The beach towels are packed away, the traffic on Highway 17 has calmed down, and the crab legs along the Grand Strand are still piling up on plates. South Carolina’s coast has a buffet tradition that does not take a break when summer ends.
Many of these dining rooms stay open well into fall and winter, which means shorter lines and the same bottomless trays. Here are eight spots from Longs to Murrells Inlet where crab legs remain the star all year.
1. Crabby Mike’s, Surfside Beach, SC
Some places whisper about their seafood. Crabby Mike’s, at 290 US-17 BUS, Surfside Beach, SC 29575, prefers to shout it with a dining room full of kitschy sea life decor.
The headline act is the all-you-can-eat crab legs, including Alaskan crab legs that arrive fresh and steaming hot. The buffet keeps company with prime rib, flounder, shrimp, and fried chicken, so the non-crab crowd never goes home hungry.
A salad bar and desserts round things out. Families get high chairs, changing tables, and a kids’ menu, and the staff keep tables moving quickly.
Doors open Monday through Saturday from 4 to 9 PM, and the restaurant is closed on Sunday. Expect to spend roughly $50 to $60 per person.
Reservations are not accepted, so timing matters. Tuesday and Wednesday are the quietest days, while Friday and Saturday evenings bring the biggest rush.
Parking is free and usually plentiful, which makes this an easy first stop on any off-season crab crawl.
2. Crab Daddy’s Seafood Buffet Restaurant, Murrells Inlet, SC
Seven days a week, all year long. That schedule alone puts Crab Daddy’s at 3043 US-17 BUS in Murrells Inlet on the radar of anyone chasing crab after Labor Day.
The unlimited crab legs are the main event here, fresh, well seasoned, and steamed. They just keep coming, backed by shrimp, hush puppies, and a generous supply of drawn butter.
Prime rib and coconut shrimp join the lineup, and a salad bar and desserts fill the gaps. The nautical-inspired room even features interactive sea animals that tend to steal attention from younger diners.
A fireplace makes the space a cozy pick on cooler evenings. Unlike several spots on this list, Crab Daddy’s accepts reservations.
Hours run 2:30 to 9:30 PM on weekdays and 2 to 9:30 PM on weekends. Budget around $50 to $60 per person, and aim for Monday or Tuesday nights for a calmer meal.
3. Bennett’s Calabash Seafood Buffet No. 1, North Myrtle Beach, SC
Calabash-style cooking means lightly fried seafood, and Bennett’s has built its reputation on it. The buffet at 1010 Hwy 17 S in North Myrtle Beach serves that tradition in a nautical setting.
Crab legs come out cooked well and steaming hot. Around them sit fried shrimp, deviled crab, fried scallops, oysters, mussels, clam strips, grouper, and salmon.
Land lovers get ribeye, prime rib, ribs, and chicken. A salad bar, a fruit bar, and a dessert and ice cream bar make the kids happy too.
Value is a big draw here. The price range sits around $40 to $50 per person, a little lower than many neighbors.
Bennett’s opens every day from 2 to 9 PM. Weekday afternoons are quiet, while Saturday evening is the peak, and no reservations are taken.
4. Sea Man’s Seafood, Longs, SC
Here is the budget surprise of the bunch. Sea Man’s Seafood, at 701 Hwy 9 E in Longs, lists a price range of about $10 to $20 per person.
The concept blends a country buffet with crab legs. Popcorn shrimp, fried fish, deviled crab, beef stew with gravy, fried pork chops, homemade mac and cheese, and fried chicken all share the line.
All-you-can-eat crab legs arrive at the table about a pound at a time. They are offered as a special add-on to the buffet on selected days, and crab legs by the pound are available all day.
Save room for pecan pie, peach cobbler, or banana pudding. The room is casual, cozy, and quiet.
Hours run Tuesday through Saturday from 11 AM to 9 PM and Sunday from 11 AM to 6 PM. It is closed Monday, and Sunday afternoon draws the biggest crowd.
5. Captain George’s Seafood Restaurant, Myrtle Beach, SC
Variety is the calling card at Captain George’s, 1401 29th Ave N in Myrtle Beach. The extensive buffet lives in a relaxed, seafaring-themed room.
The Alaskan Snow Crab Legs Buffet anchors the spread, and the legs are fresh, large, and constantly replenished. Shrimp, oysters, scallops, oysters Rockefeller, she crab soup, stuffed clams, and crab imperial follow close behind.
Several kinds of fish, Southern specialties, classic sides, and steaks fill out the line. Baklava and cookies show up on the dessert side.
Reservations are accepted, and a private dining room works for bigger groups. Plan on about $50 to $60 per person.
Hours are Monday through Friday 3:30 to 8:30 PM, Saturday 2 to 9 PM, and Sunday noon to 8:30 PM. Weekday afternoons offer the most elbow room.
6. Captain Benjamin’s Calabash Seafood Buffet, Myrtle Beach, SC
A chocolate fountain at a seafood buffet sounds like a plot twist. At Captain Benjamin’s, 401 S Kings Hwy in Myrtle Beach, it is just part of the deal.
This enduring, nautical-themed spot sits near the beach in the center of town. The unlimited snow crab legs are hot, fresh, and refilled so often that waiting is rare.
The shellfish lineup runs deep, with black and green mussels, raw clams and oysters, oysters Rockefeller, shrimp, crab claws, and crab casserole. Southern classics, a salad bar, and a big dessert spread complete it.
The dining room is known for being clean and inviting. Hours stretch later than most, running until 9:30 PM most nights and 10 PM on Friday and Saturday.
Saturday and Sunday doors open at 11 AM, perfect for an early crab lunch. Expect $50 to $60 per person and no reservations.
7. Crabby George’s Calabash Seafood Buffet, Myrtle Beach, SC
Ahoy, crab hunters. Crabby George’s at 7904 N Kings Hwy in Myrtle Beach brings a full pirate theme to the buffet game.
The all-you-can-eat spread includes crab legs alongside a salad bar, a fried bar, a seafood bar, and a dessert bar with ice cream. Trays stay filled with good variety.
A la carte steak and seafood options are available too, including she crab soup and lobster plates. A complimentary photo at the table adds a fun souvenir.
Live music, a fireplace, and outdoor seating help it stand apart. The buffet runs about $50 per adult, and reservations are accepted.
Hours are Monday through Thursday 3:30 to 9 PM, Friday 2 to 9:30 PM, Saturday noon to 10 PM, and Sunday noon to 9:30 PM. Tuesday night is the quietest window.
8. The Original Benjamin’s Calabash Seafood, Myrtle Beach, SC
Mounted sharks overhead make for a memorable dinner companion. The Original Benjamin’s, at 9593 N Kings Hwy in Myrtle Beach, lets diners go station to station beneath them.
The restaurant is massive, with boat displays, a gift shop, and a kids’ play area. It feels like a small attraction with a buffet attached.
Unlimited crab legs lead the way, followed by clam strips, fried shrimp, crab cakes, oysters, and salmon cakes. Country cooking such as corn casserole, fried chicken, prime rib, and steak rounds out the trip.
A fresh salad bar, hush puppies, and a dessert bar are also on hand. Come for the crab legs and stay for the Calabash seafood.
It opens every day from 3:30 to 9 PM, far beyond summer. Plan on $50 to $60 per person, and arrive on a weekday afternoon for the shortest wait.
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