Crawling roaches. Black buildup. Myrtle Beach area restaurants with the worst inspections

Eleanor Nash
·2 min read

From food stored outdoors to leaky ceilings, South Carolina health inspectors found numerous violations at Myrtle Beach-area restaurants this week.

The state releases grades and inspection reports for food establishments across Horry and Georgetown counties.

Here are the restaurants that received some of the lowest ratings this week.

Mon Cafe Japan in Surfside Beach

  • Location: 2734 Beaver Run Blvd. A, Surfside Beach

  • Grade: B, 79% for a routine inspection on Sept. 12.

An employee touched a raw steak and then put food on plates without washing their hands, an inspector witnessed. Both chemicals and a dirty dicer with food on it were stored with clean equipment. Cooked chicken and sauces were not marked with required dates. The mandatory follow-up inspection has not yet been held. Read Mon Cafe Japan’s full report.

Four Points by Sheraton

  • Location: 101 Fantasy Harbour Blvd., Myrtle Beach

  • Grade: B, 79% for a routine inspection on Sept. 13.

An inspector discovered “pink slime build up” and mildew inside the ice machine. Water pooled at the bottom of a small refrigerator, whose temperature was 67 F. The kitchen did not have any sanitizer for washing dishes. The required follow-up inspection has not yet been held. Read the full report for Four Points by Sheraton.

El Mercadito Chiapaneco

  • Location: 1801 Park View Road, Conway

  • Grade: B, 81% for a routine inspection on Sept. 11.

An inspector found food stored outside. Behind the restaurant, flies landed on an open box of dried peppers. Daylight shone through a gap between the wall and the wall AC unit. The required follow-up inspection has not yet been held. Read the full report for El Mercadito Chiapaneco.

Drunken Jack’s Restaurant

  • Location: 4031 Highway 17 Business, Murrells Inlet

  • Grade: B, 82% for a routine inspection on Sept. 12.

Cockroaches crawled around bar items at this Marsh Walk restaurant, an inspector observed. Two coolers did not keep food, like steak and shrimp, cold enough. Coleslaw, cooked potatoes and other pre-made items lacked proper dates. The required follow-up inspection has not yet been held. Read Drunken Jack’s full report.

Wicked Tuna at the 2nd Ave. Pier

  • Location: 110 N. Ocean Blvd., Myrtle Beach

  • Grade: B, 83% for a routine inspection on Sept. 14

The inspector found missing ceiling tiles and a leaky roof in the prep and salad area. Black buildup was left inside of one of the ice machines and the dish machine was repaired with duct tape. The required follow-up inspection has not yet been held. Read Wicked Tuna’s full report.