Choosing a seafood restaurant to try in a coastal area can be quite a challenge, especially when you’re talking about Myrtle Beach, one of the top tourist destinations in the country. Everywhere you turn, there’s another place serving seafood. But not all of those restaurants are award-winning. Voted "Best of the Beach" by locals in The Sun News and Myrtle Beach Herald for multiple years, The Original Benjamin’s Calabash Seafood is not only award-winning, but it’s the largest restaurant in South Carolina, too. And you won’t believe the experience you’ll have eating here.

The Original Benjamin’s is known for introducing the Myrtle Beach area to Calabash-style seafood. This type of cooking originated in Calabash, NC, and is characterized as lightly battered and deep-fried. But if seafood isn’t your thing or you happen to be in the mood for something else, the restaurant also offers a full spread of Southern favorites, too. Oh, and check out the gift shop before you leave!

Each of the 11 dining rooms has its own unique theme and feel.

The Fish Camp Room is one of the most unique, featuring crab traps, nautical touches, and a full-sized school bus.

The views of the Intracoastal Waterway just behind the restaurant are nice to enjoy along with your meal if you get seated in The Waterway Room.

In the bar area, you’ll see a dry sea aquarium overhead!

Or you might get to dine by a regular aquarium and observe the fish while you eat.

The restaurant is home to one of the largest model ship collections in the world. You’ll see ships of all types and sizes throughout the restaurant, including historical cruise liners, Schooners, military ships, and even some airplanes.

Master Shipwright Jimmy Frost, who works for the restaurant, has either built or restored all of the models.

And now for the main attraction, of course, the food! The Original Benjamin’s offers an all-you-can-eat-style massive buffet, with over 170 items to choose from.

The buffet also includes various stations including a crab station, a carving station, a pasta bar, and a salad bar.

And there's even an in-house bakery, which creates fresh bread and desserts from scratch every day.

Or if you just want cocktails and crab legs, those are available at the bar!

Visit The Original Benjamin’s Calabash Seafood website and The Original Benjamin’s Calabash Seafood Facebook page for more information. Be sure to check out the Myrtle Beach Pinball Museum, a fun retro arcade, too!

Have you ever eaten at The Original Benjamin’s? Which dining room did you eat in? Share about it with us in the comment section below!