Myrtle Beach Foodie Babe

October 12, 2026

Myrtle Beach Cheap Eats Spot #1: Thai Lao

A Thai Lao lunch special featuring a bowl of soup with tofu and vegetables, a spring roll on the side, and dipping sauce, presented on a white plate.

If you’re looking for an affordable lunch in Myrtle Beach that still gives you plenty of food, Thai Lao is a great place to start.

I’m kicking off my Myrtle Beach Cheap Eats Series with a lunch special that comes in at just $12.99 and includes your entrée, soup, and a spring roll. In a time when it can be hard to find a full sit-down meal for under $15, this one definitely caught my attention.

Lunch special menu highlighting various Thai dishes with prices, including options like Pad Thai, Gang Dang, and Peanut Chicken, served with vegetable spring roll and soup.

A $12.99 Myrtle Beach Lunch Special

Thai Lao offers its lunch special from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., with a large selection of entrées to choose from. The lunch includes a vegetable spring roll and hot and sour soup, along with your choice of meat or vegetables.

There are plenty of options on the menu, including Pad Thai, fried rice, red curry, green curry, yellow curry, peanut chicken, basil stir fry, sweet and sour dishes, ginger stir fry, mixed vegetables, crystal noodles, broccoli dishes, pepper steak, and more.

That variety is one of the things that makes this such a good cheap-eats option. You aren’t limited to just one or two discounted dishes.

A vibrant plate of Pad Thai featuring stir-fried rice noodles with chicken, bean sprouts, and green onions, garnished with a lime wedge.

What We Ordered

I went with the Pad Thai, a classic choice made with rice noodles, egg, bean sprouts, green onion, and chicken. It was filling, flavorful, and exactly the kind of comfort-food lunch I was hoping for.

We also tried the Pad Preaw Wan, Thai-style sweet and sour chicken served with vegetables, pineapple, and rice. It had that balance of sweet and savory flavors, and the generous serving made the $12.99 price feel like an especially good deal.

Before the entrées arrived, we also had the soup and crispy spring roll that come with the lunch special.

So for less than $13, you’re getting a complete meal instead of just an entrée.

Plate of Pad Preaw Wan, featuring stir-fried chicken with mixed vegetables in a sweet sauce, accompanied by a serving of fluffy white rice.

Why Thai Lao Made the Myrtle Beach Cheap Eats List

My goal with this series is to find places around Myrtle Beach where you can enjoy a satisfying meal without spending a fortune, ideally keeping it under $15 per person.

Thai Lao checks all the boxes.

You get plenty of entrée choices, a starter, soup, and a filling portion for $12.99. It’s an easy option for a casual lunch whether you’re a local trying to save a few dollars or a visitor looking for an affordable break from more expensive vacation dining.

And that’s exactly what the Myrtle Beach Cheap Eats Series is all about: finding meals that are affordable without feeling like you sacrificed the experience.

A vibrant plate featuring Pad Preaw Wan stir-fry with mixed vegetables and chicken, accompanied by heart-shaped rice, a spring roll, and a bowl of soup. The image promotes Thai Lao's lunch special at Myrtle Beach for $12.99.

Myrtle Beach Cheap Eats: Spot #1

Thai Lao officially earns the first spot in the series.

If you love Thai food, are looking for lunch specials in Myrtle Beach, or simply want a meal that stays under $15, this is one to add to your list.

Price: $12.99 lunch special
Includes: Entrée, soup, and spring roll
Lunch Hours: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Now the big question: Would you order the Pad Thai or the Pad Preaw Wan?

And if you know another Myrtle Beach restaurant with a great meal for under $15, send it my way. I’m always looking for the next Myrtle Beach Cheap Eats spot.