinkled with salt, pepper and a “light dusting of flour” before being quickly fried — for about one to two minutes — at a scalding 350 degrees. Evaporated milk is used to help the batter stick to the seafood.
McKenzie Shaw, a host at Hooks Calabash Seafood Buffet in Myrtle Beach, echoed Hardee’s claims that Calabash seafood isn’t like other fried food. She believes diners can tell the difference “instantly,” just by looking at it.
Shaw said she fell in love with Calabash-style seafood when she started working at Hooks, because it tastes lighter and fresher than other fried seafood.
At Hooks, the kitchen’s frying station is bustling each day as the buffet prepares to open. Up until the moment the doors open to customers, sizzling crab legs, scallops and even frog legs are being pulled from the fryer. They’re all coated in a crispy mixture of buttermilk breading, egg and baking soda, according to managers Seth and Artur Muradian, who share no relation.
The key, Artur Muradian explained, is frying items quickly, so the breading doesn’t become too heavy or oily. Often, this means ensuring each piece of food that goes in the fryer is small enough that it cooks evenly in a short amount of time.
Highest-rated Calabash eateries in Myrtle Beach
Driving through Myrtle Beach, visitors are nearly guaranteed to pass by a few Calabash seafood eateries.
For those looking to get a taste of the lightly battered, deep-fried culinary staple themselves, here are the highest-rated restaurants that report serving seafood fried in the Calabash style.
Captain Benjamin’s
Captain Benjamin’s Calabash Seafood Buffet is one of the highest-rated Myrtle Beach spots to try some Calabash seafood.
With about 32,000 Google reviews coming out to an average 4.6 out of five stars, Captain Benjamin’s has established itself as a local favorite, and claims to be the largest seafood buffet in the city.
Captain Benjamin’s is located at 401 South Kings Highway, and meals there are reported to typically cost between $30 and $50 per person.
Crabby George’s
Crabby George’s Calabash Seafood Buffet is another choice spot frying up Calabash seafood.
The restaurant boasts more than 27,000 reviews on Google, awarding it an average of 4.7 stars.
The pirate-themed eatery offers an all-you-can-eat buffet, as well as a la carte steak and seafood.
Crabby George’s is located at 7904 North Kings Highway, and meals there are reported to cost around $50-$100 per person.
Hooks
Hooks Calabash Seafood Buffet, mentioned above, offers an all-you-can-eat seafood buffet, as well as other menu items.
The restaurant has more than 15,000 reviews and an average of 4.7 stars on Google.
Manager Atrur Muradian said his “secret sauce” keeps diners coming back to the buffet for more.
Hooks is located at 1902 North Kings Highway, and meals there are reported to typically cost $30-$50 per person.
The Original Benjamin’s
The Original Benjamin’s Calabash Seafood claims to be the first restaurant to introduce Calabash-style seafood to Myrtle Beach, and the restaurant’s notoriety has only grown since it opened in 1986.
The restaurant has garnered over 12,000 Google reviews averaging 4.3 stars.
Diners at The Original Benjamin’s move from station to station at the buffet beneath mounted sharks, and among the sails and ropes of ships.
The restaurant is located at 9593 North Kings Highway, and meals there reportedly cost between $50 and $100 each.
Seafood World
Seafood World Calabash Seafood and Steak Buffet is another popular local buffet offering seafood, steak, desserts and more in an ocean-themed atmosphere.
The all-you-can-eat buffet has nearly 34,000 Google reviews, with an average 4.6 star rating.
Seafood World is located at 411 North Kings Highway, and meals there reportedly cost around $50-$100 per person.
