Flies in food, sewage & shut downs: latest Myrtle Beach restaurant inspections
The South Carolina Department of Agriculture’s latest round of restaurant inspections around the Grand Strand found flies and hair in food, sewage coming up through the floor and more. Multiple facilities temporarily halted service pending SCDA approval.
In general, SCDA gives restaurants scoring between 88 and 100 points A grades, restaurants scoring 78-87 points B grades and restaurants scoring 77 points or fewer C grades.
However, the department sometimes lowers grades for restaurants that have consecutive violations, are under enforcement action or are under pending enforcement actions, including imminent health hazards, permit suspensions or permit revocations.
Of the 263 restaurant inspections conducted in Horry and Georgetown County between May 17 and May 30, SCDA gave 13 restaurants B grades and two restaurants a C grade. However, only seven of those establishments actually scored below 88 points. Here’s what inspectors found.
122 US 17 Business, Surfside Beach, SC 29575
Score: 78
5/22/2025
A routine inspection of the deli and bakery at the Piggly Wiggly in Surfside Beach on May 22 found several violations and an unapproved installation. The inspector observed an employee dipping their hands in a sanitizer bucket instead of washing their hands, chubs of deli meat without dates marked to ensure safe consumption and the salad bar draining into a bucket, instead of a sanitary drain.
Other violations included hot foods like macaroni and beef stew held at temperatures that weren’t warm enough, cold foods like cheesecake and sushi held at temperatures that weren’t cool enough and an insufficiently cold bakery refrigerator.
The store also implemented a new sushi prep area without SCDA approval. No handsink was installed at the sushi prep kiosk, and surfaces like the walls and shelves weren’t easy to clean. According to the inspector’s notes, Piggly Wiggly had to cease sushi prep until
At a follow-up inspection on May 30, Piggly Wiggly scored 98 points. According to the inspector’s notes, the salad bar was removed from the facility and sushi was being made in the deli. The salad bar and sushi kiosk can’t resume use until they’re approved by the SCDA.
Paleteria y Neveria Michoacana
https://pubdoc.dhec.sc.gov/Inspection/8c15a0e6-b96a-45c0-9198-319b7aa1a4a3.pdf
4505 Socastee Blvd., Myrtle Beach, SC 29588
Score: 79
At a routine inspection of Paleteria y Neveria Michoacana on May 21, the inspector observed a live roach in the kitchen, hair in a warmer with cheese sauce, multiple handsinks without soap and a gap under the back door, which SCDA considers a risk for insects and rodents.
A sugar container without dates marked was uncovered in storage, the popsicle machine wasn’t properly draining, there was no person in charge or certified food handler present and the inspector couldn’t verify the certified food protection manager certification.
At a follow-up inspection on May 30, Paleteria y Neveria Michoacana scored 91 points, but according to the inspector’s comments, a subsequent inspection is to be conducted on or before June 9 because of confusion on improperly drained equipment.
3320 4th Ave., Conway, SC 29527
Score: 79
A routine inspection of Panda Restaurant on May 21 found several violations, including an employee prepping raw chicken with single-use gloves on who didn’t wash their hands before starting a new task, a sink that wasn’t washed after it was used to prepare raw chicken, an employee washing but not sanitizing dishes and food residue on utensils like knives and peelers.
The inspector also observed utensils stored in the crack between the table and fryer, bowls without handles used to scoop soy sauce and cooked rice, improperly cooled foods like chicken and egg rolls, and ready-to-eat foods like chicken wings and rice without discard times marked for safe consumption.
Other violations included cell phones on a prep table during food preparation, an “excessive accumulation of grease” around the grease container and holes in the screen door, which SCDA considers a risk for pests.
At a follow-up inspection on May 30, Panda Restaurant scored 99 points.
SOHO Steak & Seafood Sushi Bar Waterway
9715 N. Kings Highway, Myrtle Beach, SC 29572
Score: 82
At routine inspection of the SOHO location on the Intracoastal Waterway on May 29, there were flies and other bugs in the kitchen, build-up inside the dish washer and standing water in a prep cooler. The inspection report noted sushi was held at insufficiently cold temperatures and ready-to-eat foods that were more than a day old didn’t have dates marked for safe consumption.
The inspector also observed several contamination violations. A pan of raw beef was stored over fresh produce in a refrigerator, boxes of food were stored on the floor of a walk-in freezer and an immersion blender was stored on the floor.
However, in a follow-up inspection the next day, SOHO earned a perfect score.
1239 N. Fraser St., Georgetown, SC 29440
Score: 83
In response to a complaint, the SCDA inspected Yokohama Japanese Express on May 27. The inspector observed a manager rinsing but not washing their hands, an employee rinsing their gloved hands between tasks and frozen fish thawed in vacuum-sealed packaging, which is a risk for botulism.
The inspection report also notes that utensils were stored in insufficiently hot water between uses, the person in charge had no proof of food safety certification, there was no time documentation for sushi rice and ready-to-eat foods like sushi tuna weren’t marked with dates to ensure safe consumption.
A follow-up inspection is to be conducted on or before June 6.
10635 Ocean Highway, Pawleys Island, SC 29585
Score: 84
After SCDA conducted an inspection on May 29 in response to a complaint, Pawleys Island Tavern closed because it didn’t have adequate refrigeration. The walk-in refrigerator’s door didn’t close tightly, multiple refrigerators weren’t cold enough and dozens of foods–including cheeses, meats and sauces–were stored at insufficiently cool temperatures.
The inspection report also notes black flies observed throughout the kitchen and in food in a cooler, employees without beards covered or restrained, wet towels not submerged in sanitizer between uses, ketchup stored in an open metal can and frozen fish thawed in vacuum-sealed packaging, which is a botulism risk.
A follow-up inspection is to be conducted on or before June 8.
205 Main St., North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582
Score: 86
The front kitchen at Pirate’s Cove in North Myrtle Beach briefly closed for service after a routine inspection on May 21. At the inspection, sewage came up through the floor drain, the deflector plate inside the ice machine had a debris accumulation and the back kitchen doors were propped open, which SCDA considers a risk for pests.
The inspector also noted that the hood filters were missing parts and in poor repair, the person in charge didn’t have a minimum food handler certification and there were accumulations of debris on the cookline and throughout the kitchen.
However, Pirate’s Cove scored 98 in a follow-up inspection the next day.
This story was originally published June 3, 2025 at 6:00 AM.