O.A.K. Prime Kitchen and Bar is giving the Grand Strand another reason to celebrate its culinary talent.
The locally owned Carolina Forest restaurant has retained its place in the 2026 MICHELIN Guide American South, marking its second consecutive year of recognition. Executive Chef Jerrett “JK” King attended the Oct. 21 ceremony at The Pinnacle in Nashville, where MICHELIN unveiled this year’s selections.
O.A.K. Prime first appeared in the inaugural American South guide in 2025, becoming the first Myrtle Beach-area restaurant to be included. Its continued recognition puts a local business and the people behind it in front of an international audience of food-focused travelers.
Local roots, distinctive flavors
For King, the recognition is a milestone in a career rooted in the Grand Strand.
A Myrtle Beach High School graduate and former basketball player, the self-taught chef began working in area restaurants as a teenager. He honed his cooking and kitchen-management skills before opening O.A.K. Prime with business partners in 2023.
Today, the restaurant serves prime steaks, fresh seafood and reimagined Southern favorites, complemented by wine and handcrafted cocktails. Its name, “One of a Kind,” reflects an approach that combines familiar flavors with creative preparation in a refined, welcoming setting.
King’s accomplishments also include winning “Chef Swap at the Beach” and earning two Trio Dinner People’s Choice awards.
Part of South Carolina’s growing culinary story
O.A.K. Prime joins restaurants across South Carolina recognized in this year’s guide, including establishments in Charleston, Greenville, Columbia, Bluffton and other communities. Statewide honorees span MICHELIN Selected restaurants, Bib Gourmand distinctions and one MICHELIN Star restaurants.
Together, these recognitions showcase the range of culinary experiences across South Carolina, from coastal traditions to inventive interpretations of Southern ingredients.
For the Grand Strand, O.A.K. Prime’s continued inclusion offers another opportunity to introduce travelers to the region’s dining scene. It also recognizes the talent, dedication and hospitality that local restaurant teams bring to our community every day.
Congratulations to Chef King and the entire O.A.K. Prime team on this achievement and on helping tell the Grand Strand’s culinary story.