Tucked along US-17 Business in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, Lee’s Inlet Kitchen has been feeding families for generations with honest, soul-warming Southern seafood. Most visitors driving through the area have no idea this unassuming spot carries decades of history, loyal regulars, and a side dish that quietly steals the show every single night.
Those hush puppies, served hot and sweet alongside your meal, have earned a quiet legend status among locals and repeat visitors alike. Whether you are stopping in for the first time or returning after years away, Lee’s has a way of feeling like home the moment you walk through the door.
The Hush Puppies That Started the Conversation
Nobody warns you about them, and that is honestly part of the magic. At Lee’s Inlet Kitchen, the hush puppies arrive at your table without fanfare, served hot, golden, and just sweet enough to make you pause mid-conversation.
Reviewers describe them as warm and sweet, paired perfectly with whipped butter that melts right on contact. One guest put it simply: they were delicious.
Another called them phenomenal. A third said they practically became the highlight of the meal.
Not every visit has been perfect, and a few reviews mention inconsistency, but on the nights they come out right, these little bites are genuinely memorable. They set the tone for everything that follows at Lee’s, signaling that this kitchen takes even the smallest details seriously.
Start here, and you will understand why people keep coming back.
Over 75 Years of Family-Owned History
Some restaurants are trendy. Lee’s Inlet Kitchen is timeless.
Open for over 75 years and still run by the same family, this place has watched generations of diners grow up, move away, and return with children of their own in tow.
One reviewer shared that his parents first brought him here while he was still in a highchair, and he is now approaching 65. Another guest mentioned that a server told them her own mother had once worked at the restaurant too.
That kind of deep-rooted connection is rare anywhere, let alone in a tourist-heavy coastal town.
Currently in its fourth generation of family ownership, Lee’s carries that history proudly without ever feeling like a museum. The recipes have been passed down with care, and the warmth in the dining room feels less like good hospitality training and more like genuine family pride.
She-Crab Soup Worth the Drive Alone
Ask almost anyone who has eaten at Lee’s Inlet Kitchen what they would order again without hesitation, and the she-crab soup comes up almost every time. Thick, rich, and deeply flavorful, it has built a reputation that stretches far beyond Murrells Inlet.
One reviewer called it the best she-crab soup they had ever tasted. Another wrote that skipping it would be a mistake you would regret at the table.
A longtime visitor noted that after more than a decade away, the soup tasted just as good as they remembered, which says everything about the consistency of the recipe.
She-crab soup is a Lowcountry classic, and Lee’s version honors that tradition without cutting corners. Creamy, warming, and packed with real crab flavor, it is the kind of first course that makes you slow down and actually enjoy where you are sitting.
A Broiled Seafood Platter Done Completely Right
Fried food gets most of the attention at casual seafood spots, but Lee’s Inlet Kitchen earns serious respect for how it handles the broiled options too. The broiled seafood platter is a standout, featuring flounder, shrimp, scallops, and deviled crab cooked with enough care that tartar sauce feels unnecessary.
One reviewer described the broiled flounder as fresh and perfectly cooked, noting they did not even reach for condiments. Another raved about the deviled crab specifically, calling it so good it became the unexpected favorite of the night.
The broiled seafood platter is the kind of dish that reminds you what fresh coastal ingredients actually taste like when treated with respect.
For anyone who tends to default to fried food out of habit, Lee’s broiled platter is a convincing reason to branch out. Clean flavors, quality ingredients, and careful cooking make it one of the menu’s most satisfying choices.
Pimento Cheese Grits That Deserve Their Own Fan Club
Grits are a Southern staple, but not all grits are created equal. At Lee’s Inlet Kitchen, the pimento cheese grits have developed a devoted following among regulars who insist they are the best side dish on the menu, and the menu has some serious competition.
One long-time reviewer called them a real winner after listing nearly every other side as excellent. A guest who ordered the blackened grouper over cheese grits praised the combination, while another mentioned the shrimp and grits version as a five-star dish in its own right.
Rich, creamy, and packed with the tangy punch of pimento cheese, these grits feel indulgent without being heavy.
Whether you order them alongside broiled seafood or as part of a full combination plate, the grits at Lee’s have a way of becoming the thing you talk about on the drive home. Comfort food done with real intention.
Fried Oysters That Are Plump and Perfectly Cooked
Fried oysters can go wrong in so many ways, rubbery, greasy, or so small they disappear in one bite. Lee’s Inlet Kitchen manages to avoid every one of those pitfalls, serving oysters that reviewers have repeatedly described as plump, fresh, and genuinely delicious.
One guest mentioned it had been a while since they had oysters that good, making the 30-minute drive from Myrtle Beach feel completely worth it. Another visitor listed fried oysters as a must-order for any return trip, placing them alongside the she-crab soup as reasons to come back again soon.
The key seems to be sourcing, since Lee’s has always leaned on fresh, local seafood as the foundation of everything on the menu. When the ingredient is this good to begin with, the cooking just needs to stay out of the way and let the oyster speak for itself.
Homemade Strawberry Cake That Closes Every Great Meal
Dessert at Lee’s Inlet Kitchen is not an afterthought. The homemade strawberry cake has become so beloved that multiple reviewers specifically warned other guests not to leave without ordering it, using words like spectacular, amazing, and world-renowned.
One visitor described it as the best dessert they had ever eaten, full stop. Another wrote that a trip to Lee’s simply would not be complete without that strawberry cake, adding an enthusiastic exclamation point that felt completely earned.
Even guests who arrived without dessert plans ended up ordering a slice after seeing it pass by on another table.
The cake is made in-house, and that homemade quality comes through in every bite. Paired with homemade ice cream on some visits, it transforms a great seafood dinner into a full experience worth remembering.
Order it early in your meal so you do not accidentally talk yourself out of it later.
Fresh Fried Green Tomatoes With Bacon Onion Jam
Fried green tomatoes are a Southern classic, but the version at Lee’s Inlet Kitchen takes things a step further with a bacon onion jam that turns a familiar dish into something genuinely special. Guests who ordered them as a starter have come away talking about that topping long after the meal ended.
One reviewer called the bacon onion jam so good it stood out even in a meal filled with excellent dishes. The tomatoes themselves come out crispy and hot, giving you that satisfying crunch before the sweet and savory jam takes over.
It is the kind of appetizer that makes you wish you had ordered two.
Starting with the fried green tomatoes is a smart move at Lee’s, setting a high bar for everything that follows. Paired with the hush puppies that arrive at the table, your first few minutes here feel like a warm, well-seasoned welcome to the Lowcountry.
Warm and Welcoming Service That Regulars Rave About
Great food matters, but the people serving it can make or break the entire experience. At Lee’s Inlet Kitchen, the service comes up again and again in reviews, with guests specifically naming servers like Helen, Julia, Vicky, Leslie, and Mary Emily as reasons they plan to return.
One reviewer called their server Julia exceptional, saying she made the best suggestions and helped turn the meal into the best they had enjoyed on the entire trip. Another guest praised a young hostess for warmth and personality that felt rare for someone so new to the industry.
That personal touch is harder to manufacture than any recipe.
For a restaurant that has been operating for over seven decades, the service culture at Lee’s feels lived-in and genuine. Staff members treat guests like neighbors, not just customers, and that attitude filters all the way through the dining room from the moment you walk in.
Calamari and Charcoal Oysters Worth the Detour
Not every visit to Lee’s Inlet Kitchen starts with the she-crab soup. Some guests stumble in after spotting a sign for charcoal oysters on the road, and they end up staying for a full meal they did not plan on.
That kind of happy accident has become a small tradition for first-timers in the area.
One reviewer shared exactly that story, stopping in after seeing the charcoal oyster advertisement and ending up with one of the best meals they had experienced in years. The calamari came out delicious, the charcoal oysters delivered on their promise, and the rest of the meal followed suit beautifully.
Appetizers at Lee’s are not just filler while you wait for the main course. They are a genuine part of the experience, setting up a meal that builds from the first bite to the last.
Starting with calamari and charcoal oysters is an excellent way to open the evening.
A Family Atmosphere Built for All Ages
Lee’s Inlet Kitchen has a kids menu and a senior menu, which already tells you something important about who this restaurant is built for. Families with young children, grandparents celebrating milestones, and everyone in between have found a comfortable seat here for over seven decades.
One reviewer mentioned the changing tables in two of the three bathrooms as a thoughtful detail that made their visit easier with a young family. Another guest brought their children to the same restaurant where their own parents had taken them decades earlier, completing a full generational circle at the same table.
The dining room is large and accommodating, the noise level stays friendly without becoming overwhelming, and the menu offers enough variety to satisfy picky eaters and adventurous ones equally. Few restaurants manage to feel welcoming to every age group at once, but Lee’s has been doing exactly that since the very beginning.
Classic Coleslaw That Quietly Earns Its Place on the Plate
Coleslaw is easy to overlook on a plate loaded with fresh seafood and golden hush puppies. At Lee’s Inlet Kitchen, the coleslaw refuses to be ignored.
Made from a classic recipe, it has earned specific mentions in multiple reviews from guests who were not expecting much from a standard side dish.
One reviewer described it as a classic recipe done deliciously, placing it alongside the onion rings and she-crab soup as a reason to return. Another guest noted that even the sides at Lee’s felt elevated, which is the kind of detail that separates a good restaurant from a truly great one.
Coleslaw done right is creamy without being heavy, tangy without being sharp, and cool enough to balance the richness of fried seafood. Lee’s version hits all those marks with the quiet confidence of a recipe that has not needed adjusting in a very long time.
A Spot That Southern Living Called a Favorite
Getting recognized by Southern Living is not something every restaurant achieves, but Lee’s Inlet Kitchen earned that honor and then delivered on the expectations it created. One reviewer mentioned visiting specifically because of the Southern Living feature, fully prepared to be disappointed by the hype, and left calling the meal fabulous instead.
That kind of credibility does not come from a single great night in the kitchen. It comes from decades of consistent cooking, loyal staff, and a family that treats every plate like it represents something bigger than just dinner.
Lee’s has maintained a 4.6-star rating across nearly 1,900 reviews, which is a remarkable achievement for any restaurant.
Located at 4460 US-17 Business in Murrells Inlet, Lee’s opens at 4:30 PM most evenings and closes on Sundays. Reservations are not typically accepted, so arriving early is always a smart plan, especially during summer months when the wait can stretch to 30 minutes or more.