River City Cafe built its reputation on one thing: big, creative, unapologetically loaded burgers. The Myrtle Beach institution calls itself home of the “Best of the Beach” burger — and reviewers keep backing that claim, rating it around 4.5 stars across Google, Yelp, and Tripadvisor. Here’s a rundown of the most-praised burgers at River City Cafe, based on the actual menu and what diners keep raving about in reviews.
How This List Was Built
This isn’t a fabricated ranking. It’s a “most-praised” list: real burgers from the River City Cafe menu, cross-checked against review themes from Yelp, Tripadvisor, Wanderlog, and travel blogs. Prices are from the current menu and can change — check the full River City Cafe menu with prices for the complete picture.
The 10 Most-Praised Burgers at River City Cafe
- The OMG Burger — The signature. The restaurant itself tells you to ask about it (“it’s worth the trip,” per their own description), and reviewers treat it as the must-try. The exact build is a guarded house secret, but it’s the burger locals tell first-timers to order.
- Surf-N-Turf Burger — $17.99 — Topped with a grilled 1¼ lb shrimp cake, pepper jack cheese, homemade bangin’ sauce, lettuce, and tomato. Multiple reviewers call this one out by name as a standout.
- Palmetto Cheese Burger — $10.99 — Topped with homemade pimento cheese. A blogger reviewer loved this Southern twist, and the pimento-cheese angle keeps showing up in praise.
- Fork & Knife Burger — $11.99 — Sautéed fresh mushrooms and onions, smothered in brown gravy, served on Texas toast. One travel blogger had the chicken version and called the whole dish tasty — the burger version is the classic.
- Fried Mac & Cheese Burger — $11.99 — A breaded loaf of fried mac & cheese plus melty American. Pure comfort-food overload and one of the most-photographed items on the menu.
- Dilly-O Burger — $11.99 — Hickory smoked bacon, American, homemade ranch dressing, pickles, and spicy dill potato chips. Crunchy, tangy, and different from anything else on the menu.
- Continental Burger — $12.29 — A fried egg, hickory smoked bacon, American, lettuce, tomato, and mayo. A Tripadvisor reviewer had the version with the fried egg on top and said her husband loved it.
- Three Alarm Fireburger — $11.99 — Blackened patty smothered in hot sauce and jalapeños with pepper jack. The heat-seeker’s pick.
- DBL Bacon Smash Burger — Two quarter-pound beef patties with crumbled hickory smoked bacon. One reviewer said each bite was “a harmonious blend of flavors and textures.”
- Shoestring Burger — $11.19 — Crisp lettuce, tomatoes, fried onion strings, and tangy petal sauce. The onion strings are a signature RCC touch.
Worth an Honorable Mention
Grilled Onion Cheddar Burger ($11.99), Cheese Lovers Burger ($11.19) covered in four cheeses, the Nacho Crunch Burger, Texas BBQ Burger, and even a peanut butter burger all get love in reviews. Burgers come with your choice of lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, mustard, and mayo, plus a cheese lineup of American, smoked gouda, cheddar, Swiss, pepper jack, provolone, or bleu cheese crumbles.
What Reviewers Keep Saying
Across Yelp, Tripadvisor, and Wanderlog, a few themes repeat: burgers that are “the best we have had,” friendly staff, reasonable prices (around $10–$20 per adult), free peanuts with shells on the floor, paper tablecloths for coloring, and license-plate-covered walls. The two recurring complaints: service can slow down during peak beach crowds, and some dishes (fries, chicken sandwiches) are more hit-or-miss than the burgers. Verdict from reviewers: if you’re going, go for a burger.
Planning Your Visit
There are seven River City Cafe locations along the Grand Strand, all open daily at 11 AM. See our guide to River City Cafe hours & locations to find the one nearest you — and if you want a cold drink with that burger, the River City Cafe drink menu has cocktails starting at $7.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is River City Cafe known for?
Its “Best of the Beach” burgers — big, creative builds like the OMG Burger and Surf-N-Turf — plus a funky, family-friendly atmosphere with peanuts on the floor and license plates on the walls.
What is the OMG Burger at River City Cafe?
It’s the restaurant’s signature burger, heavily promoted by River City Cafe itself as “worth the trip.” Reviewers treat it as the must-try item, though the exact recipe is a house secret.
Are River City Cafe burgers worth it?
Based on roughly 4.5-star ratings across review platforms and repeated “best burger on the beach” claims from diners, yes — especially at around $10–$18 per burger. Stick with the burgers; side dishes get mixed reviews.
Does River City Cafe have gluten-free burgers?
There’s no official gluten-free menu, but many GF diners order burgers without the bun or in a lettuce wrap. See our River City Cafe gluten-free guide for the honest details.
