Taste of home: Where NY, NJ and PA transplants can get iconic food in Myrtle Beach area
The Myrtle Beach area is no doubt a melting pot of different foods and restaurants – offering a little bit of something for everyone.
But there’s something about those familiar dishes from home that sends new residents in search of places that can match, or at least come close, to what they know and love.
Horry County is among the nation’s fastest-growing places and the fastest-growing county in South Carolina.
Contributing to the population growth are residents from New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, which are the top states with the highest relocation to Horry County.
That has resulted in an increase in new restaurants or places which serve dishes that cater to these northern transplants.
Here is where you can find iconic dishes from each state in the Myrtle Beach area.
New York
Pizza. OK, we know that there is a huge debate about New York-style pizza and whether you can really get a good pie along the coast. We’re not jumping into that argument.
What we will offer is a few places where fellow New Yorkers serve up their version of this quintessential food.
- Anto’s Pizza Romana & Italian Market, 1129 3rd Ave. A good New York-style pizza is all about the water and this pizzeria uses a New York Water Maker for its dough. It specializes in pizza by the cut, baked in large rectangular pans.
- River Oaks Pizzeria has two locations, 154 Sapwood Road in Myrtle Beach and 1399 S. Commons Drive near Surfside Beach. These pizza makers’ generation dates back to their father, who in the 1980s started out as a baker in the Little Italy section of the Bronx before opening his own pizzeria, according to its website. It has now expanded to the Myrtle Beach area.
- Gino’s Real NY Pizza. There are four locations of this restaurant that is owned by New Yorkers. You can find it in North Myrtle Beach, Murrells Inlet, Garden City and Carolina Forest in the Myrtle Beach area. The pies are large or you can get it by the slice.
Deli. There are plenty of options for a New York-style deli. Here are some of the top recommended.
- NY Deli, 3901 Dick Pond Road in the Myrtle Beach area. Not only can you get a pastrami and other deli meat sandwiches here, but the deli also offers Hummel Bros and Sabrett hot dogs.
- Kaminsky’s Deli, 7223 N. Kings Highway. The deli has been a neighborhood spot for years. Signature sandwiches include pastrami, salami and corned beef piled high on such breads as rye, sourdough or wheat.
Bagel. It’s hard to find a spot that offers those fresh-baked bagels, but believe us they are out there.
- The Bagel Factory has five locations. The owners are from Staten Island, and offer up fresh, baked bagels daily. They serve 17 types of bagels and specialty cream cheeses to go along with them.
- Bagel Port Cafe & Deli, 9666 N. Kings Highway in Myrtle Beach. This locally-owned shop also offers fresh-baked bagels daily.
New Jersey
The Garden State is known for its Taylor Ham or pork roll, disco fries and tomato pie. And there are places that have added them to their menu.
- Pork roll. Jersey Bagels & Subs, 4006 Postal Way in Myrtle Beach. Located in Carolina Forest, the restaurant offers up several breakfast and lunch variations of the sandwich.
- Disco fries. Topped with gravy and cheese, these are a New Jersey favorite. Chuck Wagon, 4012 Postal Way in Myrtle Beach, serves this dish to compliment its burgers and sandwiches.
- Tomato pie. Lee’s Farmers Market, 4883 Highway 17 Bypass N. in Murrells Inlet, is a favorite market offering produce, meats and cheeses and yes, tomato pie.
Pennsylvania
There are many places in the Myrtle Beach area that offer a Philly cheesesteak or some version of a pierogi. We’re sure people have their opinions about which ones are the best. Here are a few to try.
Philly cheesesteak:
- Best of Philly, 702 S. Kings Highway in Myrtle Beach.
- Dagwood’s Deli is a staple along the Grand Strand with locations in Myrtle Beach, Surfside Beach and North Myrtle Beach.
Pierogi:
- Pulaski Deli, 2701 N. Kings Highway in Myrtle Beach. This Polish-American deli offers several variations of the filled dumplings.
- Cafe Old Vienna, 1604 N. Kings Highway in Myrtle Beach. A German restaurant that serves pierogies with a German flare.
Pitts Burger/Primanti. It wouldn’t be a Pennsylvania tribute unless we included this favorite state dish that adds cole slaw and fries on the sandwich.
If you’re looking for a spot that offers up the unusual combination, head to Oscar’s, 4101 Highway 17 S. in North Myrtle Beach, and tell them to make your sandwich Pittsburgh style.
