Restaurants & Dining
Food Dude’s Top 5 Japanese Restaurants in Myrtle Beach
The Food Dude's Tour de Strand stays in the Orient in Japan and the islands of the Far East, where Asian cuisine has proven to be the best import since Godzilla, electronics and Jackie Chan.
It's amazing the diversity of flavors found in the Pacific islands, and the exploding popularity of sushi and Asian fusion have brought some unique Japanese restaurants to our Atlantic Shores.
Myrtle Beach is no stranger to the trend, featuring a healthy combination of traditional Japanese hibachi grills, trendy new sushi bars and creative Asian fusion cafes. Here are the Food Dude's top five:
* Indo Thai Hibachi Sushi: Don't let the strip-mall location fool you. Visiting this corner spot in the Grande Dunes section of Myrtle Beach is like stepping through a porthole to the many flavors of the Far East.
Also offering a location in Pawleys Island, Indo Thai is co-owned by an Indonisian couple with a proven track record for creating unique dishes. They even make their own special sauces and offer a one-of-a-kind sushi menu.
* Jimmy'z Japanese Hibachi: Although Jimmy'z offers a full restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating, delivery and take-out have made this Japanese grill a staple among locals and tourists looking to break out of the burger and pizza rut.
With years of experience as a hibachi chef, owner Jimmy Miller does most of the cooking himself and knows how to serve hot, healthy dishes at affordable prices. Get steak, beef, shrimp and chicken with rice and veggies to feed a family on the fly.
* King Kong Sushi: There are many great sushi bars on the Grand Strand, but none do it quite as good as King Kong. As the name implies, the sushi rolls are monster-sized, as are the main dishes off the hibachi.
But if you're in the mood for something fresh and raw, King Kong is the place to be, especially around happy hour for discounted food and drink. Sushi lovers should try the Tuna Mania – spicy tuna roll wrapped in Tuna Tataki cooked with a blow torch.
* Miyabi Japanese Steakhouse: One of the most enjoyable nights out, especially for large parties, is a steam tableside-seat at the Restaurant Row and Murrells Inlet establishments. It's really like dinner and a show all in one.
Hibachi chefs dazzle patrons with their cooking skills, playfully flipping shrimp into their mouths and performing other tricks of the trade. Miyabi also serves great sushi. Be sure to order different dishes and share.
* Osaka Japanese Buffet: I feel obligated to put at least one buffet on the list. If you truly feel like eating all you can eat without sacrificing quality for quantity, there no better Japanese offering in town than Osaka.
Featuring a huge buffet filled with traditional Japanese dishes and other Asian standards, including a fresh sushi bar and a make-your-own-meal grill. The buffet also offers seafood and many American alternatives in case not everyone in your party is up for Japanese.
