Top Southeast Asian restaurants in Murrells Inlet, United States

My son and daughter-in-law treated us to The Blue Elephant last night and all I can say is WOW! Best Thai food that I have ever eaten. I’ve read a lot of reviews complaining about the time, and not being able to get a seat when they see open seats. This establishment is ran by one man. He does everything, from seating you and getting your drinks, to cooking and preparing the food and all the while making sure your drinks are refilled. This is why it is by reservation only and why you see open seats. He is doing everything by himself and filling up a restaurant would not be feasible. I will say if you ever get the chance and make a reservation, do it!!

Five of us had a wonderful intimate dinner tonight. The owner, chef (in 24th year) waited on us and served up a delicious meal that included appetizers, pad Thai, shrimp dish and beer and wine. Have been before and will come again. NOTE: mandatory to make a reservation or do take out.

a gem of a place. the food was phenomenal. it is reservations only but well worth it. it’s also one guy here running the entire thing by himself. we had the dumplings, spring rolls, and chicken skewers for starters. we had the pad thai, the duck, a pork curry and a shrimp fried rice for entrees. definitely check this place out

The decor and everything else was absolutely beautiful! The food was amazing! Truly authentic Thai food! By reservation only. Very expensive but worth every penny!!!! Made to order by the chef and owner, Doc. He is a very sweet man and an amazing chef! A definite must visit if in Murrell's inlet! I had the Crispy Duck Pad Tai(I think). I got it Medium, very spicy! Got even more spicy after sitting in the fridge for a few days. More food than we could eat in one sitting!!! Warning Authentic spice level will beat even the most stout person! If you ask they will let you try the spice before you order so you can judge how spicy you want it. Ten times hotter than any 'authentic' Thai restaurant I have ever been to! But it's a sneaky heat so you get to taste all the flavor before the heat kills your taste buds lol. Warning the duck dishes are real duck so keep an eye out for bones! Doc is the only person in the kitchen so be patient!

Several things you should know before you go here: Cash only. One guy is the owner, chef and waiter. It may be slow and dishes may come out at different times. If you're a persnickety customer, stay away. If you can handle some small glitches, be patient and you'll be rewarded with really good Thai food. Go with folks you like and the wait won't be a deal breaker. The Pad Thai is authentic and full of flavor. Any of the curry dishes (especially duck) will be awesome. Great menu. Plenty of parking

We had an unforgettable dining experience at Blue Elephant Thai Cuisine in Murrells Inlet, SC as always! ✨From the vibrant flavors to the beautiful presentation, this place will exceed all expectations. 😍 The pineapple fried rice with salty pork floss was a tasty revelation, elevating the dish to a whole new level of deliciousness. When I’m telling you that this dish is 100/10 highly recommend, I’m not exaggerating.🍍🐖 But that's not all! The green curry was bursting with flavor once I added a little bit of the salty pork floss. It needed salt but it’s not readily available on the table. 🌿🌶️

Some key notes/takeaways:

-Reservation only

-Cash only

The owner is usually the only person running the show here so reservations are a must. No walk ins unfortunately. The food is a work of art and a culinary adventure for the taste buds for sure. 🖼️ The dishes can be spicy so please note if it says spicy on the menu it’s gonna be hot. 🌶️ 🥵 This isn’t the place where you want to go all out and order a spice level higher than two. My husband and I love spice and found out years ago this one tip can ruin your evening. 😂

With that being said it is a must try if you live or are visiting the Grand Strand. Don’t try to dine here if you are in a rush. Plan a nice date night and enjoy each others company.

If you're in the area, I highly recommend giving this gem a try. Trust me, your taste buds will thank you! 😋 #BlueElephantThaiCuisine #MurrellsInletSC #FoodieParadise #FlavorfulDelights #MyrtleBeachFoodieBabe #ThaiFood

So, you must call ahead and reserve a spot. Do not expect fast dining. However, you can expect fantastic dining.

Chef Paul is so courteous and kind and the food he prepares so lovingly for his customers is nothing short of amazing.

The atmosphere is unmatched and decorated very well. I would absolutely come here again to make it a yearly tradition.

If you are having doubts, I urge you to try it. The quality of the food and the service will not disappoint.

As an appetizer, I wanted the Calamari but it was unavailable. So I opted for soft wontons stuffed w chicken and swimming in a delicious liquid. My wife had the fried veggie spring rolls tht had a vinegar peanut sauce.
As an entree I had the highly recommended crispy duck. The sauce was out of this world fantastic with ginger and pineapple dominating. It included broccoli, mushroom, bamboo shoots and peas that were to perfection and served with white rice. I thought the duck was over cooked but I ate every morsel. My wife had Thai shrimp fried rice. It was nothing spectacular but good enough. The shrimp needed cooked a bit more. They were soft and rather flavorless.
The chef was the waiter as well.
This place accepts cash only and requires a reservation for dine in. There is Togo available with call in orders. With two beers and a green tea the bill was $95.
There's a bit of a lack of attention to detail. Spots on the table cloth and a chipped water glass... Small dining area, only one employee/owner, no credit card acceptance. We were too full for desert. Ambiance was quiet. No music. Nice ornate woodwork.
I'd dine here again.