Nacho Hippo
1160 Farrow Parkway, Myrtle Beach, (843) 839-9770
850 North Beach Blvd., North Myrtle Beach, (843) 663-9393
nachohippo.com

Get your ole! on at either fun, funky Nacho Hippo spot on the Grand Strand, where nachos are king, but a menu of creative Mexican combos are a strong part of the royal court as well. Both locations say hola! in a big way, with colored string lights draped from the ceiling, license plates and bottle caps covering the walls, and both indoor and breezy outdoor dining areas. Start with a trio of salsa samplers with fresh tortilla chips or Peter’s Pickled Banana Peppers and continue on with one of the Hippo’s flour-griddled tacos with a twist, like the Love You Long Time (fried chicken tossed in sweet chili, pineapple salsa, mixed greens, spicy mayo and cashews) or The Carolina Kid with slow-roasted pork, slaw and sweet celery seed dressing. And prepare yourself for any of the eight magnificent mounds of nacho creations.

Brisket
1501 U.S. 17 S., North Myrtle Beach, 
(843) 273-4423
brisketnmb.com

They go low and slow at Brisket, where they smoke their meats in-house for hours overnight daily in time to be sliced and served for lunch. This cozy joint specializes in some of the best Texas-style barbecue north of the Alamo that is oh-so finger-lickin’ good, such as brisket (sliced or chopped), pulled pork, ribs, chicken (quartered or pulled) and sausage. Team them up with any of Brisket’s homemade sides, like collards, coleslaw, their award-winning mac and cheese and more. And throw in any of the starters, including deviled eggs, Texas Frito pie, fried green tomatoes, and pimento cheese and pork rinds. Order takeout for your family of five with a Feed Bag stuffed with meats by the half-pound and sides by the quart (add Mom’s Pecan Pie). Or stick around in a seat at their 1800s Western-style bar that pours top-shelf bourbons and regional craft beers. Their happy hour chalkboard of specials changes up daily!

Cafe Old Vienna
1604 North Kings Highway, Myrtle Beach, 
(843) 946-6252
cafeoldvienna.com

Relish platefuls of delish, authentic German-Austrian food without the need of a passport in a trip to Cafe Old Vienna. This Myrtle Beach landmark has been in town for more than 20 years, renowned for their own version of Southern hospitality: Gemuetlichkeit. They’re also known for recreating German classics, like sauerbraten, beef rouladen, veal wiener schnitzel, Viennese gulasch, bratwurst and sauerkraut, knackwurst, sautéed liver, seafood and so much more for lunch and dinner. Start with an order of potato pancakes or pierogis and finish strong with one of their homemade desserts, such as apple strudel or Vienna crepes (filled with apricot or Nutella). Settle in to the Cafe’s Beer Garden, which is dog friendly, for a draft beer six-sampler paddle and enjoy the occasional live accordion music.

Pho Claire
1201 38th Ave. N., Myrtle Beach, 
(843) 839-3889
phoclaire.com

Bring some adventure to your cultural palate at Pho Claire Vietnamese Noodle House, a hip, modern corner restaurant within the Food Lion Shopping Complex. There isn’t a bad seat in the house, with the dining room encased in natural light from the wall of floor-to-ceiling windows. Also stunning are the noodle dishes pieced together behind the counter of the open kitchen—either warm or cold noodle bowls, a healthy serving of cold rice vermicelli with your choice of fresh vegetables and proteins. A must-try is the restaurant’s namesake Pho, a hearty bowl of broth packed with rare beef, a meatball, beef tripe, beef tendon, beef brisket and a side of egg yolk, along with sorrel, bean sprouts, lime and cilantro. Another guaranteed go-to is the Banh Mi sandwich stacked with delicately sliced pork (or chicken or beef), cucumbers, pickled vegetables, cilantro, jalapenos, pate and mayo between a toasted baguette.