If you’ve ever driven down Highway 17 Business toward the south end of the Grand Strand, you know the vibe changes. It gets a little saltier, a little slower, and definitely more "local." But there is one thing that causes a weird amount of confusion for tourists and locals alike: finding the Texas Roadhouse in Garden City South Carolina.
Here is the truth. Technically, there isn't a Texas Roadhouse with a "Garden City" mailing address.
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The restaurant everyone refers to as the Garden City location is actually situated at 3037 Highway 17 Business S, Murrells Inlet, SC 29576. Because Garden City and Murrells Inlet bleed into each other like spilled sweet tea on a paper map, most people staying in Garden City Beach consider this "their" Roadhouse. It’s right there. Basically a stone's throw from the pier.
Why This Specific Location Hits Different
Beach towns usually ruin chain restaurants. Usually, you get smaller portions, higher prices, and staff that looks like they’d rather be surfing. But the Murrells Inlet/Garden City location is an outlier.
It’s loud. It’s crowded. The air smells like yeast rolls and woodsmoke. Honestly, it’s one of the most consistent spots to grab a meal when you’re tired of paying $45 for a "catch of the day" that turns out to be frozen tilapia at a tourist trap.
People think because it’s a chain, it’s "fake" food. That is a massive misconception. Every morning, there is a literal meat cutter inside a 34-degree walk-in cooler hand-trimming every single steak you see in the display case. They aren't opening bags of pre-cut meat from a factory in the Midwest. They’re doing the work.
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The Strategy for Beating the Crowd
If you show up at 6:30 PM on a Friday in July, you are going to be waiting in the parking lot for two hours. Minimum. You’ll be leaning against your car, swatting mosquitoes, and questioning your life choices.
Don't do that.
Use the app. The "Join Waitlist" feature is the only way to survive. You can join the list while you're still rinsing the sand off your feet at the beach house. By the time you drive down 17, your table is almost ready.
Another pro tip? Early Dine. Monday through Thursday, usually before 6:00 PM, they have a specific menu where items like the 6-ounce sirloin or the herb-crusted chicken are significantly cheaper. It’s the best kept secret for families trying to feed three kids without taking out a second mortgage.
The Food: What’s Actually Worth It?
Most people go for the 6oz sirloin because it’s the cheapest. It's fine. It's lean. But if you want the actual best thing on the menu, you get the Ft. Worth Ribeye.
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The marbling in a ribeye means it’s going to be way more flavorful than a sirloin. Ask for it "medium" and let the fat render down. If you're feeling fancy, get it smothered with sautéed onions and mushrooms. It changes the entire experience.
Then there are the rolls.
They’re addictive. We all know it.
They bring them out hot with that cinnamon honey butter. Most people fill up on rolls and then take half their steak home in a box. That’s a rookie mistake. Eat one roll. Maybe two. Save the rest for breakfast the next morning—they make incredible sliders with leftover steak.
A Note on the "Roadhouse Grill" Confusion
You might see another place called "Texas Roadhouse Grill" near the Coastal Grand Mall in Myrtle Beach.
That is not the same thing. That is a local, family-owned spot (the Nance family) that has been around for decades. It's a "log cabin" style building and it's great in its own right, but if you are looking for the rolls and the line dancing, you want the corporate Texas Roadhouse in Murrells Inlet/Garden City. Don't confuse the two, or you'll end up at the wrong place with a very confused hostess.
The "Vibe" Factor
This location is high energy. If you want a quiet, romantic candlelit dinner where you can whisper sweet nothings, go somewhere else. Seriously.
At the Texas Roadhouse in Garden City/Murrells Inlet, the servers will eventually break into a line dance. There will be birthday shouts. There will be the sound of peanut shells crunching underfoot (though check local health codes, as some locations have pulled back on the floor-peanuts recently). It is a "come as you are" place. You can wear your flip-flops and a salt-stained t-shirt and nobody will blink an eye.
Actionable Steps for Your Visit
- Download the App Now: Don't wait until you're hungry. Get the Texas Roadhouse app and set the Murrells Inlet location as your favorite.
- Timing is Everything: Aim for "Early Dine" hours (3:00 PM – 5:30 PM) to avoid the chaos and save cash.
- Check the Meat Case: When you walk in, look at the steaks. You can actually point to the specific ribeye or strip you want them to cook. It sounds pretentious, but it ensures you get the cut you like.
- The "Roadie" Hack: If the wait is too long, they have a very efficient "To-Go" area. You can get the same steaks, the same rolls, and the same butter, but eat them on your balcony overlooking the ocean in Garden City.
The Texas Roadhouse in Garden City South Carolina (the Murrells Inlet one, remember?) stays busy because it works. It’s loud, it’s greasy in the best way possible, and it’s one of the few places where a family of four can leave full without spending $200. Just plan ahead, join the waitlist early, and for the love of everything, get the ribeye.