While vacationing in Myrtle Beach we know that most of our visitors will be dining out several nights of their trip. Of course, a few of those generally feature some of our remarkable seafood restaurants, but we have more than just the surf here for your taste buds. If you haven’t tried any of our Mexican restaurants then you are in for a treat and are going to want to make time for one of our favorites on your next trip. Anytime you would like our suggestions here at Paradise Resort for dining, please let us know. Making guests happy is what we do.
First on our list is Abuelos in front of Coastal Grand Mall on Bypass 17 making it very centrally located for all of your activities following dinner. The first thing that will strike you when you arrive at Abuelos is their décor. Both the exterior and the interior are thoughtfully designed to make you feel as though you have left good old SC and have arrived along the Mexican Riviera. It is beautiful with white carved statues and lively colorful murals. Once seated your server will provide you with tortilla chips and three different tempting salsas and be sure to try the lime salsa, as it’s spectacular! If you are a margarita lover we suggest making your way to the restaurant during happy hour because they have some of the best on the beach and their happy hour specials are fantastic. Be sure and try their Cervesa Rita. It’s a frozen margarita with a Coronita bottle and Milagro Silver on top. You have choices of mango, peach, strawberry, raspberry, or the original margarita.
Making our way north to 70th Avenue and Kings Hwy you will find what many people call the experts in Mexican cuisine this side of the border. Owned by a local Myrtle Beach family, the Hernández’s, Fiesta Mexicana is a favorite among those of us that live here year round but it is a secret many vacationers do not know about so the wait may be less than that of the chain restaurants, and the food is always of the highest quality and the attention to detail exceptional. The Hernandez family prides themselves on making their meals both fresh and affordable so this isn’t a night that will break the family’s vacation budget. Fiesta Mexicana is also open for lunch with great lunch special daily and is the perfect stop between beach activities.
Let’s get back on the Bypass and head south to 10th Avenue North. When you see Myrtle Waves our next stop is right across the street, Burro Loco. This is THE Mexican restaurant that comes to the mind of locals when you mention happy hour or Cinco de Mayo. This is the place to be for events or holidays of any kind because they know how to celebrate and that includes birthdays! Be warned, if there is a birthday in your group, they will go above the tableside song and put the birthday guy or gal on the wooden donkey, which happens to be on wheels, place a sombrero on their head and wheel them around the restaurant. They are a fun place to eat but their food is also delicious and the service top notch. Enjoy eating inside by the fire or outdoors on the patio. If by chance you are going to be here for Cinco de Mayo you must make plans to attend the party of the year which is a full on music festival at Burro Loco. You’ve never seen Cinco de Mayo the way it’s done here. It’s truly epic. They also have Taco Tuesday’s, live music every Wednesday, team trivia on Thursday and Fiesta Fridays so every day brings something to enjoy at the Burro.
Moving on to one of the local’s go to places and that is El Cerro Grande. With El Cerro, as the locals refer to it, you are able to choose from locations all over the Grand Strand. You will find locations in Myrtle Beach, Surfside, and Georgetown can Carolina Forest. El Cerro is another locally family owned restaurant and they are the perfect place for a casual dine in meal with friends and family or take out to eat back at your hotel or condo. They are open for lunch and dinner and the service is superb. You will find that meals here are not only well portioned but reasonably priced. The menu is quite varied with everything from scrumptious apps, to Create Your Own Combos, Special Dinners, Chicken Fajitas and of course Seafood. You won’t go away hungry we promise. Some El Cerro’s offer outdoor and indoor seating but the indoor atmosphere at all is fun and lively. You’ll enjoy Mariachi music and authentic Mexican décor.
Now for one of the trendiest and most fun of the Mexican restaurants at the beach, Nacho Hippo. This is another one that offers several locations. If you fly into Myrtle Beach International then you will get your first glimpse of the restaurant when you deplane. We also have the original location at beautiful Market Common and one in the heart of North Myrtle Beach. Both are such fun places to eat with friendly bar and wait staff. The décor is colorful and funky and in nice weather the restaurants become open air so they are completely different than other restaurants in our area. Nacho Hippo puts a twist on the typical Mexican restaurant which is proven by their menu both of food and drinks. We suggest trying their selection of Hip Tacos. It is unlike anything you will find anywhere else. There nachos are the largest and best on the beach and the queso is a must have for an app. For those in your party that want something more traditional there offer quesadillas and even wings for the less adventurous. When at Nacho Hippo make sure to come thirsty because here is where you will find the largest and best selection of margaritas on the beach. For those worried about calories, they even offer a skinny margarita which is delicious.
You cannot go wrong with any of these top rated restaurants and all are locals’ favorites for different reasons. Be sure to enjoy yourself but if you over do it with the margaritas please ask your bartender to call a cab or Uber to arrive safely back to us at Paradise Resort.
