Quick Summary
The giant crab buffet in Myrtle Beach offers unlimited snow crab legs, shrimp, mussels, clams, crawfish, and more for around $40 per adult. Prices vary by season and day of the week. The all-you-can-eat seafood buffet is popular with tourists visiting Myrtle Beach.
Introduction
Myrtle Beach, located in South Carolina, is a popular vacation destination known for its beautiful beaches, golf courses, attractions, and seafood restaurants. One of the most iconic dining experiences in Myrtle Beach is the giant crab buffet. These buffets feature piles of snow crab legs, shrimp, mussels, clams, crawfish, and more for an affordable all-you-can-eat price. For seafood lovers visiting Myrtle Beach, a stop at one of these giant crab buffets is a must. But how much does this decadent dining experience actually cost? Prices can vary depending on the specific restaurant, seasons, days of the week, and other factors. This article will provide a comprehensive overview of the cost of giant crab buffets in Myrtle Beach.
Background on Giant Crab Buffets
Giant crab buffets started becoming popular in Myrtle Beach in the 1980s and 1990s. Captain George’s Seafood Restaurant is typically credited with being one of the first restaurants to offer the all-you-can-eat crab legs concept. The formula was a major success, drawing in tourists who wanted to indulge in mountains of seafood at an affordable price point. Soon, competing businesses started offering similar giant crab buffets. Today, there are at least 10 major restaurants in Myrtle Beach that offer these buffets. They have become a staple dining experience for families and other visitors to the area.
The main attraction at any giant crab buffet is obviously the snow crab legs. Piled high on platters, customers can grab as many crab legs as they want and crack them open at their tables. These meaty, tender crab legs have a sweet, delicate flavor that is coveted by seafood lovers. In addition to the crab, the buffets also offer shrimp, mussels, clams, crawfish, fried fish, sushi rolls, oysters, and more. Some restaurants advertise having 60+ seafood items on their buffets! The all-you-can-eat spreads also include sides like corn, potatoes, rice, soup, salad, and dinner rolls.
Costs by Restaurant
There are around 10 major restaurants that offer a giant crab buffet in Myrtle Beach. Here is an overview of the average pricing at each:
Captain George’s Seafood Restaurant
– Lunch Adult Price: $17.99
– Dinner Adult Price: $27.99
– Child Prices: $9.99 lunch, $14.99 dinner (ages 3-10)
Dave’s Crab House
– Adult Lunch Price: $18.99 Mon-Fri, $21.99 Sat & Sun
– Adult Dinner Price: $28.99 Mon-Thurs, $31.99 Fri-Sun
– Child Prices: $9.99 lunch, $14.99 dinner (ages 5-10)
Island Vista Resort & Spa
– Adult Lunch Price: $21 Mon-Fri, $25 Sat & Sun
– Adult Dinner Price: $33 Daily
– Child Prices: $10.50 lunch, $16.50 dinner (ages 4-12)
Grand Country Buffet
– Adult Lunch Price: $15.15 Mon-Fri, $15.95 Sat & Sun
– Adult Dinner Price: $23.71 Mon-Thurs, $27.95 Fri-Sun
– Child Prices: $8.78 lunch, $13.98 dinner (ages 4-10)
Island Shrimp House
– Adult Lunch Price: $18 Mon-Fri, $20 Sat & Sun
– Adult Dinner Price: $28 Mon-Thurs, $30 Fri-Sun
– Child Prices: $9 lunch, $14 dinner (ages 6-10)
The Sea Captain’s House
– Adult Lunch Price: $19.95 Mon-Fri, $24.95 Sat & Sun
– Adult Dinner Price: $34.95 Daily
– Child Prices: $9.98 lunch, $17.48 dinner (ages 6-12)
Alston’s Restaurant
– Adult Lunch Price: $18 Mon-Fri, $20 Sat & Sun
– Adult Dinner Price: $30 Mon-Thurs, $35 Fri-Sun
– Child Prices: $9 lunch, $15 dinner (ages 6-12)
Benjamin’s Calabash Seafood
– Adult Lunch Price: $19.99 Mon-Fri, $24.99 Sat & Sun
– Adult Dinner Price: $34.99 Daily
– Child Prices: $9.99 lunch, $17.49 dinner (ages 5-10)
The Golden Corral
– Adult Lunch Price: $13 Mon-Fri, $14 Sat & Sun
– Adult Dinner Price: $17 Mon-Thurs, $20 Fri-Sun
– Child Prices: $6.99 lunch, $8.99 dinner (ages 3-10)
Lord Jim’s Seafood Buffet
– Adult Lunch Price: $17.95 Mon-Fri, $21.95 Sat & Sun
– Adult Dinner Price: $26.95 Mon-Thurs, $29.95 Fri-Sun
– Child Prices: $8.98 lunch, $13.48 dinner (ages 6-12)
Seasonal Pricing
Like many tourist destinations, the pricing at Myrtle Beach giant crab buffets fluctuates based on seasonal demand. The high season when prices peak is during the summer months between Memorial Day and Labor Day. This is when families flock to Myrtle Beach for beach vacations. During the off-season in the fall, winter, and spring, the prices at crab buffets are generally $2-5 lower per person. Some locations only operate seasonally and are closed during the off-season months when tourism is slower.
Here is an overview of how prices compare during peak summer season versus the off-season:
| Restaurant | Adult Lunch Price (Summer) | Adult Lunch Price (Off-Season) |
|---|---|---|
| Captain George’s | $19.99 | $17.99 |
| Dave’s Crab House | $21.99 | $18.99 |
| Island Vista Resort & Spa | $25 | $21 |
| Grand Country Buffet | $17.95 | $15.15 |
| Restaurant | Adult Dinner Price (Summer) | Adult Dinner Price (Off-Season) |
|---|---|---|
| Captain George’s | $29.99 | $27.99 |
| Dave’s Crab House | $33.99 | $28.99 |
| Island Vista Resort & Spa | $35 | $33 |
| Grand Country Buffet | $29.95 | $23.71 |
As you can see, prices are typically $2-5 higher per person during the busier summer months at most giant crab buffets.
Weekly Pricing
In addition to seasonal fluctuations, some Myrtle Beach giant crab buffets use variable weekly pricing. Weekend prices are often higher than weekday prices, since that is when more tourists visit. Here are some examples of weekly pricing variations:
– At Dave’s Crab House, the adult Monday-Thursday dinner price is $28.99 while the Friday-Sunday price is $31.99.
– Grand Country Buffet charges $23.71 for adult dinner Monday-Thursday, but $27.95 on Fridays-Sundays.
– Captain George’s adds $2 to their adult dinner price on Saturdays.
So if you are flexible on which day of the week you visit, you may be able to save $2-5 per person by strategically choosing a weekday. Of course, weekends are busier and may have more energy and activity too.
Drink, Dessert, and Add-On Costs
The main advertised all-you-can-eat buffet price generally just covers the core seafood and side dishes. Most giant crab buffets charge extra for drinks, desserts, and add-ons:
– Drinks like soda, coffee, tea generally cost $2-3 per person. Some places offer free refills.
– Beer and wine can cost around $5 per drink.
– Desserts like ice cream start at $2 per person.
– Specialty options like ribeye steak or crab cakes cost $5-10 as add-ons.
Make sure to factor in these additional costs when budgeting for your table. A family of four that gets drinks and desserts should tack on an extra $15-20 typically. The add-ons can quickly increase the total bill, but allow you to customize your experience.
Final Price Estimate
Taking all of these factors into account, here is an estimate for how much a family of four might expect to pay for dinner at a Myrtle Beach giant crab buffet:
– Adult Buffet Prices: $28 x 2 = $56
– Child Buffet Prices: $14 x 2 = $28
– Drinks: $2 x 4 = $8
– Desserts: $2 x 4 = $8
Total Price Estimate: Around $100 before tip
Of course, your total bill can be higher or lower depending on which restaurant you visit, how hungry your family is, and which add-ons you select. But this gives you a general idea of how much it costs for a family of four to dine at one of these iconic giant crab buffets in Myrtle Beach.
Money Saving Tips
Here are some tips for saving money on your Myrtle Beach giant crab buffet experience:
– Visit during lunch instead of dinner – Lunch prices are $5-10 cheaper at most places.
– Go during the off-season – Prices dip $2-5 during slower tourism months.
– Pick a midweek day – Many buffets charge a premium on Fridays-Sundays.
– Watch drink/dessert purchases – Just get water and skip dessert to save $10-15 easily.
– Look for coupons – Some buffets offer discounts, especially during off-peak times.
– Split one plate for young kids – Younger kids won’t eat a full buffet portion anyway.
– Fill up on cheaper items first – Load up on side dishes and budget your shrimp/crab intake.
Conclusion
Giant crab buffets offer incredible value for seafood lovers visiting Myrtle Beach. While the per-person price may seem expensive at first glance, when you factor in the unlimited food it’s actually quite reasonable. You’d be hard pressed to find an equivalent amount of high-quality shrimp, crab, and other marine bounty for the same price at an a la carte restaurant. By using some of the money saving tips outlined above, you can enjoy this decadent dining experience without breaking the bank on your Myrtle Beach vacation. So round up the family and get ready to crack into some delicious crab legs at one of the city’s iconic all-you-can-eat buffets!
