New and Upcoming Restaurants Along the Grand Strand (Fall 2026)

The Grand Strand Dining Scene Keeps Expanding

Fall 2026 is a strong moment for new restaurants across the Grand Strand. A handful of major concepts opened in the first half of the year, several more are slated to open before the holidays, and the balance between big-name entertainment-dining destinations and locally run neighborhood spots has rarely been better. Here is a current look at what is new, what is coming, and which neighborhoods are getting the most new food energy right now.

Opening dates and menus can shift. Verify hours directly with each restaurant before you drive. Where available, we have linked the official site or the roundup covering that spot.

Myrtle Beach — New Openings and What’s Still Coming

The biggest 2026 opening in Myrtle Beach real estate circles has been Guy Fieri’s Downtown Flavortown, a 50,000-square-foot restaurant and entertainment complex inside Myrtle Beach Mall at 10177 N. Kings Highway. It opened June 10, 2026, and pairs the restaurant with duckpin bowling, an arcade, and a tiki bar — a full evening on its own.

At Broadway at the Beach, Ole Smoky Distillery and Yee-Haw Brewing Co. opened a joint location May 20, 2026, featuring moonshine and whiskey flights, Yee-Haw craft beers, shareable food, and an outdoor beer garden overlooking the lake. Downtown, Big Dave’s Chews & Brews has filled the longtime home of Dagwood’s Deli and Bumstead’s Pub and runs late, with a kitchen open until 1 a.m. On South Kings Highway, Chocolate Bar & Grill opened this year with a brunch-forward menu.

In Carolina Forest, two newer additions anchor the area’s growing dining scene. SeaBasil Thai & Seafood had its grand opening on March 27, 2026 and quickly built word-of-mouth, and South Coast Beer Project — the first brewery in Carolina Forest — opened at 5020 Carolina Forest Blvd. with Detroit-style pizza, wings, and craft beer.

Still ahead in Myrtle Beach: Big Fish at Broadway at the Beach has an undetermined 2026 opening date, The PicklePort on Harrelson Blvd. is targeting Q3–Q4 2026, and 357 Brewers in the Grande Dunes area was listed for spring 2026 and worth a current status check. Ocean Blue Prime Steak House is also coming to Market Common this fall as an upscale steakhouse addition. Broadway at the Beach also has a sizable 2027 addition on the way: the owners of The Grumpy Monk, Hop N’ Wich, The Sneaky Beagle, and South Coast Beer Project — operating as Coastal Concept Hospitality — are opening two new restaurants side by side, slated for mid-February 2027. Southern Social will be an elevated casual concept with composed dishes, a strong drink program, and late-night live music and karaoke. Rustic and Rye will sit next door as a walk-up, order-at-the-counter concept with table service. Both are coming to Broadway at the Beach, per reporting from The Myrtle Beach Sun News. For a complete current list, Visit Myrtle Beach keeps a running new restaurants roundup.

North Myrtle Beach — Coastal Seafood and Entertainment Dining

North Myrtle Beach has two openings that locals are watching closely. White Heron is an upscale coastal seafood concept at 1104 Hwy. 17 S., replacing the old Sea Merchants building, from the team behind Drift and Imperfecto Cantina — the official site now points to a later-2026 opening date. Alley Oops is a “Dine. Bowl. Play.” concept at 3607 Hwy. 17 S. that pairs full-service dining with bowling, arcade games, and VR experiences; originally slated for spring 2026, worth checking current status.

Up in Cherry Grove, The Grove House has opened this year and quickly became a go-to for North Strand regulars. For a running list of North Myrtle openings, the North Myrtle Beach Vacations roundup is updated regularly.

Murrells Inlet — Changes Coming to the MarshWalk

The pirate-themed Inlet Shipwreck Bar & Grill, which opened earlier in 2026 on Hwy. 17 Business, has already closed. The space is being reworked and will reopen as a second location for The Boathouse, the well-known waterfront restaurant and live-music venue. The MarshWalk itself is a reliably good night out year-round and will be especially packed for Grand Strand Witches’ Night on October 17 if you are planning to go that weekend.

Also in the Murrells Inlet area, Bohemian Bull Tavern is open at 2859 Hwy. 17 Business, bringing a casual pub-and-tavern vibe to the south-end dining mix.

Surfside Beach — Pier Dining and Neighborhood Spots

Since the Surfside Pier reopened in 2024, several pier-adjacent restaurants have anchored Surfside Beach real estate as a legitimate oceanfront dining destination. The Whistling Duck on the pier is a wine-bar-style spot with curated wines, craft cocktails, charcuterie, and small plates overlooking the ocean. Surf Diner, also on the pier, serves breakfast, seafood, burgers, and diner favorites with an oceanfront view.

Off the pier, Griffin’s Public House brings a casual pub feel to Surfside Drive, and Chico’s Chickens is drawing crowds for Latin-inspired charcoal rotisserie chicken with handmade tortillas. Milk & Honey Coffee Café started in Surfside and has now expanded to Forestbrook, worth knowing if coffee is part of the morning routine.

What This Means for the Grand Strand Dining Scene

Two patterns stand out across these openings. First, entertainment-dining is scaling — Flavortown, Alley Oops, and the Ole Smoky / Yee-Haw combo all pair food with activities. Second, the neighborhood-anchor approach is still working: Inlet Shipwreck, White Heron, SeaBasil, and the Surfside Pier restaurants are built on serving locals who come back week after week, not just tourists cycling through for a season.

For buyers evaluating neighborhoods, dining density is often an underrated signal. The parts of the Grand Strand getting the most new restaurants — Market Common, downtown Myrtle Beach, Carolina Forest, Cherry Grove, Murrells Inlet MarshWalk, and the Surfside Pier area — are also the areas with the most walkable neighborhood energy and strongest resale demand. Our overview of top Myrtle Beach neighborhoods matches the map pretty closely.

About Greg Harrelson

Greg Harrelson is a seasoned Realtor® with more than 30 years of experience serving the Myrtle Beach and Grand Strand markets. As the founder of Century 21 The Harrelson Group, Greg has built his career helping buyers, sellers, and investors achieve success in every corner of the coastal Carolina real estate market. His expertise spans residential homes, investment properties, land development, and coastal condos. Known for his deep local knowledge, innovative marketing strategies, and commitment to personal service, Greg consistently helps clients reach their real estate goals while navigating the ever-changing market with confidence and precision.