Complex or classic, these 10 Myrtle Beach area spots are known for hush puppies
Hush puppies are a staple in southern cuisine, often served as a side dish to seafood or a hot appetizer with a variety of butters and sauces.
In the Carolinas, the golden-brown fried cornmeal balls are traditionally served with a side of honey butter that can be spread on their crispy exteriors. The food is known for its soft, warm center and is commonly served in restaurants throughout the Grand Strand.
But some restaurants have set themselves apart with their unique takes on the traditional food, or by simply perfecting the classic.
Here are 10 of the top-rated spots along the Grand Strand dishing up hush puppies that reviewers rave about.
1229 Shine
1229 Shine, 1229 Shine Ave. in Myrtle Beach, is known for adding a little something extra to its hush puppies — green onion, that is. While traditional recipes sometimes include finely chopped sweet onion, the addition of green onion gives these hush puppies a unique flavor.
The seafood restaurant is located in the Market Common, and online reviews often mention the hush puppies with added green onion as the stars of the show. The restaurant has a 4.5 out of five stars rating with more than 740 reviews on Google.
Sea Captain’s House
Sea Captain’s House, 3002 N. Ocean Blvd. in Myrtle Beach, is a popular local seafood spot, and its hush puppies account for a large portion of its praise. In fact, its hush puppies are so popular, the restaurant offers a broken-down version of its famous recipe online for diners to try at home.
The Sea Captain’s House’s hush puppies contain chicken stock, dehydrated onions, and even sugar for a sweet and savory bite. The restaurant has 4.4 stars on Google with over 10,500 reviews.
Big Mike’s Soul Food
Big Mike’s Soul Food, 504 16th Ave. North in Myrtle Beach, is known for its fried southern comfort foods, and its classic hush puppies are considered standouts in the area, according to numerous online reviews.
Often enjoyed with plates of fried chicken and collard greens, the restaurant’s hush puppies steal the spotlight with their crispy coating and fluffy insides. One Google reviewer described the hush puppies as “the best that have ever graced my lips” in a 2024 review. The hush puppies are served with individual containers of honey butter.
Big Mikes has a 4.4-star Google rating with nearly 6,000 reviews.
Nance’s Creek Front Restaurant
Nance’s Creek Front Restaurant, 4883 U.S. 17 Business in Murrells Inlet, receives a good deal of praise not only for its well-made hush puppies, but also for the unique topping they come with. The restaurant compliments the savory fried balls with a sweet maple butter that many reviewers consider a must-try.
Other reviewers recommend dipping the hush puppies in the house tartar sauce.
Nance’s has more than 1,300 reviews on Google with an average 4-star rating.
Drunken Jack’s Restaurant
At Drunken Jack’s Restaurant, 4031 U.S. 17 Business in Murrells Inlet, hush puppies are complimentary, and served with a house-made sweet honey butter. Many reviewers praise the free hush puppies as one of the best menu items, and some of the most delicious hush puppies in the area.
Drunken Jack’s has more than 6,000 reviews and a 4.5-star rating on Google.
Big Chill Island House
Big Chill Island House’s crab hush puppies, 4736 Highway 17 South in North Myrtle Beach, present a unique take on the southern classic, and diners rave about them in online reviews. The hush puppies feature lump crab meat and cornmeal batter that are flash-fried and served with lemon aioli and hot honey butter.
The restaurant is located in Barefoot Landing and has 4.2 stars on Google with roughly 1,000 reviews.
Dead Dog Saloon
Dead Dog Saloon, 4079 U.S. 17 Business in Murrells Inlet, is another spot known for serving complimentary hush puppies with a gooey honey butter. Some reviewers highly recommend pairing the hush puppies with another Carolina classic served there: she-crab soup.
Dead Dog Saloon diners can enjoy waterfront views and live music as they snack on the eatery’s fresh hush puppies.
The saloon has over 9,300 reviews and 4.5 stars on Google.
Chesapeake House
Chesapeake House, 9918 U.S. 17 in Myrtle Beach, receives acclaim for its unique bread basket, containing hush puppies and little cinnamon rolls along with honey butter. The unconventional combination of hush puppies and cinnamon rolls is praised online as a tasty and comforting way to start a meal.
The waterfront fish shack has a bakery on-site that whips up the fresh pastries.
Chesapeake House has roughly 3,000 reviews and 4.3 stars on Google.
Blueberry’s Grill
With locations at 7931 N. Kings Highway in Myrtle Beach and 4856 U.S. 17 in North Myrtle Beach, Blueberry’s Grill’s hush puppies gain attention for an unconventional ingredient that might be easy to guess — blueberries.
Their original blueberry hush puppies are made with blue cornmeal and blueberries, served with warm honey butter and blueberry compote for dipping. The unique take on the southern classic has earned many positive mentions in the restaurant’s reviews.
Blueberry’s Grill has about 9,000 Google reviews across its two locations, with a 4.6-star average rating at both of them.
Marina Bar and Grill at Barefoot Marina
The Marina Bar and Grill, 2051 Bridge View Court in North Myrtle Beach, serves its lauded hush puppies with a twist. Instead of traditional honey butter, diners can indulge in a sweet strawberry honey butter.
The strawberry butter and crispy hush puppies are a crowd favorite in online reviews, and are describes by several diners as “a must” while visiting the area. The casual dining spot also serves up cocktails and seafood with waterfront views and live entertainment.
The restaurant has roughly 650 reviews and 4.4 stars on Google.
