La Hacienda Mexican Restaurant is located 4.5 miles from The Market Common at the end of a grocery store shopping center in Socastee, SC. It has all the charm I would expect out of a good Mexican joint. I’ve been dining here off and on for years and have never had a bad experience.
The margaritas here at La Hacienda are pretty good, and if you’re lucky enough to have the owner of the establishment make it for you, it will knock your socks off. The proprietor/manager of this fine establishment is always cheerful and has a keen mind for customer service. If I ever did have a problem with a plate or a drink at this place, I really don’t recall, because they just do things right, here.
When I arrive at La Hacienda, I’m always greeted right away with a smile and often welcomed in like family. Once I’m seated, extra thin cantina style chips and salsa is seemingly rushed to my table and my drink order is taken. Now, I know my salsa well. I love it mild, medium, or hot, and I’m particularly intrigued when it has a little cilantro or cumin. Oddly enough, I don’t always get the same flavor out of the salsa consistently every time I visit this restaurant. For me, this indicates that they probably make it from scratch. You can likely tell who’s cooking in the kitchen that day by the flavor of the salsa. If you visit often enough, you know just which of your favorite dishes to order by how the salsa tastes. Today, the salsa had a bit of a canned tomato taste to it, and it was very mild to me. However, I think my current medications have altered my taste buds, and I don’t think I’m a very good judge about the nuances of tomatoes at the moment. Besides, it’s winter, and tomatoes aren’t exactly in season. If I recall correctly, during one of my first visits to this place, I realized a few other patrons had more than one variety of salsa on the table. Well, I wanted what they were having, so I asked about it. I was impressed when they brought me an additional two types of salsa. I don’t know if they still have the same salsa offerings, but it might be worth asking if you like it a little spicier. After all, over the years I have noticed that this place very much caters to the locals and their tastes. They pay attention, and you can’t ask for more than that.
The servers are always friendly and attentive. The menu has changed slightly over the years, but their vision has remained the same. They have some amazing choices along with the typical fare you find at most Mexican restaurants. The children’s menu has the typical treats for young ones, but also includes more culturally appropriate and healthier items that kids will enjoy.
My kid is quickly growing out of children’s menu choices, so I had him look at the appetizer menu. A no frills Quesadilla Mexicana filled with ground beef seemed like a yummy option. It wasn’t the deluxe entrée version, so it came as expected. The first thing I noticed was the fresh homemade tortilla followed by the volume of meat contained inside. It looked like a full meal all by itself for a boy, which is exactly what we needed. The beefy quesadilla had great flavor. Of course, being made with ground beef, it was a little on the greasy side, but that’s to be expected. If we were looking for a lower fat option, the shredded beef quesadilla would have been leaner on the fat without sacrificing any flavor. Next time, we’ll probably go for one of the healthier quesadilla options, but today, we just wanted to splurge a little.
I decided on a much healthier entrée for myself. My choice today was the Tostadas de Ceviche. It’s a long time favorite of mine. they asked me for my preference of fish, shrimp, or octopus, but I wasn’t about to miss out on the goodness of all three combined with onion and cilantro. I like to trust the chef or I might miss out on something really tasty. To exclude the octopus or shrimp would be just plain sad. You’ve never had good, tender octopus until you’ve had it ceviche style cured by the acids of citrus fruit. The avocado and extra lime make this dish very satisfying. Ceviche is often served with some sort of hot sauce.
I wasn’t about to go with Tabasco since I really don’t care for it. No, for this plate, I prefer the more authentic Cholula sauce. Once again, the tortillas had a handmade appearance, and their crispness held up well under the succulent toppings.
If you ever do come to Myrtle Beach, SC and get a hankering for a good cantina, this is the place to come if you’re on the south end of town. The food is much better here than some other overrated cantinas in the area without the inflated prices.
Located in the Food Lion shopping center in Socastee, SC
5711 Dick Pond Road • Myrtle Beach, SC 29588
(843) 650-3588
Website: La Hacienda
On Facebook: La Hacienda
Is it family friendly? Yes
Is it economical? Yes
Is the food good? Yes
Should I try a cocktail? Yes!
Customer Service? fanatastic
Is the location convenient? La Hacienda is located 4.6 miles from Market Common. Parking is minimal directly in front of the restaurant and can get tricky, but usually it isn’t a problem. Plenty of overflow parking at the shopping center.
Is the restaurant clean? Yes
Would it impress a date? Absolutely
Is it special diet friendly? Good vegetarian options*
Can my group meet here? Yes, but probably not a large one. It would be wise to call ahead.
Do I need a reservation? No, but I recommend giving them a little notice for groups over 6-8 people.
Would the Grand Strand Gastronome recommend it? Yes
*Always use caution with special diet needs at any establishment. Your server may not be aware of every ingredient used, and kitchen staff may not have the proper facilities to accommodate all food allergies.
Grand Strand Gastronome 