Restaurants with the Best Value in Myrtle Beach

Located on the ground floor of a hotel convention center, this restaurant draws lots of locals who only venture downtown in the summer months if there's something really good waiting for them. This buffet-style eatery serves three hots a day, but breakfast maybe its best offering. Hot grits, gravy and biscuits along with eggs, bacon, sausage give guests a true taste of the South to start their days. Fresh fruit and French toast are available for those with a morning sweet tooth. The friendly service and atmosphere make this place well worth waking up to on your vacation.

For more than 40 years, The Chesapeake House has been bringing a taste of Maryland to Myrtle Beach masses. Serving fresh local seafood served in the tradition of the Chesapeake Bay area, this family-owned and operated establishment also offers the flavors of the South Carolina Lowcountry for a unique dining experience. Enjoy the crab legs, deviled crab, crab cakes and the house special Lobster Pie for a taste of Maryland, or the fresh catch cooked any way you want it and the Calabash-style shrimp for great Carolina cuisine. The seafood chowder and hot hushpuppies are also house favorites.

Named after the famous cartoon character with an affinity for sandwiches stacked to the ceiling, Dagwood's Deli follows the same recipe for a long time, lunch-time favorite that has patrons lined up out the door. Beat the rush by calling ahead and picking up a picnic package that won't leave you hungry. Offering deli meats that are sliced on-site, fresh deli bread big enough to hold a skyscraper and all the veggies and fixings, Dagwood's keeps them coming back for more by being more than generous with the ingredients. Grab some chips, fries or pasta salad to go with it and enjoy the feast. Wash it all down with a cold drink or beer.

This family-owned and operated eatery has been serving sweet barbecue and country cooking since 1953 and for good reason. Not only does Prosser's do barbecue the good ol' Southern way, slow-smoked over hickory coals to perfection, it also serves some of the best country cooking on the Grand Strand. Fried chicken, country-fried steak and the Lowcountry favorite dish of chicken bog join barbecue and ribs on the buffet amid a sea of home-style vegetables. Bread and dessert are also available on the buffet, which is quite affordable for hungry visitors. Save room for dessert if you dare.

Break the burgers-and-fries routine for some excellent Japanese cuisine that's good to go in more ways than one. Chef and owner Jimmy is a bit of a local legend, operating several other Japanese restaurants and catering services over the years, but now he has his own place and a loyal local following. Patrons can dine in, but the carry-out window makes for a quick and convenient way to enjoy a hot meal at home or your hotel room. Choose from a wide range of meats and vegetables, including steak, shrimp, grouper, chicken and pork with mixed veggies over fried rice or garlic soy noodles.

Soul food doesn't get much more soulful than a Big Mike's, which features classic Southern cooking mixed with Southern hospitality to create a special place for locals and tourists alike. Named for owner and Myrtle Beach City Councilman Mike Chestnut, this place is packed with movers and shakers from the city rubbing elbows with everyday lunch lovers. For only $8.95, diners get their choice of one meat (fried pork chops or chicken, meatloaf, etc.), three veggies (mashed potatoes, collard greens, macaroni and cheese, etc.) and a drink. Belly up to the lunch counter or bring a big party and grab a table for an enjoyable experience and some of the best food this side of the Mason-Dixon Line.

As far as oyster shacks go, this is about as good as it gets. Located in a strip mall just off Restaurant Row, Bimini's doesn't look like much from the outside, or the inside, for that matter. Picnic tables fill the small space and the patio deck and the decor is far from fine dining. But the proof is in the food, and Bimini's does not disappoint. Famous for its fresh shrimp and oysters, Bimini's doesn't do fancy, just good portions of fresh seafood served the way you like it. Grab a beer from the bar and soak up the beach atmosphere of good times and great food.

This local pizza chain takes fun and games to the next level with a new concept on Restaurant Row. Featuring an arcade and sports bar in addition to a traditional pizzeria, Ultimate California Pizza provides a fun place for families to dine and play together. The arcade offers a nice mix of old-school amusements and the latest high-tech video games, and players can win tickets to exchange for a prize at the gift counter. Parents can join in the fun or take a break from the little ones by stopping in the sports bar. The dining area is family-friendly and the pizza is among the most popular in town.

This downtown Myrtle Beach institution has been serving locals and tourists hot, home-style meals for more than a half-century, which is about how long you'll want to stay and eat off the country buffet. From freshly prepared pancakes, eggs, fried potatoes, sausage, bacon, French toast and fresh fruit for breakfast to a wide selection of meats and vegetables for lunch and dinner, Mammy's has it all. Don't be fooled by a new restaurant by the same name a few blocks away on Ocean Boulevard. The real Mammy's has been at the same location, on the corner of Kings Highway and Mr. Joe White Avenue, for decades.

A perennial favorite, Hamburger Joe's provides more bang for your buck than most other Grand Strand eateries, so it's perfect if you're on a budget. In fact, you can probably afford to splurge and get some wings and a beer along with your cheeseburger, which comes heaped with slaw, chili, onions, lettuce, tomato, pickles, or whatever combination you'd prefer. Kids enjoy the fried bologna sandwich, hot dog, or grilled cheese; grown-ups appreciate the onion rings and the fact that they can get a rum and coke or a Long Island Iced Tea with their burger or BLT. The screen-in back porch also offers spectacular views of the salt marsh.