Myrtle Beach is famous for its seafood restaurants, which is understandable given its close proximity to the Atlantic Ocean. But when it comes to tastes from the Pacific, especially the quality of seafood that is required to create great sushi, visitors have fewer options.
But never fear, sushi-lovers; The Grand Strand has some outstanding Japanese and Asian fusion restaurants where you can get your fix for raw fish. Here are the top five sushi establishments in the Myrtle Beach area:
* Co Sushi: Based in nearby Charleston, this unique Vietnamese restaurant recently opened a second location in Myrtle Beach's trendy Market Common district. Co Sushi is already drawing rave reviews from sushi-lovers who rave over the creative combinations of rolls. Co Sushi offers a full sushi lineup, as well as contemporary Vietnamese specialties, such as dumplings, pho, and wok dishes. Co Sushi is open seven days a week for lunch and dinner.
* Indo-Thai Sushi & Hibachi: Featuring two locations on the Grand Strand, one in the Grande Dunes section of Myrtle Beach and another in Pawleys Island, this unique Asian eatery includes a fusion of the owner/chef's background in Indonesian and Thai cuisine. She merges those creative flavors into tasty dishes from the kitchen as well as the sushi bar. Happy hour offers $5 rolls that normally cost nearly twice as much during lunch and dinner. The popular Indo Roll includes salmon, cream cheese, eel, and avocado served tempura style over a spicy mango sauce.
* King Kong Sushi: Don’t be confused by the giant ape climbing a skyscraper at another nearby attraction, the Hollywood Wax Museum. For sushi-lovers, the real King Kong resides across the street at Broadway at the Beach. King Kong also offers tableside hibachi and an extensive menu of traditional Japanese dishes, but it’s the sushi that packs people in this trendy hot spot. One of the most popular creations is the Tuna Mania, a 12-piece spicy tuna roll wrapped in thin slices of raw tuna that are charred with a blow torch for a mind-blowing flavor. King Kong has a large indoor dining room as well as a back porch overlooking Lake Broadway.
* Soho: Specializing in Asian-fusion cuisine, fresh seafood and excellent steaks, it may be hard to decide which to order at this cosmopolitan café in downtown Myrtle Beach. But if you like sushi, make sure to at least have it for an appetizer. One of the most popular choices is the house-specialty Soho Roll, filled with salmon, spicy tuna, yellow tail tuna, eel, scallions, Mesago and jalapeno topped with a spicy sweet sauce. Soho is perfect for parties whose opinions are divided over sushi. The pros can get their sushi fix while the anti-sushi members of the group are sure to find plenty of tasty options from the regular menu. Soho is also great for happy hour and late-night sushi.
* Wahoo’s Fish House: Visitors to the Murrells Inlet Marsh Walk have lots of options when it comes to fresh seafood, but few of the restaurants located along the waterfront walkway offer sushi, especially of this quality. The owners are regulars at the fish markets located along the docks of Murrells Inlet, and the freshness comes through in Wahoo’s sushi rolls. One of the house specials is the Charred Poblano and Salmon Roll, with a bit of cream cheese to ease the heat of the peppers. Be sure to check out Wahoo’s Sushi and Saki Sundays, featuring both items for half price from 4 to 8 p.m.
(posted 8/12/14)
(Photo courtesy: King Kong Sushi)
