Say the word “seafood” in Myrtle Beach and the mind leaps to “buffet” – and vice versa.
The two seem inseparable, and for good reason. There are dozens of great all-you-can-eat seafood smorgasbords on the Grand Strand, such as Crabby Mikes, Original Benjamin’s Calabash and Phillips Seafood, just to name a few. But man does not all-you-can-eat feast by seafood alone.
You might be surprised to learn that there are also some great buffets on the Grand Strand that specialize “land-food” … and lots of it. Sure, they might offer fried fish or shrimp, but the focus is on terra-firma food – from good ol' Southern barbecue and Lowcountry cooking to international cuisine. Here are three excellent buffets to feed your face, sans the seafood:
* Magnolia at 26th: This quaint little eatery on the corner of Ocean Boulevard and 26th Avenue North in Myrtle Beach serves up some of the best country cooking you will put in your mouth. Open for three meals a day, Magnolia's puts out a spread of American breakfast favorites as well as lunch and dinner options like fried chicken, baked ham, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese and plenty of veggies, breads and desserts. If you have the stomach for it, the Sunday brunch buffet is the bomb, featuring favorites from both their breakfast and lunch buffets plus the addition of a carving station of roast beef and ham.
* Osaka Japanese Buffet: If you're going to go Asian, you've gotta go big, and nobody puts out a bigger spread than Osaka. Featuring a plethora of Japanese, Chinese, Thai and pan-Asian dishes, including a wide selection of hibachi, sushi and seafood items, Osaka also offers some traditional American favorites, including chicken nuggets and pizza for the kids. Osaka is located near the Coastal Grand Mall.
* Rioz: This Brazilian steakhouse isn't your traditional buffet. Although there is a salad, soup and sushi bar, patrons are allowed to remain seated when the main course begins. Servers roam the dining room with skewers of grilled and seasoned meats, including beef, pork, chicken and lamb, while diners simply turn their table sign to green (more please) or red (no mas). Located just across 29th Avenue North from Broadway at the Beach, Rioz is a bit on the pricy side but worth every delicious bite.
(posted 4/8/14)
