Big Tuna’s wins The State’s Lake Murray Restaurant Poll. What to know about them
Big Tuna’s Kitchen & Kraft in Lexington was crowned the winner of The State’s 2026 Lake Murray Restaurant Poll. The unscientific poll drew more than 13,800 total votes from readers choosing among 16 restaurants on or near Lake Murray.
FULL STORY: Who came out on top of The State’s Lake Murray Restaurant Poll? Meet the winner
Here are key takeaways:
- Big Tuna’s Kitchen & Kraft, at 1345 Old Chapin Road in Lexington, finished first with 52% of the votes. San Jose & Marina in Leesville came in second with 38%, and Irmo’s Tavern on 6 placed third with 6%.
- Owner Jeff Butler has been in the restaurant business for more than four decades and previously ran Baja Broiler at the same location. Big Tuna’s has operated there for about six years.
- The restaurant’s menu includes twice-cooked Buffalo wings, pan-seared ahi tuna, ribs, Baja-style chicken, burgers, steaks, tacos and burritos. Butler cooks over lump charcoal, saying the flame grilling “gives it a different layer of flavoring that nobody else can compete with.”
- The restaurant’s name comes from Butler’s son William, a former championship wrestler at River Bluff High School nicknamed “Tuna.” Jeff picked up “Big Tuna” in turn.
- Big Tuna’s is open 4 to 10 p.m. Tuesday and 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. It is closed Mondays.
The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The full story in the link at top was reported, written and edited entirely by journalists.
Chris Trainor
The State