Restaurant Review: Hooters Offers More Than a Nice View

Hooters reputation has long been secure. Attractive waitresses in tiny neon orange shorts, tight white tank tops, and the chain’s suggestive name successfully established the brand years ago.

But there is more to Hooters than a stable of hot waitresses, especially along Myrtle Beach’s Grand Strand. Hooters was the forerunner for the wing craze that has swept America, the nation’s first nationally prominent restaurant that specialized in chicken wings. During Hooters emergence, it was based in Horry County, giving Myrtle Beach a unique connection to America’s most “delightfully tacky yet unrefined” restaurant.

Local businessman Bob Brooks, who has since passed away, purchased Hooters in the mid-1980s and turned it into a household name, much to the delight of the millions of people. Myrtle Beach is home to three Hooters and it has long been a favorite haunt for golfers.

The Hooters restaurants in Myrtle Beach have always made taking care of their core customers a priority. All three area Hooters offer what amounts to a free “replay” for golfers. Groups of four or less that return to an area Hooters for a second time during their trip get 10 free wings and a half pitcher of beer while groups of four or more get 20 wings and a full pitcher. (Just ask the store manager for the coupon on your first trip)

While wings remain Hooters signature offering, the menu has diversified over the years, as has the atmosphere for watching games. The crab legs, shrimp and hamburgers at Hooters are the equal (if not superior) of the other comparable chain restaurants that dot the area’s landscape.

Mix-in more than 20 high definition televisions at each Myrtle Beach location and Hooters has proven to be an outstanding place for post-round happy hour or even dinner.

“Hooters is a great place for golfers to go grab a cold beer and be surrounded by pretty girls,” said Paul Howard, the chain’s Coastal Carolina regional manager said.

The Verdict: Hooters is a known quantity. Over the years it has, understandably, become as identifiable for its wait staff as its food.  While the waitresses remain a draw, especially after staring at your buddies on the course for four hours, Hooters also offers quality food.

The wings are good and they offer 10 different sauces to choose from. Starting a meal with lots-a-tots or Hooters fried pickles (highly recommended) and a cold drink is ideal.

A trip to Hooters will bring a smile to your face.