The Original Benjamin's Calabash Seafood

We were giving the main dinner room seating and the ambiance was perfect with the ship and fish tanks. The food was hot and well prepared. We went during the week and off season so we had no wait. Sat immediately with no wait for crab legs. Children are allowed here and they were all pretty well behaved. Pasta chef was awesome. After I added my seafood, it made the perfect dish. The server was fast and brought fresh steak knives and drinks when needed. Would go back again without hesitation.

food options were ok I was disappointed at the desserts they all tasted mass produced nothing tasted homemade… I enjoyed the fried oysters and I appreciated them honoring my Gastric bypass card so I was charged $24.99

This place is simply wow! The food was fresh, flavorful, and absolutely delicious. The buffet offers an impressive variety of dishes, from seafood classics to hearty sides. The décor is spectacular – the whole interior is designed like the inside of a grand ship, with detailed nautical touches everywhere. There are ship models throughout, including an impressive Titanic replica, and even the servers are dressed in captain-style uniforms, which really adds to the atmosphere. As soon as you arrive, a doorman greets you and opens the door, making you feel like a special guest. There are plenty of tables, so it’s comfortable even when busy. It is on the expensive side – with tips, dinner for three came to $195 – but the quality, unique setting, and overall experience made it well worth it.

Went here tonight with my wife, the staff was great and the food was awesome. Plenty to chose from. If you're in the area stop in you won't be disappointed.

Ive been coming to Old Benji's for a couple years now and its my favorite restaurant. Hands down out of any sit down place this is my #1. The crab legs are always good sized and taste sweet. Its top notch to me that they have steamed oysters on the buffet. I have NEVER had a problem with any of the staff. Customers come from all walks of life to come here so I've seen some act quite foolish but the staff always handle it with as much grace as they can. We love to sit on the back side by the river when the sun is going down. The kids go downstairs to an arcade where they are just as content as they can be after their dinner. Theres a bar area, a gift shop, different levels and fully decorated rooms to sit in. My little slice of food heaven if you will.

The giantest seafood buffet on the planet with constantly changing selections to choose from, fried, steamed and broiled. The food was so good I waaaay overstuffed myself! My server had the most delightful southern drawl I'd heard in years. A very worthwhile experience.

Came at 4pm, left at 6pm. Food was hot, lots of variety, and crabbb legggssss!! I pretty much went for crab legs and ate sooooo much. They kept it stocked and had no issues keeping up with the crowds. Restaurant is quite large and very creative and unique dining rolls. The calabash (fried) seafood was quite tasty and some of the sides like Mac and cheese, crab something, and green beans were yummy. The tuna and salmon were not great. But the crab legs and fried shrimp were on point so I was happy! Felt like a Vegas buffet. $50 for unlimited crab legs was worth it!

We had a fantastic experience with Lily being our waitress. She was simply amazing and always there even before we needed her. The food was spectacular as always, we simply love this place. They offer the most crab you can ever eat in one setting. Not to count the ribeye steaks are phenomenal, and also part of the buffet. Everybody there has a smile and very professional, but also very homely. It’s one of the few places that is still family owned.

We loved the amazing service and the food. The snow crab was very good as well as the pasta station. They have a large variety of desserts. The ambiance of the restaurant is super cool! They have boats and just the layout of the restaurant is aesthetically pleasing. Don't expect the best seafood you've ever had but it's definitely very good for a buffet. The price is worth it and if you are planning to go to a buffet that has enough variety then this is your sign!

The restaurant needs an update it looks very old and dated. The food was just ok. The price of fifty dollars for an adult is reasonable if the food tasted better. The waiter was informed right away that our table was two checks and who was on each check. I think because we informed him right away he was thrown off his normal introductions etc. he asked if it was one check or two and who was on the check after his speech about the restaurant. This was our third time here there has been a decline in the taste and service.

I absolutely love this place. We went on a Friday night after Christmas and I've never seen it lined up like it was to get in. Even with a long line we were seated and eating within 15 minutes. Most everything was great. To be honest, I go for the crab legs. I did try the bbq ribs and pulled pork and didn't really like either. The broccoli cheese casserole had no taste. I was disappointed in the fried oysters. We were some of the first to go through the buffet and they were very soggy. The salad bar was great. I also got the beef tips and they were very tasty and tender. As for the crab legs, AWESOME as usual.

I can't believe some of the bad reviews! If you love seafood there is something here for you. Fried, steamed or broiled. Everything was delicious and the service excellent. I highly recommend.

Our family comes here every year!! Make sure to get the coupon from the coupon book available that are applicable for after a certain time of day in the afternoon. Make sure you come hungry and start with the Alaskan snow crab buffet!!! Other notable mentions in my book are the broccoli casserole the cheddar cheese biscuits and the ice cream machine! Service is always absolutely splendid. Servers are extremely attentive. The ambience is very nautical usually extremely busy so don't come within an inch of passing out of hunger because he will probably be waiting at least 20 minutes in line.

The food, ambiance, the service was Amazing. The atmosphere and friendly guests. I recommend this to anyone visiting Myrtle Beach area.

Come hear every time I visit Myrtle Beach. Amazing selection of seafood along with unlimited crab legs. The place is huge and it can get busy during dinner. Ribeye steak was the one item that didn't seem appetizing. My table ate all crab legs and I tried a variety of items. Everything I had was very good. We all left happy and extremely full.

To be fair I'm not a big fan of buffets, but I really wanted seafood. At $49.99 a head my expectations were high. The food was good... Not great. There were plenty of gluten free options, so that was a pleasant surprise. Honestly though the best prepared thing I ate was a fall vegetable medley. The seafood was nothing to write home about. In fact, the next day I ate a better piece of salmon at Denny's than anything I had at Calabash. Ambiance was fun and nautical, they clearly had invested a lot in that. The service was all right, we asked for the Little forks to help us with crab legs and it took her a good 10+ minutes to bring them.

We wanted to try a new buffet and opted for this one due to location and their hours. One downfall we were sat way in the back and forgotten land compared to the full restaurant on the other side of the building. I will say the staff was very helpful and friendly. And the crab legs were the best I have ever had while visiting the area.

I think this is definitely one of the better seafood buffets in north myrtle. The crab legs were solid and boy did I eat alot of them! Also had some ribeye and peach cobbler. All great! Unlike me, my kids tried everything they could. They said the desserts were their favorites, but I also heard the prime rib was good as well as the Crab cakes, shrimp. and tuna. My wife loved the crab legs and prime rib. Service was very good and pricing was what you would expect. I did hear there are coupons around but we did not have them and I ate enough crab legs that it felt like a good deal to me. Would go here again.

The food was very tasteful and so many options. Not just seafood options. There is so much to choose from. Loved everything I ate. A place where you can definitely stuff yourself and eat delicious variety of food. The service was really good too. They greet you and give you a tour before you get seated. Fun decor as well.

I dream of this place now that I've moved to Texas and I make it a point to stop if I ever am visiting back east. What's not to love? They set the standards for me when it comes to calabash buffet. Fried seafood is always fresh and crispy. The crab legs are always hot and packed full of meat (meaning it's quality and fresh, too!) Service is always great and when you go off peak season, there isn't a wait like during the holidays. Decor is what you'd expect but I guess it sets the tone well. Kids seem to enjoy all the nautical decorations.

A must go while in Myrtle Beach. Tons of seafood options all in one place. Everything I had was good, seafood or not. Staff are really nice and they have a big selection of items. Don't miss the steam crab legs. Regular and Cajun. Nice big place with plenty of seating. Good for groups.

The food is not hot! It's lukewarm to cold. We arrive 15 minutes after opening so we expected hot food. The hushpuppies were great. The service was good. We went on a Sunday around 3:45 pm. The food quality is average, but for two of us (no alcohol), the bill was $120. We can go to a higher end seafood restaurant for the same or less. The restaurant is nice and clean. It has ample seating to handle many patrons. Everything was fine if the food wasn't cold. I'm not even sure how this is possible so close to opening. We don't plan to return.

WOW!! I want to make sure Yelpers you feel my excitement in this review "The Original Benjamin's" very important!!! There is a copy cat named The Benjamin so please don't be fooled!!! 9593 N Kings HWY is the real deal! They cost the same, but allow me to tell you some major DIFFERENCES: experience, the top knotch service, the parking, the cleanliness, the decor' and the amazing selection of GOOD hot seasoned seafood; that has earned this establishment BEST awards hands down!! "The original Benjamin's" The sign is huge outside, like a beacon to bring you home to some amazing food. No problem finding a parking space on this huge lot. You walk up on a ships deck and we were wonderfully greeted by a deckhand. The door was opened for us and a line of wait staff greeted us, our personal tour started at that moment. We were walked around this jaw dropping floor plan. Dishes after dishes, seafood galore, pasta, sauces, and desserts, then shown to our seats. Very busy, but it was like we were the only ones there, meaning we were very well taken care of. Everything was seasoned well, cooked perfectly and there was sooo much to try. Everyone was so nice, professional & kind; which made it an enjoyable experience all around!! Shout out to the ladies behind the counters or in the boat; if you will. LOL! We expressed our gratitude for a lovely dining experience and that we traveled from Virginia & Whitsett, NC to embark on finding "The Original Benjamin's " We laughed as we shared we went to the wrong Benjamin upon arriving in South Carolina ‍ total opposite...no greeters, no HOT seasoned food it was aweful!!! Now we now better On this review I wish I could give 10 stars!!! Great job EVERYBODY!!!!!! It was truly an amazing visit. Yelpers please make this a must do stop if going to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Plentiful food, largest buffet with multiple types of cuisine. Our waitress was super friendly and attentive to every need. The dining room was filled with lots of couples and families even during December's slow season. We used a coupon taking $4.00 off each meal we found in an advertising pamplet at the visitors center. Definitely worth the trip!

I was so excited to come back because I used to visit here with my family as a child. I took my daughter for the first time, and although the restaurant has a fun vibe with lots of cool things to look at, the food wasn't that great. I was a little bummed to spend that much for my daughter to only eat a few mussels, some hush puppies, and an ice cream cone. The service was amazing, though. The food just seemed a bit bland, which I guess is to be expected when it's mass produced. The hush puppies were definitely the highlight! We did enjoy the gift shop and watching the boats go by on the deck, which made the visit feel special.

We went on Father's Day and predictably, it was packed. When we arrived at 3:15 (they open at 3:30), the line was already stretching down the parking lot. Once the doors opened, it moved quickly. They are very efficient at getting everyone seated and explaining the layout if it is your first time. Our server turned up promptly and was great at checking in and keeping the table cleared. They lose one star on the food - the crab legs and prime rib were amazing, the coconut shrimp and banana pudding really good. Everything else was okay but not memorable. We would go back for the crab legs and good service.

This place was fantastic! We arrived at 6 and were seated immediately. The staff were very friendly. Our waiter was attentive and cleared plates regularly. The food was all delicious. Everything was of great quality and was seasoned surprisingly well. The steak was the most surprising item. It was so good. They had plentiful options and had many things for non seafood eaters if you don't like seafood. Of course they have crab legs and they are unlimited. They keep them stocked and they are fresh and steamed. The price is $49.99 per person and $3.49 for drinks. Water is free. The nautical theming is very neat throughout the entire restaurant. There are many ship and aircraft models. Overall, I think this buffet is definitely worth the price and is one of the best options for a seafood buffet in the Myrtle Beach area.

This is our last stop at Myrtle Beach after water sports. Truly remarkable experience and I can tell you this is way better than buffet in Vegas. Their crab legs are fresh and sweet, even my husband really enjoyed it! We had a blast just picking out crab legs and it's so good even without the butter! And those hush puppies... oh gosh! Crispy, crunchy, yet still chewy inside. It's almost like a really nice donuts that you can just keep eating!! Service was also amazing. Wendy was our server and she made sure our needs were met. Really attentive, caring, and serving. The restaurant itself is roomy and not loud, it's surprisingly clean with no fish odor at all. We were very happy with the experience!

Service was excellent- drinks always full- plates always clears- Food was amazing-- there was 7 of us and all 7 enjoyed their food

Was here for a family gathering this past weekend. Sorry, but this place was below average at best. WAY too many people in the restaurant with LONG LINES, to enjoy any semblance of the buffet and the quality of the food was not very good. At $55 per person, even kids, I'd expect way better quality than this. Will never return.

I it was some solid food bad crab also was sick when I went. Service amazing I mean just great. The scene was great.

It's a lot for a lot. It's been a while since I've been here, circa 2015, but nothing has changed. For folks that don't do crab legs I'm not sure it's worth the expense. The service is mhew, the food is mhew, the ambiance is mhew.

If you are traveling and looking for spot to all you can eat in myrtle beach this is the best place! Crab legs everywhere the food is delicious with multiple options. The wait can be long depending if you go during peak seasons but they will serve you if your inside also parking isn't that great if it's a full house

Came here during my vacation in Myrtle Beach and had a great experience! (Very pricey but mostly worth it) I got to try so many different kinds of fish I hadn't before and enjoyed everything I had whether it was grilled, fried or had a shell! This is the perfect place to go if you want to try a lot out! The service was top notch, very attentive and helpful, never letting a drink glass get even close to empty and making sure plates are cleared when needed! Lastly, the ambiance. This place is so vibrant and fun, it would be hard not to look all around you as you enjoy your meal! Like I said in the beginning, this buffet is incredibly pricey but well worth the price if you're feeling adventurous about trying fish and have the extra money to spend on a big meal!

"Fantastic experience! The food was absolutely delicious, and our waiter was top-notch--friendly, attentive, and always made sure we had refills and a clean table. Great service all around. Highly recommend!"

Went here because a beach trip is not complete without crab legs for my husband. This was a wonderful place. The food was hot and very good!! Salad bar was very good. Our server was so sweet. It's a really cool place and we've tried a lot of them. This will be our new favorite. Going back in a week and plan on taking my grandkids and daughter.

Good food. Very pricey. Good value only if you eat everything. For the average buffets goer, it's not worth it. Service is quick and friendly. Cool design inside.

I dont know how this got to be 2nd best on Yelp. It was awful. Sides were cold or weird tasting. The red skin potatoes in the scallop potaotes tasted fine 1st trip, 2nd trip the new pan the potatoes were not cooked enough. The desserts? Most all the cakes were the SAME yellow cake with a cheap waxy version of cool whip (not real whipt cream) and coconut sprinkles for 'coconut cake', strawberry slime for strawberry cake, lemon goo for lemon cake. Even the key lime was gooey & strange. Yes they had crab & shrimp. So does EVERYONE. Its the side dishes that make a good buffet (unless you plan to eat NOTHING but crab) Lots of fried 'calabash' stuff. This was the worst $50 per person meal Ive ever had. Capt Jacks was WAY better for same price.

Rating based on my comparison w other buffets I've visited. Went here w the in-laws while on vacay. This place is huge w a lot to see and the service was really good. I don't usually expect the level of service at buffet and don't really do buffet but my fam is seafood lovers especially crab legs. They have a good variety of food and a shortage calabash line. I didn't try that because I don't condone a lot of fried food. The crab legs were pretty good for mass consumption. They give you melted butter prepared in a cup which was a plus regrading waiting time for ppl to get it themself. Very efficient. What caught me by surprised was the ribeye, this was very good, again for steak prepared for mass consumption. I had seconds of this and beets were made very well. Devil eggs were meh. Ok. Lastly I did manage to have dessert but only a couple oatmeal type raisin cookies. If I came back to Myrtle and someone wanted to come here I would go w but buffets are not really my thing and doubt I would go on my own. But recommend it to anyone who likes buffet and can consume pounds of crab legs.

As a local this is the best of the best all you can eat buffet in Myrtle Beach! The service is always top notch and the decor alone is worth a trip. So many cool nautical antiques and even an on site model ship builder and kids play area makes this great for the whole family! The crab legs are the best I have had and the tomato pie is one of my favorites! Definitely try this place!

This was my first time here and although I'm not much for seafood, I enjoyed the variety of food. My daughter loved the shrimp and crab legs. If you're not hungry or like me, can't eat a lot at one sitting, it's a hefty price to pay for a meal ($50 for adults). But fully worth it for those who enjoy lots of seafood. The hush puppies are to die for and our server even wrapped some up for us to take home. The desserts are just ok but everything else is very fresh and delicious. We will be back.

We had prompt and attentive service during our visit from the wait staff. I consumed mostly snow crab which was excellent. Others tried various items and the coconut ship was mentioned a liked item. While a bit pricey, we always visit at least once when in MB.

Wanted to try and after several reviews I read I am not impressed. That is my first and last time in this place. Not many baked fish choices and the crab legs so hard to break must be very old. Oh well lesson learned! Not sure where people are saying best place!

The Original Benjamins Calabash is always the go to spot for visiting Myrtle Beach. It's actually, in my opinion, the best seafood buffet spot in the area. The crab legs are always a hit. This time however they could have used a bit more seafood seasoning. Nonetheless they were still good. Benjamin's always have such great variety and selections of dishes whether main meat dishes, different types of seafood and various vsides. Besides the crab legs, I tried shrimp, salmon, greens, mac n cheese, mashed potatoes with gravy. All the dishes this time were kind of okay unlike previously when they were all very very good. So overall the crab legs were the best thing on the menu this time for sure. As for service, the waitress assigned to our table was always on time and on point refreshing drinks and removing plates. She was also cordial. The ambiance was nice as always especially since we arrived at opening and it wasn't crowded. I will always return when visiting the area. Sorry no pictures this time as I purposed to just simply enjoy.

There are all you can eat seafood restaurants galore in Myrtle Beach that all feature ALASKAN CRAB. It's a pricey dinner but very reasonable for all you can eat crab. After a little research, Original Benjamin's stood out as the best. It did not disappoint! Beyond the food, thus is the LARGEST showcase of real marine artifacts on the east coast of the US so it's worth walking around. Like most local seafood buffets, it is huge selection with 170 items (includes every salad dressing and condiment). Our waitress said she counted one day and verified the claim. The star of the buffet is the ALL YOU CAN EAT ALASKAN CRAB. They do serve fried blue crab, which is local to east coast, but Alaskan crab tastes better and is the star. Our waitress said they serve 4000lbs of crab each day in the summer and 500,000lb a year. Thats a crazy amount of crab! The buffet also serves salads, soups, fish, Calabash seafood (fried seafood), potatoes, and of course a desert bar including soft serve ice cream. I have to be honest that a few of the non-crab items were good but not crave worthy. The crab chowder was delicious, as were the cheddar biscuits and mashed tators. I did not like the crab cakes, and I couldn't finish the Crab Rangoon. Be sure to tour the restaurant to see all the themes dining rooms filled with model boats. You can see the office where the boat model works and might get a chance to meet him. These is a back deck that overlooks the river with corn hole and rocking tables (like a rocking chair but is a whole picnic table that rocks). It's a great stop if you want a seafood buffet in Myrtle Beach. Check for coupons before you go and show your coupon upon checkin. Coupons appeared to be popular and we were not not prepared, so we paid full price.

Took my Mom there for her birthday and the food was awful. We could taste sugar in most dishes. Bland and under seasoned. Some dishes undercooked and most overcooked. The place was clean. Waiter was not attentive. Worst seafood meal since Captain Ds.

We loved the meal. The crab legs and shrimp were cooked perfect, everything was tasty and the service was great. This was our 2nd time there and we decided this place is our favorite of all the seafood buffets at Myrtle Beach and we have tried them all.

We celebrated my birthday. This is an establishment that never disappoints. We ate delicious food and had a great time!

Benjamin's is a tradition when coming to Myrtle Beach for my family, but I am not the biggest fan. Although their decor choices are epic, the food is a little lackluster. (But they also have not seemed to dust or clean the restaurant in a while, cobwebs galore) Their buffet choices range from seafood to pasta to dessert, but the family loves coming here for the crab legs - I mean who doesn't? However, the food is not amazing. It's alright. And in my opinion, over priced if you're not demolishing the endless crab legs. Maybe provide a lower priced option for those not eating the higher priced proteins? If you do end up coming, be prepared for a long wait! 6/10 - meh

Crab legs was great the oysters was a little different, thought I was going to have raw half shell but turned out in clumps of steamed oysters in stead . The other food on the buffet was so so bout the same as most buffets. The waitress very nice and kind and really worked hard the whole time we were there to take care of all the tables around us , I would give her 5 stars. The women that took us to your table took us around the long way to the table and didn't show use where the food was or explain the buffet like I seen other hosts do after we found the food and began our adventure in this restaurant which had us lost for a short time. Thanks

She's beauty, she's grace, she's everything I could ever want in a buffet. I think my only gripe is that they don't have a location near me. Honestly though that's probably a good thing. I would be 50 pounds heavier if I lived within an hour of this place. I've been coming here since I was a child so excuse the bias, but I think they offer a great selection of seafood, fried goods, desserts, side dishes, pasta, and red meat. I love that when the host brings you to your table they stop by the kitchen and get a few baskets of hushpuppies and whipped butter. The pure joy I feel when I can sit down and immediately go to town on hushpuppies is unmatched. Because I went on the off season, we had no wait, but if you're going in the summer, I would suggest taking advantage of yelps waitlist feature.

Very nice buffet although it is kind of pricey. This place is massive and there is a ton of options to choose from. We enjoyed our meal and the waiter was very good. Prompt and friendly service. Would definitely revisit. They do offer military discount which was nice. The nautical theme is pretty neat.

The best place to get crab in town So so much stuff to pick from on buffet Everything so good.

We really enjoyed eating here on our visit to Myrtle Beach. The service was friendly and accomadating, the food delicious and hot. There was something for everyone, not only seafood but meat and poultry dishes, salads and many vegetable sides plus plentiful desserts at the buffet. . Hush puppies with butter brought to the table. The buffet prices around $50 for adults and much less for children. We enjoyed everything, from fried and battered seafood, to salads and dessert. This was the second time I ate here and it was just as great as the first time!

If you're looking for a calabash buffet this is the place to go. If you are looking for less breaded seafood this is not my first choice. The buffet was good but the desserts didn't have a whole lot of flavor. The crab was very watery which was annoying and messy. They had pretty standard pricing. $49.99 a person and $3.49 drinks. The process to get seated was organized and efficient. Our server didn't refill our drinks unless we asked. The downstairs area with the boat building and child's area was a good idea but needs a serious remodel and cleaning. If we had came downstairs first we would have left without eating because it seemed old and dirty.

Delicious and plentiful crab. Much better than Captain George's in Myrtle Beach. None better

Great experience and our waitress and the manager were very nice and attentive! Best seafood buffet in the area, we tried 5 diverted places and this is the only one I would definitely come back to!