Oceanfront rolls, lively lounges, local favorites and sushi prepared right at home.
The Myrtle Beach area may be best known for seafood platters and Calabash-style favorites, but its sushi scene deserves a spotlight of its own. Across the Grand Strand, restaurants are serving everything from traditional nigiri and carefully sliced sashimi to torched creations, elaborate fusion rolls and all-you-can-eat menus.
The experience changes just as much as the food. One night might call for sushi beside the ocean, while another is better suited for cocktails in a stylish lounge, live music on a neighborhood patio or a chef preparing rolls inside your vacation rental. Whatever kind of sushi night you have in mind, these local spots give you plenty of ways to enjoy it.
Best Oceanfront Sushi
Art Burger Sushi Bar
ART Burger Sushi Bar is part restaurant, part gallery and part oceanfront hangout. Local artwork fills the walls, the Atlantic sits just beyond the windows and the menu moves between gourmet burgers, sushi and liquid-nitrogen cocktails without taking itself too seriously. For the full ART experience, ask for the Omakase Roll and let the sushi chef create something exclusively for you based on your preferences.
Local Insight: The Omakase Roll is ideal for indecisive diners. Tell the chef what you like, what you avoid and how adventurous you are willing to be—the finished roll may be different each time.
Best Modern Sushi Experience
CO Sushi
CO Sushi fits naturally into The Market Common with its polished interior, contemporary atmosphere and menu of sushi, dumplings, noodles and Southeast Asian dishes. The restaurant feels elevated enough for a date night but relaxed enough for lunch after shopping or an easy dinner with friends. Order the Market Common Roll, made with tempura shrimp and spicy crab, then topped with tuna, avocado, cucumber, yamagobo, sesame aioli, fried shallots and microgreens.
Local Insight: Indoor and outdoor seating make CO an easy addition to an evening in The Market Common. Leave time before or after dinner for a walk around the district.
Best Creative Fusion Rolls
King Kong Sushi
King Kong Sushi has never been afraid to have fun with its menu. The restaurant blends traditional sushi with elaborate sauces, fried elements and unexpected flavor combinations, creating the kind of specialty rolls that arrive looking like the centerpiece of the table. Its Broadway at the Beach location brings a lively, energetic setting, while the Carolina Forest restaurant offers a more familiar neighborhood feel.
Local Insight: Choose Broadway at the Beach when you want sushi in the middle of the action. Carolina Forest is a convenient alternative for a more relaxed meal away from the main tourist corridor.
Best Local Sushi Favorite
39th Avenue Bar & Grille
There is something refreshingly uncomplicated about 39th Avenue Bar & Grille. The North Myrtle Beach restaurant pairs sushi with burgers, tacos, live music and cold drinks in a casual setting where locals can settle in without turning dinner into a formal occasion. Sit in the dining room, grab a spot at the bar or head to the covered patio when the weather cooperates.
Local Insight: The menu makes this an easy choice when only half the table wants sushi. Happy hour is currently offered Monday through Saturday from 4:00 to 6:30 p.m., but verify the schedule before visiting.
Best Sushi Happy Hour
Manta Steak & Seafood Sushi Bar
Manta keeps the atmosphere warm, inviting and pleasantly low-key, making it the kind of place where dinner can easily turn into another round of rolls. The menu covers plenty of ground, including carpaccio, tuna tataki, poke stacks, pressed sushi, nigiri, sashimi and specialty creations. It feels approachable rather than overly formal, whether you are sitting down for a full meal or stopping in specifically for sushi.
Local Insight: Locals, check out Manta on Tuesdays and Thursdays for half off many of its specialty sushi rolls. Bring a local ID and confirm the current offer before heading over, as restaurant specials can change.
Best for a Night Out
Soho Steak & Seafood Sushi Bar
Soho works especially well when the table cannot agree on one type of food. Its broad international menu moves from sushi and hibachi to seafood, pasta and steak, while the cosmopolitan atmosphere makes the experience feel more like a night out than a quick sushi stop. Each location has its own personality: the 21st Avenue restaurant is known for its open-air Rooftop21 lounge, while the newer Carolina Forest location offers a spacious, stylish lounge setting that encourages guests to stay for cocktails after dinner.
Local Insight: Pick the location based on the evening you want. Head to 21st Avenue for rooftop energy near the oceanfront, or try Carolina Forest when you want a newer lounge atmosphere closer to home.
Best Sushi with a Water View
Wicked Tuna
Wicked Tuna combines an expansive sushi menu with one of the most recognizable views in Murrells Inlet. The dining room and outdoor areas overlook the MarshWalk, giving the restaurant a polished waterfront atmosphere that still feels lively and unmistakably coastal. The namesake Wicked Tuna Roll combines tempura shrimp, lobster salad and cucumber with seared ahi tuna, while selections such as the Fat Crab and Tuna Crunch lean into richer, more elaborate flavors.
Local Insight: Request a water-facing table and schedule dinner close to sunset. Afterward, continue along the MarshWalk for live music and a drink by the inlet.
Best All-You-Can-Eat Sushi
Kings Sushi
Kings Sushi trades the traditional buffet line for sushi and other dishes prepared to order. The atmosphere is casual, friendly and often bustling, with groups working their way through appetizers, classic rolls, chef-special creations and hibachi selections one round at a time. Its broad menu also makes the experience approachable for newcomers who want to sample several options without committing to a single entrée.
Local Insight: Begin with a few rolls and appetizers instead of ordering everything at once. Smaller rounds give you time to find your favorites—and leave enough room to order them again.
Best Sushi and Hibachi Combination
Odori Japanese Steakhouse
Odori gives diners the best of both sides of a Japanese steakhouse. Sushi chefs prepare rolls and other selections while the hibachi side serves steak, chicken, seafood and vegetables, making it especially useful for groups with different cravings. Its North Myrtle Beach setting is comfortable and polished without losing the lively energy that comes with a full hibachi dining room.
Local Insight: Odori is a strong choice for family dinners and celebrations. Sushi lovers can order from the sushi bar while the rest of the group enjoys the hibachi experience.
Best Sushi and Cocktails
Whitaker’s
Whitaker’s brings a stylish neighborhood-bar atmosphere to downtown Conway. Leather bar stools, funky string lights and custom artwork set a playful mood, while the menu pairs fresh sushi with inventive cocktails, local beer and lighter bar bites. It is polished enough for drinks before dinner but comfortable enough to settle in and stay longer than planned. The Whitaker’s Roll combines tempura shrimp and spicy crab with tuna, avocado, cucumber, yamagobo, sesame aioli and microgreens. Pair it with one of the rotating seasonal cocktails rather than defaulting to your usual drink.
Local Insight: Whitaker’s currently offers half-priced sushi on Mondays and Wednesdays from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Check the latest happy-hour menu before visiting.
Best Late-Night Sushi
Rebel Bar
Rebel Bar is not trying to recreate a quiet, traditional sushi counter. The new Myrtle Beach concept combines specialty rolls, sushi tacos, craft cocktails and elevated bar food with DJs, darts and a high-energy nightlife atmosphere. Try the torched Smoked Salmon Roll or order a few sushi tacos for the table before the evening shifts fully into late-night mode.
Local Insight: Rebel is best saved for a night when dinner and going out are part of the same plan. It gives you somewhere to order real food without leaving the late-night atmosphere behind.
Best for Groups and Families
Lil’ Tokyo
Lil’ Tokyo has the celebratory energy people expect from a classic Japanese steakhouse. Hibachi chefs cook at the table with plenty of fire, movement and interaction, while the separate sushi bar offers a quieter option for anyone more interested in rolls than the show. With sushi, hibachi, steak and kid-friendly choices in one place, it works particularly well for birthdays, family gatherings and larger groups.
Local Insight: Choose your seating based on the occasion. Book a hibachi table when entertainment is part of the evening, or sit closer to the sushi bar for a more relaxed dinner.
Best Sushi for a Night In
Gringo Ninja
Gringo Ninja turns staying home into the experience rather than the backup plan. Its private chefs travel to homes, condos and vacation rentals, bringing the equipment and ingredients needed to prepare fresh food directly in front of the group. The atmosphere is completely your own, but the interactive preparation gives the evening the energy of a private sushi counter without the reservation, traffic or restaurant wait.
Local Insight: Gringo Ninja is especially well suited for birthdays, family vacations and nights with a larger group. Reserve ahead, clear some counter space and let the chef turn your kitchen into the evening’s entertainment.
Editor’s note: Menus, promotions, hours and locations may change. Confirm current information directly with each business before visiting.
