Local restaurateur opens new Myrtle Beach Tex-Mex grill in former Anchor Bar spot

A new restaurant serving Mexican and Tex-Mex cuisine has opened in Myrtle Beach.

El Patron Mexican Bar & Grill, located at 6401 North Kings Highway in the former Anchor Bar building, offers housemade Mexican dishes, cocktails and a vibrant interior.

The restaurant, which opened last week, is owned by local restaurateur Oscar Guerra, who also owns Don Chemas Mexican Restaurant in North Myrtle Beach. El Patron Mexican Bar & Grill features several favorite dishes and cocktails from Don Chemas Mexican Restaurant while also expanding the menu and curating a new ambience.

“Whether they’re in Cherry Grove or Myrtle Beach, the ones living on the south end don’t have to travel as far to get good quality Mexican food or delicious drinks,” Elizabeth Rodriguez, general manager and director of operations and development for El Patron Mexican Bar & Grill, said.

The 293-seat restaurant is covered in custom-made artwork that was imported from Mexico, from paintings on the walls to the restaurant’s tables and booths. Various depictions of life in Mexican cities greet diners as they sit down to eat, with each of the tables offering different artwork.

On the menu, El Patron Mexican Bar & Grill serves Mexican and Tex-Mex dishes, including fajitas, chimichangas and burritos, as well as steaks and seafood plates.

The restaurant also offers specialty cocktails, such as the “Cherry Grove Margarita” made with 1800 coconut tequila, blue curaçao, triple sec and pineapple juice.

“As long as we have support from locals, and even the tourists coming in, we’re going to continue to grow,” Rodriguez said.