Hungry at the beach? Here are some family friendly eats in Myrtle Beach this July 4th

Rolling into Myrtle Beach for the Fourth with a car full of sandy kids and empty stomachs? Good news: the Grand Strand has been feeding hungry families straight off the sand for nearly 90 years, and this summer there are a few new spots worth working into the rotation.

Here’s your cheat sheet — a mix of the classic hot dog and burger stands that are quintessential Myrtle Beach, plus a handful of newer places that are open and ready for the holiday crowd. Flip-flops welcome. Sunburn optional.

The boardwalk icons

If you hit only one spot on your trip, make it Peaches Corner at 900 N. Ocean Blvd. Named after “Momma Peach” Justice, Peaches opened in 1937 — a year before Myrtle Beach was even incorporated as a town — and 86 years later, not much has changed. The sliding glass doors open right onto the strip, bar stools line the grill, and short-order cooks are still slinging foot-long hot dogs, sizzling burgers and cold drinks while cars and bikes cruise the boulevard outside.

For kids, it’s basically edutainment. They get a foot-long dog, you get a burger, and everyone gets front-row seats to the parade of humanity that is Ocean Boulevard in July. Peaches sits between two other beach landmarks — the Fun Plaza Arcade (1938) and The Bowery (1944) — so you can turn lunch into an afternoon.

Best view on the beach

Up in North Myrtle Beach, Harold’s On the Ocean — locals just call it HOTO’s — bills itself as having “the best view on the beach,” and it’s hard to argue. The wraparound back porch at 100 Main St. looks out over miles of sand and the Atlantic beyond, which makes it a perfect landing spot when the kids need shade, and you need to sit down.

“Frozen drinks are a huge seller,” manager Kim Shelton said. “People come in off the beach, go get a drink, sit down, and they are in the shade watching the beach and enjoying it.”

HOTO’s is best known for burgers and tacos, but there’s a full menu with seafood too. Live music plays every night except Thursday, so families who arrive in the late afternoon often stay right through dinner.

Hamburger heaven in Surfside

If your beach base is south of Myrtle proper, River City Cafe is your kid-approved answer. The Surfside Beach location at 11 N. Seaside Dr. sits right on the beachfront — a short boardwalk stroll gets you from your umbrella to a basket of roasted peanuts. Yes, you can toss the shells on the floor. Yes, the kids will lose their minds over it.

The walls are covered in license plates donated from all over the country (surprise entertainment for restless little ones), and the burgers have won awards from just about every local publication. There are six River City locations across the Grand Strand, so you’re rarely far from one.

The classic hot dog stand down south

Down in Garden City Beach, Sam’s Corner at 101 Atlantic Ave. is THE definitive hot dog stand on the South end. The late Sam Baker opened the place on Easter weekend 1976, and it’s still run by the Baker family. It retains that classic vibe with bar stools overlooking the short-order grill and tributes to its long history lining the walls.

Footlong hot dogs “all the way” — chili, mustard and onions — are the signature dish, but the pimento cheese burger has a devoted following too.

Right around the corner, the Garden City Pavilion Arcade and GiGi’s Grill (open since 1969) offer Ski-ball and grill food under one roof — a great rainy-afternoon plan B.

Where the smashburger fans go

If your family’s tastes lean a little more Instagram than nostalgia, the Grand Strand’s smashburger scene is having a serious moment. Thin patties pressed flat on a hot griddle, crispy edges, juicy middle — you know the drill.

A few family-friendly picks that are already open:

• Hippie Hen House in Murrells Inlet, 3256 S. Highway 17, has eight smashburgers on the menu, including a Brady Bunch Burger topped with an over-easy egg, bacon and bacon jam. Kids who like breakfast for dinner will approve.
• Hamburger Joe’s is old-school and unfussy — order “all the way” for slaw, chili and onions. The North Myrtle Beach location at 712 48th Ave. S. is cash only, so hit the ATM first. The Surfside Beach spot at 1410 U.S. 17 Business takes cards.
• Sizzle and Smash at 4011 Highway 17 S. in North Myrtle Beach offers 10 burgers and a side of smashed fries. Simple, tasty, kid-friendly.
• Burger Social at 4018 Highway 17 S. in North Myrtle Beach goes bigger — think The Mormon (pastrami, Swiss and sauerkraut) or the PB&J (crunchy peanut butter and habanero blackberry jam). Adventurous teens, this one’s for you.
• Blueberry’s, with locations at 7931 N. Kings Highway and 4856 Highway 17 South, elevates comfort food with things like a Porcini & Truffle Smash Burger.

For the after-fireworks crowd

Once the kids finally crash back at the hotel, parents looking for a late bite have a brand-new option downtown. Big Dave’s Chews & Brews, at 400 Mr. Joe White Ave., just opened in the former Dagwood’s Deli and Bumstead’s Pub spot — a downtown hangout since 1988 that closed last August.

Owner Dave Goodbread, who spent 15 years managing other restaurants, packed the place with 40 TVs, a 100-inch big screen, dart machines and pool tables. The kitchen serves until 1 a.m. and the bar stays open until 2.

“I wanted to create an affordable, fun and safe spot, where (people) can sit at the bar and talk with friends and order late-night food,” Goodbread said.

It’s a short walk from Ocean Boulevard, so it’s an easy nightcap on a fireworks-and-boardwalk evening.

A few newer spots worth trying

If you want to mix in something beyond burgers, a wave of new places opened this May. OD Taco Co. is up and running at the former Fenway Grill on Main Street in North Myrtle Beach, with a walk-up window and beer garden.

A second PrimoHoagies opened at Farrow Commons, 3630 Walton Drive, Unit A5. Hoagies travel well to the beach.

Rebel Bar at 7718 N. Kings Highway calls itself an elevated dive bar, with sushi, tacos, burgers, street corn nachos and weekend brunch that includes a breakfast sushi roll with bananas, bacon and walnuts dipped in pancake batter and fried. It’s more of a parents’ night spot out than a stroller stop.

And up in Little River, Steve Martin’s expanded Mako’s Marina Bar N Grill now has a tiki bar over the water where you can sit and watch the boats pass by on the Intracoastal Waterway.

Pack the sunscreen. Grab the napkins. The Grand Strand’s ready.

The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The source reporting referenced above was written and edited entirely by journalists.