Frogmore stew is one of South Carolina’s most beloved Low Country dishes, packed with shrimp, sausage, corn, and potatoes all boiled together in a seasoned broth. It’s the kind of meal that brings people together around a newspaper-covered table, hands deep in the pot, stories flying.
From Charleston to Myrtle Beach, certain restaurants have made this humble dish into something legendary. Here are 14 spots where the stew is so good, locals keep coming back like it’s a family tradition.
Bowens Island Restaurant – Charleston, South Carolina
Few places carry as much soul as Bowens Island Restaurant. Sitting on stilts over the marsh outside Charleston, this legendary spot has been feeding folks since 1946, and its Frogmore stew tastes like it carries every one of those years.
The setting is rough around the edges in the best possible way. Picnic tables, paper towels, and the smell of salt air make every bowl feel earned.
Locals have been claiming it as their own secret for generations, and honestly, it shows.
Hyman’s Seafood – Charleston, South Carolina
Walk past Hyman’s Seafood on Meeting Street and you will almost always see a line stretching out the door. That line is earned.
Open since 1890, this Charleston institution knows how to build a Frogmore stew that satisfies both tourists and hard-to-impress locals alike.
The seasoning is bold, the shrimp are fresh, and the portions are generous enough to make you reconsider ordering anything else. Celebrity photos cover the walls, but the real star here is always the food.
Fleet Landing Restaurant & Raw Bar – Charleston, South Carolina
Perched on a historic navy landing dock right on the Charleston Harbor, Fleet Landing brings a scenic backdrop to every meal. The Frogmore stew here benefits from ultra-fresh seafood pulled from nearby waters, giving it a clean, briny sweetness you notice immediately.
Watching boats drift past while cracking into perfectly cooked shrimp is a hard experience to beat. Regulars tend to grab a waterfront table early and linger long after the bowls are empty.
The harbor view just makes everything taste better.
Wreck of the Richard & Charlene – Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
Named after an actual shrimping boat that ran aground nearby, this Mount Pleasant gem is as authentic as it gets. The Wreck is tucked beside a working shrimp dock, and the Frogmore stew reflects that connection with shrimp so fresh they practically still smell like the ocean.
There is no fancy decor here, just good food and honest portions. Locals who know about this spot guard it like a neighborhood secret, showing up early because the best dishes go fast on busy nights.
Page’s Okra Grill – Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
Page’s Okra Grill has a reputation that runs deep in Mount Pleasant. This feel-good Southern spot blends classic Low Country cooking with a warmth that makes first-time visitors feel like regulars from the moment they walk in.
Their Frogmore stew leans into tradition, with perfectly seasoned broth, snappy sausage slices, and shrimp cooked just right. The okra-forward menu hints at the kitchen’s Southern roots, and the stew fits right into that philosophy.
Bring your appetite and maybe a friend to share, because portions run large here.
Hudson’s Seafood House On The Docks – Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Hudson’s Seafood House sits on actual working docks, and the shrimp boats you see from your table are the same ones supplying tonight’s dinner. That kind of farm-to-dock freshness makes their Frogmore stew stand out from anything you could find inland.
Sunsets over Skull Creek from the outdoor deck are breathtaking, but the stew honestly competes for your attention. Locals on Hilton Head have a fierce loyalty to Hudson’s, treating it less like a restaurant and more like a community gathering spot.
Skull Creek Boathouse – Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Skull Creek Boathouse is part restaurant, part party, and completely unforgettable. The open-air setup on the water creates an energy that is hard to manufacture, and the Frogmore stew arrives with that same lively spirit packed into every bite.
Sausage, corn, potatoes, and shrimp come together in a deeply seasoned broth that regulars rave about year-round. The bar scene here is equally popular, so plan to stay a while.
Grab a drink, watch the boats, and let the stew do the rest of the convincing.
Old Oyster Factory Restaurant – Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Built on the site of an actual oyster cannery, Old Oyster Factory carries history in its walls and Low Country tradition on its menu. The Frogmore stew here has a depth of flavor that hints at decades of coastal cooking knowledge passed down through the kitchen.
Sunsets over Broad Creek from the dining room windows are among the best on the island. Pairing that view with a steaming bowl of stew is the kind of simple joy that makes Hilton Head locals deeply proud of their culinary backyard.
The Salty Dog Cafe – Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
The Salty Dog Cafe is practically a Hilton Head institution, with its own merchandise line and a loyal following that spans decades. Tucked into South Beach Marina, this beloved spot serves up Frogmore stew with a laid-back beach vibe that makes every meal feel like a mini vacation.
Kids love the casual atmosphere, adults love the stew, and everyone leaves wearing a smile. The combination of fresh seafood, salty air, and a cold drink on the dock is genuinely tough to argue with on a warm Carolina evening.
Bluffton Seafood House – Bluffton, South Carolina
Bluffton might be small, but its food culture punches well above its weight, and Bluffton Seafood House is a big reason why. This neighborhood staple keeps things unpretentious, letting the quality of the Low Country ingredients speak for themselves in every bowl of Frogmore stew.
The shrimp are local, the sausage is smoky, and the seasoning hits that perfect balance between spicy and savory. Regulars here are the kind who have a usual table and a usual order, and the stew is almost always that order.
Sea Captain’s House – Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Sea Captain’s House has been a Myrtle Beach landmark since 1930, and it wears that history proudly. Sitting right on the oceanfront, this beloved spot combines stunning Atlantic views with a menu rooted deeply in South Carolina seafood tradition, and the Frogmore stew is a cornerstone of that legacy.
The broth is rich, the shrimp are plump, and the whole dish carries a nostalgia that keeps multi-generational families coming back. There is something genuinely comforting about eating Low Country stew while waves crash just outside the window.
Mr. Fish Seafood Market & Grill – Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Half seafood market, half grill, Mr. Fish operates with a straightforward promise: fresh fish, honest prices, and no fuss. Their Frogmore stew benefits directly from the market side of the operation, meaning ingredients are about as fresh as you can get without catching them yourself.
Myrtle Beach locals who skip the tourist traps tend to end up here, drawn by the no-nonsense approach and consistent quality. The stew is hearty, well-seasoned, and built for people who actually know good Low Country cooking when they taste it.
Lee’s Inlet Kitchen – Murrells Inlet, South Carolina
Since 1948, Lee’s Inlet Kitchen has been the kind of place where recipes do not change because they do not need to. This Murrells Inlet fixture serves Frogmore stew the old-fashioned way, with no shortcuts and no compromises, just time-tested Low Country cooking done right.
Families have been passing this restaurant down through generations as a must-visit. The stew tastes like someone’s grandmother made it, which is about the highest compliment you can give anything in South Carolina coastal cooking circles.
Drunken Jack’s Restaurant & Lounge – Murrells Inlet, South Carolina
Named after a pirate legend tied to nearby Drunken Jack Island, this Murrells Inlet staple brings adventure and flavor to the same table. The Frogmore stew here has a bold personality that matches the restaurant’s spirited history, with seasoning that lingers in the best possible way.
The marsh and marina views from the deck set a mood that is hard to replicate anywhere else. Locals treat dinner here as an event, not just a meal, and the stew is usually the headliner everyone comes back for.