10 Seafood Shacks In South Carolina That Make Every Mile Worth It
South Carolina’s coastline is dotted with seafood shacks where the flavors of the ocean shine in every dish.
Fresh catches are transformed into crispy fried favorites, savory stews, and mouthwatering classics that keep locals and travelers coming back for more.
Each stop offers a taste of the coast and a warm, welcoming atmosphere. Driving a little farther becomes part of the adventure, because every mile leads to seafood worth savoring.
1. The Wreck of the Richard & Charlene
Hidden behind a gas station in Mount Pleasant sits a true seafood legend born from actual disaster.
Hurricane Hugo wrecked a shrimp boat here in 1989, inspiring both the name and the no-frills approach to incredible seafood.
The paper-plate service and communal seating only add to the charm. Their Lowcountry boil practically jumps off the plate with freshness, and the hush puppies might just be the best on the East Coast.
2. Seewee Restaurant
Locals whisper about this Awendaw gem like it’s a secret they’re reluctant to share.
Operating since 1948 from a former gas station, Seewee’s serves seafood so fresh you’d swear it jumped from the ocean straight onto your plate.
Their crab cakes contain almost zero filler – just sweet lump crab meat held together by what seems like willpower alone.
The restaurant’s walls, covered with dollar bills and local memorabilia, tell stories of generations who’ve made the pilgrimage here.
3. Red’s Ice House
Perched right on Shem Creek, Red’s isn’t just about the food – it’s about the dolphins that occasionally swim by while you’re cracking open your snow crab legs.
Fishermen literally dock their boats outside and unload their catch while you sip cold beer. The blackened fish tacos change daily based on what’s biting.
Come for sunset when the orange glow hits the water and transforms this already magical spot into something that feels almost too perfect to be real.
4. Russell’s Seafood Grill
Family-run since the 1980s, Russell’s feels like eating at your seafood-obsessed uncle’s house – if your uncle happened to make the world’s best she-crab soup.
The tiny kitchen somehow produces massive platters of perfectly fried oysters that maintain their briny essence. The walls are plastered with faded fishing photos and newspaper clippings.
Don’t miss their signature Russell’s Special – a secret combo of shrimp, scallops and fish that changes seasonally but always tastes like the ocean bottled into one dish.
5. Hot Fish Club
Named after one of America’s oldest fishing clubs (founded in 1763!), this Murrells Inlet institution serves history alongside its seafood.
The building itself has survived hurricanes, wars, and countless tourist seasons without losing its salty charm. Grab a seat on the back porch where the marsh views stretch for miles.
Their grilled grouper sandwich requires two hands and possibly a nap afterward. Regulars know to save room for the key lime pie – tart enough to make you pucker but sweet enough to keep you digging in.
6. Creek Ratz
Don’t let the playful name fool you – Creek Ratz in Murrells Inlet takes seafood seriously.
Fishing boats pull right up to their docks, and sometimes the catch moves from boat to kitchen to your plate in under an hour. The steamers come in a bucket so full you’ll wonder if they mistakenly doubled your order.
Live music fills the open-air deck most nights, creating the perfect soundtrack for cracking crab legs. Their hushpuppies arrive hot enough to burn your fingers, but you’ll grab them anyway.
7. Wahoo’s Fish House
Tucked away in Murrells Inlet’s MarshWalk, Wahoo’s stands out for turning simple seafood into culinary art without any pretentiousness.
The sushi bar upstairs might seem out of place in a fishing village, but the boat-to-roll freshness will convert even raw fish skeptics.
Captain Jack, the elderly fisherman who supplies much of their catch, often holds court at the bar.
Their signature wahoo dishes change daily, but the blackened version with mango salsa has caused people to change vacation plans just to eat it again.
8. Skull Creek Boathouse
Finding Skull Creek feels like discovering pirate treasure – appropriately, given the name.
Nestled on Hilton Head Island where shrimping boats have docked for generations, this massive indoor-outdoor space somehow maintains an intimate feel.
The raw bar features a “Lowcountry seafood tower” that rises so high servers carry it with both hands.
Kids love watching for dolphins in the creek while parents sip local beers. Their she-crab soup recipe reportedly came from a 19th-century lighthouse keeper who refused to share it until his dying day.
9. The Shrimp Shack
Blink and you might miss this roadside stand on St. Helena Island, but your taste buds would never forgive you.
The building barely fits 10 people inside, but that doesn’t stop folks from lining up for what locals call “shrimp burgers from heaven.”
The owner, known simply as “Miss Hilda,” has been serving the same recipe for over 40 years. Every shrimp comes from boats she can see from her window.
No credit cards, no website, no social media – just perfect seafood served in styrofoam containers that barely make it back to the car before being devoured.
10. Bluffton Family Seafood House
Five generations of the same fishing family run this Old Town Bluffton institution where the recipes are older than most of the buildings in town.
The oysters come from beds just visible from the restaurant’s back porch when the tide is low.
Their seafood stew simmers for 12 hours before serving, creating a broth so flavorful people have been known to drink it straight from the bowl when no one’s looking.
The walls display fishing gear actually used by the owner’s great-grandfather – not for decoration, but because “it still works if we need it.”