13 Nov Lee’s Inlet Kitchen celebrates 77 years of family, seafood and tradition Lee’s Inlet Kitchen in Murrells Inlet has been owned by the same family since 1948. Lee’s Inlet Kitchen, South Carolina’s Hammock Coast’s® oldest family-owned restaurant, is celebrating 77 years of serving fresh, local seafood and Southern hospitality on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2026. To mark this milestone, Lee’s will host a special anniversary celebration featuring 77-cent appetizers, a 77-cent dessert (with entrée purchase, dine-in only), and a $77 gift card giveaway to the 77th guest through the door. Guests are also invited to dress in their favorite decade, with a $77 gift-card prize for the “Best Dressed.” Classic car enthusiasts are welcome to cruise in with their vintage vehicles to add even more nostalgia to the night. The restaurant will also feature its original “Green” Inlet-Style Clam Chowder, an old-school favorite first served by the restaurant’s founders, and special drink offerings to toast the occasion. “This is one of our favorite nights of the year,” said Ashton DuBose, fourth-generation co-owner of Lee’s Inlet Kitchen. “It’s a chance for us to thank our loyal guests — many who’ve been dining with us for generations — and to celebrate the family legacy that started right here in Murrells Inlet back in 1948.” Lee’s has been named by Southern Living as the best seafood restaurant in South Carolina. “We’re so proud to celebrate 77 years,” said Adrian Dorman. “This restaurant has seen four generations of family and countless generations of guests come through its doors — it’s truly part of the Murrells Inlet story.” The 77th Anniversary Celebration is open to the public on Thursday, Nov. 20, during regular dinner hours. No reservations are required. About Lee’s Inlet KitchenFounded in 1948, Lee’s Inlet Kitchen is the oldest family-owned restaurant in Georgetown County and South Carolina’s Hammock Coast. The hushpuppies at Lee’s Inlet Kitchen are a favorite of diners. (All photos from the Lee’s Inlet Kitchen website) Known for its fresh, local seafood, traditional Southern recipes, and family-style hospitality, the restaurant is located at 4460 Highway 17 Business in Murrells Inlet. Lee’s has been serving locals and visitors alike for more than seven decades and has been lauded as the best seafood restaurant in South Carolina by Southern Living in 2023. In 2025, Lisa Cericola, also writing in Southern Living, said, “When you’ve been around for more than 75 years, you’re bound to be doing something right. At this beloved institution in the fishing village of Murrells Inlet, try not to load up on the hot hush puppies they bring to the table on arrival—though it’s awfully tempting. There’s still so much more to savor, like the hand-peeled, cold-boiled shrimp pulled from the waters of nearby McClellanville or the thin and crispy onion rings—Lee’s is as famous for those as it is for the seafood.” The venerable magazine also recommended the Shrimp Salad, noting that it’s made with boiled fantail shrimp and Duke’s mayo and is a worthy house specialty. The restaurant boasts tha it’s still one of the few restaurants the still hand-peels its fantail shrimp – up to 150 pounds daily. “It’s not often that you have any business around for 77 years, but to have a restaurant in the same family for that long is an amazing thing,” said Mark A. Stevens, director of tourism development for the Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce. “Congratulations are certainly in order to Lee’s Inlet Kitchen, a favorite of locals and tourists alike on South Caroina’s Hammock Coast.” Murrells Inlet is known as “the seafood capital of South Carolina,” and, no wonder, since Lee’s Inlet Kitchen as been serving up some of the best seafood in South Carolina since 1948. 0 Hammock-All, Murrells Inlet
