If you’ve been to South Carolina’s Grand Strand before, chances are you’ve already got a running list of establishments you consider your must-haves during your visit.
Favorite restaurants. Places for desserts and coffee. Bars.
We’re going to give you a few more. The only difference is, we’re willing to bet you’ve never been to any of them. These businesses have all had varying degrees of time to impress, some open for north of two decades while others are still in their absolute infancy.
But we’re prepared to vouch for all of them.
The only thing all of them have in common is that they’re so tucked away the walk-up foot traffic is next to impossible. But just like everything else we preach about, planning makes perfect.
Add these to your next Myrtle Beach golf trip and thank us later.
TU TACO
Tu is getting harder and harder to include in pieces like this one, as it has now add to include locations in Conway and Murrells Inlet. But the original, at 1343 N. Kings Highway in Myrtle Beach, still qualifies. Not only did it inspire the expansion, it’s *checks notes* tucked into the back side of a small strip mall and sandwiched between a pet groomer and a barber. In fact, you can’t even see it from Kings Highway if you don’t know where it is. Don’t let that stop you from giving their Asada fries (we’d recommend the steak), fajita burrito, enchiladas or the namesake tacos get past your grip any longer. (Top photo from Tu Taco’s Instagram Account)
WARD’S SOFT SERVE
You remember that time you purposefully went to an RV and boat storage facility for an awesome dessert? No, you don’t. But now you should. Ward’s, located at the corner of Freewoods Road and Bay Road (off SC 707), opened not too long ago and has quietly been turning heads ever since. Sundaes, ice cream nachos, glute-free, Italian ices and soft serves are the headliners here. And the shakes and stackers (think a Sundae on steroids) are getting some serious love, too. There’s plenty of table availability so you can get your sugar on, sit back and chill with your crew.
KEI COFFEE CO.
Mobile vendors aren’t always for the faint of heart (read: anti-creatures of habit), but KEI Coffee’s Lil’ Blu flat-bed mini-truck is a quickly becoming a favorite in the area. As one of our friends likes to say, it’s coffee for folks who want real coffee. KEI specializes in a specs, from lattes and mochas to cold brews and even hot chocolates. One of its rare weekly locations is at the Carolina Forest Farmer’s Market each Wednesday. But they accept requests for appearances and are highly active with their online calendar.
BOATHOUSE
Over the last 20 years, Boathouse has changed it’s operating mantra several times. It went from a total local’s hole in the wall, added a massive back side renovation that allowed it to bring in some extremely well known national acts, further expanded the property to add even more reasons to patrons to stick around longer and most recently joined forces with the Independent Republic Brewing Company to foster an in-house brewery. The one thing that hasn’t changed is that no one finds themself here by accident. Adjacent to the Intracoastal Waterway just south of U.S. 501, Boathouse and its entertainment value are more than worth the out-of-the-way locale.
