Lee's Inlet Kitchen

Lee's Inlet Kitchen We are now OPEN FULL TIME for the 2026 season! Monday-Saturday 4:30pm to 9pm

Voted Best Seafood Restaurant in South Carolina by Southern Living Magazine!
(1693)

One Family, 78 years! Located in historic
Murrells Inlet, South Carolina. ***HISTORY***

Lee's Inlet Kitchen is 77 years old! It's unheard of in this area for a restaurant to be operated by the same family in the same location for that long. In fact, Lee's is the only one of the original Murrells Inlet restaurants still being operated by the original family. Pearl and Eford Lee, originally from H

orry's Cool Springs area, moved to Murrells Inlet in the 1940's. Pearl worked at Garden City Grill as a waitress. Eford worked with the Army Corp of Engineers building the Intercoastal waterway and taking any odd jobs he could find, often searching out of state, to support his family of 5 children. The couple managed Lokey's cafe, later Wayside, then Charlie White's, before opening Lee's Inlet Kitchen in a converted country store. The small store had room for only 10 tables, and Pearl and Alzata Lee were the only 2 waitresses at opening. Their son Bill later took over in the 60's and ran the restaurant until his mother's death in 1983. His oldest daughter Kelly, and her husband Dexter Dorman then took over and have recently turned the business over after 40 years to their children, the fourth generation of Lees. The restaurant has been enlarged 6 times.

***A MESSAGE FROM THE OWNERS***

We have been lucky to "inherit" a lot of the staff that we have now. They are like family, and in fact, many are family. The nicest thing about the restaurant business is the people you work with and the customers you see year after year, many of which have been coming to Lee's from the beginning. We have people tell us all the time that they sat in a high chair here and now they bring their children in high chairs! We know how hard my grandparents worked in the beginning to build up the business that we're grateful for today. Alzata (our first waitress) told us they were open every day except Christmas, and sat here many a night with no customers. A business card was found in the attic where they lived with their children before they could afford to build a house, and the hours on the card were 6am to 11pm! We are proud to use the same recipes that they did and prepare the seafood in the traditional Murrells Inlet style that people tell us they can't find anywhere else.

- Dexter & Kelly Lee Dorman



****VISIT OUR SISTER RESTAURANTS****
The Chesapeake House and Chestnut Hill
http://thechesapeakehouse.com/
http://chestnuthilldining.com

For General Information, Please Message us.

Happy Sunday from LIK, MI!
08/30/2026

Happy Sunday from LIK, MI!

Thanks for the shoutout, we’re in good company!
08/29/2026

Thanks for the shoutout, we’re in good company!

Discover South Carolina seafood favorites serving steamed oysters, fried shrimp, fish-camp classics, Lowcountry sides, and memorable waterfront views.

Inlet moon 🌙
08/27/2026

Inlet moon 🌙

Inlet sunsets are the best kind 🌅
08/26/2026

Inlet sunsets are the best kind 🌅

We are hiring bussers and a salad person to help us through the rest of the season! Family environment, nights only, Sun...
08/19/2026

We are hiring bussers and a salad person to help us through the rest of the season! Family environment, nights only, Sundays off! If you know of a hardworking individual who would like to earn some extra cash, send them our way!

Happy Friday folks! Get your weekend started off right with some tasty favorites from LIK! See y’all soon!
08/07/2026

Happy Friday folks! Get your weekend started off right with some tasty favorites from LIK! See y’all soon!

A huge thanks to the Cox family for visiting us on their annual trip- their 66th year running! We always love to see the...
08/04/2026

A huge thanks to the Cox family for visiting us on their annual trip- their 66th year running! We always love to see them coming and like to guess how many they’re bringing, it was 65 folks this year!

Address

4460 US-17 Business
Murrells Inlet, SC
29576

Opening Hours

Monday 4:30pm - 9pm
Tuesday 4:30pm - 9pm
Wednesday 4:30pm - 9pm
Thursday 4:30pm - 9pm
Friday 4:30pm - 9pm
Saturday 4:30pm - 9pm

Telephone

+18436512881

Website

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