For real Southern cooking that will warm your heart and fill your tummy, you need to take a trip to the heart of it all. In South Carolina and other Southern states, you are sure to add a few pounds with enticing (and buttery) cuisines.
While my brother was stationed down in Charleston, it became a city I would visit often to see him. With all of my immediate family together in South Carolina, we would take trips into downtown Charleston for a day and our favorite place to dine: Hyman’s Seafood. This place fills me with great family memories and delicious food.
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The name may give you a few chuckles—especially since it is a seafood restaurant—but it is actually a family name. The restaurant has been run by four generations of the Hyman family. This restaurant is one of the most popular ones in the city (and even visited by a-list celebrities), so make sure you have a reservation for weekend dining.
Most seafood restaurants gouge you on the prices, but Hyman’s has reasonable pricing for the quality of service and food. Also, there are free appetizer’s that will fill you up before you even get your meal!
As soon as you sit down, there is food ready for you to eat. Up first is the boiled peanuts. If you have never tried it before, do! This is one of my favorite snacks in the South, and you can find them on various menus, food trucks and stands along the roads.
When you touch them, the shells are wet and soggy. Easily crack the shells and discard them, leaving you with the yummy boiled peanut. The taste is similar to cooked beans.
What is a seafood restaurant without fried hush puppies?! These small, cornmeal cakes come right out to the fryer and still are sizzling when they get to your table.
As a tourist, you can pick up coupons all around the city. When we went for a horse drawn carriage tour, the company gave us a coupon for a free appetizer of our choice. We opted for the Southern fried green tomatoes over grits.
Having grown up with summers filled with fried green tomatoes, it reminded me of home and special moments in my mom’s kitchen. Dipping the tomato slices into flour and watching them sizzle never failed to make my stomach growl. Although no one can touch my mom’s cooking, this buttery and fried dish deserves a metal.
After I scarfed down all the delicious appetizers, it was finally time to tackle my entrée. Oh right, I guess I did order more food. Topping off my array of southern style cooking, I picked one of the most stereotypical (and terrifying) item on the menu. An Alligator Sausage Po’Boy.
Having never tried alligator before, I was surprised by the taste of this sausage. It does have a slight fish taste, but the herbs and spices mute the flavors. Also, a bite of this checked off a bucket list item for me!
On the side is a delicious serving of coleslaw. What makes this different from others is the slices of pickle mixed into it.
After exploring Charleston, I would recommend a bite at Hyman’s Seafood. There is a reason why locals and tourists alike will direct you to this restaurant. If you hear any haters, it is most likely because they never tried the food!
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Did You Enjoy You Meal at Hyman's Seafood?
