4. Restaurants

Hyman’s Seafood

215 Meeting St, Charleston, SC, 29401
  • (843) 723-6000
  • Store is closed

Hyman’s Seafood Menu

Sorry, We are updating this restaurant menu details.

Visit below restaurant in Charleston for healthy meals suggestion.

Charleston Grill ( 224 King St )

Sorry, We are updating this restaurant cholesterol menu details.

  • Kayla J.

    I would just like to go ahead and state that locals do not eat here. This is a major spot for tourists and those getting off cruise ships. If you want bleached frozen food aisle of the grocery store seafood then this is your spot. Also it's a fact that they rope off dining rooms to create waits (which explains the huge masses of people outside the restaurant on the sidewalk) in order to make the place look amazingly popular and worth the wait. There is a reason why their advertisements start at the airport. They are marketing geniuses making a killing off horrible food. No judgement if you love this place though; to each is own!

    (1)

  • Zach M.

    We went during a weekday, pretty crowded. Wait was 15 minutes for 8 people. Hush puppies served during the wait. I have a shellfish allergy so I had salmon. One of the better pieces of salmon I have ever had. The sweet potato fries were really good. Ceasar salad was lame. Wife got crab legs, she said they were good, not the best ever but good. Doubt you will have room for dessert we did not. Prices were reasonable. I would go back. Appetizers arrived after main course and were not discounted or removed from the bill. But other than that good experience, and neat layout/decor.

    (4)

  • Gary T.

    I checked this place out for lunch while walking around downtown Charleston. I walked by Hyman's a few times over the course of two days and there seemed to be a line outside every time, so it's definitely well-liked. The service was good and the food was 3.5 / 5 stars. Don't fill up on the hush puppies...they're delicious. I had the blackened swordfish with a side of steamed broccoli. All and all, a decent meal.

    (3)

  • Sheila C.

    We were told we must come here to eat on our vacation, so we did, of course! The atmosphere and entire restaurant has a cozy, comfortable feel to eat and lots of history to take in. The food was amazing and the portions were very large and very fresh! The waiters were so accommodating and the seating was fast and easy as they tell you your table number outside before you enter the restaurant!!! Last but certainly not least, the dessert was "over the top" wonderful!

    (4)

  • Lilee N.

    nothing too great. didnt quite understand the hype. slow service. food is underwhelming. had shrimp and gator po'boy. the hushpuppies were good, but nothing to make the effort to visit

    (2)

  • Joe U.

    Very disappointed, we drove especially to Charleston to eat here and did not like. We remember eating here two years ago, and the owners ran a superb restaurant. Our appetizer came late and the so called "squash casserole" was a squash mess and soupy. Also, they placed us at table 73 near the kitchen, awful, awful location for a table near the pick-up window and all the waitstaff congregated near our table to pickup orders. Yes, many movie stars and big wigs have eaten here, but it's not their endorsement. I reported it to the manager but all he could do was move our table back during our meal. They promote having good attitudes but not all staff seems to be smiling and friendly. Very disappointed, Sea Captain's in Myrtle Beach was far superior and service A++++++, the hushpuppies were even better.

    (2)

  • Michelle W.

    This was my third visit to Hyman's. Each time has been wonderful. This time, we had a coupon for a free crab dip, were treated to a free Wadmalaw Delight, and had an amazing lunch of crab cakes and shrimp and grits. Our server was attentive and kept our tea glasses full. I will definitely be back next time I visit Charleston.

    (5)

  • love lv f.

    I heard all the raves.... but then saw the reviews that were mediocre.. but my aunt had recently visited and loved the She-Crab Soup so I had to check it out. With the long wait, you knew it had to be good. We walked around the streets and came back to the bar and waited for our table. While in the bar we looked at the menu. Everything looked great, the descriptions of food had your mouth watering. But that's where it stopped. In our party of four.. we ordered the Gumbo, She-Crab soup and Potato Soup. Gumbo didn't have any large pieces of okra, lots of rice and bits of sausage. The shrimp was even diced. The She-Crab soup was a bland white roux with pieces of crab, small bits, but a lot of them. A little heavy handed on the salt, I thought the soup could have used a dash of sherry to bring out more flavor. The potato soup had the most flavor and was delicious. We ordered all appetizers because there were so many to choose from, you couldn't decide... I was looking forward to trying the Fried Green Tomatoes, I am going to have to try them again somewhere else, these appeared to have come out of a box frozen not sliced up fresh and fried. Steamed crab claws were great, but how could you go wrong.. Melted butter would have been great to have dipped them in.. Fried Oysters were GREAT.. so is there remolaude sauce. Boiled Shrimp.. looked a bit tired and were mushy and the Fried pickles.. ehhhh.. Not sure what the appeal is to this place.. but I can say that I have been there.

    (2)

  • Claire P.

    Oh my goodness! This is my favorite place to eat! Its in the heart of downtown Charleston Service is great people are so friendly! I had the basket of shrimp and hushpuppies all I can say is wow...I highly recommend this place!

    (5)

  • Mandi H.

    The food at Hymans was great... I enjoyed the personal touch that the owners gave, coming around to each table. We went in the middle of the day so there wasn't a wait!

    (4)

  • Bruno S.

    Very family friendly during late lunch times. There was no wait. The staff was very very friendly and the service was excellent. The atmosphere is great, good for family, friends, and big groups. It was loud but not too much, and just good enough to where everyone can carry on their on conversation without the other table hearing it. Had boiled peanuts there for the first time it was okay lol I prefer them non-boiled though. I had their fish n chips it was very lightly battered and you can really taste the fish which was great. Their hush puppies are so good y'all. My wife had the crab cakes and she says they were good and very filling. They have greeters/management come by the tables, they were very nice and treated the kids great, even gave them some free ice-cream. Overall a great place right in the heart of down-town. If you're down there you need to stop at Hyman's! A friend recommended this place to me and the reviews on Yelp were only 3 stars so we almost didn't go...but sure glad we did!

    (4)

  • Heather W.

    We had 20 minutes to eat. Perry recommended the perfect picks! Fried green tomatoes, lobster bisque, & salad. Throw in a few Bloody Marys.....mmmm! I have a feeling that there is not anything BAD on this menu! After 5 generations in business, the Hyman family has the restaurant business down! One of the owners chatted with us as we waited (briefly) for food. Great customer service all around!

    (4)

  • Abie L.

    First time to visit this place since we have lived here, We ordered different types of appetizers. For a family of 4 we spent about $50. We ordered Shrimp & grits, stuffed mushrooms (which had Way too much cheese), Green tomatoes (check in yelp for a free coupon),dozen raw oysters, large salad, and hush puppies. Don't forget you get free boiled peanuts. Our friends ordered a seafood pizza and i was soooo good. Great service staff. This is a place I would visit again.

    (4)

  • Michael L.

    Hyman's Seafood is a place we dine every time we come to Charleston. The place is unpretentious and just darn good. The scallops are so sweet and fresh, the mussels are delicious, hush puppies are great, the fried green tomatoes and grits are authentic. You can't go wrong with any of the soups either. The service great and oh yeah the calamari is just so tasty too. Make it part of ypur trip to Charleston!

    (5)

  • Kathleen S.

    By far the best restaurant I have been to in South Carolina! Boiled peanuts to munch on while you wait, love, love, love that! The hush puppies were DELICIOUS! The salmon, shrimp, slaw and fresh made sangria were all SO good. Awesome atmosphere, inviting and friendly staff and even a personal visit to each table by the owner, Eli. Thanks for an awesome experience! We are visiting from Greenville and will definitely be back.

    (5)

  • Alicia A.

    Tourist trap! Dirty, crowded, very average, very greasy food. Skip the line and go to AmenStreet for quality food, beautiful atmosphere and excellent seafood!

    (1)

  • Joe T.

    Had dinner here with friends for lack of research on our part and waiting to the last minute. They are open a little later than other locations and do not take reservations. Place sort reminds me of Disneyland. You enter on the first floor, take the stairs where a majority of the seats are, and down a different set of stairs to exit through a gift shop. The second floor stretches across several buildings so the floor is uneven and you are thinking where is the hostess taking me? It was towards closing time by the time we were seated. Service was a little slow initially. Food options are plentiful. Everything we ordered, when it finally arrived, was pretty good. It was better than I expected. I would definitely try them again as everyday I walked by this place, there was always a line.

    (3)

  • Mark Z.

    Touristy but that is expected for the area. Good service and friendly staff. The crab cake sandwich was very good. The hush puppies were surprisingly good. The award winning "She" soup didn't impress.

    (4)

  • Troy S.

    Tourist trap, yes it is. I am sure locals roll their eyes at this place, but I loved it. First of all they have a yelp check in special with a free appetizer, good choice. We receive two ordered of fried green tomatoes, one with grits and cheese and another plain. I don't get friend green tomatoes but the grits were good. The hush puppies were greasy goodness. They might not be the healthiest but I thought they were the best hush puppies that I have had this week. The meals were buffalo shrimp po boy, fried clams po boy, and a shrimp po boy. All of us loved our meals as I really like my buffalo shrimp. My shrimp were perfectly cooked. We were all packed by the end of the meal. Prices are a little high but they brought extra hush puppies and a free app. Plus there were a ton of shrimp on my po boy. The service was incredibly friendly and hopeful. Our waiter was funny and congenial. Service was quick and the manager even stopped by the table. The table was also perfect size as my daughter was able to stand underneath the table and look out the window. The biggest drawback are the bathrooms as they are not family friendly. The diaper rack is right above the urinal in the men's room and the woman's changing table blocks the door when down. Maybe they have a family bathroom but we didn't see it. We had to wait and change her at the car. The place has a large upstairs that can seem confusing at first. I had actual eaten here when I was 18 and remembered once I looked at the famous nameplates on each table. I ate where AcDC ate. Don't worry about it being a tourist trap, stop in and enjoy the meal.

    (5)

  • Bryan S.

    I was recommended to Hyman's by a local taxi driver. She described it as the best place in town for seafood. I agree! What a fun place with great food. Our server Jennifer was very helpful and really great at what she does. I would highly recommend the fried green tomatoes.

    (5)

  • Corey R.

    This place is quiet touristy but I love their food and staff. I always get the bone in flounder and it is to die for. I also always get the fried freen tomatoes with grits cheese and some type of sauce (i cannot think of what it is called right now!) Definitely worth a try if you haven't eaten here yet!

    (5)

  • Larry H.

    Hyman's is by far the best restaurant with the best seafood my wife and I have ever had!! Highly highly recommend. Angel is a hostess there and she was just fun. The whole experience was great.

    (5)

  • Shane B.

    Welcoming , cozy and relaxing lunch. We were welcomed by the General Manager as we walked in the door. We were seated right away, and was greeted promptly by the 5th generation owner. He suggested great winners for our lunch selections. Our choices was the She-crab soup and the Carolina Delight, paired with a smooth Pino. Will definitely return to this local gem.

    (4)

  • Toya C.

    Love this place, have eaten here about 3 times since my husband introduced it to to me about 4 years ago. The best hushpuppies I have ever, ever had. Huge tasty hushpuppies (without onions, which I LOVE even more). They have a sweet taste, most places taste like dry batter fried in oil. The first time I ate here I got the shrimp and grits and boy was it worth it. A huge plate of grits with a generous amount of shrimp. The most recent trip about 2 months ago I got the flounder with spicy apricot sauce, very tasty and this time I purchased the hushpuppy mix to attempt to make at home. Shared the carolina delight which was fried grits cake with shrimp sort of like shrimp and grits with sauce as an appetizer. Very good. No over powering seasoning. Cool environment, upstairs and downstairs seating, sea like decor. The other special thing about the decor was the celebrity filled walls with autographs. They have a general store that you can' help but shop in because you exit that way. They have their own brand of sea salt with different smells such as cinnamon, vanilla, etc. I love, love, love this place. Highly recommend

    (5)

  • Mike M.

    wow went here for fathers day. was treated very well, food was outstanding. had the fish and chips and my wife had the snow crab legs, amazing! our server was a nice young lady called Angel, well done well be back!

    (5)

  • Melissa S.

    I felt the food was just ok. The staff is very hands on and definitely make sure you are pleased. There portions are big. The atmosphere is kinda interesting they have lots of pictures of famous people. The tables are marked with places of who has sat there. My table was marked with hootie and the blow fish, vanilla ice, the beach boys, and a couple more. There gift shop had great hand scrubs.

    (3)

  • Anthony R.

    We came to Hyman's with very high expectations. The name alone is very popular, and the prices were affordable. First, I'll say the food was absolutely delicious. We had the shrimp and grits (both traditional and Carolina style), the shrimp and pups, and several other things. All were amazing. The service, on the other hand, was something different. It started off great; less than five minutes after being seated, we were greeted by the owner who was very nice. However, our server was rude, to say in the least. She constantly reminded us that it was extremely close to closing (something we were unaware of when we walked in the door, as the restaurant was packed) and scowled at us when we said we wanted to order several appetizers instead of individual entrees (most of their most popular items are offered as appetizers, so we wanted to try as much as possible). Throughout the rest of the meal, she walked past our table time after time without so much as looking at us. We had one drink refill the entire meal, and our food items were delivered by other employees instead of our waitress. We would gladly have made this restaurant a regular stop every time we visit Charleston, but we don't really appreciate paying to be treated like crap. Very disappointing.

    (1)

  • Julie H.

    Great food and pleasant service in a casual atmosphere. I had the 3 piece combo; lightly seasoned Cajun baked cod, it was great. Fried oysters were great. Crab cake was small but yummy. I highly recommend & will go back next time I'm in Ctown!

    (4)

  • Ashton P.

    The food is never fresh! This is the worst seafood you can get in Charleston; most of it is just about to spoil. The owners/managers offer great service, but the food and marketing tactics are poor.

    (1)

  • Ross S.

    Food was ok, service not so great. Had to keep reminding the waitress to bring us items we asked for. She offered us the boiled peanuts and never brought them. Asked for extra napkins, never got them. Definite tourist trap when they have a gift shop attached.

    (2)

  • sharon c.

    The service at Hyman's was very good. Attentive and courteous. However I have had better fried green tomatoes in Minneapolis MN. The oysters were good and so was the sweet tea.

    (2)

  • Molly N.

    Tough place to get in. Waited about 35 min. But if you want traditional seafood dinners this is the place. The fried green tomato app was my favorite. Their hush puppies were sweet warm bites of yummies. I had a combo of fish, shrimp and crab cake. All were good. My friend had salmon four ways. She said it was tasty but we had asked if it was wild or farmed, the menu said farmed the server said wild? We aren't sure! Still a good reliable seafood joint. Seemed big enough to accommodate large groups!

    (3)

  • Annie T.

    I cannot even begin to say how impressed my entire family was with Hyman's while we visited out of town on vacation. At first, there was a mix-up with our reservation but the manager fixed it right away and our group of 15 was seated within 15 minutes upon arrival. As soon as we walked in we were greeted by every server that we saw. Once seated our drink orders were taken and the owner even came around and explained how the menu worked and introduced himself. He offered his opinion on the best dishes and was so friendly you would have thought that we were a part of the family. As a drink I ordered the bloody mary which was so delicious that we even bought the mix downstairs afterwards. My husband and I got their Carolina Delight appetizer which was AMAZING and totally lived up the hype. Along with the meals came hush puppies and coleslaw. For dinner I got the Crab Cakes and my hubby got the Shrimp & Grits - both were absolutely amazing. I cannot say enough great things about our experience here. We ate at a couple of different restaurants and everyone in my family loved Hyman's the best. The service, food, and prices just cannot be beat! If I go back to Charleston, this will certainly be another place to stop :)

    (5)

  • Deb B.

    Hyman's is a great local joint. Now that Garibaldi's is gone, they have the best crispy flounder in town ! :) It's a great place for all y'all tourists downtown!

    (3)

  • Ann S.

    Outdoor television motoring system, relays available tables in a snap. Friendly hostess instructed us where to find our table upstairs. We're in a mood for a light snack and with that said, ordered a dozen of raw oysters to start. Endless excuses from waiter on why the oysters haven't appeared after 20 minutes, we canceled our order and walked to another establishment.

    (1)

  • Marina C.

    Hyman's is a tourist trap. End of discussion. If you are visiting Charleston, go somewhere else that actually serves a quality meal to you instead of a convenient location.

    (2)

  • Brian B.

    Is this place touristy? Absolutely, but it's a fun place with good food so it's absolutely worth a stop.

    (4)

  • Mia D.

    On our first trip and first evening in Charleston, SC, we dined at Hyman's. The casual friendly staff guided us through the extensive menu. The owner, Eli, even came by and greeted us and recommended his favorite house specialties. The seafood is amazing! She-Crab Soup, Crab-Cakes, Salmon Cakes, Low-Country Gumbo, Scallops, Fried Whole Grouper. Lots of of fun surprises throughout the huge restaurant...celebrity photos, fun signs, words of wisdom...You'll see! We ate there every meal while in Charleston! Eli & staff made us feel like family. Thank You!

    (5)

  • Foley J.

    I was with family and friends in Charleston for my birthday weekend from florida. I ordered the swordfish and it was out of this world . The the staff is very good and the owner is the nicest small business owner you will ever meet we will be back .

    (5)

  • Rodney L.

    Great food and Lindsay did a great job taking care of us. Will for sure come back. Great food and great service.

    (5)

  • Anthony J.

    A must visit in Charleston, a few thing the hostesses suck. Don't judge a book by its cover. The food is great, you must visit

    (5)

  • Leo C.

    Great sea food for a decent price especially when compared to how much food they give you.

    (5)

  • Natasha A.

    I knew we should not go here, as it had "tourst trap" written all over it. However, we wanted something casual and basic and did not want to spend much more time wandering around. Well, my suspicions were proven correct and then some. This place is just bad. We ordered a variety of seafood and everything was extremely overcooked. The swordfish was completely dried out, the calamari way over-breaded and overcooked, and so on. Oysters were horribly shucked, dirty and full of grit. Yes, the hushpuppies are tasty but this is a seafood place...I would expect decent enough seafood, not just hushpuppies. I admit they do make a tasty and well-spiced bloody mary. We did let the owner know when he asked us how everything was that it was rather disappointing...and got 10% off the bill..woohoo. Stay away.

    (1)

  • Reese M.

    This is one of those "gotta try" places if you're in Charleston. It is definitely a tourist attraction. The service is awesome! We had a very large party and the service could not have been better. Servers were patient and more than happy to share the history of Hyman's. Now on to the food...it was okay. Let's just say the restaurant was more memorable than the food. The fried fish was a bit greasy and I would have liked it to have more flavor and/or seasoning. The chowder was pretty good. I would order it again. All in all, I would recommend for you to try this place out.

    (3)

  • Eli S.

    It's the place to go if you come to Charleston SC the food was great even the owner Eli stop at our table to make sure everything was good. We had lobster bisque, Carolina special, flounder and grits with shrimp. Von appetite.

    (5)

  • Souad D.

    We put our name in for a table, but then were able to get two seats at the bar. Jennifer and Steph were behind the bar and they rocked it. They were busy, but kept a great attitude and we're very friendly. We ordered the shrimp and grits Carolina style -THE BEST! Be sure to add the toppings (bacon and cheese). We also ordered the crab cake...that was ok. The mussels were the third appetizer we ordered, and they were a big thumbs up. They are not sweet, lots of flavor and garlic. Someone else accidentally ordered the shrimp and crab dip, so jennifer kindly gave it to us to indulge. ...super yummy :) they are known for their bloody Mary's so if you like them, DEFINITELY get one here :)

    (4)

  • Brittany C.

    Ok, first let me say I wish I could give Hyman's a higher rating. The Hyman's brothers that come around the restaurant from time to time are so very nice. But the fact of the matter is, the food just isn't anything special, not by a long shot. Do NOT go here expecting great fresh seafood. Their fish is frozen and vacuum packed. They simply thaw it then fry it. The sides are just ok. The she crab soup is ok. Hush puppies are very good. If you want a large portion of run of the mill fried foods for $30 plate, go to Hymans. If you are a foodie or are going out for a nice date, go to one of the MANY fantastic places around Charleston (Hanks, Fleet Landing, Blu, etc). Hyman's has a cool atmosphere but it's really just a tourist trap. I definitely wouldn't recommend it if you have to wait more than 10 min, even if you do love mediocre fried foods! If you do end up going be it you're in the area or just want to check out the atmosphere (which is pretty cool and unique, I have to admit), I recommend the Carolina delight. It's something different and unique to Hyman's.

    (2)

  • char o.

    Hey Ira human I thank you for coming to my table abd personally greeting my family! Get the crab cakes guys! My sisters meal which she shared was wonderful. Fried flounder was great enough to share! Also we loved the cole slaw! This place really was worth the food, the people were great. Try the lavender sugar scrub when in the washroom We loved it here !

    (4)

  • Kaitlyn P.

    This place was just wonderful. Our server was extremely friendly. The food was just outstanding! I'm pretty sure these were the best hush puppies I've ever had. The entire experience was beyond pleasant!

    (5)

  • Jack F.

    Their customer service from the manager ( big burly friendly guy ) and owner ( Eli ) is as they all say - phenomenal. Our waitress tho left a LOT to be desired. So rigid in her rules, that simple requests were hard to get. It was INCREDIBLY hot ( I know, we were in the south in the summer, I get it! haha ) We ordered 2 apps, and I ordered a local beer to refresh. She refused to deliver it until after we had placed our food order. Simply would NOT serve us our ordered beer -- and thats after I asked TWICE for it, after ordering. Anyways - beyond that, the food was good. They live up to their reputation for good seafood. I had the salmon sampler ( salmon done 3 ways ) and it was...well. It was quite good! :) My fiance had a mini sampler of a side salad, 2 more apps, and a drink. All around - I get it. It was good. The waitress was terrible and unfortunately that skewed our time there.

    (3)

  • Chelsy P.

    A total tourist trap. I went once to fulfill the destiny every seems to think Hyman's holds for them, but I was not impressed. It was nice to have the boiled peanuts on the table. The hushpuppies taste good, and might be the best thing I had. My mahi-mahi was just okay, but my dad's fish had two bones in it; the server offered to take it back, but the next fish he brought out had even more bones in it. We only ever saw the waiter again to get the check. There are PLENTY better seafood places in the area; we're a port city, for God's sake. Don't let the big name and the famous faces fool you.

    (2)

  • Robert P.

    We came here on a recommendation and were not disappointed. The service is EXCELLENT! The food was as expected and very good but it was the staff that won me over. We ordered drinks at the bar while waiting for a table and although I didn't like the first drink I got another and it was much better. Without even being asked the bartender removed the first from my bill. At our table, a manager greeted us before our server did and helped us through the menu. After a short wait our server, Perry, arrived and provided professional, friendly, and attentive service the entire evening. Not to ignore how incredible the food was but they get a 5 star rating because the staff did such an awesome job. Only negative was that the weather was cold and the downstairs had a chill to it.

    (5)

  • Sip C.

    I knooow it's a tourist haunt... But its still good! Great Carolina shrimp & grits, fried oysters, etc. Fantastic hush puppies. Some craft beer (Palmetto), also had a margarita special when we went. I don't think it's posdible to leave here without being stuffed full of fried fish... and dammit, sometimes I'm okay with that.

    (4)

  • Tamara R.

    We went against the advice of a local and went to Hyman's. We were sadly disappointed. The fried dill pickles and hushpuppies were really good. I ordered the broiled stuffed grouper...The taste was awful. To replace it, I ordered fried whiting. How do you mess up fried whiting?! It was bland...no seasoning whatsoever. Needless to say, we will not be back and will warn future visitors not to give in to the hype.

    (2)

  • Aaron B.

    This place is just average. I've been here a few times, because the people I was with wanted to, but have only been met with something alright. The prices are too high for what you get as well. I had a great ipa though.

    (3)

  • Wesley M.

    I returned to Hyman's this afternoon with my girlfriend and her parents and again we were all impressed. They have a wait for lunch even on a Monday afternoon. Sure, this place is super touristy, but the food and service area always spot on. At Hyman's you will find your basic seafood fare that's cooked to your liking - broiled, sauteed, blackened, or lightly blackened. My only criticism here is that the "blackening" seasoning is too salty, but not enough to take away the 5 stars. We started with some complimentary hush puppies again, but no soup samples this time. Maybe that's a weekend thing? Eli the owner stopped by to say hi. Nice touch.

    (5)

  • Evie W.

    This is a restaurant with amazing character and delicious food. The owner personally greets all the guests. We enjoyed the entire experience and would highly recommend it.

    (5)

  • David B.

    It's clear why this is a favorite for out of town visitors. Food is great, featuring a variety of local choices (e.g., fried green tomatoes) I have not seen here in California. It was a very enjoyable evening for our work team meeting in SC from diverse distant places.

    (4)

  • Anita C.

    What can I say the food is great and the service is equally as awesome. If you plan on coming here be sure to grab a menu from the visitor center or any tourist area because you can get a free app, either fried green tomatoes or wadmalaw delight (heck the coupon is even on their website). Like others have mentioned this place is a tourist spot, it is highly advertised on if you are researching the Charleston area. Highly recommend the hush puppies, being my first time trying them I was not sure what to expect but they were a hint sweet, crunchy in the not overly fried way and they come with most dishes. I also really enjoyed their wadmalaw delight app, you can't beat a cheese & grit combo. While I got the pick three off the menu (crabcake, fried clam strip & salmon) it was nothing to write home about but the cajun mayo they make and sell took everything up a notch. Wish I could have brought some home but unfortunately the TSA will not allow anything over 4 oz. What really made the experience was the owner Eli came around and talked to literally all the tables, which was unexpected and made me think that they really care about their customers. Almost forgot to mention that every visit comes with stickers, great souvenir and one of them gets you a chance to win a gift card from them when you wear it around a certain area = awesome marketing. Tip: Expect a long wait if you come during busy times, we came around 1:30 and only waited for 10 mins.

    (4)

  • Molly B.

    The food is delicious.My brother had the flounder and was not disappointed.The portion was so large it hung off the plate!I had the Shrimp with the grit cakes.Unusual and fabulous! The owner,Eli Hyman, showed why they have been in business so long.He took the time to visit with us and thanked us for coming to his restaurant.Good old fashioned appreciation that gets lost these days. We will definitely be back and will tell everyone we know about Hymans.Job well done!

    (5)

  • Erika Josephine W.

    This was our first stop when we came into the city because we were hungry! I read about this establishment online and it caught my attention. I figured I should check it out. My mom and I decided to get a "You pick 3" because we didn't want to over eat like we usually do on vacation. We got salmon, shrimp and grits, and a crab cake. All were very tasty. I think our most favorite was the hushpuppies though! They were amazing and were thinking of buying them for a snack for our trip back home. Never made it back. Great food and great service!

    (5)

  • Jon B.

    Excellent, I mean everything ! Fried Green Tomatoes : five star ! Cajun Fries : five star ! Could live here so I could try more !!!

    (5)

  • Tierra H.

    Ummmmmmm, no. Don't do this. Don't eat here. That long line is one in which you shouldn't wait. While waiting, we went to the gift shop. It was chock full of stuff you'd want to take home as a reminder of your time in Charleston. It wasn't very expensive either. The cashiers were unfriendly though. No sort of greeting. No smiles. Just a lot of belabored sighs. Finally, we were called to go eat. The place is huge. We were taken upstairs to a table in a corner. The walls are covered in pictures of celebs that have eaten there. Presumably at a time when the food was actually good . . . . The menu is confusing as hell. I ended up getting broiled shrimp. They were flavorless and rubbery. Fiance got some sort of flounder that was equally as whack. Basically, I only liked the hushpuppies and the sweet tea. Does that count for anything? Probably not. Just avoid this tourist trap.

    (2)

  • Tommy W.

    There's waaay too many amazing options for dining in Charleston to eat at a place that lives off of it's positive write up in Southern Living magazine 20 years ago. If you love Red Lobster then you'll love this place. Hush puppies and service are good so 1 star is earned.

    (1)

  • Christopher N.

    This is my favorite restaurant! I'm from Charlotte and many a time have I driven out here with the sole purpose of eating here. The food is the best I've ever had, and the staff is even better! Mr. Hyman has come out to our table on many an occasion to thank us for coming in. He knows word of mouth is the best way to earn business and advertise, and I tell everyone I know! Ask for Brittany, she's the best!

    (5)

  • Steve M.

    After taking a taxi ride from the airport I had some time to burn before I would be able to check in to my hotel. I decided to grab some lunch from something within a short walking distance. Outside there were three ladies who acted as greeters. They were friendly and quickly found me a table. While walking in I noticed the place was segmented into multiple sections. The bar was separate from the main eating area. I later learned there was also a take take out section, store and deli. The tables were old but not in a bad way ... think character. The tables have little placards on them which list the famous people who have eaten at the table. It's not some amazing thing but it's still fun to know. The wait service was great and attentive. My waiter was with me within a few minutes and took the time to explain the deals. He also was knowledgeable about local beers which is a huge plus. The food was alright. I was not wow'd nor was I disappointed as I knew going into this that the restaurant is considered a tourist trap by many people. The portion of salmon was pretty large though which I wasn't expecting. The managers walk around and make sure that everyone is happy with their food. Some people really like, others, like me, don't really care either way. However, the managers are very friendly and don't take up much time away from eating. Would I go back? Sure! Would I go there every day? No. There is probably other interesting seafood places in the area. If you are visiting Charleston check it out for lunch and see if it's the kind of place you enjoy.

    (4)

  • Lashona M.

    Tasty in all sense of the word! My favorite place to come when in town! The hush puppies, fried green tomatoes w/ grits, boiled peanuts, squash casserole and catfish are amazing........

    (5)

  • Steven L.

    This place was great and bad at the same time. I'll try to keep it simple: Positives: -Greeting: They have people waiting outside to take your reservation. During the busy time, it looked like they were handing out their hush puppies. -The co-owner and two managers asked us how everything was going. You don't find that too often at restaurants anymore. -Happy hour specials are awesome. A dozen oysters for an insanely cheap price. And they are huge!! -Food is pretty good. The buffalo shrimp, shrimp and grits, and the fried pickles are good. Negative: -Service: I don't know if we got a bad server but she was horrible: -Didn't give us silverware, even after bringing out our appetizers, so we had to ask her (which it still took a while to get). We ate our appetizers with our hands. -Got our drink orders wrong twice and took forever to get one. -Forgot to take the free appetizer for checking in the restaurant, even after she asked to see the yelp app. -Forgot to take the gumbo off after we got it real late and it was not even luke warm. The service almost ruined the experience and thus the 3 star. With better service, this would have been 4 stars easy. I would recommend this place to anyone visiting, it is a must go in the area.

    (3)

  • Kyle D.

    Went for lunch today. I had the free fried green tomato appetizer for checking in. They were fried perfect. For the meal I had the fried seafood combo. The flounder was ok. Shrimp and oysters were great. Our server was new but she did a fine job. Bloody Mary was great.

    (4)

  • Allen L.

    Delicious bloody marys , best hush puppies I ever had, fries were super crispy. I was able to share a 3 item combo for two people. We got crab cake , sautéed scallops, old bay peel and eat shrimp with fries. We didn't want to wait so we sat at the bar. Bartender was super busy but we still got great service. Try the salt moisturizing scrub in the bathroom.

    (5)

  • Marilee K.

    This was our first taste of southern cooking and we'll be back. The sampler dinner is the way to go. You can share and taste a big variety. The signature crispy fried flounder, lump crab cake, sweet potato fries, salmon croquette were awesome. We also enjoyed the oysters, fried shrimp, red rice. The She crab soup and hush puppies are a must! The wait outside was interesting people watching. It must have been prom night.

    (4)

  • Brandon G.

    Great place for seafood with a staff just as equal. This place is great for anytime of the day. I highly recommend eating here if your in the downtown Charleston area or close by. I had the shrimp, salmon, and flounder platter with sweet potatoe sudfle. Very tasty

    (5)

  • Robin B.

    Touristy but so so good.

    (4)

  • Christian S.

    Food was great, especially the tomato appetizer. Had the she crab soup. Not the absolute best I've ever had but good, none-the-less. Staff was very good.

    (4)

  • Nicole M.

    This seafood house is by far the best that I've come across on the east coast. My boyfriend and l visited on Saturday along with our six month old son. A wonderful waitresses named Kelly took our order and even asked if our son wanted anything. My boyfriend fried scallops which were very nicely done, not overcooked, l ordered the shrimp which melted in your mouth. Each order comes with a side of hush puppies which are out of this world! We even sat at the table Kevin Costner and the Beach Boys ate at! Highly recommend! Great service and delicious food! Will definately frequent again on our next trip to Charleston!

    (5)

  • Jenn C.

    Great food and a relaxed atmosphere. We waiting for 30 minutes- they passed out hush puppies to try while we waited. The menu was very large and had plenty of variety. The server, Sam, was great- very friendly and she helped guide us through her favorites on the menu. The owners came by to make sure everything was good. We had a nice little conversation about how great our server was. He seemed truly appreciative of our compliment and even gave our 1 1/2 year old son a coupon for a free scoop of ice cream at their general store next door. The food was great. The shrimp and grits were different from anything I've ever had, but they we're very flavorful. The fried shrimp was great and not greasy at all. The crab cake was delicious! I'm very picky when it comes to crab cakes since I grew up eating Chesapeake Bay crabs. They had very little fillers and we're packed with huge chunks of crab. The only thing I wasn't a fan of was the coleslaw, but you could tell it was made there. We were too stuffed for dessert, but everything was great and we would definitely go back.

    (5)

  • Kleshia B.

    Wow! Amazing food! Really awesome atmosphere! The Owner came to the table and greeted my husband & I. Every moment was perfect. I live almost 1000 miles away & I will come back. And I was surprised the bill was so low. My husband & I both had surf n' turf, an appetizer, & beverages. Our server Kaitlin was a delight. I can't say enough about Hyman's. Oh yeah, wall of fame. Dolly Parton, Adam West, Jimmy Dean and on and on.

    (5)

  • Jonathan W.

    This place has some of the WORST seafood in Charleston. Nothing but a tourist trap, since they advertise on all the cruise ships that come in, it is undeniable. We have been here more than once, and had horrible service every time. The wait staff does not care if you get service or not. Each time there we had to hunt down our server, likewise for the other tables we could see. The food is all very bland. Last time there, I ordered fried flounder, and that is all you get. Two small fillets, fried, no side items, not even any garnish. Fish is bland and overcooked, and it is delivered to you unceremoniously placed in front of you and the waitress runs off before you have a chance to say anything (wouldn't want to have to do any more work now would you). Overall, there are many much better quality seafood restaurants in Charleston, avoid this place like the plague. Let all the yankee tourists eat there and save the good places for us locals.

    (1)

  • Lena A.

    Let's face it, Hyman's Seafood is not a fancy 5 star restaurant and not a place you would want to go out to on a romantic date! Yes, every tour and hotel in sight will recommend this restaurant...making you (or at least me) believe it is a high-end, top scale restaurant. In reality, Hyman's is surprisingly casual. The interior is large yet cozy - think a sports bar or the inside of Applebee's, and extremely busy and loud. The servers are very young, but friendly. Some of them look like they are in high school. I see this as more of a lunch place or maybe good for a casual dinner. There is really no need to dress up. The 4 star rating is for the delicious greasy, fatty food that is simply irresistable. I would compare it to high end fast food. The hush puppies are to die for. Be prepared for long lines, and dozens of tourists scrambling around the restaurant. This is the most touristy/gimmicky restaurant I have been to in a while. But if you come with an empty stomach and a good mood, I can't imagine you not having a good time.

    (4)

  • Terry B.

    Absolutely a must place to eat if you're visiting Charleston and want some great seafood. We had a party of four and were quickly seated. We sat at the table that Lynard Skynard and Cyndi Lauper sat at which was cool. We had a variety of items from the menu: fried oysters, fried flounder, shrimp, crab cakes it was all absolutely delicious and some of the best seafood I've had in a long time. The only downside is that the tables are a little small and the floors are pretty slippery. I'm not taking anything off the review for that though as the food makes up for it. Just be careful walking around! Definitely carve out time to eat here.

    (5)

  • Russell F.

    They really want to make sure you are happy here. They check on you over and over from the wait staff to the managment. They also want to make sure you don't leave hungry. They just kept brining good it seemed. We had fried green tomatoes over cheese grits. They were really good. We then shared a 3 item combo. We had the crab cake fried, Carolina style shrimp, and Cajun style tilapia. It was all very good and tasted fresh. The sweet tea is great as well. Oh, and the hushpuppies are freaking good. They are crispy and a little sweet. They are especially good paired with their Cajun mayo. I almost forgot the cool part. Each table has a little label with the name of a famous person who has eaten in that spot.

    (5)

  • Shay M.

    Well if in Charleston you HAVE to visit Hyman's! Great staff and cool location. The general store has a t.v. that loops a cooking style show from their kitchen. The hubbs LOVED his "fried" shrimp and grits (a house special recipe). Everything else...Meh...

    (3)

  • Misha C.

    I know this is a Charleston institution but I really felt like it was a tourist-y trap. The "free pimento cheese" appetizer was a joke and the food was just ok. We waited for too long to be just OK. Way better choices in downtown area. Just my humble opinion.

    (3)

  • William T.

    I grew up in San Diego, ate at some of the best seafood restaurants there, in LA, and San Francisco. Then I ate at Hymans. OMG this place serves the ABSOLUTE BEST seafood I've EVER had. My wife gobbled down the oysters, and I made love to The Royal Broil, a greek variant to their Crispy Flounder. Gargantuan fish for less than $20, and honestly the tastiest, meatiest, most flavorful thing I've ever consumed! Our server, Mike M., was tops, and made our experience an even more memorable one. They take food, service and quality very seriously, yet they manage to not take themselves too seriously. We're coming back here to Charleston (from Knoxville), and making Hyman's the center point of the trip. Don't miss!

    (5)

  • Jacob B.

    I went with a group of four and felt very welcome! We were greeted right away and were sat immediately. We sat at a table close to the window and had great drinks, we tried the Bloody Mary (wonderful) and a local craft beer. We ordered the shrimp and hush puppies. Everything tasted great! The owners had us taste test a new product a shrimp and cheese loaded potato skin. We perfected the recipe and hope to see it on the menu next time we're in. Definitely will return!!

    (5)

  • Angelena A.

    Great place! The food was great and the service was wonderful. One of the employees was from our hometown and he helped us feel right at home!

    (5)

  • R H.

    Too salty. We got the Combo for 2 (7items). It was enough food but wasn't impressed at all.

    (2)

  • Branham P.

    One of the Best Seafood Places I have eaten. She crab soup is the best. Deep fried grits and flounder is perfect.. Fresh seafood. Tourist flock to it so the lines are crazy. but well worth it. yes the price is seafood so you will spend $65 for 3 or more people. you will leave full. Its a must go to.. every time im close I go..

    (5)

  • Anthony A.

    This was one of the better places I've been in a while. The staff's personality is bright and cheery. Customer service is top notch! So let's talk about the food, the meal was spectacular. The shrimp and grits melted in my mouth. Perfect flavors coming together. The crab cakes were the best I ever tasted. The sweet potato didn't need anything added to enhance the flavor. I will make this restaurant a tradition.

    (5)

  • Derek B.

    Boiled peanuts are delicious. Free apps with a check in. Fried food is just okay. Some hate the place. Some love the place. Some give it 3 stars. That's me.

    (3)

  • Heidi M.

    I give hymens a five star very quick service friendly atmosphere good old-fashioned hush puppies best prices in town

    (5)

  • Terris R.

    this place is freakin amazing!!!!!! everything is good! eli is awesome!!! ANYTHING on the menu is delicious. The hush puppies are insane. Slow down bc you'll get full fast! Seriously. The coleslaw is delicious too!

    (5)

  • CJ H.

    I am a seafood guy. Grew up in Seattle. Fished in Alaska, South Africa and Brazil. This was my first time to Charleston. I heard about the local "She Crab Soup". I was told Hyman's was one of the places I should try. There was a huge line forming so I chose to site at the bar for my dinner. Started out with a cup of the She Crab soup. AMAZING! Second was the Carolina Delight, a grit cake with a salmon croquette. I had one of the fresh catches of the day, whiting stuffed with crab. Washed all of this down with a few Palmetto's. This is a destination restaurant however I never had the feeling I was in a tourist trap. I plan on coming back in the fall.The food and service was amazing!

    (5)

  • Nic F.

    If you have members of your party with allergies, you will definitely want to avoid this restaurant. Despite the fact that the menu, servers and multiple managers claimed the hushpuppies were both gluten and dairy-free, the hushpuppies do in fact contain both wheat and dairy ingredients - as a member of our party found in an ingredient list that was posted on Hyman's own website. The problem here is that the waitstaff, managers and kitchen are all completely unaware of the ingredients that are being served and truthful answers were not provided until we questioned their responses. To add to the problems, nearly all of their sauces/dishes are butter-based and/or fried in the same oil as the gluten options.

    (1)

  • Sara M.

    We stopped by here on a friends recommendation while vacationing in Isle of Palms. Both service and food were certainly worth writing home about. Come here for goooood low country cookin!

    (5)

  • Crystal C.

    Lunch with our friends from Cali on a Monday afternoon was wonderful. Our servers were Ashley and Martha. They explained the menu to us and kept our wayward group well fed and entertained. This will definitely be a staple for our Charleston trips.

    (5)

  • Jessica M.

    The 3 stars are mainly for how AWESOME my server was! Their hush puppies were amazing and he overheard me so he just brought the table more, without asking or charging! Man after my heart. But the food was, meh and some a little tasteless. This is mainly a tourist spot so I'd prefer seafood elsewhere. Cool gift shop!

    (3)

  • Bob Q.

    Nothing impressive. Terrible wait time for average tourist food. Price reasonable. Sometimes it's impressive to see a long line of folks waiting to eat. The wait time while we were in line had increased to 2 hours! But don't let it fool you. It's all advertising and promotion. A big crowd does't always mean great food and in this case it does not! The shrimp I had were about 2 inches in length and had some type of smooth batter (I am used to cornmeal based batter being from New Orleans). I was not enthused. It's all hype for the tourists.

    (2)

  • Jeff S.

    Just visiting Charleston on a whim without any dinner reservations. Was feeling like seafood and used Yelp to find a good place. Hyman's certainly lived up to their rating! With a crowd outside and an hour wait, we headed to the bar where we discovered we could order anything off the menu with no waiting. We did and were enjoying some excellent grouper, crab and shrimp in no time. Great food and great service from bartenders Stephanie, Al and Chris. They are the best! Highly recommend putting Hyman's on your list.

    (5)

  • Duane D.

    This place was great! You can't hardly miss it -- the advertising for Hyman's starts at the airport and you see it all over Charleston. We went for a weekday lunch--and didn't have to wait at all. However, we did see lines there are different times throughout the week. We got a great table right by an upstairs window. Plaques on the table indicated that previous diners were -- Mel Gibson, Jody Foster, Sandra Bullock, and Mathew Broderick! Probably not at the same time, but what a meal that would be! ;) We brought in a coupon (all over town) for a free appetizer. They didn't care what you ordered to get the freebie, so long as you ordered something. Our freebie was the crab dip. Pretty good stuff. Speaking of free -- they also brought a bowl of boiled peanuts. Yum. The owner came by to greet people and sent everyone in a room another appetizer--fried green tomatoes. Awesome. By the time our lunch arrived, we were hardly hungry--but it was all very good. The hush puppies, in particular, were fantastic. Good enough for desert! To leave the place, you need to go out through the general store. Yes, a little touristy, but no big deal. Some may say it's a tourist trap -- but, I loved it and will definitely go back the next time we are in town.

    (4)

  • Dawn M.

    Hush puppies were incredible! Had combo which is best way to try a few things. Fresh fish options great. Had flounder, it was good. Lump crab and the shrimp and grits were wonderful. Love the Carolina cheese sauce on the grits. Too much food for me, but if you like generous portions you'll be happy.

    (5)

  • Maria T.

    Be prepared to wait. The line is intimidating but so are the food portions. Two things worth waiting for. I'd say give yourself a 30-40 minute wait time, so go when you're hungry, NOT when you're on the verge of passing out. Hymans is super casual, a very "come as you are" type of place. The food is amazing. Hence the wait. We were honored when owner Eli Hyman came over & introduced himself. He also sent us the "Carolina Delight", one of their number one appetizers. I'm proud to say it disappeared as soon as it hit the table, yes it's that good,don't miss it. Thanks Hymans, I'll certainly be back - Maria Taylor "What's New In New York"

    (4)

  • Matthew G.

    These people were SOOOO nice. The manager came over to make sure everything was good with us. I had fried flounder. It was great. The hush puppies were to die for. Must go to this place while visiting!

    (4)

  • Denise G.

    Our extended family of 9 had an awesome meal at the very famous Charleston seafood restaurant. We all got different entrees and each one was delightful. For appetizers, we had She Crab Bisque, Fried Green Tomatoes, Carolina Delight, Carolina Shrimp and Grits, and Seafood Gumbo. All were delivered very quickly and were fresh and hot. Our entrees included Triple Combo of Hyman's Lump Crab Cake, Shrimp, and Oysters for me (best seafood I have ever had anywhere!!); Carolina-Style Shrimp and Grits (89 y/o mom who ate every bite and loved it!); Crispy Flounder (hubby loved this and a great contrast to other lesser flounder dishes we have found on Isle of Palms this trip!); Hyman's Jambalaya (son proclaimed it as awesome and he has had lots of good jambalya in New Orleans but none to compare with this!); Brother had the Seafood fettucine with shrimp, scallops, and fish and could not finish it because as he put it, they brought enough for 4 people!. This was definitely the very best meal of this trip to Charleston and Isle of Palms. The service was more attentive and professional than in any 5 star restaurant. Our younger children ate various things from the very extensive kid's menu and were very excited when Cousin Martin greeted them with neat two dollar bills which he explained could be used to buy ice cream at the end of the meal if they were kind to their parents! Such a wonderful touch. Cousin Martin asked us all if this was our first visit and acted genuinely happy that we were having dinner with them. Every good thing you read about Hyman's Seafood is more than true based on our delightful experience tonight!! Do not come to Charleston without making this one of your stops for great seafood!

    (5)

  • Amy Yvonne H.

    A touristy place with good food, & friendly staff located in downtown Charleston. Food: We got the pick 5. Everything was delicious except the flounder. It was chewy & lacked flavor. (Maybe next time we will get it cooked different & not fried) Favorite was the mussels! The garlic sauce was incredible & we put everything in it! Crab cake is soo expensive & small, but tasty. (Not tasty enough to be worth the price though) Shrimp: cooked well, good flavor! Hush puppies: good flavor, but I have had better. Calamari: very tasty, cooked right, tasted fresh. Over all, its expensive but worth it for the portions & you can always share! Service: I recommend Dusty if you go during the day. He is nice & will make you laugh. (2 time winner for Charleston's best comedian). As for evening, I had Amy who was sweet but definitely slammed since it was the weekend. Atmosphere: It's set in an old house & has some neat decor but over all isn't anything to write home about. Come for the food. Conclusion: Great touristy spot for friends to share a seafood combination & have a good time downtown.

    (4)

  • Bem H.

    Second time I've been to Hymans and probably the last. The first experience went fairly well but this last one wasn't so great. Definitely a tourist attraction which is why I should have known better but that doesn't excuse the poor service. Not to mention the food was not good at all.

    (1)

  • Gloria K.

    This place was well worth the hour wait. The food was delicious. Even the hush puppies were incredible!!! We had several people tell us this was a tourist trap, but it most certainly was NOT. I had the salmon and my husband and I both agreed it was the best we'd ever had. Portions were grand and tasty! The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is, they don't accept reservations and an average wait on a weekend for dinner is an hour + and patrons have to stand outside with no shade or seating.

    (4)

  • Cho D.

    First off a wait of 20 minutes turned into almost an hour. We are new to The area and had family in for the weekend. They were the ones who wanted to try this place out. I have never heard a hostess ask a group of people (coming to dine together) if they would be willing to split up, and I thought it was an outrageous request. I heard them ask a few times to others. It has that good ol'feel to it that I do enjoy, but the hype was not worth the effort or waiting and going through the labyrinth of a restaurant. So to start, there were 5 of us, only five. It took about as long as our wait to get drinks. The Wine was disgusting and, the liquor drinks were missing a key ingredient. Alcohol. Our waitress had no idea what the drinks were, and all she could remember was every time I pointed out one I would like to try, was that they no longer serve it. Prominently displayed on the drink menu or not. . There were no hush puppies on my plate though it said it came with them, My father in-law had the mahi, as well as did I, and we had them cooked differently and both were dry. My crag cake, was all cake, crab yet to be found. My husband got the flounder bone in, but liked it as much as someone who doesn't eat fish could. My sister in-law had the chicken alfredo, and liked it very much. My father in-law and his girlfriend shared a pick 5. They thought the squash casserole was under flavored, and that the Cajun spices were over done. All in all, I would not go here again, just not worth the time. The prices were okay, but the service and the food don't make it worth the trip into downtown. The *Cousin* did visit our table and give us a free magnet coupon, and the owner stopped by as well. But what was the point in passing on that we all thought the food and the service, and the wait were bad, not just one selective thing was wrong, but a collective bunch of things that I'm sure were not just on our visit, They need to train the college kids a little better, a cute face filled with sheepish grin, and shoulder shrugging is not an answer to a table of out of towners who want to know about the menu.

    (2)

  • randi z.

    Do not go here for great seafood or a great dining experience. Go only if you love tourist institutions. Hush puppies were very good as was the fried okra. Most was merely ok -catfish, fried oysters, salmon. Fried calamari was tough and stringy. Service was disorganized. Grouper was simply awful - not fresh. After the meal they shuttle you out through the gift shop. Wish we had spent our time and money somewhere else.

    (2)

  • Becky B.

    The salmon sampler was A-mazing! Hyman's was our 4th seafood restaurant this week- it was the best flavor at affordable prices! Mike the waiter told great jokes and the owners stopping by the tables was a cool touch! Will be back!

    (5)

  • Tadi D.

    Crab cakes were out of this world delicious as was the lobster bisque soup! Hushpuppies were ok as long as they were right out of the fryer (steaming hot!).. Add their special mayo to them and it was a pretty tasty treat! We ordered Caribbean jerk salmon on a spinach fajita wrap (which was supposed to have grilled onions that we were charged for, but never received :( ) that turned out AMAZING. What really made us eat here was the wonderful gentleman Bryon, who greeted us with a vibrant smile and warm welcome. Even though he gets paid to do this (as the server told us "it's his job"), he fits the position perfectly and does an outstanding job! He even kept tabs on us throughout our meal just to be sure we were enjoying the food! Thank you Bryon! Hyman's received 3 patrons this morning because you were so personable and delightful! We'll visit again as long as they have employees like you :)

    (4)

  • John M.

    I spent the weekend with my fiance in Charleston. She is from Summerville and told me about how good their food is. It was a pleasant atmosphere and the service from very courteous. I had the shrimp dinner. The portion was larger than I expected but it was delicious. The shrimp wasn't heavily seasoned and they were fresh. The next time I'm in Charleston, I do plan to come here again. If anyone wants fresh seafood, i highly recommend this place.

    (4)

  • Debbi C.

    First time in Charleston, and found Hymans by accident. Turned out to be our good fortune. Food was great -big selection of food & Jewish deli style sandwiches. Greeted at our table by 2 Eli Hyman & cousin Marty. Waitress, Carly, was delightful. Will definitely share our find with friends.

    (5)

  • Caitlin P.

    My friends and I were tourists in town and our taxi driver recommended this place and took us here. We chuckled when we got seated because we saw a sign posted on the wall that says "80% of customers are from words of mouth". Lol. It was super busy even on a weekday, I think we were here on a wed night. But we were seated fairly quickly tho. This place is huge!! It seems like almost every restaurant in charleston has an upstairs and downstairs. We ordered alot of foood for three girls and truly experienced southern foood. We Googled the must haves when you're in the south and we got: hushpuppies (it's sweet, kinda like a fried donut), she-crab soup (tastes like a clam chowder), grits with shrimp (grits is made out of rice and corn, I think). Their fish is fresh every day, it actually comes from the ashley river that's right there. The food itself was ok...everything was kinda salty, not so full of flavors like I was hoping for. But that's ok, because the southern hospitality really makes up for it!!!! The two co-owners of the restaurant went around to every single table and greeted their patrons! And it wasn't just a "hi, thanks for dining here"...they were actually converseing with their guests and showed geniune interest in conversing with their guests. Such great hospitality! I'm from California and trust me, rarely, ever you see this in the restaurants! General managers rarely ever come by your tables to say hi... unless you're vip then the GM or chef would come out. Even if you complain about the food or service, they will not stop by your table. The 3 stars is for the great service and geniune hospitality; I feel at home eating here.

    (3)

  • Cinara M.

    My husband and I had dinner at Hyman's today. We shared fried green tomatoes, she crab soup, lump crab cake and the shrimp Carolina delight. Everything was very tasty, despite being a tourist "trap", like some people say. Our waitress Lilly was Wonderful, very nice and funny.

    (5)

  • Courtney J.

    While waiting for a table you can sit on a rocking bench, eat complimentary hush puppies, and take in the beautiful scenery. Once seated, an owner came around and spoke with us. He gave the kids coupons for a free ice cream scoop on the way out through the gift shop. The Carolina delight with scallops was AMAZING. My sister in law said that her stuffed Mahi with white sauce was absolutely awesome. The building is three or four floors, very pretty and charming. Server was awesome. Can't go wrong here...great experience.in

    (5)

  • Colleen M.

    Ever since I've moved to Charleston I have always been told to go to Hymans. When my dad visited from ohio we decided to check it out. It wS one if my favorite restaurants downtown. I took my cousins a few months later and had another great experience. The stag is very friendly and helpful explains the menu. The food was delicious and they have you so much on your plate. My family aves about the hush puppies they give you. Overall it was a great experience and delicious food. I wouldn't hesitate to go here several more times in the future!

    (5)

  • Eric H.

    So, here's the thing. The food is a flat out 5. However the service was a 2. If you have a minute or two, I'll be glad to explain. When we arrived, we were directed to a stairwell inside the restaurant and were told a table number to tell the person at the top of the stairs. Not necessarily what I would call friendly, but we went with the flow. When we were sat at our table, we were promptly greeted by our server who pointed out the specials, took our drink order and then left to give us time to peruse the menu. Little did we know it, but we had just seen the full potential of our server. Drinks arrived and appetizers and orders were placed. One of our appetizers arrived within 5 minutes and we were told our other one would arrive shortly. Next to arrive were two of the four main courses. Still no second appetizer. Third entree arrived. Appetizer was still on its way. The appetizer and the fourth entree arrived at the same time. By this time, one of the people in our group was already finished eating. A few minutes later the last item arrived at the table. This restaurant is not advertised as an a la carte or tapas style dining, so this was completely unacceptable to me. Seeing that we were with another couple, I declined to bring it up to management. As a former server, it is imperative to place and time orders correctly. If I were to sit with this server again, I'd ask to move sections. So, now that that's out of my system, I'd like to rave about the food. You might as well picture me drooling as I write this because it's happening. The calamari was perfectly cooked and the breading was seasoned well. The oysters were good size and flavor. The shrimp and grits were spectacular creaminess and the parmesean sauce complimented it perfectly. The low country boil had quite a kick, but it's not overpowering at all. It was great to coat everything in the loose roux and it was packed with flavor. Something that might get overlooked at most places but was the star here were the hush puppies. I say that, not trying to say anything bad about the meal, but instead to say that they were the best I've had. I would buy them by the dozen and not have a problem keeping them to myself. OK, I get it. Time to wrap this thing up. Please go here as you won't regret it. You just might want to ask your server to appropriately pace the meal add you'd like to enjoy every morsel.

    (4)

  • Jessica S.

    What can I say about Hyman's Seafood... Ok, so it's definitely overpriced for what you're getting but I guess that what happens when you're in a touristy area. They offer free hush puppies right at the door which is cool -- who doesn't like free food? I wouldn't call what they serve "hush puppies." I'm used to savory hush puppies with green onions... this was more like really sweet cornbread, but still good and tasty. I wasn't particularly hungry so I ordered the fried green tomatoes appetizer, which I got for free because I checked in, the "she" crab soup, and the gaitor sausage appetizer. Fried green tomatoes: can I complain even though I got them for free? Yup. It's not really a complaint, but the tomatoes we're bit tart for me and my party. I ended up dousing more of that red tartar sauce on it, and it was fine. "She" crab soup: was a tad salty but still ok. Overall, it was just ok. Now for the pièce de résistance, the gaitor sausage appetizer: My family knows that I'm the adventurous type, and that I like to try new things. I've never had gaitor, so of course when I saw they offered it, I just had to get it! Where to begin... ...for one, they took a really long time to bring our orders. I think they might have forgotten they were cooking my gaitor sausage, cause when it came out, it looked sad. It looked like they had scraped it from the bottom of the pot. Totally unacceptable! I still cannot believe that a restaurant would serve people that kind of food! Luckily, my Aunt told them that I was less than pleased --I was still pretty speechless, and they brought me another plate that was worlds better in taste and presentation. It had kick to it that I love and tasted like really good spicy sausage. I'd actually purchase some gaitor sausage to take back home, if I knew where to purchase it... I tasted some of the shrimp and grits they're known for, and believe me if I ever come here again, I will get that. It was really that good! Overall, it's an ok place. I'd say stick to the fish plates, the shrimp and grits and the popular items.

    (3)

  • Michael H.

    Great seafood restaurant. Huge menu and everything was great. The grouper medley, however, was very dry and "fishy". Other than that everything was outstanding. The owner came to check on everything as we'll. very good service.

    (5)

  • Edi R.

    Touristy - locals make fun of the people in line.

    (1)

  • Joyce R.

    Here on business. Very convenient to my Renaissance hotel. So glad i stopped. The bartender Anton was fantastic and steered me to the combo platter. The shrimp, grits and hush puppies were top notch. I will definitely come again! Loved it.

    (5)

  • Dawn M.

    Excellent service. We were visiting Charleston during a heatwave and had just arrived in the city at a time between Lunch and dinner hours. After searching for a place to grab a meal and cool off, we stumbled upon Hymans. We were seated right away and the staff were friendly. Generous portion sizes. I enjoyed the complimentary boiled peanuts (never had them before). The hushpuppies that came with our meals were another favorite. Also liked the combo plate option- I got to try a couple of different items on the menu in a single meal. After our meals, our server even offered is ice waters to go since it was so hot out that day. That small gesture made the remainder of our afternoon walking around downtown Charleston on a day that felt like 100+ degrees much more enjoyable! I don't normally take time to write reviews, but considering how well we were treated, I felt the need to share. Overall we enjoyed ourselves and appreciated the hospitality. Some of the best service we received in a long time.

    (4)

  • Howard B.

    disappointed this time. went in last year for bloody mary and raw oysters and loved it. this year tried again. oysters were not fresh. she couldn't eat hers, but i plowed thru hoping not to get sick. i didn't but the not so fresh smell of oyster was with me all day. sorry to have that experience, but if they're not fresh they shouldn't have served them. prob should have sent them back. bar staff was excellent

    (2)

  • Tim B.

    The food was bland for the cost. Service tried to make up for some bad attitude during the seating process where the lady just walked off and I did not know if I was supposed to follow her or what.

    (3)

  • Kay B.

    Visited in September of 2012 with my 4 sisters and 3 nieces for dinner. I believe it's my all time favorite dining experience in my whole life! Excellent wait staff, ambiance and seafood. Their shrimp and cheese grits with bacon is now my favorite food! Their hush puppies are really good too!

    (5)

  • Jeffrey F.

    Despite our cab driver trying to dissuade us from eating here, we were absolutely delighted. We only had a 20 minute wait and everything was delicious. We were a party of 6 and everyone was completely satisfied. They start you off with some small plates of boiled peanuts and they also bring you out there world famous conch fritters. The conch fritters are absolutely delicious and perfectly fried. They have several different kind of fish available in different portions and prices, and you can mix and match 2 suit yourself and your appetite. I ordered Cajun scallops, Buffalo shrimp, & a crab cake. Any one of them on their own would have been good but I would have leaned towards the scallops and crab cake more than the Buffalo shrimp. One of our party ordered just scallops which were also excellent blackened, and another person ordered the mussels, which was a huge bowl of mussels in a garlic wine sauce that was out of this world. So for all those who say this is a tourist trap, it may be. But I, say that this is also one of the better seafood places to eat and a good value for the price. Thumbs up.

    (4)

  • Barbara G.

    Last night was my first night in Charleston and I couldn't have picked a better restaurant to start my trip off with than Hymans Seafood. Southern Hospitality at its finest! We arrived and only had to wait about a half hr for a table which according to a local is a breeze. The place has a homey feel and man so many celebs have eaten here! I sat at a seat Neil Armstrong did. The menu is extensive ranging from seafood platters to fresh catch of the day. No worries it's not just fried, you can get it prepared any way you want. I got the stuffed shrimp platter which was good the shrimp were well cooked but I wish they were bigger. I also felt the stuffing was a bit too salty. My sister got the salmon croquette which was delicious and Mom got a crab cake and salmon both very good. The main reason I give this place a such high rating is the service was phenomenal. The owner came up to our table TWICE to welcome us and answer any questions then to see how we enjoyed everything. He was more than happy to enlighten us on some of the foods we hadn't heard of before. I really appreciate that. Southern hospitality is real! Also need to give a shout out to the boiled peanuts - so good! We ended up buying a can for home. If you're in Charleston, this is a must stop!

    (4)

  • Marc S.

    Good seafood. Join many VIPs who have been there before. Find their tags on the tables and see who enjoyed their time. The owner is very welcoming and helpful finding the right dish for you. The restaurant is that famous you need to wait in line to get a table. Outside they have benches where you can wait until they call your name. Waiting is no problem because you know something good is coming. Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker had our table before. :-) That's OK I guess; Ferris for me and Carrie for my wife ;-)

    (4)

  • Olive O.

    Cool place to visit. Service is outstanding and the experience is worth it. The food is close to excellent. If you are not a native, you may be thrown off by your expectation of certain dishes, so just be sure to clarify you are getting what you expect. So long as you do, the food is fresh and very delicious. I highly recommend the mussels and the hush puppies are excellent! I will gladly visit again :)

    (4)

  • Nick F.

    Affordable seafood and a casual atmosphere make this place definitely worth checking out. The employees definitely abide by their advertised motto that the customer is always right. It's a big place but gets crowded so make sure you have the time or plan for an early or late meal.

    (4)

  • Ashley K.

    The food here is legitimately exceptional. Being from out of town I wasn't sure what was good and what wasn't but the ads and testimonials here are real. We sat with Eric who gave us value over everything else. Super nice and very funny company, I definitely recommend sitting with him. The 7 combo was big enough for FOUR of us, comfortably, and the She-Crab soup is so delicious I could've drank it out of a bottle. Be sure to get that! Didn't have room for dessert but I will next time. Very casual but super charming look and feel to this seafood gem. Be sure to give this a try!

    (5)

  • James P.

    Great food and atmosphere! Staff was very friendly and helpful. The squash casserole and crab cakes were amazing. It is a little pricey but it is worth the price.

    (5)

  • Renee B.

    We were told by a local woman to check this place out for authentic seafood that was reasonably priced. We all thoroughly enjoyed our food; deviled crab shells, fish n' chips, shrimp fettuccini, and the fried green tomato appetizer. The crab was very good, but I felt there wasn't enough of it and for some reason I expected it to be spicy, which it wasn't and I wanted it to be. The fish was delicious, according to my sister, and she couldn't get enough of the delicious and addictive hush puppies. Mom got the fettuccine and it was loaded with shrimp and the plate was ginormous. She also could have eaten the hush puppies for days. I don't like grits but we gobbled up the tomatoes. I received a free appetizer for checking in on yelp so we got to try them. The atmosphere was wonderful and loaded with pictures, history and celebrities. My sister loved the fact that we sat at the same table Sandra Bullock once did, so she was sold after that point. We had a new waitress, so she didn't know a lot, but was helpful and attentive. I'd go back again. I think the prices were kind of high but I'm not use to this environment. Thanks for the experience!

    (4)

  • Jennifer F.

    ****TOURISTS read this**** if you are traveling I highly recommend this place. You can get combo plates for a great value and try a VARIETY of food items. My boyfriend and I shared a bunch of sides in addition to sharing a combo plate (pick 3) and were so happy we did. We wanted to try many southern staples and if we went anywhere else we would have spent 10x as much. We got fried okra, fried oysters, fish, collard greens, lots of hushpuppies, and crab cakes for around $30. My boyfriend and I had extra! I suggest trying this place as a casual but heavier lunch. Ambience is more casual, and fun... definitely touristy than romantic. Really good find. Also, we both agree that the quality of the food was good and not just "fitting the tourist bill". We both like to cook good food. Hope this helps!

    (5)

  • Selphyne B.

    Being from San Diego, I feel like every coastal city should have an abundance if fresh seafood cooked well! We have yet to find such a place here. This was the first seafood place we tried in this area and we left unsatisfied and underwhelmed by the quality. I will note that the staff and manager were extremely friendly. I did love their unique hush puppies which is ironic because I HATE hush puppies normally so I left a seafood place hating what I should have loved and loving what I should hate. They are a delightful mix of cinnamon and minced onion, honey and other flavors. Just lovely, but everything else we ordered was not tasty, we left more than half if our food and paid around $70 for 2 entrees and no appetizers or drinks.

    (2)

  • Tricia T.

    Ok experience. Food was good. Ordered the shrimp and hush puppies - shrimp were TINY... expected large, fresh fried shrimp. NOT the case. I'd definitely go somewhere else next time for seafood. Owner was there - greeted us and other tables. Nice touch and unexpected.

    (2)

  • Helen L.

    Had flounder for brunch, even though it was too much for my first meal today, it was still super fresh and yummmmmmmmmy!!

    (4)

  • Greg A.

    This is a MUST when in Charleston. We had a party of 13 for lunch and we were seated within 15 minutes. Also enjoy the food. Great Place. If you can get it blackened....get it blackened!

    (5)

  • Marqus R.

    Hyman's claim to fame is that is was voted #1 seafood restaurant in the Southeast by Southern Living. Either the election was rigged or the Southeast has a lot less to offer than I had thought. But don't get me wrong, the oysters are fresh; the food is good but with nothing special or exceptional to any of it. Basically Hyman's is a hole in the wall tourist trap with young girls out front handing out ads like a bunch restaurant street pimps working the scene while coaching tourists inside. Obviously they do a good job of it because the place has been continuously busy during every hour and at every visit I have made to it. As I have said, the seafood is fresh, top quality but prepared in a fashion most any amateur cook could accomplish. There is no draft beer, bottle only, and though it has a full bar, the offerings are severely limited not only by lack of ingredients but also an obvious lack of talent. Its side dishes are also, at best bland; even the Cook Out chain beats Hyman's hush puppies hands down both in texture and flavor. Their "She-Crab" soup, pretty much the specialty of the area, is pasty and lumpy, which I find inexcusable for a restaurant in Charleston. No way Hyman's could even begin to compare with any of the medium restaurants of New Orleans, hole in walls like Acme or the likes of the Oyster Bar in New York.

    (2)

  • Lilly Y.

    On my last trip to Charleston, I wanted to come back and reminisce in the place my family went to on our way to Isle of Palms for so many years. I remember really liking my food and thinking this place was just awesome! However, I found the food was incredibly basic, inconsistent and overall disappointing, probably because my palette has evolved since I was a child that loved chicken fingers and fries. After this disappointing experience, I can see why so many people tried to talk us out of it. Now I'll know to steer clear next time. After we got seated, we tried to read through the whole menu. All 3 pages of it, and quickly got overwhelmed. There's too many choices! It almost immediately made me think of Chef Robert Irvine on his restaurant rescue missions: scale down the menu and focus on doing a few things really well versus a bunch of stuff that's mediocre. I ended up getting a [massive] Pick 3 Combo Platter with fried flounder, Carolina Style Shrimp and Grits and BBQ shrimp (fried with tails on and tossed in BBQ sauce). The flounder and shrimp were good because they were fried (which is what they're known for), but both needed sauce to liven up the plain batter. My grits were good- thick and fluffy, and the shrimp were cooked well. I was disappointed to hear they were "farm-raised" and not fresh and local. I'm from Atlanta, where most seafood has been previously frozen. When I'm at the beach, I want fresh seafood! Sadly, both varieties of shrimp tasted like something I could get at home. The owner told us that the local ones were "too small" this time of year. Personally, I'd rather have smaller local shrimp than big frozen ones where you can't pop the tails off correctly. Oh yeah, this is also served with cole slaw and hush puppies. I'm not exaggerating when I say this is a massive dish. My boyfriend also got the [equally massive] Pick 3 Combo Platter with Carolina Style Shrimp and Grits, Buffalo Shrimp and fried Northern Style Crab Cake. The cake was done well and had lots of meat in it. His buffalo shrimp were on par with my BBQ ones because they were the same "farm-raised" fried shrimp just tossed in a different sauce. His grits were too runny and had to send them back. The kitchen probably made a big batch of grits and cooked the shrimp or salmon to order. Our shrimp were probably sauteed in butter and added to the grits with the cream sauce on top. His plate had so much butter that it made the grits runny and he still poured a lot off into another dish. We sent them back with a manager, who expedited another order that was equally runny. By that point, we had eaten enough and just counted it as a loss. They should have made the grits a little thicker so the butter would liquefy them to the correct consistency. The saving grace at Hyman's is the customer service, and is why I gave this place two stars instead of one. The server was really patient with us while we read through the menu, answered all our questions and made sure we were comfortable. What's more impressive is that we had the manager and owner each touch our table twice, even before the grits issue. The owner stopped and spoke to us at length about our experience and listened to all of our criticism. He didn't try to make excuses, but apologized and hoped we would return. Eli ultimately chose to comp by boyfriend's grits, and insisted that he needed to do it. I haven't seen customer service like that in a long time. On the happier side, their award-winning Bloody Mary is good. I'm not usually a big fan of tomato, but I liked it. The hush puppies are as good as I remembered, and I was pleasantly surprised by the slaw. I recommend skipping the line and finding another place to eat. I didn't feel like this place was worth the money, even though the portions are huge. There was a lot of unseasoned meat and batter, which left a disappointing taste in my mouth when we left. Guess that's what happens when you eat at a tourist trap instead of a place recommended by locals.

    (2)

  • Raul S.

    Worst seafood place in Charleston. I genuinely don't understand why people eat here. It's a total tourist trap. This might pass for quality seafood in Ohio but in Charleston this place is the bottom of the barrel as far as I'm concerned. Save your tastebuds and go to Hank's.

    (1)

  • Lady A.

    This place has changed somewhat since I was here last. The food was good overall; the tea tasted instant which is blasphemy in the south. I hope that was just my taste buds. The staff was not overly friendly. Our waitress looked like she would rather be somewhere else. She was only friendly at the end before she brought us our bill. (To insure her tip) The hostess, although nice, needed to use better vocabulary. Instead of "come on" I think "please follow me we have your table ready" would have been more appropriate.

    (2)

  • Soomi L.

    I had a coupon for grits. The cheese grit was so good. I also had mussels. A bit salty, but it was cheap and generous. Casual restaurant. The only thing I didn't like about is that the place smells like an old kitchen.

    (4)

  • Dee B.

    Okay, by now you know I have to do the tourist thing so here we go. A quite interesting place with pictures of famous and semi famous people that have eaten here (the tables even had name plates of who set there). The service was quite good and it seemed everyone that worked there was interested in ensuring your eating experience was top of the line (even met one of the owners). Had the jambalaya with hush-puppies (they hand em out at the door) and slaw. Enjoyed every part of the meal. The hush-puppies had to be great cause the wife even ate more than one. The portions are large and if you walk away hungry it's your own fault.

    (3)

  • Kelly P.

    TRICK BAG! This place has certainly been hyped up! I am from MD, and we are SERIOUS ABOUT OUR SEAFOOD! Either we chose the wrong items, or they just fry the hell out of everything. Out of all the food we ordered, I will only will take the time to tell you about the 2 items we liked. The Wadamalaw Delight was great...and I will mention that it was FREE. Grab a tourist map, and it should have a coupon. Its fried green tomatoes with a cream sauce and grits. We liked it! Also, the hush puppies with the cajun mayo. That is it...everything else it not worth talking about. If you like fried foods...this is your place. The service was great, everyone was so nice!

    (2)

  • Lisa R.

    Just had dinner here. It's definitely a tourist trap and just OK. I went to Hanks last night and that food was out of this world. Got calamari at both restaurants and found it to be slightly rubbery and had very little flavor at Hymans. At Hanks it practically melted in my mouth. The hush puppies are good. The only thing that Hymans is better for than hanks is that their prices are lower.

    (3)

  • Melanie L.

    Great service! quick and attentive! The food is amazing. Kids love the sweet tea too! They give you boiled peanuts at your table when you first arrive! The local businesses support each other- old south carriage gave us a certificate for a free Wadmalaw app and it ROCKED! The restaurant is full of great memories from previous guests. Cole slaw was great!

    (5)

  • Vik S.

    Great place to go for classic southern food. I had the Carolina Delight and Lowcountry Boil. I don't like crab cakes but these were the best crab cakes I had in my life. Also, boiled peanuts are amazing! The owner is a really nice guy who came over and talked to us and gave a free ice cream too!

    (4)

  • Wayne S.

    The Carolina Delight is a MUST. Try it with the crab cake. Serve (Cliff and Sam) were awesome. Fried oysters are local. Coming from Marylanders, you gotta try Hymans. Awesome with a capital AWE.

    (5)

  • Geoff G.

    My brother came down for a visit and we hit King Street / Market Street early one afternoon. We came across Hyman's and the line (which is usually out the door) was barely noticeable, so we went in. Food was good and I enjoyed the atmosphere. Is it the most outstanding seafood ever? No. But it is certainly worth a stop if you are in the area.

    (4)

  • Alicia L.

    First of all, when you sit down, check the name at your seat because some famous person has sat in that very spot that you're about to eat at. I sat in the very same spot that Adam West (Batman, Mayor Adam West in Family Guy, etc.). Second, the food was amazing. Again, this was another place my dad wanted to check out and I'm glad to say it was well worth it this time. Unfortunately, since I'm not much of a seafood person, I just got the Fettuccine Alfredo with Mac & Cheese and the chicken wings. However the Fettuccine Alfredo was about the best Fettuccine Alfredo I've ever had. I don't know what they put in their sauce, but it was amaaaazingggg. Their chicken wasn't bad either :) I wasn't that into their mac n cheese, but it was ok. I also tried my sister's dish that had shrimp in it, which wasn't bad either. Her dish came with grits, which I never thought I'd eat, but it wasn't bad either. The flavor was really good. Altogether, my family all loved their dishes. My dad ordered some shark fish dish I believe, which he really liked as well. The owner actually came out to greet us, which I thought was really nice considering we were just visiting the area. He gave my sister and I free ice cream coupons. They make their ice cream from scratch, so if you check this place out, you have to try their ice cream as well because it's delicious too. Oh yeah, this place doesn't take reservations, so make sure to put your name down and take a hush puppy from one of the hostesses. This place is one of a kind, as the owner mentioned. They've received many offers to make Hyeman's a chain, but have always declined. It may be a tourist spot, but it's definitely worth checking out since you won't get it anywhere else.

    (5)

  • Roland N.

    Can you say Tourist trap!. Overpriced and not worth the wait. The service was okay, the food was 35%, the place was packed and they were trying to fit more people, making it even hotter. They put us (party of 7) in this corner that would have been tight for 6 people. If we didn't wait almost an hour and had hungry kids, I would have walked out. I suggested to have some aps, drinks and move on. Just enough to curve the hunger but I was overruled. They regretted that move later on. Enough said. I wouldn't go back not even to give it a second chance. Remember to always drink responsibly Crazy Cubano Out

    (1)

  • Vivien C.

    Fantastic food and great service. Very busy so I would recommend arriving early. My boyfriend and I got there at 5:45 and opted to sit at the bar. We had the Carolina delight appetizer which was absolutely delicious. The fried shrimp was some of the best I have had and my boyfriend loved the crab cakes. Definitely recommend!

    (5)

  • Sara R.

    This place is awesome. Great service and delicious food. The fried flounder won't disappoint. The hush puppies are awesome too. The owner came by and gave us a coupon for free magnets and to make sure everything was going well. Overall, a great experience for a holiday weekend!

    (5)

  • Ray B.

    Negative experience. Unfortunately this place was too busy to give even decent service. My GF ordered three items a la carte, and only received two - not worth saying anything - we were ready to leave. Food was nothing to recommend and pricey for what you get. Hushpuppies were good.

    (1)

  • Dana J.

    Definitely a tourist restaurant but worth a stop. My sister and I came here the day after we went to Bubba Gumps and I am so glad it wasn't the other way around. This place is much better! They have a massive menu so it took us awhile to decide what we wanted. The waitress was very friendly and helped us when we had questions. After we ordered the manager/owner came around and greeted all the tables. I thought that was a nice touch. The tables have several cards (as well as the bathroom) that have funny and interesting things typed on them. I guess if its super busy that's how they placate the customers. We got our food fairly quickly and the portions were massive. Neither of us could finish it all. I will definitely return if I'm in the area again! After the meal make sure to stop at their gift shop. Tourist stuff but I liked looking.

    (5)

  • K B.

    Take it from a local - this is a straight up tourist trap. The only reason you see a line is because the owners are marketing geniuses and they actually close off part of the restaurant so it looks like they are busy. Fried fish. If you want to be a tourist and be trapped. Go. All the locals know about the line and go elsewhere. You would be hard pressed to find a local there in line and if you do - I bet the are with visitors who would not listen to reason to go elsewhere and were enchanted with the line.

    (1)

  • Ebony S.

    I went to this restaurant because of such rave reviews from my family that lives in Charleston. After all getting good seafood in Charleston shouldn't be hard right? Well, after eating at this restaurant I'm not so sure that's the case. I ordered the Charleston Fish and Chips. The description did read the fish is breaded not battered (first, it's not fish and chips if it's not battered, it's just fried fish). I asked the waiter for battered fish. He assured me I could order it that way. When I received my food it was not the case. Not only was the fish breaded, but it was soggy, greasy, AND the fish had no seasoning. I also ordered a side of mac and cheese. Everyone at the table ordered it as a side. No one finished it though. WE ALL THOUGHT IT WAS DISGUSTING. It was as if they took a layer of velveta cheese melted on top and called it mac and cheese. Plus if you come with baby strollers, don't be prepared to use them. As this restaurant has very closed off walk ways. With all the bad, the only good were the fried pickles and seeing the celebrity names on the table.. I'm not sure what all the fuss is about this place, but I know I won't be returning.

    (1)

  • Scott E.

    We enjoyed dinner at Hyman's on our last trip to Charleston. It's world famous, and there is a reason so many people are willing to wait in line for it. I have to be honest, I'm not totally sure why people are so nutty for this place, but there is no denying it is good food, and a lot of it. I had the Captain's Platter, and I think that was a mistake. I enjoy fried food, and this was good fried food, especially the scallops, but I had food envy for everyone else's plate. My father-in-law got the grilled salmon, and his portion was HUGE! He raved about the perfect cooking and the flavor. My wife had shrimp and grits, Carolina style, and she loved it. Fresh shrimp, baed perfectly, smothered in shrimp, and apparently butter, drove her over the edge. My kids had grilled shrimp and were thrilled. They also received a coupon for a scoop of ice cream in the general store that they loved as well. Service was great. One of the owners stopped by, and was just a hoot to visit with. We loved sitting at the same table as Metallica and Billy Joel. I'm not sure why, but it made us feel cool. If you want the experience, go early or late, and expect to wait.

    (4)

  • Mohamed M.

    I know this review is SUPER late but I ate this place August 2010, and it was the best seafood i had in my LIFE. I wen to SC for my birthday, and i happen to accidentally end up at Hymans, I can honestly say that even after 2 years I still remember my meal and loved it lol. I ate Hymans for the rest of the trip and did not get tired once, it was a wonderful experience.

    (5)

  • John M.

    The only good thing about this place is that it keeps the tourists from overcrowding the really good seafood restaurants in town. Sure, wait an hour (plus) in the reeking heat, pouring rain, or winter cold for a meal of comparable quality (and freshness) as a Red Lobster in Des Moines, Iowa. They don't care if you have a bad experience, because they know you're only there because you don't know any better. The tour guides and Visitor's Center employees hawk this place because they get kickbacks for doing so.

    (1)

  • Ann V.

    Very popular with the tourist crowd. Wait times can be lengthy but friendly staff will ply you with hush puppies and the occasional taste of homemade ice cream. The menu is extremely varied, but tends toward grease and salt overload, and nicer seafood can be had elsewhere for the same price.

    (2)

  • Bobby S.

    The best seafood and service ever! Start with the fried green tomatoes and make sure to see who sat at your table ;) Combo platters are a good way to taste some of the massive menu options. Crab claws for appetizer were endless/awesome and by far a sweet deal. The hushpuppies are the best on this planet, can't wait to go back.

    (5)

  • Whitney P.

    Pretty good, we got the fried green tomato appetizer, she crab soup was pretty good, didn't like the bacon and cheese on the shrimp and grits, made it too greasy, you can get it without that. They have plaques on the tables that show celebrities who have dined at that table, pretty neat. Hush puppies were amazing!

    (4)

  • Brad H.

    Excellent food. Awesome bloody Mary, great hush puppies. I had the Cajun style shrimp po boy which was excellent. 5 star place at a really good price. I don't know what else to say...we all loved our meals

    (5)

  • Jim C.

    Sure, it's a tourist trap, but it's a tourist trap for a reason. Big, heaping plates of seafood for not a lot of money... what more could you want? I *love* the Buffalo shrimp appetizer, and the main dishes arrived quickly and were perfectly cooked. My only complaints are: a) the long wait during rush hours; b) the slightly confusing menu (if you order a "platter", you can choose from items on the menu, or items from a chalk board which are in categories. It's needlessly complicated); and c) they serve Pepsi. Blech!

    (4)

  • Alishah N.

    I'd heard of Hyman's before I'd even arrived in Charleston. There's little else I could say to convince you to go, other than point you to the 200+ reviews of Hyman's...

    (4)

  • Thomas W.

    My family told me it was a fish fry worth paying for so I flew down from Atlanta and definitely loved the fried platter. Can't wait to go back for round two...

    (4)

  • Kevin I.

    When I visited Charleston back in March of 2011, I know this is one of the places to dine in, but it did meet expectations but did not exceed because many were fried and/or tasted like it came from a fridge as like a typical seafood reastuarant would be like. I personally ordered Buffalo Oysters (pretty nice although I wished it was not fried rather cooked and grilled), Fish #1 (which sadly I forgot what type of fish I had, =P, but it was better than average) and Prince Edwards Island Mussels (which was the best among the trio and was excellent), thier other sides like Baked Potato and Hush Puppies Cole Slaw and such are average still not the best I had. That is the food, now is the setting, overall the restaurant environment is pretty good, althought crowded, it does show boldly that it is because of how old and traditional it is to Charleston, SC. And it's free stickers and magnets and information are nice, but make sure take what the limit says, ;-)! Overall 3 is a bit too low, 5 is a bit too high in rating-wise. I give it a 4, but I definitely will recommend a visit when you head down to Charleston.

    (4)

  • Natalie M.

    This place is really good. The hush puppies are the best I've ever tasted. It does have a lot of choices in fish and it is cooked very well, but you could easily get the same fish somewhere else for a cheaper price. It's just more expensive because of its reputation. But I'd definitely go back (:

    (4)

  • Aaron S.

    Great food, great atmosphere. Very friendly staff. A must-do in Charleston. Family friendly.

    (5)

  • Tanya S.

    Tasty seafood! And fun southern dishes - like fried green tomatoes. A pleasure to eat there :)

    (4)

  • Jen L.

    I heard a lot of hype about Hyman's, but unfortunately it didn't live up to the hype. The food was okay. My table split the crab cakes and the combo platter. The portions are generous and we were stuffed. However, I grew up eating fresh seafood caught in the morning, and this was not as fresh as they claim. Overall, good experience. Nice location. Lots of history in the building.

    (3)

  • Michelle T.

    GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE & Wonderful organization! But.... 1) went for dinner on a Tuesday night with a party of 9 and had to wait for about an hour to actually be seated. Understandable for a large party as well as it being summer time.. which might increase the wait time due to tourist season. 2) after ordering it took about 45 minutes before our food was served. - don't get the 7 combo platter. Maybe we just chose the wrong things (calamari, snow crab leg, buffalo shrimp and buffalo oyster, light cajun swordfish, salmon and grits with brown gravy and fried oyster) but serving was too small to be ~$40 for 2 people. Understandable the price for all the seafood but there was absolutely nothing about the flavor that could keep me coming back for more. Sister had the shrimp fettucine which was tastier and better than what I ordered. Aside from the bland seafood which has been raved about so frequently, its nice to hit this spot if your around shopping and there isn't a wait... They also give vouchers for homemade ice cream or popcorn (a plus for children). Being a tourist and first time in Charleston, I'd say this is a tourist trapped I got sucked into. Maybe MAYBE I'll go just to try it again next time I'm in Charleston.

    (2)

  • Jody A.

    By far one of the best family restaurants ive ever been to! Yo_ leave feeling like one of the many celebrities that have eaten there!! A must for southern seafood lovers!

    (5)

  • Sumner B.

    I am sorry, but this restaurant is highly overrated. The crab cakes only had partial crab and too much "other items" and way too much spices and flavors...Crab meat is great just by itself. The waiter recommended mac cheese but it was dry, not flavorful and "old" looking. Our fish dish was just ok, and the she crab soup so salty that we never ordered it again at any other restaurant we visited in So. Carolina. The only thing that came close to being good was the hush puppies, yet "locals" highly recommended this restaurant as the best in town!

    (2)

  • Gayle C.

    Yes, I'm a tourist. Which would be the only reason I would be in this area to begin with. I am from Hawaii and almost never go to Waikiki. With that said, this is a not to be missed!! Even the wait was fun, they brought out hush puppy samples to the sidewalk. The food was great, huge amounts and I was stuffed to the gills. Wait staff was excellent and got all of our orders right, especially since the 10 of us needed separate bills (don't you just love tourist on a business trip)!! Would definitely return if someone in the group wanted to go there.

    (4)

  • Ashley K.

    My boyfriend and I traveled to Charleston on a whim over winter break. When we got there we knew nothing and went exploring. After many expensive meals that we were not all that big of fans of we discovered Hyman's. I gotta admit, we loved it!! There are pictures of celebrities all over the walls and their plaques are on the tables. The food was great and the service was up to par as well. There was also an older man who came around to talk to all the tables during the afternoon while we were there who made us feel at home. Every tourist needs to check this place out while in Charleston!

    (5)

  • Kim F.

    This was a touristy type establishment. Not bad but not the best seafood I have had. Although it is your best bet for Charleston. You wouldn't think so but from what I have heard from locals and non locals it's about the best you will find. We had for starters the fried green tomatoes. They were noticeably fried in flour or a more flour than meal mix. Being that I prefer ( along with most people from the deep south) my green maters battered in corn meal the "maters" were a big let down. The calamari were good. Others with me ordered the shrimp and grits and immediately were wowed with how flavorful it was. They Loved it. The coleslaw was a vinegary mix that I was not thrilled about but it was edible. The steamed shrimp were seasoned well. The service was great. They are attentive and friendly. That is a great plus for any establishment! They give you ice cream samples for dessert. (big)

    (3)

  • Frank B.

    Legal Seafood has nothing to worry about ! If you read my review of Legal I thought they hand lost their competitive edge and were running on their reputation, well they have it all over Hyman's. For starters we shared the she crab soup,not exciting and cold. This was to set the pace for the rest of the meal. For the entree I ordered from the daily catch ,my choice was swordfish Cajun style ,w/ red rice. The portion cut was thin and dry with a so so flavoring of Cajun spice, the red rice was dry and bland, also served cold,who'd have guest. My wife ordered a oyster poorboy ,decent size ,fry ed golden crunchy,but again cold!! When she noticed it had no remoulade or accompanying sauce we asked then realized why the food is cold 'the kitchen is damn near a mile away across the distance of three buildings and up two floors. At the end of dinner,the owner introduced himself to us, and when he found we were from the Boston area I almost laughed when he compared Hyman's to Legal Overall not worth the wait 'long or short' One good thing were the hushpuppys

    (2)

  • Dennis s.

    Ok, I can back with friends who insisted on going. This place does the best marketing in all of charleston. ...wish they would focus a little more on their food, very inconsistent. Our food, party of seven, came out three different times. Cajun spices was salty as hell on fish but very good on shrimp. Great hush puppies though. I think I'm done with this place

    (2)

  • Andy N.

    Most overrated place in Charleston. If you like the food then you don't have taste buds... Good service though, but I don't eat out for service.

    (3)

  • Mark C.

    Stay away. This is a classic tourist trap, they treat the customers like cattle going to slaughter, just about everything is fried or has some sort of cream/butter sauce. First we waited for 10 min even though the place was half full. While it could pass a health inspection, the restaurant didn't feel or appear that clean. There are too many other choices in Charleston to have to make a bad one with Hymans.

    (1)

  • Najaf A.

    Seriously terrific seafood! Love the way they have the menu structured which allows you to try different kind of fish. The fish is cooked to your specification. Also, the fish was fresh and succulent. I love seafood and I have eaten at many seafood restaurants and I can honestly say this is among the best if not the best. It also helps they are popular and they move the fish as well as the fact they are off the Atlantic coast in Charleston. The restaurant has been visited by many popular people and dignitaries over the years and there are lots of pictures on the walls so it's like a museum. The tables are also labeled with the names of the personality that sat there. I got to dine on the same table as Adam West (batman)!! Finally, both owners dropped by to say hi which shows they are engaged with their operation. This was pleasant and also speaks volumes of this place. I'd give it more than five stars if I could.

    (5)

  • Steve I.

    Heard a lot of good things, so had to try it out on our last night. Got there early, about 530, and already a 20 minute wait which was surprising but made us even more excited to try it out. Hit the bar for a couple of very reasonably priced drinks for Charleston and noticed they have a really solid happy hour during the week. Our bartender Sam was great and very pleasant despite how busy she was scrambling. Made it upstairs and was shocked how large the place is. Unfortunately with that size and the wooden walls it was a very noisy environment which became more obvious with a couple of younger visitors making their frustrations known. Not overwhelming - but definitely not a venue for a quiet romantic evening meal. Menu was huge and the waiter was quick with some recommendations. Overall the food was very good. I had a combo of crab stuffed Mahi, crab cake and salmon croquette while my wife had the salmon medley. Lots of flavors (bought a jar of their Cajun seasoning downstairs), very good portions for a really good value. Only complaint was all the fish was overdone. In retrospect I am surprised that the server didn't ask how we wanted it prepared because we both would have gone a bit more rare, especially on the salmon. But it was all very good regardless. The crab cake was a bit in the small side - but very meaty with little filler and the croquette was definitely a hit for both of us. Overall solid dining experience, but definitely left with the impression they are trying to cater to the masses and move a large number of folks through. Would definitely recommend it as it's by far one of the better values in downtown for solid food at very reasonable price, but if you like your fish to be more on the rare side, definitely let them know when placing your order.

    (3)

  • Meredith V.

    Just not a fan. Hyman's caters mainly to long lines of tourists and serves sub-par seafood. There are so many better seafood joints in Charleston. I won't be back.

    (2)

  • Vy D.

    Went here for the first time ever during lunch with a coworker. The service was fast and friendly and the food was delicious. The portion sizes were also huge. I would definitely return. My coworker had the Buffalo Shrimp Po Boy and I had the broiled crab cakes. I was surprised at how good the crab cakes were - they had a good amount of crab meat and not too much filler. I'm a Charleston native and can't believe I waited so long to try this place!

    (5)

  • Amy F.

    Hyman's made us feel like V.I.P.s! I've been to Hyman's several times in the past so I knew the food was wonderful. But during our visit, Cousin Martin and Eli Hyman both stopped by to welcome us and to chat. They were both so kind and treated us as if we were at their own homes for dinner. The food was perfect. I am gluten free and was kinda bummed since the times I had eaten here before were prior to my diagnosis.... and I lovvveeee me some fried oysters. I worried that my choices were going to be so limited. They have one of the best GF Menus that I've ever seen! I ordered the grouper cooked Cajun style with greens and squash casserole. Ohh em gee. All of it was so good, but the squash casserole was the star of the show. Everyone loved their meal. At the end, Eli stopped by with a piece of Keylime pie for the table. Soo good! That Eli... what a sweetheart!

    (5)

  • Krasi Y.

    I have visited Charlestone maybe 20 times but never visited this place before. It's awesome. The whole dinning experience, the menu, the seating, just every detail. The service is great, even the owner stopped by the table and checked on us and had a little chat. We tried bunch of different types of food. Loved the most of them. They have some nice local brews too. The tables have little small plaques and showing who has been sitting there before( someone famous) Just a very good place to visit and enjoy some food.

    (5)

  • Christine E.

    Came here our first afternoon in charleston. We both had the shrimp po'boy, broiled. Not sure what it was but the tomato that came with it just threw off the entire taste. We enjoyed it more by just eating the shrimp out of the po'boy. I had the red rice and he got the Cajun French fries. Both were good but we were disappointed that you couldn't substitute these for the cole slaw that comes with the meal (I get sick off cole slaw that has too much mayo; therefore I tend to avoid it). I did have a moonshine margarita, very tasty. Overall, it was a good lunch but not sure we would come here again, especially with all the options in charleston.

    (3)

  • Audrey C.

    So affordable. So delicious. This food is fantastic, the people are genuinely committed to customer service. Hyman's shirts are all over Knoxville (TN) and now I know why! Knoxvillians love good food and kind people and Hyman's delivers both! The affordable prices are a true act of practicing what they preach. I love it here.

    (5)

  • Clinton A.

    Excellent food, the atmosphere is great and the staff showed outstanding hospitality. I highly recommend dining at Hymans when in Charleston. You won't regret it!

    (5)

  • A S.

    This restaurant is clearly something of a Charleston institution, judging by the long queues outside on a Saturday night, waiting for a table. On second thoughts there is clearly a smart marketing campaign going on as well. After making a "booking" and being told to return after 30 mins, we were then informed the wait was another 20 mins but come back after 10 mins, or alternatively have a look in the gift shop. So we were suckered in and bought some "cool things" from the shop and were eventually seated at our table about an hour after our initial booking. Never mind because it's Saturday night and only 830pm, there are lots of families with young children but the restaurant itself seems quite calm, there is adequate space between tables and the atmosphere is surprisingly not manic. Next we are greeted by our enthusiastic server Sam (antha?), who tells us the best thing on the menu is the salmon medley. In hindsight we should probably have listened, as we ordered the Seafood deluxe (fried) all of which became rather indistinguishable after a few bites. Highlights were the salmon cake and fried scallops and gator tail sausage. Service was OK, food was OK, cost was reasonable, it was all OK just nothing special. The owner did come to talk to us at our table which was a nice touch.

    (3)

  • Tim H.

    This place has daily specials and a large amount of items on their menu. The establishment has lots of space with a little shop next door. The service was excellent and everyone was very polite. The owner even came out to say hello and wanted to make sure our dining experience was as good as it could get. Very accommodating. The fried green tomatoes were a new item to me and they were flavorful and an item that I will eat again as long as they are as good as this place makes them. The shrimp and grits were awesome. I am not a fan of grits but these were tasty and cooked just right. I ordered a seafood combo platter that was off the hook good! Excellent food for a reasonable amount of cash. The portions were just right. My family enjoyed their entrees just as much as I did. They serve beer and wine as well as other spirits. There is a full size bar for those who like the bar scene. If you are ever in Charleston and looking for a place to eat, give this place a try. Hopefully your experience is as good if not better than mine. Thank you for reading my review. This review is based off of my personal experience and opinion.

    (5)

  • Ron V.

    I took my granddaughter from Madison WI. to Hymans last week. I'd been here twice before , once when I took a couple of co-workers there for dinner. At that time we all three ordered the Carolina Delight and it was fabulous. The hush puppies were great, grit cakes were great and the gravy that they served over the seafood/grit cake was excellent. Second time was with my wife and we also tried the Carolina delight and enjoyed it just as well. Since I brought my granddaughter down to see the aquarium I figured we'd go to Hymans - she said she liked hushpuppies. I figured this would be a good place for her to go. She decided to order the chicken tenders. We were brought out some boiled peanuts on the house for an appetizer and also a couple of hushpuppies each to get us started. Service was excellent. Hushpuppies were great. I decided to be different and ordered a shrimp Po-Boy sandwich. I've been to New Orleans a number of times and that's always one of my favorites. When or meal came, her chicken skin was very dark, almost to the point where it seemed burned. She commented that it did seem burnt. I tasted it and agreed with her. They brought us out an order of hushpuppies and 3/4 of them were also very dark, almost overcooked. The hushpuppies that were not were great, but the majority of them were cooked too long, just like the chicken. My Po-Boy was pretty plain. Fried shrimp, lettuce, tomato. The waitress asked me if I wanted onions and mayo (or some other dressing, I can't remember), but when I got the Po-Boy and started eating I noticed they forgot the onions and sauce. I must say the cole slaw was excellent. My granddaughter was given a $2 bill fake money for a free scoop of ice cream on the way out, which we didn't use. I was highly disappointed with the food on this trip. Service was excellent, but the food was below par. I'd have to give it second thoughts about going back with all of the other great restaurants in that area. S

    (3)

  • Lee A.

    Read a lot of reviews on this place! I have to say it's awesome.We had a free fried green tomato app, and bought the Carolina Delight app, which was very good. I had a three item combo of fried shrimp, crab cakes, and salmon croquet. Very good. And they have complimentary boiled peanuts. Had the squash casserole and slaw for sides with hush puppies.

    (5)

  • Tamar O.

    I dont know how Hyman'a does not have 5 stars on Yelp! Hubby and I waited about 15 minutes before our names were called so we grabbed drinks at the bar. Before we even got our food, we were given the best hush puppies we'd ever had and cole slaw. We ordered the Hyman's feast and the Cajun shrimp fettuccini alfredo and had plenty left over! The scallops that came in the feast were amazing; perfectly cooked and tasty. Our server was also great. Polite, attentive, and friendly. If we lived in Charleston, Hyman's would be a regular spot for us without a doubt.

    (5)

  • Zainab A.

    Having lived in New Orleans for so many years you'd think a girl knew better than to hit up a tourist trap. Alas we did and are $100 dollars lighter in the wallet as a result. First off they pack as many tables in as possible leaving nearly no room for anyone to really breath. Yes many celebrities have been there as evidenced by the plaques on the tables and pictures on the wall. Other than that the food was seriously mediocre. Father had a Cesar salad which was so drenched in dressing he didn't touch it, Mister had the salmon melody which was four differently flavored and dried out salmon pieces. Little brother had the pick three with salmon croquettes, a crab cake and the shrimp n grits. I had the seafood Alfredo Cajun style. To be honest nothing was really good except the Alfredo and even that tasted like it had a bunch of Tabasco in it. The grits weren't cooked all the way and both cakes little brother had were dry. You also have to exit out of the gift shop by design. The staff were friendly for the most part but didn't make up for the poor quality food. Save the money and go to a joint that isn't a tourist trap. Long lines don't mean much if your food can't back it up.

    (2)

  • Molly D.

    A bit touristy of course but worth the wait and fun to enjoy! Food is classic old school charleston and puts more than enough pats on your belly and meat on your ribs!

    (4)

  • Jon G.

    Food was awesome! I had some hush puppies and they were my favorite during my trip to Charleston. I then had mahi Cajun style I was just right! washed it all down with a great bloody marry!

    (5)

  • Lisa N.

    Heard some good things about the food and Hayman's did not disappoint. Everything we orders was great. From the calamari appetizer to the fried oysters and mahi. Will definitely be coming back the next time in town.

    (5)

  • C H.

    As northerner I never thought I'd eat grits ever again. And to eat grits with shrimp was an absolute no! To my surprised the combination was excellent! Let me state that I did not order shrimp and grits it was given complementary for taking a long time with my meal. That is the only reason why I ate it. I still not a fan of it but I will eat it if it comes from this restaurant.

    (4)

  • Jessica G.

    Stopped in Charleston for work real quick, and I was very pleased we picked such a great place to eat. We had Hush Puppies, Fried Green Tomatoes and Crab Cakes and they were all delicious! Also the moonshine margarita is a must get!

    (5)

  • Rob W.

    Excellent place for seafood. Highly recommend it. Would go back anytime!!!!!

    (5)

  • Jesse M.

    One of the better seafood restaurants I have dined at. I recommend the catch of the day, see the boards around the dinning rooms. Many celebrities have eaten here and some have signed plates that are displayed on the wall. Check out your table and see who has eaten there before you. But this is not the only reason to go here, the food is good, the atmosphere is great, and the food is reasonably priced.

    (4)

  • Abby Z.

    EVERYTHING & I mean everything was AMAZING! There was about a 40 minute wait for a table, but they had free fresh, not hush puppies for the folks waiting. The Carolina Delight is out of this world. We also devoured crab cakes, stuffed grouper, peel & eat shrimp, & sweet potato soufflé. Now let's talk drinks- the peach moonshine margarita was incredible... Probably the best drink I've ever tasted!

    (5)

  • Mari D.

    Overrated Tourist Trap... I can't for the life of me understand the hype on this place.... The ridiculous wait for watered down drinks and salty (frozen) seafood?? Our waiter was clearly stoned of his mind. He kept forgetting what we ordered, what we drank, and what his name was. We ordered the $20 Old Bay Peel n eat shrimp appetizer.. Kitchen forgot the Old Bay or anything to dip it in (cocktail sauce is so easy to forget...) Our drinks finally arrived about 10 min after our appetizer. Our salads never showed up at all but was still charged for them! Waiter response "wow, didn't even see them not show up!" Yeah that's because we haven't seen you in the last 30 minutes buddy! My broiled flounder with crabmeat needed a steak knife! Are you kidding?!?!? A knife to cut fish! Flounder should be moist and flaky, mine was salty fish jerky. Our kids fried shrimp was soo salty they couldn't finish it. I watched as their poor lips puckered up from all the salt. A very nice lady stopped by our table while the waiter was correcting the errors on the bill. She clearly had no idea what was going on, just walked around smiling. At this point we just wanted to get the heck outta there it wasn't even worth explains to her seafood 101. One last thing.... Nothing says tourist trap more than exiting through a gift shop! Thanks for confirming we didn't just have an "off" experience! Not a great way to kick off our vacation and certainly won't be coming back.

    (1)

  • Shannon P.

    I forgot how mediocre the food was. Our server was nice enough but he was a little "scattered". I mentioned twice I had the Fried Green Tomato Yelp Coupon, however, he never brought it out, which was fine because we were stuffed. I had the small broiled shrimp ceaser and the seafood bisque, both were good, however the broiled shrimp tasted boiled, they were flavorless. My husband had the cajun alfredo pasta and seemed pleased with his choice. Getting in and out is a challenge as the stairs wind you around there are mulitple rooms to go through, you can get lost finding the bathroom and you have to exit by way of the tourist trap gift shop. I can see why this place is a favorite given the lcoation and the downtown feel, however, I think it may be awhile before I go back, sorry!

    (2)

  • Anthony H.

    Hyman's seafood has been in business for nearly 4 generations and when you walk into the restaurant you'll see the history on the walls and in the way they treat you as a customer. But before you get inside you made have to wait 15-30 minutes because the times that I've been have been rather busy. The wait staff during these rush hour times are calm and cool and on their toes. They are extremely helpful and thorough in their knowledge of the menu and the history. But you want to know if you should spend your time and money here. I wholeheartedly agree that this is your place for decent seafood at a decent price, yes this place is a tourist trap but Hyman's doesn't come like that too much. The owners were constantly walking around and engaging customers, giving them a history lesson and thanking them for coming out. The dinner we had was delicious, the calamari is one of the best I've had at any seafood restaurant. The flounder was cooked a bit too much as it had a pasty taste to it but overall my family all enjoyed their meals which garnered a 4 star rating. If visiting Charleston or just out for seafood then this is a must stop for you and the family as they can accommodate couples or large groups. Enjoy.

    (4)

  • Patrick F.

    The service was great, the food was awesome and the Hushpuppies were to die for!!!! Come hungry and order the Hushpuppies. Not sure if I mentioned the Hushpuppies , but you have to order them.

    (5)

  • Carmen S.

    My third visit to Hymans. This one Im afraid was not as good as the first two. Maybe just an off night. Fish and chips: fish was very dry. Low country boil: good other than shrimp all being bad (black spots). Shrimp n Grits: everyone loved it but I prefer Fleet Landing. SHE Crab soup: amazing! Carolina Delight: amazing. Love the atmosphere, service was terribly slow. I will go back since my first experiences were wonderful. Gotta have those hush puppiez.

    (3)

  • Mia G.

    One of the best in downtown Charleston for fresh seafood! I'm usually in the area while on business so my only complaint is I so wish there was convenient parking for a quick in and out takeout!!

    (5)

  • Todd J.

    Good not great. However, the service is AMAZING. Both times they have gone out of their way to make my experience great. There's better seafood in town, but the service and ability to serve large groups help out a lot.

    (3)

  • Chris S.

    Having traveled the country, eating our way from city to city and particularly along the coast, we left here wondering why the hype. This place is as average as it gets. There's no reason to wait in line to eat here. We found so many places in Charleston and the surrounding cities that blew this place away. Fortunately, we came late and didn't have to wait long. But, our waitress (we sat upstairs) was cranky, kind of like a salty sailor. She help taint our experience. This is a place tourists come in droves. No one with such a crappy attitude like hers should work here. You want people to leave and embrace Charleston. As for the food, average. Our oysters were ok. the shrimp tasted frozen (we did ask and we were told they weren't), the drinks were watered down and the fried soft shell crab tasted greasy. Maybe it was because we ate here just before closing, but wasn't the close to the water, fresh seafood we expected and grasped everywhere else we ate in town. Hopefully, your experience will be better than ours was.

    (3)

  • Tom H.

    Walked right in for lunch on a Wed with a party of 8. Huge place! The celebrity photos on the wall and markers on the table were a nice touch. 3 of us split the seafood sampler. If was a better deal than a buffet getting shark, shrimp, crab, and other. You can choose 3, 5, or 7 items. The only downside was you had to pick one style of preparation (broiled, sauteed, fried, blackened, grilled, etc.). Quick service, great food, and nice atmosphere.

    (4)

  • Sherry Z.

    Two years alter and I still remember the shrimp and grits dish that I got at this place. I think it was slightly pricey, but the absolutely delicious food made up for the price. I loved it. The wait was indeed for a while, but they have these odd fence/benches that are fun to play on. Definitely entertained me for the wait time.

    (5)

  • Demetria M.

    Avoid this place at all cost!!! There are far too many awesome seafood eateries in the area, so please don't waste your time standing in line or your hard earned dollars......it's just not worth it.

    (1)

  • Michelle H.

    This was hands-down the best meal we had in Charleston. The seafood was so fresh, and the service was excellent. The yummiest dishes: broiled tilapia, shrimp salad, and the hush puppies. LUKE is the best waiter. So adorable and friendly. The manager came around to check on us and make sure everything was great, which added a nice touch. They also accommodate large parties (there were 2 tables of a dozen people) so it's good for groups.

    (5)

  • Carolyn C.

    This place is good, but not the best seafood that I have ever had. It is definitely a tourist place and a fun stop to make. Lots of celebrity pictures lots of plaques on the table (David Lee Roth sat here) that sort of thing. The food was fresh and the service was really very good. The food was not the best thing that I had in SC, but it was worth going. If I were a local, I would only go there if I had out of town company. We didn't have to wait in the outrageous lines that I here that this place can have. I had to wait over 45 minutes, I would find something else. The food is good but not epic.

    (4)

  • Veronica R.

    I was going to give this place 3 stars because my husband enjoyed it more than I did, and then when I thought about the fact that we spent $52 on a lunch (including 15% tip) that was just "OK", I realize this place really is just another tourist trap like we overheard someone complain while we were waiting to get in. I had the Pick 3 with a fried crab cake, light cajun amberjack, shrimp and grits (best thing on the platter but shrimp and grits are so hard to mess up it's like saying I liked the french fries IMHO) and a baked potato. My husband had cajun seasoned amberjack with sweet potato souffle. We also had fried calamari as an appetizer and just water to drink. The food was not bad, but it just really wasn't worth the money or a return visit.

    (2)

  • Matt P.

    Mediocre at best, please don't believe the hype. I was lured to Hyman's by the long lines of people waiting to get in, I figured it must be THE place to get seafood in Charleston. Man, was I wrong. The "award winning" crab soup tasted like it came out of a Campbell's soup can. It was a lukewarm slurry of slime and all the crab in it (which wasn't that much) was completely masked by the cream. The shrimp po-boy didn't fare much better. The fried shrimp were soggy and had absolutely no seasoning and were served on a plain bread roll with lettuce and tomato and no sauce. I had to ask for the Remoulade and I got the impression I was seriously inconveniencing the bartender when I did. Obviously this place is a tourist trap and relies solely on one-time business by out-of-towners. I should have asked the locals where they prefer...surely it wouldn't be this dump.

    (1)

  • Bing F.

    A well-established part of Charleston, this place had a line out the door when we first passed it, which is typically a good sign. Deciding to go early the next day, we got in, grabbed an upstairs table (the place seems to go on forever) and enjoyed a very tasty seafood sampler platter which was rated as being for "two people" when it should've actually said "four people." The portions were absolutely astounding. Though a little frenetic in atmosphere, the place had character in spades, from the little placards at each table to indicate which famous person/party sat there (we shared space with AC/DC and The Beach Boys) to inspirational quote cards next to the condiments and the most hilarious men's restroom I've ever been into (won't spoil it - just go and try to keep a straight face.)

    (4)

  • Melissa T.

    Tourist place but great crispy flounder with mango salsa. You should go just to get this. Huge menu and the prices are reasonable. Awesome prices on bottles of wine!

    (4)

  • Brianna M.

    I like how Hyman's puts a lot of effort into making the restaurant (and its marketing) as good as it can be. You can tell that the owners, management and staff really care about the business. I went there for lunch on a Wednesday. It was relatively empty but I think that's because it's not meant to be a lunch place. Perhaps that's why I walked away feeling that the place was a little overpriced. Try the hush puppies. They're worth going back for.

    (3)

  • Jenna K.

    To each their own (referring to the bad reviews) but I love Hyman's. It's one of few places that actually have vegetarian options for me and a variety of choices of different seafood/fish for my husband. I do agree with the way they send people inside and up the stairs to the hostess/seater person is a bit unconventional and I don't particularly care for it but the food and service makes up for it.

    (5)

  • Terry L.

    Hush puppies are wonderful and slightly sweet. She crab soup is good, except it was not quite hot enough. The Carolina grit cake with shrimp appetizer was awesome, you have to try it!!! It and the hush puppies are worth the trip. All the staff were very friendly and the owner stopped by and chatted. Very casual, you may have to wait for a table because it is very popular. We waited about 25 minutes for a table, when we arrived around 1 PM for lunch. But that was their estimated wait time and they were accurate. When we left, there were people waiting to be seated, but that just says how good their food and friendly service is. You can wait outside, in the bar, or next door they have a shop for various thing where you can browse and stay out of the heat, and you can hear your name called inside the shop.

    (4)

  • Dennis P.

    A bit of a tourist trap, but they still had some of the delicious seafood options that we don't see much of in the Midwest.. Big plates lots of food to fill you up.. the southern hospitality way... A must try if you are going to visit Charleston, SC..

    (4)

  • Mike P.

    Great food here. Shrimp and Grits were amazing, and the Hush Puppies were first-rate. I wasn't really looking for 5-star service here, so I was not disappointed by the lack of it. The line forms out the door for a reason; just don't plan on going when it's that long :)

    (5)

  • Gina C.

    My husband and I came here for a late lunch upon arriving to Charleston around 3:00 and it was packed! We started off with the complimentary boiled peanuts. Eating them brought back memories from childhood. I loved them then and still love them now. We shared the fried flounder. It was a huge whole piece of fried fish w/o the head. It was def enough for 2 people. The fish was flaky but I thought it didn't have any flavor. It came with a sweet apricot sauce on the side, but I didn't like it too much. It also came with 2 hush puppies, coleslaw, and a side. The hush puppies are so good! I took a bite of my hush puppy and then turned my head to look at something and it was gone off of my plate. My husband ate mine when I wasn't looking. We had to order another side of them. I didn't try the slaw, bc I didn't care for it, but my husband said it was okay. We chose the sweet potato casserole as our side and it wasn't the best either. Our service was okay and the manager came around to check on everyone that was dining.

    (3)

  • Jill P.

    Absolutely delicious!! Came here with my husband and sister and absolutely everything we tried was delicious!!!!! :) We will be back when we're in the area again. Definitely recommending this for anyone who likes seafood! And try the deviled crab!

    (5)

  • Amy C.

    Hymans is a great seafood choice. As a visitor to Charleston, I only heard about it from the advertising once in town. It was apparently voted one of the top seafood restaurants in the south. They did not take a reservation beforehand, so we put our name down and was told it would be a 30 - 45 minute wait. We ended up walking around and got back 20 or so minutes later and they had our table ready. Hyman's apparently has quite a history and is very popular among celebrities. The tables have small, gold plaques by each seat naming which celebrity has sat there. There are also pictures of celebrities all over the walls. The prices were very good compared to how much food you get. I am a swordfish-lover and they had that on them menu with the ability to get it on a platter for only $17. I don't remember ever ordering swordfish for under 20 bucks. The food was very good, I especially enjoyed the hush puppies! Hyman's has a fun atmosphere and a very nice staff. We must have been checked up on at least five times by the waiter and two managers. One of them went around to every table and thanked them for coming.

    (4)

  • Bobby C.

    Went to Hyman's after being turned away at Hank's seafood. It was a good thing. Eli Hyman came by the table early and sent us Shrimp salad and Calamari appetizers on the house. Seared Ahi Tuna and Catfish were gobbled up. It was great. It seems they are always busy and tonight was no exception. Their gift shop makes it seem like a tourist trap but a cold rain made it a great place to wait for the table.

    (4)

  • Jerad W.

    Very touristy. But as a tourist, we decided to check out the hype. This place is completely all hype. Waited 40 mins for a table, got usher through the maze of dinning rooms, sat at a cramped little table. Waitress was really busy and our table was right in the aisle so we sat while food was being brought over our heads to other tables. Food was average and pretty expensive. I felt like I could get better seafood from a smaller off the main drag place. Offered a lot of promotional gigs, like wear a sticker and if we see it on the street you'll win $25 off your next meal. Seems schticky and all a big free marketing ploy. They make you exit through the gift shop so you kind of know what kind of place its going to be. If you want to eat great seafood, go somewhere else. If you want to eat here because everyone else seems to be eating here, then step in line and be part of the circus. For future tourists, I would recommend avoiding Hyman's Seafood, not worth the wait or money.

    (2)

  • Rebecca G.

    Very touristy and very mediocre. If you're in the mood for bland fried seafood and mediocre fish dishes, then Hyman's will be right up your alley, but honestly I'd rather eat at Captain D's than go here again. Any Charleston local will be able to tell you that Hyman's is absolutely not worth the hype. They are only in business because a huge ad in the Charleston airport proclaims "Hyman's: voted Best Seafood Restaurant by Southern Living Magazine" and because every carriage tour guide seems to recommend it for some reason. You have to wait outside in line to get into this place on most nights and it's absolutely not worth the wait. The service is fine and the atmosphere is so-so, but the food is so mediocre that I was seriously disappointed. After eating here, I know why so many people had warned me not to go. Stay away and eat some real seafood instead.

    (1)

  • Cheuk S.

    I was down here for a friends wedding and my friends decided to come to this place for some good food, whether it was seafood or not. We had to wait a bit due to the busy dinner time, but they have a little side restaurant/bar on the right where you can get a few drinks plus some raw oyster while waiting for the real table. I think one of the beers we tried was called Palmetto which wasn't bad. Anyways the place might look average in terms of size, it's actually quite big when you include the upstairs and we had to go thru a maze of rooms to find our table. The unique thing about the table was that was celebrity names tags indicating the celebrities ate at this particular table. Whether it's true or not, I don't really care since the tag names include Sarah Jessica Parker and her hubby plus Samuel L Jackson. Also the atmosphere was quite lively and the overall service was pretty good, guess it's that southern charm showing off. Okay back to the most important part which was the food. I ordered the prime rib eye medium rare and man it was mighty tasty cooked just right to my liking. The edge was crunchy and charred nicely while the inner parts were very tender and juicy with just a bit of saltiness to make it not taste bland. I devoured it as much as I could as the plate was too big for me to finish. We also ordered a few appetizers including raw oysters in addition to some boiled salty peanuts which was quite interesting in flavour. We also had some sort of crab dip which was pretty good as well. So overall, pretty good dining experience and I'm not sure about all the touristy feel as it seems pretty local and the bill came out to about $30 per person which is about right for this type of seafood/american restaurant including drinks and tip.

    (4)

  • Christine M.

    For the first time in my life, I had a hush puppy not from Long John Silvers and realized that they are supposed to taste much better in real life...as they did. This place seems to be a staple, as the only advertisement as you walk off the plane is a picture of this place --- with a giant line outside. Truth in advertising be told when we ate there on a Saturday night. Wait was around 20 minutes so we hit up the bar, realized you can actually eat at the bar we scratched our waiting list and took a seat. Seems this is a small hint, if you don't mind parking your butt on a barstool (as I never have been opposed to) you can avoid the wait and get the same food and closer to the booze. Had a taste of the seafood chowder, garlic shrimp, fried calamari and some other things I can't remember (damn you chardonnay). All of it was pretty greasy, pretty heavy and probably the main reason you go. Of course, don't forget some shrimp and grits on the side to go with your coronary. All in all, a fun experience but likely would not return -- go for the experience, savor it as a Charleston staple then move on.

    (3)

  • Charlotte V.

    I was shocked to find out that Hyman's doesn't have stellar reviews. My parents are both from the South; my dad is from just outside Charleston, so we head down to the South Carolina coast every summer. Everyone describes Hyman's as being simply a tourist trap but it's not, and it's not something you will only need once, or at least for us it isn't. It gets crowded, know that, and go not during the rush hours, eat a late lunch, or even better, eat an early dinner, and burn off all that fried goodness while you walk around the streets of Charleston in the evening, the houses and churches, and parks South of Broad are within walking distance from Hyman's and a don't-miss. Yes, there is better (and equally more expensive) seafood other places, go there at a different time. There is not a better hush puppy anywhere, as far as my travels have taken me (which is all over the South). Get a po-boy, they're delicious and economical. Mostly, don't forget to enjoy the atmosphere. This is a family establishment; we've met the owners multiple times, they will come by and ask how your food is. The staff is friendly, and the place is like home, if you let it be.

    (5)

  • Keith S.

    I've only been there for lunch because it normally has a long wait, but I was able to walk right in and the shrimp po'boy sandwich I had was awesome! Very healthy portions and a lot of options.

    (5)

  • Carina d.

    Our group of 12 visited Hymann's for dinner and in regards to service, we were happy to be seated fairly quickly after having done a call-ahead seating request earlier that afternoon. For the price, the amount of food we ordered was impressive, and I was stuffed to the gills though I thought the quality of the food itself was an okay/good. For starters, we had the she-crab soup (highly recommend!) and the 1/2 doz raw oysters (ok) with a pitcher of the award-winning bloody mary's (highly recommend!) Word of warning - the bloody mary's may be spicier than you expect, but I like a little nose dripping. ;) For the entree, I split the 7-item combo platter with the boyfriend. We had Cajun Swordfish -- well-seasoned but dry. Shrimp and grits with the cheese sauce, which was to die for and even better the next morning as leftovers. The crispy flounder I enjoyed, which was a battered and fried whole fish; avoid if you don't like having to deal with lots of little fish bones. Deviled crab was forgettable and seemed more breading than crab. Tried the calamari and it was tender but the batter was overly salty. Our selected sides were the mac & cheese and sweet potato souffle, both of which were excellent though smaller portions than I expected. Think of a ketchup cup from McDonald's. However, what still got Hyman's its fourth star was the service. Our waitress and the staff were friendly and attentive without being smothering. We were SO appreciative that she even split the checks for our group! Recommendations: If you have a large group, they don't take reservations but you can call to put in a request for "call-ahead seating" which gives you some priority in the waitline. Try the fried green tomatoes; I didn't and kind of regret it. Also don't forget the she-crab soup, and if you like it - the mix is on sale in their general store downstairs. Something I also wish I'd picked up.

    (4)

  • Ruben L.

    Wow, a lot of people hating on Hymans. Even some locals! Much like many of the people on the list, I was recommended to check this place out. For sure it is a tourist trap, but I can't say it is as bad as most people made it out to be. My parents came to visit my wife and I, so we decided to take them to Charleston for the weekend. Having heard mixed reviews about Hymans, we decided to check it out anyways. There was quite the line to get seated, but it didn't take us more than 15 minutes to get a table. Our server was very friendly, and made a couple of recommendations for us. We ended up getting the family platter or whatever, and shared about 4-5 different types of seafood. They were all deep fried (read unhealthy, but delicious). I can't say the food blew me away by any means, but it was pretty good. Better than some of these 1 or two stars your'e seeing, though they may be giving them lower ratings based on service as well as other things. The good- free crab dip coupon- it's not a lot, but it's a nice little appetizer to start the meal. $4 t-shirt was pretty sweet too. The bad- as big as this place is, it always seems to be crowded. Our table was tiny, but we had a window view of the downtown. The ugly- trying to exit that place. From upstairs we had to follow an "Oregon Trail" and maneuver around many a people. Yes it's a tourist trap, but unless you get a recommendation from locals, it's not that bad. Just be prepared to wait, especially during peak seasons and times.

    (3)

  • Adam L.

    Don't let the long lines fool you. The food here is sub-par. My wife and I were seated quickly considering the long lines night after night. We both ordered the fried shrimp, she had the greens as a side and I had the sweet potato souffle. The hush puppies came first, and they were the best part of the meal. Crispy, hot and some obvious sugar in the mix. We enjoyed them. Then came the cole slaw. Generally "ok" but didn't care for the overpowering dill pickle flavor. Then came the shrimp. Small, overcooked, sad. I've had better shrimp at Long John Silvers. Our server was a sweet girl, kept checking on us. I won't return to Hymans Seafood ever. I highly recommend Hanks Seafood just down the block. Much more expensive, but worth every penny.

    (1)

  • Jeff D.

    This place appears to be a Charleston tourist mainstay. The building is a maze of rooms and tables where they are cranking out food. I'm a multi unit restaurant owner and like to watch unique places. Friendly staff and one of the owners was in there visiting every table. That's great to see. Believe me, these guys are making money, they could pay someone to be there on Sunday afternoon. Stick to fried food. It's what they do.

    (5)

  • Steve M.

    Loved this place. We waited about 1/2 hour to be seated. They were very busy. We spent our time looking through the gift shop while we waited for our table to be ready.There were 11 of us, Becca came around to take our drink orders and of course we established a relationship with her right away. She had all of the energy a young person should. After all she had to put up with us. Very fun and very professional. A few of us did the 3 for $20.00 special they are having for Restaurant week. We had Hush Puppies and Fried green tomatoes passed around. I had the She Crab soup for an appetizer. It was delicious. More like a chowder than a soup. I had the Seafood platter. It is supposed to have shrimp, calimari and haddock. I made the mistake of asking for the Captain's platter which has scallops instead of calimari. Being the professionals that they are, they accomodated me and my mistake. I got the scallops with no extra charge. They were excellent!! Thanks Eli. Eli Hyman, the owner, came around to greet us and made us feel at home in Charleston. As an aside this is a great city. Very friendly. By the way, part of the dinner includes dessert. I had ordered cheesecake at the beginning but I was stuffed by the time it came to eat it.They packed it to go for me. Sorry, I gave it away to one of the other diners we came with, so I can't tell you how it was. If it was like everything else we had, it had to be special.

    (4)

  • Roger S.

    They had an all you can eat crab leg & shrimp special which was quite a deal. Had to order a side grit cake - very unique & very, very good. I seem to always eat here for lunch. Have actually never eaten here for dinner as I prefer a restaurant with more atmosphere at night. Again a solid choice for a restaurant (for lunch) but again you have to know what to order.

    (4)

  • Kyle S.

    Very good restaurant! I had the biggest in-bone flounder you will ever find at a restaurant! Staff was extra friendly and the gift shop was fun too!

    (5)

  • Dana F.

    Touristy or not the food was working for us ! We had a coupon for a free crab dip. This was way overpowered with horse radish And not much crab flavor for my taste. It was serverd cold with club crackers. They also bright us a complementary fried green tomato / grits . Yum ! Dinner was shared combo / choose 5 items and comes with two sides and hush puppies. All fried . The crab cake was very nice / Maryland style , real lump crab ... Very good . Sea scallops were sweet , large and cooked perfectly. Fried Haddock was fresh and cooked just right. We ordered shrimp but due to an over site they brought oysters which were also a treat. Here come the shrimp . Again , good size and enjoyable. Hush puppies golden with a hint of sweet. There were so many choices on the " create" menu , it was hard to choose! I think the food was good and reasonably priced. Two managers /owners stopped by our table to greet us . Our waitress Lonna (sp) was very knowledgable,friendly and a bundle of energy. Very good service and great guest relations. I would recommend this popular place and will come again !

    (4)

  • Denise H.

    This restaurant truly knows the importance of customer service! During my meal one of the owners came by my table twice to make sure we were enjoying our meal. They also had some great customer satisfaction cards on each table: "IF YOU LIKE US, TELL OTHERS. IF NOT, TELL US! We are committed to being the best restaurant in Charleston. Customer satisfaction is our only goal. Remember, we are only human. If we do make an error, the sooner you bring it to our attention, the sooner we can fix the problem. Thanks!" It also included a survey and section for comments/suggestions. They truly do care about customer satisfaction, which I really appreciate!

    (5)

  • Paul H.

    2nd time there. Southern, generous, warm environment with pretty good food. Appetizer we had the fried green tomatoes and the Carolina delight. Both excellent start-ups for a to-be positive dining experience.Grouper special stuffed with crab cake was a nice touch, crispy flounder seemed a bit overcooked but nice with the tangy sauce it comes with. Captain's special was a good option, able to try the fried shrimp scallop and haddock all together. With all the fried fish, the Cajun seasoning either through your order or simply using the seasoning at the table will spice it up nicely. We used the yelp check-in coupon for the fried green tomato appetizer, and a simple 5 dollar off coupon provided by the friendly brochures you can find EVERYWHERE you go in Charleston. Seeing how we got two appetizers, three main entrees, and a chocolate fudge dessert (courtesy of the fine gentleman running the place, Eli Hyman) all around a reasonable price of $85, excluding tip, must say it was a great dining experience. Only downside were: 1) the wait. We were told "5min" wait which ended up being close to 15minutes. Also, our group was 4, but we saw a few group of 3s that came after us that got to go in before us. Also, our food took a lot longer than we supposed to come out. However, Eli Hyman came by himself and apologized which wasn't fully necessary but a very nice gesture indeed. 2) tight spacing. Some of the tables were tightly spaced causing a couple of bumping of chairs when sitting and getting up from the table. Overall, a great dining experience for our trip to Charleston. Thanks Hyman's staff and Mr Eli!

    (4)

  • Dian C.

    Hyman's has their tourist-exploitation engine down pat, complete with tacky stickers, microphone, and a exit flow that ensures you have to exit THROUGH their store where you can buy a T-shirt to be a walking advertisement for them. As long as you set your expectations correctly, you will enjoy your experience here. The free crab dip that many people get through printing out the coupon on their website is teeny and rather skimpy on the crab. The bloody mary is spicy and loaded with olives, celery, and pickle, although I didn't get a chance to see how pricey it was. I ordered their catfish done Cajun style. Somehow the catfish came out in a pool of water, so I'm thinking something on the plate was frozen at some point. A hush puppy novice, I found these to be the most delicious ones on a recent eating-fest through Charleston. I'm glad I came here and got a little of everything, but I probably wouldn't visit again if I were in Charleston again.

    (3)

  • John T.

    Great steamed oysters and softshell crab po' boy. Good choices in wine by the glass. Friendly service. A fellow I assume was the owner came by an made friendly conversation. I was in town for business and stumbled upon the place. I'm from Maryland, and great scruffy seafood places are (sadly) a dying breed in my home state. If I lived Charleston, I'd eat here weekly.

    (5)

  • Lauren T.

    when you visit Charleston you have to go to Hyman's at least once! In our case - -everyday for lunch because my husband can't get enough of their oysters. And - - don't waste time standing in line for a table - -the bar is the best place to get the Hyman's experience! Definitely try the steamed crab claws - - you get plenty and boy are they good! If you are really hungry order the crispy flounder - - it's huge - - but very delicious! The staff are great. Very friendly and very helpful with local information. If you like Bloody Marys you absolutely MUST try Hyman's. Their bloodies are the best!

    (5)

  • Tony F.

    Second time around even better than the First which was truly GREAT. Fantastic seafood with wonderful service. My party of 4 easily says it was the best meal of the trip!

    (5)

  • Eric M.

    Thought that the seafood was pretty darn good, especially given the relatively low prices. Try to get there by 4:30 PM each day since it gets real crowded, real fast. Count on 1 1.5 to 2 hour wait if you arrive by 6 PM looking to eat. Otherwise, aim for a late dinner, say arriving by 8 PM

    (4)

  • Lori W.

    Heard about this place from a friend and decided to give it a try. I arrived at about 7:15 and the line was long, but I got a table in less than 30 mins. Though touristy, this place was fun. The servers bring boiled peanuts to start and then 4 hushpuppies. My girlfriend and I don't have the biggest appetites, but we ordered two small Caesar salads (OK) and the fried gritcake with shrimp (sauce on side). The shrimp were good, but tepid. The gritcake was good and delicately fried. I had a side of grits (yum) and we ordered a basket of hushpuppies which were the best I've ever had! These had a sweet taste to them. Also had a Palmetto lager--good beer and gf had a cadillac frozen margarita. Bill came to $32. Service was attentive but unobtrusive.

    (4)

  • Evghenii A.

    Ordered a drink at the bar and it was really a splash or a taste of a drink. Said so to a bartender and she looked at me like I am asking for a piece of gold from her. Food is no good. Skip it. There are so many other great places in Charleston. This one is a tourist trap.

    (1)

  • Stephen H.

    I ended up getting the the crab cakes which were pretty darn good. I actually think they were the best I've ever had, but then again I'm from the Midwest. Although, most of the seafood I get there is still fresh caught... in the Sea of China... Which I'll buy from Walmart a few months later.

    (4)

  • Matt R.

    2nd time I've been here, and another great meal. I think the perfect spot to bring someone for a taste of Charleston. Reasonable price and tons of food (cole slaw, hush puppies, boiled peanuts, all a part of most entrees). Lump crab cakes are great, and they are big pieces of crab inside. The Carolina Shrimp and Grits are delicious and very rich with the cheese sauce drizzled on top, but worthy of a "splurge".

    (5)

  • Marie R.

    This place was a pleasant surprise. I didn't think it would be good given it's right in the heart of tourist central - however, we ended up hitting it 4 times in our 5 day visit! Fabulous oysters shucked right in front of you complemented perfectly by the bloody marys. Hush puppies were the best I've had. She-crab soup was OK. Fried green tomatoes on grits - OMG heaven! Sit at the bar so you don't have to wait in line for a table.

    (5)

  • Kathy P.

    As a little girl growing up in the Deep South, I was immersed in the best, down home food in the world. Which I refused to eat. Mom and Dad would take out the kids for barbeque and seafood, and I would feast on white rice, pickles, and sweet tea. Oh, regrets. I have a few. Luckily, I had a chance to make up for my past indiscretions, and Hyman's was an excellent place to start. It is definitely touristy, and you will encounter a wait. But the line moves quickly and the food is worth it. A third generation, family-owned business, you can tell Hyman's takes pride in its food, further evidenced when one of the owners stopped by our table, just to make sure everything was OK. I started off with the bloody mary, which was perfect, packing just the right punch. The presentation was beautiful, all pickly and peppery. Next was the crab dip, which was OK, but I would skip it next time to save room for the REALLY good stuff, like the she crab soup, which is a Charleston specialty and one of Hyman's claims to fame. Have you ever imagined drinking velvet? Imagine no more! This creamy soup with its chunks of melt-in-your-mouth crab and potatoes warms your palate and your heart. For the main course, I had the stuffed grouper Cajun style per the waiter's recommendation. Being from the Midwest, fresh fish is always a treat, and this one was practically flopping around on my plate. The mac and cheese was smooth and creamy, and made me wonder (and appreciate!) how much butter this place goes through in a day. Moms opted for the pick-three sample platter, and selected the crab cake, calamari, and barbequed shrimp. Out of the three, the calamari was the clear winner - hands down the best I have ever tasted. It was fried, but not at all greasy, and the squid was superb. That's right - SUPERB. It melted in your mouth and tasted like actual fish instead of the rubbery stuff you usually get in restaurants. It required minimal chewing and maximum sighs of contentment. The sweet potato soufflé was a swirled delight, and the hush puppies were battered balls of goodness. Try as we might, we couldn't finish our enormous meals. But it tasted even better the next day. So go to Hyman's. Buy a t-shirt. Bring me back a hush puppy.

    (4)

  • Whit R.

    Go somewhere else for seafood while in Charleston. Hyman's is the most over-rated restaurant in town. They bribe Southern Living magazine to call them "Best Seafood in Charleston" and they keep dining rooms closed to force a crowd to form outside. There are SO many other places to go for tasty seafood that are better, and not nearly as crowded.

    (2)

  • Johnny L.

    Went to Hyman's while vacationing in the area. I had done some prior sleuthing and came upon the steps of this establishment based upon other reviews, etc. I was not disappointed. The atmosphere is not romantic, so, don't even attempt to use it as such. What they do have is great hush puppies and great fresh fish. I had the blackened catfish with some sides that were good but now escape me. Service was fast and efficient, though, the only gripe I have is that they brought my Manhattan over instead of up - not a big deal at all. Very friendly, very welcoming, I would recommend.

    (4)

  • Benjamin S.

    Just had my third meal here. Yes, it is a tourist trap. Yes, it has crowds. Yes, it lives up to the hype. I've always enjoyed good meals here. This time I got a new item at Hyman's, the fish kabobs with Haddock. I had mine seasoned with Cajun spices. It was delicious with just a hint of a kick. The haddock was firm and fresh. My parents got the 5 item choose-your-own to share. This is a great way to go since you get to experience a little of everything. The portions on that are very generous. They say the 7 item feeds 2 people but the 5 item was perfect for them (and a great deal $). They chose PEI mussels, cajun mahi mahi, BBQ shrimp, crab cake, and scallops. The service has always been excellent here and this time was no exception. The bottom line is that I know there must be scads of wonderful restaurants in Charleston to try out, but I still find myself back at Hyman's.

    (4)

  • Jen S.

    Had the shrimp Po' boy. It was WAY TOO BIG!!! Also, covered with way too much greasy cheddar cheese. Would have been better with a much lighter dusting of Parm. My ceasar salad was good, but that's no accomplishment.

    (2)

  • Mike K.

    Although some reviews of this place paint it as a tourist trap, I thought it was pretty damn good. The menu was huge and full of local seafood specialties. In fact, everything looked so good, we got way too much to eat. The steamed oysters were fresh, clean, and delicious. The crispy flounder was served headless but otherwise whole, cross-cut and fried (much like the snapper at Chicago's Barco Marisco and Marisco Venenos). It was fresh, moist, and delicious. The sides, especially the hushpuppies and slaw were incredible. The owner, Eli Hyman, was making the rounds while we were eating. He seemed genuinely concerned about making sure everyone was happy and satisfied. This restaurant is quite an enterprise, and obviously hugely successful for an independent joint. Luckily, the food passed the test with flying colors.

    (4)

  • Roxanna M.

    YUCK! I am a local but had some family from out of town come to Charleston and they really wanted to try Hyman's as they had seen the ads around town. Wow am I glad I've only had to go once. The seafood seemed frozen and poor quality, we had to wait, and the tables are packed in this place like no bodies business. There are so many great seafood spots in Charleston and this is NOT one of them!

    (1)

  • Audrey K.

    This place is a must for those just moving to the area or just visiting. The food is very tasty. The environment is very casual but interesting. It's a great place to have a relaxing dinner with family and friends. The establishment especially loves its military members, so I'd recommend it to any sailors in the area. You just might get some free ice cream from their general store.

    (3)

  • Sarah E.

    I am not a Charleston local, so feel free to take this review with a grain of salt. My husband and I were out shopping on Upper King Street and realized that it was after 2 pm and we still hadn't had lunch. We asked a cashier at whatever store we were in at that moment what would be a good lunch place to check out and she recommended Hyman's. When we got there, there was no wait. Considering the fact that there were signs from the restaurant owners listing other recommended restaurants in case there was more than a 90-minute wait, I figured this was a pretty lucky break. We were seated immediately, and had fast and generally pleasant and awesome service. The first thing I loved about Hyman's was the "Attitude" essay posted on the inside of every bathroom door. For those not familiar with this essay, here is a link: hymanseafood.com/attitud… The tables featured business cards with jokes, opinion pieces, and other quirky and interesting things to read. My husband and I had a lot of fun reading the "Promises For Marriage" and circling which ones we actually did for each other. I had the she-crab soup, which was really freaking good. My husband also had soup that he liked, although I can't remember what it was. We ordered a fried green tomato appetizer that was quite tasty. As an entree, we both had the fresh seafood of the day (I believe it was tuna) and had no complaints. I am not even a big fan of hush puppies, but theirs were SO GOOD. Overall, the atmosphere of this place alone made it worth visiting. And the she-crab soup and hush puppies are phenomenal.

    (5)

  • Smitcha B.

    Busy, busy, and busy! That's all I can say about this place everytime I'm in this area. We made reservations for 20 people and they accomodated us by place us upstairs on two seperate tables. They're all about promotions and word of mouth. I think everyone knows Hyman's because of what someone else told them about this place. The food was not bad. It wasn't the best seafood ever, but I did enjoy it. I really did like their hush puppies and sweet potato souffle. They also gave us complimentary appetizer crab dip with crackers which were really tasty. Anyhow, if you're ever in the area, I would recommend you coming to Hyman's just so that you can say you've ate at this place in Charleston, SC. With my dinner receipt, I went to their souvenir store downstairs and grabbed a $4 white t-shirt with their name on it just to be a tourist.

    (4)

  • Rita A.

    I had grilled shrimp, shrimp scampi, baked sweet potato, hush puppies everything was very good.

    (3)

  • Marquesa O.

    After being a 3 year resident of Charleston having had explored other seafood venues.....im going to redact my previous rating and kick it back to a 3. Coast is wayyy better, and so is Fleet Landing and Hanks. If you hate crowds, go on a Mon-Tues-or Wed.

    (3)

  • Michael C.

    This is a MUST STOP when you visit Charleston. Seriously, they have amazing seafood and at a VERY reasonable price - try the crab cakes. The staff are clearly happy to be here. Celebrity names are tacked onto every table and the history of the place in itself is fascinating. Expect to wait up to an hour to get a table - have a bloody mary or three at the bar while you wait.

    (5)

  • Paul G.

    If you are looking for the Old South Lowcountry experience there are a dozen high dollar places in Charleston that will serve you shrimp and grits or she crab soup, oyster pie and grilled sea bass. If you want Mobil 5 Star and care about who it sitting at the next table, then go to Charleston Place, Carolina's or High Cotton. If you want good seafood reasonably priced (big po boy sandwiches are $10-$13) then go to Hyman's. I could care less about how they advertise. You can go in there with flip flops and a t-shirt and no one will notice. They give you free boiled peanuts (hip places in Atlanta charge $3.50 for what Hyman's gives you for free), and the menu is huge. Don't spend $30 per person for the massive dinner specials, stick to the po boys and flounder and you will love the place. Sure it's fried, but that's what they do best. I've been there half a dozen times and never had a bad meal. If they bring you something you don't like, talk to one of the roving managers/family members, they'll make it right. I don't get the "its too touristy" bit. The good food is what keeps me coming back. Lots to choose from in Charleston and Hyman's is a must try. Decide for yourself.

    (4)

  • Richard N.

    We love to visit Charleston whenever traveling between Virginia and Florida. One of the highlights is a meal at Hyman's Seafood Restaurant. Today's visit was the best ever! Food was awesome and the service equally great. Our server, Ashley, was helpful, friendly and made us feel extra special. A friendly visit to our table from owner,Eli, made us feel very welcomed. This is one restaurant that really strives to achieve a continuously higher level of excellence.

    (5)

  • Steve B.

    Total tourist trap. They restrict access to make it look like it is full. Fish was chewy and overseasoned. There are much better places than this.

    (1)

  • Josh H.

    I was initially a bit hesitant about eating here- every other review that discusses the fact this place is a tourist trap is dead on. However, if that many people eat there they must be doing something right, right? So, the food is nothing special, and that's not a knock. Both meals I had here were prepared just as I expected them to be. Given the level of culinary disaster that many seafood places stoop to in order to seem distinctive, having an oyster po' boy that tastes like an oyster po' boy is to me a sign of a restaurant that is confident enough to prepare common dishes as they should be done. Often less is more when it comes to seafood, which Hyman's seems to know. What put them up to a four star for me was the service. Both servers I had were knowledgeable and pleasant. At both meals, one of the co-owners came over to chat and sincerely thanked us for our business. Hokey or not, it worked on me.

    (4)

  • Dirty T.

    Went early so there was no line. I got the impression that this is a bit of a tourist trap, but I was really happy with everything I ate, especially for the price. The waitress/manager were also very hospitable and my drink was refilled frequently and promptly. Good oysters, great hush puppies. My first she crab soup...was expecting something different. I think a good cream of crab soup in Maryland is better but this was very tasty. The cajun shrimp were fine...not particularly memorable.

    (4)

  • Jeff M.

    I think it's a tourist trap. But I was starving and Hyman's was right there. Plus, several of my co-workers had recommended the place, so I wanted to check it out. The place was a bit disorganized. The first person who greeted me didn't say "Hello" but said "5-0-2." Somehow the code led me to my seat. But at least from that moment on, the hospitality started to show. The she crab was delicious and made me realize I was glad to be on the coast again. The shrimp po' boy was generous (I counted 26 pieces of shrimp) and sadly only plain at best. At least until I added the cajun mayo. Why it wasn't there to start boggles my mind. Overall, not a bad place to start in Charleston. But there is better.

    (3)

  • Annie D.

    It was alright but totally touristy and overpriced. Granted, my boyfriend and I were tourists when we came here, so we got what we deserved. We had the she-crab soup to begin, and it was very good but pretty heavy for a starter. For our meal we split some sort of mega-sampler with like, tons of stuff in small portions that was all mediocre. The only standouts were the buffalo shrimp and the mussels, even though it annoyed me that the mussels came with bread that already had tons of garlic and butter on it. It's supposed to be for sopping up the sauce--just a pet peeve. We didn't care that much for the famous fried flounder, but it was alright for fried fish I guess. We did snag a pretty awesome deal on a bottle of wine (make sure you pay attention to the chalkboards all over the place because our server didn't mention it). It's pretty famous and Barbara Streisand and Samuel L. Jackson ate at our table. We amused ourselves thinking of those two on a date together.

    (2)

  • Thomas K.

    This is an unusual restaurant. Part Seafood and part New York style deli. But the food at both ends of the menu is very good. The service was also very good as one of the owners roams from table to table to make sure that all are satisfied. My wife had a shrimp po boy sandwich while I had the Rueben which was every bit as good as one would find in New York. The deep fried hush puppies on every table are excellent. (Remember this is Charleston and everything is fried). It's not a gourmet stop but well worth the trip. Good food and plenty of it.

    (4)

  • Jeremy M.

    In a city known for its history and food....this one has plenty of both. I was reluctant to visit Hyman's, so much so that I avoided it on my first two trips to good ole Charles Towne...one of the biggest regrets of the many in my life. I have traveled around the world, I've had some great food, super company, excellent service, and views that would make you cry...my experience here was dining alone while on a business trip, at the bar, while a flock of tourists waited at the door to get in. I'm not a big fan of fried or fish, so when the waitress continued to rave about the fried redfish, I finally succumbed and my life hasn't been the same since! The best meal of my life.

    (5)

  • jeffrey d.

    Weeeelllll. . . . .and that could be a deep subject. Celebrity, tourista, paparzzi, waitining in line, hating on Hymans crap. . . .just stop. Don't go there if you don't like what they do. Miss Martha would not hang her photo just anywhere. This place certainly makes many people happy and those of you who hate on it are ruining it for the rest. We were here last Thursday and I found many faults. I have worked for the best and also the rest in the industry. We had so much fun that it didn't matter about the food. . . .but the food was good. Those boiled peanuts make me salivate just thinking about them and I have been buying them everywher I find them. Hymans are the best. Started with half dozen oysters on the shell - asked for locals, got Florida's instead. Pissed momentarily until my Father , who never eats oysters, ate three. They were so good and I have been on the west coast fot the past 7 years. Just waiting to taste the locals. . .hee hee. Three of us shared three entrees - Scallops, Crab Cakes and Shrimp. The Cajun Scallops are beautiful. Diver/Day-Boat were huge., succulent and fabu The crab cakes were nothing to write about. The fried shrimp were nothing to write about. Don't get me wrong - they were completely and fantastically tasty. But no cartwheels were involved. Scallops=cartwheels. Hushpuppies=cartwheels. Boiled Peanuts = something I cannot say!!! And then we meet Bones. He slobbered on our table. Seriously and I should have gone eeeewww. . .but the dude is 83 and is such a promoter and wow was he so much fun to talk to. He made the visit perfect. Wow! How fun. When I am 83 I want to be him We had a bottle of Simi Chard for $26 beans and having just moved here from California that was great. And I got a free t-shirt with the wine. So, take your out of town friends. I lived in the Bay Area for the past 7 years and everyone alwasy wanted to go to Fisherman's Wharf and I would cringe. . . .Hyman's is so much fun and so much easier. AND THE FOOD IS SO MUCH BETTER. Go Hymans!

    (4)

  • Sam B.

    I was in town for business and the place was amazing! It is real seafood... And real service. When the owner of the restaurant came by to give us free crab dip, I knew this place was run well. Go there!

    (5)

  • Krista S.

    Fantastic!! A little pricey but worth it!! My husband and I shared the pick 7. My favorite item was the crab cake and my husband's favorite item was light Cajun shrimp. The Carolina style shrimp and grits was good too.

    (4)

  • John S.

    If you are hip enough to check reviews on yelp before you eat somewhere, you won't want to eat here. It's super touristy, rather expensive comparatively speaking, and the food is downright mediocre at best. Almost everything is fried (in the bad way, not the good way) or has copious amounts of mayonnaise in it. We are from Seattle and used to really great food. We went with the rest of the family on vacation here, so it wasn't really our choice to start with. It isn't offensive, it is just rather pricey for not very good food. There are PLENTY of wonderful places to eat in this cool town, skip Hyman's.

    (2)

  • Erin A.

    Hyman's had wonderful service. The owner came to our table of 11 and was very sweet and humble. The gift shop was so fun and the salt scrub was so excellent I bought a jar. Coming all the way from Texas this was a place worth visiting again in Charleston (though, the whole city is amazing!). I am not a seafood person so I would have liked to seen more non seafood options (Im allergic to beef so some options weren't possible). However, they had a superb gluten free menu. It had many more choices than most gf menus. Overall, great experience!

    (4)

  • Erik W.

    I found that Hyman's food definitely contests its label as a "Tourist Trap." I think "Tourist Attraction" is a better term. This is a huge restaurant located in downtown Charleston, that makes delicious seafood, obviously there are going to be tourists there! I would definitely recommend going outside of typical dining hours if you want to avoid a wait, this is definitely part of the reason I had such a good experience -- our group of 7 went for lunch at 4 at were seated almost immediately. I won't go into great detail about the food, suffice it to say all the dishes I tried in our group were well worth the money.

    (4)

  • Sharon M.

    We were visiting from California and this was our first meal in Charleston. Lunch was pretty disappointing. We asked lots of questions about menu items, but our server knew nothing about any dish, just said everything was good. The service was terrible, more like a "tag team" effort from anyone we could grab. The "she-crab soup" was more like a very thick sauce and really overpowering. Our appetizer arrived after the entree. The seafood was just OK. Many things tasted like they had been frozen so we were not impressed. The big signs in the downtown area directing you to "Charleston's Best Seafood" were wrong.

    (2)

  • Scott M.

    Carolina delight was really good

    (3)

  • Kathleen M.

    Typical touristy place in the heart of the historic district of Charleston. This place is HUGE, with a really weird seating concept. When you come in, the host downstairs looks at a camera feed and decides where to seat you. Then they send you upstairs and you tell the second group of hosts your table number. It's all a little funny. The menu is typical of a casual seafood spot: lots of different options, all of it available fried. The po-boy was a little substandard: the shrimp was good but there was no sauce of any kind (I like a little cajun mayo or tartar... something!) and impossible to eat as a sandwich. You had to fork and knife it. Service was friendly and quick. It's a far cry from quality dining and I understand why no local would be caught dead in here. Any place that puts celebrity plaques on their tables and autographed plates on the wall usually isn't worth it. There's a weird little general store where you can pick up a tshirt, rock candy, and a hermit crab.

    (2)

  • Eileen L.

    Fun, perky, a little bit sassy - and soooooooo much food! We hadn't been in town long enough to know we should share some things - & it was so hard to leave food behind. Shrimp & grits to show you why they are popular, the best hush puppies & fish I had never heard of. A visit from the owner, the manager and several others just to make sure we were happy. I only wish we had time to visit again.

    (4)

  • Amanda H.

    Must eat place! Yes, it is a tourist spot, but a good one. The hush puppies are so yummy! Delicious she-crab soup and the Carolina shrimp and grits are very tasty! Depending on the time of day you might find a long line, but they seem efficient. Check out the cute cards on the table and afterwards the gift shop. Things to note: there are rockers out front for you to sit while you wait. Also an elevator for those who need it.

    (4)

  • Johnny C.

    Don't waste your time here! Came here on vacation with a big group and waited almost 2 hours only to be seated at separate tables (they could have easily pushed the tables together). The hostess that seated us had an attitude problem and pretty much threw the menus at us. Food wasn't even close to par and the service was less than ideal. I ended up having to go and find silverware and napkins myself due to the staff's lack of haste and incompetence. We didn't get our appetizers till we were almost done with our entrees. Half of our dishes were wrong and the other half had missing components. I certainly will not be coming back here and I suggest you find another restaurant to eat at.

    (1)

  • Jessica B.

    I will just save you the hassle of looking for a place to eat...You've found it at Hyman's Seafood!! This is our family's Absolute FAVORITE place to eat!! I find myself dreaming about it throughout the year! The food is always fantastic, fresh and delicious!! We recently returned from Charleston and some friends convinced us to try another seafood place near Marion square...What a flop!! Never again!! So the next night we went back to "Old Faithful" and were SO happy!! Excellent service! The fish was great, the hush puppies to die for...the Carolina Delight was a complimentary appetizer thanks to Foursquare and was the Best!!! I could go on and on, but you just need to try it for yourself!! I LOVE this family run business and appreciate how hard they strive to be number 1!! We will continue to look forward to visiting Hyman's Every time we return to Beautiful Charleston!! Keep up the good work!!!!

    (5)

  • David K.

    I visited Hymans in June 2010 during a vacation in the Charleston area. It was recommended to me by a friend and I was not disappointed. My wife, who does not like seafood, loved the crab dip. I ordered the five item seafood feast and everything was good and tasty, especially the shrimp and grits. The staff was exceptionally friendly and helpful and the general store was well stocked with reasonable prices. I would definitely go there again!

    (4)

  • Margo H.

    Horrible food, way over priced. Our lunch was $53. Would never go back. It's a huge tourist trap. They make you walk through the entire restaurant just so you have to exit through their gift shop.

    (1)

  • Matthew C.

    There is a reason Hyman's has been ranked the best seafood spot in the US 4 times. Amazing food, and a great atmosphere. What makes the restaurant is the classic southern style customer service. I have never had an owner sit and talk with me for several minutes. He was genuinely concerned that our experience was perfect. Hyman's is a Charleston "must do!"

    (5)

  • Luci L.

    Let's be clear - this is NOT a gourmet restaurant. I don't think it pretends to be either; it's more of a fun, Southern-feel kinda place with lots of different classic fishy options. Don't come here expecting your tastebuds to be tantalized - there really are better places for that. Come with middling expectations, a general like of seafood and a fun, happy attitude, and Hyman's will please. We had fried green tomatoes (had better - the batter was too heavy), crab cakes, chicken fingers, potato soup and hush puppies. Nothing was outstanding but an overall fun and unique place.

    (3)

  • Alfred L.

    Plain grilled fish. If you hate fancy gourmet food, this is for you, but Charleston has so much more to offer.

    (2)

  • David S.

    Tourist trap, a lot of items are fried, hushpuppies are great but the wait is to long for the food quality. Plenty of other great seafood places in charleston to eat.

    (2)

  • Mark C.

    Great place, great food. Really fresh seafood with a great taste and price. I loved how the owner came by to meet everyone and make sure they are enjoying themselves.

    (4)

  • Mark M.

    STAY AWAY!!! STAY AWAY!!! STAY AWAY!!!!! This was absolutely the WORST seafood I have ever had in my life. The trouble began when the waitress at the door told us to walk upstairs and inform the staff where our table was located. This was already a red flag because it is the staff's responsibility to seat you at your table. I ordered a mixed seafood platter in order to try as many things as possible. The first thing I noticed was that NONE of the seafood was fresh. The shrimp and scallops tasted like chemicals, and the oysters were runny and soggy. My girlfriend ordered mahi-mahi, which was not evenly cooked. Half the fish was raw, while the other half was burned. If you're ever in Charleston, avoid this place like the plague!!!

    (1)

  • Alex R.

    Went there based on the reviews and awards we saw at the restaurant display. It has the old time charm with pictures of celebrities visited the restaurant. There is a celebrity name engraved on a tag on each table. We had the She Crab soup, grilled mahi-mahi, and grilled flounder. The She Crab Soup is bisque with crab meat, a local specialty that every local seafood restaurant has it on its menu. Hyman's She Crab Soup has good amount of crab meat and a few small bites of shells. It was flavorful, but it wasn't out of this world. The fish dinners have two sizes, regular or large. The regular was good portion and plentiful. We ordered the regular. I think large could feed two people. The fish were good, but again nothing special. We found the food to be average with reasonable price. Service was quick and attentive. Overall it was a touristy restaurant near the old city market serves average food.

    (3)

  • Nicole T.

    Great food! I would come back on my next visit to charleston. The Carolina delight and shrimp and grits were the best items I tasted.

    (5)

  • Robert S.

    I was looking forward to our night out at Hyman's but it fell short: Pros: - The wine list is reasonably priced ($12 to $15/bottle for most wines) - The grouper was fresh - The hush puppies were crisp and hot, good taste Cons: - The grilled grouper came with crab filling and in the area of the filling, the fish was raw (pink) - The crab dip had a fishy taste, not fresh In a place like this, I expect everything to be perfect - after all they do this for a living - and for a lot of people. We'll try somewhere else next time we're in Charleston.

    (2)

  • Drew k.

    Been here 2 times now. Its a well executed tourist trap. The seafood is respectable but I was disappointed by the low quality gulf shrimp. Plus they really try to push the overpriced "center of the menu" seafood combo. Then they encourage you to exit via the gift shop which is kind of cheesy. And they give you advertising stickers and try to sucker you into wearing them around town. It really cements in the feeling you are being treated like a tourist. The waitress was great and the owner took time to talk to us. But the punk tattooed bartender kid I ordered a beer from was not friendly. When he saw I hadn't given him a tip he shook his head and showed the other female bartender. BTW don't order any mixed drinks, they are extremely watered down. This happened on both visits. We complained each time and they took it off the bill, which was nice. But its obvious this place, like some others I encountered in Charleston, are trying to make a killing off overpriced weak drinks. Its not a horrible place but I won't be going back.

    (2)

  • Linda G.

    If you get stuck going here you can still get a good meal by ordering the crispy flounder. Do not eat the mango sauce. It's just cheap, Chinese duck sauce. It comes in a little plastic, take out container so it's easy to ignore. The swordfish was okay too according to my dad. The hush puppies are too sweet and the coleslaw is sloppy with mayonnaise -- two things that are fine in the north but not very southern. But my sister got the crab cake which was very, very bad. I think it was left uncovered in the fridge and it got a tough, dehydrated skin on it and then was fried. The fried grits cake was also bad and the sauce was awful. She was so disappointed.

    (1)

  • Carpe D.

    I believe with all the hype around this place it is hard to rate it objectively, as I told my dinner mates you expect something extraordinary when you walk in, and even if everything was in fact excellent it still feels kind of like its falling short of your expectations. The food was good, fresh and prepared within reasonable amount of time. Service was friendly, and hostess came up to our table specifically to make sure we were satisfied. The place is a bit crowded and noisy however, do not expect a quiet relaxing dinner in this place, it is very much like a bar atmosphere.

    (5)

  • Rob W.

    We love this place. simply prepared fresh seafood, no gourmet cooking here, just old fashioned low country seafood. A very good selection of menu items, nice wine and beer menu as well. they serve really delicous fried oysters here. It is a tourist place as opposed to a local place, but when i'm in Charleston, I am a tourist! Pricing is good, be prepared to wait in a long line if you arrive at a peak time, i'd suggest going for lunch when it is not as crowded.

    (4)

  • Jim F.

    The soft shell crab was some of the best I've ever had. Lots of great history at Hymans. Heartily recommend.

    (5)

  • Jamie S.

    So this place is advertised as Best Seafood Restaurant by Southern Living Magazine. I disagree. See review for Slightly North of Broad-they were the best crab in all of Charleston, trust me. But this place is ok. Just ok. I had the oysters, gumbo and a side salad for lunch. The food was ok, the service was ok, but nothing to the hype of the Best.

    (3)

  • Megan C.

    My boyfriend and I were visiting Charleston a few months ago and had a particular place in mind for dinner on our first night. Unfortunately, it had rained so much that day that a good number of the restaurants were closed for the night due to flood warnings, including the restaurant we had in mind. We stumbled upon Hyman's and were so happy we did! We love seafood and there are so many options on the menu. We started out with the crab cake appetizer which was amazing but a little over priced. We shared a combo platter and picked five items; shrimp and grits, scampi mussels, fried oysters, sea scallops, and calamari. For $28.95 it was such a great deal and it was all prepared beautifully. We ate all we could shove into our mouths and STILL had some leftover! It was a great deal and the food and service were spectacular.

    (4)

  • Sylvan F.

    Food was okay but it took 45 minutes to get our meals. Server was new and did not know the menu very well. PO boys were good and seemed very fresh. Shrimp and scallops are a bit overdone but portions were ample

    (2)

  • Elena K.

    Service here is top notch, the owners even do rounds to introduce themselves and hand out goodies for the children... Great, we've eaten here several times and always feel welcome and appreciated. The menu is varied and we generally settle for sharing appetizers. We love the Carolina delight and the crab cakes. We'll be back!

    (3)

  • Darlene P.

    Ate here last year while visiting. The Bloody Mary's are super yummy. I shared the Shellfish Smorgasbord. It was good. I love seafood and everything was pretty fresh. Luckily, we got there on a weekday and the line was not super long. We waited at the bar area sucking down the Bloody Mary's. If I don't have to wait in line, I'll definitely eat here again.

    (4)

  • Gerry B.

    This place seemed like a big tourist attraction in Charleston for folks in downtown. The menu had quite a bit of items, but most of it was fried. I thought it was ok, but my wife didn't like it much. I wouldn't go back.

    (3)

  • Steve O.

    One of the best seafood places I've been too, I will have to say that it's quite crowded. Don't let the long lines fool you, there is no waiting area. Friendly staff at this two stories of seafood feasting...

    (4)

  • Nick T.

    Oh Hyman's how I miss you. Back when I used to spend nearly every winter in Charleston with my Grandparents, we would go out to eat constantly. Hyman's was one of my favorites. Sure you can expect quite a wait for a table. and maybe the plaques of movie stars who sat at each table is a little overblown. But The food.... The food here is what changed my seafood hating ways. I'm getting too Nostalgic. I should probably end this right now.

    (5)

  • Joseph P.

    Glorified Red Lobster

    (1)

  • mark d.

    TOURIST TRAP BEWARE, you are better off going to Red Lobster or Captain D's. The food and service was terrible.

    (1)

  • Matt R.

    Myself and family went there on a brief vacation and we ll had a great experience, although we had a Little over an hour wait. We just walked around charleston .when we finally got in we were all really happy with the food I had the fried tilapia which my daughter who hates fish tried it and ate a second bite .the hush puppies are awesome! The buffalo shrimp also really good ! I thought it was a good place to eat seafood .lots of famous people have eaten there! I would reccomend it!

    (4)

  • Bill G.

    Wretched. Simply awful food. The seafood was rubbery and room temperature. The fish itself we ordered was literally hard, much too al dente to trust. The scallops were rubbery and tasteless as were the shrimp. How do you screw up seafood like this? You really have to try. My guess is that they are just too big and cant get orders out of the kitchen quick enough. Whatever it is, don't waste your valuable time waiting for a table, you'll be disappointed. Half our meal was comped. My wife told the waiter it was the worst seafood she had ever had, she was spot on but I was starving and ate most of the luke warm food that I had. Why did we get 8 hush puppies? Seriously? Cole slaw was not refrigerated - scary and all my fried food was tasteless. You would do much better at Captain D's, no joke. Thank goodness for Hanks Seafood which saved Charleston's reputation for us. Tourist Trap in a huge kind of way. I do not see the allure at all. Don't believe this review? Ask some parting patrons. These folks with the other 5 star reviews must be employees or people with completely dead taste buds. By far the worst food we had in 3 days during our visit.

    (1)

  • Kelly K.

    First of all, let me start by saying that it has been a few years since my one visit to this restaurant. It is a touristy place, and there was a wait...however, I thought is was a fun place to have lunch and the food was good. We were seat upstairs at the window and got to munch on free boiled peanuts while we waited for our food.

    (3)

  • Mat M.

    Hyman's seafood was a delight. We were in town and looking for a good place to eat and we found it! The waiter was top notch, and the food was well prepared. The customer is king here, and boy does that feel good for a change. I can recommend the scallops, scallop cake, and crab cake. The hush puppies are to die for, and the coleslaw is divine. Go here and enjoy good food.

    (4)

  • AJes M.

    I like Hymans. My husband is from Charleston, so we often come here to eat with every visit. We have never had to wait in line to enter maybe because we don't usually visit in the middle of summer. The boiled peanuts are a nice way to wet your appetite while waiting for your food to come. We really like the she crab soup and the flounder platter. Ice tea is nice and fresh and the raw oysters are clean and scrumptious!

    (4)

  • Louise B.

    I ate at Hyman's Seafood a couple of weeks ago when I was visiting Charleston with my Parents who are in their 90's. Upon being seated, Eli Hyman came over to our table and introduced himself and welcomed us to the restaurant. He told us the history of his family and the start of his family's business. When we told him we from New York, he said you must try our shrimp and grits. He sent over that dish and fried green tomatoes for us to try gratis. The she crab soup is exceptional and one of their signature dishes. The food is absolutely fantastic and a place you must try when you go to Charleston. It is a top notch restaurant and do yourself a favor and go there!!

    (5)

  • Alfred A.

    Try their shrimp & grits with cheese and bacon topping. Highly recommended.

    (5)

  • Anne F.

    We stopped in for my husband's raw oyster fix. Happy hour special was a great price. Got right in & sat at the bar. Bartender & waitstaff were very friendly. It was a nice break from walking around.

    (4)

  • Zachary T.

    Grrrrreat Seafood! The Hushpuppies were great. Menu was a little confusing. And the seating method was a little strange. Big portions.

    (4)

  • Angi C.

    definitely super-touristy since in order to exit, you have to go through their gift shop/"general store". but we were starving after a long bus ride from the airport and the promise of bloody marys lured us in. said bloody marys were pretty well-made, with plenty of spice and lots of extra veggies as garnishes. raw oysters only ok - i prefer oysters that actually taste like the sea and these didn't taste like much. she-crab soup very creamy and pretty sweet, which was surprising and a little strange. one of the specials on the board was amberjack, supposedly a fish off the sc coast, so we got that. it was meaty like swordfish although with slightly more flavor. crab cake was full of crab meat and decent. all in all, this is not a spectacular seafood restaurant and i'm sure you can find better ones in charleston. atmosphere is a bit lacking, since it's so obviously touristy. but i would probably go back for the bloody marys!

    (2)

  • Calvin F.

    I am a tourist to Charleston and greatly enjoyed my experience at Hyman's. The food I had was fantastic. The boiled peanuts were new to me and tasty, and I greatly enjoyed the Fried Green Tomatoes and dipping sauce. The Po-Boy Sandwich w/ Mahi tasted great as well. The service was prompt and courteous. The food was ready quickly, and refills were delivered instantly.

    (5)

  • Nam P.

    I come to Hyman's once a year and I have to say this year was only average. The food portions have gotten smaller and the food wasn't as fresh. The atmosphere was still amazing. The hush puppies is still my favorite

    (3)

  • Jonathan P.

    Hyman's has decent fried seafood, with a very touristy feel Their platter selection gives a good variety of choices from mussels and shrimp to various fish, including salmon, flounder, cod, etc, along with several sides, depending on which platter choice you make ( they have different levels of platters for varying prices, the platter option I went with was about $15.99. ) I chose the first platter option which allowed me to choose 3 items as well as a side, so I went with the fried flounder, fried oysters and shrimp. The flounder was decent, crispy ,flaky, salty, and tasty, especially when dipped in the tartar sauce. The shrimp was knock down, drag out delicious, perfect sized fresh plump shrimp, very lightly battered and seasoned, excellent shrimp. The fries were great also, huge ridged potato wedges , they are big and greasy and heavily Cajun seasoned, not health food, but good food. My only disappointment was the fried oysters, which tasted like they were rolled in KFC batter, seriously they tasted just like original recipe' which is good sometimes, but not exactly what I like with my oysters, I like to taste my oysters when I eat them, and these were mostly over flavored batter, not good. The sweet tea here is fantastic, and the hush puppies are pretty good too, but a little greasy for my taste. The decor is definitely touristy, kind of like a southern version of the Old Union Oyster House in Boston, but a lot more touristy, with nautical themes everywhere, and the wood floors and walls add to the theme and sea going atmosphere of the restaurant. definitely a tourist restaurant, especially when you have to leave through the old store downstairs and look at all the old store type crap, but I thought the food here was decent and not overly priced.

    (2)

  • F. A.

    Good food and Great Atmosphere. A great place for kids. My wife and I had the pick three. I had the clams, muscles and shrimp. All were cooked and spiced to perfection. We were a little worried about having to wait as the throng of people sitting outside almost made us walk past. I asked the hostess and she said we could be seated immediately. The crowd out front was a party of 20. The service was fast even though they were crowded. Try the local beers as all that I tried were good.

    (4)

  • Robert G.

    It was ok. Food wasn't horrible, but nothing to brag about. Also tried Fleet Landing, and comparatively, it was more filling. It looks like this place usually has a waiting line though. It seemed like a lot of large party groups liked to come here. One thing that is cool is that the have tags on the tables of famous people who have eaten there. I ate at the same table as Oprah Winfrey, Martha Stewart and Olliver North.

    (3)

  • W L.

    half shell mix appetizer (mussel, raw oyster, steamed big shrimp) is good

    (4)

  • Freddy v.

    One of the best and most affordable sea food places in the country. South Carolina's Pride and Joy.. So much that even the stars dine here. you will notice numerous famous names plaqued on the tables where they sat. They have a pick 3 type of deal, in which you get 3 picks of whatever (fish,shrimp) for under 25 bucks.Try the Hush Puppies. IF you aren't from the south then skip the grits and go for hush puppies.Quality of food was superb, service was friendly and even had one of the owners stop by our table to make sure we were fine.Waiting time was not bad, even though it was very crowded. Excellent value for the money and a great location. Good spot all around. Avoid going late nights as its very crowded. This is a MUST VISIT place if yo are in SC. Minor upset is bathrooms are all the way upstairs. SO ask to be seated upstairs if u have bladder problems :) or are with kids. Check out tonsilcleaner.com for bad breath solutions. view our forum.

    (5)

  • Sheri H.

    Great food and atmosphere! We went for restaurant week during the MLK holiday. Even though it was packed on a Sunday night, we were seated immediately. The wait staff was very attentive and helpful with suggestions. We started off with crab and shrimp dip and hush puppies for appetizers. My husband ordered crab cakes with okra and I ordered the crispy flounder with sweet potato fries. It was truly the best meal we have had in a long time and we live in Atlanta where there is no shortage of good restaurants. I found out they change their fry oil very frequently and it makes a huge difference. We both felt the okra was the best we had ever eaten. The desserts were amazing! My cheesecake was moist and fluffy. His key lime pie was fresh and had a great consistency. Mr. Hyman even stopped by our table two times to welcome us and then to ensure our satisfaction once our food was delivered. I would highly recommend Hyman's and will definitely come back the next time we are in Charleston. Thank you Mr. Hyman for taking pride in what you do!

    (5)

  • Yvonne O.

    I do not understand why people will wait in this long line for this mediocre food? We noticed that the line started around 630 each night, so we just got there at 5 and walked right in. Well, I decided to order the shrimp fettucinni marinara since the waitress raved about the homemade pasta and sauce. It was literally the most disgusting looking and tasting dish I have had in a long time. The sauce is fire hot and runny as all hell - to the point that there was a river of red water around my mountain plate - to the point that it leaked onto the table and through the leaf crack onto my lap. People, learn to wipe a plate and drain the noodles or sauce rather than serve slop!! Plus, the shrimp was severely over-cooked and rubbery. The high-maintenance old ladies behind us were sending everything back, so our waitress was too busy to check on us. Husband had the fried flounder and thought it was fine. I would NEVER waste time waiting for this garbage.

    (2)

  • Mike G.

    I'm starting to think that the good reviews must come from the staff. The seafood here is terrible. I talked to one of the guys in the kitchen once and he told me that they kept a couple of local shrimp in the freezer to say that they serve local seafood. I ate here once in college and would never go back. As for the line of tourists around the block. They do that on purpose also. Nothing draws a crowd like a crowd.

    (1)

  • J. O.

    best seafood joint ever! the fried calamari is to die for, soooo tender and tasty. great by itself or even better with lemon and the marinara. and the buffalo shrimp, hush puppies, and that delicious palmetto pale ale, forget about it!!!! the service couldn't be any friendlier or helpful.

    (5)

  • Ivanka B.

    I was in town for work and hate eating out by myself, but desperately needed to eat something other than pizza. I found myself sitting at the bar here and ordering things I had never, ever tried before. Best. Idea. Ever. Fried green tomatoes - awesome, love the breading and the cajun mayo. Crispy flounder for dinner - perhaps fried a bit too much, but not sure how it is supposed to be but the chutney helped out with that. Sweet potato souffle and best hush puppies ever definitely helped! Washed it all down with a Palmetto Pale Ale - local brew I was told. Really great stuff. By the way, didn't have the she-crab soup since I tried it @ AW Shuck's and wasn't a fan.

    (3)

  • patricia t.

    Very expensive and extremely mediocre seafood. Everything is fried, of course, but in this case it is fried to death. All of our food and appetizers, including the soup was lukewarm. The kids wouldn't even eat the fish and chips, saying they were gross. When I tasted them, I had to agree. There is much better food in Charleston and much better seafood just about everywhere. Please don't waste your hard earned vacation time and money at Hyman's.

    (1)

  • Matt M.

    I wasn't sure about trying Hyman's because the reviews seem all over the place with some people praising it and others calling the health department. I've tried it twice now and liked it both times. The food is not fancy, but mine was tasty. The shrimp and grits was very good. I tried the shrimp several ways (cajun, broiled, boiled, scampi) and all were very good. I enjoyed the kitschy atmosphere. The tables all have plaques telling you what celebrities sat there before. The friendly owner came by and talked with us for awhile. All in all we had a good time and good food for the price. I'll definitely come back.

    (4)

  • Christine K.

    I've been here just twice - last and this summer. Last summer I would have given Hyman's 5 stars, but this recent visit bumped it down to a 4. Why? Well, our waiter was very...um silent and unresponsive and drab - I'd say this is pretty bad since Hyman's is a major touristy place. Crab cakes are good, but trying to get through the second piece was hard work. Hushpuppies are yummy. Snapper is very dry (like chicken and that was horrible because I'm a vegetarian!). Mac and cheese is very cheesy. My father says the flounder is excellent. I don't know what's happened, but I'd say the quality of Hyman's has gone down considerably within the last year. Disappointing... but very family friendly, affordable, and tastes best when you're starving.

    (4)

  • Debbie L.

    Hyman's was recommended to us by a friend of a friend who had lived in Charleston, so we thought it would be good local food. We were sorely disappointed. There was no line when we arrived but it was pretty crowded when we got there. I was unimpressed with the atmosphere... it was loud and not very conducive for conversation. We were seated near the kitchen and exit, so really the server shouldn't have been able to miss us since she would have to walk by every time she went to the kitchen. We ordered some sort of 3-fish deal where you get three different types of fish/shrimp cooked in different spices of your choice (i.e. cajun, fried, etc). We received ice water... I don't recall if we got bread. Well, an hour later, several other people had been seated near us, ordered their food, and gotten it, while we were still waiting for ours. Of course, being non-white, we wonder if it's a quiet form of discrimination. Our waitress hasn't checked on us for a while (probably half an hour) and husband's water has not been filled for quite some time. We are not happy. Finally half an hour before the restaurant closes, the waitress notices that we are still sitting there and asks if we are waiting for something. Seriously?! She finally checks on our food and brings it out fifteen minutes later. The food itself was mediocre. I felt that the spices were only okay and the fish was overdone, not moist. The shrimp was okay, not fantastic. They were not hot by the time we got them. The server was quick in bringing out our check, of course. We asked to speak with the manager to let him know that we'd spent and hour and a half just waiting for our food while other customers had enjoyed their dinner in less time. Manager seemed surprised and was very apologetic. He gave us coupons for Hyman's if we chose to come back. Who knows if that will happen. The service was so terrible we may never go back. Overall, the food was only okay, and the service was a complete turn-off. Who waits 1.5 hours for food at a casual restaurant?! I will give this place another chance IFF we are trapped downtown somewhere nearby and there are no other restaurants open.

    (1)

  • Sandy V.

    I go to Hymans for the fried lobster tails and my husband goes for the flounder. We have gone several times a year for many years and always gone away happy with the food. Service is good and, yes it is touristy, and yes you do exit through their gift shop, but it is still good seafood. We will continue to go to Hymans. We are also greeted every time we are there by one of the owners, not something you always encounter at such a busy restaurant.

    (5)

  • Jeff Z.

    hmm..I don't know... Suppose a restaurant for the locals, but the food there are like touristy, went there couple weeks ago with 3 friends, the place was not as propagated as other Yelpers said...Got seated right after walked in. And had a flounder, halfshell oyster(love em.... Gotta try those at least) and some bone dried fried shrimp..... Overall experience was OK....nothing special...

    (2)

  • Amanda A.

    Mussels are amazing...but so are the oysters, fresh catch, etc,etc,etc. Sides are a bit small, but who needs sides with all that incredible, fresh seafood? Num!!!

    (5)

  • Carolyn R.

    Friends home in Sacramento urged us to eat at Hyman's and we were happy we did. The wait staff was cheerful, enthusiastic, and reminded us that our fried flounder had meat on both sides. One dish of it was plenty for two to share, in addition to what came along with it: cole slaw and hush puppies (finally this Yankee found out these are not only shoes but also delicious sweet balls of what I think is corn dough fried (isn't everything Down South? I resisted trying a fried pickle but did eat the iconic fried green tomatoes as an appetizer. Had to, just so I could say I ate 'em). The founder's great grandson, Eli, who co-owns the place with his brother's son-in-law, stopped at our table twice to check out our experience, shmooz, and give us cute coupons with a photo of his mom on one side and kids on the other that could be exchanged for a kid-size ice cream cone. I see someone recently complained the restaurant "relies" on the awards it's won. I can't figure out why that should be a problem! If we lived here we would be back again and again to try different dishes, including the Jewish deli menu which we didn't have time to explore. When I told Eli I was going to write a happy customer review he told me how seriously he takes the comments on the Internet and was shocked to find one person complaining about a dish he didn't even serve at his restaurant. Well, we were really there this week, we enjoyed it very much, and the only reason my score is a four out of five is my Northern California palate would have preferred a choice of something not fried or creamy with the fish, like a baked potato maybe, and a choice of something besides packaged white flour crackers with the creamy crab dip we added as an appetizer (or maybe sourdough bread pieces, if not whole grain crackers). Otherwise, it was exactly as it was advertised to be, a LOT of choices of kinds of fish, huge portions, and swift, friendly service by everyone we came in contact with from the woman who directed us to a table to the owner, himself.

    (4)

  • C M.

    The line is ridiculous and luckily we got in within 30minutes, but to see that line is crazy...considering the tons of fantastic, wonderful other places to eat in Charleston that don't require a 1 1/2 hour wait. We got in quick, (for some strange reason), but waited for our food for almost 1 hour. Mahi was dry and over done, we requested another and they had to get a managers approval, and by the time the 2nd piece came, I was already through eating. (I didnt want my food to get cold waiting on my husbands 2nd order). Too much hype! Please go eat at other DELICIOUS, INCREDIBLE PLACES....... CHARLESTON IS FULL OF OTHER RESTAURANTS!

    (1)

  • Samuel C.

    We tried to go to this restaurant late in the evening and the line stretched all the way down the block. So, we decided to go back the next day for lunch. The food was delicious and the service was top notch. I highly recommend this place for those who love seafood. The only thing I didn't really care for was the promotional sticker thing they have going on. It would be acceptable if it was a new restaurant but Hyman's has a great history and does not need to tag their customers with stickers, lol..

    (5)

  • Jim L.

    Hyman's Seafood...you were good to me, but was I good to you? While on a recent road trip down to the "Low Country", my group of Bostonian yankees discovered Hyman's though Yelp! (We made a very concerted effort to eat out local for dinner while on this trip) Hyman's was calling our name, but after reading many mediocre reviews on Yelp! I became very hesitant, but that feeling went away about 3 seconds after being served my three course meal of buffalo shrimp, shrimp and grits, and fried calamari. As a native New Englander, I feel I've had my ups and downs of seafood (especially fried) and Hyman's is def. up there with the Clam Box, Newick's, and Woodman's. My friend decided to get the flounder, and it was amazing! What they basically do is hand you a full bodied flounder and you pick and pick and pick till there are only little fish bones. For an appetizer, we got fried green tomatoes (I was a FGT virgin) and fried pickles. Both were amazing fried goodness served with a spicy mayo sauce, which I kept for dinner. Domestic beers are cheap ($3) and wine is also. Some tables have mini plaques that tell you who has sat at your table before.

    (5)

  • Brian D.

    What Jess said, the oyster po'boy looked good and included 15 oysters for $10.95, but it was lacking some flavour aka secret sauce. I tried my best to find a hole in the wall in this area, but just gave up and tried this place out. It seems downtown charleston is one big tourist mecca and with the summer heat, you're too lazy to walk around to find a good restaurant. my advice is to know in advance where you want to eat! also at hymans, after you eat you can only exit via the gift shop. I felt like i was at Disney world or something. It definitely doesn't deserve two stars, but its not all the hype it claims to be.

    (3)

  • David J.

    Very tourist oriented. Always crowded. Meals are high priced but filling. One of the few restaurants I've found in Charleston where you get boiled peanuts for your table. There are several better choices in the area where you won't have to wait. The hushpuppies here are mediocre.

    (2)

  • Huey-Tyng R.

    So MUCH FOOD!!! My husband and I shared the pick 5 platter - salmon and grits, barbecue shrimp, buffalo oysters, clam strips and a crab cake. The salmon and grits were amazing. It was the stuff that grit dreams are made of - creamy, rich and flavorful. The other items paled in comparison. Before we even received our meal Hyman's brought us a complimentary platter with hush puppies, calamari and a shrimp salad. We had fried green tomatoes as an appetizer. They were excellent. Hyman's is a wonderful establishment that does an great job of making you feel welcome. I will tell any seafood lover visiting Charleston that it is a must!

    (4)

  • Christy L.

    Ditto what most of the people said here. I am born and raised in Charleston and only went here one time when an out-of-town relative read about in Southern Living and HAD to go there. The food was so-so - there are so many better places within walking distance (Hank's) so don't get suckered into Hymans. It only gets 2 stars because they serve alcohol - which I had to have plenty of that night...

    (2)

  • Ferdi E.

    ok - im not a local - so i dont know about the other hot spots - and from what im reading from other yelpers - Hawks should have been my other choice. but i did ask my concierge here at the renaissance, and a couple of my local homeland security agents (these guys can eat) about southern eats - and they all mentioned this place was the "south carolina" seafood experience. so, i walk by first, and saw the line but also got sucked in by the awards and articles that are poster-ed in the front window. i also read all the celebrity endorsements - so, i asked myself and visiting coworkers, shall we dine here? it was a unanimous YES. FOOD - as we waited, we were handed some hush puppies - fried cornmeal balls. being from san diego, we dont get this little treat often - so i dont have anything to compare it to - but i will say that i thought it was tasty. my meal started with the highly recommended SHE CRAB SOUP - excellent - it had real crab in it, and tasted like a cross between a bisque and chowder. my main dish was their signature: CRISPY FRIED FLOUNDER. Awesome. it may be because im asian - and this dish is similar to a traditional asian dish, but it's literally a whole flounder fish scored and fried on the bone (and with bones); all i was missing was the patis or nam pla and some hot rice. ha. it was served with more hush puppies, coleslaw and a sweet potato souffle. yum. sweet tea here was really good too. yes, on the way out i was funneled thru the gift store - but we got $4 tshirts (since we dined in the restaurant) - honestly, a great souvenir if needed - and all the proceeds from the shirt sales went to charity. i enjoyed my dining experience here, local or not - and before you bash my palette - i travel 80% for a living and have dined at sea food places from seattle to hawaii to miami to new york to my home in san diego and internationally, hymans ranks above average - definitely NOT 5 stars - but i dont think its a 2 or 3. its better than that.

    (4)

  • Millhouse R.

    One of the shittiest tourist traps I've had the pleasure of experiencing.

    (1)

  • Michael Y.

    I was highly disappointed after my dining experience at Hyman's. I had the fried green tomatoes, gator sausage, and any 3 (scallops, fried calamari, and swordfish prepared sauteed style). the scallops were rubbery and the swordfish was heavily seasoned with lemon pepper. i've had day boat scallops at restaurants that serve fresh seafood and this was nowhere near it. i'm not a big fan of lemon on fish and the calamari was very disappointing. the calamari was not crispy, a little too soft, and soggy...i didnt think it was possible to screw up fried calamari but they proved me wrong. most of all, the food was served warm, almost cold, i had to force the scallops down and i wanted to hurl. it was not all bad...the gator sausage and hush puppies were good, but that was it, oh and the service was on par. my supervisor suggested the next time i try the lobster bisque soup but unfortunately, there wont be a next time. bottom line, i do not recommend dining here. eat and pay for crappy food at your own risk! dont say i didnt warn you and besides, i generally dont write negative reviews but when i do, it is usually a terrible experience and this just so happens to be one of them.

    (1)

  • Phillip L.

    I wish I had read reviews before I got sucked in with my "FREE CRAB DIP!" coupon today. Oh well, lesson learned. I ordered a bowl of their Lobster-Based Bisque (no actual lobster meat included, suckas!), which was actually quite tasty. A shrimp po boy didn't hold up very well in a take-out container, but it was decent. The FREE CRAB DIP looked like something a cat thew up. Seriously. Nasty. Tasted okay, but if I had paid for something like that, I'd be mighty pissed. I echo the other reviews and say that there are other places with much better food, even if I don't know what they are. I have this sinking feeling Hyman's is simply a glorified Red Lobster. Without the Cheddar Bay Biscuits.

    (2)

  • Lisa S.

    Meh. I got to sample a lot of "local" dishes here and had my first sweet tea experience here too. Everything is just really dipped in batter and fried. My whole fish wasn't what I was expecting -- it was pretty dry. Not sure if it's worth the 90 minute wait it can get over the weekend. I went during a weeknight and still waited 30 minutes!

    (2)

  • Erin W.

    I am surprised to see the low ratings for Hyman's. My husband and I went to Charleston for our 1st anniversary and dined here for dinner. I don't remember experiencing a long wait at all. The seafood was really good. We loved the raw oysters, crab legs and the steamed clams. It is a fun place with lots of levels and wooden floors and walls. I will admit that it is very tourist-y, but it didn't bother us. We even went back a second time for lunch that weekend, ordered different entrees than previously for dinner, and enjoyed it just as much as the first time.

    (5)

  • john h.

    Good food, great service & an extensive gluten free menu. The owner talked with each table and ensured all of our needs and requests were being met. Our waiter was prompt, attentive and funny. I'd highly recommend.

    (5)

  • Tommy V.

    Standard tourist seafood fare. Hyman's is set up to do major amounts of business; they figure that there's no need for you to be seated at your table by a hostess, they just tell you your table number and you go find it yourself. Their food was good but nothing special, just standard preparations of decent fish. It has a very touristy feel to it, with free stickers for everyone so that you can give them some pro bono advertising as you walk around the city market. You can find a better place to eat in downtown Charleston.

    (2)

  • Morgan S.

    Please don't waste your time at Hyman's while visiting Charleston! Trust a local - there are so many other fabulous restaurants that you will miss out on if you go to this tourist trap. It's heavily advertised with little to back up the boast. Save your money and prescious vacation time and hit up Fleet Landing or Hank's instead. You won't be disappointed!!

    (1)

  • Joe P.

    Crab cakes were very good, along withe fried Carolina grits with shrimp (EXCELLENT). Also tried the crispy flounder, which was good, but I have had better. The sweet potatoe souffle was fantastic! Prices are reasonable, and the place was packed! The hush puppies were good as well.

    (4)

  • Repub L.

    Overpriced, average food--think tourist trap.

    (2)

  • rebekah b.

    I'm adding my 2 cents. Money, incidentally, that I wouldn't spend at Hyman's. I'm convinced this restaurant is only in business because of the tourism industry since nobody I know who lives in Charleston actually eats here. We just walk past and snicker at the people standing in line. So this review is intended for that person in Peoria who is planning a trip to Charleston and wants a great place for seafood. This is not the place! If you're looking for a recommendation, try... Coast, Hank's, Fish or rent a car and drive over the bridge to The Wreck. Footnote... I only gave this place one star because I had to.

    (1)

  • Tom T.

    Okay, I read the other comments and headed over to Hyman's for seafood. I ordered the she-crab soup first then the Father "Maier the Buyer" platter. I ordered the platter broiled to the extent possible. I am also doing my contest of best she-crab soup in Charleston. The she-crab soup had very little crab and very little taste. In fact of the six restaurants sampled so far, Hyman's she-crab soup was---sixth! Now the Maier the Buyer platter. What they did to the scallops should have been illegal. Way too well done. The fried oysters were too well done. The deviled crab was also fried too long and I didn't even finish it. The flounder was good though--broiled perfectly. There is a waiting line outside and this is caused by the restaurant leaving closed some of its many dining rooms to enable a crowd to form leaving the passing public to think that there is real good food inside--there's not! If you want good seafood go to Hanks. If you want the best she-crab soup go to: 1) Tommy Condons/A.W. Shucks (same owner and best soup) 2) Charleston Crab Shack 3) Toast 4) Hank's Seafood

    (1)

  • Teresa D.

    Due to the poor reviews my husband and I had decided not to eat at Hyman's except that while eating at Fleet Landing a lady at the table next to us asked us if we had eaten at Hyman's yet. I told her no because of the mediocre to poor ratings. She said during her stay in Charleston it was the best seafood she had eaten. So we decided to have dinner there tonight. We were immediately seated and brought the dish of boiled peanuts which were very tasty. Being born and raised in Savannah I have a special affinity for boiled peanuts so it was a nice treat. My husband ordered the large fried oyster platter. The oysters had a good flavor but the batter was a little heavy but he still managed to eat all but 2 of the 30 that were served. I got the fried shrimp, fried scallops, and the crab cake. The fried shrimp were lightly battered and were clearly wild shrimp as opposed to farm raised. Again being born and raised in Savannah and having a cousin with a shrimp boat I have eaten my share of shrimp and then some and will not buy farm raised shrimp period. The fried scallops were reminiscent of Williams Seafood Restaurant, an institution in Savannah for decades until a fire destroyed the restaurant several years ago. They had the best and I never thought I would taste friend scallops that good again. We both got the fries which are potato wedges. We also got the macaroni and cheese which was although not as good as grandmas was a good southern baked macaroni and cheese for a restaurant. We had a coupon for the crab dip and I liked it but my husband preferred the crab dip at A. W. Shuckers. We also tried the she crab soup since we had tried it at all the other seafood restaurants during our week long stay. Once the waitress brought us a little sherry to add to it, it was very tasty and by far had more crab in it than all the others we tried (82 Queen, Fleet's Landing, Noisy Oyster, A. W. Shucks, and Seel's on Sullivan's). Two of the family proprietor's came around for conversation and seemed genuinely interested in our satisfaction. The one down side was the parking. It is downtown and so parking on the street is your only option. If you are looking for a foo foo grilled fish with magazine quality presentation then this is NOT your place. However, if you are looking for fresh local shellfish or flounder (fried whole btw) fried then by all means take your appetite and you will not be sorry. The hushpuppies were the best we had all week as well and they came with the meal rather than one of your choices for a side as some of the others did. We were so full we didn't have room for dessert so I can't comment on it. The parking is the only reason I am giving it a 4 star instead of a 5 star rating.

    (4)

  • Jay B.

    Sometimes the crowds are terrible as this is one of the tourist spots for sure. However, I have enjoyed my meals here. Especially the breakfast buffet I had one trip while staying downtown. If you have not been here then go as it is a must for a virgin. However, if you have been here there are places with better food for a better price and less wait. It is very convienent if you plan to spend the evening downtown but there are many good eateries downtown.

    (3)

  • Cassy B.

    My husband and I were vacationing in South Carolina and we heard from friends about this place. First off, we went there on Sunday, Sept 25th, 2011 about 11:30 am. Jason, our waiter, was very attentive, nice and friendly.Whomever the 2 young blond girls outside were that greeted us were SNOTTY. That turned us off right away but still wanted to try the food. The Carolina delight(shrimp Grits) my husband and I split and it was delicious. We both ordered the combo plates. The buffalo oysters were AWESOME. The shrimp tasted farm raised and my husband's swordfish...you could Smell it before it reached the table which is not a good thing. Very fishy and old tasting. Mussels were so so but the scallops were to die for. Cole slaw good and the mac and cheese was awesome although we could not finish all the food. We would definitely go back for the Carolina Delight and the buffalo oysters and scallops and to try other things. We wouldn't order the mussels or shrimp or swordfish. Maybe drinks and appetizers and we'd ask for Jason to be our waiter...he made the experience pleasureable for sure! Thanks Jason!!

    (3)

  • Jessica S.

    The star count may be low, but that's only because I went there once. Seriously, every time I walked past there, no matter what time of day, it was crowded. Hyman's has been rated #1 seafood in Charleston for like 2 or 3 years in a row, so you gotta go if your there. I got an oyster po' boy. Again, it was good, not greasy at all, it could've stood to have some mayo. but nonetheless, decent place and every type of seafood you could want.

    (3)

  • Coco P.

    Do NOT fall for the schtick. Unless you like schtick. And bad service, and a gift shop. We had one of the ubiquitous coupons, offering a free crab dip appetizer. So we went. Big mistake. Even our front desk clerk tried to dissuade us, but it was late and we wanted a quick bite. First, the obnoxioius girls out front (hostesses?) were so hyper i thought i was at Daytona during Spring Break. So after routing us through the bar (they said no tables were available, buy a drink at the bar), they took us upstairs to our table (where there were plenty of vacant tables). The free crab dip appetizer was basically cream cheese with crab, and was a bit smaller than a golf ball. About enough for 4 crackers, 2 each. I asked the waiter if any of the daily catch fish were fresh and he said "Well, they're fresh enough." What does that mean? He couldn't explain. And this is a seafood restaurant, unbelievable. And, none of the fish is local. So, not fresh and not local. Um...why eat here? Oh yeah, b/c the service continued to be poor and, when finished with the meal, you are not allowed to leave via via the main staircase, they herd you down a back staircase and into the gift shop. Of course. If you like Chili's and Dick's Last Resort and the Olive Garden, you'll like this place. If you came all the way to Charleston for some of the great, local cuisine, try one of the 30 or 40 fresh, casual, local joints for fanastic food. Don't go here. And the award winning she-crab soup? So thick and gloppy, with the exact same base as the potato chowder. Creamy paste. There are too many real lowcountry and fresh seafood places to try. Don't waste your time or money here.

    (1)

  • Gerry W.

    Oh so disappointed! We travel to Isle of Palms for vacation every year and always eat at Hyman's. Unfortunately, our recent visit to Hyman's will be our last. I ordered the fried oysters, broiled scallops and shrimp scampi. My Mom had the scallops. We waited FOREVER it seemed. Even the wandering around hostess became concerned we did not receive our food so brought us hush puppies (delicious) and free crab dip and cole slaw to hold us over. Our food finally came and it was ice cold. Ever bite into an ice cold broiled scallop?? Its not pretty. I think this is the first time I have ever had to send food back at any restaurant (good or bad) I have ever ate at. So we waited even longer...you would think our order would be the next cooked....not so...we waited and waited and ate more hush puppies. Finally our food came (again) and it was hot but we were so full from eating hush puppies and the like, we could not enjoy our meal. The shrimp had no garlic or seasoning but the scallops were okay. I was able to eat everything but the fried oysters....just too much fried food after eating fried hush puppies for 90 minutes...my gallbladder screamed, NO! They did give my Mom and I free T-shirts for our trouble though. You can find these on Ebay shortly.

    (2)

  • John M.

    Went to Hyman's on our first trip to Charleston a couple of years back. Definitely on the touristy side and they obviously make it seem as if it's going to be so busy that you'll just have to come back when they're open, they don't take reservations. We went back after a couple of hours sight-seeing and got a table after a short wait. Our server was from somewhere in Eastern Europe/Russian and got our wine order wrong, but in the scheme of things this wasn't an issue. We each ordered a different fish from the fresh catch board with different preparations. I got blackened amberjack and she got the jerk mahi. Mine was pretty good, hers only ok, a bit on the dry side. One very important note: If you're in Southern Living Magazine and you're rated as one of the best seafood places in town, you should probably rethink the decision to serve your sides in small plastic containers (think tartar sauce size - two bites of slaw doesn't cut it). Not classy and wasteful to boot. Overall we had a good time though, but the food/ambience only ok. I think someone should look into the bribing of the media on this one for sure.

    (2)

  • Kathryn B.

    Horrible! Tourist Trap!! I've only been because my boyfriend won a $25 gift certificate. It is so overpriced that it didn't even cover our Lunch bill! I had scallops plain and he had soup and salad. We both had sodas. I would never go back and don't know why this ever gets good reviews.

    (1)

  • Jeff A.

    Usually, long lines indicate a good dining experience. Hyman's is the exception to the rule. Being from the Gulf Coast, I think I know a thing or two about fresh seafood and I can say that Hyman's serves some of the worst food I've ever eaten. I didn't know it was possible, but they were able to serve freshly fried shrimp that were soggy! Have you ever tried to take home fried food and reheat it in the microwave? You know how the once crisp breading turns to mush? Well, that's how every dish at Hyman's is served. We were in total shock at how bad the food could be in a such a well known establishment. We ate there our first night in town; and for the rest of our vacation we did an unofficial survey of the locals we ran into and asked each of them about Hyman's. To a person, they all had the same response: first they let out a little chuckle and then they all said something along the line of "...Hyman's is nothing more than a marketing machine and tourist trap...they get these Midwesterner tourist who think Red Lobster is a good seafood meal and make them wait in long lines outside to give the appearance of a hot place to be and then serve them crappy food and the tourist feel embarrassed they waited so long so they too spill the party line about how good it was and blah blah blah." Every local we asked said that no local would be caught dead eating at Hyman's. After eating there, I know I was suckered and all those that will wait in that line tonight will be duped also. Ask the locals for their picks and avoid Hyman's and the other tourist traps on King Street like the plague.

    (1)

  • Brian S.

    Heimin's Seafood has some of the best crab dip with real chunks of crab meat and seasonings, perfect with the oyster crackers accompanying it. I ordered the five item seafood platter with three items since one of them took up so much space; fried shrimp, a crab cake, and a whole fried flounder. Everything was succulent and fresh, greasless, and perfectly seasoned. The hush puppies (corn Neel fritters filled with craw fish) were some of the best that I have ever had. The grits with cheese were smooth and creamy, melting, the Cheddar cheese balancing out the corn flavor of the grits. The service was friendly and they are very knowledgeable about the food. We got refills of our lemonade and water, as well as a sticker or scratch off to win money. The owner even came up to us and asked how everything was and hoping to see us back in the future. Later on, we walked down the street, only to be greeted by one of their employees, handing out free hush puppies; another free hush puppy, cool.! They even handed out coupons on the street m, as well. So, for the freshest seafood in town with great service and great prices in an old, but clean, kept up atmosphere,, Heimen's Seafood cannot be beat. Keep up the good work guys.!

    (5)

  • Al L.

    ate at hymans near closing time. it took over 40 minutes from the time we placed our order to the time it arrived. it actually arrived without one of the dishes we ordered. we ordered a 7-item meal and one of the fish items didn't arrive until later. the food was ok. the only reason why i'm giving it 3 stars (vs. 2 stars) is because one of the co-owners came around to our table (we were one of the last 3 tables to leave) as well as all the other tables to ask how our experience was. we told him that we were disappointed in the kitchen (not the waitress) and he apologized and gave us some free ice cream and t-shirts. when we were leaving, we saw him with the waitress trying to see what went wrong. this leaves me with the impression that the owners really care about the business and the customer. we will definitely go back to hymans, but we know the food isn't the best in charleston. it's good food, just not great food.

    (3)

  • Kristi G.

    Definitely just a tourist destination. Food was mediocre at best and inedible at worst. Service was exceptional, but part of the restaurant experience is actually liking what you eat. I would not recommend coming here unless you are fine with deep fried generic food, nothing extraordinary.

    (1)

  • Elliot E.

    Hyman's is a place that does a tremendous business based on its well-deserved reputation and is a must when you are in town, but there's a caveat: if you have to wait more than 20 minutes for a table, don't bother. The quality of the food and service goes down when they are busy. Our party of five had a 50-minute wait when we were told it would be 35. We had appetizers served to us with no plates, which was topped by someone coming to collect used plates who looked at us like we had 3 heads apiece when we said we needed to have plates to use first. When our entrees arrived, it was fairly obvious the food had been ready for some time; the cheese in my daughter's macaroni and cheese had enough time to solidify, and everyone else's food was lukewarm. I've eaten here when it hasn't been busy and have usually been pleased with the food and service, so I hope this was an aberration. The only other comment I'll make is if you like fried clam strips and are used to New England style, stay away from the ones here. You'll be very disappointed.

    (3)

  • Dottie A.

    This would be my second time at Hyman's and I absolutely love it. I think its a must go to while in Charleston. Though it can get very busy but its so worth the wait. The best is to order the Combo Platters so you can try a variety of goodness most especially the crispy flounder! The service is quick, efficient and friendly. Whitney took care of our party of 17 w/ a smile and w/o a glitch! Can't wait to return! P.S. Check in through Yelp and you get a free appetizer!

    (4)

  • B P.

    We visited on a slower day, march 23, about 2:30. Had the SC style shrimp and grits with cheese and bacon. Was a very good dish, plenty of shrimp. My wife had the Napoleon appetizer , fried green tomatoes, crab salad, kind of served like a sandwich. She really liked it as well. The kids meal hamburgers were very good, unlike most places that serve microwaved frozen mystery meat slabs for kids meals, these were actual burgers on nice buns. We got an appetizer of hush puppies,, sweet and very good! The owner, Eli, took the time to acknowledge every table in our area, and gives the kids a coupon for a free small cup of ice cream at the general store that also serves as the restaurant exit.. I saw pics of people standing in line for what must be hours outside of this place, we would not do that here, or anywhere for that matter, but found it an all around great experience that I would highly recommend to anyone visiting the area.

    (4)

  • Holly J.

    My husband and I went there about a year ago. It was greasy and the service was slow. We both expected the seafood to be better. We haven't gone back. Tourist trap!

    (2)

  • Leslie D.

    I had the "she crab" chowder and a crab cake. They were very good. The brought hush puppies to the table and were they wonderful? "Cousin Martin" came to our table and told us some very interesting family stories. Whether they are true or not, really doesn't matter. It was fun.

    (4)

  • Terry S.

    Best shrimp plate ever about 36-40 shrimp, and they were rockin!

    (5)

  • Becky P.

    When it comes to great seafood, this is the kind of quality and flavor I don't mind paying for. Crab cakes were so sweet. Salmon croquette was perfectly flavorful. Fried oysters were miraculously soft and heavenly. Carolina shrimp and grits were comfort food even a Northern girl can love. Sweet potato soufflé was like a dessert pudding. My daughter also approves of the burger. The only downside is that we were seated at a tiny table meant for 4 even though we were a party of 5. The dining experience would have been much more enjoyable with space to ourselves, not being in a high traffic area next to both the entrance and the stairs.

    (4)

  • Beth V.

    This was the first time we had visited Hyman's, but we will certainly return! It was extremely busy, but we did not have to wait to be seated. From the moment we sat down, our server Perry was top notch. He recommended drinks for us to begin with, as well as fantastic appetizers. Because we had never been there, Perry took his time with us and educated us on the menu and shared what his favorites were. He had a great personality and his service was outstanding. The food was amazing! Everything arrived in a timely manner. It tasted extremely fresh and the variety of foods on our plates was awesome. The servings were huge and I feel like we definitely got our money's worth. The atmosphere is inviting and fun, very casual. The owner stopped by our table to chat and to make sure everything was okay. We were very well taken care of and made to feel extremely welcomed. When we finished, we stopped in the shop downstairs and found great hospitality there also. The employees helped us complete our Christmas shopping. We received individualized attention and were able to sample all the fabulous scented bath scrubs. Everyone was very friendly. Our visit to Hyman's was a perfect 10. What an enjoyable evening with great people, an awesome atmosphere, and amazing food! We can't wait to return!

    (5)

  • Dave A.

    I would typically not eat at a place that advertises in an airport terminal since it screams "Tourist trap!" However, Hyman's is delicious. I love going somewhere and eating something I would not or could not make at home. On that note, try the fried flounder. The portions are huge, so consider splitting.

    (4)

  • Mark G.

    I had a cold when I went here but I could still taste the Cajun seasoning. That alone was rather impressive to me. Wish I wasn't sick so I could have tasted the rest of it. Service was impeccable. You don't get service like this elsewhere. Definitely a Southern thing. Would return here in the unlikely event I find myself in Charleston again. A tourist trap complete with Cracker Barrel style gift shop but worth it. Highly recommended.

    (4)

  • Jane M.

    All I wanted was a hot pastrami sandwich to go. As the deli was closed, I had to order it at the bar, where I felt in the way and ignored. Unfortunately, I did not inspect my sandwich until I had left the restaurant. The rye bread was so soft and mushy that it crumbled in my hands when I tried to pick it up. It tasted fine, but I felt like a dog eating scraps and must have looked that way. My advice, if you're ordering take out, inspect your food before leaving the restaurant.

    (2)

  • Alyssa M.

    Meh. Tourist trap. You know you're in one when they make you exit through the gift shop. My bf wanted to eat here because he came when he was a teenager and remembered it being good. I don't think he was as impressed as his first visit. Our server was friendly but awkward in the checks-in-at-strange-times kind of way. Food was mediocre and kind of pricey, although I think they try to make up for poor quality with providing lots of free food. We had a free appetizer (no check-in needed), boiled peanuts and hush puppies. I got a sampler platter: the fish was tiny and dry, shrimp and grits just okay, and calamari also okay. Yeah basically the food was okay. Find another place to get seafood.

    (2)

  • Katherine W.

    Great food. Good people but it is usually packed, and service takes a while.

    (4)

  • Opal D.

    A big menu full of creamy, deep fried, and seafoody goodness. Hyman's is very casual and family-friendly, kitschy, and fun. I really look forward to eating here again on my next visit to Charleston.

    (4)

  • Sunni M.

    This is a tourist attraction, not a restaurant. Every arrow in the city will point you in this direction. Don't fall for it. The service was great, but the food was terrible. Mass produced crab dip and barely edible fried oysters. The waitress was great...the food wasn't her fault...

    (1)

  • Alireza S.

    No thank you! This place is way way outdated. I never understood why some restaurants have carpet flooring. It's the worst idea ever. As soon as you enter the smell of 40 year old grease soaked carpets hits your nose. If I were the owner I'd rip them off right now. Naked concrete is better than those damn ugly dirty smelly carpets you have there Sir. Second, the food. I guess because I grew up in Europe and Los Angeles I've been spoiled by good fresh food. These guys bring your food in WWII plates. What? You can't afford to buy new China Mr. Owner? Whatever you do...I beg you...don't order the steak in this place. I guess they have steak on the menu to teach you a lesson because this lS a "seafood" restaurant. Steak smelled and tasted like it was left out in the charleston heat and humidity in its own blood for hours. One tiny bite and I almost threw up. 20 odd dollars down the drain. The waitress didn't even ask me what was wrong. I bet she knew. Third: boiled peanuts. If you go out to eat to get some boiled peanuts you need to get a life. Fourth. Hush puppies....greasy...greasy...greasy. It'd be k if they used quality oil, but they use "vegetable oil" which every retard by now knows it's just SOY OIL. Cheapest oil there is. Last time I checked celery and carrots and eggplant don't have any oils in them, so please do me a favor and call soy oil for what it is. I digress but as a side note: soy oil has tremendous amounts of estrogen and is not used in most restaurants in Europe. Fifth. The fish. Their fish is so so but because they fry it in nasty oil with 50 year old equipment they even mess that up too. There are better restaurants in charleston. Avoid thus tourist trap.

    (1)

  • Phyllis R.

    Amazing! I had the Carolina Delight with crab cakes and it was the best thing I have ever eaten!!! My husband had the catfish and it was excellent too! Our server was so friendly and helpful. Great evening!!

    (5)

  • Sarah R.

    Food was good..not great, but good. However the service was lacking given that they weren't busy. Both cups of coffee were cold and soup came after meal arrived. Crab cakes were AWESOME THOUGH.

    (3)

  • Nick F.

    Upon my second trip to Charleston, i felt i needed to try out Hyman's as EVERYONE talked about how great it was. We walked past at an off time and the worker handed me and my fiance each a hush puppy to try. Those were pretty good. We decided to give the place a try. Upon getting our table the waiter came over right away talked for a good while got us some more hush puppies, and brought out the free crab dip with the coupon we had, he also asked if we wanted some complementary free boiled peanuts, since i've never tried them i figured free is the way to go. Can't say i'm a fan of the boiled peanuts, this isn't Hyman's fault just a weird dish. We decided to split an order of Shrimp Fettuccine alfredo since with the crab dip,and hush puppies we didn't think we needed two dishes. The meal was good, the shrimp was fresh and good. the noodles and sauce were on par with what i was expecting. Not the best place in Charleston to eat, But it's a good spot. The staff i personally thought was great, had the waiter and manager at the table and conversed with both.

    (3)

  • Andrew H.

    Also known as Charleston's little slice of Myrtle Beach, Hyman's is the mecca for all lost Ohioans who accidentally came to Charleston instead of Dirty Myrtle. As such, I have avoided this place like I avoid AIDs, but recently, I decided to give it a shot, mainly because my 90 year old granddad, who I love dearly, wanted to eat all-you-can-eat crab legs. I walked in and my face was immediately slapped with a thick grease film, which was no doubt coming from both the kitchen and the patrons from the midwest. The girl at the door shoved 2 hush puppies down my throat, terrible little grease balls they are, and sent me to my table. First, I noticed the walls. They were covered in celebrity pictures, which normally signals to me, "look at all the celebrities that eat here! Hopefully it will distract you from our horrible food..." Well that is what I got from it anyway. The people were nice. I only wish the food was. I came in expecting nothing, so my expectations were not disappointed. The crab legs were old and cold (that was not an intentional rhyme), and the sides were about as inspiring as a piece of toilet paper. Overall, I give Hyman's 2 stars because people from Ohio will give it 5 and sane people 1, so I split the difference.

    (2)

  • Thomas W.

    Stopped in the early afternoon for bloody Mary's and shrimp cocktail. Best peal and set shrimp I've ever had. Perfect seasoning. Bloody Mary's were very good. Also had a coupon for free fried green tomatoes also very good. Service was attentive. Good experience.

    (4)

  • Lesley G.

    This was such a fun experience! It has such a casual experience it was refreshing. It is a family owned business, and the owner came over to talk a couple of times. He was so sincere, as well. We ended the meal incredibly full because of all of the free food that was sent over! The food was overall pretty good as well. Unfortunately, they don't take reservations, so the wait can be pretty long. Plan accordingly. Also, I suggest talking a look through their country store. The hand scrub and red neck wine glasses are really neat!

    (4)

  • Dawn A.

    I went to this place while visiting Charleston with my Mom. She is a seafood lover. I am not. I wasn't too thrilled about going here, but Mom was hungry for some fish and we were passing by. Sometimes, you take one for the team. Some things that Hymen's does extremely well: The hush puppies (they are like like doughnuts) customer service is also obviously important here. We had three interactions with management/owners at our table. Some of the things I didn't like is the exiting through the gift shop. How very touristy. However, you don't go to Hymen's if you are a local, I would think. They have pictures up on the wall of all the "celebrities" both A, B, and C list that have eaten here. I happened to be sitting at the same table that Martin Sheen, Vanilla Ice and AC/DC had purportedly eaten at, but certainly not on the same evening! My mom got her fish and was very happy. I ordered the Filet Mignon. What?! Are you crazy, Dawn? Eating filet mignon at a touristy fish joint. Hey, you do what you gotta do sometimes. I wasn't very crazy about the other non fish options( fettuccine Alfredo in 90 degree heat anyone?), so I thought and prayed that maybe it wouldn't be so bad. I had a sinking feeling when the waitress insisted that I have it butterflied for medium. But, hey, I will go with your suggestion. Surprisingly, it was pretty good. It was unrecognizable as a filet, but it tasted tender and good. the collard greens were good and well done. I got a baked potato also. It's pretty hard to mess up a potato. Service was a bit slow, but friendly. My only complaint was waiting as long as I did to get change from my server. Hymen's is what it is. A touristy fish restaurant. Every city has the touristy joint that locals probably don't go to--think Cheers in Boston. That doesn't make it bad. It may not be fabulous, but I had a decent meal here.

    (3)

  • Ethan P.

    Excellent oysters and bloody mary's....and service !

    (4)

  • Randy K.

    We have gone to Hymen's once to twice a year while in Charleston for about twenty years. Until now we have always enjoyed great food and service. This visit was very different. We endured a long wait outside on a cold fall night because they held several tables for a "party of twenty", who at about 45 minutes from time of their arrival decided that they were only going to be a party of eight. The bar area seemed to be mostly empty but they would not let us in to wait there. Then six of us were seated at a table designed for four, which meant that there was basically not enough room for the food. We ordered two dozen raw oysters to split and they arrived with no condiments. No lemon, no cocktail sauce, no horseradish, nothing. After searching for the server for about another 10 minutes, she brought enough of each for about one person. The whole meal went about the same way. The stuffed shrimp were tiny, 3/4 stuffing, 1/4 shrimp. My little grandson got fish and fries. The fish was cooked until hard all the way through, more like a fish cracker, and of course, no surprise, no ketchup for the fries, so we had to flag the server down again. I do not think she checked on us a single time without our seeking her out. My wife's shrimp and clam strips looked and tasted like they came out of the frozen seafood section of the grocery store, and were definitely not prepared in house. To top it off, the floor was littered with bits of food and trash from earlier in the day, and our table top was not particularly well cleaned. So dirty restaurant, terrible hostess and wait staff, and terrible food. Old Mr Hyman must be turning over in his grave. They are cruising on a previously good reputation and tourists whom they never expect to see again. The only reason I did not give them a one star is that I am hoping this night was an anomaly, but from the looks of things, I kind of doubt that is the case.

    (2)

  • Merrick T.

    Stay tuned for more of my Full Reviews at my DoTheCharleston.com (tab: Downtown: Edible Arts). Excerpt:"...great... menu, premium ...value. Even Kosher options...Owner offers top down philosophy...

    (4)

  • Myia B.

    The scored flounder was okay. The Bloody Mary was the bizzomb! This place is kind of dive-ey but it's sort of a tourist to-do when visiting Charleston. I'd go again and order something fried...can't go too terribly wrong with fried. Plus another bloody mary on deck. It's more about experience than tastiness for sure so if you're looking for the BEST seafood, I'd skip on down the street & keep looking.

    (3)

  • Debra Joan H.

    On October 30th my 2 friends and I went to Hyman's Seafood for dinner and it was fantastic! If you love food, go there. Cory was our waitress and she was delightful, efficient and friendly. She gave great advice and we had the Flounder, Palmeto Lager, Carolina Delight, hush puppies and the best key lime pie on the face of the earth. We had a personal audience with Brad, one of the owners, who really knows customer service. He could give lessons to thousands of other restaurants; he is, hands down, THE BEST. Just go, it is amazing...

    (5)

  • Janay S.

    I absolutely loved my experience here! The owner came out and spoke to us making sure that we were taken care of and we received appetizers and such fairly quickly. We came right before it was a long wait and even though we were told it would be a 45 minute wait, we got in before that. The food is absolutely delicious!! From the hush puppies and boiled peanuts to my main dish which was the Carolina delight. Phenomenal! I was so stuffed when I walked out and hadn't paid that much for my meal. For the amount of food you get it's a very reasonable place, especially since it's a place where many celebrities have gone to eat at. This will have to be a staple for me whenever I go back to South Carolina. :)

    (5)

  • Kathryn B.

    Great place for locals and visitors. Food: The Buffalo Shrimp is superb. Overall, there is so much variety (a little bit of everything Charleston). Wait staff: Attentive and friendly. While waiting for our food, the cousin of the owner stopped by to welcome us and give free ice cream or popcorn my nephew and niece after dinner. This is common but it never loses its personal touch. Drinks: They have pitchers of Bloody Mary's. They are pretty good there too. On this particular trip, I opted for a peach daiquiri. It hit the spot. For people on the go, the deli is just as good! Note: Nicer seafood places are around but they aren't toddler friendly.

    (4)

  • R Douglas D.

    Since everyone we talked to said we had to try it, we did. Overall, we were satisfied. The food was really good. Had shrimp & grits, swordfish and crab cake combo. Swordfish was excellent and so were the shrimp & grits (Carolina style). My wife is gluten-free and we were pleased that they had a separate menu that was extensive. A definite plus! They made shrimp & grits gluten -free and it was very tasty. The server was a bit underwhelming and lacked personality. The gentleman that was taking names at the door was rude and unwelcoming....we almost left as we practically had to beg him to take our name. Overall, it was a good meal and a fun atmosphere.

    (4)

  • Stephen W.

    Mostly for the tourists. Definitely not the best seafood from Maine to Texas. Service is always great, but the food is just o.k. Hank's is really good seafood and not much more money.

    (3)

  • Salma S.

    We heard about this restaurant from multiple people. We made sure to check it out. it was indeed a good experience. The owners were going around and talking to all customers and making sure everyone was pleased. The food was delicious.

    (4)

  • Katherine C.

    My family dropped me off at college last week, so we decided as my last meal with them, we would get my favorite dish- tuna. We always noticed the long line for this place, so we figured it must be delicious. And boy, were we right! The service was fine, but the owner Eli came over to our table & talked to us like we were his best friends, which made us feel very good. The hush puppies were sooo yummy and the tuna was very flavorful & cooked perfectly. The crab dip was really good, just a small portion. Overall- a great last meal with my family & I will definitely come back again!

    (4)

  • Keith G.

    Two stars are for the food which is okay but not as cheap as you might think. Our starter was given to the table behind us by mistake and our mains then arrived about 30 seconds before the delayed dish arrived. One of the mains was not what we ordered and the sides were wrong. The waitress was clueless throughout. Two adjacent tables seemed equally unimpressed. Multiple dishes were sent back from one group alone. The food was pretty good but you'll get better elsewhere in Charleston for similar money. All this despite the very small crowd in an establishment which usually copes with massive summertime crowds. We have been here several times before but won't be back. Charleston has too much else to offer.

    (2)

  • Richard B.

    Visited Charleston this weekend, ate here twice. The food was great! The first day (Saturday evening) we waited almost an hour. The 2nd day there was absolutely no wait! On both days the owners came to the table to check on us. Great service, even better food! Everything that had here tasted fresh and wonderful. Will definitely make a stop here every visit to Charleston. Oh, and the salt scrub in the bathroom is amazing!

    (5)

  • Andrea W.

    We saw a line out the door here last nigh and figured we had to try it. Came for lunch and the entire experience was amazing. From the food to the atmosphere to the ownership surpassed all expectations! Fried catfish, oysters, hush puppies, salmon, brisket..we tried it all and it was perfect! Eli and crew.. You have San Diego customers for life!

    (5)

  • Clif M.

    Place is great, first they give you hush puppies, boiled peanuts, and cole slaw. We had the fried seafood and crab cakes, everything was so good

    (5)

  • Liby B.

    Just got back to our hotel after a surprisingly poor dining experience at Hyman's. They must have had a real staff shortage in the kitchen because we waited way too long to get our food order and then the order was wrong and it wasn't served together. Example, I ordered shrimp scampi and it came out broiled with no sauce and by the time I got the correct order everyone else at the table had finished. My friend ordered fried shrimp with 2 sides. The shrimp came out, but the the sides came out about 5 minutes later for one and 10 minutes later for the other. Everyone in the room was complaining to the waitstaff who could do nothing to solve the problems. When we got back to our hotel, we told the concierge and he said they do not recommend Hyman's to their customers anymore. I wish we had asked before we left!

    (1)

  • Scott S.

    Hard to give this place anything but 5. I am very glad we went in the winter, as the wait during summer looks insurmountable. The food was absolutely amazing, rave reviews all around. A true southern experience, from boiled peanuts when you sit down, to shrimp and grits that you can write home about. Averaged about $20 per person, and it was worth every penny. Didn't get dessert because everyone was stuffed to the gills. ---- See what I did there?

    (5)

  • C G.

    Crispy flounder is their specialty and a MUST TRY!! Good fried food.

    (4)

  • Amy S.

    Excellent experience all around. Was greeted by a friendly hostess outside who directed us in. Our server, Antwan, gave excellent recommendations and was very helpful giving us first timers some help deciding what to order. He was friendly, well-mannered and very knowledgable of the entire menu. We started with the fried green tomatoes and grits which was phenomenal. The grits were creamy and flavorful and the tomatoes were crispy and tasty. I got the fried flounder house special and it was tender, flaky and prepared to perfection. There is a special way to eat it so you don't get any bones which was explained perfectly so I could eat every bit of my meal without a hitch. We got to meet the owner, Eli, and he was very nice and helpful and even took a picture with us! Can't wait to come back again! Definitely a must visit if you're in town!

    (5)

  • Shaun B.

    I love this place. Every time I come to Charleston (on business) I eat here. If your worried about the long lines, I never had a problem. Maybe because I'm usually alone, but from what I can tell they move tables pretty fast. I think the food is great. If there is such a things as comfort seafood that's what they do here. I'm from the Annapolis area and I do know what fresh seafood tastes like, and this place does it well. I also think this is the only place outside of Maryland that knows how to make a decent crab cake. Try their fried oysters too. Their hush puppies are amazing--best hush puppies I've ever had.

    (5)

  • Nicole B.

    I was in Charleston for the day and stopped here for lunch. I had the most amazing crab cake sandwich. It was made with huge chunks of crab meat. Cooked perfectly. They have a Cajun mayonnaise sauce, so yummy, I put it on almost everything. I really love that they give you boiled peanuts when you sit down. I would recommend it to anyone who comes here to visit. Lovely place and such sweet servers. So helpful with explaining the menu. I will be stopping here every time I visit Charleston!

    (5)

  • Nathanial W.

    Great experience! The owner even came by our table to see how we were doing. To save time, use the call ahead seating.

    (4)

  • Brent K.

    Service great - ask for Amy - fried green tomatoes and cheese grits superb! Going to try the Salmon medley soon. Good portion on the raw oysters. Manager came by and checked on us - nice. Thanks for the attention.

    (4)

  • Gabrielle C.

    Oh man. This place deserves it incredible reputation. The place was packed, but it's also gigantic, and we didn't have to wait at all, even on a busy lunch hour a couple days before Christmas. There was a wait for us to get our entrees that seemed to linger past what made sense, and they forgot my sister's okra (which I tasted and were incredible) till the very end, but in the meantime we did get our soups and the most delicious hushpuppies I have ever devoured. The farm-raised salmon was not my favorite, but I got the triple combo thing and got the salmon croquet (holy god so good!) and the crab cake (i'm using sense memory and having another one in my mind's mouth, almost as delicious). The she-crab soup was divine. I also love the tables and seeing who sat at them (Jodie Foster, Judge Wapner, and The Presidents of the United States sat at mine I recall, I imagine all at the same time.)

    (4)

  • Jane S.

    You must try this at least once while in Charleston. All items we tried were extremely tasty, without exception, and reasonably priced.

    (5)

  • Alyssa D.

    The buffalo fried oysters were amazing! Loved everything about that place and will definitely be coming back! Atmosphere was very welcoming as well!

    (5)

  • Dave K.

    The food at Hyman's is top notch. It's nice to travel in the South,and find a kosher meal. The place is well attended for those who do and don't keep kosher. The wait staff is first rate,and if your waitress happens to be Samantha,you will have a wonderful dining experience. Very professional,and a charmer. I wish the kosher menu could be larger,especially the deli menu. I will definitely return!

    (4)

  • Justen L.

    good food and taste really good , if presentation of food could be little bit more serious then will be perfect

    (4)

  • Elizabeth H.

    This is my fifth year coming to Charleston for vacation and have been to Hyman's each visit. Today I had a late lunch of Carolina shrimp & cheese grits. Absolutely fabulous! The food was hot, plentiful, and as good as I remembered from a previous visit. However, I am only giving it 3 stars because the server left a lot to be desired. She seemed upset because I already knew what I wanted to order. She placed a small bowl of boiled peanuts on the table; I asked her to take them since I wouldn't eat them and she let out a deep sigh. She brought my food and did not come back until it was time to give me the check. When she returned my bill with the credit card slip, she was suddenly very nice and cheerful. That didn't get her a 20% tip which is what I typically leave. Sad... she dampened a good visit.

    (3)

  • Katy S.

    Highly recommended by everyone we have talked to but this place did not live up to the hype. The menu was not accommodating. You have to order everything cooked the same way (all fried, all Cajun ect). Great Margaritas on the rock and wonderful service. It's worth stopping by if there is not a long wait.

    (4)

  • HK M.

    This place is a Charleston tourist trap...seriously. The food is okay, but there is so much GREAT food in Charleston that this place shouldn't top your list as a must visit place. If you want fried seafood like this, go to Captain D's and save yourself the wait and money. cons: crowded, long wait, okay food pros: friendly staff, fried green tomatoes...if you do go here, you must get these, shop downstairs is fun for tourist

    (2)

  • Dariel S.

    Hymans may be pretty touristy but you know what the food was really good. Will it blow your mind? No. But you know what the managers and the staff are really nice and the whole overall experience is nice. If I have any family or friends I would definitely bring them because I know they will enjoy themselves.

    (4)

  • Odie O.

    Started with gator nuggets, fried green tomato (thanks yelp for the f.g.t) po-boys with Amberjack, and one with calamari. Delicious, in budget. Chelsea was great. And Oral, who delivered our food was nice too.

    (5)

  • Donald W.

    People line up to eat here? [[ late posting ]] I've been coming to Charleston for some years now, but I had never eaten at Hyman's Seafood, 215 Meeting Street. One reason is that there is often a line outside. There was no wait this time and I needed a convenient place just prior to driving to Mount Pleasant, so I thought I would try this place. It is friendly and casual. And curiously appealing to tourists. It is not a bad place. I had good service and the food was acceptable, though overpriced in my opinion. It smacks of "tourist venue"--not that that is necessarily a bad thing. I would be curious if a local person would ever go here. Many celebrities have apparently eaten here. I sat at an Adam West table which also had an AC/DC notation. Maybe Boy Robin wised up and ate elsewhere! I enjoyed the boiled peanuts and hush puppies. And the place seems to have quite a history apart from celebrity visitors, as does most any old building in Charleston. Maybe you will like Hyman's. It's just definitely not my cup of sweet tea.

    (2)

  • Tammy L.

    The most amazing thing is I don't eat grits and stopped ordering crab cakes, but Hyman's has an app that is on a grit cake this is a must try then my cousin kept telling me about the crab cakes so I ordered it and my mouth was so very impressed it has real lump crab meat and a lot of it so much that I could not tell how they held it together. The wait was only 30 min for a table for 4 and I am told that on weekdays there is no wait. Must try.......

    (5)

  • Wayne T.

    The competition is over. BEST KEY LIME PIE .....EVER!!!! A great menu and great food. Our waitress, Erika, was awesome. I would recommend this place very highly.

    (5)

  • Stephen M.

    Haven't been here in several years and the food was just as good as I remembered. The hush puppies and fried shrimp are well worth the trip. On top of the great food, the service was excellent. Will definitely be back on my next trip to Charleston.

    (5)

  • Amanda B.

    Always a favorite on any trip to Charleston! They have a wide variety on the Kids Menu and VERY healthy portions there and on the regular menu. Our personal favorites are the Seafood Delight and Buffalo Shrimp. OH, don't pass on the Hush Puppies! Possibly the best I've ever had.

    (5)

  • Kevin L.

    Great food, great service, great atmosphere - the cajun grouper and crab cakes were delicious and the fried green tomatoes and hush puppies as appetizers were outstanding. The service was quick and attentive.

    (5)

  • N F.

    Great folks. Lots of fresh options. Carolina special with shrimp was awesome appetizer. She-crab soup is a winner. Just look at the posting board for options. You can't go wrong.

    (4)

  • Steve B.

    Venue: Hyman's Seafood Decor: Seafood dining style, Seating: wood, Celebrity pictures everywhere Service: As Good as It Got! Environment: Fun, family style, friends Food: Seafood Jack! Prices: Very fair, Reasonable, Affordable Huge Pros: Everything. The Food, Team Portions, The top notch Service, Debbie Downers: Where was a Bed when I needed one? Conclusion: When I think of Hyman's Seafood, I think of instant Southern Hospitality. I've been to plenty of restaurants where the food was good, service was ok. Service was great, food was eh eh eh aight. Even to places where the food was great and the service was great. This review is in the stratosphere where everything in the Spectacular universes aligned. Meaning - the food was SPECTACULAR. The prompt service was SPECTACTULAR. The Portions was SPECTACULAR (TeamPortions). Menu variety was SPECTACULAR!. Appetizer wise, had the hush puppies. Thank goodness they did not put onions in their hush puppies! Not a big fan of fried green tomatoes -HOWEVER, that was the best fried green tomatoes I ever had! Recommended. Also had the Carolina Delight as an appetizer...the Alfredo sauce is something to die for. I had their favorite dish as the entree- the Hyman's Signature Dish Crispy Founder! Man Oh Man. Whoooooo this was the best flounder I ever have. So much fish, so much little room to deposit it! This sucker was 16-20 oz of white flounder meat right off the bone! So Freakin' Good. All that great food I had was down with Team Portions! All of it. It was sorta overwhelming to be honest. Capped it off with courteous pies: key lime, pecan. Cheesecake and homemade ice-cream on the house. That credit for the hospitality goes to our waitress Angel deserves a special shout out. She went out of her way more to take care of my party. Much respect to the manager Brad. He visited our table like a true professional. Very courteous, friendly, gave a lot of information on the history of the restaurant. It was a great experience overall with the staff. You know you're a big deal when you have a general store while exiting the restaurant. Overall: A++++++

    (5)

  • Vim I.

    This place is huge and with all the pictures of celebrities on the wall and girls handing out flyers outside the restaurant, you know it's a popular tourist destination. Hyman's reminded me of a Cracker Barrel with the retail/restaurant concept...so I was little turned off by the atmosphere--it just didn't appear authentic even though it's a Charleston institution. It took me a while to figure out how the menu worked...mainly because I was overwhelmed by the slew of choices. We took advantage of the yelp check-in to get a free fried green and tomato app. The items that really stood out to me were the hush puppies (definitely on the sweeter side but they were addictive) and the red rice. The seafood items (which should have been the center of attention) left something to be desired. We had the Shrimp and Grits, Crabcakes, and flounder with cajun seasoning. Basically, they tasted good but I've had better. And for a seafood place, I would definitely expect better. The Shrimp and Grits were strange because they came with a thick gravy--i prefer my shrimp and grits to be more New Orleans style. When I get crab cakes, I prefer chunks of crab but they were over processed. The flounder was just bland and forgettable. The staff is friendly and service is pretty quick, but I was turned off by the fact that they make you wait outside while it's raining so another hostess can come get you. At the very least, they should have a waiting area inside.

    (3)

  • Joe P.

    Celebrities from all over the world apparently pay their respects to Hyman's Seafood whenever they visit Charleston, but after eating at this overrated tourist magnet, I can't quite understand what they're all so excited about. We waited nearly 90 minutes for a table on a recent Sunday night, and that was 90 minutes too long. The food was, for the most part, OK. But with so many FABULOUS seafood restaurants to choose from in Charleston, Hyman's is, quite simply, a big disappointment. I ordered one of the combo platters, with broiled salmon, scallops and a pair of sides. Lots of food, but the hush puppies were overcooked and my she-crab soup arrived at the table almost cold. The service was prompt and friendly, but ... did I mention we waited NINETY MINUTES for a table?! OK, so Hyman's isn't worth the hype. But here's the thing: we arrived in the Holy City with two small kids in tow, which pretty much eliminated local favorites like Husk, FIG and McCrady's. And our four-year-old didn't exactly care that his Mac & Cheese was just as good as what he would have eaten at any neighborhood Chili's. No, I wouldn't recommend Hyman's to a couple looking for a first-class meal on a date night, or for foodies seeking out the latest contender for the James Beard award. But for a family looking for some half-decent seafood with good service in a kid-friendly atmosphere, this place fits the bill. Just make sure you either get there early enough to avoid the wait, or bring a board game to pass the time.

    (3)

  • Dug B.

    Best food in South Carolina! I had the signature dish and it was fantastic. The staff is friendly, so much so that the owner came to the table and talk with us for a while and then asked I we ordered the flounder and since we did not he brought one to us for free just so that we could try it. I will come here every time I am in South Carolina.

    (5)

  • Kathy Y.

    meh not much for a big price - Hubby likes to say if he walks a way hungry for the price we paid and he ate everything on both plates (I didn't care for mine) it is too expensive We did not go back on plus side Hubby said hushpuppies were delicious - that was it

    (2)

  • Christopher E.

    One of my all time favorite restaurants ever! I love the atmosphere, the staff and the food is always AMAZING! It's always fun to look and see which star has sat at your table.

    (5)

  • Gina R.

    I finally got to tryout She Crab Soup and boy I was not disappointed!! It was sooo good and I would recommend trying a bowl the next time you are in Charleston! Also my Husband and I shared the shrimp and grits you better so of that too! This was a last minute idea and I am so glad we did. Hey Guy Fierni from Food Network you should try this NOW!

    (5)

  • Lisa P.

    Have eaten here three times hoping it would get better. It did not. The fish is always over cooked. Not worth the time you have to wait to get in. Too many other great restaurants here.

    (1)

  • Alisha P.

    Told them it was our honeymoon and they gave a slice of key lime pie on the house! The crab cakes and hushpuppies were amazing. Definitely one of our favorite restaurants out of all the ones we went to.

    (5)

  • Brandon D.

    First plan to go early or late to avoid the wait. Also, check out the website for a free app coupon. The service here is outstanding! If you want something, just ask for it. Our glasses were never more than half empty before getting filled up. Our waitress also kept asking us if everything was great and if we needed anything. Also, one of the owners came by to speak with us. Such a nice guy, and great to see an owner that truly cares about your experience. The kitchen made a mistake with my crab cake, and it was promptly replaced with a fresh new one. Not a single question was asked! Now, to the food! I ordered the pick three combo. I got snow crab legs, a crab cake, and claim strips. The crabs legs were good, and had a decent amount of meat in them. The claim strips were good also, very fresh, and delicious! The crab cake....was the best I've ever had! Simply put, lots of meat, not much filling! I wished I ordered more. My friend got a buffalo oyster po'boy, and at $20 was quite expensive! However, he said it was delicious and worth every penny of the price. We also got the a free wadmalaw delight app to split as well (check out their website for a coupon for a free one). That was also very good. The grits were cooked perfectly and the sauce added a great flavor to everything. And the fried green tomatoes on top was also great. Overall, great place. But can be a bit pricey.

    (5)

  • Max S.

    First of all let me start off with the fact that it was a little difficult to find the restaurant but I guess after a 550 mile drive. Our reservation was at 8:15 but we arrived after closing at 9:15. They staff were nice enough to let us in the back where there were a few other finishing their food. They gave a southern food called hush puppies which is cornmeal fried into small balls which are great with some butter. Lots of different foods like crab cakes and alligator sausage later it got to the key lime pie which tasted pretty much like most but with a kick. There was a small problem which put it on the verge of having 4 stars which was that they forgot to make the green fried tomatoes for free and when I noted that the waitress immediately offered to pay the money out of her own money which instantly brought it right back, We declined but proves this is a great place to eat

    (5)

  • Paul R.

    For a Thursday night I was surprised for the 40 minute wait. Popular and definitely touristy but they had plenty of nice service. The food here was good. Good as in comfort food good. I had the wadamalan delight grits and green fried tomato for an app. Never been motivated to eat grits but the mix of buttery grits with creamy sauce and melted cheese, Ohh something quite satisfying. Then the fried green tomato in the middle. The hush puppies were hot, crunchy on the outside, moist on the inside, sweet yet not laden with oil. For a side salad it was dressed with cheddar and Parmesan cheeses, crumbled egg, croutons, cucumbers, peas and tomatoes. I order a main dish of Mahi Mahi Cajun style. Cajun was one of nine choices of preparations for your fish. It came out a over done but the flavors were good. There were actual limbs of good crab, and the sweet potato soufflé was tasty. As for some other notes, the menu was laden with choices. I like choices so would not say it was too many, but for the first timer it could take awhile to decide. Something for everyone for sure. Even kosher is covered.

    (4)

  • Christine M.

    great service! Awesome food! Shrimp and grits are da bomb!! Would def return. You won't go home hungry. Be prepared to stomach fried food. Hush puppies are some of the best I've had.

    (5)

  • AJ P.

    Friend had classic dinner they recommend which was grit cake with Parmesan sauce and shrimp- yummy! Mac n cheese was awesome! My grouper medley was very dry and fishy :-(. Service good other than seating yourself

    (4)

  • Gene C.

    Went there in April 2015, great food, lot's of history, service was good given the size of the diner's that night. I was in downtown Charleston, how could i beat that??

    (4)

  • Tricia H.

    The best dish was the free fried green tomato appetizer for checking in on Yelp. The She-crab soup was tasty. This is a quirky touristy place with marketing gimicks and a store attached. We shared some good jokes about the "... sat here" plaques on the table (especially the Joe Lieberman one.). The owner came round to talk up his positive attitude philosophy and pro-Israel views. The one strong negative about this place is that it needs a very thorough CLEANING!! Especially the floors which were greasy!

    (3)

  • Rachel N.

    This is a good (if not touristy) spot. It's huge on the inside and yet apparently always on a wait. The food was okay but not great. The atmosphere and service were what prompted me to give 4 stars (over 3).

    (4)

  • Jennifer B.

    Nice place to grab a bite to and read the walls of all the celebrities that have dined there. Lots of seafood options. I've taken a couple pictures so you see an idea portions sizes and with the food looks like. If in Charleston again we will come again.

    (4)

  • Britt K.

    The service was good, food was yummy. I had fried shrimp, it was just ok, but everything else with it was amazing. Sweet potato soufflé. Ohmahgah! Salmon and grits. Yum. The hush puppies. LOVE. go, it's so delish.

    (4)

  • Bill S.

    What a great experience. Hymanns is the benchmark for seafood in Charleston. Dined at by the rich and famous but priced for the peasants. Huge selections of all types of seafood prepared many different ways. I must eat at for anybody visiting Charleston.

    (5)

  • Samy N.

    Interesting atmosphere, great crab cake appetizer. Squash casserole was yummy as a side. wasn't pleased with my dinner, I had the Carolina Delight with shrimp. Shrimp part was great but wasn't satisfied with the rest. We also didn't receive very good service.

    (3)

  • Mrs. W.

    We sat at Lynyrd Skynyrd's table! ...and some others. This place has got culture! And great food at that. It's cool that the owner walks around meeting his patrons. Staff are incredibly friendly, and the freebees and hush puppies on the sidewalk make the short wait all the worthwhile. I'm not a grits fan, but the fried green tomatoes and grits, and their classic shrimp and grits were very good. If I lived here, I would be a regular. Great taste of South Carolina culture here!

    (5)

  • Shaunna H.

    The food was really good. I'd never had cole slaw with pickle relish before but I could get with that. The menu is extensive but I don't really think you could make bad decision from what I saw. I had the Carolina Delight which is their own version of shrimp and grits. Delicious! There was so much of it, I couldn't finish. The portions were huge. Aside from my two colleagues who ordered the flounder, no one else finished their meal. The reviews of the hushpuppies are not exaggerating. They were GOOD. The service was friendly. One of the owners was even walking around greeting people, asking if they were enjoying their meals. I will definitely eat here again.

    (4)

  • Rose S.

    Our very last stop, and we're happy we did. Amazing everything! Get all the best of Charleston's food culture in one delicious spot. Loved the boiled peanuts, fried green tomatoes, cheese grits, Bloody Mary, Holy City Porter, she-crab soup, hush puppies, firefly moonshine, oysters on a half shell and the homemade bread pudding! The service is excellent and the owner came and spoke with us. Honestly the best dining experience in Charleston. Make a reservation.

    (5)

  • John B.

    We will not be returning. The food was pretty short on any kind of seasoning, but otherwise good. The wait staff was knowledgeable and attentive. What we didn't care for was the cramped seating, excessive noise level, multiple interruptions from the owner, a greeter, and "Rusty"--an older guy with a strange hat who seems to have been assigned the mission of pestering people, and the general lack of attention to cleanliness -- our table had smeared food remaining after a rapid wipe down, the drink menu was just plain nasty, and my wife reported that the women's room was not well taken care of. The place has been chosen by Southern Living magazine as the "best seafood restaurant in the South" for nine tears in a row....a fact which has removed that publication from my reading list. All-in-all, not a dump, but ...unless you groove on touristy hype... there are way better options all over the place for about the same price. A final note concerns the many (old) photos of stars and political notables on the walls...how they were all enticed into this place is a mystery worthy of investigation!

    (1)

  • Scott P.

    I lived in Charleston for a few years and Hymens was a favorite for both tourists and locals alike, and for good reason. I love the place and we try to make it there every time we go back to Charleston. In the twenty odd years we have been going, we have been disappointed only a couple times. Even then, the item in question was promptly replaced with a perfectly cooked item.

    (5)

  • Sterling L.

    I really enjoyed my experience here. While you could say it's touristy, I certainly didn't feel like it was a trap. It seemed like a well run business that truly cares about the experience of it's customers. We were in a party of 10 (plus an infant) and had to wait about an hour for seating on New years eve at around lunchtime. Once we were seated, the waiter came around and got our drink order quickly and took my iphone coupon for a free Fried Green Tomatoes. We got 2 or three other free appetizers as well, and I don't think it was because we were Yelpers because other tables were getting them too. Maybe they were running behind in the kitchen or something, although I didn't feel like it was slow service at all. Just a busy restaurant. The manager was going around talking to customers and being very friendly. Food was great, I got the fried platter and everything was delicious. I'd go back here if I was in Charleston.

    (5)

  • Ashley A.

    This place was pretty great. The wait was pretty crazy..we went in the middle of the week and had to wait almost 45 minutes for a table, but apparently that's normal. We are friends with a few of the members of the waitstaff and were visiting so the managers treated us very nicely. They sent up a couple of free appetizers, some soup and hush puppies. The Carolina Delight, which is their flagship appetizer was just insane. So good, but a heart attack on a plate..naturally, we ate all of it. We were so full after all of the food they sent initially that we didn't even order dinner, which in my book is a great experience. We'd definitely go here again if we were in the area and definitely be sure to arrive early due to the crowds that flock here for dinner!

    (4)

  • Carol M.

    We read the reviews about this place and had to give it a try. We liked this place as soon as we walked through the door. Restaurants in the area close a little earlier than what we're used to. Everyone was very friendly even though the kitchen was going to shut down in the next half hour. The bartender, Jessica was very patient with us and walked us through the menu. She even suggested most popular preparation methods for the fish we chose. We started with the fried green tomatoes. How could we resist when we saw on the yelp app it was free when we showed her our phone!! They were delicious. Well, after adding my signature pound of salt and pepper, they were delicious. I'm just not a true southerner. I don't get what the big deal is about grits. I had the Cajun mahi with fried oysters and sautéed shrimp. A huge plate of food! More than I could eat. Thankfully, my husband was there to pick up my slack. My favorite was the shrimp. Perfectly cooked in a buttery sauce. Low fat, no doubt. The fried oysters were a bit too done, but we managed to eat each and every one. Hubby got Cajun salmon, bbq shrimp and fried calmari. His was also delicious. They don't cook the crap out of the fish. It's a pet peeve of ours and we were pleased with their preparation. Jessica spent her time restocking and thoroughly cleaning all the while remaining attentive to our drinks, etc. It was a very nice find!

    (5)

  • Sandi T.

    Tourist trap, NO. It does dump you out to their gift shop but hey their sawgrass baskets are the cheapest in town. Now you will not find a more loved family business. We hosted our client dinner their, the employees all grateful family members would come by and tell tales and share their family history. They have excellent catfish, I had the shrimp and we had people rave about the steaks. We hosted the dinner for 30 people with open bar, appetizers and our cost was a thousand dollars. We also stopped by mother day for bloody Mary's. exiting through the gift shop made us chuckle, even locals couldn't argue that you leave happy,

    (5)

  • Heidi V.

    Definitely a tourist favorite, but the food is great, the service is friendly, and the hush puppies are amazing.

    (4)

  • S S.

    This place is just OK. Not great and definitely better places in Charleston. Too commercialized! A little dirty. Owner does make his rounds and thanks you. Good touch. Beer was good but the oysters were only average. The rest was only average. Not a 're-do' or 'must-do.

    (3)

  • Nicole C.

    Probably some of the best shrimp and grits I've ever had. The Parmesan sauce was a nice touch. The crab cake had plenty of crab in it and the hush puppies were also some of the best. Our server was on top of things but, we went during the slow part of the day.

    (4)

  • Spyro A.

    Headed out to one of the plantations? Stop by and pick up a couple of sandwiches for a little picnic. We enjoyed the quick service and good food.

    (4)

  • Carlos T.

    This was my first time ever having grits and hush puppies. I would say they were the best ever. However, the Guiness beer was the worst ever. So stale and rancid.

    (5)

  • Michael I.

    Great service and really good food. Manager checked to make sure we were happy and with that kind of business lined up out front you know it has to be pretty good. Saw a guy outside the next day giving out free hushpuppies. I was overall pretty impressed with this place.

    (4)

  • Cindy M.

    Unbelievably over rated. Our entire meal was comped because it was so bad. Fast food is better!!

    (1)

  • Lindsey D.

    Time for lunch at the famous Hyman's Seafood Company! We walked right in, too... it was amazing! The night before, there was a long line of people out on the sidewalk waiting to get in. The menu of the day was up on the wall near our table, as were photos of the many celebrities that have eaten there. The chairs at the tables also have name plates of the famous people that had eaten there. Our table had the likes of Neil Armstrong, Jodi Foster, and Bob Villa! ;-P I finally got to try boiled peanuts here and I loved them! Coming from the midwest, I was very confused by this way of eating peanuts - but after trying it, I totally get it. The boiled peanuts are the complimentary snack. We tried their crab dip - good - and got their hush puppies and O-M-G... they were the BEST hush puppies I have ever tasted in my life! My partner loved his fried shrimp. My friend loved her shrimp and grits and she crab soup. I got the Carolina Delight with a crab cake and it was tasty, too. We were in seafood heaven. The waiter was great. The prices were great. There were cards with funny little sayings on the table that were amusing and they give you stickers to spread the Hyman love around the city! We also enjoyed wandering through their general store after our meal. This was a great stop and I would definitely go back!

    (5)

  • Evan S.

    This is definitely a tourist trap... and I knew that walking in. The food is decent. I used the yelp check-in freebie to get a free order of fried green tomatoes which were awesome! We tried fried green tomatoes at about 3 other restaurants on our vacation and these were the best! They also start you off with complimentary boiled peanuts which are tasty after waiting for however it'll take you to get in. The hushpuppies were average. The mac n cheese is pretty bad. I was expecting more of a home recipe as opposed to the velveeta version that they serve. Clam strips = good. Snapper was ok, but kinda dry. And the shrimp & grits were average as well. The service was very good.

    (3)

  • Emily B.

    I don't know why people line up for this place. If you want fried seafood, then this may be the place for you, but if that's not your thing, steer clear. Sure, there are celebrity pics on the walls, but don't let that fool you. This place is a tourist trap. For better seafood with decent prices, check out Coast on John St.

    (2)

  • Kristine B.

    Best seafood dinner I have ever eaten!! Amazing customer service as well. I highly recommend the scored flounder and the crab cakes.

    (5)

  • Jeff K.

    We have been wanting to eat here for years but never had time to wait in the summer tourist line. We were in Charleston this weekend and found ourselves looking for a good meal downtown. Hyman's did not disappoint, the fried shrimp was perfect along with red rice & hush puppies. It was a great experience that I will share with many people, great food, service and a customer driven attitude. Our server Kimberly was very friendly, helpful and sincere. Thank you for a great dining experience, we'll be back soon.

    (5)

  • Marco F.

    Everything was awesome besides the calamari.

    (4)

  • Cortney K.

    I am not a seafood eater but I was with company who wanted to try this place so I tried it. Luckily there are several options that do not include seafood. The prices are very reasonable especially for the amount of food. You get a lot of extra things included with every meal (slaw, hush puppies, etc.) so I was definitely full by the end of the meal. My steak was cooked perfectly and the seafood that was ordered was delicious (supposedly). The food was great and the waitress was very nice. I will definitely be eating here again.

    (5)

  • Fontane L.

    Great service, solid food. Came here because of reviews and recommendation from tour guide. The food was good - solid seafood fare, with numerous fresh fish options daily and tasty sides. What I'd recommend: - crab cakes were packed with crab - yay! - highly enjoyed the salmon and grits - shrimp is tasty - fried oysters were fresh - grilled fish was good, but not spectacular - fried green tomatoes were highly worthwhile I think Hyman's provides fresh seafood at what is considered a moderate price for Charleston, but I feel like it was so-so for me. However, I will say that the service there was excellent, with the owner coming around to check that things are going well. He clearly cares about his customers' experience.

    (3)

  • Sheridan P.

    A Charleston staple. The food doesn't claim to be anything fancy, quite the opposite. It's a bunch of country(ish)-type folks who are slamming some fried food baskets together. The fried oysters were nice and juicy. My friend got the crab cakes and said they were very crabby! It was crowded with a long wait, so you'll need to plan around that. It is quite messy since the busboys fall behind. But they're catch up eventually. Don't go here if you're short on time or patience, for sure!

    (4)

  • Ashley B.

    There are few things in life better than good food, few joys that are more pure then the enjoyment of a well prepared meal. I guess that sentence makes me out to be a foodie, but don't worry I'm not a pretentious foodie. How could I be? An eastern North Carolina raised girl like me has few aspirations to pretentious food what with having grown up on a steady diet of grandma's fried chicken and mashed potatoes, and more to the point for this review, her fried seafood. Shoot I was probably 12 or older before I realized you could eat most seafood any other way but fried. It was what I grew up on, and it's still what I love best. Hyman's I am very happy to tell you knows how to do fried seafood right. In my three different visits to Hyman's over the course of my vacations in Charleston, I have always gotten fried seafood that exceeds my expectations. And that is saying something because my expectations hover somewhere around the moon. This is some of the best fried fish, fried shrimp and fried softshell crab I have ever had and it surely must be among the best in the low country. Lest you think my meal begins and ends there I should also tell you that they have extraordinarily good shrimp and grits as well. They are rich and buttery and wonderfully consistent in their texture and flavor. The hush puppies here are also above the average run of the mill hush puppy. They are never overcooked and have just a hint of sweetness just the way I like em. The coleslaw is also quite good, and the crab dip is a great way to start your meal. The portions here are colossal. In fact they are so large that I left the table full while barely touching my fries, and that is a good thing, because the fries are the one complaint I have about my meals here. I simply don't like heavily seasoned fries, and I prefer my fries not be the size of a quarter of the potato per piece. They are the one and only thing I find disappointing at Hyman's. Service has always been outstanding here, waitstaff is always attentive and either the manager or one of the owners always stop by the table to check on you during the meal. Although there is always a wait to get a table here I've never had to twiddle my thumbs for more then 15 minutes or so. In fact there is usually just enough time to tour the gift shop before my name is called. I'd love to live full time in the Charleston area but I would probably be broke if I did since I would constantly want to eat out. Hyman's is a big part of that and it is the only restaurant I have ever chosen to eat at twice on the same vacation trip. I can give no higher praise then that, and they deserve every bit of it.

    (5)

  • Anne F.

    We went here twice while on a 3 day vacation to Charleston. The first visit was for lunch, which was superb. I got the spinach and cucumber salad with broiled shrimp and balsamic vinegarette. Was very tasty. The second visit was for dinner a couple of days later. I got the hushpuppies (I would go back just for them), the crab cake and seafood pizza. The seafood pizza was amazing! The dough was light with a tender sweetness to it. The sauce was perfect; rich, but not overwhelming. The seafood on the pizza was abundant and nicely seasoned. Will I be back? Yes!

    (5)

  • Morgan R.

    I ate here with my family and the experience was fantastic. The service was wonderful and very attentive and the food was better than I expected. The hush puppies are AMAZING. I think I ate 10 of them. The shrimp fettuccine was good as well, and I was served a massive portion of it. Overall, we got plenty of food for our money. We were greeted by two of the owners, who gave us a coupon for free magnets in the general store. Really cute idea. It was a very enjoyable meal and it was really cool to see all the history of the restaurant everywhere you look (Jodi Foster and Earth, Wind, and Fire sat at our table!). The only downside was that there was a bit of a wait and the hostess wasn't very considerate of the fact that my grandma couldn't walk very fast (we got lost in the restaurant). Really fun restaurant, we will be returning!

    (5)

  • C B.

    Great seafood, hush puppies are wonderful with a slight sweetness. Customer service was stellar, the owners even stopped by our table to check on us. Bloody Mary's are perfect, the buffalo oyster poboy is expected remedy good with some of the best poboy bread I have ever had. We also tried the fried green tomatoes and found them to be perfectly cooked through with the right amount of breading, it's a winner!!

    (4)

  • Mary M.

    Two words....TOURIST TRAP. This restaurant is not indicative of the fine culinary offerings of Charleston.

    (2)

  • Jeff C.

    Don't bother...There's a reason Hyman's has a bad rep from most of the locals, it's simply not good. It's a tourist trap and the good reviews come from people that just don't know any better and are tourists. With all Charleston has to offer food wise, don't get trapped here. The service is half assed, the seafood is not fresh, and you have to wait a ridiculously long time to be seated. If you're going to come to Charleston and spend money with the hopes of going somewhere nice to eat, check out Low Country Bistro, Hall's Chophouse, or Fleet Landing. You'll get your money's worth and have a much better experience. And if you don't believe me, ask any local, or if you're staying at a hotel...ask your concierge for a good recommendation.

    (1)

  • Renee H.

    Not a good experience for us at all. Was looking forward to great family night with great seafood. Waiter was clearly very busy- very distracted w friends at another table. We were party of 10. Drinks took 15 minutes to get - appetizers were forgotten - 2nd order of drinks was forgotten and took another 15 minutes. My cousin's order was late- then wrong - then another 15 minutes. Food (Mahi Mahi) was dry and unsavory. Everyone's food was "meh"- okay at best. Would NOT go back again. The only good thing about our visit was the family company. Seemed VERY over priced and over rated for what we got.

    (1)

  • Ron D.

    This may be called a tourist restaurant by some reviewers but we really liked it and is the type of place we would go back to. Service was very good, not a fancy place but if you want to wear your bow tie and spend $250 for two people go to one of the many other fine dining restaurants in Charleston. The hush puppies are fantastic! They are so good they have people standing outside blocks away giving away free samples. I actually watched people sample the hush puppies and promptly head to the restaurant. It's like they are baiting customers with their hush puppies and it works! We did not try a fish entree because we were not even hungry. Just got pulled in by the hush puppies for more and decided to try some fried green tomatoes to go with them. Kind of a unique place. Reminds me of the Crab Cooker in Newport Beach, CA if you have ever been there. Worth trying this place out if you are visiting like us.

    (4)

  • Jodi H.

    For birthday dinner we wanted a good seafood meal and this place did not disappoint. There was a line outside, we had a 20-25 minute wait for a party of 4 however it went quickly as you can wander in the attached general store and they brought out fresh hush puppies for you to sample as you waited. Once seated we were amazed by the number of celebrities that have eaten here. There are white plates hanging on the walls that are autographed by the different celebrities and the tables have little plaques indicating who has sat at that table. Martin Sheen previously sat at our very table. This place has been family owned and operated for generations and they boast that one of the family members is always on staff on the premises. Sure enough we were greatest by Cousin Martin who checked in to make sure we had everything we needed. They offer bread or boiled peanuts for the table. Go for the boiled peanuts. You are in the South try them! You will like them. You can get bread anywhere. I started my dinner with their signature Bloody Mary. Hands down the BEST Bloody Mary I've ever had. I like them spicy and with the Absolut Peppar, the horseradish and spices it was expertly mixed, poured and devoured. For dinner I had the 3-combo choosing shrimp and grits, light Cajun shrimp and the crab cake. I chose collards for my side and all meals come with cole slaw and hush puppies. The shrimp and grits were creamy and the Parmesan sauce was rich and buttery, the light Cajun shrimp lightly sautéed with just a hint of kick, the crab cake was heavy on the breading yet still maintained big chunks of crab. The collards were earthy, vinegary with little bits of smoked meat, the cole slaw was tangy with a hint of sweetness. Don't forget to try to Cajun Mayo on the table. It is like a spicy tartar sauce and a perfect compliment to the hush puppies. Service was incredible. Well worth the wait and price.

    (5)

  • Louise M.

    Had the shrimp and grits, with fried oysters. Amazing. Will be back when I'm in town again to try more. Didn't like how there are shell bits in the oysters but they warn you about it. One of the owners came out to greet us. My Georgia Peach drink was great as well.

    (5)

  • Jeff G.

    Hyman's was a great all around experience. The Salmon Medley and hush puppies were highlights. The only drawback was that the rice they served the fish on was a little undercooked. Also probably too much fried food for my taste, but that's the South for you! What the food lacked (it didn't lack much... except for the rice I loved my meal) the atmosphere and service made up for. While we were eating the restaurant owner came to our table and personally thanked us for coming. For as big as this place is, personally greeting your customers is quite a feat. In general, you get a strong sense of southern hospitality and great service here. They have little cards with Hymans maxims on the tables and free stickers outside bathrooms, plaques of where famous people have sat, etc. It was just a generally fun experience with well thought out services that make you feel welcome. Definitely stop by this quality Charleston establishment!

    (4)

  • Eric B.

    This restaurant is just hands down awesome. We ate early around 530pm on a Saturday evening and waited around 40 min for a party of seven people. The wait however was a pleasurable experience as the Hymans staff from the gift shop area brought us small ice cream samples and a drink and popcorn for my wife who is pregnant without any request from us at all. (That was very very nice). As we were seated at a table that was previously sat at by the likes of billy Joel and Metallica the server greeted us promptly and took our drink order and did a great job throughout the meal. During the meal we were visited by one of the owners Eli Hyman who is 4th generation Hymans family and he was very personable and engaged in making sure our experience was fantastic, he's a real nice guy. The food was spectacular, we had the fried tomatoes app thing and it was crazy good!! Then I had the shrimp and grits which was also spectacular. Love this place. Highly recommend!!!!

    (5)

  • Rick T.

    Well before I knew about all the best local places I use to come here and wait in the very long and unmoving lines like everyone else. Why you ask I just bought into the hype and wasn't familiar with the area. I would order the fried lobster and it would really put a hole in my wallet. Like many of the other Yelpers said this place is a tourist trap indeed, that's my opinion and frankly the truth. Charleston is full of other options for shorter lines and better dinner prices.

    (2)

  • Frank A.

    Meh... very much a tourist trap, in my opinion. Service was well....average. Food, average. If you haven't been, yeah, probably try it once, just to say you've been there. I wouldn't come back here, when there are plenty of other good places to eat in charleston....

    (3)

  • Gloria H.

    Fantastic food. Amazing service. We had tried several times in the past to get in but the wait was always longer than we wanted to wait. We timed it right this time and were able to walk right in. We now know the wait would be worth it.

    (5)

  • Kathy D.

    For all the hype, I expected better. Tons of better restaurants. She-crab soup was tasteless' three pieces of small shrimp on shrimp and grits. Service was disinterested.

    (2)

  • Scotty C.

    Ask any local what the biggest tourist trap is in Charleston and they will say Hyman's. Yet they still have a line out the door every day. I remember going there when I moved here years ago and didn't get what all the hype was about. It is nice that the manager comes around to the tables and all but the food was lacking. I had an old boss who liked to take our new hires there for dinner while they were in town but he wasn't from here either. I must say that he did introduce me to the Crispy Flounder which I thought was pretty decent. If I ended up back there again for some reason, I guess I'd order that.

    (2)

  • Deick J.

    The food was good. Had a good time there I would go a again I will go back to the seafood place again and this time I would have something different the fried green tomatoes with very different the party was enjoyed it

    (4)

  • Bill C.

    We ate here for dinner and enjoyed every bit of the experience. The call ahead seating saved us time in line. We only waited about 5 minutes once we arrived. All of the staff were extremely friendly and went out of the way to ensure an excellent dining experience. Everyone enjoyed their dinners! We started with the fried green tomato appetizer, which we enjoyed. The Carolina Delight shrimp and grits was outstanding as well as the flounder dinner. The kids meals were also a hit with crab cakes and fried shrimp. The cheesecake for dessert was good to share. The portion sizes were large enough we all had leftovers for lunch the next day. There is a parking garage right behind the restaurant for easy access. Hyman's Seafood was the best meal we had in Charleston!

    (5)

  • Kevin S.

    Horrible experience. Everyone I've spoken to who actually enjoys good seafood is in agreement that this place is terrible. The people I've talked to who like it are from the midwest and perhaps don't really appreciate seafood if they were raised on the flavor of frozen fish, river fish, and muddy lake fish. The wait is pretty long for such a bad restaurant because the previous three generations somehow managed to build a reputation as the place to go for seafood. I didn't try it 100 years ago for obvious reason so I don't know if it was a deserved reputation or not. My guess is their prime location and tons of advertising to tourists is what keeps them busy. While waiting we went into the little store they have. What a waste of real estate. This is downtown Charleston and all you can do is try to sell us a couple worthless little trinkets and hush puppy mix and you need to use up that much square footage? Dumb idea. Right after our name was called, someone more famous than me came up to the seating hostess. I don't know who they were but the hostess went to get the owner. So I got to continue waiting; that's fine, I understand occasionally someone gets special treatment, that's the world we live in. So the owner came down and he didn't know who they were either (ie, it wasn't his mother or best friend or something... maybe a c-list celebrity?) but he stepped into the doorway to greet them. That's a special detail because doorways are about one person wide. The hostess was then blocked behind him and couldn't seat anyone because he had walled off the entire restaurant from customers to talk to this stranger-who-was-more-famous-than-I. Another customer whose name had been called was now in line behind me as well. After several minutes, steam began to build up, ready to come out my ears but he finally moved and took them inside so the hostess could lead me to the stairs. Once up the stairs, you have to stop and wait for a DIFFERENT employee to get a table. This person was nowhere to be found. Several minutes passed again and we took matters into our own hands and just went and sat down. A very nice gentleman finally came over to the table, engaged in some chitchat, welcomed us, and told us to feel free to speak with him about anything. Cool, my steam reserves went down slightly. We both ordered combo plates so we could try a total of six different things. The menu states that their fried foods are their best, so we got several of those plus shrimp and grits (both ways). The hush puppies were really good. See? I can say nice things. That's where it ends, though. The double-stuffed crab was inedible both due to texture and horrible flavor. The shrimp and grits are the worst and second worst I've had in Charleston; it's grocery freezer-section shrimp and packaged/powdered gravy mix, complete with that little "skin" that fake gravy gets on top when its a tiny bit cool. The fish of the day we got was edible but not memorable at all. For a total of $54, I was appalled. Even for $12 I would have been slightly disappointed. So, we opted to talk to the friendly gentleman again and described all these things to him in detail. He apologized, zeroed our bill, and gave us a frequent customer style card thingy for when we came back. I threw it away, we're not coming back. The owner should be ashamed. Somehow this has become a fourth-generation Charleston eatery of renown and it's an absolute disgrace. Hire consultants, bring in some legit chefs, rework your menu, whatever you have to do to turn this place completely around. Or close the doors and let someone with talent have the location.

    (1)

  • Roehl A.

    Good touristy place to experience. We had the bowl of she crab soup $5.95 tasted good but did not have chunks of crab in it. We also shared a 3 item combo $19.95. Chose the shrimp, calamari, and salmon. We chose red rice as a side and all combos come with hush puppies and coleslaw. The seafood was okay and by far the salmon was the best part of the combo. The food is pricey and serving sizes are large enough to share which is a good idea unless you're really hungry! Other items that we were able to try were the grits and the scallops. Among those things the scallops were the best. I would definitely come back for the salmon and the scallops! The wait wasn't bad at 2:00PM on a Thursday. Service was friendly and courteous although our party of 17 may have overwhelmed our server. The timing of delivery could have been better as half of our party was done by the time the rest of our food arrived.

    (3)

  • Nick G.

    The food is amazing and the service is TOP KNOTCH. From the moment we approached, we were treated like valued patrons by the waitress, "cookin posse", and owner (who came to our table to thank us for coming). In regards to the food, our favorites were the hush puppies, fried calamari, and salmon croquettes. We dunked everything in their amazing Cajun mayo (which is available for purchase in the gift shop). We certainly left full and happy. A DEFINITE thumbs up!

    (5)

  • Katharine T.

    Bottom line: tourist trap. Way overrated. The number of people waiting outside the restaurant probably convinces people (like us) that the restaurant is worthwhile. It's not! It has received top ratings from newspapers and speciality magazines that it is one of the top seafood restaurants in the country--totally unjustified. They also do not hesitate to vaunt all of the celebrities who have come to eat at their famous restaurant. The ambiance is lively and fun. They were accurate on the expected wait. The waitress was attentive and the owner comes around to ensure you have a good experience. Food: the only good things were the hush puppies, which were amazing, and the drinks (good sweet tea and nice local beer). Everything else was mediocre or bad. Everything arrived tepid (maybe reheated), barely any flavor. Mahi was bland. Sweet potato casserole was overly sweet. We will never go back. If you want good seafood, do not go here.

    (2)

  • Matthew K.

    My wife and I went here for lunch. I knew it was a bit of a Charleston establishment, but I had no idea how big this place was. We sat down and each table had little placards on them denoting some famous person that sat there. I started to get the feeling that this place was a tourist destination more than anything... The menu is extensive, and they have lots of different fish options to choose from. We each ordered a Po Boy sandwich, my wife got fried catfish, and I had fried oysters (which the oysters were listed as market price). They also brought out a bowl of boiled peanuts which I really enjoyed. Each sandwich came with hushpuppies, which were great, and coleslaw. The coleslaw wasn't very good and very bland. The sandwiches were huge. But they were nothing to write home about. Overall, it was ok, until I got the bill. $21 for a fried oyster sandwich!!! I live in the midwest, and I can get oysters cheaper than this. I guess I should know better, but I was not expecting to pay over $20 for a sandwich. Needless to say I won't be going back.

    (2)

  • Dan P.

    This place is getting three stars only because the shrimp were fabulous. The grit cakes were a little too dense, however. You are better off ordering the regular fried green tomatoes than the special. The fried green tomatoes provided with the special are plump and juicy, but smothered in so much sauce that the taste is lost and the result is bland. I ordered the crispy flounder, which was good, but not excellent. the real problem was the service. This is unusual in Charleston. The server brought my beers promptly, but had to be reminded to get my wife's beer on more than one occasion. We could see her getting other beers while failing on the wife's beer. Then she brought the appetizer (the aforementioned fried green tomatoes special with a ton of sauce) without plates. I asked for a second plate, she agreed and then disappeared, not returning with a second plate at any time. To keep the app from getting cold we had to eat it by taking turns. This is not simple because the tables are ridiculously long, with a leaf on each end. The wife tried to order a side of cole slaw and the waitress said no, explaining that the cole slaw is a side that comes with the entree. Then she never brought us any cole slaw. We didn't see her again until we were done with the entrees. At that point, there was no point in asking. So we asked for to go containers and the waitress brought them without a bag. A staffer at the gift shop noticed the problem and gave us a bag without being prompted. While leaving, we heard the waitress offer boiled peanuts to people who had just sat at a table next to us. We were never offered peanuts. According to a website review, everyone is started with boiled peanuts, not just the one couple sitting next to us. This may have occurred, along with the other issues, because the waitress spent a lot of time talking to people about herself when she should have been working. Even though the shrimp were fabulous, we will not be back.

    (3)

  • David F.

    Truly impressed with Hyman's. Fish was very fresh and well prepared, staff very attentive, management engaged. We had a group of 10 people. Because my wife called ahead, we got in easily even though it was Friday night. Hyman's caring about the customer starts while you wait outside - free hush puppies and menu summaries. Hyman's freely accepts changes to their menu - they customize to make customer happy There were some issues with our order and the owner stopped by. He had been briefed on the issues and gave us some free dessert to make up for it. So glad he did as the key lime pie was some of the best I've ever had Caveats: the atmosphere is casual and food takes a while to come out when they are slammed

    (5)

  • Hillary V.

    Hymans definitely does not disappoint. We were visiting family in Charleston and they wanted to visit. The atmosphere is family friendly. The owner walks around to talk with guests. He gives a "coupon" for 2 free magnets in the general store. These are their own cheesy magnets, not the ones they are selling. I ordered the haddock broiled and it was amazing. It was juicy and the flavor melts in your mouth. The chicken tenders were like no others and are highly recommended for your kids. Other dishes at our table that are recommended: fried calamari, fried green tomatoes, and the boiled peanuts.

    (4)

  • Oleg A.

    Interesting place. We sat at a table "Phish" and "Sandra Bullock" sat at. Food was fresh and cooked with Southern love. Must try - will not be disappointed.

    (5)

  • Kelly F.

    I visited charleston SC for the first time looking for authentic southern food. I was recommended to go to Hyman's by a relative and it did not disappoint. It exceeded every expectation I had! the portions are huge and you get a lot for a reasonable price. First, they give you complimentary warm boiled peanuts, very flavorful. second, they bring out freshly fried hush puppies and cole slaw before your meal even comes. I got the Carolina's delight with salmon. I could only eat half before I was too full to move. the meal was one of the best I've ever tasted. flavorful is an understatement. The salmon was fresh and tender on top fried grits and covered with a thick delicious sauce. If I ever return to charleston Hymans will definitely be on my agenda! The food and service is nothing short of exceptional!

    (5)

  • Helen D.

    This is a tourist trap. I knew this before arriving but my boyfriend and I still wanted to experience it for ourselves since we likely won't return to Charleston. The food is pricey yet mediocre, and heavily loaded with salt. Do NOT eat here if you have hypertension or heart failure. Or even if you are perfectly healthy. We got she-crab soup and two signature dishes, the Carolina Delight Signature Dish and the Carolina Style Shrimp and Grits. We are not picky eaters by any means, and everything looked delicious on presentation. Things went downhill soon after we tried the she-crab soup - I felt like I was literally eating spoonfuls of salt. Also, you would think the dish they are known for (Carolina Delight) would be cooked perfectly but it was inedible due to the sheer amount of sodium it contained. We had to send it back and the manager was nice enough to take it off our bill without asking any questions. The owners of the place also walk around to every single table and have conversations with the customers - I've never seen this before and thought it was incredibly nice. One star food but great service, for a 2 star review. I don't know why people rave about this place.

    (2)

  • Pam Selman Smith N.

    Well after the long walk to get here we had to walk upstairs with a lady that could hardly walk up the stair. We finally made it and had a table next to the window. The food was just so so but there waitstaff was eye candy and very nice. They gave us all a magnet as we left and the bathrooms were real nice and very clean.

    (3)

  • Danielle M.

    I'm going on record to say that I feel that this place is a bit of an overrated, touristy restaurant that relies on foot traffic and accumulated historic reputation more than current food quality. On one of my first trips to Charleston we were told that we simply couldn't miss out on Hyman's as their seafood was amazing, so with an eager appetite a group of us visited the restaurant. We were seated almost immediately, which was a nice surprise considering how busy they were for lunch. We were taken upstairs, on the upper right side of the restaurant, and our journey to our table was quite a nice twisting, turning voyage that seemed to never end and allowed us to see a good amount of the restaurant and eyeball everyone's food. One of our party made the mistake of detouring to the restroom on our journey to the table, resulting in a lot of text messages back and forth with directions to our location. Our group sat at a table that had previously been sat at by Cyndi Lauper (girls just wanna have seafood) and His Highness Samuel L. Jackson (does he look like a tipper?) according to the quite lovely brass plaques set into the table. Between everyone at our table we sampled the following: * Complimentary hush puppies with a dipping sauce while we made our choices. * We ordered Stuffed Mushrooms, Fried Calamari, Gator Sausage, Carolina Delight (a fried grit cake topped with shrimp, covered with Alfredo sauce & Cajun seasoning), Carolina Shrimp & Grits (with a parmesan sauce), Fried Dill Pickles, Mozzarella Sticks and Fried Oysters from the Appetizer Menu for the table to share. Stuffed Mushrooms: tasty enough, but the cheese had escaped the mushrooms, creating a rapidly solidifying mass of it on the plate. Fried Calamari: I'm a huge lover of Calamari, however was very disappointed by the thick, heavy layer of batter coating my delicate squid and the accompanying Marinara sauce was bland and boring. The squid itself was very well cooked, however I had to remove a lot of batter to get to it. Gator Sausage: tasty, well-seasoned and surprisingly delicate. After all the heavily fried items, they were a nice change. Carolina Delight: tasty, nice shrimp, with a well-formed grits cake that kept its shape surprisingly well. Carolina Shrimp & Grits: the grits were well cooked and nicely flavoured and the shrimp were cooked in a tasty seasoning. Fried Dill Pickles: nice little bites of sharp pickle with a well-blended dipping sauce. Mozzarella Sticks: heavily battered like all the other fried items. I had a small bite and was done. Very boring accompanying Marinara sauce. Fried Oysters: overdone, not much seafood taste remaining. I remain unmoved by the food on offer at Hyman's. Everything fried is too heavily coated in batter, completely burying the food hidden inside. Most of the accompanying dipping sauces aren't flavoured strongly enough to work with the fried food. Prices were ok, service was a little slow but forgivable as they were incredibly busy with the lunch rush, food arrived hot and fresh, however I'm not a fan of the fried options and didn't sample enough of the non-fried options to encourage me to make a return visit. I'd suggest that you visit Hyman's if only to say that you've paid homage to what's considered to be a Charleston institution, however nothing passed my lips that wowed me and unfortunately there's no one thing that I would recommend as being a Must Eat item.

    (2)

  • Clare S.

    If you're visiting Charleston and want a true experience, or taste of our city, do yourself a favor and NOT go to restaurants that source from faraway oceans and frozen produce vendors. If you don't care and prefer your fish and shrimp fried and salted to oblivion, eat here. Looking for a more authentic taste of Charleston's best seafood? Try Hank's, Coast, or Fish. One star as the managers are quite attentive and I can see the local store being appealing while you wait to be seated. 10best.com/destinations/…

    (1)

  • Brian M.

    Hyman's is a touristy stop but definitely a worthwhile touristy stop at that. This was my second visit to Hyman's and I will return on my next visit to Charleston. Hyman's is known for their seafood and they don't dissapoint. I had the catfish and enjoyed the light flaky taste. They have homemade style coleslaw and very good hush puppies. Hyman's provides generous portions and your not likely to leave hungry. The reason to return aside from a good meal is a fun environment and good staff. Each table has business card size sayings relevant to what should be important in life. You may take a few of the cards as mementos or to share with friends. The ownership/management makes sure to stop by your table to greet you and see that you are enjoying your experience. A true personal approach especially with the knowledge a particular customer may not be back to Charleston for some time. It is that exact personalization which puts Hyman's on my dining destination list when visiting the area.

    (4)

  • Jordan H.

    Terrible food. Probably the worst choice in Charleston. Only popular because of location and the tourists go there so they always have a line. Don't bother if you like good seafood, you WILL be disappointed.

    (2)

  • Bob B.

    WOW! Rarely does a restaurant that's famous live up to its reputation for excellence. Not only does Hyman's live up to its reputation, it exceeds it. Though we were tourists, they still treated us like their favorite regulars! First, the waiting experience is unique. You can count on the wait time they predict to be fairly accurate. In addition to having paper menus for you to look at while you wait, they will occasionally send out someone with fresh hush puppies. Plus, the benches are spacious and comfortable. Second, the food is excellent! My daughter who is normally a fussy eater loves their shrimp! I am a big salmon fan and they do it wonderfully. Also, their fried green tomato appetizer is too good to miss. My wife loves their shrimp and grits as well. Third, they do everything to make you feel welcome. From owners walking around giving children coupons for free ice cream to delicious boiled peanuts on the table. Sure, most restaurants with celebrities on the wall and a big reputation tend to coast and treat tourists as disposable customers, but Hyman's Seafood is just the opposite! Considering it's been around since 1890, if they keep up these traditions of service excellence, my great-great-grandchildren will probably be singing this place's praises.

    (5)

  • Michelle H.

    Fried green tomatoes appetizer was off the chain good!!! We had calamari and mahi and BBQ shrimp it was very good. We sat at bar those girls are awesome.

    (4)

  • Itashka W.

    Second time at here. Brought family this time. We were seated quickly. Food came quick and tasted wonderful. The workers are all friendly. Will go back.

    (5)

  • JR C.

    I stopped in here for a beer with an old buddy, and ordered some oysters. They were meh. They also weren't local. For a Charleston seafood place to not have local oysters, while the beds are open, is a sin. They also close pretty darn early. We were the last people there, and it wasn't even late, I think like 9:30, on a Thursday night, the first night of football season, by the way. The bartenders were definitely herding us out of there, even though we were all dropping some coin. There are plenty of other, much better places. I'll head somewhere else.

    (2)

  • Megan R.

    For some items the price is a little steep, but it is seafood so it's worth it. The hushpuppies are on point. I like having different fish options and a variety of ways for the fish to be cooked. The first time we felt overwhelmed because of so many different staff members visiting our table to welcome us and tell us to complain to them if we had issues, but the 2nd time I didn't feel as overwhelmed since I assume the server didn't have to announce a first time guest. Both visits our servers were awesome.

    (3)

  • Jennifer S.

    Four Words: Over hyped tourist trap!!!! When you arrive you give your name to one of the people on the street. They will then direct you towards their gift shop next door as a good place to wait for your name to be called. I ordered 4 small appetizers and a cocktail: She Crab Soup Shrimp and Grits Hush Puppies Fried Green Tomatoes Bloody Mary The only things that were worth eating (and paying for) were the She Crab Soup and the Bloody Mary. The rest of my meal was completely regrettable and I wish unforgetable. Shrimp and Grits - The Shrimp were cooked fine but I swear they were instant grits. I have eaten enough grits in my time (and cooked) that I believe I can tell instant grits. They were too white, too clean and too tasteless to be anything but instant. All that was topped with "Alfredo Sauce", and I put that in quotations because that might be what they told me it was but it too was a flavorless gloppy substance poured over the shrimp and grits. Nasty! Hush Puppies - They were more suited to something I would have had with coffee for breakfast than an appetizer. They were sooooo sweet. I almost expected them to be dusted with powdered sugar and have a chocolate or caramel sauce on the side. On top of being over sweet (had hush puppies at other restaurants in the area and none of them were this sweet) they were very greasy as if the oil/fat they were fried in was not up to temp. Fried Green Tomatoes - These were greasy and mushy. The coating would stay on and was just soggy with oil. I have had better fried green tomatoes in a bar-b-que place in the Chicago Suburbs. The tomatoes were sliced too thin so you couldn't taste them over the oil. Charleston has such a fantastic and vibrant food culture that there are so many places to try and NOT be sucked into this tourist trap.

    (2)

  • Miriam U.

    Food and service was absolutely fantastic! Everyone in our party of 8 enjoyed their meal. We all walked out with a carry out container loaded with food! Eric was the best server!!!!

    (5)

  • Brad M.

    Wow! Amazing!!! Everyone in our party was blown away with everything that was ordered. Fantastic service and friendly staff. Don't let the wait turn you away. Well worth it!

    (5)

  • Cindi L.

    The best place to have shrimp and grits. Really enjoyed our entire meal. Would definitely eat here again whenever we are back in town.

    (5)

  • Sharis H.

    Absolutely amazing. Don't usually like grits but had this FANTASTIC take on shrimp & grits - OMG! Can't wait to eat there again. The servers were all so sweet and knowledgable. Everything about this experience was perfect!

    (5)

  • H F.

    This place was recommended to me by a family member that visited several years ago. I ate a lot on this trip and this place was by far the most forgettable for me. Thats not to say it was bad, it really wasn't, but there are restaurants in every corner that were better. This just felt like a tourist trap. That being said, it was a fun place to be and the service was excellent.

    (3)

  • Shelby B.

    It makes sense that Hyman's Seafood was a "Charleston Staple" years ago, but I don't understand, after Charleston has begun to see so many better, unique, and similar priced locations, why Hyman's Seafood is still considered a staple of Charleston. If you want overpriced, average and uncreative seafood with a long wait, go here.

    (2)

  • Jay W.

    When other reviewers have used the "tourist trap" term, I've always been skeptical but believe me (and them): this is a place to catch a tourist with their guard down. There are plenty of staff out on the streets with "free samples" and menus to review, and to leave you have to exit through a gift shop UGH. But honestly the food is good (those were the best hushpuppies I've had in a long time) and very fresh, and the wait staff is efficient and not pushy at all. My wife and I are NOT fried food eaters, unlike most everyone around us during our lunch, and yet we were very pleased with everything we ordered. If you find yourself in the neighborhood and hungry, Hyman's will do.

    (3)

  • Bonnie W.

    Five stars for a restaurant with reading material in the bathroom! Haha! Seriously, though, this place was just fun. Outside the restaurant there are courting benches to sit on while you wait, and once seated there are little plaques around the edges of the table commemorating the various famous people who sat there in the past. To sit where Oprah once sat was quite an honor. On the table is a little cup full of cards with proverbs and jokes on them, which were fun to read while we waited for our food. Speaking of food, I had the Charleston lump crab cake sandwich, which was heavenly and HUGE. For dessert I had the key lime pie, which was the real deal, not lime cool whip in a pie shell like some places serve! I was satisfied and ready for a nap when I left!

    (5)

  • Rebecca H.

    Some coworkers and I decided to check out Hyman's during our recent visit for work to Charleston. The food was actually really good! We ordered several appetizers to share, including hush puppies, calamari, and a few more. I ordered the Mahi mahi and really liked it for a meal. The portions are extremely generous. The boiled peanuts weren't good...but I've never had them anywhere else. The general store was cool- we had a good time! Hyman's was a lot of fun, if you're in to touristy places and fun food, I recommend it. Giant menu, and even a glatt kosher meal choice :)

    (4)

  • Robert J.

    There are tourist traps that use catchy marketing and cutesy antics to bring people in for mediocre food and lackluster service (think any planet Hollywood on earth)....the. There are local legends that bring people in (yes lots of tourists) based on reputation , good service, and awesome food....Hyman's is definitely the latter. The buffalo shrimp and hush puppies are great, the crab cakes are REALLY good (I can't say better than my grandmother's but one of the closest I've found and that is saying something.). A tourist draw not a tourist trap.

    (5)

  • Stephy S.

    Pretty tasty for a tourist trap. One of the couples in the group wanted to eat here, so that is why we chose the place. The yelp check-in scored us some fried green tomatoes. Not that good, but hey, they were free. The hush puppies were very good, so I would maybe considering coming back here just for them. I had a special fish dish, a certain fish cooked 4 different ways. One style was so spiced I couldn't eat it, but there was so much food on my plate that it did not matter. Everyone enjoyed their food, but hey, when you fry things it can't be that bad :) What was the most enjoyable was their sugar-soap scrub I got to sample in the bathroom. They sell it in the tourist trap store when you exit the restaurant -same concept as Cracker Barrel. One of the gals purchased the sugar scrub. I would have as well, but since I flew into SC and had carry-on luggage, I did not want to mail it back to NY.

    (3)

  • Vicky D.

    This is a great place. The food is great and the price is great also. I was here about 11 years ago and it was great then and even better now. It's been a long time since I've visited my home state of South Carolina, and I really miss that southern hospitality that they have at this restaurant. Looking forward to my next visit to Hyman's.

    (5)

  • Jim B.

    Eagerly anticipated this local landmark - don't know if it was the 2 hour wait and July 3rd crowd/rush, the constant 90 decibel party seated right next to us (drunk, loud, obnoxious) or the food, but this wasn't anywhere near as good as I was hoping. We're from Hampton Roads area of Virginia and have a good idea about what constitutes great seafood - this would rate mediocre, at best. I had the shrimp and grits, deviled crab, and crab cake. The shrimp and grits were pretty good and by far the best thing I had. The deviled crab was so-so, but the crab cak was truly lacking. Our server did her best and did manage to overcome the boorish neighbors, but management did nothing to quiet them down so others could enjoy their meals. We won't be back...it's just not worth the wait.

    (3)

  • Chelsea R.

    Overated for Charleston food.

    (3)

  • Saundra J.

    Plenty of food is served with each meal!! Hyman's maybe tourist spot but you'll never leave here hungry!!!

    (5)

  • Margaret W.

    This place is definitely worth the wait. The service was great and the food was amazing! I've never had shrimp and grits that tasted so good!

    (4)

  • Wendy S.

    great service. great food. The owner even came around and introduced himself. Quite welcoming and food was well worth the wait.

    (4)

  • Dorris T.

    We arrived in Charleston, SC today at 6:30pm and checked into our hotel and went to walk a few blocks to find a place to eat. Well, after 3 blocks we came upon Hymans Seafood. It looked really inviting. I didn't realize how big the place was. They have an upstairs and that is where we sat. The place was really cute with lots of photos of movie stars and such. They have really cute little cards at the table with sayings and such on them. And in the restroom they have these salt scrubs for your hands of apple or lavender. My hands felt so soft after using them. We had a coupon for a free app of fried green tomatoes and grits. That dish was so amazing. I loved the cheesy grits. They were so creamy and delish. Then I ordered the salmon croquettes sandwich and my husband ordered the crab cake sandwich. They both came with Cole slaw and hush puppies. They were both good and the hush puppies are the best I have ever had. We also had the BEST waitress. Karly was super sweet and so attentive. She was so polite too. She took care of us like we were really special. The owner also came over and ask us how every going. We all were stuffed after eating all of the wonderful food. What a great way to start our vacation.

    (4)

  • Jason C.

    Food here is good. I enjoyed the salmon medley with a side of fries (wedge style). Food came fast and was just how I ordered it. Staff was friendly and efficient. This place was packed so I grabbed a seat at the bar. That being said come expecting to wait a little bit. I'm not sure how the table service is since I was at the bar. Overall nice experience.

    (4)

  • Thomas B.

    Just gobbled up 41 large Cajun shrimp with my lovely bride Lisa Barbarick. Not to mention the 15 Hush Puppies. Joshua provided an excellent dining experience. The entire experience was excellent.

    (5)

  • Stacy S.

    Yearly visit, never disappoints! The best service and awesome food! I love the fish and chips.

    (5)

  • Andy H.

    Amazing food!!! Drove from Charlotte just to eat here that's how great the food and service is here!! Can't wait to comeback

    (5)

  • Saniqua P.

    This place is definitely a tourist draw but with good reason so be prepared to wait! My family and I had about a 20 minute wait during lunchtime on a Saturday. We ordered the fried green tomato appetizer (which was free thanks to a Yelp check-in!) with the tomatoes being served on top of cheesy grits (which surprised us). However, the cheesy grits and fried green tomatoes make an excellent combo. The inside has a fun vibe with the tables being marked with the names of celebrities who have eaten there. We just so happened to be seated at table where Martin Sheen and Vanilla Ice once occupied. I ordered the small tossed salad with fried salmon croquettes and was pleasantly surprised to see that the salad came with peas - my favorite! The small portion is still quite hefty so if your eyes are bigger than your appetite, stick with the small portion. Very friendly waitstaff, one of the managers even made the rounds handing out vouchers to get a free magnet located in the downstairs store. FYI: the magnet is not anything to waste your time in getting.

    (4)

  • Jay B.

    This place really lived up to the hype for me. The food I ordered was fantastic, the extra stuff they give (hush puppies/boiled peanuts) were also great, and the service was exceptional. I ordered a pick three combo. It allowed me to pick any three items from a seafood list. I had the mussels, some shrimp and grits, and some crab cakes. Which was enough food but it also came with a side of fried okra. I didn't have a chance to try any desserts. There just wasn't enough room after stuffing myself with everything beforehand. I will have to come back and try again.

    (5)

  • Carlo D.

    Had the calamari po-boy, she crab soup, and flounder were all pretty good. Service was lacking today. Someone from my party ordered a burger and came really late. Plus my entree came before my soup and had to ask for water refill.

    (3)

  • Richard E.

    I love businesses that have great customer service and this is one of them. On my first visit the kitchen was slightly behind so the owner (Eli) came out to the bar area, apologized and played a little game with his patrons that awarded two t-shirts to happy guests. Unfortunately, I was not one of them but still appreciate his awareness of the situation and the manner in which it was handled. The people around me loved the interaction and gesture as well. Oh yeah, did I mention... The food was Great!

    (4)

  • Demi K.

    Southern Charms best kept secret. With a table of 13 people and everyone ordering something different, each bite promised a whirlwind of perfectly blended flavors. When introducing any visitor to charleston I would choose no other restaurant! The staff were so knowledgable and polite. Their teamwork was evident through out the entire meal and made a dinner an experience that was my favorite memory during my week long vacation to charleston South Carolina!

    (5)

  • Cory H.

    Just ate a huge BBQ shrimp Poboy. Freaking awesome!!!!! Add the Cajun mayonnaise to ANYTHING!!! Eli came by the table which was awesome as well as cousin Martin. My family's favorite place for lunch and dinner in Downtown Charleston!

    (5)

  • D K.

    We were in Charleston for my birthday and wanted to splurge on a good, local, family friendly seafood dinner for the event. Many different spots were suggested, but Hyman's was where we settled on, based on Yelp reviews and location. We were not disappointed. We got there about 4:45 to be there for an early dinner (2 young 'uns). No wait at all. We had a very nice, enthusiastic wait person- Greg- who was very good about going over the menu and specialties for us. With the Yelp app, we got a free Fried Green Tomato app to share. I had the Carolina Delight and hubby had the Crispy Flounder. The flounder was literally the size of a plate, and sliced in diamonds for easy eating. Mine was two fried grit cakes with shrimp, alfredo sauce and garlic bread. In addition we got broccoli, cole slaw and hush puppies. The Carolina Delight was delicious, but if I go again (hopefully!) I'll get the appetizer size and get a bowl of she crab soup to go with it. It was a lot of food and very rich. The kids had fried shrimp and a crabcake that were also very good. My 4 year old announced that it was my birthday so we got a piece of key lime pie to share. Yup, that was good too. As we left, there was a line on the sidewalk for a weekday evening, so I'm glad we got there early. We had time to wander up Meeting St to walk through the Circular Church Cemetery and check out the Market.

    (5)

  • Pamela M.

    This was one of many stops to dine in Charleston but this one I must say was overrated! I will say however, its appears to be quite popular and there was a line waiting to get in.....we walked right up soon after they'd opened for the day. We were greeted and seated by a front window which I always dig the window seat of patio. Our waitress was odd, she started out warm and fuzzy then her personality went limp:-(. She wasn't rude, we don't know why her fun side left us (as there were only 2 of us?) Ok so I was still kinda full from a cheese danish and latte' I'd had hours before and it was sooo hot in Charleston, it was hard to work up an appetite. I had the calamari and a broiled crabcake ( a taste of the mac-n-cheese wasn't that great, too much creamy american flavor, I like my mac-n-cheese to BITE and a bit less cheese). My friend had the shrimp & grits, collards and fried oysters. We both had coleslaw ( liked the slaw). The calamari was not fresh, nothing special, the crab cake was delicious broiled and full of chunks of crab. I like the collard greens but my friend did not and she didn't care for the shrimp and grits either.. They offer you these boiled peanuts ( which I understand to be a southern snack,.... I hate those)....I am no fan of grits. I cannot say I would recommend or return but it just seemed hyped up for its reputation

    (3)

  • Lydia K.

    Gluten free? Go elsewhere. I was here on my honeymoon in 2010. We had heard great things about this place so we decided to dine for dinner one night. I'm severely gluten sensitive and immediately explained this to the waiter. He was not very helpful. He basically told us that I didn't have any options. We would have gone elsewhere, but by the time a manager came to speak with us, it was too late to go anywhere else because other restaurants were closing. In the end, I managed to eat something really basic -- and kind of expensive, considering. It was a frustrating experience. There are a lot of amazing restaurants in Charleston. This was honestly the worst experience we had during our entire honeymoon. I would not go back.

    (2)

  • Deanie B.

    Had the fried flounder. Unreal. The best. Great service. Very organized. Will go back.

    (4)

  • James T.

    I had an overall good experience, the atmosphere is to be as expected. The service was excellent! Jessica our server was right on time. My crispy flounder was dry on bland, everyone else had a good meal. With allof the great restaurants in Charleston, I would be hard pressed to return.

    (3)

  • Daniel G.

    Good food and very good service. Somewhat of a tourist trap, but still good food. We will definitely go back simply because of the wait staff hospitality. My wife and I went to dinner with our 2 year old and a new born (first mistake!) Both children lost it right after we ordered our food. The wait staff (and us) did everything we could to make the kids happy. We ended up getting our food to go and eating it on the hotel room floor... and it was still delicious.

    (4)

  • Deb E.

    Wow. That is all I can say. Come early to grasp the menus....both if the. Our waiter was terrific. Just terrific.

    (5)

  • D B.

    Food is good and lots of it. Excellent service. There are better seafood places, but this spot is truly unique.

    (4)

  • Ron H.

    Was here 10 years ago and it was amazing. Couldn't wait to get back. Unfortunately the restaurant Has slipped immensely. I had their number one seller: the crispy flounder. I almost sent it back and I never send anything back! Something was also wrong with the sweet potato french fries. They had a funny taste. Hush puppies and coleslaw were acceptable. Ate in the bar and the bartender was attentive and did a good job. I had similar flounder at Grimaldi's in Savannah numerous times. It is outstanding. When they score the fish they do it into maybe 1/2 inch blocks. Crispy and delicious. And importantly the technique made it very easy to eat the fish. Hymens on the other hand, only scored the fish three or four times in each direction. The result was it was very difficult to eat and not the same texture. Overall I thought the restaurant was a little rundown. The waitstaff appeared young and unsophisticated. I used the men's room and when I was leaving a waitress was talking to another waitress so loud I thought she was talking to me. Extremely unprofessional,

    (2)

  • Xavier B.

    I always go to Hymen's when in Charleston because it is a local landmark and it is always great seafood and service. It's busy but always worth the wait. Get the crispy Salmon it's classic and plenty of fish.

    (4)

  • Bruce B.

    Had dinner at Hyman's last night, a Sunday in mid-November. We were seated right away, which I understand is unusual. Based on some of the reviews I read, I was concerned that the restaurant was over rated. That couldn't be further than the truth. This isn't gourmet food and white glove service, but our waitress was very attentive and the service was great. The food was very good and the portions were ginormous. It lived up to the hype and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to anyone looking for a good hearty southern style meal and a casual setting. Additional note - they don't cook with peanut oil, which was important to us because my wife is allergic to peanuts.

    (5)

  • Heather B.

    I totally don't understand the hype. First there was the wait. I bought some popcorn at the store, but it was inedible because it was so salty. I love salt, but there was no way to eat this popcorn. The decor is unattractive and the system where they run people through quickly is not welcoming, in my opinion. We were seated at a table where an air-conditioning unit was dripping on us and given napkins that were oily and brown from the bowl of boiled peanuts that had dripped on them. When we pointed this out, they did take care of it quickly, moving us to another table and bringing fresh napkins. The food is mostly fried. Unless you adore fried food, do not eat here. I had the shrimp and grits (traditional style) and it was ok. Not great. We also had fried okra which was also just so so. One of our party really wanted to eat here, but even she was disappointed. Her she-crab soup was so salty she didn't eat it. I read online that the seafood is not local and not fresh and that locals do not eat here. Oh well. Lesson learned.

    (2)

  • Carol B.

    And the hush puppies just kept coming! I think we had over a dozen of them pass through our table (we ate a couple.) I came to Hyman's because I had the crispy flounder years ago and I loved it. It was just as good this time. We had to wait 45 minutes for a table, so we sat at the bar and had a dozen oysters. Our bartender was a baby, it was his first day and it was fun watching him trying to find things. At one point he had his hands full with TV remotes, smiled and said "none of them work." We were taken to our table through a maze of old restaurant. Our table for two was tucked away in a corner. The room we were in was crazy. There was an incredibly rapid turnover. The large group of elderly people were leaving as we were beginning our meal. They were replaced by a large party of adolescents. A young lady huffed as she tried to find a table "I have no friends!" Two girls were put at a table with three of the boys and hormones steamed up from all of them. That group finished up and left (and my husband and I are not slow eaters) and was replaced by a large party of pre-adolescents. A manager stopped by and praised me and my husband for how pleasant we were being in a room full of chaos. The rest of the food was nothing special, presentation was plastic containers and paper napkins and ambiance was dingy, cribbed together, old building.

    (2)

  • Rena B.

    The waitress at the wine place next door and my daughter's friend from Chicago both recommend Hyman's so we decided to give it a try. We were told be prepared for a wait. After a carriage ride around town and some shopping in the city market, we headed to the restaurant. We were seated almost immediately. We had gotten a coupon for either the crab dip or potato soup. We went with the dip. It was pretty decent - lasted thru our first beer. We decide to do the combo platter - you have the option of choosing 3-5-7 entrees. The menus says that the 7 will feed two - it really will. We ordered the 7 items ( fish - haddock, NC shrimp and grits, traditional shrimp and grits, shrimp, scallops, mussels and calamari) and we each received a side as well as cole slaw and hush puppies. The shrimp and scallops were cooked perfectly - we tried both shrimp and grits dishes with cheese and bacon - I would recommend the NC style with the dark gravy. We didn't leave room for dessert but had a coupon for a kiddie ice cream that we could not pass up. We had the birthday cake - very very good. Well worth the price

    (4)

  • Stephen H.

    Hyman's has got to be the biggest, baddest restaurant in Charleston, just in terms of sheer volume. They do an ENORMOUS amount of marketing. They are on the maps, on ads at the airport, at the concierge desks, and when you finish your meal, they give you green stickers that say "Hyman's" on them and have you wear them around town because they tell you there is a prize truck driving around that will give you $100 if you're "caught" wearing one. Great, great marketing gimmick. Additionally, even though we had a small party of 4, one of the owners managed to make it over to our table, say hello, exchange a few words, and encourage us to wear those stickers. Had a classic southern dish here, shrimp and grits, and it was fine. Just keep in mind that when you're cooking for this many people (a lot, and there's almost always a line) it can't be high-end. It's a great, VERY touristy place to eat should you be completely out of all other options. But make sure you've tried Jestine's and Virginia's on King first.

    (3)

  • Mattie C.

    I want to complain about how this place is PACKED with tourists, but as I am from DC, I guess that would make me one of those annoying tourists as well. As hypocritical as it sounds though, I do not like the tourist frenzy around this place. When I was here, I had a meal that you really can't screw up or do wrong - a big bucket of peel-and-eat shrimp. That of course was heaven. They also have pretty big, good crab claws. Fine but overpriced drinks. This would have gotten 2 stars because I don't like the atmosphere that much but anyone that offers a shrimp bucket to me gets an A-OK. Shrimp bucket was also reasonably priced. This seems to be THE place to go in Charleston, but other than the delicious shrimp bucket (which can be gotten elsewhere) nothing seemed particularly noteworthy about it. Just an average restaurant filled with tourists.

    (3)

  • MJ S.

    Every time we walked passed this place there were people lined up waiting for a seat. You can understand why we couldn't leave Charleston without trying it out... All I can say is: Fried Goodness.... Enough said. The Buffalo shrimp are the way to go. The shrimp grits are pretty awesome. Who would have thought combining Shrimp and Grits could be so delicious? The hush puppies are fried goodness. The sweet potato casserole is creamy and delicious. The fried oysters were okay, but not my thing apparently. Know that you will not find anything healthy on this menu... Come prepared to feast on Fried Goodness....

    (3)

  • Marc W.

    I thought that this place was ok but not great. Being by myself, I grabbed a stool at the bar and ordered a soft shell crab po'boy. While I waited I ordered a decent local ale. The po'boy that I got was not the greatest. The crab was rather on the small side and just didn't have a very good taste. I'm not sure why. Perhaps it had been in a freezer for just a little too long. Nothing like what I'm used to getting when I'm in New Orleans. But the beer was good. I didn't have to wait too long. The service was friend. And I was in and out of there in a minimun of time which was important b/c I was on my way for the last ferry out to Ft. Sumter.

    (2)

  • tom j.

    Typical tourist trap. Not worth the wait in line. Over priced for what it is, and I doubt that anything is fresh. Resting on the laurels of the days of old.

    (2)

  • Bethany W.

    We go here every time we come to Charleston! Hushpuppies - ridiculous Mac and Cheese - heaven on earth Carolina Delight - salmon and grits - worth the 5 hour drive!

    (5)

  • Gary K.

    First of all, big KUDOS for having a YELP check-in offer... a FREE APPETIZER of fried green tomatoes. YAY!!! Never had them before, so FREE is always a great way to try something!! For my entree, I had the scallops, shrimp, and crab cake dinner with a side of coleslaw, hush puppies, and sweet potato souffle. All was just ok. Not much flavor... not sure if much seasoning is used... if any at all... My group was referred here from the hotel we were staying at.... I guess because we were from out of town, and they thought we would like an incredibly busy, touristy restaurant... The wait was about 45 minutes once our name was put in. You have to wait on the sidewalk outside... if it had been a warm summer day, it would have been miserable... well actually I wouldn't have waited. Once they call your party's name, they give you directions on where to go once you get inside... very confusing since the place is two stories had HUGE. Once we checked in upstairs and got to our table..... we waited forever before we were acknowledged by our server, but she did have a huge party of 15+ at the table next to us, so we understood. However, over the course of our meal, we never really had much service at all because of her big party. My water never did get refilled even after asking.... Oh well... I did understand how busy she was. However I do blame the management for not assisting her with her large and very busy section!! Hence the two stars... the food was just ok... had better... the service was.... ok... definitely had better.... I think this place is so popular as a tourist place in the old town district, that they make enough business on onetime customers, so they really don't care how good the food or service is... just my opinion based on my experience...

    (2)

  • Greg M.

    Sure, it's a bit kitschy, but the seafood is always fresh & good (love the mussels) and the service is outstanding.

    (4)

  • Shy A.

    Meh. I've experience better. That about sums up my visit here. I was suckered in by the free hush puppies at the door! Darn those hush puppies! They are so friggin good! We Sat @ same table as Neil Armstrong, Patti Labelle, The Beach Boys and Ruben Greenburg. We ordered: She crab soup-sweeter than clam chowder but better. HUGE chunks of crab which was a plus! We told our server we would be sharing the soup. She came back with the soup and only one spoon. LOL. WOW. Fried green tomato-definitely had better in my home town of Seattle @ Toulouse Petit. LOL. So much for authentic southern cooking. The problem wasn't the taste, it was the batter. It reminded me of the same batter you would use for onion rings. If I can remember, traditional fried green tom were all about seasoning the green tom, dipping in a buttermilk egg mix then using corn meal. Maybe I'm way off, but I really looked for the corn meal texture and was disappointed when I didn't get it. Crab and artichoke dip-seriously disappointing. Actually, it bordered the worst I've had anywhere. Shrimp and grits-got them traditional style. It was yummy; but you must be a grits fan to enjoy. The gravey was good as well. We drank Peach tea w/ firefly and charleston lemonade. Both highly recommended. I LOVED the spicy boiled peants on the table.wish they woud give you more than just a tiny bowl for the entire group :( The service was so-so. Our server wasn't very warm or hospitable but we saw other tables with friendly servers so maybe ours was just having an off day. But the true star to this meal were the hush puppies! YUM! Too bad they are not enough to make me want to return.

    (2)

  • Susy Y.

    Solid food, good service, a little touristy but all in all a good place for dinner with the family. The hush puppies are super yummy. The fried shrimp and the crab cakes are pretty good too. The pasta sauce isn't the greatest but then this isn't claiming to be an Italian gourmet restaurant.

    (4)

  • Chari M.

    Go for the shrimp n grits or the free fried green tomatoes! Stay as far away as you can from the fried clams n calamari! Tough and rubbery! Better at red lobster or even Howard Johnson! This place is a tourist trap deluxe! You should go to Hanks seafood just another block east and pricier but worth every penny!

    (1)

  • Franklin M.

    This place is VERY popular, with a long wait outside. I did not want to wait so I went next door to the express take out. We wanted to try out the soups so we ordered the she crab and potato soups. There are a couple of stool seats available so you can eat at the window and people watch at the same time.

    (4)

  • Jessica A.

    Yeah I know that everyone thinks Hyman's is nothing but a tourist trap but personally I have never had bad food here. Went thre Friday night for lent with the husband, Dad, and daughter. I had a 3 choice combo with scallops, Salmon, and Mussels. It cam with cole slaw (or you can upgrade for $2.50 more to a salad --- which I did) and a side (I chose a baked potato) The food was out quickly and was fresh and hot. My only beef? The manager got onto one of the waiters because he sat a group at a wrong table. If you need to do that, do it outside of the dining area next time.

    (4)

  • Patricia C.

    I came here during my birthday trip with the sole purpose of trying different foods at restaurants I discovered on Yelp. This was my first dinner in Charleston. It was only me dining so I decided to eat at a high table near bar. I was served pretty quickly. I ordered the Fried green tomatoes for my appetizer. They were decent but I have had some that were more flavorful. I ordered the fried shrimp with hush puppies for my entree. The shrimp was decent but I was expecting fresher shrimp. I grew up on seafood so I can taste the difference between fresh and frozen. The hush puppies were phenomenal! I could gave just eaten those all night. The service was great. One of the managers came over and checked on me which is always a nice touch. I was given a coupon or a free promo shirt for my birthday at their general store next door to the restaurant (dessert was an option but I was stuffed). This is a good place to try once in Charleston but I will probably not actively seek to eat here again my next trip here.

    (3)

  • Heidi A.

    It was ok, I was more impressed with all the stars pictures on the walls that had eaten here. We had flounder, fries and coleslaw and a appetizer with fried green tomatoes . Probably would try someplace else next time, not memorable

    (3)

  • Michelle B.

    The best part about this restaurant is the service and the attention to their customers. We initially sat down and experienced some dripping from the air vent above the table. We asked to move and were quickly accomodated with a new table and free appetizers. The owner and a cousin of the owner both came to our table to asked if we needed anything. When we complained that they didn't make the drink we wanted in a pitcher, the owner quickly accomodated. It is obvious that this place is popular due to their attention towards their customers. The food is good and there are a lot of choices. Great place to take a family however you want to get there before 6pm or you'll be waiting in line for a very long time.

    (3)

  • Kristen D.

    This place is resting on a history that doesn't hold true. If you like overpriced frozen fish...then head on over. The cole slaw was so wet and mushy you couldn't eat it. This place just isn't what it used to be. Which is why most of the VIP pics are from the 80s and 90s.

    (1)

  • Amy S.

    Loved it here! Visited in Oct 2011 with a large party, and we were seated within a half hour during a busy lunchtime, without a reservation. Awesome! LOVED the fried green tomatoes. Being a Yankee, I've always wanted to try them and wouldn't even think to start hunting them down in Chicago. Did NOT love dropping a bit of that delish spicy mayo dip in my décolletage, on a bright white tank top, no less! The fried okra was awesome and I had clam strips...fried of course...and learned the hard way they really do love their fried food in the South. Thankfully we did a lot of walking around post-meal to keep from falling into a food coma. The staff was super friendly (split our bill like 5 ways without complaining - thank you!), portions are obnoxiously huge. Case in point: the meals are served with bowls of cole slaw. Here I'm lucky to get it as a side (charged $ for) or a bit served in a portion cup the size of a Jell-o shot. Some will say they are not the best or to stay away because it's a tourist trap. It takes a smart establishment to cater to a group of people for any need and keep them all happy. Hyman's did a great job. I think they deserve the tourist business they get and if it's not your thing then pffffft to you, go elsewhere.

    (4)

  • Kevin G.

    Amazing service, quality and quantity of food. It cannot get better than hyman's! A who's who of celebrities have indulged themselves an you can see who sat at your table by the small plaque on each one. It took our meal a bit so they provided free hush puppies while we waited, they were phenomenal. The owner also came around and thanked everyone at each and every table in the restaurant for choosing his. He checked on how the service and food was and made it clear if anything wasn't liked let him know. He noticed one man kiddie-corner to me had a thinner fillet of paddock. He asked if he wanted a thicker one at no charge. The man said it was fine. The owner then went to the waiter and asked why he got such a thin filet, then went to speak with the chef. We stopped down at the shop afterwards and got some ice cream that was pure deliciousness. You must try it. Also, they are extremely busy so make sure you allow time or go at off-peak hours. If you are told to wait outside or it is realt long chek out the store. They also have an express location/deli next door for faster service. Everything is fresh and delicious.

    (5)

  • Scott E.

    I was there in late August 2012 and while the place isn't bad, I didn't see what all the fuss was about either. They spend a lot of effort saying what a landmark they are and I wasn't sure why. Being from NJ, maybe I don't fully get Southern cooking, but I found the greasy peanuts and hush puppies kind of gross. However, I liked the fried tomatoes. I ordered some kind of fish platter which was good, but nothing to live up to the hype. I thought the same thing about my wife's dish. The atmosphere is good for a fish place and I enjoyed seeing signs of all the famous people who have dined there. Hyman's prides themselves on service and they lived up to that claim, though perhaps TOO attentive.

    (3)

  • Sara S.

    Hyman's Seafood is obviously a very profitable tourist trap. There's something fishy about a restaurant that relies very HEAVILY on the awards they've won "#1 seafood in the SE by Southern living", "#1 Bloody Mary in the city" and they also note the celebrities that have dined there. Ok so we got trapped too... The staff there are friendly, but the service was very much a redundant spiel--and the server was constantly pushing upsell after upsell (it's not a problem to upsell, but it made the experience seem a little forced.) The food here is just OK. We got the fried calamari, which was cooked very well. A salad and the buffalo oyster po' boy. The sandwich was absolutely huge and could easily be split by two people and was smothered in cheese and onions. But the she crab soup was the worst I had, the server mentioned that a new batch was being made and it came out pretty late in the meal--it was basically warm cream with large clumps of flour and a SLIGHT taste of crab...disgusting. While we only had to wait 10minutes to sit down for lunch, I wouldn't wait around any longer, it's just not worth it.

    (2)

  • Dana J.

    Quick service! Great Hospitality! Good food! I never had fried green tomatoes and grits and my friends and I loved it. Give it a try, the best ever!

    (4)

  • Rashawn W.

    A great place to eat. The food is great and the waitstaff is friendly. I would happily recommend this restaurant to my friends. The hostess seating process is somewhat difficult because it is slightly unorganized but worth it

    (4)

  • M L.

    Over rated and a tourist trap! My breakfast that consisted of a apple stuffed french toast was much better than the raw oysters, buffalo fried oysters and shrimp po'boy we had for lunch. The shrimp po'boy lacked any flavor for being referred as creole. Buffalo fried oysters were too greasy! The only good thing I found about this restaurant was the promotional give a way cards with sayings, things to live by etc. If you are in the area, don't stop by this place, run to McDonalds instead.

    (2)

  • Rachel M.

    Their hushpuppies are the best and you can buy them at their take out window. Beyond that, the rest our meal was mediocre at best. We had the shrimp po' boy, the shrimp, scallops, and crab cake dinner, and the chicken tenders with mac n cheese. The service was indeed friendly and fast. For the money and time, I recommend going else where as many, many great options.

    (2)

  • AJ M.

    This as really good food and great service! Eat here if u get a chance! I recommend the fried shrimp and mahi mahi!

    (5)

  • Maddie O.

    Maybe I'm just used to the snarky attitude of off-duty actors that make up the majority of New York's restaurant industry, but Hyman's took "friendly service" to a new level. The two pretty girls outside beckoned us in with free hush puppies, and the smiling hostess led us to a table "Where Metallica once ate" according to the plaque. I was dead set on some Shrimp n' Grits, and being a Yankee in a foreign land, the sweetheart waitress wisely advised me to order an appetizer portion of "Carolina Style," and a side salad so I wouldn't die of a heart attack right there. I'm sure glad I opted for the smaller portion, as it is a VERY RICH dish, but I enjoyed every bite. The salad was chock full of fresh veggies and acted as a much needed palette cleanser. The Bloody Mary was one of the best I've had. Throughout our meal not one, but TWO managers came by to say hello and check in. Hyman's definitely delivered that southern hospitality that I've heard so much about!

    (4)

  • Elliott D.

    Located on Meeting Street, this restaurant is positioned near the heart of Charleston. We actually ended up going here twice because our group arrived in the city at different times. We only went the first time because someone randomly recommended it to us as we were discussing lunch walking down the street and I'm certainly glad she did. The decor of the place is pretty laid back. This is also a pretty touristy location which I say with no implied judgment as oftentimes places become tourist stops because they are popular with locals and have good food. Fortunately we did not have to wait as we were well aware of the waits that some have had to undergo. We were seated right away and were cared for by a very attentive staff. Our drinks were always filled and the menu well explained. A theme of my trip was she-crab soup and it was pretty good here. However, it had more of a generic seafood chowder taste rather than the specific taste of crab. That said, I ate the whole cup. They start out the meal with cole slaw and hush puppies. The cole slaw was a little heavy on the mayonnaise which I'm not a huge fan of so I couldn't finish it. However, the hush puppies were amazing. They were not too heavy and they had a perfect balance of cornbread. Eat them with the spicy mayonnaise and you'll love it. For my meal I had the Cajun Shrimp Po' Boy. It was delicious and I recommended it to my friend the second time we went and he similarly enjoyed it. The shrimp had a nice kick to them but were by no means overwhelming. The hoagie was nicely toasted as well. Great sandwich. For dessert I had the homemade cheese cake which was great, definitely would recommend it if you like cheese cake. The owner came around to us and thanked us for coming and was just generally a nice guy. I would definitely come back.

    (4)

  • Andrew F.

    Based upon all of the positive reviews here, I'm thinking it must have ordered the wrong thing. I grew up in Rhode Island, and had experienced many a clambake in my lifetime. When I saw the low country boil, which appeared to be just like a clambake, I was excited and ordered it. One of the challenges when you boil food is ensuring that you don't boil all the flavor out of it, this meal really had no taste, and was a far cry from what I had experienced as a kid. So I suppose the next time that I go there I'll order something different and hopefully have a similar experience as what the folks that filled out all his reviews did when they ate there. I will add that the fried green tomatoes were very good.

    (2)

  • Joanna R.

    The amber jack was so overcooked. It was so sad. I wished that I could have taken it home and cooked it myself., then it would have been delicious. The fried green tomatoes were good with the sauce they serve with it but that was it. VERY touristy. I definitely was expecting more since EVERYONE says to go here. I think it's because everyone who visits goes here only because they don't know any REAL restaurants in Charleston. Such a waste.

    (2)

  • Paula D.

    Great seafood! The building is awesome. Try to go later in the afternoon so that the lines are nonexistent. My husband and I split the three-option platter. The food is a bit pricey, but this was plenty of food for a reasonable price. We had calamari, fried clams, and chilled shrimp (sides of slaw and mac&cheese). The chilled shrimp wasn't cold enough. They also gave each table a sampler including calamari, hushpuppies, and delicious shrimp salad. The cajun mayo was awesome! They had a roving hostess who stopped by your table, very friendly. Our waitress was TERRIBLE, but the owner stopped by each table, so I was *very* impressed with that.

    (4)

  • Corey K.

    My family had dinner at Hyman's a couple months ago. The food and atmosphere were terrific. Gabrielle, Eli, Martin, & Tim made us all feel at home! I highly recommend this family establishment!

    (5)

  • Rob B.

    Sat at the bar and had great service. Ordered the deviled crab with collard greens. It was very tasty washed down with a Palmetto Pale Ale. The greens needed minimal doctoring with some pepper vinegar. The hush puppies were okay but not great.

    (4)

  • Sara D.

    Hyman's is good and deserving of it's awesome ratings and recommendation by Southern Living. It's very touristy and the food is not the best in Charleston but it's traditional fried southern seafood. I've been twice and both times had a good experience. Service is good - lots of staff always around and all friendly and quick with smiles. The last time I went I got the carolina style shrimp and grits. Not a huge fan of grits in general and am extremely picky, but the cheese sauce plus grits was pretty delicious. Super rich. And surprisingly a decent amount of shrimp in the dish. Fried Green Tomatoes are worth trying (though again not the best in Charleston). If you're touring Charleston and want a "taste" of the city, fun atmosphere, and delicious food, but don't want to spend $50 per person to feed your family lunch or dinner, this is a great choice. There is ALWAYS a wait though so be prepared!

    (4)

  • Critic E.

    This place is a joke, first I was sitting at the bar and noticed a brown waxed box that they ship oysters sitting on a counter where the bartender could grab 6 or so and shuck them. The box however had a few pieces of ice but that was it. The box of oysters was sitting at room temperature as the few ice pieces were at the bottom of the box. Now I cannot stand a warm oyster on the half shell. However, when I saw the bartender serve up a half dozen oysters he served them on ice, all the good that would do. Serving them on ice at this point is nothing but for show. Now I ordered a fish and chips and let me tell you it was so over cooked I could hardly eat it. The French fries were no different. Now any fish restaurant with any quality of cooking would never serve a dried up over cooked piece of fish that was as tough as shoe leather. Last when I was walking outside the restaurant, they have some windows so you can see the cooks in action. This is a huge turnoff as below one of the windows there was another large waxed boxed layered with different types of fish and again I saw no ice as the fish was sitting there at room temperature waiting to be picked by the cook to throw in a pan or the fryer. I was twice turned off by the lack of keeping the fish product in an ice cold environment, thus keeping the fish or shell fish in the best condition possible. Then add the over cooked fish I could not eat, and this place I would rate a "0" if I could. I further suggest you never waste a dime in this place and stay far away.

    (1)

  • Fae W.

    It's alright, customer service was really good especially the host. Gift shop service was terrible. Food was decent.

    (3)

  • S B.

    The Bloody Mary's are the best I ever had. The food was great and the waitress was wonderful. We had a party of 6 and didn't have to wait to get a table. I'll be back.

    (5)

  • Randy R.

    Pricey, but worth every penny. Excellent food and staff.

    (5)

  • Tanya R.

    Great Salmon! Best I've ever had. Nice staff and atmosphere. Even bought some of the Cajan seasoning to bring home!

    (4)

  • A L.

    Let's face it, Hyman's Seafood is not a fancy 5 star restaurant and not a place you would want to go out to on a romantic date! Yes, every tour and hotel in sight will recommend this restaurant...making you (or at least me) believe it is a high-end, top scale restaurant. In reality, Hyman's is surprisingly casual. The interior is large yet cozy - think a sports bar or the inside of Applebee's, and extremely busy and loud. The servers are very young, but friendly. Some of them look like they are in high school. I see this as more of a lunch place or maybe good for a casual dinner. There is really no need to dress up. The 4 star rating is for the delicious greasy, fatty food that is simply irresistable. I would compare it to high end fast food. The hush puppies are to die for. Be prepared for long lines, and dozens of tourists scrambling around the restaurant. This is the most touristy/gimmicky restaurant I have been to in a while. But if you come with an empty stomach and a good mood, I can't imagine you not having a good time.

    (4)

  • MomontheGo G.

    Skip it. I have no problem with a tacky tourist trap...but the food really sucked. The shrimp and grits were a joke. I wish I had taken a picture so I could compare them to the same dish at Magnolias. I read the reviews and wondered how bad could it really be....I now know.

    (2)

  • Chris R.

    Ok, so I sat at Ollie North's table - very cool. Why is it, in a famous seafood place that can tell me where every fish is from, they wont tell me where the shrimp are from? Easy, they don't want to because they are probably farm raised in Thailand. Very disappointed old restaurant whose owners decided profit was more important than integrity. All that, and then a forced disneyworld type exit through the gift shop. Seriously - WTF?

    (1)

  • Jeremy E.

    Tourist trap.

    (2)

  • Tony K.

    One word, fantastic!! Any trip to Charleston should include a meal at Hyman's. The staff are friendly and are genuinely dedicated to your having a great meal and experience. Ely Hyman himself stopped by our table and thanked us for coming. The food was excellent, including the best hush puppies my wife and I have ever had. You may have a bit of a wait to get in but all great restaurants have a wait. But trust me, the experience and the food are worth it.

    (5)

  • Rick W.

    Great food crab cakes were amazing. There was a wait, but the staff was turning over tables incredibly fast. They were also very friendly and I was talked to by three different managers throughout the visit in addition to our attentive waitress and another one who noticed our 2 yr old was getting fussy. Definitely will go next time in Charleston and will recommend to others.

    (4)

  • Andrew D.

    Wow, what an operation is all I can say. In town for my only night in Charleston and I wanted to see this place with my own eyes. At 5:30 the wait was a half hour. So we waited in the general store and then the bar until 6. This place is popular! I give this place four stars not as much for the food, but for the service, history and fairly good value. The owner, or the GM make an effort to visit every table. Even in the restroom there are signs explaining that they really want to hear if anything is not right with your meal or the service. The place seems sincere in its effort to strive for a high degree of service in an otherwise touristy, mass appeal establishment. We had Lobster Bisque which held nice size pieces of lobster, but lacked a good flavor. The hush puppies are great. We also had the Shrimp and Grits which were fair. The fried green tomatoes were OK, but I do not know if I would ever rave about that as a dish being from up North. We had the Fried Flounder with chutney which is one of their best sellers. Were were not impressed, seems that back in the day deep frying good seafood may have been more common. But nowadays it just seems like to fully deep fry good seafood zaps out the true fresh flavor. I had the All You Can Eat Shrimp and Crab. The Crab was larger then normal now crabs and it seemed fresh. The shrimp were all fresh and I tried them breaded, in Jerk, and Spicy. They were quite good. the accompaniment of red rice was dry and disappointing. Overall I like this place and although it is not fine dining seafood, it is great for a family, bug groups or tourists like ourselves.

    (4)

  • Jennifer K.

    Had really great service eating at the bar. The slaw and Gator Po Boy were very good.

    (4)

  • Victoria B.

    Highly recommend. Greeted warmly by numerous employees upon entering and on the way to our table. Generous portions. Try the hush puppies. They are hot, sweet, and crispy - just the way they should be. I had the shrimp and grits and they were the best I've ever had. That's saying a lot, because those are two of my favorite foods. The grits were the yummiest and creamiest I've ever eaten, and the shrimp was cooked to perfection.

    (5)

  • Christie B.

    We were told that this place was a must on our visit to Charleston. I completely disagree and would not recommend it. Service was awful...a bunch of teens who don't even acknowledge you or tell you if you're supposed to follow them or not. Our waitress took forever to get our drinks, we didn't get our appetizer until our meal was served, and we didn't have any silverware or napkins. Food is sub par at best. Certainly not the best that Charleston has to offer!

    (2)

  • Keith K.

    Definitely a tourist favorite but a place those in SC will visit when in Charleston. At times the waiting to be seated can be a pain but not as bad as parking is in the area. The food is good and the services has been great each time I have visited.

    (4)

  • Brian T.

    I got to try a lot of different food while at this restaurant. I got try the shrimp n' grits, fried green tomatoes, raw oysters, crispy flounder and hush puppies. Everything I had was excellent with the flounder and hush puppies being the best I have ever had. I also loved the location of Hyman's Seafood, being close to the heart of Charleston. I would advise get to Hyman's early, because it gets crowded with people lining up outside to get in.

    (5)

  • Chris D.

    By far the best crab cake and hush puppies I have ever had! Great service and atmosphere.

    (5)

  • Brooks I.

    The staff was awesome. There was a wait but that was a measure of how great the restaurant is. We hung out at the bar, had a great IPA (Thomas Creek's Extreme IPA) while waiting for out table. Once seated, our waitress was great, really friendly, helpful and funny. The owner (one of) came over to talk to us, stayed a few minutes and made sure we were taken care of which was really appreciated. Oh and the fried scallops were by far the BEST I've ever had.....hands down.

    (5)

  • Michael T.

    Oh please...Tourist trap! Leave it for the tourists. And if you are visiting from out of town, pass on this place. Everything is fried in old used oil and tastes lousy! Charleston has more to offer!

    (1)

  • Kait G.

    I was worried when I saw Hyman's stickers all over the city and all over the tourists. This sort of obnoxious self promotion usually foretells a dismal dining experience. I passed Hymans on my way to Roberts for dinner, the line to get in ran around the front and down the side of the 3 buildings of it's storefront. My thought was either the masses are insane or perhaps I was a tad critical of their overt promotion and maybe should give them a chance. The next day I went to Hymans for lunch. I ordered the Carolina Delight appetizer a lightly fried grit cake topped with shrimp, overed with a cajun alfredo sauce (awesome!) I passed on the complimentary boiled peanuts which I'm sure are good but my Yankee palate finds these a tad gross. My entree was the combo platter with Shrimp and Grits, lump crab cake, deviled crab and a side of sweet potato souffle. Everything was really good, served hot and fresh. The crab cakes contained crab! Shocker as most places give you a ton of binder with a little "show crab" on top to fool you. The sweet potatoe souffle was dessert, fab! I'd go at an off peak time to enjoy your food without a lot of noise, mayhem and waiting.

    (4)

  • Kaitlin S.

    I feel kind of bad giving Hyman's a 2, since most people probably had better experiences than I did, and it was maybe partly my fault, but allow me to explain. I was in Charleston with my boyfriend and Hyman's was recommended to us as a relatively inexpensive place to get some seafood. We'd eaten brunch around 11, so we weren't super hungry, so we decided around 2:30 or so to head over to Hyman's for a snack. I ordered the cajun shrimp with hushpuppies and she-crab soup. My boyfriend got a shrimp po'boy, and we split an order of fried green tomatoes with cajun mayo because we wanted to try them. When we started getting our food, I realized everything I had ordered was fried/high in fat. Oops. So much for that light snack. The shrimp and hushpuppies were pretty good. The fried green tomatoes were so oily that the breading fell right off. I barely ate any of the soup because it was too rich for me, especially in conjunction with the tomatoes. The shrimp po'boy was huge-- he wasn't sure how to eat it. After we ate, we were looking around in the gift shop when our gastrointestinal tracts started doing somersaults. We bolted back to our hotel room and spent the next few hours in recovery, alternating turns in the bathroom. So be careful what you eat, kids, because that's what happens when you eat too much fat/oil/grease.

    (2)

  • Joseph H.

    No! They fry everything they put out.. The boiled peanuts,cole slaw annd the hush puppies are all re-used.. The she crab soup is mainly milk.. Any time they are low on soup they just add more and more milk.. This is not traditional she crab soup! I will say this, the crispy fried flounder is pretty damn good. But if your a local(like me) its just another whole fried flounder.. Super easy to do. The majority of their fish is frozen, and their shrimp is imported. Key lime pie is pretty good though..

    (2)

  • Randolph T.

    Worth the wait? Yes, I didn't wait because I didnt get there early enough! I went to their take out express area. I ordered the spinach wrap fried scallops and fried oysters to go. The wait was 20 minutes and it is worth the wait. The fried oysters were so fresh I could kick myself for not going inside for dozen raw oysters on the half shell. The spinach wrap fried scallops were also fresh and was NOT chewy done just right! I will go back and will give my name on the waiting list to those lovey ladies! Semper Fi...

    (5)

  • Sandra M.

    This place was great! Loved the hush puppies. They were giving them out as you waited in line outside, and I think I had way more than my share. I had my hubby take some to give to me. The fish was great... The hush puupy mix in the gift shop was not as good when you made it at home. The fire alarm went off 3 times while making it.

    (4)

  • Steve W.

    All five of us loved our food, but our server had to struggle just to get to incompetent. She seemed unable to focus on what was being said, and had food brought at the wrong time, didn't refill our teas or waters, and didn't mention the specials until one of us at the table ordered one of them. The food, however, was REALLY good, which made it worth it to me. The flavors were great and the fish was cooked perfectly.

    (4)

  • Marissa F.

    I thought the food was really good, despite it being a so-called tourist trap. I have had some bad food at some of the "good" restaurants in Charleston. The Carolina shrimp and grits were delicious as were the fried green tomatoes. This is not a fancy place. The service was terrific. I would not lump this in with your typical chain tourist establishments. Touristy? yes. Worthwhile? yes. Will I visit again? yes.

    (4)

  • Tanita W.

    This is not fresh seafood. Just an ok experience.

    (2)

  • Jon S.

    Good food average price for seafood. We got fried green tomatoes, crab cake and Jambalaya. they all tasted very good. The service there was very pleasant. I would go again.

    (4)

  • Jim U.

    Hyman's is like the Carnegie Deli of Charleston. It would seem that anyone and everyone who was famous in 1980s and 1990s has paid a visit here. There are autographed plates on the walls, and the tables have little plaques indicating which celebrity has previously eaten at your very table. On our visit, we had a great little table by the window overlooking the street. It was to our liking, and apparently to Mel Gibson's as well since he too sat at that table. Additionally, there are plenty of accolades for the place from all of the usual magazines. Closer inspection though reveals that the heyday for this place was about 20 years ago given the dates of the fanfare and some of the celebrities highlighted. It is almost not possible to visit Charleston and not hear of this restaurant. Just about every tourist kiosk hands out coupons offering free crab dip here. They advertise on all of the maps too. The crab dip was really enough to get us to give it a try. We're easy. The crab dip was pretty good too. There was plenty of crab and it was flavorful too. Served up with a lot of crackers, this was a great way to start our lunch. For lunch properly, I had the "Choose 3" combo platter wherein I chose the broiled fish, hushpuppies, mac and cheese, and shrimp and grits (Carolina style). It was a definitely a mixed plate in terms of offering and quality. The shrimp and grits were quite good. The shrimp were fresh and prepared correctly, and the grits were really nicely done. The white cheese really brought it together. I also liked the hushpuppies a lot too. Great texture and flavor. The mac and cheese was just okay. It was very creamy, but it was kind of reminiscent of Velveeta, so not the best. And unfortunately, the broiled fish was downright dreadful. Advertised as one of the freshest selections, it tasted anything but. More than overcooked, it was tough and dead on arrival. For a place renowned for its seafood, this was sinful. A point of note though, my girlfriend's fried fish was considerably better. Apparently, this is how you want to order any and all seafood dishes here. It is the more popular request, and it requires less skill. The service was impeccable and included a table-side visit from one of the owners. I found this to be very thoughtful and friendly. In all, they make this a great place to have a leisurely meal. I recommend it for atmosphere. For food, you need to be careful about your selections and not set your hopes too high. It's decent and filling, but probably half as good as it used to be.

    (3)

  • Jeff W.

    Tourist spot but still has good food. My wife's pick three was good as was my Cajun shrimp. We enjoyed the fried green tomato appetizer. It's a little crowded and hectic, but worth the 35 minute wait we had for a table.

    (4)

  • Amanda R.

    This was one of my favorite restaurants when I lived in Charleston. Yes, it does get crowded with tourists, but the service and food are great.

    (4)

  • Thomas N.

    My wife and I very much enjoyed the meal. Crab cakes were quite good with large portions of crab. The cakes were moist as well. They were a bit smaller than we are used to but delicious. My seared tuna was average, nothing to write home about. The broiled flounder tasted well seasoned and was cooked to perfection. The shrimp trio appetizer was as advertised... a must!!! Definitely a recommended restaurant with only a few other seafood restaurants which I would consider better.

    (4)

  • Rodney A.

    Somewhat overrated... We went here because all the advertisement in Charleston said it was the top seafood restuarant in the Southeast. Furthermore, the menu said the flounder was the number one selling item. So that's what I ordered. The flounder was big, but I've had better tasting flounder. Definitely not the best in the southeast, and probably not even the best in Charleston. Hushpuppies were amazing, and the sides were good. I was pleased with the service as well. If you go to this restuarant with high expectations, you'll be disappointed. If you're going simply for a meal, then you'll be fine.

    (2)

  • Josh A.

    I know I'm going against what everybody tells me, especially since I am a born and bred local, but I like Hyman's. The prices are fair, especially considering it's downtown, the food is good, and the service is decent. The trick though, is that you be a local, so you skip that looooooooooong line out front. I was impressed that their red rice was actually moist, which is fairly hard to do, or so I heard. I left full and happy. What else do you want?

    (4)

  • Caroline M.

    We had dinner there last night with our 2 year old who loved their calamari (he ate half of mine). The food was very nice we had combo plates and both myself and my husband really enjoyed our meal. Nice local beer, lovely staff, and not a tourist trap at all, as the quality of the food is very good. Don't be scared by all the ads and the people with leaflets on the street, go in and have a great meal.

    (4)

  • Rayzl F.

    Overrated. Like eating in the high school cafeteria. Why do they sell sweet grass baskets from abroad when the low country folks make them right in SC?

    (1)

  • David A.

    I just saw someone review this and it reminded me of my most memorable restaurant in Charleston. WOW! The best seafood experience that I've ever had at a restaurant by far. The owner came over and introduced themself to us and asked how things were going. They had a HUGE fresh seafood menu to choose from and told us where they caught it from. The line was off the hook! Plan on waiting in line (I don't know if they take reservations). Of note, when I told the owners that I was from Boston, they said they'd associated with the Berkowitz's (Legal Seafood fame). Well, their restaurant puts them to shame. WOW! SEND ME BACK!

    (5)

  • Mary I.

    Ate two days at Hyman's for Lunch while in a continuing education Class for Real Estate. First day we had an hour for lunch, great food and service. Second day we had 45 minutes and SLOW service, never got to finish our food. I had crab cakes the first day and they were wonderful! Sweet Tea was great both days! Second Day I had steamed Mussels, ehhh and Fried Green Tomatoes, wonderful! So my opinion is most of the food is Really Good and I will go there again. I'm sure the issue we had was a one time thing on the second day. The menu was confusing to me but maybe that's just me - I was too embarrased to tell my companion eaters they seemed ok ordering. :-)

    (4)

  • Konny W.

    BEWARE!!! TOURIST TRAP!!! DON"T LOOK AT THE LINE OUTSIDE THE DOOR - THOSE PEOPLE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEY ARE GETTING INTO! My husband and I decided to give Hyman's a try since we are newbies to Charleston. We really thought the place was a JOKE! It was like elementary school cafeteria seafood. Even seafood at Apple Bees is way better. Sides were not fresh - like instant food, greens tasted like they were canned, and the fish fillets were thin and sprinkled with artificial lemon pepper seasoning - like McCormicks. Gosh, at least squeeze real lemon juice! I bet food at an old folks home taste better. We sat at Sarah Jessica and Matthew Broderick's table and afterward we felt bad for those Hollywood stars that got sucked into Hyman's. Hyman's a poor representation to the culinary delights Charleston has to offer. For Lowcountry cuisine at wonderful decent prices ($7-15) please do Charleston a favor and try: Hominy Grill Virginia's on King Josephines Fleet Landing There are other fabulous places as well. Make sure you ask a Charlestonian that actually appreciates cuisine and please don't read other reviews by tourists. Also avoid the Noisy Osyter! Tourist trap! Ciao Ciao

    (1)

  • Brad W.

    Great experience! The bartender was very helpful answering questions about the menu and serving drinks. Only waited about twenty minutes and the wait was worth it. Our server was friendly and prompt. While waiting for our food, the owner, Eli, stopped at our tabled and chatted with us. Soon after, a complimentary plate of fried green tomatoes and grits arrived at our table!! The entree was tasty and filling. Would go back again.

    (5)

  • Pegah M.

    Amazing food, outstanding service and hospitality, and overall, a great experience. No wonder why they are so successful. The wait for 3 was a bout 10-20 minutes, but while we waited, the hostess came around with warm hush puppies that were fresh and just tasted amazing. When we sat down, the waitress was very friendly. They brought us out a complimentary appetizer and lots of hush puppies. I ordered the Spicy Shrimp with sweet potato fries and really enjoyed my experience there. We will definitely come back when we are in Charleston.

    (5)

  • ng g.

    The food was really delicious. The staff also was very good. The day we went they were serving a new appetizer (i forgot what it was called)on the house. It had grits and roasted tomatoes i think and cheese. It was so good that after finishing our main course we ordered for this appetizer, and it was awesome.

    (4)

  • Marlow L.

    I was absolutely impressed with the food and the service. Bought the pick seven. Everything was tasteful. Even the manager came and thanked us. I felt like a valued customer.

    (5)

  • Peggy A.

    The Boiled peanuts as the free appetizer were great. After that it was pretty much down hill. My husband, son and I ate there at around closing time and we got closing time food and closing time service. My fried shrimp Poboys was loaded with limp damp fried shrimp on top of tomato that was probably sliced for lunch. My husband had the Carolina shrimp and grits. They bowl was loaded, but basically it was an ocean of sauce without much flavor. My sons chicken tenders were over cooked. I guess they tried to compensate by giving him so many. I had eaten half my shrimp by the time our waitress brought the Texas Pete instead of Tabasco. I am from New Orleans don't give me Texas Pete that is made in Pennsylvania. It was the end of our meal before she filled our drink glasses She was quite perky but slow on service. Oh and the ladies room needed cleaning. I hope I can remember to not eat here when we visit Charleston in the future. I would have given it 1 star but I liked the warm boiled peanuts.

    (2)

  • John J.

    Tourist trap. Greasy food. Owner was friendly though.

    (1)

  • Hoss M.

    Great food and people watching here. Can't wait to get back to Charleston,SC!

    (5)

  • Michelle M.

    Delicious everything! Not a fan of boiled peanuts, but the ambiance was very cool. Food was amazing. We had the salmon salad, swordfish and shrimp alfredo. A must when in Charleston!

    (5)

  • A X.

    My boyfriend Stanley and I came across this restaurant recommended by a friend of mine. This place serves yummy and good foods. We both got the regular combo platter where you can choose 3,4 or 5 items off the menu to meet your appetite: Stanley got shrimps, scallops, and flounder with a hint of cajun. I had the crab cake, fried calamaries, and Carolina's grit with shrimps. Our meals were delicious! We got free crab dip and the drip was alright. I also love their bloody mary drink! You must try it when you ever visit Charleston, SC. The restaurant can be LOUD with music and people talking!

    (4)

  • Cicily H.

    After doing a little research on Yelp we decided to hit Hyman's for lunch instead of dinner and didn't have to wait for a table. Good idea since we were both starving. We got the free crab dip appetizer which was awesome. The menu is pretty overwhelming for a first timer. After trying to figure it all out I just asked our waiter what he recommended. I forget his name but he was fantastic! I got the swordfish (lightly cajun), crab cake, and I forget what else but everything was great. The swordfish was my favorite though. I LOVED the hushpuppies. By far the best hushpuppies i have ever had. The owner came around to talk to everyone and make sure everything was great and it was fun to sit at the same table as Neil Armstrong and Gladys Knight. My only complaint was that you had to have each of your items prepared the same way like if one of your pick three was fried then all three things had to be fried. Since I don't eat fried food this meant me and the bf couldn't save a few dollars by getting the pick 7.

    (5)

  • Steve T.

    Being new to Charleston, I decided to give Hyman's a try during restaurant week. The wait was about 20 minutes which in my opinion is not too bad for a Friday night. The service was also slow but it could have just been a busy night. They start you out with lots of hush puppy's which are good but nothing to get overly excited about. The she crab soup was good but I have found much better elsewhere. I have the whole flounder which is dipped in batter and fried. I have to say it was pretty cool but picking the meat off the bone got a little old after awhile. I had the brownie Sunday for dessert and that was probably the highlight of the meal. In all, the food was okay but Hyman's in reality is a tourist trap. There are so many other good restaurants in the area. The thing that really soured me was that you have to go through the gift shop to get out of the restaurant. The last time I was at a restaurant with a gift shop was my last stop at Cracker Barrel. Give it a try if you want but there is much better around.

    (3)

  • Louie N.

    The hype is true... One of the beat seafood restaurant in Charleston. Very casual and busy but worth it. Recommend you have an early or late dinner because this place can get packed and the wait can be long. Do bring you appetite because the food is real good and you want to have enough room to enjoy it all.

    (5)

  • Cheryl M.

    We went to Charleston for the weekend. We spotted the long line of people from down the street and decide to dine there. The food was FABULOUS! We tried the crab cakes...Out of this world! 2 perfectly prepared cakes of Lump crab meat. No fillers. Hushpuppies were crispy outside, warm and moist inside and seasoned to perfection. Definitely coming back.

    (4)

  • JENNIFER W.

    Before our entrees came we had already eaten boiled peanuts, crab dip (free coupon from our hotel), hush puppies (YUM!), and a complimentary fried green tomato over cheesy grits appetizer. I could have left at that point....but we still ate our entrees! The crispy flounder was awesome-but it is a WHOLE fish! I had the swordfish which was good, but my husband's flounder was better! Decor is photos and paraphernalia of famous people who have eaten there. Delightfully tacky.

    (5)

  • Zach B.

    Good, middle of the road seafood joint. Had a great seared flounder plate.

    (3)

  • Joel C.

    As Maria, David and I were walking around the Green Market at the park, we were getting hungry! As Maria was buying a pint of fresh homemade pickles she asked the lady of any recommendations on where to eat. The pickle lady told us to check out Hyman's on Meeting Street. It wasn't very hard to find and it was super busy! It was really interesting how the restaurant itself is not one big establishment, but each entrance has its own kitchen slash dining area which is only accessible via outside. We had a good 20 min wait and decided to hang out at the bar. All I have to say is Charleston...thank you for Sweet Tea Vodka! It was amazing with lemonade and tasted just like canned Nestea! We finally got a table and checked out the menu. There are lots of options available as well as a fish board on today's catch. David ordered the Mahi-Mahi Po Boy on a wrap, Maria ordered the Fried Shrimp Po Boy on a wrap and I got the Buffalo Shrimp Po Boy. We also started off with boiled peanuts and fried calamari. The calamari wasn't bad...the rings are definitely a bit larger than what I am use to. I avoided the boiled peanuts, since I've never like them as a child and still do not like them today; although David and Maria were all about the Southern edamame! Our food came out and it was good! I liked that the shrimp was not overly breaded. The wedge french fries were amazing and I think I just discovered the best hush puppies in the U.S.! The Lobster-Bisque soup was OK...just wish they had some Clam Chowder in this town! Best part of the meal...was when Rita the Greetah stopped by to say hello and welcome us to Charleston. She gave us stickers to wear around and we liked her so much that we had to have a picture with her! Seriously, she was so adorable...I wanted to take her home! Overall a fun place to check out if you have never been. Yeah it could be a bit touristy but that's part of the fun. I mean who can resist sitting at the same table Bob Villa sat at when he last visited Hyman's...ha!

    (4)

  • Chris B.

    This place is for tourists who don't know anybody in the city to tell them that it's crap. Take it from a Charlestonian...there is better seafood at Captain D's...

    (1)

  • La'Von F.

    Hyman's is one of the best family-friendly restaurants that I've ever eaten at. For starters, the customer service there is great! Very friendly wait staff & one of the managers came over to our table (as well as several others ) to check out our dining experience. He gave my kids coupons for free homemade ice cream that they could get on the way out in the shoppe downstairs. I must say that was some of the tastiest strawberry ice cream ever!!! Like some of the other reviews, Hyman's does have a bit of a touristy atmosphere.....but who cares? If you're just visiting the Charleston area for the 1st or 2nd time primarily for leisure, then you really are a tourist! It was definitely busy when we went to Hyman's for lunch in Aug. 2012, but our wait was relatively short since we were there mid-day on a Sat. We ordered the salmon w/grit cakes & cheesy white sauce, a side of collards, cole slaw, garlic toast with sweet tea done right & loads of the best hush puppies ever!!! The portion sizes were large......so we had enough left over for dinner that evening & lunch the next day! While there are definitely several worthwhile restaurant options in the Charleston area, I highly recommend checking out Hyman's! You may want to go earlier to avoid extra long wait times though.

    (5)

  • Stephen C.

    Good value for money. I liked the buffalo oysters. Flounder was big for $17 but taste was quite ordinary.

    (4)

  • Mary L.

    What can I say but WOW! These hush puppies rock! Make sure you get there early as it is 1st come, 1st served. Our party of 4 had fried shrimp (just OK), fried lump crab cakes (outstanding) and 2 had fish and chips (to die for). Check your table to see who else has sat there. We had Hulk Hogan's seat among others. I would definitely come here again.

    (4)

  • Whitney L.

    The only good soup is the okra stew. Don't try the lobster bisque or she crab soups. You will be disappointed. I tried them both on takeout orders on separate occasions and they were both so saltly I had to throw them away.

    (2)

  • Kinda Invisible S.

    So not worth the wait and way over-priced. Food was very disappointing. How can you ruin fish and chips if you're a seafood restaurant? Too much of a legend that doesn't deliver on its reputation.

    (2)

  • Lance R.

    Had a great experience. Best Po Boy we have ever had. Lightly breaded shrimp and the bread was not too thick. You might have a wait to get in and it gets pretty crowded. Overall we would certainly return.

    (5)

  • Louise M.

    Every time I visit Charleston (I live 3 hours away) I make a point of going to Hymans, for the experience more than the food! It's like a tradition with me. Yes, it's touristy and there's always a wait for seating, but the service is good, food is good enough and Eli will stop by and chat! High entertainment value, boiled peanuts are addictive, and they raise a hell of a lot of money for local charities!

    (4)

  • Dan A.

    I was a bit apprehensive after reading the "tourist trap" reviews. We got the free crab dip - a bit too creamy for my tastes...but hey it was free! The kids had the calamari. Perfectly cooked though batter and marinara was bland. Still, considering how rare it is to find a place that doesn't overcook calamari to rubberiness, I viewed this as a strong positive. Hush puppies were fantastic fried heaven (100% soybean oil but I am not sure how much better it is for you). Especially good with the Cajun mayo. I had the lobster bisque (yum) and my wife the she crab soup (yum but I preferred the bisque). In case anyone doesn't feel like the fried fish specialties, ask for the menu from Aaron's Deli, from which you can also order. The best Reuben I have had in years. Perfectly prepared. My wife had a turkey sandwich but based upon the stolen bites of my sandwich she also thought the reuben was quite delicious. No beers are available on tap, but if you are from outside of the area I suggest one of the Palmetto locally brewed options that are not commonly found elsewhere (my pick is the porter brewed with coffee). Finally, the service was superb from the start through the end, and included a visit by one of the family owners. If you've not been before I'd recommend a visit to Hyman's.

    (3)

  • Melissa R.

    Yes, it's tourist trappy but the crispy scored flounder is delicious and it's a fun place to take kids! They get free ice cream on the way out. You will not leave hungry and the boiled peanuts are great! Eli Hyman the Jewish cowboy is always on the scene visiting every table, nice touch! If you return he will remember you and take time to chat. It's not fine dining but it's fun! Try the fried pickles!

    (4)

  • Kenneth W.

    Very dissapointed in his place. Too gimicky. Food was overcooked and nothing special. Service wws the only plus. I definitely recommend somewhere else.

    (2)

  • Nikki B.

    I LOVE HYMAN'S!!! This is one of the places that I have to visit every time I come to Charleston. The crispy flounder is a beast and is very filling! So are the hush puppies.

    (5)

  • Joseph L.

    Its good. Not outstanding, as might be the feeling one would get reading about this place. The price was fair. Portions could have been a little larger. Overall, a good experience.

    (4)

  • Wes G.

    Just a great place to eat. The seafood is excellent and the atmosphere just tops it off. You are definitely paying for the name to a degree. However, food is excellent and Rusty was very nice. It is definitely a "must go" place in Charleston.

    (5)

  • Heather S.

    The food is good. I had the fried shrimp. Sweet tea was good. Place is low key and apparently has a crazy wait most of the time, but we went early (5) and were seated right away. There are probably better options for seafood in Charleston, but this was close to our hotel and it looked like it was going to rain like crazy (which it did).

    (3)

  • Mercedes G.

    It was ok

    (3)

  • Terry V.

    Worst meal so far in Charleston. In fact the whole experience was lousy, from the off duty hostess with a macdonalds cup in her hand greeting us at the door and telling us to stand outside in the rain to await a table, in spite of the place being almost empty. Then we were sent alone upstairs with a table number to try to figure out where we were supposed to sit. The menu, in addition to having some political middle eastern manifesto penned by the owner, was over loaded with options. The shrimp po boy was completely tasteless. The waiter was somewhere in space as he took our order. He completely forgot to bring the mac and cheese, he brought the fried pickles when we were almost finished eating, rather than as the appetizer we ordered. We were brought two free appetizers that we had no desire to eat and left untouched on the table. I told the waiter I could not eat cole slaw, and was told there are no substitutions allowed. And then the waiter proceeded to bring a bowl of cole slaw and drop it under my nose; not even with the sandwich, but up front as an appetizer.The maze to exit wasn't helped, as worker after worker stood in our way conversing with one another and ignoring us, and that was after waiting twenty minutes to get our check, causing us to be late to our next venture. The owner stopped by our table to say hello shortly after we arrived. Seems like a nice guy, but clearly he is responsible for his completely inept staff. I am visiting Charleston for a month and live right around the corner. I could have been a regular. Instead I will never go there again, and tell everyone that asks how ridiculously awful this place is.

    (1)

  • Paul C.

    Totally overrated and not worth the wait. A great place for tourists that don't know what good seafood is.

    (1)

  • Rob L.

    Hyman's Seafood is an amazing restaurant with phenomenal service. Stephanie behind the bar is super cool and both Cass and Max (managers) checked on us to make sure all was good. As a "foodie" traveling the county trying one restaurant after another, I highly recommend this place. Not "touristy" at all, and a very cool place to hang out! A "must visit" place!!

    (5)

  • Amy G.

    No! No! No! Ewe. Ewe. Ewe. This place is the biggest fried-food, gimmicky tourist trap in that city. Gross. After eating here (I got the crab cakes), I felt disgusting. Like a gigantic, walking fried crab cake. Not a good feeling. None of the food was over-the-top yummy to me. You could get the same stuff at Red Lobster. As for the decor, all of the celebrity crap hung on the walls and nailed onto the tables is a bit tired. Also, the manager who walked around, introducing herself to guests and encouraging them to wear this dumb sticker (because if you get caught wearing it on the street, you get a $25 gift card!!!) was just rude, I thought. Yeah, I'm here at your restaurant, but I don't want to walk around all day, giving you free advertising. No! Bad taste, Hyman's. What's equally tacky is that they have you walk through their general store to exit. You're refused if you attempt to exit the way you came in -- through the front doors. But wait! There's more! If you spend at least $30 on your meal, you can get a Hyman's t-shirt for $4! Wow! Taste. Less. This restaurant does not live up to the authentic southern soulful seafood family spot that's been described on here. Hyman's, I know you've got some stiff competition in that city. My advice? If you want to live up to your supposed southern charm, drop the ad campaigns and up the sincere authenticity.

    (2)

  • Stefan S.

    By far some of the best seafood I've ever had plus a friendly and knowledgable waiter (Henry) and Manager (Corky) made this meal a memorable one. And to top it off the owner Brad stopped by to see how we were doing. You can't beat that!!! The food is AMAZING!!!! We had a variety of dishes and we weren't disappointed. Plus after dinner go to the general store and have the chocolate ice cream, it was smooth and creamy, YUMMMMMMY...

    (5)

  • Shannon A.

    The best seafood I've had in Charleston!

    (5)

  • Edi R.

    Touristy - locals make fun of the people in line.

    (1)

  • Erik W.

    I found that Hyman's food definitely contests its label as a "Tourist Trap." I think "Tourist Attraction" is a better term. This is a huge restaurant located in downtown Charleston, that makes delicious seafood, obviously there are going to be tourists there! I would definitely recommend going outside of typical dining hours if you want to avoid a wait, this is definitely part of the reason I had such a good experience -- our group of 7 went for lunch at 4 at were seated almost immediately. I won't go into great detail about the food, suffice it to say all the dishes I tried in our group were well worth the money.

    (4)

  • Stephen H.

    I ended up getting the the crab cakes which were pretty darn good. I actually think they were the best I've ever had, but then again I'm from the Midwest. Although, most of the seafood I get there is still fresh caught... in the Sea of China... Which I'll buy from Walmart a few months later.

    (4)

  • Matt R.

    2nd time I've been here, and another great meal. I think the perfect spot to bring someone for a taste of Charleston. Reasonable price and tons of food (cole slaw, hush puppies, boiled peanuts, all a part of most entrees). Lump crab cakes are great, and they are big pieces of crab inside. The Carolina Shrimp and Grits are delicious and very rich with the cheese sauce drizzled on top, but worthy of a "splurge".

    (5)

  • Marie R.

    This place was a pleasant surprise. I didn't think it would be good given it's right in the heart of tourist central - however, we ended up hitting it 4 times in our 5 day visit! Fabulous oysters shucked right in front of you complemented perfectly by the bloody marys. Hush puppies were the best I've had. She-crab soup was OK. Fried green tomatoes on grits - OMG heaven! Sit at the bar so you don't have to wait in line for a table.

    (5)

  • Kathy P.

    As a little girl growing up in the Deep South, I was immersed in the best, down home food in the world. Which I refused to eat. Mom and Dad would take out the kids for barbeque and seafood, and I would feast on white rice, pickles, and sweet tea. Oh, regrets. I have a few. Luckily, I had a chance to make up for my past indiscretions, and Hyman's was an excellent place to start. It is definitely touristy, and you will encounter a wait. But the line moves quickly and the food is worth it. A third generation, family-owned business, you can tell Hyman's takes pride in its food, further evidenced when one of the owners stopped by our table, just to make sure everything was OK. I started off with the bloody mary, which was perfect, packing just the right punch. The presentation was beautiful, all pickly and peppery. Next was the crab dip, which was OK, but I would skip it next time to save room for the REALLY good stuff, like the she crab soup, which is a Charleston specialty and one of Hyman's claims to fame. Have you ever imagined drinking velvet? Imagine no more! This creamy soup with its chunks of melt-in-your-mouth crab and potatoes warms your palate and your heart. For the main course, I had the stuffed grouper Cajun style per the waiter's recommendation. Being from the Midwest, fresh fish is always a treat, and this one was practically flopping around on my plate. The mac and cheese was smooth and creamy, and made me wonder (and appreciate!) how much butter this place goes through in a day. Moms opted for the pick-three sample platter, and selected the crab cake, calamari, and barbequed shrimp. Out of the three, the calamari was the clear winner - hands down the best I have ever tasted. It was fried, but not at all greasy, and the squid was superb. That's right - SUPERB. It melted in your mouth and tasted like actual fish instead of the rubbery stuff you usually get in restaurants. It required minimal chewing and maximum sighs of contentment. The sweet potato soufflé was a swirled delight, and the hush puppies were battered balls of goodness. Try as we might, we couldn't finish our enormous meals. But it tasted even better the next day. So go to Hyman's. Buy a t-shirt. Bring me back a hush puppy.

    (4)

  • Whit R.

    Go somewhere else for seafood while in Charleston. Hyman's is the most over-rated restaurant in town. They bribe Southern Living magazine to call them "Best Seafood in Charleston" and they keep dining rooms closed to force a crowd to form outside. There are SO many other places to go for tasty seafood that are better, and not nearly as crowded.

    (2)

  • Johnny L.

    Went to Hyman's while vacationing in the area. I had done some prior sleuthing and came upon the steps of this establishment based upon other reviews, etc. I was not disappointed. The atmosphere is not romantic, so, don't even attempt to use it as such. What they do have is great hush puppies and great fresh fish. I had the blackened catfish with some sides that were good but now escape me. Service was fast and efficient, though, the only gripe I have is that they brought my Manhattan over instead of up - not a big deal at all. Very friendly, very welcoming, I would recommend.

    (4)

  • Benjamin S.

    Just had my third meal here. Yes, it is a tourist trap. Yes, it has crowds. Yes, it lives up to the hype. I've always enjoyed good meals here. This time I got a new item at Hyman's, the fish kabobs with Haddock. I had mine seasoned with Cajun spices. It was delicious with just a hint of a kick. The haddock was firm and fresh. My parents got the 5 item choose-your-own to share. This is a great way to go since you get to experience a little of everything. The portions on that are very generous. They say the 7 item feeds 2 people but the 5 item was perfect for them (and a great deal $). They chose PEI mussels, cajun mahi mahi, BBQ shrimp, crab cake, and scallops. The service has always been excellent here and this time was no exception. The bottom line is that I know there must be scads of wonderful restaurants in Charleston to try out, but I still find myself back at Hyman's.

    (4)

  • Jen S.

    Had the shrimp Po' boy. It was WAY TOO BIG!!! Also, covered with way too much greasy cheddar cheese. Would have been better with a much lighter dusting of Parm. My ceasar salad was good, but that's no accomplishment.

    (2)

  • Mike K.

    Although some reviews of this place paint it as a tourist trap, I thought it was pretty damn good. The menu was huge and full of local seafood specialties. In fact, everything looked so good, we got way too much to eat. The steamed oysters were fresh, clean, and delicious. The crispy flounder was served headless but otherwise whole, cross-cut and fried (much like the snapper at Chicago's Barco Marisco and Marisco Venenos). It was fresh, moist, and delicious. The sides, especially the hushpuppies and slaw were incredible. The owner, Eli Hyman, was making the rounds while we were eating. He seemed genuinely concerned about making sure everyone was happy and satisfied. This restaurant is quite an enterprise, and obviously hugely successful for an independent joint. Luckily, the food passed the test with flying colors.

    (4)

  • Roxanna M.

    YUCK! I am a local but had some family from out of town come to Charleston and they really wanted to try Hyman's as they had seen the ads around town. Wow am I glad I've only had to go once. The seafood seemed frozen and poor quality, we had to wait, and the tables are packed in this place like no bodies business. There are so many great seafood spots in Charleston and this is NOT one of them!

    (1)

  • Evghenii A.

    Ordered a drink at the bar and it was really a splash or a taste of a drink. Said so to a bartender and she looked at me like I am asking for a piece of gold from her. Food is no good. Skip it. There are so many other great places in Charleston. This one is a tourist trap.

    (1)

  • Sarah E.

    I am not a Charleston local, so feel free to take this review with a grain of salt. My husband and I were out shopping on Upper King Street and realized that it was after 2 pm and we still hadn't had lunch. We asked a cashier at whatever store we were in at that moment what would be a good lunch place to check out and she recommended Hyman's. When we got there, there was no wait. Considering the fact that there were signs from the restaurant owners listing other recommended restaurants in case there was more than a 90-minute wait, I figured this was a pretty lucky break. We were seated immediately, and had fast and generally pleasant and awesome service. The first thing I loved about Hyman's was the "Attitude" essay posted on the inside of every bathroom door. For those not familiar with this essay, here is a link: hymanseafood.com/attitud… The tables featured business cards with jokes, opinion pieces, and other quirky and interesting things to read. My husband and I had a lot of fun reading the "Promises For Marriage" and circling which ones we actually did for each other. I had the she-crab soup, which was really freaking good. My husband also had soup that he liked, although I can't remember what it was. We ordered a fried green tomato appetizer that was quite tasty. As an entree, we both had the fresh seafood of the day (I believe it was tuna) and had no complaints. I am not even a big fan of hush puppies, but theirs were SO GOOD. Overall, the atmosphere of this place alone made it worth visiting. And the she-crab soup and hush puppies are phenomenal.

    (5)

  • Smitcha B.

    Busy, busy, and busy! That's all I can say about this place everytime I'm in this area. We made reservations for 20 people and they accomodated us by place us upstairs on two seperate tables. They're all about promotions and word of mouth. I think everyone knows Hyman's because of what someone else told them about this place. The food was not bad. It wasn't the best seafood ever, but I did enjoy it. I really did like their hush puppies and sweet potato souffle. They also gave us complimentary appetizer crab dip with crackers which were really tasty. Anyhow, if you're ever in the area, I would recommend you coming to Hyman's just so that you can say you've ate at this place in Charleston, SC. With my dinner receipt, I went to their souvenir store downstairs and grabbed a $4 white t-shirt with their name on it just to be a tourist.

    (4)

  • Rita A.

    I had grilled shrimp, shrimp scampi, baked sweet potato, hush puppies everything was very good.

    (3)

  • Marquesa O.

    After being a 3 year resident of Charleston having had explored other seafood venues.....im going to redact my previous rating and kick it back to a 3. Coast is wayyy better, and so is Fleet Landing and Hanks. If you hate crowds, go on a Mon-Tues-or Wed.

    (3)

  • Michael C.

    This is a MUST STOP when you visit Charleston. Seriously, they have amazing seafood and at a VERY reasonable price - try the crab cakes. The staff are clearly happy to be here. Celebrity names are tacked onto every table and the history of the place in itself is fascinating. Expect to wait up to an hour to get a table - have a bloody mary or three at the bar while you wait.

    (5)

  • Paul G.

    If you are looking for the Old South Lowcountry experience there are a dozen high dollar places in Charleston that will serve you shrimp and grits or she crab soup, oyster pie and grilled sea bass. If you want Mobil 5 Star and care about who it sitting at the next table, then go to Charleston Place, Carolina's or High Cotton. If you want good seafood reasonably priced (big po boy sandwiches are $10-$13) then go to Hyman's. I could care less about how they advertise. You can go in there with flip flops and a t-shirt and no one will notice. They give you free boiled peanuts (hip places in Atlanta charge $3.50 for what Hyman's gives you for free), and the menu is huge. Don't spend $30 per person for the massive dinner specials, stick to the po boys and flounder and you will love the place. Sure it's fried, but that's what they do best. I've been there half a dozen times and never had a bad meal. If they bring you something you don't like, talk to one of the roving managers/family members, they'll make it right. I don't get the "its too touristy" bit. The good food is what keeps me coming back. Lots to choose from in Charleston and Hyman's is a must try. Decide for yourself.

    (4)

  • Richard N.

    We love to visit Charleston whenever traveling between Virginia and Florida. One of the highlights is a meal at Hyman's Seafood Restaurant. Today's visit was the best ever! Food was awesome and the service equally great. Our server, Ashley, was helpful, friendly and made us feel extra special. A friendly visit to our table from owner,Eli, made us feel very welcomed. This is one restaurant that really strives to achieve a continuously higher level of excellence.

    (5)

  • Steve B.

    Total tourist trap. They restrict access to make it look like it is full. Fish was chewy and overseasoned. There are much better places than this.

    (1)

  • Josh H.

    I was initially a bit hesitant about eating here- every other review that discusses the fact this place is a tourist trap is dead on. However, if that many people eat there they must be doing something right, right? So, the food is nothing special, and that's not a knock. Both meals I had here were prepared just as I expected them to be. Given the level of culinary disaster that many seafood places stoop to in order to seem distinctive, having an oyster po' boy that tastes like an oyster po' boy is to me a sign of a restaurant that is confident enough to prepare common dishes as they should be done. Often less is more when it comes to seafood, which Hyman's seems to know. What put them up to a four star for me was the service. Both servers I had were knowledgeable and pleasant. At both meals, one of the co-owners came over to chat and sincerely thanked us for our business. Hokey or not, it worked on me.

    (4)

  • Erin A.

    Hyman's had wonderful service. The owner came to our table of 11 and was very sweet and humble. The gift shop was so fun and the salt scrub was so excellent I bought a jar. Coming all the way from Texas this was a place worth visiting again in Charleston (though, the whole city is amazing!). I am not a seafood person so I would have liked to seen more non seafood options (Im allergic to beef so some options weren't possible). However, they had a superb gluten free menu. It had many more choices than most gf menus. Overall, great experience!

    (4)

  • Sharon M.

    We were visiting from California and this was our first meal in Charleston. Lunch was pretty disappointing. We asked lots of questions about menu items, but our server knew nothing about any dish, just said everything was good. The service was terrible, more like a "tag team" effort from anyone we could grab. The "she-crab soup" was more like a very thick sauce and really overpowering. Our appetizer arrived after the entree. The seafood was just OK. Many things tasted like they had been frozen so we were not impressed. The big signs in the downtown area directing you to "Charleston's Best Seafood" were wrong.

    (2)

  • Scott M.

    Carolina delight was really good

    (3)

  • Kathleen M.

    Typical touristy place in the heart of the historic district of Charleston. This place is HUGE, with a really weird seating concept. When you come in, the host downstairs looks at a camera feed and decides where to seat you. Then they send you upstairs and you tell the second group of hosts your table number. It's all a little funny. The menu is typical of a casual seafood spot: lots of different options, all of it available fried. The po-boy was a little substandard: the shrimp was good but there was no sauce of any kind (I like a little cajun mayo or tartar... something!) and impossible to eat as a sandwich. You had to fork and knife it. Service was friendly and quick. It's a far cry from quality dining and I understand why no local would be caught dead in here. Any place that puts celebrity plaques on their tables and autographed plates on the wall usually isn't worth it. There's a weird little general store where you can pick up a tshirt, rock candy, and a hermit crab.

    (2)

  • Eileen L.

    Fun, perky, a little bit sassy - and soooooooo much food! We hadn't been in town long enough to know we should share some things - & it was so hard to leave food behind. Shrimp & grits to show you why they are popular, the best hush puppies & fish I had never heard of. A visit from the owner, the manager and several others just to make sure we were happy. I only wish we had time to visit again.

    (4)

  • Amanda H.

    Must eat place! Yes, it is a tourist spot, but a good one. The hush puppies are so yummy! Delicious she-crab soup and the Carolina shrimp and grits are very tasty! Depending on the time of day you might find a long line, but they seem efficient. Check out the cute cards on the table and afterwards the gift shop. Things to note: there are rockers out front for you to sit while you wait. Also an elevator for those who need it.

    (4)

  • Johnny C.

    Don't waste your time here! Came here on vacation with a big group and waited almost 2 hours only to be seated at separate tables (they could have easily pushed the tables together). The hostess that seated us had an attitude problem and pretty much threw the menus at us. Food wasn't even close to par and the service was less than ideal. I ended up having to go and find silverware and napkins myself due to the staff's lack of haste and incompetence. We didn't get our appetizers till we were almost done with our entrees. Half of our dishes were wrong and the other half had missing components. I certainly will not be coming back here and I suggest you find another restaurant to eat at.

    (1)

  • Jessica B.

    I will just save you the hassle of looking for a place to eat...You've found it at Hyman's Seafood!! This is our family's Absolute FAVORITE place to eat!! I find myself dreaming about it throughout the year! The food is always fantastic, fresh and delicious!! We recently returned from Charleston and some friends convinced us to try another seafood place near Marion square...What a flop!! Never again!! So the next night we went back to "Old Faithful" and were SO happy!! Excellent service! The fish was great, the hush puppies to die for...the Carolina Delight was a complimentary appetizer thanks to Foursquare and was the Best!!! I could go on and on, but you just need to try it for yourself!! I LOVE this family run business and appreciate how hard they strive to be number 1!! We will continue to look forward to visiting Hyman's Every time we return to Beautiful Charleston!! Keep up the good work!!!!

    (5)

  • David K.

    I visited Hymans in June 2010 during a vacation in the Charleston area. It was recommended to me by a friend and I was not disappointed. My wife, who does not like seafood, loved the crab dip. I ordered the five item seafood feast and everything was good and tasty, especially the shrimp and grits. The staff was exceptionally friendly and helpful and the general store was well stocked with reasonable prices. I would definitely go there again!

    (4)

  • Carpe D.

    I believe with all the hype around this place it is hard to rate it objectively, as I told my dinner mates you expect something extraordinary when you walk in, and even if everything was in fact excellent it still feels kind of like its falling short of your expectations. The food was good, fresh and prepared within reasonable amount of time. Service was friendly, and hostess came up to our table specifically to make sure we were satisfied. The place is a bit crowded and noisy however, do not expect a quiet relaxing dinner in this place, it is very much like a bar atmosphere.

    (5)

  • Mark M.

    STAY AWAY!!! STAY AWAY!!! STAY AWAY!!!!! This was absolutely the WORST seafood I have ever had in my life. The trouble began when the waitress at the door told us to walk upstairs and inform the staff where our table was located. This was already a red flag because it is the staff's responsibility to seat you at your table. I ordered a mixed seafood platter in order to try as many things as possible. The first thing I noticed was that NONE of the seafood was fresh. The shrimp and scallops tasted like chemicals, and the oysters were runny and soggy. My girlfriend ordered mahi-mahi, which was not evenly cooked. Half the fish was raw, while the other half was burned. If you're ever in Charleston, avoid this place like the plague!!!

    (1)

  • Alex R.

    Went there based on the reviews and awards we saw at the restaurant display. It has the old time charm with pictures of celebrities visited the restaurant. There is a celebrity name engraved on a tag on each table. We had the She Crab soup, grilled mahi-mahi, and grilled flounder. The She Crab Soup is bisque with crab meat, a local specialty that every local seafood restaurant has it on its menu. Hyman's She Crab Soup has good amount of crab meat and a few small bites of shells. It was flavorful, but it wasn't out of this world. The fish dinners have two sizes, regular or large. The regular was good portion and plentiful. We ordered the regular. I think large could feed two people. The fish were good, but again nothing special. We found the food to be average with reasonable price. Service was quick and attentive. Overall it was a touristy restaurant near the old city market serves average food.

    (3)

  • Nicole T.

    Great food! I would come back on my next visit to charleston. The Carolina delight and shrimp and grits were the best items I tasted.

    (5)

  • Robert S.

    I was looking forward to our night out at Hyman's but it fell short: Pros: - The wine list is reasonably priced ($12 to $15/bottle for most wines) - The grouper was fresh - The hush puppies were crisp and hot, good taste Cons: - The grilled grouper came with crab filling and in the area of the filling, the fish was raw (pink) - The crab dip had a fishy taste, not fresh In a place like this, I expect everything to be perfect - after all they do this for a living - and for a lot of people. We'll try somewhere else next time we're in Charleston.

    (2)

  • Drew k.

    Been here 2 times now. Its a well executed tourist trap. The seafood is respectable but I was disappointed by the low quality gulf shrimp. Plus they really try to push the overpriced "center of the menu" seafood combo. Then they encourage you to exit via the gift shop which is kind of cheesy. And they give you advertising stickers and try to sucker you into wearing them around town. It really cements in the feeling you are being treated like a tourist. The waitress was great and the owner took time to talk to us. But the punk tattooed bartender kid I ordered a beer from was not friendly. When he saw I hadn't given him a tip he shook his head and showed the other female bartender. BTW don't order any mixed drinks, they are extremely watered down. This happened on both visits. We complained each time and they took it off the bill, which was nice. But its obvious this place, like some others I encountered in Charleston, are trying to make a killing off overpriced weak drinks. Its not a horrible place but I won't be going back.

    (2)

  • Linda G.

    If you get stuck going here you can still get a good meal by ordering the crispy flounder. Do not eat the mango sauce. It's just cheap, Chinese duck sauce. It comes in a little plastic, take out container so it's easy to ignore. The swordfish was okay too according to my dad. The hush puppies are too sweet and the coleslaw is sloppy with mayonnaise -- two things that are fine in the north but not very southern. But my sister got the crab cake which was very, very bad. I think it was left uncovered in the fridge and it got a tough, dehydrated skin on it and then was fried. The fried grits cake was also bad and the sauce was awful. She was so disappointed.

    (1)

  • Rob W.

    We love this place. simply prepared fresh seafood, no gourmet cooking here, just old fashioned low country seafood. A very good selection of menu items, nice wine and beer menu as well. they serve really delicous fried oysters here. It is a tourist place as opposed to a local place, but when i'm in Charleston, I am a tourist! Pricing is good, be prepared to wait in a long line if you arrive at a peak time, i'd suggest going for lunch when it is not as crowded.

    (4)

  • Jim F.

    The soft shell crab was some of the best I've ever had. Lots of great history at Hymans. Heartily recommend.

    (5)

  • Jamie S.

    So this place is advertised as Best Seafood Restaurant by Southern Living Magazine. I disagree. See review for Slightly North of Broad-they were the best crab in all of Charleston, trust me. But this place is ok. Just ok. I had the oysters, gumbo and a side salad for lunch. The food was ok, the service was ok, but nothing to the hype of the Best.

    (3)

  • Alfred L.

    Plain grilled fish. If you hate fancy gourmet food, this is for you, but Charleston has so much more to offer.

    (2)

  • David S.

    Tourist trap, a lot of items are fried, hushpuppies are great but the wait is to long for the food quality. Plenty of other great seafood places in charleston to eat.

    (2)

  • Mark C.

    Great place, great food. Really fresh seafood with a great taste and price. I loved how the owner came by to meet everyone and make sure they are enjoying themselves.

    (4)

  • Megan C.

    My boyfriend and I were visiting Charleston a few months ago and had a particular place in mind for dinner on our first night. Unfortunately, it had rained so much that day that a good number of the restaurants were closed for the night due to flood warnings, including the restaurant we had in mind. We stumbled upon Hyman's and were so happy we did! We love seafood and there are so many options on the menu. We started out with the crab cake appetizer which was amazing but a little over priced. We shared a combo platter and picked five items; shrimp and grits, scampi mussels, fried oysters, sea scallops, and calamari. For $28.95 it was such a great deal and it was all prepared beautifully. We ate all we could shove into our mouths and STILL had some leftover! It was a great deal and the food and service were spectacular.

    (4)

  • Sylvan F.

    Food was okay but it took 45 minutes to get our meals. Server was new and did not know the menu very well. PO boys were good and seemed very fresh. Shrimp and scallops are a bit overdone but portions were ample

    (2)

  • Elena K.

    Service here is top notch, the owners even do rounds to introduce themselves and hand out goodies for the children... Great, we've eaten here several times and always feel welcome and appreciated. The menu is varied and we generally settle for sharing appetizers. We love the Carolina delight and the crab cakes. We'll be back!

    (3)

  • Darlene P.

    Ate here last year while visiting. The Bloody Mary's are super yummy. I shared the Shellfish Smorgasbord. It was good. I love seafood and everything was pretty fresh. Luckily, we got there on a weekday and the line was not super long. We waited at the bar area sucking down the Bloody Mary's. If I don't have to wait in line, I'll definitely eat here again.

    (4)

  • Gerry B.

    This place seemed like a big tourist attraction in Charleston for folks in downtown. The menu had quite a bit of items, but most of it was fried. I thought it was ok, but my wife didn't like it much. I wouldn't go back.

    (3)

  • Steve O.

    One of the best seafood places I've been too, I will have to say that it's quite crowded. Don't let the long lines fool you, there is no waiting area. Friendly staff at this two stories of seafood feasting...

    (4)

  • Nick T.

    Oh Hyman's how I miss you. Back when I used to spend nearly every winter in Charleston with my Grandparents, we would go out to eat constantly. Hyman's was one of my favorites. Sure you can expect quite a wait for a table. and maybe the plaques of movie stars who sat at each table is a little overblown. But The food.... The food here is what changed my seafood hating ways. I'm getting too Nostalgic. I should probably end this right now.

    (5)

  • Joseph P.

    Glorified Red Lobster

    (1)

  • mark d.

    TOURIST TRAP BEWARE, you are better off going to Red Lobster or Captain D's. The food and service was terrible.

    (1)

  • Margo H.

    Horrible food, way over priced. Our lunch was $53. Would never go back. It's a huge tourist trap. They make you walk through the entire restaurant just so you have to exit through their gift shop.

    (1)

  • Matthew C.

    There is a reason Hyman's has been ranked the best seafood spot in the US 4 times. Amazing food, and a great atmosphere. What makes the restaurant is the classic southern style customer service. I have never had an owner sit and talk with me for several minutes. He was genuinely concerned that our experience was perfect. Hyman's is a Charleston "must do!"

    (5)

  • Luci L.

    Let's be clear - this is NOT a gourmet restaurant. I don't think it pretends to be either; it's more of a fun, Southern-feel kinda place with lots of different classic fishy options. Don't come here expecting your tastebuds to be tantalized - there really are better places for that. Come with middling expectations, a general like of seafood and a fun, happy attitude, and Hyman's will please. We had fried green tomatoes (had better - the batter was too heavy), crab cakes, chicken fingers, potato soup and hush puppies. Nothing was outstanding but an overall fun and unique place.

    (3)

  • Matt R.

    Myself and family went there on a brief vacation and we ll had a great experience, although we had a Little over an hour wait. We just walked around charleston .when we finally got in we were all really happy with the food I had the fried tilapia which my daughter who hates fish tried it and ate a second bite .the hush puppies are awesome! The buffalo shrimp also really good ! I thought it was a good place to eat seafood .lots of famous people have eaten there! I would reccomend it!

    (4)

  • Bill G.

    Wretched. Simply awful food. The seafood was rubbery and room temperature. The fish itself we ordered was literally hard, much too al dente to trust. The scallops were rubbery and tasteless as were the shrimp. How do you screw up seafood like this? You really have to try. My guess is that they are just too big and cant get orders out of the kitchen quick enough. Whatever it is, don't waste your valuable time waiting for a table, you'll be disappointed. Half our meal was comped. My wife told the waiter it was the worst seafood she had ever had, she was spot on but I was starving and ate most of the luke warm food that I had. Why did we get 8 hush puppies? Seriously? Cole slaw was not refrigerated - scary and all my fried food was tasteless. You would do much better at Captain D's, no joke. Thank goodness for Hanks Seafood which saved Charleston's reputation for us. Tourist Trap in a huge kind of way. I do not see the allure at all. Don't believe this review? Ask some parting patrons. These folks with the other 5 star reviews must be employees or people with completely dead taste buds. By far the worst food we had in 3 days during our visit.

    (1)

  • Kelly K.

    First of all, let me start by saying that it has been a few years since my one visit to this restaurant. It is a touristy place, and there was a wait...however, I thought is was a fun place to have lunch and the food was good. We were seat upstairs at the window and got to munch on free boiled peanuts while we waited for our food.

    (3)

  • Mat M.

    Hyman's seafood was a delight. We were in town and looking for a good place to eat and we found it! The waiter was top notch, and the food was well prepared. The customer is king here, and boy does that feel good for a change. I can recommend the scallops, scallop cake, and crab cake. The hush puppies are to die for, and the coleslaw is divine. Go here and enjoy good food.

    (4)

  • AJes M.

    I like Hymans. My husband is from Charleston, so we often come here to eat with every visit. We have never had to wait in line to enter maybe because we don't usually visit in the middle of summer. The boiled peanuts are a nice way to wet your appetite while waiting for your food to come. We really like the she crab soup and the flounder platter. Ice tea is nice and fresh and the raw oysters are clean and scrumptious!

    (4)

  • Louise B.

    I ate at Hyman's Seafood a couple of weeks ago when I was visiting Charleston with my Parents who are in their 90's. Upon being seated, Eli Hyman came over to our table and introduced himself and welcomed us to the restaurant. He told us the history of his family and the start of his family's business. When we told him we from New York, he said you must try our shrimp and grits. He sent over that dish and fried green tomatoes for us to try gratis. The she crab soup is exceptional and one of their signature dishes. The food is absolutely fantastic and a place you must try when you go to Charleston. It is a top notch restaurant and do yourself a favor and go there!!

    (5)

  • Alfred A.

    Try their shrimp & grits with cheese and bacon topping. Highly recommended.

    (5)

  • Anne F.

    We stopped in for my husband's raw oyster fix. Happy hour special was a great price. Got right in & sat at the bar. Bartender & waitstaff were very friendly. It was a nice break from walking around.

    (4)

  • Zachary T.

    Grrrrreat Seafood! The Hushpuppies were great. Menu was a little confusing. And the seating method was a little strange. Big portions.

    (4)

  • Angi C.

    definitely super-touristy since in order to exit, you have to go through their gift shop/"general store". but we were starving after a long bus ride from the airport and the promise of bloody marys lured us in. said bloody marys were pretty well-made, with plenty of spice and lots of extra veggies as garnishes. raw oysters only ok - i prefer oysters that actually taste like the sea and these didn't taste like much. she-crab soup very creamy and pretty sweet, which was surprising and a little strange. one of the specials on the board was amberjack, supposedly a fish off the sc coast, so we got that. it was meaty like swordfish although with slightly more flavor. crab cake was full of crab meat and decent. all in all, this is not a spectacular seafood restaurant and i'm sure you can find better ones in charleston. atmosphere is a bit lacking, since it's so obviously touristy. but i would probably go back for the bloody marys!

    (2)

  • Calvin F.

    I am a tourist to Charleston and greatly enjoyed my experience at Hyman's. The food I had was fantastic. The boiled peanuts were new to me and tasty, and I greatly enjoyed the Fried Green Tomatoes and dipping sauce. The Po-Boy Sandwich w/ Mahi tasted great as well. The service was prompt and courteous. The food was ready quickly, and refills were delivered instantly.

    (5)

  • Nam P.

    I come to Hyman's once a year and I have to say this year was only average. The food portions have gotten smaller and the food wasn't as fresh. The atmosphere was still amazing. The hush puppies is still my favorite

    (3)

  • Jonathan P.

    Hyman's has decent fried seafood, with a very touristy feel Their platter selection gives a good variety of choices from mussels and shrimp to various fish, including salmon, flounder, cod, etc, along with several sides, depending on which platter choice you make ( they have different levels of platters for varying prices, the platter option I went with was about $15.99. ) I chose the first platter option which allowed me to choose 3 items as well as a side, so I went with the fried flounder, fried oysters and shrimp. The flounder was decent, crispy ,flaky, salty, and tasty, especially when dipped in the tartar sauce. The shrimp was knock down, drag out delicious, perfect sized fresh plump shrimp, very lightly battered and seasoned, excellent shrimp. The fries were great also, huge ridged potato wedges , they are big and greasy and heavily Cajun seasoned, not health food, but good food. My only disappointment was the fried oysters, which tasted like they were rolled in KFC batter, seriously they tasted just like original recipe' which is good sometimes, but not exactly what I like with my oysters, I like to taste my oysters when I eat them, and these were mostly over flavored batter, not good. The sweet tea here is fantastic, and the hush puppies are pretty good too, but a little greasy for my taste. The decor is definitely touristy, kind of like a southern version of the Old Union Oyster House in Boston, but a lot more touristy, with nautical themes everywhere, and the wood floors and walls add to the theme and sea going atmosphere of the restaurant. definitely a tourist restaurant, especially when you have to leave through the old store downstairs and look at all the old store type crap, but I thought the food here was decent and not overly priced.

    (2)

  • F. A.

    Good food and Great Atmosphere. A great place for kids. My wife and I had the pick three. I had the clams, muscles and shrimp. All were cooked and spiced to perfection. We were a little worried about having to wait as the throng of people sitting outside almost made us walk past. I asked the hostess and she said we could be seated immediately. The crowd out front was a party of 20. The service was fast even though they were crowded. Try the local beers as all that I tried were good.

    (4)

  • Robert G.

    It was ok. Food wasn't horrible, but nothing to brag about. Also tried Fleet Landing, and comparatively, it was more filling. It looks like this place usually has a waiting line though. It seemed like a lot of large party groups liked to come here. One thing that is cool is that the have tags on the tables of famous people who have eaten there. I ate at the same table as Oprah Winfrey, Martha Stewart and Olliver North.

    (3)

  • Dirty T.

    Went early so there was no line. I got the impression that this is a bit of a tourist trap, but I was really happy with everything I ate, especially for the price. The waitress/manager were also very hospitable and my drink was refilled frequently and promptly. Good oysters, great hush puppies. My first she crab soup...was expecting something different. I think a good cream of crab soup in Maryland is better but this was very tasty. The cajun shrimp were fine...not particularly memorable.

    (4)

  • Jeff M.

    I think it's a tourist trap. But I was starving and Hyman's was right there. Plus, several of my co-workers had recommended the place, so I wanted to check it out. The place was a bit disorganized. The first person who greeted me didn't say "Hello" but said "5-0-2." Somehow the code led me to my seat. But at least from that moment on, the hospitality started to show. The she crab was delicious and made me realize I was glad to be on the coast again. The shrimp po' boy was generous (I counted 26 pieces of shrimp) and sadly only plain at best. At least until I added the cajun mayo. Why it wasn't there to start boggles my mind. Overall, not a bad place to start in Charleston. But there is better.

    (3)

  • Annie D.

    It was alright but totally touristy and overpriced. Granted, my boyfriend and I were tourists when we came here, so we got what we deserved. We had the she-crab soup to begin, and it was very good but pretty heavy for a starter. For our meal we split some sort of mega-sampler with like, tons of stuff in small portions that was all mediocre. The only standouts were the buffalo shrimp and the mussels, even though it annoyed me that the mussels came with bread that already had tons of garlic and butter on it. It's supposed to be for sopping up the sauce--just a pet peeve. We didn't care that much for the famous fried flounder, but it was alright for fried fish I guess. We did snag a pretty awesome deal on a bottle of wine (make sure you pay attention to the chalkboards all over the place because our server didn't mention it). It's pretty famous and Barbara Streisand and Samuel L. Jackson ate at our table. We amused ourselves thinking of those two on a date together.

    (2)

  • Thomas K.

    This is an unusual restaurant. Part Seafood and part New York style deli. But the food at both ends of the menu is very good. The service was also very good as one of the owners roams from table to table to make sure that all are satisfied. My wife had a shrimp po boy sandwich while I had the Rueben which was every bit as good as one would find in New York. The deep fried hush puppies on every table are excellent. (Remember this is Charleston and everything is fried). It's not a gourmet stop but well worth the trip. Good food and plenty of it.

    (4)

  • Jeremy M.

    In a city known for its history and food....this one has plenty of both. I was reluctant to visit Hyman's, so much so that I avoided it on my first two trips to good ole Charles Towne...one of the biggest regrets of the many in my life. I have traveled around the world, I've had some great food, super company, excellent service, and views that would make you cry...my experience here was dining alone while on a business trip, at the bar, while a flock of tourists waited at the door to get in. I'm not a big fan of fried or fish, so when the waitress continued to rave about the fried redfish, I finally succumbed and my life hasn't been the same since! The best meal of my life.

    (5)

  • jeffrey d.

    Weeeelllll. . . . .and that could be a deep subject. Celebrity, tourista, paparzzi, waitining in line, hating on Hymans crap. . . .just stop. Don't go there if you don't like what they do. Miss Martha would not hang her photo just anywhere. This place certainly makes many people happy and those of you who hate on it are ruining it for the rest. We were here last Thursday and I found many faults. I have worked for the best and also the rest in the industry. We had so much fun that it didn't matter about the food. . . .but the food was good. Those boiled peanuts make me salivate just thinking about them and I have been buying them everywher I find them. Hymans are the best. Started with half dozen oysters on the shell - asked for locals, got Florida's instead. Pissed momentarily until my Father , who never eats oysters, ate three. They were so good and I have been on the west coast fot the past 7 years. Just waiting to taste the locals. . .hee hee. Three of us shared three entrees - Scallops, Crab Cakes and Shrimp. The Cajun Scallops are beautiful. Diver/Day-Boat were huge., succulent and fabu The crab cakes were nothing to write about. The fried shrimp were nothing to write about. Don't get me wrong - they were completely and fantastically tasty. But no cartwheels were involved. Scallops=cartwheels. Hushpuppies=cartwheels. Boiled Peanuts = something I cannot say!!! And then we meet Bones. He slobbered on our table. Seriously and I should have gone eeeewww. . .but the dude is 83 and is such a promoter and wow was he so much fun to talk to. He made the visit perfect. Wow! How fun. When I am 83 I want to be him We had a bottle of Simi Chard for $26 beans and having just moved here from California that was great. And I got a free t-shirt with the wine. So, take your out of town friends. I lived in the Bay Area for the past 7 years and everyone alwasy wanted to go to Fisherman's Wharf and I would cringe. . . .Hyman's is so much fun and so much easier. AND THE FOOD IS SO MUCH BETTER. Go Hymans!

    (4)

  • Sam B.

    I was in town for business and the place was amazing! It is real seafood... And real service. When the owner of the restaurant came by to give us free crab dip, I knew this place was run well. Go there!

    (5)

  • Krista S.

    Fantastic!! A little pricey but worth it!! My husband and I shared the pick 7. My favorite item was the crab cake and my husband's favorite item was light Cajun shrimp. The Carolina style shrimp and grits was good too.

    (4)

  • John S.

    If you are hip enough to check reviews on yelp before you eat somewhere, you won't want to eat here. It's super touristy, rather expensive comparatively speaking, and the food is downright mediocre at best. Almost everything is fried (in the bad way, not the good way) or has copious amounts of mayonnaise in it. We are from Seattle and used to really great food. We went with the rest of the family on vacation here, so it wasn't really our choice to start with. It isn't offensive, it is just rather pricey for not very good food. There are PLENTY of wonderful places to eat in this cool town, skip Hyman's.

    (2)

  • Audrey K.

    This place is a must for those just moving to the area or just visiting. The food is very tasty. The environment is very casual but interesting. It's a great place to have a relaxing dinner with family and friends. The establishment especially loves its military members, so I'd recommend it to any sailors in the area. You just might get some free ice cream from their general store.

    (3)

  • Mike G.

    I'm starting to think that the good reviews must come from the staff. The seafood here is terrible. I talked to one of the guys in the kitchen once and he told me that they kept a couple of local shrimp in the freezer to say that they serve local seafood. I ate here once in college and would never go back. As for the line of tourists around the block. They do that on purpose also. Nothing draws a crowd like a crowd.

    (1)

  • J. O.

    best seafood joint ever! the fried calamari is to die for, soooo tender and tasty. great by itself or even better with lemon and the marinara. and the buffalo shrimp, hush puppies, and that delicious palmetto pale ale, forget about it!!!! the service couldn't be any friendlier or helpful.

    (5)

  • Ivanka B.

    I was in town for work and hate eating out by myself, but desperately needed to eat something other than pizza. I found myself sitting at the bar here and ordering things I had never, ever tried before. Best. Idea. Ever. Fried green tomatoes - awesome, love the breading and the cajun mayo. Crispy flounder for dinner - perhaps fried a bit too much, but not sure how it is supposed to be but the chutney helped out with that. Sweet potato souffle and best hush puppies ever definitely helped! Washed it all down with a Palmetto Pale Ale - local brew I was told. Really great stuff. By the way, didn't have the she-crab soup since I tried it @ AW Shuck's and wasn't a fan.

    (3)

  • patricia t.

    Very expensive and extremely mediocre seafood. Everything is fried, of course, but in this case it is fried to death. All of our food and appetizers, including the soup was lukewarm. The kids wouldn't even eat the fish and chips, saying they were gross. When I tasted them, I had to agree. There is much better food in Charleston and much better seafood just about everywhere. Please don't waste your hard earned vacation time and money at Hyman's.

    (1)

  • Matt M.

    I wasn't sure about trying Hyman's because the reviews seem all over the place with some people praising it and others calling the health department. I've tried it twice now and liked it both times. The food is not fancy, but mine was tasty. The shrimp and grits was very good. I tried the shrimp several ways (cajun, broiled, boiled, scampi) and all were very good. I enjoyed the kitschy atmosphere. The tables all have plaques telling you what celebrities sat there before. The friendly owner came by and talked with us for awhile. All in all we had a good time and good food for the price. I'll definitely come back.

    (4)

  • Christine K.

    I've been here just twice - last and this summer. Last summer I would have given Hyman's 5 stars, but this recent visit bumped it down to a 4. Why? Well, our waiter was very...um silent and unresponsive and drab - I'd say this is pretty bad since Hyman's is a major touristy place. Crab cakes are good, but trying to get through the second piece was hard work. Hushpuppies are yummy. Snapper is very dry (like chicken and that was horrible because I'm a vegetarian!). Mac and cheese is very cheesy. My father says the flounder is excellent. I don't know what's happened, but I'd say the quality of Hyman's has gone down considerably within the last year. Disappointing... but very family friendly, affordable, and tastes best when you're starving.

    (4)

  • Debbie L.

    Hyman's was recommended to us by a friend of a friend who had lived in Charleston, so we thought it would be good local food. We were sorely disappointed. There was no line when we arrived but it was pretty crowded when we got there. I was unimpressed with the atmosphere... it was loud and not very conducive for conversation. We were seated near the kitchen and exit, so really the server shouldn't have been able to miss us since she would have to walk by every time she went to the kitchen. We ordered some sort of 3-fish deal where you get three different types of fish/shrimp cooked in different spices of your choice (i.e. cajun, fried, etc). We received ice water... I don't recall if we got bread. Well, an hour later, several other people had been seated near us, ordered their food, and gotten it, while we were still waiting for ours. Of course, being non-white, we wonder if it's a quiet form of discrimination. Our waitress hasn't checked on us for a while (probably half an hour) and husband's water has not been filled for quite some time. We are not happy. Finally half an hour before the restaurant closes, the waitress notices that we are still sitting there and asks if we are waiting for something. Seriously?! She finally checks on our food and brings it out fifteen minutes later. The food itself was mediocre. I felt that the spices were only okay and the fish was overdone, not moist. The shrimp was okay, not fantastic. They were not hot by the time we got them. The server was quick in bringing out our check, of course. We asked to speak with the manager to let him know that we'd spent and hour and a half just waiting for our food while other customers had enjoyed their dinner in less time. Manager seemed surprised and was very apologetic. He gave us coupons for Hyman's if we chose to come back. Who knows if that will happen. The service was so terrible we may never go back. Overall, the food was only okay, and the service was a complete turn-off. Who waits 1.5 hours for food at a casual restaurant?! I will give this place another chance IFF we are trapped downtown somewhere nearby and there are no other restaurants open.

    (1)

  • Jeff Z.

    hmm..I don't know... Suppose a restaurant for the locals, but the food there are like touristy, went there couple weeks ago with 3 friends, the place was not as propagated as other Yelpers said...Got seated right after walked in. And had a flounder, halfshell oyster(love em.... Gotta try those at least) and some bone dried fried shrimp..... Overall experience was OK....nothing special...

    (2)

  • Amanda A.

    Mussels are amazing...but so are the oysters, fresh catch, etc,etc,etc. Sides are a bit small, but who needs sides with all that incredible, fresh seafood? Num!!!

    (5)

  • Carolyn R.

    Friends home in Sacramento urged us to eat at Hyman's and we were happy we did. The wait staff was cheerful, enthusiastic, and reminded us that our fried flounder had meat on both sides. One dish of it was plenty for two to share, in addition to what came along with it: cole slaw and hush puppies (finally this Yankee found out these are not only shoes but also delicious sweet balls of what I think is corn dough fried (isn't everything Down South? I resisted trying a fried pickle but did eat the iconic fried green tomatoes as an appetizer. Had to, just so I could say I ate 'em). The founder's great grandson, Eli, who co-owns the place with his brother's son-in-law, stopped at our table twice to check out our experience, shmooz, and give us cute coupons with a photo of his mom on one side and kids on the other that could be exchanged for a kid-size ice cream cone. I see someone recently complained the restaurant "relies" on the awards it's won. I can't figure out why that should be a problem! If we lived here we would be back again and again to try different dishes, including the Jewish deli menu which we didn't have time to explore. When I told Eli I was going to write a happy customer review he told me how seriously he takes the comments on the Internet and was shocked to find one person complaining about a dish he didn't even serve at his restaurant. Well, we were really there this week, we enjoyed it very much, and the only reason my score is a four out of five is my Northern California palate would have preferred a choice of something not fried or creamy with the fish, like a baked potato maybe, and a choice of something besides packaged white flour crackers with the creamy crab dip we added as an appetizer (or maybe sourdough bread pieces, if not whole grain crackers). Otherwise, it was exactly as it was advertised to be, a LOT of choices of kinds of fish, huge portions, and swift, friendly service by everyone we came in contact with from the woman who directed us to a table to the owner, himself.

    (4)

  • C M.

    The line is ridiculous and luckily we got in within 30minutes, but to see that line is crazy...considering the tons of fantastic, wonderful other places to eat in Charleston that don't require a 1 1/2 hour wait. We got in quick, (for some strange reason), but waited for our food for almost 1 hour. Mahi was dry and over done, we requested another and they had to get a managers approval, and by the time the 2nd piece came, I was already through eating. (I didnt want my food to get cold waiting on my husbands 2nd order). Too much hype! Please go eat at other DELICIOUS, INCREDIBLE PLACES....... CHARLESTON IS FULL OF OTHER RESTAURANTS!

    (1)

  • Samuel C.

    We tried to go to this restaurant late in the evening and the line stretched all the way down the block. So, we decided to go back the next day for lunch. The food was delicious and the service was top notch. I highly recommend this place for those who love seafood. The only thing I didn't really care for was the promotional sticker thing they have going on. It would be acceptable if it was a new restaurant but Hyman's has a great history and does not need to tag their customers with stickers, lol..

    (5)

  • Jim L.

    Hyman's Seafood...you were good to me, but was I good to you? While on a recent road trip down to the "Low Country", my group of Bostonian yankees discovered Hyman's though Yelp! (We made a very concerted effort to eat out local for dinner while on this trip) Hyman's was calling our name, but after reading many mediocre reviews on Yelp! I became very hesitant, but that feeling went away about 3 seconds after being served my three course meal of buffalo shrimp, shrimp and grits, and fried calamari. As a native New Englander, I feel I've had my ups and downs of seafood (especially fried) and Hyman's is def. up there with the Clam Box, Newick's, and Woodman's. My friend decided to get the flounder, and it was amazing! What they basically do is hand you a full bodied flounder and you pick and pick and pick till there are only little fish bones. For an appetizer, we got fried green tomatoes (I was a FGT virgin) and fried pickles. Both were amazing fried goodness served with a spicy mayo sauce, which I kept for dinner. Domestic beers are cheap ($3) and wine is also. Some tables have mini plaques that tell you who has sat at your table before.

    (5)

  • Brian D.

    What Jess said, the oyster po'boy looked good and included 15 oysters for $10.95, but it was lacking some flavour aka secret sauce. I tried my best to find a hole in the wall in this area, but just gave up and tried this place out. It seems downtown charleston is one big tourist mecca and with the summer heat, you're too lazy to walk around to find a good restaurant. my advice is to know in advance where you want to eat! also at hymans, after you eat you can only exit via the gift shop. I felt like i was at Disney world or something. It definitely doesn't deserve two stars, but its not all the hype it claims to be.

    (3)

  • David J.

    Very tourist oriented. Always crowded. Meals are high priced but filling. One of the few restaurants I've found in Charleston where you get boiled peanuts for your table. There are several better choices in the area where you won't have to wait. The hushpuppies here are mediocre.

    (2)

  • Huey-Tyng R.

    So MUCH FOOD!!! My husband and I shared the pick 5 platter - salmon and grits, barbecue shrimp, buffalo oysters, clam strips and a crab cake. The salmon and grits were amazing. It was the stuff that grit dreams are made of - creamy, rich and flavorful. The other items paled in comparison. Before we even received our meal Hyman's brought us a complimentary platter with hush puppies, calamari and a shrimp salad. We had fried green tomatoes as an appetizer. They were excellent. Hyman's is a wonderful establishment that does an great job of making you feel welcome. I will tell any seafood lover visiting Charleston that it is a must!

    (4)

  • Sandy V.

    I go to Hymans for the fried lobster tails and my husband goes for the flounder. We have gone several times a year for many years and always gone away happy with the food. Service is good and, yes it is touristy, and yes you do exit through their gift shop, but it is still good seafood. We will continue to go to Hymans. We are also greeted every time we are there by one of the owners, not something you always encounter at such a busy restaurant.

    (5)

  • Ferdi E.

    ok - im not a local - so i dont know about the other hot spots - and from what im reading from other yelpers - Hawks should have been my other choice. but i did ask my concierge here at the renaissance, and a couple of my local homeland security agents (these guys can eat) about southern eats - and they all mentioned this place was the "south carolina" seafood experience. so, i walk by first, and saw the line but also got sucked in by the awards and articles that are poster-ed in the front window. i also read all the celebrity endorsements - so, i asked myself and visiting coworkers, shall we dine here? it was a unanimous YES. FOOD - as we waited, we were handed some hush puppies - fried cornmeal balls. being from san diego, we dont get this little treat often - so i dont have anything to compare it to - but i will say that i thought it was tasty. my meal started with the highly recommended SHE CRAB SOUP - excellent - it had real crab in it, and tasted like a cross between a bisque and chowder. my main dish was their signature: CRISPY FRIED FLOUNDER. Awesome. it may be because im asian - and this dish is similar to a traditional asian dish, but it's literally a whole flounder fish scored and fried on the bone (and with bones); all i was missing was the patis or nam pla and some hot rice. ha. it was served with more hush puppies, coleslaw and a sweet potato souffle. yum. sweet tea here was really good too. yes, on the way out i was funneled thru the gift store - but we got $4 tshirts (since we dined in the restaurant) - honestly, a great souvenir if needed - and all the proceeds from the shirt sales went to charity. i enjoyed my dining experience here, local or not - and before you bash my palette - i travel 80% for a living and have dined at sea food places from seattle to hawaii to miami to new york to my home in san diego and internationally, hymans ranks above average - definitely NOT 5 stars - but i dont think its a 2 or 3. its better than that.

    (4)

  • Millhouse R.

    One of the shittiest tourist traps I've had the pleasure of experiencing.

    (1)

  • Michael Y.

    I was highly disappointed after my dining experience at Hyman's. I had the fried green tomatoes, gator sausage, and any 3 (scallops, fried calamari, and swordfish prepared sauteed style). the scallops were rubbery and the swordfish was heavily seasoned with lemon pepper. i've had day boat scallops at restaurants that serve fresh seafood and this was nowhere near it. i'm not a big fan of lemon on fish and the calamari was very disappointing. the calamari was not crispy, a little too soft, and soggy...i didnt think it was possible to screw up fried calamari but they proved me wrong. most of all, the food was served warm, almost cold, i had to force the scallops down and i wanted to hurl. it was not all bad...the gator sausage and hush puppies were good, but that was it, oh and the service was on par. my supervisor suggested the next time i try the lobster bisque soup but unfortunately, there wont be a next time. bottom line, i do not recommend dining here. eat and pay for crappy food at your own risk! dont say i didnt warn you and besides, i generally dont write negative reviews but when i do, it is usually a terrible experience and this just so happens to be one of them.

    (1)

  • Phillip L.

    I wish I had read reviews before I got sucked in with my "FREE CRAB DIP!" coupon today. Oh well, lesson learned. I ordered a bowl of their Lobster-Based Bisque (no actual lobster meat included, suckas!), which was actually quite tasty. A shrimp po boy didn't hold up very well in a take-out container, but it was decent. The FREE CRAB DIP looked like something a cat thew up. Seriously. Nasty. Tasted okay, but if I had paid for something like that, I'd be mighty pissed. I echo the other reviews and say that there are other places with much better food, even if I don't know what they are. I have this sinking feeling Hyman's is simply a glorified Red Lobster. Without the Cheddar Bay Biscuits.

    (2)

  • Lisa S.

    Meh. I got to sample a lot of "local" dishes here and had my first sweet tea experience here too. Everything is just really dipped in batter and fried. My whole fish wasn't what I was expecting -- it was pretty dry. Not sure if it's worth the 90 minute wait it can get over the weekend. I went during a weeknight and still waited 30 minutes!

    (2)

  • Erin W.

    I am surprised to see the low ratings for Hyman's. My husband and I went to Charleston for our 1st anniversary and dined here for dinner. I don't remember experiencing a long wait at all. The seafood was really good. We loved the raw oysters, crab legs and the steamed clams. It is a fun place with lots of levels and wooden floors and walls. I will admit that it is very tourist-y, but it didn't bother us. We even went back a second time for lunch that weekend, ordered different entrees than previously for dinner, and enjoyed it just as much as the first time.

    (5)

  • john h.

    Good food, great service & an extensive gluten free menu. The owner talked with each table and ensured all of our needs and requests were being met. Our waiter was prompt, attentive and funny. I'd highly recommend.

    (5)

  • Tommy V.

    Standard tourist seafood fare. Hyman's is set up to do major amounts of business; they figure that there's no need for you to be seated at your table by a hostess, they just tell you your table number and you go find it yourself. Their food was good but nothing special, just standard preparations of decent fish. It has a very touristy feel to it, with free stickers for everyone so that you can give them some pro bono advertising as you walk around the city market. You can find a better place to eat in downtown Charleston.

    (2)

  • Morgan S.

    Please don't waste your time at Hyman's while visiting Charleston! Trust a local - there are so many other fabulous restaurants that you will miss out on if you go to this tourist trap. It's heavily advertised with little to back up the boast. Save your money and prescious vacation time and hit up Fleet Landing or Hank's instead. You won't be disappointed!!

    (1)

  • Christy L.

    Ditto what most of the people said here. I am born and raised in Charleston and only went here one time when an out-of-town relative read about in Southern Living and HAD to go there. The food was so-so - there are so many better places within walking distance (Hank's) so don't get suckered into Hymans. It only gets 2 stars because they serve alcohol - which I had to have plenty of that night...

    (2)

  • Joe P.

    Crab cakes were very good, along withe fried Carolina grits with shrimp (EXCELLENT). Also tried the crispy flounder, which was good, but I have had better. The sweet potatoe souffle was fantastic! Prices are reasonable, and the place was packed! The hush puppies were good as well.

    (4)

  • Repub L.

    Overpriced, average food--think tourist trap.

    (2)

  • rebekah b.

    I'm adding my 2 cents. Money, incidentally, that I wouldn't spend at Hyman's. I'm convinced this restaurant is only in business because of the tourism industry since nobody I know who lives in Charleston actually eats here. We just walk past and snicker at the people standing in line. So this review is intended for that person in Peoria who is planning a trip to Charleston and wants a great place for seafood. This is not the place! If you're looking for a recommendation, try... Coast, Hank's, Fish or rent a car and drive over the bridge to The Wreck. Footnote... I only gave this place one star because I had to.

    (1)

  • Tom T.

    Okay, I read the other comments and headed over to Hyman's for seafood. I ordered the she-crab soup first then the Father "Maier the Buyer" platter. I ordered the platter broiled to the extent possible. I am also doing my contest of best she-crab soup in Charleston. The she-crab soup had very little crab and very little taste. In fact of the six restaurants sampled so far, Hyman's she-crab soup was---sixth! Now the Maier the Buyer platter. What they did to the scallops should have been illegal. Way too well done. The fried oysters were too well done. The deviled crab was also fried too long and I didn't even finish it. The flounder was good though--broiled perfectly. There is a waiting line outside and this is caused by the restaurant leaving closed some of its many dining rooms to enable a crowd to form leaving the passing public to think that there is real good food inside--there's not! If you want good seafood go to Hanks. If you want the best she-crab soup go to: 1) Tommy Condons/A.W. Shucks (same owner and best soup) 2) Charleston Crab Shack 3) Toast 4) Hank's Seafood

    (1)

  • Jay B.

    Sometimes the crowds are terrible as this is one of the tourist spots for sure. However, I have enjoyed my meals here. Especially the breakfast buffet I had one trip while staying downtown. If you have not been here then go as it is a must for a virgin. However, if you have been here there are places with better food for a better price and less wait. It is very convienent if you plan to spend the evening downtown but there are many good eateries downtown.

    (3)

  • Teresa D.

    Due to the poor reviews my husband and I had decided not to eat at Hyman's except that while eating at Fleet Landing a lady at the table next to us asked us if we had eaten at Hyman's yet. I told her no because of the mediocre to poor ratings. She said during her stay in Charleston it was the best seafood she had eaten. So we decided to have dinner there tonight. We were immediately seated and brought the dish of boiled peanuts which were very tasty. Being born and raised in Savannah I have a special affinity for boiled peanuts so it was a nice treat. My husband ordered the large fried oyster platter. The oysters had a good flavor but the batter was a little heavy but he still managed to eat all but 2 of the 30 that were served. I got the fried shrimp, fried scallops, and the crab cake. The fried shrimp were lightly battered and were clearly wild shrimp as opposed to farm raised. Again being born and raised in Savannah and having a cousin with a shrimp boat I have eaten my share of shrimp and then some and will not buy farm raised shrimp period. The fried scallops were reminiscent of Williams Seafood Restaurant, an institution in Savannah for decades until a fire destroyed the restaurant several years ago. They had the best and I never thought I would taste friend scallops that good again. We both got the fries which are potato wedges. We also got the macaroni and cheese which was although not as good as grandmas was a good southern baked macaroni and cheese for a restaurant. We had a coupon for the crab dip and I liked it but my husband preferred the crab dip at A. W. Shuckers. We also tried the she crab soup since we had tried it at all the other seafood restaurants during our week long stay. Once the waitress brought us a little sherry to add to it, it was very tasty and by far had more crab in it than all the others we tried (82 Queen, Fleet's Landing, Noisy Oyster, A. W. Shucks, and Seel's on Sullivan's). Two of the family proprietor's came around for conversation and seemed genuinely interested in our satisfaction. The one down side was the parking. It is downtown and so parking on the street is your only option. If you are looking for a foo foo grilled fish with magazine quality presentation then this is NOT your place. However, if you are looking for fresh local shellfish or flounder (fried whole btw) fried then by all means take your appetite and you will not be sorry. The hushpuppies were the best we had all week as well and they came with the meal rather than one of your choices for a side as some of the others did. We were so full we didn't have room for dessert so I can't comment on it. The parking is the only reason I am giving it a 4 star instead of a 5 star rating.

    (4)

  • Cassy B.

    My husband and I were vacationing in South Carolina and we heard from friends about this place. First off, we went there on Sunday, Sept 25th, 2011 about 11:30 am. Jason, our waiter, was very attentive, nice and friendly.Whomever the 2 young blond girls outside were that greeted us were SNOTTY. That turned us off right away but still wanted to try the food. The Carolina delight(shrimp Grits) my husband and I split and it was delicious. We both ordered the combo plates. The buffalo oysters were AWESOME. The shrimp tasted farm raised and my husband's swordfish...you could Smell it before it reached the table which is not a good thing. Very fishy and old tasting. Mussels were so so but the scallops were to die for. Cole slaw good and the mac and cheese was awesome although we could not finish all the food. We would definitely go back for the Carolina Delight and the buffalo oysters and scallops and to try other things. We wouldn't order the mussels or shrimp or swordfish. Maybe drinks and appetizers and we'd ask for Jason to be our waiter...he made the experience pleasureable for sure! Thanks Jason!!

    (3)

  • Jessica S.

    The star count may be low, but that's only because I went there once. Seriously, every time I walked past there, no matter what time of day, it was crowded. Hyman's has been rated #1 seafood in Charleston for like 2 or 3 years in a row, so you gotta go if your there. I got an oyster po' boy. Again, it was good, not greasy at all, it could've stood to have some mayo. but nonetheless, decent place and every type of seafood you could want.

    (3)

  • Coco P.

    Do NOT fall for the schtick. Unless you like schtick. And bad service, and a gift shop. We had one of the ubiquitous coupons, offering a free crab dip appetizer. So we went. Big mistake. Even our front desk clerk tried to dissuade us, but it was late and we wanted a quick bite. First, the obnoxioius girls out front (hostesses?) were so hyper i thought i was at Daytona during Spring Break. So after routing us through the bar (they said no tables were available, buy a drink at the bar), they took us upstairs to our table (where there were plenty of vacant tables). The free crab dip appetizer was basically cream cheese with crab, and was a bit smaller than a golf ball. About enough for 4 crackers, 2 each. I asked the waiter if any of the daily catch fish were fresh and he said "Well, they're fresh enough." What does that mean? He couldn't explain. And this is a seafood restaurant, unbelievable. And, none of the fish is local. So, not fresh and not local. Um...why eat here? Oh yeah, b/c the service continued to be poor and, when finished with the meal, you are not allowed to leave via via the main staircase, they herd you down a back staircase and into the gift shop. Of course. If you like Chili's and Dick's Last Resort and the Olive Garden, you'll like this place. If you came all the way to Charleston for some of the great, local cuisine, try one of the 30 or 40 fresh, casual, local joints for fanastic food. Don't go here. And the award winning she-crab soup? So thick and gloppy, with the exact same base as the potato chowder. Creamy paste. There are too many real lowcountry and fresh seafood places to try. Don't waste your time or money here.

    (1)

  • Gerry W.

    Oh so disappointed! We travel to Isle of Palms for vacation every year and always eat at Hyman's. Unfortunately, our recent visit to Hyman's will be our last. I ordered the fried oysters, broiled scallops and shrimp scampi. My Mom had the scallops. We waited FOREVER it seemed. Even the wandering around hostess became concerned we did not receive our food so brought us hush puppies (delicious) and free crab dip and cole slaw to hold us over. Our food finally came and it was ice cold. Ever bite into an ice cold broiled scallop?? Its not pretty. I think this is the first time I have ever had to send food back at any restaurant (good or bad) I have ever ate at. So we waited even longer...you would think our order would be the next cooked....not so...we waited and waited and ate more hush puppies. Finally our food came (again) and it was hot but we were so full from eating hush puppies and the like, we could not enjoy our meal. The shrimp had no garlic or seasoning but the scallops were okay. I was able to eat everything but the fried oysters....just too much fried food after eating fried hush puppies for 90 minutes...my gallbladder screamed, NO! They did give my Mom and I free T-shirts for our trouble though. You can find these on Ebay shortly.

    (2)

  • John M.

    Went to Hyman's on our first trip to Charleston a couple of years back. Definitely on the touristy side and they obviously make it seem as if it's going to be so busy that you'll just have to come back when they're open, they don't take reservations. We went back after a couple of hours sight-seeing and got a table after a short wait. Our server was from somewhere in Eastern Europe/Russian and got our wine order wrong, but in the scheme of things this wasn't an issue. We each ordered a different fish from the fresh catch board with different preparations. I got blackened amberjack and she got the jerk mahi. Mine was pretty good, hers only ok, a bit on the dry side. One very important note: If you're in Southern Living Magazine and you're rated as one of the best seafood places in town, you should probably rethink the decision to serve your sides in small plastic containers (think tartar sauce size - two bites of slaw doesn't cut it). Not classy and wasteful to boot. Overall we had a good time though, but the food/ambience only ok. I think someone should look into the bribing of the media on this one for sure.

    (2)

  • Kathryn B.

    Horrible! Tourist Trap!! I've only been because my boyfriend won a $25 gift certificate. It is so overpriced that it didn't even cover our Lunch bill! I had scallops plain and he had soup and salad. We both had sodas. I would never go back and don't know why this ever gets good reviews.

    (1)

  • Jeff A.

    Usually, long lines indicate a good dining experience. Hyman's is the exception to the rule. Being from the Gulf Coast, I think I know a thing or two about fresh seafood and I can say that Hyman's serves some of the worst food I've ever eaten. I didn't know it was possible, but they were able to serve freshly fried shrimp that were soggy! Have you ever tried to take home fried food and reheat it in the microwave? You know how the once crisp breading turns to mush? Well, that's how every dish at Hyman's is served. We were in total shock at how bad the food could be in a such a well known establishment. We ate there our first night in town; and for the rest of our vacation we did an unofficial survey of the locals we ran into and asked each of them about Hyman's. To a person, they all had the same response: first they let out a little chuckle and then they all said something along the line of "...Hyman's is nothing more than a marketing machine and tourist trap...they get these Midwesterner tourist who think Red Lobster is a good seafood meal and make them wait in long lines outside to give the appearance of a hot place to be and then serve them crappy food and the tourist feel embarrassed they waited so long so they too spill the party line about how good it was and blah blah blah." Every local we asked said that no local would be caught dead eating at Hyman's. After eating there, I know I was suckered and all those that will wait in that line tonight will be duped also. Ask the locals for their picks and avoid Hyman's and the other tourist traps on King Street like the plague.

    (1)

  • Brian S.

    Heimin's Seafood has some of the best crab dip with real chunks of crab meat and seasonings, perfect with the oyster crackers accompanying it. I ordered the five item seafood platter with three items since one of them took up so much space; fried shrimp, a crab cake, and a whole fried flounder. Everything was succulent and fresh, greasless, and perfectly seasoned. The hush puppies (corn Neel fritters filled with craw fish) were some of the best that I have ever had. The grits with cheese were smooth and creamy, melting, the Cheddar cheese balancing out the corn flavor of the grits. The service was friendly and they are very knowledgeable about the food. We got refills of our lemonade and water, as well as a sticker or scratch off to win money. The owner even came up to us and asked how everything was and hoping to see us back in the future. Later on, we walked down the street, only to be greeted by one of their employees, handing out free hush puppies; another free hush puppy, cool.! They even handed out coupons on the street m, as well. So, for the freshest seafood in town with great service and great prices in an old, but clean, kept up atmosphere,, Heimen's Seafood cannot be beat. Keep up the good work guys.!

    (5)

  • Al L.

    ate at hymans near closing time. it took over 40 minutes from the time we placed our order to the time it arrived. it actually arrived without one of the dishes we ordered. we ordered a 7-item meal and one of the fish items didn't arrive until later. the food was ok. the only reason why i'm giving it 3 stars (vs. 2 stars) is because one of the co-owners came around to our table (we were one of the last 3 tables to leave) as well as all the other tables to ask how our experience was. we told him that we were disappointed in the kitchen (not the waitress) and he apologized and gave us some free ice cream and t-shirts. when we were leaving, we saw him with the waitress trying to see what went wrong. this leaves me with the impression that the owners really care about the business and the customer. we will definitely go back to hymans, but we know the food isn't the best in charleston. it's good food, just not great food.

    (3)

  • W L.

    half shell mix appetizer (mussel, raw oyster, steamed big shrimp) is good

    (4)

  • Freddy v.

    One of the best and most affordable sea food places in the country. South Carolina's Pride and Joy.. So much that even the stars dine here. you will notice numerous famous names plaqued on the tables where they sat. They have a pick 3 type of deal, in which you get 3 picks of whatever (fish,shrimp) for under 25 bucks.Try the Hush Puppies. IF you aren't from the south then skip the grits and go for hush puppies.Quality of food was superb, service was friendly and even had one of the owners stop by our table to make sure we were fine.Waiting time was not bad, even though it was very crowded. Excellent value for the money and a great location. Good spot all around. Avoid going late nights as its very crowded. This is a MUST VISIT place if yo are in SC. Minor upset is bathrooms are all the way upstairs. SO ask to be seated upstairs if u have bladder problems :) or are with kids. Check out tonsilcleaner.com for bad breath solutions. view our forum.

    (5)

  • Sheri H.

    Great food and atmosphere! We went for restaurant week during the MLK holiday. Even though it was packed on a Sunday night, we were seated immediately. The wait staff was very attentive and helpful with suggestions. We started off with crab and shrimp dip and hush puppies for appetizers. My husband ordered crab cakes with okra and I ordered the crispy flounder with sweet potato fries. It was truly the best meal we have had in a long time and we live in Atlanta where there is no shortage of good restaurants. I found out they change their fry oil very frequently and it makes a huge difference. We both felt the okra was the best we had ever eaten. The desserts were amazing! My cheesecake was moist and fluffy. His key lime pie was fresh and had a great consistency. Mr. Hyman even stopped by our table two times to welcome us and then to ensure our satisfaction once our food was delivered. I would highly recommend Hyman's and will definitely come back the next time we are in Charleston. Thank you Mr. Hyman for taking pride in what you do!

    (5)

  • Yvonne O.

    I do not understand why people will wait in this long line for this mediocre food? We noticed that the line started around 630 each night, so we just got there at 5 and walked right in. Well, I decided to order the shrimp fettucinni marinara since the waitress raved about the homemade pasta and sauce. It was literally the most disgusting looking and tasting dish I have had in a long time. The sauce is fire hot and runny as all hell - to the point that there was a river of red water around my mountain plate - to the point that it leaked onto the table and through the leaf crack onto my lap. People, learn to wipe a plate and drain the noodles or sauce rather than serve slop!! Plus, the shrimp was severely over-cooked and rubbery. The high-maintenance old ladies behind us were sending everything back, so our waitress was too busy to check on us. Husband had the fried flounder and thought it was fine. I would NEVER waste time waiting for this garbage.

    (2)

  • Tom H.

    Walked right in for lunch on a Wed with a party of 8. Huge place! The celebrity photos on the wall and markers on the table were a nice touch. 3 of us split the seafood sampler. If was a better deal than a buffet getting shark, shrimp, crab, and other. You can choose 3, 5, or 7 items. The only downside was you had to pick one style of preparation (broiled, sauteed, fried, blackened, grilled, etc.). Quick service, great food, and nice atmosphere.

    (4)

  • Sherry Z.

    Two years alter and I still remember the shrimp and grits dish that I got at this place. I think it was slightly pricey, but the absolutely delicious food made up for the price. I loved it. The wait was indeed for a while, but they have these odd fence/benches that are fun to play on. Definitely entertained me for the wait time.

    (5)

  • Demetria M.

    Avoid this place at all cost!!! There are far too many awesome seafood eateries in the area, so please don't waste your time standing in line or your hard earned dollars......it's just not worth it.

    (1)

  • Michelle H.

    This was hands-down the best meal we had in Charleston. The seafood was so fresh, and the service was excellent. The yummiest dishes: broiled tilapia, shrimp salad, and the hush puppies. LUKE is the best waiter. So adorable and friendly. The manager came around to check on us and make sure everything was great, which added a nice touch. They also accommodate large parties (there were 2 tables of a dozen people) so it's good for groups.

    (5)

  • Carolyn C.

    This place is good, but not the best seafood that I have ever had. It is definitely a tourist place and a fun stop to make. Lots of celebrity pictures lots of plaques on the table (David Lee Roth sat here) that sort of thing. The food was fresh and the service was really very good. The food was not the best thing that I had in SC, but it was worth going. If I were a local, I would only go there if I had out of town company. We didn't have to wait in the outrageous lines that I here that this place can have. I had to wait over 45 minutes, I would find something else. The food is good but not epic.

    (4)

  • Veronica R.

    I was going to give this place 3 stars because my husband enjoyed it more than I did, and then when I thought about the fact that we spent $52 on a lunch (including 15% tip) that was just "OK", I realize this place really is just another tourist trap like we overheard someone complain while we were waiting to get in. I had the Pick 3 with a fried crab cake, light cajun amberjack, shrimp and grits (best thing on the platter but shrimp and grits are so hard to mess up it's like saying I liked the french fries IMHO) and a baked potato. My husband had cajun seasoned amberjack with sweet potato souffle. We also had fried calamari as an appetizer and just water to drink. The food was not bad, but it just really wasn't worth the money or a return visit.

    (2)

  • Matt P.

    Mediocre at best, please don't believe the hype. I was lured to Hyman's by the long lines of people waiting to get in, I figured it must be THE place to get seafood in Charleston. Man, was I wrong. The "award winning" crab soup tasted like it came out of a Campbell's soup can. It was a lukewarm slurry of slime and all the crab in it (which wasn't that much) was completely masked by the cream. The shrimp po-boy didn't fare much better. The fried shrimp were soggy and had absolutely no seasoning and were served on a plain bread roll with lettuce and tomato and no sauce. I had to ask for the Remoulade and I got the impression I was seriously inconveniencing the bartender when I did. Obviously this place is a tourist trap and relies solely on one-time business by out-of-towners. I should have asked the locals where they prefer...surely it wouldn't be this dump.

    (1)

  • Bing F.

    A well-established part of Charleston, this place had a line out the door when we first passed it, which is typically a good sign. Deciding to go early the next day, we got in, grabbed an upstairs table (the place seems to go on forever) and enjoyed a very tasty seafood sampler platter which was rated as being for "two people" when it should've actually said "four people." The portions were absolutely astounding. Though a little frenetic in atmosphere, the place had character in spades, from the little placards at each table to indicate which famous person/party sat there (we shared space with AC/DC and The Beach Boys) to inspirational quote cards next to the condiments and the most hilarious men's restroom I've ever been into (won't spoil it - just go and try to keep a straight face.)

    (4)

  • Melissa T.

    Tourist place but great crispy flounder with mango salsa. You should go just to get this. Huge menu and the prices are reasonable. Awesome prices on bottles of wine!

    (4)

  • Brianna M.

    I like how Hyman's puts a lot of effort into making the restaurant (and its marketing) as good as it can be. You can tell that the owners, management and staff really care about the business. I went there for lunch on a Wednesday. It was relatively empty but I think that's because it's not meant to be a lunch place. Perhaps that's why I walked away feeling that the place was a little overpriced. Try the hush puppies. They're worth going back for.

    (3)

  • Rebecca H.

    Some coworkers and I decided to check out Hyman's during our recent visit for work to Charleston. The food was actually really good! We ordered several appetizers to share, including hush puppies, calamari, and a few more. I ordered the Mahi mahi and really liked it for a meal. The portions are extremely generous. The boiled peanuts weren't good...but I've never had them anywhere else. The general store was cool- we had a good time! Hyman's was a lot of fun, if you're in to touristy places and fun food, I recommend it. Giant menu, and even a glatt kosher meal choice :)

    (4)

  • Robert J.

    There are tourist traps that use catchy marketing and cutesy antics to bring people in for mediocre food and lackluster service (think any planet Hollywood on earth)....the. There are local legends that bring people in (yes lots of tourists) based on reputation , good service, and awesome food....Hyman's is definitely the latter. The buffalo shrimp and hush puppies are great, the crab cakes are REALLY good (I can't say better than my grandmother's but one of the closest I've found and that is saying something.). A tourist draw not a tourist trap.

    (5)

  • Stephy S.

    Pretty tasty for a tourist trap. One of the couples in the group wanted to eat here, so that is why we chose the place. The yelp check-in scored us some fried green tomatoes. Not that good, but hey, they were free. The hush puppies were very good, so I would maybe considering coming back here just for them. I had a special fish dish, a certain fish cooked 4 different ways. One style was so spiced I couldn't eat it, but there was so much food on my plate that it did not matter. Everyone enjoyed their food, but hey, when you fry things it can't be that bad :) What was the most enjoyable was their sugar-soap scrub I got to sample in the bathroom. They sell it in the tourist trap store when you exit the restaurant -same concept as Cracker Barrel. One of the gals purchased the sugar scrub. I would have as well, but since I flew into SC and had carry-on luggage, I did not want to mail it back to NY.

    (3)

  • Vicky D.

    This is a great place. The food is great and the price is great also. I was here about 11 years ago and it was great then and even better now. It's been a long time since I've visited my home state of South Carolina, and I really miss that southern hospitality that they have at this restaurant. Looking forward to my next visit to Hyman's.

    (5)

  • Jim B.

    Eagerly anticipated this local landmark - don't know if it was the 2 hour wait and July 3rd crowd/rush, the constant 90 decibel party seated right next to us (drunk, loud, obnoxious) or the food, but this wasn't anywhere near as good as I was hoping. We're from Hampton Roads area of Virginia and have a good idea about what constitutes great seafood - this would rate mediocre, at best. I had the shrimp and grits, deviled crab, and crab cake. The shrimp and grits were pretty good and by far the best thing I had. The deviled crab was so-so, but the crab cak was truly lacking. Our server did her best and did manage to overcome the boorish neighbors, but management did nothing to quiet them down so others could enjoy their meals. We won't be back...it's just not worth the wait.

    (3)

  • Chelsea R.

    Overated for Charleston food.

    (3)

  • Saundra J.

    Plenty of food is served with each meal!! Hyman's maybe tourist spot but you'll never leave here hungry!!!

    (5)

  • Margaret W.

    This place is definitely worth the wait. The service was great and the food was amazing! I've never had shrimp and grits that tasted so good!

    (4)

  • Wendy S.

    great service. great food. The owner even came around and introduced himself. Quite welcoming and food was well worth the wait.

    (4)

  • Dorris T.

    We arrived in Charleston, SC today at 6:30pm and checked into our hotel and went to walk a few blocks to find a place to eat. Well, after 3 blocks we came upon Hymans Seafood. It looked really inviting. I didn't realize how big the place was. They have an upstairs and that is where we sat. The place was really cute with lots of photos of movie stars and such. They have really cute little cards at the table with sayings and such on them. And in the restroom they have these salt scrubs for your hands of apple or lavender. My hands felt so soft after using them. We had a coupon for a free app of fried green tomatoes and grits. That dish was so amazing. I loved the cheesy grits. They were so creamy and delish. Then I ordered the salmon croquettes sandwich and my husband ordered the crab cake sandwich. They both came with Cole slaw and hush puppies. They were both good and the hush puppies are the best I have ever had. We also had the BEST waitress. Karly was super sweet and so attentive. She was so polite too. She took care of us like we were really special. The owner also came over and ask us how every going. We all were stuffed after eating all of the wonderful food. What a great way to start our vacation.

    (4)

  • Jason C.

    Food here is good. I enjoyed the salmon medley with a side of fries (wedge style). Food came fast and was just how I ordered it. Staff was friendly and efficient. This place was packed so I grabbed a seat at the bar. That being said come expecting to wait a little bit. I'm not sure how the table service is since I was at the bar. Overall nice experience.

    (4)

  • Thomas B.

    Just gobbled up 41 large Cajun shrimp with my lovely bride Lisa Barbarick. Not to mention the 15 Hush Puppies. Joshua provided an excellent dining experience. The entire experience was excellent.

    (5)

  • Stacy S.

    Yearly visit, never disappoints! The best service and awesome food! I love the fish and chips.

    (5)

  • Andy H.

    Amazing food!!! Drove from Charlotte just to eat here that's how great the food and service is here!! Can't wait to comeback

    (5)

  • Saniqua P.

    This place is definitely a tourist draw but with good reason so be prepared to wait! My family and I had about a 20 minute wait during lunchtime on a Saturday. We ordered the fried green tomato appetizer (which was free thanks to a Yelp check-in!) with the tomatoes being served on top of cheesy grits (which surprised us). However, the cheesy grits and fried green tomatoes make an excellent combo. The inside has a fun vibe with the tables being marked with the names of celebrities who have eaten there. We just so happened to be seated at table where Martin Sheen and Vanilla Ice once occupied. I ordered the small tossed salad with fried salmon croquettes and was pleasantly surprised to see that the salad came with peas - my favorite! The small portion is still quite hefty so if your eyes are bigger than your appetite, stick with the small portion. Very friendly waitstaff, one of the managers even made the rounds handing out vouchers to get a free magnet located in the downstairs store. FYI: the magnet is not anything to waste your time in getting.

    (4)

  • Jay B.

    This place really lived up to the hype for me. The food I ordered was fantastic, the extra stuff they give (hush puppies/boiled peanuts) were also great, and the service was exceptional. I ordered a pick three combo. It allowed me to pick any three items from a seafood list. I had the mussels, some shrimp and grits, and some crab cakes. Which was enough food but it also came with a side of fried okra. I didn't have a chance to try any desserts. There just wasn't enough room after stuffing myself with everything beforehand. I will have to come back and try again.

    (5)

  • Carlo D.

    Had the calamari po-boy, she crab soup, and flounder were all pretty good. Service was lacking today. Someone from my party ordered a burger and came really late. Plus my entree came before my soup and had to ask for water refill.

    (3)

  • Richard E.

    I love businesses that have great customer service and this is one of them. On my first visit the kitchen was slightly behind so the owner (Eli) came out to the bar area, apologized and played a little game with his patrons that awarded two t-shirts to happy guests. Unfortunately, I was not one of them but still appreciate his awareness of the situation and the manner in which it was handled. The people around me loved the interaction and gesture as well. Oh yeah, did I mention... The food was Great!

    (4)

  • Demi K.

    Southern Charms best kept secret. With a table of 13 people and everyone ordering something different, each bite promised a whirlwind of perfectly blended flavors. When introducing any visitor to charleston I would choose no other restaurant! The staff were so knowledgable and polite. Their teamwork was evident through out the entire meal and made a dinner an experience that was my favorite memory during my week long vacation to charleston South Carolina!

    (5)

  • Cory H.

    Just ate a huge BBQ shrimp Poboy. Freaking awesome!!!!! Add the Cajun mayonnaise to ANYTHING!!! Eli came by the table which was awesome as well as cousin Martin. My family's favorite place for lunch and dinner in Downtown Charleston!

    (5)

  • D K.

    We were in Charleston for my birthday and wanted to splurge on a good, local, family friendly seafood dinner for the event. Many different spots were suggested, but Hyman's was where we settled on, based on Yelp reviews and location. We were not disappointed. We got there about 4:45 to be there for an early dinner (2 young 'uns). No wait at all. We had a very nice, enthusiastic wait person- Greg- who was very good about going over the menu and specialties for us. With the Yelp app, we got a free Fried Green Tomato app to share. I had the Carolina Delight and hubby had the Crispy Flounder. The flounder was literally the size of a plate, and sliced in diamonds for easy eating. Mine was two fried grit cakes with shrimp, alfredo sauce and garlic bread. In addition we got broccoli, cole slaw and hush puppies. The Carolina Delight was delicious, but if I go again (hopefully!) I'll get the appetizer size and get a bowl of she crab soup to go with it. It was a lot of food and very rich. The kids had fried shrimp and a crabcake that were also very good. My 4 year old announced that it was my birthday so we got a piece of key lime pie to share. Yup, that was good too. As we left, there was a line on the sidewalk for a weekday evening, so I'm glad we got there early. We had time to wander up Meeting St to walk through the Circular Church Cemetery and check out the Market.

    (5)

  • Pamela M.

    This was one of many stops to dine in Charleston but this one I must say was overrated! I will say however, its appears to be quite popular and there was a line waiting to get in.....we walked right up soon after they'd opened for the day. We were greeted and seated by a front window which I always dig the window seat of patio. Our waitress was odd, she started out warm and fuzzy then her personality went limp:-(. She wasn't rude, we don't know why her fun side left us (as there were only 2 of us?) Ok so I was still kinda full from a cheese danish and latte' I'd had hours before and it was sooo hot in Charleston, it was hard to work up an appetite. I had the calamari and a broiled crabcake ( a taste of the mac-n-cheese wasn't that great, too much creamy american flavor, I like my mac-n-cheese to BITE and a bit less cheese). My friend had the shrimp & grits, collards and fried oysters. We both had coleslaw ( liked the slaw). The calamari was not fresh, nothing special, the crab cake was delicious broiled and full of chunks of crab. I like the collard greens but my friend did not and she didn't care for the shrimp and grits either.. They offer you these boiled peanuts ( which I understand to be a southern snack,.... I hate those)....I am no fan of grits. I cannot say I would recommend or return but it just seemed hyped up for its reputation

    (3)

  • Lydia K.

    Gluten free? Go elsewhere. I was here on my honeymoon in 2010. We had heard great things about this place so we decided to dine for dinner one night. I'm severely gluten sensitive and immediately explained this to the waiter. He was not very helpful. He basically told us that I didn't have any options. We would have gone elsewhere, but by the time a manager came to speak with us, it was too late to go anywhere else because other restaurants were closing. In the end, I managed to eat something really basic -- and kind of expensive, considering. It was a frustrating experience. There are a lot of amazing restaurants in Charleston. This was honestly the worst experience we had during our entire honeymoon. I would not go back.

    (2)

  • Amy S.

    Excellent experience all around. Was greeted by a friendly hostess outside who directed us in. Our server, Antwan, gave excellent recommendations and was very helpful giving us first timers some help deciding what to order. He was friendly, well-mannered and very knowledgable of the entire menu. We started with the fried green tomatoes and grits which was phenomenal. The grits were creamy and flavorful and the tomatoes were crispy and tasty. I got the fried flounder house special and it was tender, flaky and prepared to perfection. There is a special way to eat it so you don't get any bones which was explained perfectly so I could eat every bit of my meal without a hitch. We got to meet the owner, Eli, and he was very nice and helpful and even took a picture with us! Can't wait to come back again! Definitely a must visit if you're in town!

    (5)

  • Shaun B.

    I love this place. Every time I come to Charleston (on business) I eat here. If your worried about the long lines, I never had a problem. Maybe because I'm usually alone, but from what I can tell they move tables pretty fast. I think the food is great. If there is such a things as comfort seafood that's what they do here. I'm from the Annapolis area and I do know what fresh seafood tastes like, and this place does it well. I also think this is the only place outside of Maryland that knows how to make a decent crab cake. Try their fried oysters too. Their hush puppies are amazing--best hush puppies I've ever had.

    (5)

  • Nathanial W.

    Great experience! The owner even came by our table to see how we were doing. To save time, use the call ahead seating.

    (4)

  • Gabrielle C.

    Oh man. This place deserves it incredible reputation. The place was packed, but it's also gigantic, and we didn't have to wait at all, even on a busy lunch hour a couple days before Christmas. There was a wait for us to get our entrees that seemed to linger past what made sense, and they forgot my sister's okra (which I tasted and were incredible) till the very end, but in the meantime we did get our soups and the most delicious hushpuppies I have ever devoured. The farm-raised salmon was not my favorite, but I got the triple combo thing and got the salmon croquet (holy god so good!) and the crab cake (i'm using sense memory and having another one in my mind's mouth, almost as delicious). The she-crab soup was divine. I also love the tables and seeing who sat at them (Jodie Foster, Judge Wapner, and The Presidents of the United States sat at mine I recall, I imagine all at the same time.)

    (4)

  • Alyssa D.

    The buffalo fried oysters were amazing! Loved everything about that place and will definitely be coming back! Atmosphere was very welcoming as well!

    (5)

  • Justen L.

    good food and taste really good , if presentation of food could be little bit more serious then will be perfect

    (4)

  • Katy S.

    Highly recommended by everyone we have talked to but this place did not live up to the hype. The menu was not accommodating. You have to order everything cooked the same way (all fried, all Cajun ect). Great Margaritas on the rock and wonderful service. It's worth stopping by if there is not a long wait.

    (4)

  • Dariel S.

    Hymans may be pretty touristy but you know what the food was really good. Will it blow your mind? No. But you know what the managers and the staff are really nice and the whole overall experience is nice. If I have any family or friends I would definitely bring them because I know they will enjoy themselves.

    (4)

  • Donald W.

    People line up to eat here? [[ late posting ]] I've been coming to Charleston for some years now, but I had never eaten at Hyman's Seafood, 215 Meeting Street. One reason is that there is often a line outside. There was no wait this time and I needed a convenient place just prior to driving to Mount Pleasant, so I thought I would try this place. It is friendly and casual. And curiously appealing to tourists. It is not a bad place. I had good service and the food was acceptable, though overpriced in my opinion. It smacks of "tourist venue"--not that that is necessarily a bad thing. I would be curious if a local person would ever go here. Many celebrities have apparently eaten here. I sat at an Adam West table which also had an AC/DC notation. Maybe Boy Robin wised up and ate elsewhere! I enjoyed the boiled peanuts and hush puppies. And the place seems to have quite a history apart from celebrity visitors, as does most any old building in Charleston. Maybe you will like Hyman's. It's just definitely not my cup of sweet tea.

    (2)

  • Wayne T.

    The competition is over. BEST KEY LIME PIE .....EVER!!!! A great menu and great food. Our waitress, Erika, was awesome. I would recommend this place very highly.

    (5)

  • Amanda B.

    Always a favorite on any trip to Charleston! They have a wide variety on the Kids Menu and VERY healthy portions there and on the regular menu. Our personal favorites are the Seafood Delight and Buffalo Shrimp. OH, don't pass on the Hush Puppies! Possibly the best I've ever had.

    (5)

  • Dug B.

    Best food in South Carolina! I had the signature dish and it was fantastic. The staff is friendly, so much so that the owner came to the table and talk with us for a while and then asked I we ordered the flounder and since we did not he brought one to us for free just so that we could try it. I will come here every time I am in South Carolina.

    (5)

  • Kathy Y.

    meh not much for a big price - Hubby likes to say if he walks a way hungry for the price we paid and he ate everything on both plates (I didn't care for mine) it is too expensive We did not go back on plus side Hubby said hushpuppies were delicious - that was it

    (2)

  • Christopher E.

    One of my all time favorite restaurants ever! I love the atmosphere, the staff and the food is always AMAZING! It's always fun to look and see which star has sat at your table.

    (5)

  • Gina R.

    I finally got to tryout She Crab Soup and boy I was not disappointed!! It was sooo good and I would recommend trying a bowl the next time you are in Charleston! Also my Husband and I shared the shrimp and grits you better so of that too! This was a last minute idea and I am so glad we did. Hey Guy Fierni from Food Network you should try this NOW!

    (5)

  • Steve B.

    Venue: Hyman's Seafood Decor: Seafood dining style, Seating: wood, Celebrity pictures everywhere Service: As Good as It Got! Environment: Fun, family style, friends Food: Seafood Jack! Prices: Very fair, Reasonable, Affordable Huge Pros: Everything. The Food, Team Portions, The top notch Service, Debbie Downers: Where was a Bed when I needed one? Conclusion: When I think of Hyman's Seafood, I think of instant Southern Hospitality. I've been to plenty of restaurants where the food was good, service was ok. Service was great, food was eh eh eh aight. Even to places where the food was great and the service was great. This review is in the stratosphere where everything in the Spectacular universes aligned. Meaning - the food was SPECTACULAR. The prompt service was SPECTACTULAR. The Portions was SPECTACULAR (TeamPortions). Menu variety was SPECTACULAR!. Appetizer wise, had the hush puppies. Thank goodness they did not put onions in their hush puppies! Not a big fan of fried green tomatoes -HOWEVER, that was the best fried green tomatoes I ever had! Recommended. Also had the Carolina Delight as an appetizer...the Alfredo sauce is something to die for. I had their favorite dish as the entree- the Hyman's Signature Dish Crispy Founder! Man Oh Man. Whoooooo this was the best flounder I ever have. So much fish, so much little room to deposit it! This sucker was 16-20 oz of white flounder meat right off the bone! So Freakin' Good. All that great food I had was down with Team Portions! All of it. It was sorta overwhelming to be honest. Capped it off with courteous pies: key lime, pecan. Cheesecake and homemade ice-cream on the house. That credit for the hospitality goes to our waitress Angel deserves a special shout out. She went out of her way more to take care of my party. Much respect to the manager Brad. He visited our table like a true professional. Very courteous, friendly, gave a lot of information on the history of the restaurant. It was a great experience overall with the staff. You know you're a big deal when you have a general store while exiting the restaurant. Overall: A++++++

    (5)

  • Joe P.

    Celebrities from all over the world apparently pay their respects to Hyman's Seafood whenever they visit Charleston, but after eating at this overrated tourist magnet, I can't quite understand what they're all so excited about. We waited nearly 90 minutes for a table on a recent Sunday night, and that was 90 minutes too long. The food was, for the most part, OK. But with so many FABULOUS seafood restaurants to choose from in Charleston, Hyman's is, quite simply, a big disappointment. I ordered one of the combo platters, with broiled salmon, scallops and a pair of sides. Lots of food, but the hush puppies were overcooked and my she-crab soup arrived at the table almost cold. The service was prompt and friendly, but ... did I mention we waited NINETY MINUTES for a table?! OK, so Hyman's isn't worth the hype. But here's the thing: we arrived in the Holy City with two small kids in tow, which pretty much eliminated local favorites like Husk, FIG and McCrady's. And our four-year-old didn't exactly care that his Mac & Cheese was just as good as what he would have eaten at any neighborhood Chili's. No, I wouldn't recommend Hyman's to a couple looking for a first-class meal on a date night, or for foodies seeking out the latest contender for the James Beard award. But for a family looking for some half-decent seafood with good service in a kid-friendly atmosphere, this place fits the bill. Just make sure you either get there early enough to avoid the wait, or bring a board game to pass the time.

    (3)

  • Lisa P.

    Have eaten here three times hoping it would get better. It did not. The fish is always over cooked. Not worth the time you have to wait to get in. Too many other great restaurants here.

    (1)

  • Alisha P.

    Told them it was our honeymoon and they gave a slice of key lime pie on the house! The crab cakes and hushpuppies were amazing. Definitely one of our favorite restaurants out of all the ones we went to.

    (5)

  • Brandon D.

    First plan to go early or late to avoid the wait. Also, check out the website for a free app coupon. The service here is outstanding! If you want something, just ask for it. Our glasses were never more than half empty before getting filled up. Our waitress also kept asking us if everything was great and if we needed anything. Also, one of the owners came by to speak with us. Such a nice guy, and great to see an owner that truly cares about your experience. The kitchen made a mistake with my crab cake, and it was promptly replaced with a fresh new one. Not a single question was asked! Now, to the food! I ordered the pick three combo. I got snow crab legs, a crab cake, and claim strips. The crabs legs were good, and had a decent amount of meat in them. The claim strips were good also, very fresh, and delicious! The crab cake....was the best I've ever had! Simply put, lots of meat, not much filling! I wished I ordered more. My friend got a buffalo oyster po'boy, and at $20 was quite expensive! However, he said it was delicious and worth every penny of the price. We also got the a free wadmalaw delight app to split as well (check out their website for a coupon for a free one). That was also very good. The grits were cooked perfectly and the sauce added a great flavor to everything. And the fried green tomatoes on top was also great. Overall, great place. But can be a bit pricey.

    (5)

  • Max S.

    First of all let me start off with the fact that it was a little difficult to find the restaurant but I guess after a 550 mile drive. Our reservation was at 8:15 but we arrived after closing at 9:15. They staff were nice enough to let us in the back where there were a few other finishing their food. They gave a southern food called hush puppies which is cornmeal fried into small balls which are great with some butter. Lots of different foods like crab cakes and alligator sausage later it got to the key lime pie which tasted pretty much like most but with a kick. There was a small problem which put it on the verge of having 4 stars which was that they forgot to make the green fried tomatoes for free and when I noted that the waitress immediately offered to pay the money out of her own money which instantly brought it right back, We declined but proves this is a great place to eat

    (5)

  • Rose S.

    Our very last stop, and we're happy we did. Amazing everything! Get all the best of Charleston's food culture in one delicious spot. Loved the boiled peanuts, fried green tomatoes, cheese grits, Bloody Mary, Holy City Porter, she-crab soup, hush puppies, firefly moonshine, oysters on a half shell and the homemade bread pudding! The service is excellent and the owner came and spoke with us. Honestly the best dining experience in Charleston. Make a reservation.

    (5)

  • Paul R.

    For a Thursday night I was surprised for the 40 minute wait. Popular and definitely touristy but they had plenty of nice service. The food here was good. Good as in comfort food good. I had the wadamalan delight grits and green fried tomato for an app. Never been motivated to eat grits but the mix of buttery grits with creamy sauce and melted cheese, Ohh something quite satisfying. Then the fried green tomato in the middle. The hush puppies were hot, crunchy on the outside, moist on the inside, sweet yet not laden with oil. For a side salad it was dressed with cheddar and Parmesan cheeses, crumbled egg, croutons, cucumbers, peas and tomatoes. I order a main dish of Mahi Mahi Cajun style. Cajun was one of nine choices of preparations for your fish. It came out a over done but the flavors were good. There were actual limbs of good crab, and the sweet potato soufflé was tasty. As for some other notes, the menu was laden with choices. I like choices so would not say it was too many, but for the first timer it could take awhile to decide. Something for everyone for sure. Even kosher is covered.

    (4)

  • Christine M.

    great service! Awesome food! Shrimp and grits are da bomb!! Would def return. You won't go home hungry. Be prepared to stomach fried food. Hush puppies are some of the best I've had.

    (5)

  • Gene C.

    Went there in April 2015, great food, lot's of history, service was good given the size of the diner's that night. I was in downtown Charleston, how could i beat that??

    (4)

  • Rachel N.

    This is a good (if not touristy) spot. It's huge on the inside and yet apparently always on a wait. The food was okay but not great. The atmosphere and service were what prompted me to give 4 stars (over 3).

    (4)

  • Jennifer B.

    Nice place to grab a bite to and read the walls of all the celebrities that have dined there. Lots of seafood options. I've taken a couple pictures so you see an idea portions sizes and with the food looks like. If in Charleston again we will come again.

    (4)

  • Bill S.

    What a great experience. Hymanns is the benchmark for seafood in Charleston. Dined at by the rich and famous but priced for the peasants. Huge selections of all types of seafood prepared many different ways. I must eat at for anybody visiting Charleston.

    (5)

  • Shaunna H.

    The food was really good. I'd never had cole slaw with pickle relish before but I could get with that. The menu is extensive but I don't really think you could make bad decision from what I saw. I had the Carolina Delight which is their own version of shrimp and grits. Delicious! There was so much of it, I couldn't finish. The portions were huge. Aside from my two colleagues who ordered the flounder, no one else finished their meal. The reviews of the hushpuppies are not exaggerating. They were GOOD. The service was friendly. One of the owners was even walking around greeting people, asking if they were enjoying their meals. I will definitely eat here again.

    (4)

  • Morgan R.

    I ate here with my family and the experience was fantastic. The service was wonderful and very attentive and the food was better than I expected. The hush puppies are AMAZING. I think I ate 10 of them. The shrimp fettuccine was good as well, and I was served a massive portion of it. Overall, we got plenty of food for our money. We were greeted by two of the owners, who gave us a coupon for free magnets in the general store. Really cute idea. It was a very enjoyable meal and it was really cool to see all the history of the restaurant everywhere you look (Jodi Foster and Earth, Wind, and Fire sat at our table!). The only downside was that there was a bit of a wait and the hostess wasn't very considerate of the fact that my grandma couldn't walk very fast (we got lost in the restaurant). Really fun restaurant, we will be returning!

    (5)

  • C B.

    Great seafood, hush puppies are wonderful with a slight sweetness. Customer service was stellar, the owners even stopped by our table to check on us. Bloody Mary's are perfect, the buffalo oyster poboy is expected remedy good with some of the best poboy bread I have ever had. We also tried the fried green tomatoes and found them to be perfectly cooked through with the right amount of breading, it's a winner!!

    (4)

  • Mary M.

    Two words....TOURIST TRAP. This restaurant is not indicative of the fine culinary offerings of Charleston.

    (2)

  • Jeff C.

    Don't bother...There's a reason Hyman's has a bad rep from most of the locals, it's simply not good. It's a tourist trap and the good reviews come from people that just don't know any better and are tourists. With all Charleston has to offer food wise, don't get trapped here. The service is half assed, the seafood is not fresh, and you have to wait a ridiculously long time to be seated. If you're going to come to Charleston and spend money with the hopes of going somewhere nice to eat, check out Low Country Bistro, Hall's Chophouse, or Fleet Landing. You'll get your money's worth and have a much better experience. And if you don't believe me, ask any local, or if you're staying at a hotel...ask your concierge for a good recommendation.

    (1)

  • Renee H.

    Not a good experience for us at all. Was looking forward to great family night with great seafood. Waiter was clearly very busy- very distracted w friends at another table. We were party of 10. Drinks took 15 minutes to get - appetizers were forgotten - 2nd order of drinks was forgotten and took another 15 minutes. My cousin's order was late- then wrong - then another 15 minutes. Food (Mahi Mahi) was dry and unsavory. Everyone's food was "meh"- okay at best. Would NOT go back again. The only good thing about our visit was the family company. Seemed VERY over priced and over rated for what we got.

    (1)

  • Ron D.

    This may be called a tourist restaurant by some reviewers but we really liked it and is the type of place we would go back to. Service was very good, not a fancy place but if you want to wear your bow tie and spend $250 for two people go to one of the many other fine dining restaurants in Charleston. The hush puppies are fantastic! They are so good they have people standing outside blocks away giving away free samples. I actually watched people sample the hush puppies and promptly head to the restaurant. It's like they are baiting customers with their hush puppies and it works! We did not try a fish entree because we were not even hungry. Just got pulled in by the hush puppies for more and decided to try some fried green tomatoes to go with them. Kind of a unique place. Reminds me of the Crab Cooker in Newport Beach, CA if you have ever been there. Worth trying this place out if you are visiting like us.

    (4)

  • Jodi H.

    For birthday dinner we wanted a good seafood meal and this place did not disappoint. There was a line outside, we had a 20-25 minute wait for a party of 4 however it went quickly as you can wander in the attached general store and they brought out fresh hush puppies for you to sample as you waited. Once seated we were amazed by the number of celebrities that have eaten here. There are white plates hanging on the walls that are autographed by the different celebrities and the tables have little plaques indicating who has sat at that table. Martin Sheen previously sat at our very table. This place has been family owned and operated for generations and they boast that one of the family members is always on staff on the premises. Sure enough we were greatest by Cousin Martin who checked in to make sure we had everything we needed. They offer bread or boiled peanuts for the table. Go for the boiled peanuts. You are in the South try them! You will like them. You can get bread anywhere. I started my dinner with their signature Bloody Mary. Hands down the BEST Bloody Mary I've ever had. I like them spicy and with the Absolut Peppar, the horseradish and spices it was expertly mixed, poured and devoured. For dinner I had the 3-combo choosing shrimp and grits, light Cajun shrimp and the crab cake. I chose collards for my side and all meals come with cole slaw and hush puppies. The shrimp and grits were creamy and the Parmesan sauce was rich and buttery, the light Cajun shrimp lightly sautéed with just a hint of kick, the crab cake was heavy on the breading yet still maintained big chunks of crab. The collards were earthy, vinegary with little bits of smoked meat, the cole slaw was tangy with a hint of sweetness. Don't forget to try to Cajun Mayo on the table. It is like a spicy tartar sauce and a perfect compliment to the hush puppies. Service was incredible. Well worth the wait and price.

    (5)

  • Louise M.

    Had the shrimp and grits, with fried oysters. Amazing. Will be back when I'm in town again to try more. Didn't like how there are shell bits in the oysters but they warn you about it. One of the owners came out to greet us. My Georgia Peach drink was great as well.

    (5)

  • Jeff G.

    Hyman's was a great all around experience. The Salmon Medley and hush puppies were highlights. The only drawback was that the rice they served the fish on was a little undercooked. Also probably too much fried food for my taste, but that's the South for you! What the food lacked (it didn't lack much... except for the rice I loved my meal) the atmosphere and service made up for. While we were eating the restaurant owner came to our table and personally thanked us for coming. For as big as this place is, personally greeting your customers is quite a feat. In general, you get a strong sense of southern hospitality and great service here. They have little cards with Hymans maxims on the tables and free stickers outside bathrooms, plaques of where famous people have sat, etc. It was just a generally fun experience with well thought out services that make you feel welcome. Definitely stop by this quality Charleston establishment!

    (4)

  • Eric B.

    This restaurant is just hands down awesome. We ate early around 530pm on a Saturday evening and waited around 40 min for a party of seven people. The wait however was a pleasurable experience as the Hymans staff from the gift shop area brought us small ice cream samples and a drink and popcorn for my wife who is pregnant without any request from us at all. (That was very very nice). As we were seated at a table that was previously sat at by the likes of billy Joel and Metallica the server greeted us promptly and took our drink order and did a great job throughout the meal. During the meal we were visited by one of the owners Eli Hyman who is 4th generation Hymans family and he was very personable and engaged in making sure our experience was fantastic, he's a real nice guy. The food was spectacular, we had the fried tomatoes app thing and it was crazy good!! Then I had the shrimp and grits which was also spectacular. Love this place. Highly recommend!!!!

    (5)

  • Rick T.

    Well before I knew about all the best local places I use to come here and wait in the very long and unmoving lines like everyone else. Why you ask I just bought into the hype and wasn't familiar with the area. I would order the fried lobster and it would really put a hole in my wallet. Like many of the other Yelpers said this place is a tourist trap indeed, that's my opinion and frankly the truth. Charleston is full of other options for shorter lines and better dinner prices.

    (2)

  • Larry H.

    Hyman's is by far the best restaurant with the best seafood my wife and I have ever had!! Highly highly recommend. Angel is a hostess there and she was just fun. The whole experience was great.

    (5)

  • Shane B.

    Welcoming , cozy and relaxing lunch. We were welcomed by the General Manager as we walked in the door. We were seated right away, and was greeted promptly by the 5th generation owner. He suggested great winners for our lunch selections. Our choices was the She-crab soup and the Carolina Delight, paired with a smooth Pino. Will definitely return to this local gem.

    (4)

  • Matthew K.

    My wife and I went here for lunch. I knew it was a bit of a Charleston establishment, but I had no idea how big this place was. We sat down and each table had little placards on them denoting some famous person that sat there. I started to get the feeling that this place was a tourist destination more than anything... The menu is extensive, and they have lots of different fish options to choose from. We each ordered a Po Boy sandwich, my wife got fried catfish, and I had fried oysters (which the oysters were listed as market price). They also brought out a bowl of boiled peanuts which I really enjoyed. Each sandwich came with hushpuppies, which were great, and coleslaw. The coleslaw wasn't very good and very bland. The sandwiches were huge. But they were nothing to write home about. Overall, it was ok, until I got the bill. $21 for a fried oyster sandwich!!! I live in the midwest, and I can get oysters cheaper than this. I guess I should know better, but I was not expecting to pay over $20 for a sandwich. Needless to say I won't be going back.

    (2)

  • Heather W.

    We had 20 minutes to eat. Perry recommended the perfect picks! Fried green tomatoes, lobster bisque, & salad. Throw in a few Bloody Marys.....mmmm! I have a feeling that there is not anything BAD on this menu! After 5 generations in business, the Hyman family has the restaurant business down! One of the owners chatted with us as we waited (briefly) for food. Great customer service all around!

    (4)

  • Abie L.

    First time to visit this place since we have lived here, We ordered different types of appetizers. For a family of 4 we spent about $50. We ordered Shrimp & grits, stuffed mushrooms (which had Way too much cheese), Green tomatoes (check in yelp for a free coupon),dozen raw oysters, large salad, and hush puppies. Don't forget you get free boiled peanuts. Our friends ordered a seafood pizza and i was soooo good. Great service staff. This is a place I would visit again.

    (4)

  • Michael L.

    Hyman's Seafood is a place we dine every time we come to Charleston. The place is unpretentious and just darn good. The scallops are so sweet and fresh, the mussels are delicious, hush puppies are great, the fried green tomatoes and grits are authentic. You can't go wrong with any of the soups either. The service great and oh yeah the calamari is just so tasty too. Make it part of ypur trip to Charleston!

    (5)

  • Kathleen S.

    By far the best restaurant I have been to in South Carolina! Boiled peanuts to munch on while you wait, love, love, love that! The hush puppies were DELICIOUS! The salmon, shrimp, slaw and fresh made sangria were all SO good. Awesome atmosphere, inviting and friendly staff and even a personal visit to each table by the owner, Eli. Thanks for an awesome experience! We are visiting from Greenville and will definitely be back.

    (5)

  • Alicia A.

    Tourist trap! Dirty, crowded, very average, very greasy food. Skip the line and go to AmenStreet for quality food, beautiful atmosphere and excellent seafood!

    (1)

  • Joe T.

    Had dinner here with friends for lack of research on our part and waiting to the last minute. They are open a little later than other locations and do not take reservations. Place sort reminds me of Disneyland. You enter on the first floor, take the stairs where a majority of the seats are, and down a different set of stairs to exit through a gift shop. The second floor stretches across several buildings so the floor is uneven and you are thinking where is the hostess taking me? It was towards closing time by the time we were seated. Service was a little slow initially. Food options are plentiful. Everything we ordered, when it finally arrived, was pretty good. It was better than I expected. I would definitely try them again as everyday I walked by this place, there was always a line.

    (3)

  • Mark Z.

    Touristy but that is expected for the area. Good service and friendly staff. The crab cake sandwich was very good. The hush puppies were surprisingly good. The award winning "She" soup didn't impress.

    (4)

  • Troy S.

    Tourist trap, yes it is. I am sure locals roll their eyes at this place, but I loved it. First of all they have a yelp check in special with a free appetizer, good choice. We receive two ordered of fried green tomatoes, one with grits and cheese and another plain. I don't get friend green tomatoes but the grits were good. The hush puppies were greasy goodness. They might not be the healthiest but I thought they were the best hush puppies that I have had this week. The meals were buffalo shrimp po boy, fried clams po boy, and a shrimp po boy. All of us loved our meals as I really like my buffalo shrimp. My shrimp were perfectly cooked. We were all packed by the end of the meal. Prices are a little high but they brought extra hush puppies and a free app. Plus there were a ton of shrimp on my po boy. The service was incredibly friendly and hopeful. Our waiter was funny and congenial. Service was quick and the manager even stopped by the table. The table was also perfect size as my daughter was able to stand underneath the table and look out the window. The biggest drawback are the bathrooms as they are not family friendly. The diaper rack is right above the urinal in the men's room and the woman's changing table blocks the door when down. Maybe they have a family bathroom but we didn't see it. We had to wait and change her at the car. The place has a large upstairs that can seem confusing at first. I had actual eaten here when I was 18 and remembered once I looked at the famous nameplates on each table. I ate where AcDC ate. Don't worry about it being a tourist trap, stop in and enjoy the meal.

    (5)

  • Bryan S.

    I was recommended to Hyman's by a local taxi driver. She described it as the best place in town for seafood. I agree! What a fun place with great food. Our server Jennifer was very helpful and really great at what she does. I would highly recommend the fried green tomatoes.

    (5)

  • Corey R.

    This place is quiet touristy but I love their food and staff. I always get the bone in flounder and it is to die for. I also always get the fried freen tomatoes with grits cheese and some type of sauce (i cannot think of what it is called right now!) Definitely worth a try if you haven't eaten here yet!

    (5)

  • Toya C.

    Love this place, have eaten here about 3 times since my husband introduced it to to me about 4 years ago. The best hushpuppies I have ever, ever had. Huge tasty hushpuppies (without onions, which I LOVE even more). They have a sweet taste, most places taste like dry batter fried in oil. The first time I ate here I got the shrimp and grits and boy was it worth it. A huge plate of grits with a generous amount of shrimp. The most recent trip about 2 months ago I got the flounder with spicy apricot sauce, very tasty and this time I purchased the hushpuppy mix to attempt to make at home. Shared the carolina delight which was fried grits cake with shrimp sort of like shrimp and grits with sauce as an appetizer. Very good. No over powering seasoning. Cool environment, upstairs and downstairs seating, sea like decor. The other special thing about the decor was the celebrity filled walls with autographs. They have a general store that you can' help but shop in because you exit that way. They have their own brand of sea salt with different smells such as cinnamon, vanilla, etc. I love, love, love this place. Highly recommend

    (5)

  • Mike M.

    wow went here for fathers day. was treated very well, food was outstanding. had the fish and chips and my wife had the snow crab legs, amazing! our server was a nice young lady called Angel, well done well be back!

    (5)

  • Melissa S.

    I felt the food was just ok. The staff is very hands on and definitely make sure you are pleased. There portions are big. The atmosphere is kinda interesting they have lots of pictures of famous people. The tables are marked with places of who has sat there. My table was marked with hootie and the blow fish, vanilla ice, the beach boys, and a couple more. There gift shop had great hand scrubs.

    (3)

  • Anthony R.

    We came to Hyman's with very high expectations. The name alone is very popular, and the prices were affordable. First, I'll say the food was absolutely delicious. We had the shrimp and grits (both traditional and Carolina style), the shrimp and pups, and several other things. All were amazing. The service, on the other hand, was something different. It started off great; less than five minutes after being seated, we were greeted by the owner who was very nice. However, our server was rude, to say in the least. She constantly reminded us that it was extremely close to closing (something we were unaware of when we walked in the door, as the restaurant was packed) and scowled at us when we said we wanted to order several appetizers instead of individual entrees (most of their most popular items are offered as appetizers, so we wanted to try as much as possible). Throughout the rest of the meal, she walked past our table time after time without so much as looking at us. We had one drink refill the entire meal, and our food items were delivered by other employees instead of our waitress. We would gladly have made this restaurant a regular stop every time we visit Charleston, but we don't really appreciate paying to be treated like crap. Very disappointing.

    (1)

  • Julie H.

    Great food and pleasant service in a casual atmosphere. I had the 3 piece combo; lightly seasoned Cajun baked cod, it was great. Fried oysters were great. Crab cake was small but yummy. I highly recommend & will go back next time I'm in Ctown!

    (4)

  • Ashton P.

    The food is never fresh! This is the worst seafood you can get in Charleston; most of it is just about to spoil. The owners/managers offer great service, but the food and marketing tactics are poor.

    (1)

  • Ross S.

    Food was ok, service not so great. Had to keep reminding the waitress to bring us items we asked for. She offered us the boiled peanuts and never brought them. Asked for extra napkins, never got them. Definite tourist trap when they have a gift shop attached.

    (2)

  • sharon c.

    The service at Hyman's was very good. Attentive and courteous. However I have had better fried green tomatoes in Minneapolis MN. The oysters were good and so was the sweet tea.

    (2)

  • Molly N.

    Tough place to get in. Waited about 35 min. But if you want traditional seafood dinners this is the place. The fried green tomato app was my favorite. Their hush puppies were sweet warm bites of yummies. I had a combo of fish, shrimp and crab cake. All were good. My friend had salmon four ways. She said it was tasty but we had asked if it was wild or farmed, the menu said farmed the server said wild? We aren't sure! Still a good reliable seafood joint. Seemed big enough to accommodate large groups!

    (3)

  • Annie T.

    I cannot even begin to say how impressed my entire family was with Hyman's while we visited out of town on vacation. At first, there was a mix-up with our reservation but the manager fixed it right away and our group of 15 was seated within 15 minutes upon arrival. As soon as we walked in we were greeted by every server that we saw. Once seated our drink orders were taken and the owner even came around and explained how the menu worked and introduced himself. He offered his opinion on the best dishes and was so friendly you would have thought that we were a part of the family. As a drink I ordered the bloody mary which was so delicious that we even bought the mix downstairs afterwards. My husband and I got their Carolina Delight appetizer which was AMAZING and totally lived up the hype. Along with the meals came hush puppies and coleslaw. For dinner I got the Crab Cakes and my hubby got the Shrimp & Grits - both were absolutely amazing. I cannot say enough great things about our experience here. We ate at a couple of different restaurants and everyone in my family loved Hyman's the best. The service, food, and prices just cannot be beat! If I go back to Charleston, this will certainly be another place to stop :)

    (5)

  • Deb B.

    Hyman's is a great local joint. Now that Garibaldi's is gone, they have the best crispy flounder in town ! :) It's a great place for all y'all tourists downtown!

    (3)

  • Ann S.

    Outdoor television motoring system, relays available tables in a snap. Friendly hostess instructed us where to find our table upstairs. We're in a mood for a light snack and with that said, ordered a dozen of raw oysters to start. Endless excuses from waiter on why the oysters haven't appeared after 20 minutes, we canceled our order and walked to another establishment.

    (1)

  • Marina C.

    Hyman's is a tourist trap. End of discussion. If you are visiting Charleston, go somewhere else that actually serves a quality meal to you instead of a convenient location.

    (2)

  • Brian B.

    Is this place touristy? Absolutely, but it's a fun place with good food so it's absolutely worth a stop.

    (4)

  • Mia D.

    On our first trip and first evening in Charleston, SC, we dined at Hyman's. The casual friendly staff guided us through the extensive menu. The owner, Eli, even came by and greeted us and recommended his favorite house specialties. The seafood is amazing! She-Crab Soup, Crab-Cakes, Salmon Cakes, Low-Country Gumbo, Scallops, Fried Whole Grouper. Lots of of fun surprises throughout the huge restaurant...celebrity photos, fun signs, words of wisdom...You'll see! We ate there every meal while in Charleston! Eli & staff made us feel like family. Thank You!

    (5)

  • Foley J.

    I was with family and friends in Charleston for my birthday weekend from florida. I ordered the swordfish and it was out of this world . The the staff is very good and the owner is the nicest small business owner you will ever meet we will be back .

    (5)

  • Rodney L.

    Great food and Lindsay did a great job taking care of us. Will for sure come back. Great food and great service.

    (5)

  • Terry V.

    Worst meal so far in Charleston. In fact the whole experience was lousy, from the off duty hostess with a macdonalds cup in her hand greeting us at the door and telling us to stand outside in the rain to await a table, in spite of the place being almost empty. Then we were sent alone upstairs with a table number to try to figure out where we were supposed to sit. The menu, in addition to having some political middle eastern manifesto penned by the owner, was over loaded with options. The shrimp po boy was completely tasteless. The waiter was somewhere in space as he took our order. He completely forgot to bring the mac and cheese, he brought the fried pickles when we were almost finished eating, rather than as the appetizer we ordered. We were brought two free appetizers that we had no desire to eat and left untouched on the table. I told the waiter I could not eat cole slaw, and was told there are no substitutions allowed. And then the waiter proceeded to bring a bowl of cole slaw and drop it under my nose; not even with the sandwich, but up front as an appetizer.The maze to exit wasn't helped, as worker after worker stood in our way conversing with one another and ignoring us, and that was after waiting twenty minutes to get our check, causing us to be late to our next venture. The owner stopped by our table to say hello shortly after we arrived. Seems like a nice guy, but clearly he is responsible for his completely inept staff. I am visiting Charleston for a month and live right around the corner. I could have been a regular. Instead I will never go there again, and tell everyone that asks how ridiculously awful this place is.

    (1)

  • Paul C.

    Totally overrated and not worth the wait. A great place for tourists that don't know what good seafood is.

    (1)

  • Rob L.

    Hyman's Seafood is an amazing restaurant with phenomenal service. Stephanie behind the bar is super cool and both Cass and Max (managers) checked on us to make sure all was good. As a "foodie" traveling the county trying one restaurant after another, I highly recommend this place. Not "touristy" at all, and a very cool place to hang out! A "must visit" place!!

    (5)

  • Amy G.

    No! No! No! Ewe. Ewe. Ewe. This place is the biggest fried-food, gimmicky tourist trap in that city. Gross. After eating here (I got the crab cakes), I felt disgusting. Like a gigantic, walking fried crab cake. Not a good feeling. None of the food was over-the-top yummy to me. You could get the same stuff at Red Lobster. As for the decor, all of the celebrity crap hung on the walls and nailed onto the tables is a bit tired. Also, the manager who walked around, introducing herself to guests and encouraging them to wear this dumb sticker (because if you get caught wearing it on the street, you get a $25 gift card!!!) was just rude, I thought. Yeah, I'm here at your restaurant, but I don't want to walk around all day, giving you free advertising. No! Bad taste, Hyman's. What's equally tacky is that they have you walk through their general store to exit. You're refused if you attempt to exit the way you came in -- through the front doors. But wait! There's more! If you spend at least $30 on your meal, you can get a Hyman's t-shirt for $4! Wow! Taste. Less. This restaurant does not live up to the authentic southern soulful seafood family spot that's been described on here. Hyman's, I know you've got some stiff competition in that city. My advice? If you want to live up to your supposed southern charm, drop the ad campaigns and up the sincere authenticity.

    (2)

  • Whitney P.

    Pretty good, we got the fried green tomato appetizer, she crab soup was pretty good, didn't like the bacon and cheese on the shrimp and grits, made it too greasy, you can get it without that. They have plaques on the tables that show celebrities who have dined at that table, pretty neat. Hush puppies were amazing!

    (4)

  • Brad H.

    Excellent food. Awesome bloody Mary, great hush puppies. I had the Cajun style shrimp po boy which was excellent. 5 star place at a really good price. I don't know what else to say...we all loved our meals

    (5)

  • Jim C.

    Sure, it's a tourist trap, but it's a tourist trap for a reason. Big, heaping plates of seafood for not a lot of money... what more could you want? I *love* the Buffalo shrimp appetizer, and the main dishes arrived quickly and were perfectly cooked. My only complaints are: a) the long wait during rush hours; b) the slightly confusing menu (if you order a "platter", you can choose from items on the menu, or items from a chalk board which are in categories. It's needlessly complicated); and c) they serve Pepsi. Blech!

    (4)

  • Alishah N.

    I'd heard of Hyman's before I'd even arrived in Charleston. There's little else I could say to convince you to go, other than point you to the 200+ reviews of Hyman's...

    (4)

  • Thomas W.

    My family told me it was a fish fry worth paying for so I flew down from Atlanta and definitely loved the fried platter. Can't wait to go back for round two...

    (4)

  • Kevin I.

    When I visited Charleston back in March of 2011, I know this is one of the places to dine in, but it did meet expectations but did not exceed because many were fried and/or tasted like it came from a fridge as like a typical seafood reastuarant would be like. I personally ordered Buffalo Oysters (pretty nice although I wished it was not fried rather cooked and grilled), Fish #1 (which sadly I forgot what type of fish I had, =P, but it was better than average) and Prince Edwards Island Mussels (which was the best among the trio and was excellent), thier other sides like Baked Potato and Hush Puppies Cole Slaw and such are average still not the best I had. That is the food, now is the setting, overall the restaurant environment is pretty good, althought crowded, it does show boldly that it is because of how old and traditional it is to Charleston, SC. And it's free stickers and magnets and information are nice, but make sure take what the limit says, ;-)! Overall 3 is a bit too low, 5 is a bit too high in rating-wise. I give it a 4, but I definitely will recommend a visit when you head down to Charleston.

    (4)

  • Natalie M.

    This place is really good. The hush puppies are the best I've ever tasted. It does have a lot of choices in fish and it is cooked very well, but you could easily get the same fish somewhere else for a cheaper price. It's just more expensive because of its reputation. But I'd definitely go back (:

    (4)

  • Aaron S.

    Great food, great atmosphere. Very friendly staff. A must-do in Charleston. Family friendly.

    (5)

  • Tanya S.

    Tasty seafood! And fun southern dishes - like fried green tomatoes. A pleasure to eat there :)

    (4)

  • Jen L.

    I heard a lot of hype about Hyman's, but unfortunately it didn't live up to the hype. The food was okay. My table split the crab cakes and the combo platter. The portions are generous and we were stuffed. However, I grew up eating fresh seafood caught in the morning, and this was not as fresh as they claim. Overall, good experience. Nice location. Lots of history in the building.

    (3)

  • Michelle T.

    GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE & Wonderful organization! But.... 1) went for dinner on a Tuesday night with a party of 9 and had to wait for about an hour to actually be seated. Understandable for a large party as well as it being summer time.. which might increase the wait time due to tourist season. 2) after ordering it took about 45 minutes before our food was served. - don't get the 7 combo platter. Maybe we just chose the wrong things (calamari, snow crab leg, buffalo shrimp and buffalo oyster, light cajun swordfish, salmon and grits with brown gravy and fried oyster) but serving was too small to be ~$40 for 2 people. Understandable the price for all the seafood but there was absolutely nothing about the flavor that could keep me coming back for more. Sister had the shrimp fettucine which was tastier and better than what I ordered. Aside from the bland seafood which has been raved about so frequently, its nice to hit this spot if your around shopping and there isn't a wait... They also give vouchers for homemade ice cream or popcorn (a plus for children). Being a tourist and first time in Charleston, I'd say this is a tourist trapped I got sucked into. Maybe MAYBE I'll go just to try it again next time I'm in Charleston.

    (2)

  • Jody A.

    By far one of the best family restaurants ive ever been to! Yo_ leave feeling like one of the many celebrities that have eaten there!! A must for southern seafood lovers!

    (5)

  • Sumner B.

    I am sorry, but this restaurant is highly overrated. The crab cakes only had partial crab and too much "other items" and way too much spices and flavors...Crab meat is great just by itself. The waiter recommended mac cheese but it was dry, not flavorful and "old" looking. Our fish dish was just ok, and the she crab soup so salty that we never ordered it again at any other restaurant we visited in So. Carolina. The only thing that came close to being good was the hush puppies, yet "locals" highly recommended this restaurant as the best in town!

    (2)

  • Gayle C.

    Yes, I'm a tourist. Which would be the only reason I would be in this area to begin with. I am from Hawaii and almost never go to Waikiki. With that said, this is a not to be missed!! Even the wait was fun, they brought out hush puppy samples to the sidewalk. The food was great, huge amounts and I was stuffed to the gills. Wait staff was excellent and got all of our orders right, especially since the 10 of us needed separate bills (don't you just love tourist on a business trip)!! Would definitely return if someone in the group wanted to go there.

    (4)

  • Ashley K.

    My boyfriend and I traveled to Charleston on a whim over winter break. When we got there we knew nothing and went exploring. After many expensive meals that we were not all that big of fans of we discovered Hyman's. I gotta admit, we loved it!! There are pictures of celebrities all over the walls and their plaques are on the tables. The food was great and the service was up to par as well. There was also an older man who came around to talk to all the tables during the afternoon while we were there who made us feel at home. Every tourist needs to check this place out while in Charleston!

    (5)

  • Kim F.

    This was a touristy type establishment. Not bad but not the best seafood I have had. Although it is your best bet for Charleston. You wouldn't think so but from what I have heard from locals and non locals it's about the best you will find. We had for starters the fried green tomatoes. They were noticeably fried in flour or a more flour than meal mix. Being that I prefer ( along with most people from the deep south) my green maters battered in corn meal the "maters" were a big let down. The calamari were good. Others with me ordered the shrimp and grits and immediately were wowed with how flavorful it was. They Loved it. The coleslaw was a vinegary mix that I was not thrilled about but it was edible. The steamed shrimp were seasoned well. The service was great. They are attentive and friendly. That is a great plus for any establishment! They give you ice cream samples for dessert. (big)

    (3)

  • Frank B.

    Legal Seafood has nothing to worry about ! If you read my review of Legal I thought they hand lost their competitive edge and were running on their reputation, well they have it all over Hyman's. For starters we shared the she crab soup,not exciting and cold. This was to set the pace for the rest of the meal. For the entree I ordered from the daily catch ,my choice was swordfish Cajun style ,w/ red rice. The portion cut was thin and dry with a so so flavoring of Cajun spice, the red rice was dry and bland, also served cold,who'd have guest. My wife ordered a oyster poorboy ,decent size ,fry ed golden crunchy,but again cold!! When she noticed it had no remoulade or accompanying sauce we asked then realized why the food is cold 'the kitchen is damn near a mile away across the distance of three buildings and up two floors. At the end of dinner,the owner introduced himself to us, and when he found we were from the Boston area I almost laughed when he compared Hyman's to Legal Overall not worth the wait 'long or short' One good thing were the hushpuppys

    (2)

  • Dennis s.

    Ok, I can back with friends who insisted on going. This place does the best marketing in all of charleston. ...wish they would focus a little more on their food, very inconsistent. Our food, party of seven, came out three different times. Cajun spices was salty as hell on fish but very good on shrimp. Great hush puppies though. I think I'm done with this place

    (2)

  • Andy N.

    Most overrated place in Charleston. If you like the food then you don't have taste buds... Good service though, but I don't eat out for service.

    (3)

  • Mark C.

    Stay away. This is a classic tourist trap, they treat the customers like cattle going to slaughter, just about everything is fried or has some sort of cream/butter sauce. First we waited for 10 min even though the place was half full. While it could pass a health inspection, the restaurant didn't feel or appear that clean. There are too many other choices in Charleston to have to make a bad one with Hymans.

    (1)

  • Najaf A.

    Seriously terrific seafood! Love the way they have the menu structured which allows you to try different kind of fish. The fish is cooked to your specification. Also, the fish was fresh and succulent. I love seafood and I have eaten at many seafood restaurants and I can honestly say this is among the best if not the best. It also helps they are popular and they move the fish as well as the fact they are off the Atlantic coast in Charleston. The restaurant has been visited by many popular people and dignitaries over the years and there are lots of pictures on the walls so it's like a museum. The tables are also labeled with the names of the personality that sat there. I got to dine on the same table as Adam West (batman)!! Finally, both owners dropped by to say hi which shows they are engaged with their operation. This was pleasant and also speaks volumes of this place. I'd give it more than five stars if I could.

    (5)

  • Kristi G.

    Definitely just a tourist destination. Food was mediocre at best and inedible at worst. Service was exceptional, but part of the restaurant experience is actually liking what you eat. I would not recommend coming here unless you are fine with deep fried generic food, nothing extraordinary.

    (1)

  • Steve I.

    Heard a lot of good things, so had to try it out on our last night. Got there early, about 530, and already a 20 minute wait which was surprising but made us even more excited to try it out. Hit the bar for a couple of very reasonably priced drinks for Charleston and noticed they have a really solid happy hour during the week. Our bartender Sam was great and very pleasant despite how busy she was scrambling. Made it upstairs and was shocked how large the place is. Unfortunately with that size and the wooden walls it was a very noisy environment which became more obvious with a couple of younger visitors making their frustrations known. Not overwhelming - but definitely not a venue for a quiet romantic evening meal. Menu was huge and the waiter was quick with some recommendations. Overall the food was very good. I had a combo of crab stuffed Mahi, crab cake and salmon croquette while my wife had the salmon medley. Lots of flavors (bought a jar of their Cajun seasoning downstairs), very good portions for a really good value. Only complaint was all the fish was overdone. In retrospect I am surprised that the server didn't ask how we wanted it prepared because we both would have gone a bit more rare, especially on the salmon. But it was all very good regardless. The crab cake was a bit in the small side - but very meaty with little filler and the croquette was definitely a hit for both of us. Overall solid dining experience, but definitely left with the impression they are trying to cater to the masses and move a large number of folks through. Would definitely recommend it as it's by far one of the better values in downtown for solid food at very reasonable price, but if you like your fish to be more on the rare side, definitely let them know when placing your order.

    (3)

  • Meredith V.

    Just not a fan. Hyman's caters mainly to long lines of tourists and serves sub-par seafood. There are so many better seafood joints in Charleston. I won't be back.

    (2)

  • Vy D.

    Went here for the first time ever during lunch with a coworker. The service was fast and friendly and the food was delicious. The portion sizes were also huge. I would definitely return. My coworker had the Buffalo Shrimp Po Boy and I had the broiled crab cakes. I was surprised at how good the crab cakes were - they had a good amount of crab meat and not too much filler. I'm a Charleston native and can't believe I waited so long to try this place!

    (5)

  • Amy F.

    Hyman's made us feel like V.I.P.s! I've been to Hyman's several times in the past so I knew the food was wonderful. But during our visit, Cousin Martin and Eli Hyman both stopped by to welcome us and to chat. They were both so kind and treated us as if we were at their own homes for dinner. The food was perfect. I am gluten free and was kinda bummed since the times I had eaten here before were prior to my diagnosis.... and I lovvveeee me some fried oysters. I worried that my choices were going to be so limited. They have one of the best GF Menus that I've ever seen! I ordered the grouper cooked Cajun style with greens and squash casserole. Ohh em gee. All of it was so good, but the squash casserole was the star of the show. Everyone loved their meal. At the end, Eli stopped by with a piece of Keylime pie for the table. Soo good! That Eli... what a sweetheart!

    (5)

  • Jenna K.

    To each their own (referring to the bad reviews) but I love Hyman's. It's one of few places that actually have vegetarian options for me and a variety of choices of different seafood/fish for my husband. I do agree with the way they send people inside and up the stairs to the hostess/seater person is a bit unconventional and I don't particularly care for it but the food and service makes up for it.

    (5)

  • Terry L.

    Hush puppies are wonderful and slightly sweet. She crab soup is good, except it was not quite hot enough. The Carolina grit cake with shrimp appetizer was awesome, you have to try it!!! It and the hush puppies are worth the trip. All the staff were very friendly and the owner stopped by and chatted. Very casual, you may have to wait for a table because it is very popular. We waited about 25 minutes for a table, when we arrived around 1 PM for lunch. But that was their estimated wait time and they were accurate. When we left, there were people waiting to be seated, but that just says how good their food and friendly service is. You can wait outside, in the bar, or next door they have a shop for various thing where you can browse and stay out of the heat, and you can hear your name called inside the shop.

    (4)

  • Krasi Y.

    I have visited Charlestone maybe 20 times but never visited this place before. It's awesome. The whole dinning experience, the menu, the seating, just every detail. The service is great, even the owner stopped by the table and checked on us and had a little chat. We tried bunch of different types of food. Loved the most of them. They have some nice local brews too. The tables have little small plaques and showing who has been sitting there before( someone famous) Just a very good place to visit and enjoy some food.

    (5)

  • Christine E.

    Came here our first afternoon in charleston. We both had the shrimp po'boy, broiled. Not sure what it was but the tomato that came with it just threw off the entire taste. We enjoyed it more by just eating the shrimp out of the po'boy. I had the red rice and he got the Cajun French fries. Both were good but we were disappointed that you couldn't substitute these for the cole slaw that comes with the meal (I get sick off cole slaw that has too much mayo; therefore I tend to avoid it). I did have a moonshine margarita, very tasty. Overall, it was a good lunch but not sure we would come here again, especially with all the options in charleston.

    (3)

  • Dennis P.

    A bit of a tourist trap, but they still had some of the delicious seafood options that we don't see much of in the Midwest.. Big plates lots of food to fill you up.. the southern hospitality way... A must try if you are going to visit Charleston, SC..

    (4)

  • Audrey C.

    So affordable. So delicious. This food is fantastic, the people are genuinely committed to customer service. Hyman's shirts are all over Knoxville (TN) and now I know why! Knoxvillians love good food and kind people and Hyman's delivers both! The affordable prices are a true act of practicing what they preach. I love it here.

    (5)

  • Mike P.

    Great food here. Shrimp and Grits were amazing, and the Hush Puppies were first-rate. I wasn't really looking for 5-star service here, so I was not disappointed by the lack of it. The line forms out the door for a reason; just don't plan on going when it's that long :)

    (5)

  • Gina C.

    My husband and I came here for a late lunch upon arriving to Charleston around 3:00 and it was packed! We started off with the complimentary boiled peanuts. Eating them brought back memories from childhood. I loved them then and still love them now. We shared the fried flounder. It was a huge whole piece of fried fish w/o the head. It was def enough for 2 people. The fish was flaky but I thought it didn't have any flavor. It came with a sweet apricot sauce on the side, but I didn't like it too much. It also came with 2 hush puppies, coleslaw, and a side. The hush puppies are so good! I took a bite of my hush puppy and then turned my head to look at something and it was gone off of my plate. My husband ate mine when I wasn't looking. We had to order another side of them. I didn't try the slaw, bc I didn't care for it, but my husband said it was okay. We chose the sweet potato casserole as our side and it wasn't the best either. Our service was okay and the manager came around to check on everyone that was dining.

    (3)

  • Clinton A.

    Excellent food, the atmosphere is great and the staff showed outstanding hospitality. I highly recommend dining at Hymans when in Charleston. You won't regret it!

    (5)

  • Jill P.

    Absolutely delicious!! Came here with my husband and sister and absolutely everything we tried was delicious!!!!! :) We will be back when we're in the area again. Definitely recommending this for anyone who likes seafood! And try the deviled crab!

    (5)

  • Patrick F.

    The service was great, the food was awesome and the Hushpuppies were to die for!!!! Come hungry and order the Hushpuppies. Not sure if I mentioned the Hushpuppies , but you have to order them.

    (5)

  • Amy C.

    Hymans is a great seafood choice. As a visitor to Charleston, I only heard about it from the advertising once in town. It was apparently voted one of the top seafood restaurants in the south. They did not take a reservation beforehand, so we put our name down and was told it would be a 30 - 45 minute wait. We ended up walking around and got back 20 or so minutes later and they had our table ready. Hyman's apparently has quite a history and is very popular among celebrities. The tables have small, gold plaques by each seat naming which celebrity has sat there. There are also pictures of celebrities all over the walls. The prices were very good compared to how much food you get. I am a swordfish-lover and they had that on them menu with the ability to get it on a platter for only $17. I don't remember ever ordering swordfish for under 20 bucks. The food was very good, I especially enjoyed the hush puppies! Hyman's has a fun atmosphere and a very nice staff. We must have been checked up on at least five times by the waiter and two managers. One of them went around to every table and thanked them for coming.

    (4)

  • A S.

    This restaurant is clearly something of a Charleston institution, judging by the long queues outside on a Saturday night, waiting for a table. On second thoughts there is clearly a smart marketing campaign going on as well. After making a "booking" and being told to return after 30 mins, we were then informed the wait was another 20 mins but come back after 10 mins, or alternatively have a look in the gift shop. So we were suckered in and bought some "cool things" from the shop and were eventually seated at our table about an hour after our initial booking. Never mind because it's Saturday night and only 830pm, there are lots of families with young children but the restaurant itself seems quite calm, there is adequate space between tables and the atmosphere is surprisingly not manic. Next we are greeted by our enthusiastic server Sam (antha?), who tells us the best thing on the menu is the salmon medley. In hindsight we should probably have listened, as we ordered the Seafood deluxe (fried) all of which became rather indistinguishable after a few bites. Highlights were the salmon cake and fried scallops and gator tail sausage. Service was OK, food was OK, cost was reasonable, it was all OK just nothing special. The owner did come to talk to us at our table which was a nice touch.

    (3)

  • Jerad W.

    Very touristy. But as a tourist, we decided to check out the hype. This place is completely all hype. Waited 40 mins for a table, got usher through the maze of dinning rooms, sat at a cramped little table. Waitress was really busy and our table was right in the aisle so we sat while food was being brought over our heads to other tables. Food was average and pretty expensive. I felt like I could get better seafood from a smaller off the main drag place. Offered a lot of promotional gigs, like wear a sticker and if we see it on the street you'll win $25 off your next meal. Seems schticky and all a big free marketing ploy. They make you exit through the gift shop so you kind of know what kind of place its going to be. If you want to eat great seafood, go somewhere else. If you want to eat here because everyone else seems to be eating here, then step in line and be part of the circus. For future tourists, I would recommend avoiding Hyman's Seafood, not worth the wait or money.

    (2)

  • Tim H.

    This place has daily specials and a large amount of items on their menu. The establishment has lots of space with a little shop next door. The service was excellent and everyone was very polite. The owner even came out to say hello and wanted to make sure our dining experience was as good as it could get. Very accommodating. The fried green tomatoes were a new item to me and they were flavorful and an item that I will eat again as long as they are as good as this place makes them. The shrimp and grits were awesome. I am not a fan of grits but these were tasty and cooked just right. I ordered a seafood combo platter that was off the hook good! Excellent food for a reasonable amount of cash. The portions were just right. My family enjoyed their entrees just as much as I did. They serve beer and wine as well as other spirits. There is a full size bar for those who like the bar scene. If you are ever in Charleston and looking for a place to eat, give this place a try. Hopefully your experience is as good if not better than mine. Thank you for reading my review. This review is based off of my personal experience and opinion.

    (5)

  • Rebecca G.

    Very touristy and very mediocre. If you're in the mood for bland fried seafood and mediocre fish dishes, then Hyman's will be right up your alley, but honestly I'd rather eat at Captain D's than go here again. Any Charleston local will be able to tell you that Hyman's is absolutely not worth the hype. They are only in business because a huge ad in the Charleston airport proclaims "Hyman's: voted Best Seafood Restaurant by Southern Living Magazine" and because every carriage tour guide seems to recommend it for some reason. You have to wait outside in line to get into this place on most nights and it's absolutely not worth the wait. The service is fine and the atmosphere is so-so, but the food is so mediocre that I was seriously disappointed. After eating here, I know why so many people had warned me not to go. Stay away and eat some real seafood instead.

    (1)

  • Abby Z.

    EVERYTHING & I mean everything was AMAZING! There was about a 40 minute wait for a table, but they had free fresh, not hush puppies for the folks waiting. The Carolina Delight is out of this world. We also devoured crab cakes, stuffed grouper, peel & eat shrimp, & sweet potato soufflé. Now let's talk drinks- the peach moonshine margarita was incredible... Probably the best drink I've ever tasted!

    (5)

  • Cheuk S.

    I was down here for a friends wedding and my friends decided to come to this place for some good food, whether it was seafood or not. We had to wait a bit due to the busy dinner time, but they have a little side restaurant/bar on the right where you can get a few drinks plus some raw oyster while waiting for the real table. I think one of the beers we tried was called Palmetto which wasn't bad. Anyways the place might look average in terms of size, it's actually quite big when you include the upstairs and we had to go thru a maze of rooms to find our table. The unique thing about the table was that was celebrity names tags indicating the celebrities ate at this particular table. Whether it's true or not, I don't really care since the tag names include Sarah Jessica Parker and her hubby plus Samuel L Jackson. Also the atmosphere was quite lively and the overall service was pretty good, guess it's that southern charm showing off. Okay back to the most important part which was the food. I ordered the prime rib eye medium rare and man it was mighty tasty cooked just right to my liking. The edge was crunchy and charred nicely while the inner parts were very tender and juicy with just a bit of saltiness to make it not taste bland. I devoured it as much as I could as the plate was too big for me to finish. We also ordered a few appetizers including raw oysters in addition to some boiled salty peanuts which was quite interesting in flavour. We also had some sort of crab dip which was pretty good as well. So overall, pretty good dining experience and I'm not sure about all the touristy feel as it seems pretty local and the bill came out to about $30 per person which is about right for this type of seafood/american restaurant including drinks and tip.

    (4)

  • Ron V.

    I took my granddaughter from Madison WI. to Hymans last week. I'd been here twice before , once when I took a couple of co-workers there for dinner. At that time we all three ordered the Carolina Delight and it was fabulous. The hush puppies were great, grit cakes were great and the gravy that they served over the seafood/grit cake was excellent. Second time was with my wife and we also tried the Carolina delight and enjoyed it just as well. Since I brought my granddaughter down to see the aquarium I figured we'd go to Hymans - she said she liked hushpuppies. I figured this would be a good place for her to go. She decided to order the chicken tenders. We were brought out some boiled peanuts on the house for an appetizer and also a couple of hushpuppies each to get us started. Service was excellent. Hushpuppies were great. I decided to be different and ordered a shrimp Po-Boy sandwich. I've been to New Orleans a number of times and that's always one of my favorites. When or meal came, her chicken skin was very dark, almost to the point where it seemed burned. She commented that it did seem burnt. I tasted it and agreed with her. They brought us out an order of hushpuppies and 3/4 of them were also very dark, almost overcooked. The hushpuppies that were not were great, but the majority of them were cooked too long, just like the chicken. My Po-Boy was pretty plain. Fried shrimp, lettuce, tomato. The waitress asked me if I wanted onions and mayo (or some other dressing, I can't remember), but when I got the Po-Boy and started eating I noticed they forgot the onions and sauce. I must say the cole slaw was excellent. My granddaughter was given a $2 bill fake money for a free scoop of ice cream on the way out, which we didn't use. I was highly disappointed with the food on this trip. Service was excellent, but the food was below par. I'd have to give it second thoughts about going back with all of the other great restaurants in that area. S

    (3)

  • Christine M.

    For the first time in my life, I had a hush puppy not from Long John Silvers and realized that they are supposed to taste much better in real life...as they did. This place seems to be a staple, as the only advertisement as you walk off the plane is a picture of this place --- with a giant line outside. Truth in advertising be told when we ate there on a Saturday night. Wait was around 20 minutes so we hit up the bar, realized you can actually eat at the bar we scratched our waiting list and took a seat. Seems this is a small hint, if you don't mind parking your butt on a barstool (as I never have been opposed to) you can avoid the wait and get the same food and closer to the booze. Had a taste of the seafood chowder, garlic shrimp, fried calamari and some other things I can't remember (damn you chardonnay). All of it was pretty greasy, pretty heavy and probably the main reason you go. Of course, don't forget some shrimp and grits on the side to go with your coronary. All in all, a fun experience but likely would not return -- go for the experience, savor it as a Charleston staple then move on.

    (3)

  • Lee A.

    Read a lot of reviews on this place! I have to say it's awesome.We had a free fried green tomato app, and bought the Carolina Delight app, which was very good. I had a three item combo of fried shrimp, crab cakes, and salmon croquet. Very good. And they have complimentary boiled peanuts. Had the squash casserole and slaw for sides with hush puppies.

    (5)

  • Denise H.

    This restaurant truly knows the importance of customer service! During my meal one of the owners came by my table twice to make sure we were enjoying our meal. They also had some great customer satisfaction cards on each table: "IF YOU LIKE US, TELL OTHERS. IF NOT, TELL US! We are committed to being the best restaurant in Charleston. Customer satisfaction is our only goal. Remember, we are only human. If we do make an error, the sooner you bring it to our attention, the sooner we can fix the problem. Thanks!" It also included a survey and section for comments/suggestions. They truly do care about customer satisfaction, which I really appreciate!

    (5)

  • Tamar O.

    I dont know how Hyman'a does not have 5 stars on Yelp! Hubby and I waited about 15 minutes before our names were called so we grabbed drinks at the bar. Before we even got our food, we were given the best hush puppies we'd ever had and cole slaw. We ordered the Hyman's feast and the Cajun shrimp fettuccini alfredo and had plenty left over! The scallops that came in the feast were amazing; perfectly cooked and tasty. Our server was also great. Polite, attentive, and friendly. If we lived in Charleston, Hyman's would be a regular spot for us without a doubt.

    (5)

  • Zainab A.

    Having lived in New Orleans for so many years you'd think a girl knew better than to hit up a tourist trap. Alas we did and are $100 dollars lighter in the wallet as a result. First off they pack as many tables in as possible leaving nearly no room for anyone to really breath. Yes many celebrities have been there as evidenced by the plaques on the tables and pictures on the wall. Other than that the food was seriously mediocre. Father had a Cesar salad which was so drenched in dressing he didn't touch it, Mister had the salmon melody which was four differently flavored and dried out salmon pieces. Little brother had the pick three with salmon croquettes, a crab cake and the shrimp n grits. I had the seafood Alfredo Cajun style. To be honest nothing was really good except the Alfredo and even that tasted like it had a bunch of Tabasco in it. The grits weren't cooked all the way and both cakes little brother had were dry. You also have to exit out of the gift shop by design. The staff were friendly for the most part but didn't make up for the poor quality food. Save the money and go to a joint that isn't a tourist trap. Long lines don't mean much if your food can't back it up.

    (2)

  • Charlotte V.

    I was shocked to find out that Hyman's doesn't have stellar reviews. My parents are both from the South; my dad is from just outside Charleston, so we head down to the South Carolina coast every summer. Everyone describes Hyman's as being simply a tourist trap but it's not, and it's not something you will only need once, or at least for us it isn't. It gets crowded, know that, and go not during the rush hours, eat a late lunch, or even better, eat an early dinner, and burn off all that fried goodness while you walk around the streets of Charleston in the evening, the houses and churches, and parks South of Broad are within walking distance from Hyman's and a don't-miss. Yes, there is better (and equally more expensive) seafood other places, go there at a different time. There is not a better hush puppy anywhere, as far as my travels have taken me (which is all over the South). Get a po-boy, they're delicious and economical. Mostly, don't forget to enjoy the atmosphere. This is a family establishment; we've met the owners multiple times, they will come by and ask how your food is. The staff is friendly, and the place is like home, if you let it be.

    (5)

  • Carina d.

    Our group of 12 visited Hymann's for dinner and in regards to service, we were happy to be seated fairly quickly after having done a call-ahead seating request earlier that afternoon. For the price, the amount of food we ordered was impressive, and I was stuffed to the gills though I thought the quality of the food itself was an okay/good. For starters, we had the she-crab soup (highly recommend!) and the 1/2 doz raw oysters (ok) with a pitcher of the award-winning bloody mary's (highly recommend!) Word of warning - the bloody mary's may be spicier than you expect, but I like a little nose dripping. ;) For the entree, I split the 7-item combo platter with the boyfriend. We had Cajun Swordfish -- well-seasoned but dry. Shrimp and grits with the cheese sauce, which was to die for and even better the next morning as leftovers. The crispy flounder I enjoyed, which was a battered and fried whole fish; avoid if you don't like having to deal with lots of little fish bones. Deviled crab was forgettable and seemed more breading than crab. Tried the calamari and it was tender but the batter was overly salty. Our selected sides were the mac & cheese and sweet potato souffle, both of which were excellent though smaller portions than I expected. Think of a ketchup cup from McDonald's. However, what still got Hyman's its fourth star was the service. Our waitress and the staff were friendly and attentive without being smothering. We were SO appreciative that she even split the checks for our group! Recommendations: If you have a large group, they don't take reservations but you can call to put in a request for "call-ahead seating" which gives you some priority in the waitline. Try the fried green tomatoes; I didn't and kind of regret it. Also don't forget the she-crab soup, and if you like it - the mix is on sale in their general store downstairs. Something I also wish I'd picked up.

    (4)

  • Molly D.

    A bit touristy of course but worth the wait and fun to enjoy! Food is classic old school charleston and puts more than enough pats on your belly and meat on your ribs!

    (4)

  • Jon G.

    Food was awesome! I had some hush puppies and they were my favorite during my trip to Charleston. I then had mahi Cajun style I was just right! washed it all down with a great bloody marry!

    (5)

  • Ruben L.

    Wow, a lot of people hating on Hymans. Even some locals! Much like many of the people on the list, I was recommended to check this place out. For sure it is a tourist trap, but I can't say it is as bad as most people made it out to be. My parents came to visit my wife and I, so we decided to take them to Charleston for the weekend. Having heard mixed reviews about Hymans, we decided to check it out anyways. There was quite the line to get seated, but it didn't take us more than 15 minutes to get a table. Our server was very friendly, and made a couple of recommendations for us. We ended up getting the family platter or whatever, and shared about 4-5 different types of seafood. They were all deep fried (read unhealthy, but delicious). I can't say the food blew me away by any means, but it was pretty good. Better than some of these 1 or two stars your'e seeing, though they may be giving them lower ratings based on service as well as other things. The good- free crab dip coupon- it's not a lot, but it's a nice little appetizer to start the meal. $4 t-shirt was pretty sweet too. The bad- as big as this place is, it always seems to be crowded. Our table was tiny, but we had a window view of the downtown. The ugly- trying to exit that place. From upstairs we had to follow an "Oregon Trail" and maneuver around many a people. Yes it's a tourist trap, but unless you get a recommendation from locals, it's not that bad. Just be prepared to wait, especially during peak seasons and times.

    (3)

  • Lisa N.

    Heard some good things about the food and Hayman's did not disappoint. Everything we orders was great. From the calamari appetizer to the fried oysters and mahi. Will definitely be coming back the next time in town.

    (5)

  • Adam L.

    Don't let the long lines fool you. The food here is sub-par. My wife and I were seated quickly considering the long lines night after night. We both ordered the fried shrimp, she had the greens as a side and I had the sweet potato souffle. The hush puppies came first, and they were the best part of the meal. Crispy, hot and some obvious sugar in the mix. We enjoyed them. Then came the cole slaw. Generally "ok" but didn't care for the overpowering dill pickle flavor. Then came the shrimp. Small, overcooked, sad. I've had better shrimp at Long John Silvers. Our server was a sweet girl, kept checking on us. I won't return to Hymans Seafood ever. I highly recommend Hanks Seafood just down the block. Much more expensive, but worth every penny.

    (1)

  • Jeff D.

    This place appears to be a Charleston tourist mainstay. The building is a maze of rooms and tables where they are cranking out food. I'm a multi unit restaurant owner and like to watch unique places. Friendly staff and one of the owners was in there visiting every table. That's great to see. Believe me, these guys are making money, they could pay someone to be there on Sunday afternoon. Stick to fried food. It's what they do.

    (5)

  • C H.

    As northerner I never thought I'd eat grits ever again. And to eat grits with shrimp was an absolute no! To my surprised the combination was excellent! Let me state that I did not order shrimp and grits it was given complementary for taking a long time with my meal. That is the only reason why I ate it. I still not a fan of it but I will eat it if it comes from this restaurant.

    (4)

  • Lauren T.

    when you visit Charleston you have to go to Hyman's at least once! In our case - -everyday for lunch because my husband can't get enough of their oysters. And - - don't waste time standing in line for a table - -the bar is the best place to get the Hyman's experience! Definitely try the steamed crab claws - - you get plenty and boy are they good! If you are really hungry order the crispy flounder - - it's huge - - but very delicious! The staff are great. Very friendly and very helpful with local information. If you like Bloody Marys you absolutely MUST try Hyman's. Their bloodies are the best!

    (5)

  • Jessica G.

    Stopped in Charleston for work real quick, and I was very pleased we picked such a great place to eat. We had Hush Puppies, Fried Green Tomatoes and Crab Cakes and they were all delicious! Also the moonshine margarita is a must get!

    (5)

  • Rob W.

    Excellent place for seafood. Highly recommend it. Would go back anytime!!!!!

    (5)

  • Steve M.

    Loved this place. We waited about 1/2 hour to be seated. They were very busy. We spent our time looking through the gift shop while we waited for our table to be ready.There were 11 of us, Becca came around to take our drink orders and of course we established a relationship with her right away. She had all of the energy a young person should. After all she had to put up with us. Very fun and very professional. A few of us did the 3 for $20.00 special they are having for Restaurant week. We had Hush Puppies and Fried green tomatoes passed around. I had the She Crab soup for an appetizer. It was delicious. More like a chowder than a soup. I had the Seafood platter. It is supposed to have shrimp, calimari and haddock. I made the mistake of asking for the Captain's platter which has scallops instead of calimari. Being the professionals that they are, they accomodated me and my mistake. I got the scallops with no extra charge. They were excellent!! Thanks Eli. Eli Hyman, the owner, came around to greet us and made us feel at home in Charleston. As an aside this is a great city. Very friendly. By the way, part of the dinner includes dessert. I had ordered cheesecake at the beginning but I was stuffed by the time it came to eat it.They packed it to go for me. Sorry, I gave it away to one of the other diners we came with, so I can't tell you how it was. If it was like everything else we had, it had to be special.

    (4)

  • Roger S.

    They had an all you can eat crab leg & shrimp special which was quite a deal. Had to order a side grit cake - very unique & very, very good. I seem to always eat here for lunch. Have actually never eaten here for dinner as I prefer a restaurant with more atmosphere at night. Again a solid choice for a restaurant (for lunch) but again you have to know what to order.

    (4)

  • Jesse M.

    One of the better seafood restaurants I have dined at. I recommend the catch of the day, see the boards around the dinning rooms. Many celebrities have eaten here and some have signed plates that are displayed on the wall. Check out your table and see who has eaten there before you. But this is not the only reason to go here, the food is good, the atmosphere is great, and the food is reasonably priced.

    (4)

  • Kyle S.

    Very good restaurant! I had the biggest in-bone flounder you will ever find at a restaurant! Staff was extra friendly and the gift shop was fun too!

    (5)

  • Mari D.

    Overrated Tourist Trap... I can't for the life of me understand the hype on this place.... The ridiculous wait for watered down drinks and salty (frozen) seafood?? Our waiter was clearly stoned of his mind. He kept forgetting what we ordered, what we drank, and what his name was. We ordered the $20 Old Bay Peel n eat shrimp appetizer.. Kitchen forgot the Old Bay or anything to dip it in (cocktail sauce is so easy to forget...) Our drinks finally arrived about 10 min after our appetizer. Our salads never showed up at all but was still charged for them! Waiter response "wow, didn't even see them not show up!" Yeah that's because we haven't seen you in the last 30 minutes buddy! My broiled flounder with crabmeat needed a steak knife! Are you kidding?!?!? A knife to cut fish! Flounder should be moist and flaky, mine was salty fish jerky. Our kids fried shrimp was soo salty they couldn't finish it. I watched as their poor lips puckered up from all the salt. A very nice lady stopped by our table while the waiter was correcting the errors on the bill. She clearly had no idea what was going on, just walked around smiling. At this point we just wanted to get the heck outta there it wasn't even worth explains to her seafood 101. One last thing.... Nothing says tourist trap more than exiting through a gift shop! Thanks for confirming we didn't just have an "off" experience! Not a great way to kick off our vacation and certainly won't be coming back.

    (1)

  • Dana F.

    Touristy or not the food was working for us ! We had a coupon for a free crab dip. This was way overpowered with horse radish And not much crab flavor for my taste. It was serverd cold with club crackers. They also bright us a complementary fried green tomato / grits . Yum ! Dinner was shared combo / choose 5 items and comes with two sides and hush puppies. All fried . The crab cake was very nice / Maryland style , real lump crab ... Very good . Sea scallops were sweet , large and cooked perfectly. Fried Haddock was fresh and cooked just right. We ordered shrimp but due to an over site they brought oysters which were also a treat. Here come the shrimp . Again , good size and enjoyable. Hush puppies golden with a hint of sweet. There were so many choices on the " create" menu , it was hard to choose! I think the food was good and reasonably priced. Two managers /owners stopped by our table to greet us . Our waitress Lonna (sp) was very knowledgable,friendly and a bundle of energy. Very good service and great guest relations. I would recommend this popular place and will come again !

    (4)

  • Shannon P.

    I forgot how mediocre the food was. Our server was nice enough but he was a little "scattered". I mentioned twice I had the Fried Green Tomato Yelp Coupon, however, he never brought it out, which was fine because we were stuffed. I had the small broiled shrimp ceaser and the seafood bisque, both were good, however the broiled shrimp tasted boiled, they were flavorless. My husband had the cajun alfredo pasta and seemed pleased with his choice. Getting in and out is a challenge as the stairs wind you around there are mulitple rooms to go through, you can get lost finding the bathroom and you have to exit by way of the tourist trap gift shop. I can see why this place is a favorite given the lcoation and the downtown feel, however, I think it may be awhile before I go back, sorry!

    (2)

  • Paul H.

    2nd time there. Southern, generous, warm environment with pretty good food. Appetizer we had the fried green tomatoes and the Carolina delight. Both excellent start-ups for a to-be positive dining experience.Grouper special stuffed with crab cake was a nice touch, crispy flounder seemed a bit overcooked but nice with the tangy sauce it comes with. Captain's special was a good option, able to try the fried shrimp scallop and haddock all together. With all the fried fish, the Cajun seasoning either through your order or simply using the seasoning at the table will spice it up nicely. We used the yelp check-in coupon for the fried green tomato appetizer, and a simple 5 dollar off coupon provided by the friendly brochures you can find EVERYWHERE you go in Charleston. Seeing how we got two appetizers, three main entrees, and a chocolate fudge dessert (courtesy of the fine gentleman running the place, Eli Hyman) all around a reasonable price of $85, excluding tip, must say it was a great dining experience. Only downside were: 1) the wait. We were told "5min" wait which ended up being close to 15minutes. Also, our group was 4, but we saw a few group of 3s that came after us that got to go in before us. Also, our food took a lot longer than we supposed to come out. However, Eli Hyman came by himself and apologized which wasn't fully necessary but a very nice gesture indeed. 2) tight spacing. Some of the tables were tightly spaced causing a couple of bumping of chairs when sitting and getting up from the table. Overall, a great dining experience for our trip to Charleston. Thanks Hyman's staff and Mr Eli!

    (4)

  • Anthony H.

    Hyman's seafood has been in business for nearly 4 generations and when you walk into the restaurant you'll see the history on the walls and in the way they treat you as a customer. But before you get inside you made have to wait 15-30 minutes because the times that I've been have been rather busy. The wait staff during these rush hour times are calm and cool and on their toes. They are extremely helpful and thorough in their knowledge of the menu and the history. But you want to know if you should spend your time and money here. I wholeheartedly agree that this is your place for decent seafood at a decent price, yes this place is a tourist trap but Hyman's doesn't come like that too much. The owners were constantly walking around and engaging customers, giving them a history lesson and thanking them for coming out. The dinner we had was delicious, the calamari is one of the best I've had at any seafood restaurant. The flounder was cooked a bit too much as it had a pasty taste to it but overall my family all enjoyed their meals which garnered a 4 star rating. If visiting Charleston or just out for seafood then this is a must stop for you and the family as they can accommodate couples or large groups. Enjoy.

    (4)

  • Dian C.

    Hyman's has their tourist-exploitation engine down pat, complete with tacky stickers, microphone, and a exit flow that ensures you have to exit THROUGH their store where you can buy a T-shirt to be a walking advertisement for them. As long as you set your expectations correctly, you will enjoy your experience here. The free crab dip that many people get through printing out the coupon on their website is teeny and rather skimpy on the crab. The bloody mary is spicy and loaded with olives, celery, and pickle, although I didn't get a chance to see how pricey it was. I ordered their catfish done Cajun style. Somehow the catfish came out in a pool of water, so I'm thinking something on the plate was frozen at some point. A hush puppy novice, I found these to be the most delicious ones on a recent eating-fest through Charleston. I'm glad I came here and got a little of everything, but I probably wouldn't visit again if I were in Charleston again.

    (3)

  • Carmen S.

    My third visit to Hymans. This one Im afraid was not as good as the first two. Maybe just an off night. Fish and chips: fish was very dry. Low country boil: good other than shrimp all being bad (black spots). Shrimp n Grits: everyone loved it but I prefer Fleet Landing. SHE Crab soup: amazing! Carolina Delight: amazing. Love the atmosphere, service was terribly slow. I will go back since my first experiences were wonderful. Gotta have those hush puppiez.

    (3)

  • John T.

    Great steamed oysters and softshell crab po' boy. Good choices in wine by the glass. Friendly service. A fellow I assume was the owner came by an made friendly conversation. I was in town for business and stumbled upon the place. I'm from Maryland, and great scruffy seafood places are (sadly) a dying breed in my home state. If I lived Charleston, I'd eat here weekly.

    (5)

  • Mia G.

    One of the best in downtown Charleston for fresh seafood! I'm usually in the area while on business so my only complaint is I so wish there was convenient parking for a quick in and out takeout!!

    (5)

  • Todd J.

    Good not great. However, the service is AMAZING. Both times they have gone out of their way to make my experience great. There's better seafood in town, but the service and ability to serve large groups help out a lot.

    (3)

  • Tony F.

    Second time around even better than the First which was truly GREAT. Fantastic seafood with wonderful service. My party of 4 easily says it was the best meal of the trip!

    (5)

  • Chris S.

    Having traveled the country, eating our way from city to city and particularly along the coast, we left here wondering why the hype. This place is as average as it gets. There's no reason to wait in line to eat here. We found so many places in Charleston and the surrounding cities that blew this place away. Fortunately, we came late and didn't have to wait long. But, our waitress (we sat upstairs) was cranky, kind of like a salty sailor. She help taint our experience. This is a place tourists come in droves. No one with such a crappy attitude like hers should work here. You want people to leave and embrace Charleston. As for the food, average. Our oysters were ok. the shrimp tasted frozen (we did ask and we were told they weren't), the drinks were watered down and the fried soft shell crab tasted greasy. Maybe it was because we ate here just before closing, but wasn't the close to the water, fresh seafood we expected and grasped everywhere else we ate in town. Hopefully, your experience will be better than ours was.

    (3)

  • Eric M.

    Thought that the seafood was pretty darn good, especially given the relatively low prices. Try to get there by 4:30 PM each day since it gets real crowded, real fast. Count on 1 1.5 to 2 hour wait if you arrive by 6 PM looking to eat. Otherwise, aim for a late dinner, say arriving by 8 PM

    (4)

  • Lori W.

    Heard about this place from a friend and decided to give it a try. I arrived at about 7:15 and the line was long, but I got a table in less than 30 mins. Though touristy, this place was fun. The servers bring boiled peanuts to start and then 4 hushpuppies. My girlfriend and I don't have the biggest appetites, but we ordered two small Caesar salads (OK) and the fried gritcake with shrimp (sauce on side). The shrimp were good, but tepid. The gritcake was good and delicately fried. I had a side of grits (yum) and we ordered a basket of hushpuppies which were the best I've ever had! These had a sweet taste to them. Also had a Palmetto lager--good beer and gf had a cadillac frozen margarita. Bill came to $32. Service was attentive but unobtrusive.

    (4)

  • Bobby C.

    Went to Hyman's after being turned away at Hank's seafood. It was a good thing. Eli Hyman came by the table early and sent us Shrimp salad and Calamari appetizers on the house. Seared Ahi Tuna and Catfish were gobbled up. It was great. It seems they are always busy and tonight was no exception. Their gift shop makes it seem like a tourist trap but a cold rain made it a great place to wait for the table.

    (4)

  • Keith S.

    I've only been there for lunch because it normally has a long wait, but I was able to walk right in and the shrimp po'boy sandwich I had was awesome! Very healthy portions and a lot of options.

    (5)

  • Dan P.

    This place is getting three stars only because the shrimp were fabulous. The grit cakes were a little too dense, however. You are better off ordering the regular fried green tomatoes than the special. The fried green tomatoes provided with the special are plump and juicy, but smothered in so much sauce that the taste is lost and the result is bland. I ordered the crispy flounder, which was good, but not excellent. the real problem was the service. This is unusual in Charleston. The server brought my beers promptly, but had to be reminded to get my wife's beer on more than one occasion. We could see her getting other beers while failing on the wife's beer. Then she brought the appetizer (the aforementioned fried green tomatoes special with a ton of sauce) without plates. I asked for a second plate, she agreed and then disappeared, not returning with a second plate at any time. To keep the app from getting cold we had to eat it by taking turns. This is not simple because the tables are ridiculously long, with a leaf on each end. The wife tried to order a side of cole slaw and the waitress said no, explaining that the cole slaw is a side that comes with the entree. Then she never brought us any cole slaw. We didn't see her again until we were done with the entrees. At that point, there was no point in asking. So we asked for to go containers and the waitress brought them without a bag. A staffer at the gift shop noticed the problem and gave us a bag without being prompted. While leaving, we heard the waitress offer boiled peanuts to people who had just sat at a table next to us. We were never offered peanuts. According to a website review, everyone is started with boiled peanuts, not just the one couple sitting next to us. This may have occurred, along with the other issues, because the waitress spent a lot of time talking to people about herself when she should have been working. Even though the shrimp were fabulous, we will not be back.

    (3)

  • David F.

    Truly impressed with Hyman's. Fish was very fresh and well prepared, staff very attentive, management engaged. We had a group of 10 people. Because my wife called ahead, we got in easily even though it was Friday night. Hyman's caring about the customer starts while you wait outside - free hush puppies and menu summaries. Hyman's freely accepts changes to their menu - they customize to make customer happy There were some issues with our order and the owner stopped by. He had been briefed on the issues and gave us some free dessert to make up for it. So glad he did as the key lime pie was some of the best I've ever had Caveats: the atmosphere is casual and food takes a while to come out when they are slammed

    (5)

  • Hillary V.

    Hymans definitely does not disappoint. We were visiting family in Charleston and they wanted to visit. The atmosphere is family friendly. The owner walks around to talk with guests. He gives a "coupon" for 2 free magnets in the general store. These are their own cheesy magnets, not the ones they are selling. I ordered the haddock broiled and it was amazing. It was juicy and the flavor melts in your mouth. The chicken tenders were like no others and are highly recommended for your kids. Other dishes at our table that are recommended: fried calamari, fried green tomatoes, and the boiled peanuts.

    (4)

  • Oleg A.

    Interesting place. We sat at a table "Phish" and "Sandra Bullock" sat at. Food was fresh and cooked with Southern love. Must try - will not be disappointed.

    (5)

  • Kelly F.

    I visited charleston SC for the first time looking for authentic southern food. I was recommended to go to Hyman's by a relative and it did not disappoint. It exceeded every expectation I had! the portions are huge and you get a lot for a reasonable price. First, they give you complimentary warm boiled peanuts, very flavorful. second, they bring out freshly fried hush puppies and cole slaw before your meal even comes. I got the Carolina's delight with salmon. I could only eat half before I was too full to move. the meal was one of the best I've ever tasted. flavorful is an understatement. The salmon was fresh and tender on top fried grits and covered with a thick delicious sauce. If I ever return to charleston Hymans will definitely be on my agenda! The food and service is nothing short of exceptional!

    (5)

  • Helen D.

    This is a tourist trap. I knew this before arriving but my boyfriend and I still wanted to experience it for ourselves since we likely won't return to Charleston. The food is pricey yet mediocre, and heavily loaded with salt. Do NOT eat here if you have hypertension or heart failure. Or even if you are perfectly healthy. We got she-crab soup and two signature dishes, the Carolina Delight Signature Dish and the Carolina Style Shrimp and Grits. We are not picky eaters by any means, and everything looked delicious on presentation. Things went downhill soon after we tried the she-crab soup - I felt like I was literally eating spoonfuls of salt. Also, you would think the dish they are known for (Carolina Delight) would be cooked perfectly but it was inedible due to the sheer amount of sodium it contained. We had to send it back and the manager was nice enough to take it off our bill without asking any questions. The owners of the place also walk around to every single table and have conversations with the customers - I've never seen this before and thought it was incredibly nice. One star food but great service, for a 2 star review. I don't know why people rave about this place.

    (2)

  • Pam Selman Smith N.

    Well after the long walk to get here we had to walk upstairs with a lady that could hardly walk up the stair. We finally made it and had a table next to the window. The food was just so so but there waitstaff was eye candy and very nice. They gave us all a magnet as we left and the bathrooms were real nice and very clean.

    (3)

  • Danielle M.

    I'm going on record to say that I feel that this place is a bit of an overrated, touristy restaurant that relies on foot traffic and accumulated historic reputation more than current food quality. On one of my first trips to Charleston we were told that we simply couldn't miss out on Hyman's as their seafood was amazing, so with an eager appetite a group of us visited the restaurant. We were seated almost immediately, which was a nice surprise considering how busy they were for lunch. We were taken upstairs, on the upper right side of the restaurant, and our journey to our table was quite a nice twisting, turning voyage that seemed to never end and allowed us to see a good amount of the restaurant and eyeball everyone's food. One of our party made the mistake of detouring to the restroom on our journey to the table, resulting in a lot of text messages back and forth with directions to our location. Our group sat at a table that had previously been sat at by Cyndi Lauper (girls just wanna have seafood) and His Highness Samuel L. Jackson (does he look like a tipper?) according to the quite lovely brass plaques set into the table. Between everyone at our table we sampled the following: * Complimentary hush puppies with a dipping sauce while we made our choices. * We ordered Stuffed Mushrooms, Fried Calamari, Gator Sausage, Carolina Delight (a fried grit cake topped with shrimp, covered with Alfredo sauce & Cajun seasoning), Carolina Shrimp & Grits (with a parmesan sauce), Fried Dill Pickles, Mozzarella Sticks and Fried Oysters from the Appetizer Menu for the table to share. Stuffed Mushrooms: tasty enough, but the cheese had escaped the mushrooms, creating a rapidly solidifying mass of it on the plate. Fried Calamari: I'm a huge lover of Calamari, however was very disappointed by the thick, heavy layer of batter coating my delicate squid and the accompanying Marinara sauce was bland and boring. The squid itself was very well cooked, however I had to remove a lot of batter to get to it. Gator Sausage: tasty, well-seasoned and surprisingly delicate. After all the heavily fried items, they were a nice change. Carolina Delight: tasty, nice shrimp, with a well-formed grits cake that kept its shape surprisingly well. Carolina Shrimp & Grits: the grits were well cooked and nicely flavoured and the shrimp were cooked in a tasty seasoning. Fried Dill Pickles: nice little bites of sharp pickle with a well-blended dipping sauce. Mozzarella Sticks: heavily battered like all the other fried items. I had a small bite and was done. Very boring accompanying Marinara sauce. Fried Oysters: overdone, not much seafood taste remaining. I remain unmoved by the food on offer at Hyman's. Everything fried is too heavily coated in batter, completely burying the food hidden inside. Most of the accompanying dipping sauces aren't flavoured strongly enough to work with the fried food. Prices were ok, service was a little slow but forgivable as they were incredibly busy with the lunch rush, food arrived hot and fresh, however I'm not a fan of the fried options and didn't sample enough of the non-fried options to encourage me to make a return visit. I'd suggest that you visit Hyman's if only to say that you've paid homage to what's considered to be a Charleston institution, however nothing passed my lips that wowed me and unfortunately there's no one thing that I would recommend as being a Must Eat item.

    (2)

  • Clare S.

    If you're visiting Charleston and want a true experience, or taste of our city, do yourself a favor and NOT go to restaurants that source from faraway oceans and frozen produce vendors. If you don't care and prefer your fish and shrimp fried and salted to oblivion, eat here. Looking for a more authentic taste of Charleston's best seafood? Try Hank's, Coast, or Fish. One star as the managers are quite attentive and I can see the local store being appealing while you wait to be seated. 10best.com/destinations/…

    (1)

  • Brian M.

    Hyman's is a touristy stop but definitely a worthwhile touristy stop at that. This was my second visit to Hyman's and I will return on my next visit to Charleston. Hyman's is known for their seafood and they don't dissapoint. I had the catfish and enjoyed the light flaky taste. They have homemade style coleslaw and very good hush puppies. Hyman's provides generous portions and your not likely to leave hungry. The reason to return aside from a good meal is a fun environment and good staff. Each table has business card size sayings relevant to what should be important in life. You may take a few of the cards as mementos or to share with friends. The ownership/management makes sure to stop by your table to greet you and see that you are enjoying your experience. A true personal approach especially with the knowledge a particular customer may not be back to Charleston for some time. It is that exact personalization which puts Hyman's on my dining destination list when visiting the area.

    (4)

  • Jordan H.

    Terrible food. Probably the worst choice in Charleston. Only popular because of location and the tourists go there so they always have a line. Don't bother if you like good seafood, you WILL be disappointed.

    (2)

  • Bob B.

    WOW! Rarely does a restaurant that's famous live up to its reputation for excellence. Not only does Hyman's live up to its reputation, it exceeds it. Though we were tourists, they still treated us like their favorite regulars! First, the waiting experience is unique. You can count on the wait time they predict to be fairly accurate. In addition to having paper menus for you to look at while you wait, they will occasionally send out someone with fresh hush puppies. Plus, the benches are spacious and comfortable. Second, the food is excellent! My daughter who is normally a fussy eater loves their shrimp! I am a big salmon fan and they do it wonderfully. Also, their fried green tomato appetizer is too good to miss. My wife loves their shrimp and grits as well. Third, they do everything to make you feel welcome. From owners walking around giving children coupons for free ice cream to delicious boiled peanuts on the table. Sure, most restaurants with celebrities on the wall and a big reputation tend to coast and treat tourists as disposable customers, but Hyman's Seafood is just the opposite! Considering it's been around since 1890, if they keep up these traditions of service excellence, my great-great-grandchildren will probably be singing this place's praises.

    (5)

  • Michelle H.

    Fried green tomatoes appetizer was off the chain good!!! We had calamari and mahi and BBQ shrimp it was very good. We sat at bar those girls are awesome.

    (4)

  • Itashka W.

    Second time at here. Brought family this time. We were seated quickly. Food came quick and tasted wonderful. The workers are all friendly. Will go back.

    (5)

  • JR C.

    I stopped in here for a beer with an old buddy, and ordered some oysters. They were meh. They also weren't local. For a Charleston seafood place to not have local oysters, while the beds are open, is a sin. They also close pretty darn early. We were the last people there, and it wasn't even late, I think like 9:30, on a Thursday night, the first night of football season, by the way. The bartenders were definitely herding us out of there, even though we were all dropping some coin. There are plenty of other, much better places. I'll head somewhere else.

    (2)

  • Megan R.

    For some items the price is a little steep, but it is seafood so it's worth it. The hushpuppies are on point. I like having different fish options and a variety of ways for the fish to be cooked. The first time we felt overwhelmed because of so many different staff members visiting our table to welcome us and tell us to complain to them if we had issues, but the 2nd time I didn't feel as overwhelmed since I assume the server didn't have to announce a first time guest. Both visits our servers were awesome.

    (3)

  • Jennifer S.

    Four Words: Over hyped tourist trap!!!! When you arrive you give your name to one of the people on the street. They will then direct you towards their gift shop next door as a good place to wait for your name to be called. I ordered 4 small appetizers and a cocktail: She Crab Soup Shrimp and Grits Hush Puppies Fried Green Tomatoes Bloody Mary The only things that were worth eating (and paying for) were the She Crab Soup and the Bloody Mary. The rest of my meal was completely regrettable and I wish unforgetable. Shrimp and Grits - The Shrimp were cooked fine but I swear they were instant grits. I have eaten enough grits in my time (and cooked) that I believe I can tell instant grits. They were too white, too clean and too tasteless to be anything but instant. All that was topped with "Alfredo Sauce", and I put that in quotations because that might be what they told me it was but it too was a flavorless gloppy substance poured over the shrimp and grits. Nasty! Hush Puppies - They were more suited to something I would have had with coffee for breakfast than an appetizer. They were sooooo sweet. I almost expected them to be dusted with powdered sugar and have a chocolate or caramel sauce on the side. On top of being over sweet (had hush puppies at other restaurants in the area and none of them were this sweet) they were very greasy as if the oil/fat they were fried in was not up to temp. Fried Green Tomatoes - These were greasy and mushy. The coating would stay on and was just soggy with oil. I have had better fried green tomatoes in a bar-b-que place in the Chicago Suburbs. The tomatoes were sliced too thin so you couldn't taste them over the oil. Charleston has such a fantastic and vibrant food culture that there are so many places to try and NOT be sucked into this tourist trap.

    (2)

  • Miriam U.

    Food and service was absolutely fantastic! Everyone in our party of 8 enjoyed their meal. We all walked out with a carry out container loaded with food! Eric was the best server!!!!

    (5)

  • Brad M.

    Wow! Amazing!!! Everyone in our party was blown away with everything that was ordered. Fantastic service and friendly staff. Don't let the wait turn you away. Well worth it!

    (5)

  • Cindi L.

    The best place to have shrimp and grits. Really enjoyed our entire meal. Would definitely eat here again whenever we are back in town.

    (5)

  • Sharis H.

    Absolutely amazing. Don't usually like grits but had this FANTASTIC take on shrimp & grits - OMG! Can't wait to eat there again. The servers were all so sweet and knowledgable. Everything about this experience was perfect!

    (5)

  • H F.

    This place was recommended to me by a family member that visited several years ago. I ate a lot on this trip and this place was by far the most forgettable for me. Thats not to say it was bad, it really wasn't, but there are restaurants in every corner that were better. This just felt like a tourist trap. That being said, it was a fun place to be and the service was excellent.

    (3)

  • Shelby B.

    It makes sense that Hyman's Seafood was a "Charleston Staple" years ago, but I don't understand, after Charleston has begun to see so many better, unique, and similar priced locations, why Hyman's Seafood is still considered a staple of Charleston. If you want overpriced, average and uncreative seafood with a long wait, go here.

    (2)

  • Jay W.

    When other reviewers have used the "tourist trap" term, I've always been skeptical but believe me (and them): this is a place to catch a tourist with their guard down. There are plenty of staff out on the streets with "free samples" and menus to review, and to leave you have to exit through a gift shop UGH. But honestly the food is good (those were the best hushpuppies I've had in a long time) and very fresh, and the wait staff is efficient and not pushy at all. My wife and I are NOT fried food eaters, unlike most everyone around us during our lunch, and yet we were very pleased with everything we ordered. If you find yourself in the neighborhood and hungry, Hyman's will do.

    (3)

  • Bonnie W.

    Five stars for a restaurant with reading material in the bathroom! Haha! Seriously, though, this place was just fun. Outside the restaurant there are courting benches to sit on while you wait, and once seated there are little plaques around the edges of the table commemorating the various famous people who sat there in the past. To sit where Oprah once sat was quite an honor. On the table is a little cup full of cards with proverbs and jokes on them, which were fun to read while we waited for our food. Speaking of food, I had the Charleston lump crab cake sandwich, which was heavenly and HUGE. For dessert I had the key lime pie, which was the real deal, not lime cool whip in a pie shell like some places serve! I was satisfied and ready for a nap when I left!

    (5)

  • Evie W.

    This is a restaurant with amazing character and delicious food. The owner personally greets all the guests. We enjoyed the entire experience and would highly recommend it.

    (5)

  • David B.

    It's clear why this is a favorite for out of town visitors. Food is great, featuring a variety of local choices (e.g., fried green tomatoes) I have not seen here in California. It was a very enjoyable evening for our work team meeting in SC from diverse distant places.

    (4)

  • Anita C.

    What can I say the food is great and the service is equally as awesome. If you plan on coming here be sure to grab a menu from the visitor center or any tourist area because you can get a free app, either fried green tomatoes or wadmalaw delight (heck the coupon is even on their website). Like others have mentioned this place is a tourist spot, it is highly advertised on if you are researching the Charleston area. Highly recommend the hush puppies, being my first time trying them I was not sure what to expect but they were a hint sweet, crunchy in the not overly fried way and they come with most dishes. I also really enjoyed their wadmalaw delight app, you can't beat a cheese & grit combo. While I got the pick three off the menu (crabcake, fried clam strip & salmon) it was nothing to write home about but the cajun mayo they make and sell took everything up a notch. Wish I could have brought some home but unfortunately the TSA will not allow anything over 4 oz. What really made the experience was the owner Eli came around and talked to literally all the tables, which was unexpected and made me think that they really care about their customers. Almost forgot to mention that every visit comes with stickers, great souvenir and one of them gets you a chance to win a gift card from them when you wear it around a certain area = awesome marketing. Tip: Expect a long wait if you come during busy times, we came around 1:30 and only waited for 10 mins.

    (4)

  • Molly B.

    The food is delicious.My brother had the flounder and was not disappointed.The portion was so large it hung off the plate!I had the Shrimp with the grit cakes.Unusual and fabulous! The owner,Eli Hyman, showed why they have been in business so long.He took the time to visit with us and thanked us for coming to his restaurant.Good old fashioned appreciation that gets lost these days. We will definitely be back and will tell everyone we know about Hymans.Job well done!

    (5)

  • Deick J.

    The food was good. Had a good time there I would go a again I will go back to the seafood place again and this time I would have something different the fried green tomatoes with very different the party was enjoyed it

    (4)

  • Bill C.

    We ate here for dinner and enjoyed every bit of the experience. The call ahead seating saved us time in line. We only waited about 5 minutes once we arrived. All of the staff were extremely friendly and went out of the way to ensure an excellent dining experience. Everyone enjoyed their dinners! We started with the fried green tomato appetizer, which we enjoyed. The Carolina Delight shrimp and grits was outstanding as well as the flounder dinner. The kids meals were also a hit with crab cakes and fried shrimp. The cheesecake for dessert was good to share. The portion sizes were large enough we all had leftovers for lunch the next day. There is a parking garage right behind the restaurant for easy access. Hyman's Seafood was the best meal we had in Charleston!

    (5)

  • Gloria H.

    Fantastic food. Amazing service. We had tried several times in the past to get in but the wait was always longer than we wanted to wait. We timed it right this time and were able to walk right in. We now know the wait would be worth it.

    (5)

  • Kathy D.

    For all the hype, I expected better. Tons of better restaurants. She-crab soup was tasteless' three pieces of small shrimp on shrimp and grits. Service was disinterested.

    (2)

  • Scotty C.

    Ask any local what the biggest tourist trap is in Charleston and they will say Hyman's. Yet they still have a line out the door every day. I remember going there when I moved here years ago and didn't get what all the hype was about. It is nice that the manager comes around to the tables and all but the food was lacking. I had an old boss who liked to take our new hires there for dinner while they were in town but he wasn't from here either. I must say that he did introduce me to the Crispy Flounder which I thought was pretty decent. If I ended up back there again for some reason, I guess I'd order that.

    (2)

  • Frank A.

    Meh... very much a tourist trap, in my opinion. Service was well....average. Food, average. If you haven't been, yeah, probably try it once, just to say you've been there. I wouldn't come back here, when there are plenty of other good places to eat in charleston....

    (3)

  • Kevin S.

    Horrible experience. Everyone I've spoken to who actually enjoys good seafood is in agreement that this place is terrible. The people I've talked to who like it are from the midwest and perhaps don't really appreciate seafood if they were raised on the flavor of frozen fish, river fish, and muddy lake fish. The wait is pretty long for such a bad restaurant because the previous three generations somehow managed to build a reputation as the place to go for seafood. I didn't try it 100 years ago for obvious reason so I don't know if it was a deserved reputation or not. My guess is their prime location and tons of advertising to tourists is what keeps them busy. While waiting we went into the little store they have. What a waste of real estate. This is downtown Charleston and all you can do is try to sell us a couple worthless little trinkets and hush puppy mix and you need to use up that much square footage? Dumb idea. Right after our name was called, someone more famous than me came up to the seating hostess. I don't know who they were but the hostess went to get the owner. So I got to continue waiting; that's fine, I understand occasionally someone gets special treatment, that's the world we live in. So the owner came down and he didn't know who they were either (ie, it wasn't his mother or best friend or something... maybe a c-list celebrity?) but he stepped into the doorway to greet them. That's a special detail because doorways are about one person wide. The hostess was then blocked behind him and couldn't seat anyone because he had walled off the entire restaurant from customers to talk to this stranger-who-was-more-famous-than-I. Another customer whose name had been called was now in line behind me as well. After several minutes, steam began to build up, ready to come out my ears but he finally moved and took them inside so the hostess could lead me to the stairs. Once up the stairs, you have to stop and wait for a DIFFERENT employee to get a table. This person was nowhere to be found. Several minutes passed again and we took matters into our own hands and just went and sat down. A very nice gentleman finally came over to the table, engaged in some chitchat, welcomed us, and told us to feel free to speak with him about anything. Cool, my steam reserves went down slightly. We both ordered combo plates so we could try a total of six different things. The menu states that their fried foods are their best, so we got several of those plus shrimp and grits (both ways). The hush puppies were really good. See? I can say nice things. That's where it ends, though. The double-stuffed crab was inedible both due to texture and horrible flavor. The shrimp and grits are the worst and second worst I've had in Charleston; it's grocery freezer-section shrimp and packaged/powdered gravy mix, complete with that little "skin" that fake gravy gets on top when its a tiny bit cool. The fish of the day we got was edible but not memorable at all. For a total of $54, I was appalled. Even for $12 I would have been slightly disappointed. So, we opted to talk to the friendly gentleman again and described all these things to him in detail. He apologized, zeroed our bill, and gave us a frequent customer style card thingy for when we came back. I threw it away, we're not coming back. The owner should be ashamed. Somehow this has become a fourth-generation Charleston eatery of renown and it's an absolute disgrace. Hire consultants, bring in some legit chefs, rework your menu, whatever you have to do to turn this place completely around. Or close the doors and let someone with talent have the location.

    (1)

  • Roehl A.

    Good touristy place to experience. We had the bowl of she crab soup $5.95 tasted good but did not have chunks of crab in it. We also shared a 3 item combo $19.95. Chose the shrimp, calamari, and salmon. We chose red rice as a side and all combos come with hush puppies and coleslaw. The seafood was okay and by far the salmon was the best part of the combo. The food is pricey and serving sizes are large enough to share which is a good idea unless you're really hungry! Other items that we were able to try were the grits and the scallops. Among those things the scallops were the best. I would definitely come back for the salmon and the scallops! The wait wasn't bad at 2:00PM on a Thursday. Service was friendly and courteous although our party of 17 may have overwhelmed our server. The timing of delivery could have been better as half of our party was done by the time the rest of our food arrived.

    (3)

  • Nick G.

    The food is amazing and the service is TOP KNOTCH. From the moment we approached, we were treated like valued patrons by the waitress, "cookin posse", and owner (who came to our table to thank us for coming). In regards to the food, our favorites were the hush puppies, fried calamari, and salmon croquettes. We dunked everything in their amazing Cajun mayo (which is available for purchase in the gift shop). We certainly left full and happy. A DEFINITE thumbs up!

    (5)

  • Katharine T.

    Bottom line: tourist trap. Way overrated. The number of people waiting outside the restaurant probably convinces people (like us) that the restaurant is worthwhile. It's not! It has received top ratings from newspapers and speciality magazines that it is one of the top seafood restaurants in the country--totally unjustified. They also do not hesitate to vaunt all of the celebrities who have come to eat at their famous restaurant. The ambiance is lively and fun. They were accurate on the expected wait. The waitress was attentive and the owner comes around to ensure you have a good experience. Food: the only good things were the hush puppies, which were amazing, and the drinks (good sweet tea and nice local beer). Everything else was mediocre or bad. Everything arrived tepid (maybe reheated), barely any flavor. Mahi was bland. Sweet potato casserole was overly sweet. We will never go back. If you want good seafood, do not go here.

    (2)

  • Marilee K.

    This was our first taste of southern cooking and we'll be back. The sampler dinner is the way to go. You can share and taste a big variety. The signature crispy fried flounder, lump crab cake, sweet potato fries, salmon croquette were awesome. We also enjoyed the oysters, fried shrimp, red rice. The She crab soup and hush puppies are a must! The wait outside was interesting people watching. It must have been prom night.

    (4)

  • Brandon G.

    Great place for seafood with a staff just as equal. This place is great for anytime of the day. I highly recommend eating here if your in the downtown Charleston area or close by. I had the shrimp, salmon, and flounder platter with sweet potatoe sudfle. Very tasty

    (5)

  • Robin B.

    Touristy but so so good.

    (4)

  • Christian S.

    Food was great, especially the tomato appetizer. Had the she crab soup. Not the absolute best I've ever had but good, none-the-less. Staff was very good.

    (4)

  • Nicole M.

    This seafood house is by far the best that I've come across on the east coast. My boyfriend and l visited on Saturday along with our six month old son. A wonderful waitresses named Kelly took our order and even asked if our son wanted anything. My boyfriend fried scallops which were very nicely done, not overcooked, l ordered the shrimp which melted in your mouth. Each order comes with a side of hush puppies which are out of this world! We even sat at the table Kevin Costner and the Beach Boys ate at! Highly recommend! Great service and delicious food! Will definately frequent again on our next trip to Charleston!

    (5)

  • Jenn C.

    Great food and a relaxed atmosphere. We waiting for 30 minutes- they passed out hush puppies to try while we waited. The menu was very large and had plenty of variety. The server, Sam, was great- very friendly and she helped guide us through her favorites on the menu. The owners came by to make sure everything was good. We had a nice little conversation about how great our server was. He seemed truly appreciative of our compliment and even gave our 1 1/2 year old son a coupon for a free scoop of ice cream at their general store next door. The food was great. The shrimp and grits were different from anything I've ever had, but they we're very flavorful. The fried shrimp was great and not greasy at all. The crab cake was delicious! I'm very picky when it comes to crab cakes since I grew up eating Chesapeake Bay crabs. They had very little fillers and we're packed with huge chunks of crab. The only thing I wasn't a fan of was the coleslaw, but you could tell it was made there. We were too stuffed for dessert, but everything was great and we would definitely go back.

    (5)

  • Kleshia B.

    Wow! Amazing food! Really awesome atmosphere! The Owner came to the table and greeted my husband & I. Every moment was perfect. I live almost 1000 miles away & I will come back. And I was surprised the bill was so low. My husband & I both had surf n' turf, an appetizer, & beverages. Our server Kaitlin was a delight. I can't say enough about Hyman's. Oh yeah, wall of fame. Dolly Parton, Adam West, Jimmy Dean and on and on.

    (5)

  • Jonathan W.

    This place has some of the WORST seafood in Charleston. Nothing but a tourist trap, since they advertise on all the cruise ships that come in, it is undeniable. We have been here more than once, and had horrible service every time. The wait staff does not care if you get service or not. Each time there we had to hunt down our server, likewise for the other tables we could see. The food is all very bland. Last time there, I ordered fried flounder, and that is all you get. Two small fillets, fried, no side items, not even any garnish. Fish is bland and overcooked, and it is delivered to you unceremoniously placed in front of you and the waitress runs off before you have a chance to say anything (wouldn't want to have to do any more work now would you). Overall, there are many much better quality seafood restaurants in Charleston, avoid this place like the plague. Let all the yankee tourists eat there and save the good places for us locals.

    (1)

  • Lena A.

    Let's face it, Hyman's Seafood is not a fancy 5 star restaurant and not a place you would want to go out to on a romantic date! Yes, every tour and hotel in sight will recommend this restaurant...making you (or at least me) believe it is a high-end, top scale restaurant. In reality, Hyman's is surprisingly casual. The interior is large yet cozy - think a sports bar or the inside of Applebee's, and extremely busy and loud. The servers are very young, but friendly. Some of them look like they are in high school. I see this as more of a lunch place or maybe good for a casual dinner. There is really no need to dress up. The 4 star rating is for the delicious greasy, fatty food that is simply irresistable. I would compare it to high end fast food. The hush puppies are to die for. Be prepared for long lines, and dozens of tourists scrambling around the restaurant. This is the most touristy/gimmicky restaurant I have been to in a while. But if you come with an empty stomach and a good mood, I can't imagine you not having a good time.

    (4)

  • Terry B.

    Absolutely a must place to eat if you're visiting Charleston and want some great seafood. We had a party of four and were quickly seated. We sat at the table that Lynard Skynard and Cyndi Lauper sat at which was cool. We had a variety of items from the menu: fried oysters, fried flounder, shrimp, crab cakes it was all absolutely delicious and some of the best seafood I've had in a long time. The only downside is that the tables are a little small and the floors are pretty slippery. I'm not taking anything off the review for that though as the food makes up for it. Just be careful walking around! Definitely carve out time to eat here.

    (5)

  • Russell F.

    They really want to make sure you are happy here. They check on you over and over from the wait staff to the managment. They also want to make sure you don't leave hungry. They just kept brining good it seemed. We had fried green tomatoes over cheese grits. They were really good. We then shared a 3 item combo. We had the crab cake fried, Carolina style shrimp, and Cajun style tilapia. It was all very good and tasted fresh. The sweet tea is great as well. Oh, and the hushpuppies are freaking good. They are crispy and a little sweet. They are especially good paired with their Cajun mayo. I almost forgot the cool part. Each table has a little label with the name of a famous person who has eaten in that spot.

    (5)

  • Shay M.

    Well if in Charleston you HAVE to visit Hyman's! Great staff and cool location. The general store has a t.v. that loops a cooking style show from their kitchen. The hubbs LOVED his "fried" shrimp and grits (a house special recipe). Everything else...Meh...

    (3)

  • Misha C.

    I know this is a Charleston institution but I really felt like it was a tourist-y trap. The "free pimento cheese" appetizer was a joke and the food was just ok. We waited for too long to be just OK. Way better choices in downtown area. Just my humble opinion.

    (3)

  • William T.

    I grew up in San Diego, ate at some of the best seafood restaurants there, in LA, and San Francisco. Then I ate at Hymans. OMG this place serves the ABSOLUTE BEST seafood I've EVER had. My wife gobbled down the oysters, and I made love to The Royal Broil, a greek variant to their Crispy Flounder. Gargantuan fish for less than $20, and honestly the tastiest, meatiest, most flavorful thing I've ever consumed! Our server, Mike M., was tops, and made our experience an even more memorable one. They take food, service and quality very seriously, yet they manage to not take themselves too seriously. We're coming back here to Charleston (from Knoxville), and making Hyman's the center point of the trip. Don't miss!

    (5)

  • Jacob B.

    I went with a group of four and felt very welcome! We were greeted right away and were sat immediately. We sat at a table close to the window and had great drinks, we tried the Bloody Mary (wonderful) and a local craft beer. We ordered the shrimp and hush puppies. Everything tasted great! The owners had us taste test a new product a shrimp and cheese loaded potato skin. We perfected the recipe and hope to see it on the menu next time we're in. Definitely will return!!

    (5)

  • Angelena A.

    Great place! The food was great and the service was wonderful. One of the employees was from our hometown and he helped us feel right at home!

    (5)

  • R H.

    Too salty. We got the Combo for 2 (7items). It was enough food but wasn't impressed at all.

    (2)

  • Branham P.

    One of the Best Seafood Places I have eaten. She crab soup is the best. Deep fried grits and flounder is perfect.. Fresh seafood. Tourist flock to it so the lines are crazy. but well worth it. yes the price is seafood so you will spend $65 for 3 or more people. you will leave full. Its a must go to.. every time im close I go..

    (5)

  • Anthony A.

    This was one of the better places I've been in a while. The staff's personality is bright and cheery. Customer service is top notch! So let's talk about the food, the meal was spectacular. The shrimp and grits melted in my mouth. Perfect flavors coming together. The crab cakes were the best I ever tasted. The sweet potato didn't need anything added to enhance the flavor. I will make this restaurant a tradition.

    (5)

  • Derek B.

    Boiled peanuts are delicious. Free apps with a check in. Fried food is just okay. Some hate the place. Some love the place. Some give it 3 stars. That's me.

    (3)

  • Heidi M.

    I give hymens a five star very quick service friendly atmosphere good old-fashioned hush puppies best prices in town

    (5)

  • Terris R.

    this place is freakin amazing!!!!!! everything is good! eli is awesome!!! ANYTHING on the menu is delicious. The hush puppies are insane. Slow down bc you'll get full fast! Seriously. The coleslaw is delicious too!

    (5)

  • CJ H.

    I am a seafood guy. Grew up in Seattle. Fished in Alaska, South Africa and Brazil. This was my first time to Charleston. I heard about the local "She Crab Soup". I was told Hyman's was one of the places I should try. There was a huge line forming so I chose to site at the bar for my dinner. Started out with a cup of the She Crab soup. AMAZING! Second was the Carolina Delight, a grit cake with a salmon croquette. I had one of the fresh catches of the day, whiting stuffed with crab. Washed all of this down with a few Palmetto's. This is a destination restaurant however I never had the feeling I was in a tourist trap. I plan on coming back in the fall.The food and service was amazing!

    (5)

  • Nic F.

    If you have members of your party with allergies, you will definitely want to avoid this restaurant. Despite the fact that the menu, servers and multiple managers claimed the hushpuppies were both gluten and dairy-free, the hushpuppies do in fact contain both wheat and dairy ingredients - as a member of our party found in an ingredient list that was posted on Hyman's own website. The problem here is that the waitstaff, managers and kitchen are all completely unaware of the ingredients that are being served and truthful answers were not provided until we questioned their responses. To add to the problems, nearly all of their sauces/dishes are butter-based and/or fried in the same oil as the gluten options.

    (1)

  • Sara M.

    We stopped by here on a friends recommendation while vacationing in Isle of Palms. Both service and food were certainly worth writing home about. Come here for goooood low country cookin!

    (5)

  • Crystal C.

    Lunch with our friends from Cali on a Monday afternoon was wonderful. Our servers were Ashley and Martha. They explained the menu to us and kept our wayward group well fed and entertained. This will definitely be a staple for our Charleston trips.

    (5)

  • Jessica M.

    The 3 stars are mainly for how AWESOME my server was! Their hush puppies were amazing and he overheard me so he just brought the table more, without asking or charging! Man after my heart. But the food was, meh and some a little tasteless. This is mainly a tourist spot so I'd prefer seafood elsewhere. Cool gift shop!

    (3)

  • Bob Q.

    Nothing impressive. Terrible wait time for average tourist food. Price reasonable. Sometimes it's impressive to see a long line of folks waiting to eat. The wait time while we were in line had increased to 2 hours! But don't let it fool you. It's all advertising and promotion. A big crowd does't always mean great food and in this case it does not! The shrimp I had were about 2 inches in length and had some type of smooth batter (I am used to cornmeal based batter being from New Orleans). I was not enthused. It's all hype for the tourists.

    (2)

  • Jeff S.

    Just visiting Charleston on a whim without any dinner reservations. Was feeling like seafood and used Yelp to find a good place. Hyman's certainly lived up to their rating! With a crowd outside and an hour wait, we headed to the bar where we discovered we could order anything off the menu with no waiting. We did and were enjoying some excellent grouper, crab and shrimp in no time. Great food and great service from bartenders Stephanie, Al and Chris. They are the best! Highly recommend putting Hyman's on your list.

    (5)

  • Duane D.

    This place was great! You can't hardly miss it -- the advertising for Hyman's starts at the airport and you see it all over Charleston. We went for a weekday lunch--and didn't have to wait at all. However, we did see lines there are different times throughout the week. We got a great table right by an upstairs window. Plaques on the table indicated that previous diners were -- Mel Gibson, Jody Foster, Sandra Bullock, and Mathew Broderick! Probably not at the same time, but what a meal that would be! ;) We brought in a coupon (all over town) for a free appetizer. They didn't care what you ordered to get the freebie, so long as you ordered something. Our freebie was the crab dip. Pretty good stuff. Speaking of free -- they also brought a bowl of boiled peanuts. Yum. The owner came by to greet people and sent everyone in a room another appetizer--fried green tomatoes. Awesome. By the time our lunch arrived, we were hardly hungry--but it was all very good. The hush puppies, in particular, were fantastic. Good enough for desert! To leave the place, you need to go out through the general store. Yes, a little touristy, but no big deal. Some may say it's a tourist trap -- but, I loved it and will definitely go back the next time we are in town.

    (4)

  • Dawn M.

    Hush puppies were incredible! Had combo which is best way to try a few things. Fresh fish options great. Had flounder, it was good. Lump crab and the shrimp and grits were wonderful. Love the Carolina cheese sauce on the grits. Too much food for me, but if you like generous portions you'll be happy.

    (5)

  • Maria T.

    Be prepared to wait. The line is intimidating but so are the food portions. Two things worth waiting for. I'd say give yourself a 30-40 minute wait time, so go when you're hungry, NOT when you're on the verge of passing out. Hymans is super casual, a very "come as you are" type of place. The food is amazing. Hence the wait. We were honored when owner Eli Hyman came over & introduced himself. He also sent us the "Carolina Delight", one of their number one appetizers. I'm proud to say it disappeared as soon as it hit the table, yes it's that good,don't miss it. Thanks Hymans, I'll certainly be back - Maria Taylor "What's New In New York"

    (4)

  • Matthew G.

    These people were SOOOO nice. The manager came over to make sure everything was good with us. I had fried flounder. It was great. The hush puppies were to die for. Must go to this place while visiting!

    (4)

  • Denise G.

    Our extended family of 9 had an awesome meal at the very famous Charleston seafood restaurant. We all got different entrees and each one was delightful. For appetizers, we had She Crab Bisque, Fried Green Tomatoes, Carolina Delight, Carolina Shrimp and Grits, and Seafood Gumbo. All were delivered very quickly and were fresh and hot. Our entrees included Triple Combo of Hyman's Lump Crab Cake, Shrimp, and Oysters for me (best seafood I have ever had anywhere!!); Carolina-Style Shrimp and Grits (89 y/o mom who ate every bite and loved it!); Crispy Flounder (hubby loved this and a great contrast to other lesser flounder dishes we have found on Isle of Palms this trip!); Hyman's Jambalaya (son proclaimed it as awesome and he has had lots of good jambalya in New Orleans but none to compare with this!); Brother had the Seafood fettucine with shrimp, scallops, and fish and could not finish it because as he put it, they brought enough for 4 people!. This was definitely the very best meal of this trip to Charleston and Isle of Palms. The service was more attentive and professional than in any 5 star restaurant. Our younger children ate various things from the very extensive kid's menu and were very excited when Cousin Martin greeted them with neat two dollar bills which he explained could be used to buy ice cream at the end of the meal if they were kind to their parents! Such a wonderful touch. Cousin Martin asked us all if this was our first visit and acted genuinely happy that we were having dinner with them. Every good thing you read about Hyman's Seafood is more than true based on our delightful experience tonight!! Do not come to Charleston without making this one of your stops for great seafood!

    (5)

  • Amy Yvonne H.

    A touristy place with good food, & friendly staff located in downtown Charleston. Food: We got the pick 5. Everything was delicious except the flounder. It was chewy & lacked flavor. (Maybe next time we will get it cooked different & not fried) Favorite was the mussels! The garlic sauce was incredible & we put everything in it! Crab cake is soo expensive & small, but tasty. (Not tasty enough to be worth the price though) Shrimp: cooked well, good flavor! Hush puppies: good flavor, but I have had better. Calamari: very tasty, cooked right, tasted fresh. Over all, its expensive but worth it for the portions & you can always share! Service: I recommend Dusty if you go during the day. He is nice & will make you laugh. (2 time winner for Charleston's best comedian). As for evening, I had Amy who was sweet but definitely slammed since it was the weekend. Atmosphere: It's set in an old house & has some neat decor but over all isn't anything to write home about. Come for the food. Conclusion: Great touristy spot for friends to share a seafood combination & have a good time downtown.

    (4)

  • Bem H.

    Second time I've been to Hymans and probably the last. The first experience went fairly well but this last one wasn't so great. Definitely a tourist attraction which is why I should have known better but that doesn't excuse the poor service. Not to mention the food was not good at all.

    (1)

  • Gloria K.

    This place was well worth the hour wait. The food was delicious. Even the hush puppies were incredible!!! We had several people tell us this was a tourist trap, but it most certainly was NOT. I had the salmon and my husband and I both agreed it was the best we'd ever had. Portions were grand and tasty! The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is, they don't accept reservations and an average wait on a weekend for dinner is an hour + and patrons have to stand outside with no shade or seating.

    (4)

  • Cinara M.

    My husband and I had dinner at Hyman's today. We shared fried green tomatoes, she crab soup, lump crab cake and the shrimp Carolina delight. Everything was very tasty, despite being a tourist "trap", like some people say. Our waitress Lilly was Wonderful, very nice and funny.

    (5)

  • Courtney J.

    While waiting for a table you can sit on a rocking bench, eat complimentary hush puppies, and take in the beautiful scenery. Once seated, an owner came around and spoke with us. He gave the kids coupons for a free ice cream scoop on the way out through the gift shop. The Carolina delight with scallops was AMAZING. My sister in law said that her stuffed Mahi with white sauce was absolutely awesome. The building is three or four floors, very pretty and charming. Server was awesome. Can't go wrong here...great experience.in

    (5)

  • Colleen M.

    Ever since I've moved to Charleston I have always been told to go to Hymans. When my dad visited from ohio we decided to check it out. It wS one if my favorite restaurants downtown. I took my cousins a few months later and had another great experience. The stag is very friendly and helpful explains the menu. The food was delicious and they have you so much on your plate. My family aves about the hush puppies they give you. Overall it was a great experience and delicious food. I wouldn't hesitate to go here several more times in the future!

    (5)

  • Cho D.

    First off a wait of 20 minutes turned into almost an hour. We are new to The area and had family in for the weekend. They were the ones who wanted to try this place out. I have never heard a hostess ask a group of people (coming to dine together) if they would be willing to split up, and I thought it was an outrageous request. I heard them ask a few times to others. It has that good ol'feel to it that I do enjoy, but the hype was not worth the effort or waiting and going through the labyrinth of a restaurant. So to start, there were 5 of us, only five. It took about as long as our wait to get drinks. The Wine was disgusting and, the liquor drinks were missing a key ingredient. Alcohol. Our waitress had no idea what the drinks were, and all she could remember was every time I pointed out one I would like to try, was that they no longer serve it. Prominently displayed on the drink menu or not. . There were no hush puppies on my plate though it said it came with them, My father in-law had the mahi, as well as did I, and we had them cooked differently and both were dry. My crag cake, was all cake, crab yet to be found. My husband got the flounder bone in, but liked it as much as someone who doesn't eat fish could. My sister in-law had the chicken alfredo, and liked it very much. My father in-law and his girlfriend shared a pick 5. They thought the squash casserole was under flavored, and that the Cajun spices were over done. All in all, I would not go here again, just not worth the time. The prices were okay, but the service and the food don't make it worth the trip into downtown. The *Cousin* did visit our table and give us a free magnet coupon, and the owner stopped by as well. But what was the point in passing on that we all thought the food and the service, and the wait were bad, not just one selective thing was wrong, but a collective bunch of things that I'm sure were not just on our visit, They need to train the college kids a little better, a cute face filled with sheepish grin, and shoulder shrugging is not an answer to a table of out of towners who want to know about the menu.

    (2)

  • randi z.

    Do not go here for great seafood or a great dining experience. Go only if you love tourist institutions. Hush puppies were very good as was the fried okra. Most was merely ok -catfish, fried oysters, salmon. Fried calamari was tough and stringy. Service was disorganized. Grouper was simply awful - not fresh. After the meal they shuttle you out through the gift shop. Wish we had spent our time and money somewhere else.

    (2)

  • Becky B.

    The salmon sampler was A-mazing! Hyman's was our 4th seafood restaurant this week- it was the best flavor at affordable prices! Mike the waiter told great jokes and the owners stopping by the tables was a cool touch! Will be back!

    (5)

  • Tadi D.

    Crab cakes were out of this world delicious as was the lobster bisque soup! Hushpuppies were ok as long as they were right out of the fryer (steaming hot!).. Add their special mayo to them and it was a pretty tasty treat! We ordered Caribbean jerk salmon on a spinach fajita wrap (which was supposed to have grilled onions that we were charged for, but never received :( ) that turned out AMAZING. What really made us eat here was the wonderful gentleman Bryon, who greeted us with a vibrant smile and warm welcome. Even though he gets paid to do this (as the server told us "it's his job"), he fits the position perfectly and does an outstanding job! He even kept tabs on us throughout our meal just to be sure we were enjoying the food! Thank you Bryon! Hyman's received 3 patrons this morning because you were so personable and delightful! We'll visit again as long as they have employees like you :)

    (4)

  • John M.

    I spent the weekend with my fiance in Charleston. She is from Summerville and told me about how good their food is. It was a pleasant atmosphere and the service from very courteous. I had the shrimp dinner. The portion was larger than I expected but it was delicious. The shrimp wasn't heavily seasoned and they were fresh. The next time I'm in Charleston, I do plan to come here again. If anyone wants fresh seafood, i highly recommend this place.

    (4)

  • Debbi C.

    First time in Charleston, and found Hymans by accident. Turned out to be our good fortune. Food was great -big selection of food & Jewish deli style sandwiches. Greeted at our table by 2 Eli Hyman & cousin Marty. Waitress, Carly, was delightful. Will definitely share our find with friends.

    (5)

  • Caitlin P.

    My friends and I were tourists in town and our taxi driver recommended this place and took us here. We chuckled when we got seated because we saw a sign posted on the wall that says "80% of customers are from words of mouth". Lol. It was super busy even on a weekday, I think we were here on a wed night. But we were seated fairly quickly tho. This place is huge!! It seems like almost every restaurant in charleston has an upstairs and downstairs. We ordered alot of foood for three girls and truly experienced southern foood. We Googled the must haves when you're in the south and we got: hushpuppies (it's sweet, kinda like a fried donut), she-crab soup (tastes like a clam chowder), grits with shrimp (grits is made out of rice and corn, I think). Their fish is fresh every day, it actually comes from the ashley river that's right there. The food itself was ok...everything was kinda salty, not so full of flavors like I was hoping for. But that's ok, because the southern hospitality really makes up for it!!!! The two co-owners of the restaurant went around to every single table and greeted their patrons! And it wasn't just a "hi, thanks for dining here"...they were actually converseing with their guests and showed geniune interest in conversing with their guests. Such great hospitality! I'm from California and trust me, rarely, ever you see this in the restaurants! General managers rarely ever come by your tables to say hi... unless you're vip then the GM or chef would come out. Even if you complain about the food or service, they will not stop by your table. The 3 stars is for the great service and geniune hospitality; I feel at home eating here.

    (3)

  • Eric H.

    So, here's the thing. The food is a flat out 5. However the service was a 2. If you have a minute or two, I'll be glad to explain. When we arrived, we were directed to a stairwell inside the restaurant and were told a table number to tell the person at the top of the stairs. Not necessarily what I would call friendly, but we went with the flow. When we were sat at our table, we were promptly greeted by our server who pointed out the specials, took our drink order and then left to give us time to peruse the menu. Little did we know it, but we had just seen the full potential of our server. Drinks arrived and appetizers and orders were placed. One of our appetizers arrived within 5 minutes and we were told our other one would arrive shortly. Next to arrive were two of the four main courses. Still no second appetizer. Third entree arrived. Appetizer was still on its way. The appetizer and the fourth entree arrived at the same time. By this time, one of the people in our group was already finished eating. A few minutes later the last item arrived at the table. This restaurant is not advertised as an a la carte or tapas style dining, so this was completely unacceptable to me. Seeing that we were with another couple, I declined to bring it up to management. As a former server, it is imperative to place and time orders correctly. If I were to sit with this server again, I'd ask to move sections. So, now that that's out of my system, I'd like to rave about the food. You might as well picture me drooling as I write this because it's happening. The calamari was perfectly cooked and the breading was seasoned well. The oysters were good size and flavor. The shrimp and grits were spectacular creaminess and the parmesean sauce complimented it perfectly. The low country boil had quite a kick, but it's not overpowering at all. It was great to coat everything in the loose roux and it was packed with flavor. Something that might get overlooked at most places but was the star here were the hush puppies. I say that, not trying to say anything bad about the meal, but instead to say that they were the best I've had. I would buy them by the dozen and not have a problem keeping them to myself. OK, I get it. Time to wrap this thing up. Please go here as you won't regret it. You just might want to ask your server to appropriately pace the meal add you'd like to enjoy every morsel.

    (4)

  • Jessica S.

    What can I say about Hyman's Seafood... Ok, so it's definitely overpriced for what you're getting but I guess that what happens when you're in a touristy area. They offer free hush puppies right at the door which is cool -- who doesn't like free food? I wouldn't call what they serve "hush puppies." I'm used to savory hush puppies with green onions... this was more like really sweet cornbread, but still good and tasty. I wasn't particularly hungry so I ordered the fried green tomatoes appetizer, which I got for free because I checked in, the "she" crab soup, and the gaitor sausage appetizer. Fried green tomatoes: can I complain even though I got them for free? Yup. It's not really a complaint, but the tomatoes we're bit tart for me and my party. I ended up dousing more of that red tartar sauce on it, and it was fine. "She" crab soup: was a tad salty but still ok. Overall, it was just ok. Now for the pièce de résistance, the gaitor sausage appetizer: My family knows that I'm the adventurous type, and that I like to try new things. I've never had gaitor, so of course when I saw they offered it, I just had to get it! Where to begin... ...for one, they took a really long time to bring our orders. I think they might have forgotten they were cooking my gaitor sausage, cause when it came out, it looked sad. It looked like they had scraped it from the bottom of the pot. Totally unacceptable! I still cannot believe that a restaurant would serve people that kind of food! Luckily, my Aunt told them that I was less than pleased --I was still pretty speechless, and they brought me another plate that was worlds better in taste and presentation. It had kick to it that I love and tasted like really good spicy sausage. I'd actually purchase some gaitor sausage to take back home, if I knew where to purchase it... I tasted some of the shrimp and grits they're known for, and believe me if I ever come here again, I will get that. It was really that good! Overall, it's an ok place. I'd say stick to the fish plates, the shrimp and grits and the popular items.

    (3)

  • Michael H.

    Great seafood restaurant. Huge menu and everything was great. The grouper medley, however, was very dry and "fishy". Other than that everything was outstanding. The owner came to check on everything as we'll. very good service.

    (5)

  • Erika Josephine W.

    This was our first stop when we came into the city because we were hungry! I read about this establishment online and it caught my attention. I figured I should check it out. My mom and I decided to get a "You pick 3" because we didn't want to over eat like we usually do on vacation. We got salmon, shrimp and grits, and a crab cake. All were very tasty. I think our most favorite was the hushpuppies though! They were amazing and were thinking of buying them for a snack for our trip back home. Never made it back. Great food and great service!

    (5)

  • Jon B.

    Excellent, I mean everything ! Fried Green Tomatoes : five star ! Cajun Fries : five star ! Could live here so I could try more !!!

    (5)

  • Tierra H.

    Ummmmmmm, no. Don't do this. Don't eat here. That long line is one in which you shouldn't wait. While waiting, we went to the gift shop. It was chock full of stuff you'd want to take home as a reminder of your time in Charleston. It wasn't very expensive either. The cashiers were unfriendly though. No sort of greeting. No smiles. Just a lot of belabored sighs. Finally, we were called to go eat. The place is huge. We were taken upstairs to a table in a corner. The walls are covered in pictures of celebs that have eaten there. Presumably at a time when the food was actually good . . . . The menu is confusing as hell. I ended up getting broiled shrimp. They were flavorless and rubbery. Fiance got some sort of flounder that was equally as whack. Basically, I only liked the hushpuppies and the sweet tea. Does that count for anything? Probably not. Just avoid this tourist trap.

    (2)

  • Tommy W.

    There's waaay too many amazing options for dining in Charleston to eat at a place that lives off of it's positive write up in Southern Living magazine 20 years ago. If you love Red Lobster then you'll love this place. Hush puppies and service are good so 1 star is earned.

    (1)

  • Christopher N.

    This is my favorite restaurant! I'm from Charlotte and many a time have I driven out here with the sole purpose of eating here. The food is the best I've ever had, and the staff is even better! Mr. Hyman has come out to our table on many an occasion to thank us for coming in. He knows word of mouth is the best way to earn business and advertise, and I tell everyone I know! Ask for Brittany, she's the best!

    (5)

  • Steve M.

    After taking a taxi ride from the airport I had some time to burn before I would be able to check in to my hotel. I decided to grab some lunch from something within a short walking distance. Outside there were three ladies who acted as greeters. They were friendly and quickly found me a table. While walking in I noticed the place was segmented into multiple sections. The bar was separate from the main eating area. I later learned there was also a take take out section, store and deli. The tables were old but not in a bad way ... think character. The tables have little placards on them which list the famous people who have eaten at the table. It's not some amazing thing but it's still fun to know. The wait service was great and attentive. My waiter was with me within a few minutes and took the time to explain the deals. He also was knowledgeable about local beers which is a huge plus. The food was alright. I was not wow'd nor was I disappointed as I knew going into this that the restaurant is considered a tourist trap by many people. The portion of salmon was pretty large though which I wasn't expecting. The managers walk around and make sure that everyone is happy with their food. Some people really like, others, like me, don't really care either way. However, the managers are very friendly and don't take up much time away from eating. Would I go back? Sure! Would I go there every day? No. There is probably other interesting seafood places in the area. If you are visiting Charleston check it out for lunch and see if it's the kind of place you enjoy.

    (4)

  • Lashona M.

    Tasty in all sense of the word! My favorite place to come when in town! The hush puppies, fried green tomatoes w/ grits, boiled peanuts, squash casserole and catfish are amazing........

    (5)

  • Steven L.

    This place was great and bad at the same time. I'll try to keep it simple: Positives: -Greeting: They have people waiting outside to take your reservation. During the busy time, it looked like they were handing out their hush puppies. -The co-owner and two managers asked us how everything was going. You don't find that too often at restaurants anymore. -Happy hour specials are awesome. A dozen oysters for an insanely cheap price. And they are huge!! -Food is pretty good. The buffalo shrimp, shrimp and grits, and the fried pickles are good. Negative: -Service: I don't know if we got a bad server but she was horrible: -Didn't give us silverware, even after bringing out our appetizers, so we had to ask her (which it still took a while to get). We ate our appetizers with our hands. -Got our drink orders wrong twice and took forever to get one. -Forgot to take the free appetizer for checking in the restaurant, even after she asked to see the yelp app. -Forgot to take the gumbo off after we got it real late and it was not even luke warm. The service almost ruined the experience and thus the 3 star. With better service, this would have been 4 stars easy. I would recommend this place to anyone visiting, it is a must go in the area.

    (3)

  • Kyle D.

    Went for lunch today. I had the free fried green tomato appetizer for checking in. They were fried perfect. For the meal I had the fried seafood combo. The flounder was ok. Shrimp and oysters were great. Our server was new but she did a fine job. Bloody Mary was great.

    (4)

  • Allen L.

    Delicious bloody marys , best hush puppies I ever had, fries were super crispy. I was able to share a 3 item combo for two people. We got crab cake , sautéed scallops, old bay peel and eat shrimp with fries. We didn't want to wait so we sat at the bar. Bartender was super busy but we still got great service. Try the salt moisturizing scrub in the bathroom.

    (5)

  • Joyce R.

    Here on business. Very convenient to my Renaissance hotel. So glad i stopped. The bartender Anton was fantastic and steered me to the combo platter. The shrimp, grits and hush puppies were top notch. I will definitely come again! Loved it.

    (5)

  • Dawn M.

    Excellent service. We were visiting Charleston during a heatwave and had just arrived in the city at a time between Lunch and dinner hours. After searching for a place to grab a meal and cool off, we stumbled upon Hymans. We were seated right away and the staff were friendly. Generous portion sizes. I enjoyed the complimentary boiled peanuts (never had them before). The hushpuppies that came with our meals were another favorite. Also liked the combo plate option- I got to try a couple of different items on the menu in a single meal. After our meals, our server even offered is ice waters to go since it was so hot out that day. That small gesture made the remainder of our afternoon walking around downtown Charleston on a day that felt like 100+ degrees much more enjoyable! I don't normally take time to write reviews, but considering how well we were treated, I felt the need to share. Overall we enjoyed ourselves and appreciated the hospitality. Some of the best service we received in a long time.

    (4)

  • Howard B.

    disappointed this time. went in last year for bloody mary and raw oysters and loved it. this year tried again. oysters were not fresh. she couldn't eat hers, but i plowed thru hoping not to get sick. i didn't but the not so fresh smell of oyster was with me all day. sorry to have that experience, but if they're not fresh they shouldn't have served them. prob should have sent them back. bar staff was excellent

    (2)

  • Tim B.

    The food was bland for the cost. Service tried to make up for some bad attitude during the seating process where the lady just walked off and I did not know if I was supposed to follow her or what.

    (3)

  • Kay B.

    Visited in September of 2012 with my 4 sisters and 3 nieces for dinner. I believe it's my all time favorite dining experience in my whole life! Excellent wait staff, ambiance and seafood. Their shrimp and cheese grits with bacon is now my favorite food! Their hush puppies are really good too!

    (5)

  • Jeffrey F.

    Despite our cab driver trying to dissuade us from eating here, we were absolutely delighted. We only had a 20 minute wait and everything was delicious. We were a party of 6 and everyone was completely satisfied. They start you off with some small plates of boiled peanuts and they also bring you out there world famous conch fritters. The conch fritters are absolutely delicious and perfectly fried. They have several different kind of fish available in different portions and prices, and you can mix and match 2 suit yourself and your appetite. I ordered Cajun scallops, Buffalo shrimp, & a crab cake. Any one of them on their own would have been good but I would have leaned towards the scallops and crab cake more than the Buffalo shrimp. One of our party ordered just scallops which were also excellent blackened, and another person ordered the mussels, which was a huge bowl of mussels in a garlic wine sauce that was out of this world. So for all those who say this is a tourist trap, it may be. But I, say that this is also one of the better seafood places to eat and a good value for the price. Thumbs up.

    (4)

  • Barbara G.

    Last night was my first night in Charleston and I couldn't have picked a better restaurant to start my trip off with than Hymans Seafood. Southern Hospitality at its finest! We arrived and only had to wait about a half hr for a table which according to a local is a breeze. The place has a homey feel and man so many celebs have eaten here! I sat at a seat Neil Armstrong did. The menu is extensive ranging from seafood platters to fresh catch of the day. No worries it's not just fried, you can get it prepared any way you want. I got the stuffed shrimp platter which was good the shrimp were well cooked but I wish they were bigger. I also felt the stuffing was a bit too salty. My sister got the salmon croquette which was delicious and Mom got a crab cake and salmon both very good. The main reason I give this place a such high rating is the service was phenomenal. The owner came up to our table TWICE to welcome us and answer any questions then to see how we enjoyed everything. He was more than happy to enlighten us on some of the foods we hadn't heard of before. I really appreciate that. Southern hospitality is real! Also need to give a shout out to the boiled peanuts - so good! We ended up buying a can for home. If you're in Charleston, this is a must stop!

    (4)

  • Marc S.

    Good seafood. Join many VIPs who have been there before. Find their tags on the tables and see who enjoyed their time. The owner is very welcoming and helpful finding the right dish for you. The restaurant is that famous you need to wait in line to get a table. Outside they have benches where you can wait until they call your name. Waiting is no problem because you know something good is coming. Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker had our table before. :-) That's OK I guess; Ferris for me and Carrie for my wife ;-)

    (4)

  • Olive O.

    Cool place to visit. Service is outstanding and the experience is worth it. The food is close to excellent. If you are not a native, you may be thrown off by your expectation of certain dishes, so just be sure to clarify you are getting what you expect. So long as you do, the food is fresh and very delicious. I highly recommend the mussels and the hush puppies are excellent! I will gladly visit again :)

    (4)

  • Nick F.

    Affordable seafood and a casual atmosphere make this place definitely worth checking out. The employees definitely abide by their advertised motto that the customer is always right. It's a big place but gets crowded so make sure you have the time or plan for an early or late meal.

    (4)

  • Ashley K.

    The food here is legitimately exceptional. Being from out of town I wasn't sure what was good and what wasn't but the ads and testimonials here are real. We sat with Eric who gave us value over everything else. Super nice and very funny company, I definitely recommend sitting with him. The 7 combo was big enough for FOUR of us, comfortably, and the She-Crab soup is so delicious I could've drank it out of a bottle. Be sure to get that! Didn't have room for dessert but I will next time. Very casual but super charming look and feel to this seafood gem. Be sure to give this a try!

    (5)

  • James P.

    Great food and atmosphere! Staff was very friendly and helpful. The squash casserole and crab cakes were amazing. It is a little pricey but it is worth the price.

    (5)

  • Renee B.

    We were told by a local woman to check this place out for authentic seafood that was reasonably priced. We all thoroughly enjoyed our food; deviled crab shells, fish n' chips, shrimp fettuccini, and the fried green tomato appetizer. The crab was very good, but I felt there wasn't enough of it and for some reason I expected it to be spicy, which it wasn't and I wanted it to be. The fish was delicious, according to my sister, and she couldn't get enough of the delicious and addictive hush puppies. Mom got the fettuccine and it was loaded with shrimp and the plate was ginormous. She also could have eaten the hush puppies for days. I don't like grits but we gobbled up the tomatoes. I received a free appetizer for checking in on yelp so we got to try them. The atmosphere was wonderful and loaded with pictures, history and celebrities. My sister loved the fact that we sat at the same table Sandra Bullock once did, so she was sold after that point. We had a new waitress, so she didn't know a lot, but was helpful and attentive. I'd go back again. I think the prices were kind of high but I'm not use to this environment. Thanks for the experience!

    (4)

  • Jennifer F.

    ****TOURISTS read this**** if you are traveling I highly recommend this place. You can get combo plates for a great value and try a VARIETY of food items. My boyfriend and I shared a bunch of sides in addition to sharing a combo plate (pick 3) and were so happy we did. We wanted to try many southern staples and if we went anywhere else we would have spent 10x as much. We got fried okra, fried oysters, fish, collard greens, lots of hushpuppies, and crab cakes for around $30. My boyfriend and I had extra! I suggest trying this place as a casual but heavier lunch. Ambience is more casual, and fun... definitely touristy than romantic. Really good find. Also, we both agree that the quality of the food was good and not just "fitting the tourist bill". We both like to cook good food. Hope this helps!

    (5)

  • Selphyne B.

    Being from San Diego, I feel like every coastal city should have an abundance if fresh seafood cooked well! We have yet to find such a place here. This was the first seafood place we tried in this area and we left unsatisfied and underwhelmed by the quality. I will note that the staff and manager were extremely friendly. I did love their unique hush puppies which is ironic because I HATE hush puppies normally so I left a seafood place hating what I should have loved and loving what I should hate. They are a delightful mix of cinnamon and minced onion, honey and other flavors. Just lovely, but everything else we ordered was not tasty, we left more than half if our food and paid around $70 for 2 entrees and no appetizers or drinks.

    (2)

  • Tricia T.

    Ok experience. Food was good. Ordered the shrimp and hush puppies - shrimp were TINY... expected large, fresh fried shrimp. NOT the case. I'd definitely go somewhere else next time for seafood. Owner was there - greeted us and other tables. Nice touch and unexpected.

    (2)

  • Helen L.

    Had flounder for brunch, even though it was too much for my first meal today, it was still super fresh and yummmmmmmmmy!!

    (4)

  • Greg A.

    This is a MUST when in Charleston. We had a party of 13 for lunch and we were seated within 15 minutes. Also enjoy the food. Great Place. If you can get it blackened....get it blackened!

    (5)

  • Marqus R.

    Hyman's claim to fame is that is was voted #1 seafood restaurant in the Southeast by Southern Living. Either the election was rigged or the Southeast has a lot less to offer than I had thought. But don't get me wrong, the oysters are fresh; the food is good but with nothing special or exceptional to any of it. Basically Hyman's is a hole in the wall tourist trap with young girls out front handing out ads like a bunch restaurant street pimps working the scene while coaching tourists inside. Obviously they do a good job of it because the place has been continuously busy during every hour and at every visit I have made to it. As I have said, the seafood is fresh, top quality but prepared in a fashion most any amateur cook could accomplish. There is no draft beer, bottle only, and though it has a full bar, the offerings are severely limited not only by lack of ingredients but also an obvious lack of talent. Its side dishes are also, at best bland; even the Cook Out chain beats Hyman's hush puppies hands down both in texture and flavor. Their "She-Crab" soup, pretty much the specialty of the area, is pasty and lumpy, which I find inexcusable for a restaurant in Charleston. No way Hyman's could even begin to compare with any of the medium restaurants of New Orleans, hole in walls like Acme or the likes of the Oyster Bar in New York.

    (2)

  • Lilly Y.

    On my last trip to Charleston, I wanted to come back and reminisce in the place my family went to on our way to Isle of Palms for so many years. I remember really liking my food and thinking this place was just awesome! However, I found the food was incredibly basic, inconsistent and overall disappointing, probably because my palette has evolved since I was a child that loved chicken fingers and fries. After this disappointing experience, I can see why so many people tried to talk us out of it. Now I'll know to steer clear next time. After we got seated, we tried to read through the whole menu. All 3 pages of it, and quickly got overwhelmed. There's too many choices! It almost immediately made me think of Chef Robert Irvine on his restaurant rescue missions: scale down the menu and focus on doing a few things really well versus a bunch of stuff that's mediocre. I ended up getting a [massive] Pick 3 Combo Platter with fried flounder, Carolina Style Shrimp and Grits and BBQ shrimp (fried with tails on and tossed in BBQ sauce). The flounder and shrimp were good because they were fried (which is what they're known for), but both needed sauce to liven up the plain batter. My grits were good- thick and fluffy, and the shrimp were cooked well. I was disappointed to hear they were "farm-raised" and not fresh and local. I'm from Atlanta, where most seafood has been previously frozen. When I'm at the beach, I want fresh seafood! Sadly, both varieties of shrimp tasted like something I could get at home. The owner told us that the local ones were "too small" this time of year. Personally, I'd rather have smaller local shrimp than big frozen ones where you can't pop the tails off correctly. Oh yeah, this is also served with cole slaw and hush puppies. I'm not exaggerating when I say this is a massive dish. My boyfriend also got the [equally massive] Pick 3 Combo Platter with Carolina Style Shrimp and Grits, Buffalo Shrimp and fried Northern Style Crab Cake. The cake was done well and had lots of meat in it. His buffalo shrimp were on par with my BBQ ones because they were the same "farm-raised" fried shrimp just tossed in a different sauce. His grits were too runny and had to send them back. The kitchen probably made a big batch of grits and cooked the shrimp or salmon to order. Our shrimp were probably sauteed in butter and added to the grits with the cream sauce on top. His plate had so much butter that it made the grits runny and he still poured a lot off into another dish. We sent them back with a manager, who expedited another order that was equally runny. By that point, we had eaten enough and just counted it as a loss. They should have made the grits a little thicker so the butter would liquefy them to the correct consistency. The saving grace at Hyman's is the customer service, and is why I gave this place two stars instead of one. The server was really patient with us while we read through the menu, answered all our questions and made sure we were comfortable. What's more impressive is that we had the manager and owner each touch our table twice, even before the grits issue. The owner stopped and spoke to us at length about our experience and listened to all of our criticism. He didn't try to make excuses, but apologized and hoped we would return. Eli ultimately chose to comp by boyfriend's grits, and insisted that he needed to do it. I haven't seen customer service like that in a long time. On the happier side, their award-winning Bloody Mary is good. I'm not usually a big fan of tomato, but I liked it. The hush puppies are as good as I remembered, and I was pleasantly surprised by the slaw. I recommend skipping the line and finding another place to eat. I didn't feel like this place was worth the money, even though the portions are huge. There was a lot of unseasoned meat and batter, which left a disappointing taste in my mouth when we left. Guess that's what happens when you eat at a tourist trap instead of a place recommended by locals.

    (2)

  • Raul S.

    Worst seafood place in Charleston. I genuinely don't understand why people eat here. It's a total tourist trap. This might pass for quality seafood in Ohio but in Charleston this place is the bottom of the barrel as far as I'm concerned. Save your tastebuds and go to Hank's.

    (1)

  • Lady A.

    This place has changed somewhat since I was here last. The food was good overall; the tea tasted instant which is blasphemy in the south. I hope that was just my taste buds. The staff was not overly friendly. Our waitress looked like she would rather be somewhere else. She was only friendly at the end before she brought us our bill. (To insure her tip) The hostess, although nice, needed to use better vocabulary. Instead of "come on" I think "please follow me we have your table ready" would have been more appropriate.

    (2)

  • Soomi L.

    I had a coupon for grits. The cheese grit was so good. I also had mussels. A bit salty, but it was cheap and generous. Casual restaurant. The only thing I didn't like about is that the place smells like an old kitchen.

    (4)

  • Dee B.

    Okay, by now you know I have to do the tourist thing so here we go. A quite interesting place with pictures of famous and semi famous people that have eaten here (the tables even had name plates of who set there). The service was quite good and it seemed everyone that worked there was interested in ensuring your eating experience was top of the line (even met one of the owners). Had the jambalaya with hush-puppies (they hand em out at the door) and slaw. Enjoyed every part of the meal. The hush-puppies had to be great cause the wife even ate more than one. The portions are large and if you walk away hungry it's your own fault.

    (3)

  • Kelly P.

    TRICK BAG! This place has certainly been hyped up! I am from MD, and we are SERIOUS ABOUT OUR SEAFOOD! Either we chose the wrong items, or they just fry the hell out of everything. Out of all the food we ordered, I will only will take the time to tell you about the 2 items we liked. The Wadamalaw Delight was great...and I will mention that it was FREE. Grab a tourist map, and it should have a coupon. Its fried green tomatoes with a cream sauce and grits. We liked it! Also, the hush puppies with the cajun mayo. That is it...everything else it not worth talking about. If you like fried foods...this is your place. The service was great, everyone was so nice!

    (2)

  • Lisa R.

    Just had dinner here. It's definitely a tourist trap and just OK. I went to Hanks last night and that food was out of this world. Got calamari at both restaurants and found it to be slightly rubbery and had very little flavor at Hymans. At Hanks it practically melted in my mouth. The hush puppies are good. The only thing that Hymans is better for than hanks is that their prices are lower.

    (3)

  • Melanie L.

    Great service! quick and attentive! The food is amazing. Kids love the sweet tea too! They give you boiled peanuts at your table when you first arrive! The local businesses support each other- old south carriage gave us a certificate for a free Wadmalaw app and it ROCKED! The restaurant is full of great memories from previous guests. Cole slaw was great!

    (5)

  • Vik S.

    Great place to go for classic southern food. I had the Carolina Delight and Lowcountry Boil. I don't like crab cakes but these were the best crab cakes I had in my life. Also, boiled peanuts are amazing! The owner is a really nice guy who came over and talked to us and gave a free ice cream too!

    (4)

  • Wayne S.

    The Carolina Delight is a MUST. Try it with the crab cake. Serve (Cliff and Sam) were awesome. Fried oysters are local. Coming from Marylanders, you gotta try Hymans. Awesome with a capital AWE.

    (5)

  • Geoff G.

    My brother came down for a visit and we hit King Street / Market Street early one afternoon. We came across Hyman's and the line (which is usually out the door) was barely noticeable, so we went in. Food was good and I enjoyed the atmosphere. Is it the most outstanding seafood ever? No. But it is certainly worth a stop if you are in the area.

    (4)

  • Alicia L.

    First of all, when you sit down, check the name at your seat because some famous person has sat in that very spot that you're about to eat at. I sat in the very same spot that Adam West (Batman, Mayor Adam West in Family Guy, etc.). Second, the food was amazing. Again, this was another place my dad wanted to check out and I'm glad to say it was well worth it this time. Unfortunately, since I'm not much of a seafood person, I just got the Fettuccine Alfredo with Mac & Cheese and the chicken wings. However the Fettuccine Alfredo was about the best Fettuccine Alfredo I've ever had. I don't know what they put in their sauce, but it was amaaaazingggg. Their chicken wasn't bad either :) I wasn't that into their mac n cheese, but it was ok. I also tried my sister's dish that had shrimp in it, which wasn't bad either. Her dish came with grits, which I never thought I'd eat, but it wasn't bad either. The flavor was really good. Altogether, my family all loved their dishes. My dad ordered some shark fish dish I believe, which he really liked as well. The owner actually came out to greet us, which I thought was really nice considering we were just visiting the area. He gave my sister and I free ice cream coupons. They make their ice cream from scratch, so if you check this place out, you have to try their ice cream as well because it's delicious too. Oh yeah, this place doesn't take reservations, so make sure to put your name down and take a hush puppy from one of the hostesses. This place is one of a kind, as the owner mentioned. They've received many offers to make Hyeman's a chain, but have always declined. It may be a tourist spot, but it's definitely worth checking out since you won't get it anywhere else.

    (5)

  • Roland N.

    Can you say Tourist trap!. Overpriced and not worth the wait. The service was okay, the food was 35%, the place was packed and they were trying to fit more people, making it even hotter. They put us (party of 7) in this corner that would have been tight for 6 people. If we didn't wait almost an hour and had hungry kids, I would have walked out. I suggested to have some aps, drinks and move on. Just enough to curve the hunger but I was overruled. They regretted that move later on. Enough said. I wouldn't go back not even to give it a second chance. Remember to always drink responsibly Crazy Cubano Out

    (1)

  • Vivien C.

    Fantastic food and great service. Very busy so I would recommend arriving early. My boyfriend and I got there at 5:45 and opted to sit at the bar. We had the Carolina delight appetizer which was absolutely delicious. The fried shrimp was some of the best I have had and my boyfriend loved the crab cakes. Definitely recommend!

    (5)

  • Sara R.

    This place is awesome. Great service and delicious food. The fried flounder won't disappoint. The hush puppies are awesome too. The owner came by and gave us a coupon for free magnets and to make sure everything was going well. Overall, a great experience for a holiday weekend!

    (5)

  • Ray B.

    Negative experience. Unfortunately this place was too busy to give even decent service. My GF ordered three items a la carte, and only received two - not worth saying anything - we were ready to leave. Food was nothing to recommend and pricey for what you get. Hushpuppies were good.

    (1)

  • Dana J.

    Definitely a tourist restaurant but worth a stop. My sister and I came here the day after we went to Bubba Gumps and I am so glad it wasn't the other way around. This place is much better! They have a massive menu so it took us awhile to decide what we wanted. The waitress was very friendly and helped us when we had questions. After we ordered the manager/owner came around and greeted all the tables. I thought that was a nice touch. The tables have several cards (as well as the bathroom) that have funny and interesting things typed on them. I guess if its super busy that's how they placate the customers. We got our food fairly quickly and the portions were massive. Neither of us could finish it all. I will definitely return if I'm in the area again! After the meal make sure to stop at their gift shop. Tourist stuff but I liked looking.

    (5)

  • K B.

    Take it from a local - this is a straight up tourist trap. The only reason you see a line is because the owners are marketing geniuses and they actually close off part of the restaurant so it looks like they are busy. Fried fish. If you want to be a tourist and be trapped. Go. All the locals know about the line and go elsewhere. You would be hard pressed to find a local there in line and if you do - I bet the are with visitors who would not listen to reason to go elsewhere and were enchanted with the line.

    (1)

  • Ebony S.

    I went to this restaurant because of such rave reviews from my family that lives in Charleston. After all getting good seafood in Charleston shouldn't be hard right? Well, after eating at this restaurant I'm not so sure that's the case. I ordered the Charleston Fish and Chips. The description did read the fish is breaded not battered (first, it's not fish and chips if it's not battered, it's just fried fish). I asked the waiter for battered fish. He assured me I could order it that way. When I received my food it was not the case. Not only was the fish breaded, but it was soggy, greasy, AND the fish had no seasoning. I also ordered a side of mac and cheese. Everyone at the table ordered it as a side. No one finished it though. WE ALL THOUGHT IT WAS DISGUSTING. It was as if they took a layer of velveta cheese melted on top and called it mac and cheese. Plus if you come with baby strollers, don't be prepared to use them. As this restaurant has very closed off walk ways. With all the bad, the only good were the fried pickles and seeing the celebrity names on the table.. I'm not sure what all the fuss is about this place, but I know I won't be returning.

    (1)

  • Scott E.

    We enjoyed dinner at Hyman's on our last trip to Charleston. It's world famous, and there is a reason so many people are willing to wait in line for it. I have to be honest, I'm not totally sure why people are so nutty for this place, but there is no denying it is good food, and a lot of it. I had the Captain's Platter, and I think that was a mistake. I enjoy fried food, and this was good fried food, especially the scallops, but I had food envy for everyone else's plate. My father-in-law got the grilled salmon, and his portion was HUGE! He raved about the perfect cooking and the flavor. My wife had shrimp and grits, Carolina style, and she loved it. Fresh shrimp, baed perfectly, smothered in shrimp, and apparently butter, drove her over the edge. My kids had grilled shrimp and were thrilled. They also received a coupon for a scoop of ice cream in the general store that they loved as well. Service was great. One of the owners stopped by, and was just a hoot to visit with. We loved sitting at the same table as Metallica and Billy Joel. I'm not sure why, but it made us feel cool. If you want the experience, go early or late, and expect to wait.

    (4)

  • Elliot E.

    Hyman's is a place that does a tremendous business based on its well-deserved reputation and is a must when you are in town, but there's a caveat: if you have to wait more than 20 minutes for a table, don't bother. The quality of the food and service goes down when they are busy. Our party of five had a 50-minute wait when we were told it would be 35. We had appetizers served to us with no plates, which was topped by someone coming to collect used plates who looked at us like we had 3 heads apiece when we said we needed to have plates to use first. When our entrees arrived, it was fairly obvious the food had been ready for some time; the cheese in my daughter's macaroni and cheese had enough time to solidify, and everyone else's food was lukewarm. I've eaten here when it hasn't been busy and have usually been pleased with the food and service, so I hope this was an aberration. The only other comment I'll make is if you like fried clam strips and are used to New England style, stay away from the ones here. You'll be very disappointed.

    (3)

  • Dottie A.

    This would be my second time at Hyman's and I absolutely love it. I think its a must go to while in Charleston. Though it can get very busy but its so worth the wait. The best is to order the Combo Platters so you can try a variety of goodness most especially the crispy flounder! The service is quick, efficient and friendly. Whitney took care of our party of 17 w/ a smile and w/o a glitch! Can't wait to return! P.S. Check in through Yelp and you get a free appetizer!

    (4)

  • B P.

    We visited on a slower day, march 23, about 2:30. Had the SC style shrimp and grits with cheese and bacon. Was a very good dish, plenty of shrimp. My wife had the Napoleon appetizer , fried green tomatoes, crab salad, kind of served like a sandwich. She really liked it as well. The kids meal hamburgers were very good, unlike most places that serve microwaved frozen mystery meat slabs for kids meals, these were actual burgers on nice buns. We got an appetizer of hush puppies,, sweet and very good! The owner, Eli, took the time to acknowledge every table in our area, and gives the kids a coupon for a free small cup of ice cream at the general store that also serves as the restaurant exit.. I saw pics of people standing in line for what must be hours outside of this place, we would not do that here, or anywhere for that matter, but found it an all around great experience that I would highly recommend to anyone visiting the area.

    (4)

  • Holly J.

    My husband and I went there about a year ago. It was greasy and the service was slow. We both expected the seafood to be better. We haven't gone back. Tourist trap!

    (2)

  • Leslie D.

    I had the "she crab" chowder and a crab cake. They were very good. The brought hush puppies to the table and were they wonderful? "Cousin Martin" came to our table and told us some very interesting family stories. Whether they are true or not, really doesn't matter. It was fun.

    (4)

  • Terry S.

    Best shrimp plate ever about 36-40 shrimp, and they were rockin!

    (5)

  • Becky P.

    When it comes to great seafood, this is the kind of quality and flavor I don't mind paying for. Crab cakes were so sweet. Salmon croquette was perfectly flavorful. Fried oysters were miraculously soft and heavenly. Carolina shrimp and grits were comfort food even a Northern girl can love. Sweet potato soufflé was like a dessert pudding. My daughter also approves of the burger. The only downside is that we were seated at a tiny table meant for 4 even though we were a party of 5. The dining experience would have been much more enjoyable with space to ourselves, not being in a high traffic area next to both the entrance and the stairs.

    (4)

  • Katherine W.

    Great food. Good people but it is usually packed, and service takes a while.

    (4)

  • Opal D.

    A big menu full of creamy, deep fried, and seafoody goodness. Hyman's is very casual and family-friendly, kitschy, and fun. I really look forward to eating here again on my next visit to Charleston.

    (4)

  • Sunni M.

    This is a tourist attraction, not a restaurant. Every arrow in the city will point you in this direction. Don't fall for it. The service was great, but the food was terrible. Mass produced crab dip and barely edible fried oysters. The waitress was great...the food wasn't her fault...

    (1)

  • Beth V.

    This was the first time we had visited Hyman's, but we will certainly return! It was extremely busy, but we did not have to wait to be seated. From the moment we sat down, our server Perry was top notch. He recommended drinks for us to begin with, as well as fantastic appetizers. Because we had never been there, Perry took his time with us and educated us on the menu and shared what his favorites were. He had a great personality and his service was outstanding. The food was amazing! Everything arrived in a timely manner. It tasted extremely fresh and the variety of foods on our plates was awesome. The servings were huge and I feel like we definitely got our money's worth. The atmosphere is inviting and fun, very casual. The owner stopped by our table to chat and to make sure everything was okay. We were very well taken care of and made to feel extremely welcomed. When we finished, we stopped in the shop downstairs and found great hospitality there also. The employees helped us complete our Christmas shopping. We received individualized attention and were able to sample all the fabulous scented bath scrubs. Everyone was very friendly. Our visit to Hyman's was a perfect 10. What an enjoyable evening with great people, an awesome atmosphere, and amazing food! We can't wait to return!

    (5)

  • Dave A.

    I would typically not eat at a place that advertises in an airport terminal since it screams "Tourist trap!" However, Hyman's is delicious. I love going somewhere and eating something I would not or could not make at home. On that note, try the fried flounder. The portions are huge, so consider splitting.

    (4)

  • Mark G.

    I had a cold when I went here but I could still taste the Cajun seasoning. That alone was rather impressive to me. Wish I wasn't sick so I could have tasted the rest of it. Service was impeccable. You don't get service like this elsewhere. Definitely a Southern thing. Would return here in the unlikely event I find myself in Charleston again. A tourist trap complete with Cracker Barrel style gift shop but worth it. Highly recommended.

    (4)

  • Jane M.

    All I wanted was a hot pastrami sandwich to go. As the deli was closed, I had to order it at the bar, where I felt in the way and ignored. Unfortunately, I did not inspect my sandwich until I had left the restaurant. The rye bread was so soft and mushy that it crumbled in my hands when I tried to pick it up. It tasted fine, but I felt like a dog eating scraps and must have looked that way. My advice, if you're ordering take out, inspect your food before leaving the restaurant.

    (2)

  • Alyssa M.

    Meh. Tourist trap. You know you're in one when they make you exit through the gift shop. My bf wanted to eat here because he came when he was a teenager and remembered it being good. I don't think he was as impressed as his first visit. Our server was friendly but awkward in the checks-in-at-strange-times kind of way. Food was mediocre and kind of pricey, although I think they try to make up for poor quality with providing lots of free food. We had a free appetizer (no check-in needed), boiled peanuts and hush puppies. I got a sampler platter: the fish was tiny and dry, shrimp and grits just okay, and calamari also okay. Yeah basically the food was okay. Find another place to get seafood.

    (2)

  • Alireza S.

    No thank you! This place is way way outdated. I never understood why some restaurants have carpet flooring. It's the worst idea ever. As soon as you enter the smell of 40 year old grease soaked carpets hits your nose. If I were the owner I'd rip them off right now. Naked concrete is better than those damn ugly dirty smelly carpets you have there Sir. Second, the food. I guess because I grew up in Europe and Los Angeles I've been spoiled by good fresh food. These guys bring your food in WWII plates. What? You can't afford to buy new China Mr. Owner? Whatever you do...I beg you...don't order the steak in this place. I guess they have steak on the menu to teach you a lesson because this lS a "seafood" restaurant. Steak smelled and tasted like it was left out in the charleston heat and humidity in its own blood for hours. One tiny bite and I almost threw up. 20 odd dollars down the drain. The waitress didn't even ask me what was wrong. I bet she knew. Third: boiled peanuts. If you go out to eat to get some boiled peanuts you need to get a life. Fourth. Hush puppies....greasy...greasy...greasy. It'd be k if they used quality oil, but they use "vegetable oil" which every retard by now knows it's just SOY OIL. Cheapest oil there is. Last time I checked celery and carrots and eggplant don't have any oils in them, so please do me a favor and call soy oil for what it is. I digress but as a side note: soy oil has tremendous amounts of estrogen and is not used in most restaurants in Europe. Fifth. The fish. Their fish is so so but because they fry it in nasty oil with 50 year old equipment they even mess that up too. There are better restaurants in charleston. Avoid thus tourist trap.

    (1)

  • Phyllis R.

    Amazing! I had the Carolina Delight with crab cakes and it was the best thing I have ever eaten!!! My husband had the catfish and it was excellent too! Our server was so friendly and helpful. Great evening!!

    (5)

  • Sarah R.

    Food was good..not great, but good. However the service was lacking given that they weren't busy. Both cups of coffee were cold and soup came after meal arrived. Crab cakes were AWESOME THOUGH.

    (3)

  • Nick F.

    Upon my second trip to Charleston, i felt i needed to try out Hyman's as EVERYONE talked about how great it was. We walked past at an off time and the worker handed me and my fiance each a hush puppy to try. Those were pretty good. We decided to give the place a try. Upon getting our table the waiter came over right away talked for a good while got us some more hush puppies, and brought out the free crab dip with the coupon we had, he also asked if we wanted some complementary free boiled peanuts, since i've never tried them i figured free is the way to go. Can't say i'm a fan of the boiled peanuts, this isn't Hyman's fault just a weird dish. We decided to split an order of Shrimp Fettuccine alfredo since with the crab dip,and hush puppies we didn't think we needed two dishes. The meal was good, the shrimp was fresh and good. the noodles and sauce were on par with what i was expecting. Not the best place in Charleston to eat, But it's a good spot. The staff i personally thought was great, had the waiter and manager at the table and conversed with both.

    (3)

  • Andrew H.

    Also known as Charleston's little slice of Myrtle Beach, Hyman's is the mecca for all lost Ohioans who accidentally came to Charleston instead of Dirty Myrtle. As such, I have avoided this place like I avoid AIDs, but recently, I decided to give it a shot, mainly because my 90 year old granddad, who I love dearly, wanted to eat all-you-can-eat crab legs. I walked in and my face was immediately slapped with a thick grease film, which was no doubt coming from both the kitchen and the patrons from the midwest. The girl at the door shoved 2 hush puppies down my throat, terrible little grease balls they are, and sent me to my table. First, I noticed the walls. They were covered in celebrity pictures, which normally signals to me, "look at all the celebrities that eat here! Hopefully it will distract you from our horrible food..." Well that is what I got from it anyway. The people were nice. I only wish the food was. I came in expecting nothing, so my expectations were not disappointed. The crab legs were old and cold (that was not an intentional rhyme), and the sides were about as inspiring as a piece of toilet paper. Overall, I give Hyman's 2 stars because people from Ohio will give it 5 and sane people 1, so I split the difference.

    (2)

  • Thomas W.

    Stopped in the early afternoon for bloody Mary's and shrimp cocktail. Best peal and set shrimp I've ever had. Perfect seasoning. Bloody Mary's were very good. Also had a coupon for free fried green tomatoes also very good. Service was attentive. Good experience.

    (4)

  • Dawn A.

    I went to this place while visiting Charleston with my Mom. She is a seafood lover. I am not. I wasn't too thrilled about going here, but Mom was hungry for some fish and we were passing by. Sometimes, you take one for the team. Some things that Hymen's does extremely well: The hush puppies (they are like like doughnuts) customer service is also obviously important here. We had three interactions with management/owners at our table. Some of the things I didn't like is the exiting through the gift shop. How very touristy. However, you don't go to Hymen's if you are a local, I would think. They have pictures up on the wall of all the "celebrities" both A, B, and C list that have eaten here. I happened to be sitting at the same table that Martin Sheen, Vanilla Ice and AC/DC had purportedly eaten at, but certainly not on the same evening! My mom got her fish and was very happy. I ordered the Filet Mignon. What?! Are you crazy, Dawn? Eating filet mignon at a touristy fish joint. Hey, you do what you gotta do sometimes. I wasn't very crazy about the other non fish options( fettuccine Alfredo in 90 degree heat anyone?), so I thought and prayed that maybe it wouldn't be so bad. I had a sinking feeling when the waitress insisted that I have it butterflied for medium. But, hey, I will go with your suggestion. Surprisingly, it was pretty good. It was unrecognizable as a filet, but it tasted tender and good. the collard greens were good and well done. I got a baked potato also. It's pretty hard to mess up a potato. Service was a bit slow, but friendly. My only complaint was waiting as long as I did to get change from my server. Hymen's is what it is. A touristy fish restaurant. Every city has the touristy joint that locals probably don't go to--think Cheers in Boston. That doesn't make it bad. It may not be fabulous, but I had a decent meal here.

    (3)

  • Ethan P.

    Excellent oysters and bloody mary's....and service !

    (4)

  • Randy K.

    We have gone to Hymen's once to twice a year while in Charleston for about twenty years. Until now we have always enjoyed great food and service. This visit was very different. We endured a long wait outside on a cold fall night because they held several tables for a "party of twenty", who at about 45 minutes from time of their arrival decided that they were only going to be a party of eight. The bar area seemed to be mostly empty but they would not let us in to wait there. Then six of us were seated at a table designed for four, which meant that there was basically not enough room for the food. We ordered two dozen raw oysters to split and they arrived with no condiments. No lemon, no cocktail sauce, no horseradish, nothing. After searching for the server for about another 10 minutes, she brought enough of each for about one person. The whole meal went about the same way. The stuffed shrimp were tiny, 3/4 stuffing, 1/4 shrimp. My little grandson got fish and fries. The fish was cooked until hard all the way through, more like a fish cracker, and of course, no surprise, no ketchup for the fries, so we had to flag the server down again. I do not think she checked on us a single time without our seeking her out. My wife's shrimp and clam strips looked and tasted like they came out of the frozen seafood section of the grocery store, and were definitely not prepared in house. To top it off, the floor was littered with bits of food and trash from earlier in the day, and our table top was not particularly well cleaned. So dirty restaurant, terrible hostess and wait staff, and terrible food. Old Mr Hyman must be turning over in his grave. They are cruising on a previously good reputation and tourists whom they never expect to see again. The only reason I did not give them a one star is that I am hoping this night was an anomaly, but from the looks of things, I kind of doubt that is the case.

    (2)

  • Merrick T.

    Stay tuned for more of my Full Reviews at my DoTheCharleston.com (tab: Downtown: Edible Arts). Excerpt:"...great... menu, premium ...value. Even Kosher options...Owner offers top down philosophy...

    (4)

  • Myia B.

    The scored flounder was okay. The Bloody Mary was the bizzomb! This place is kind of dive-ey but it's sort of a tourist to-do when visiting Charleston. I'd go again and order something fried...can't go too terribly wrong with fried. Plus another bloody mary on deck. It's more about experience than tastiness for sure so if you're looking for the BEST seafood, I'd skip on down the street & keep looking.

    (3)

  • Debra Joan H.

    On October 30th my 2 friends and I went to Hyman's Seafood for dinner and it was fantastic! If you love food, go there. Cory was our waitress and she was delightful, efficient and friendly. She gave great advice and we had the Flounder, Palmeto Lager, Carolina Delight, hush puppies and the best key lime pie on the face of the earth. We had a personal audience with Brad, one of the owners, who really knows customer service. He could give lessons to thousands of other restaurants; he is, hands down, THE BEST. Just go, it is amazing...

    (5)

  • Janay S.

    I absolutely loved my experience here! The owner came out and spoke to us making sure that we were taken care of and we received appetizers and such fairly quickly. We came right before it was a long wait and even though we were told it would be a 45 minute wait, we got in before that. The food is absolutely delicious!! From the hush puppies and boiled peanuts to my main dish which was the Carolina delight. Phenomenal! I was so stuffed when I walked out and hadn't paid that much for my meal. For the amount of food you get it's a very reasonable place, especially since it's a place where many celebrities have gone to eat at. This will have to be a staple for me whenever I go back to South Carolina. :)

    (5)

  • Kathryn B.

    Great place for locals and visitors. Food: The Buffalo Shrimp is superb. Overall, there is so much variety (a little bit of everything Charleston). Wait staff: Attentive and friendly. While waiting for our food, the cousin of the owner stopped by to welcome us and give free ice cream or popcorn my nephew and niece after dinner. This is common but it never loses its personal touch. Drinks: They have pitchers of Bloody Mary's. They are pretty good there too. On this particular trip, I opted for a peach daiquiri. It hit the spot. For people on the go, the deli is just as good! Note: Nicer seafood places are around but they aren't toddler friendly.

    (4)

  • R Douglas D.

    Since everyone we talked to said we had to try it, we did. Overall, we were satisfied. The food was really good. Had shrimp & grits, swordfish and crab cake combo. Swordfish was excellent and so were the shrimp & grits (Carolina style). My wife is gluten-free and we were pleased that they had a separate menu that was extensive. A definite plus! They made shrimp & grits gluten -free and it was very tasty. The server was a bit underwhelming and lacked personality. The gentleman that was taking names at the door was rude and unwelcoming....we almost left as we practically had to beg him to take our name. Overall, it was a good meal and a fun atmosphere.

    (4)

  • Stephen W.

    Mostly for the tourists. Definitely not the best seafood from Maine to Texas. Service is always great, but the food is just o.k. Hank's is really good seafood and not much more money.

    (3)

  • Salma S.

    We heard about this restaurant from multiple people. We made sure to check it out. it was indeed a good experience. The owners were going around and talking to all customers and making sure everyone was pleased. The food was delicious.

    (4)

  • Katherine C.

    My family dropped me off at college last week, so we decided as my last meal with them, we would get my favorite dish- tuna. We always noticed the long line for this place, so we figured it must be delicious. And boy, were we right! The service was fine, but the owner Eli came over to our table & talked to us like we were his best friends, which made us feel very good. The hush puppies were sooo yummy and the tuna was very flavorful & cooked perfectly. The crab dip was really good, just a small portion. Overall- a great last meal with my family & I will definitely come back again!

    (4)

  • Lesley G.

    This was such a fun experience! It has such a casual experience it was refreshing. It is a family owned business, and the owner came over to talk a couple of times. He was so sincere, as well. We ended the meal incredibly full because of all of the free food that was sent over! The food was overall pretty good as well. Unfortunately, they don't take reservations, so the wait can be pretty long. Plan accordingly. Also, I suggest talking a look through their country store. The hand scrub and red neck wine glasses are really neat!

    (4)

  • Keith G.

    Two stars are for the food which is okay but not as cheap as you might think. Our starter was given to the table behind us by mistake and our mains then arrived about 30 seconds before the delayed dish arrived. One of the mains was not what we ordered and the sides were wrong. The waitress was clueless throughout. Two adjacent tables seemed equally unimpressed. Multiple dishes were sent back from one group alone. The food was pretty good but you'll get better elsewhere in Charleston for similar money. All this despite the very small crowd in an establishment which usually copes with massive summertime crowds. We have been here several times before but won't be back. Charleston has too much else to offer.

    (2)

  • Richard B.

    Visited Charleston this weekend, ate here twice. The food was great! The first day (Saturday evening) we waited almost an hour. The 2nd day there was absolutely no wait! On both days the owners came to the table to check on us. Great service, even better food! Everything that had here tasted fresh and wonderful. Will definitely make a stop here every visit to Charleston. Oh, and the salt scrub in the bathroom is amazing!

    (5)

  • Andrea W.

    We saw a line out the door here last nigh and figured we had to try it. Came for lunch and the entire experience was amazing. From the food to the atmosphere to the ownership surpassed all expectations! Fried catfish, oysters, hush puppies, salmon, brisket..we tried it all and it was perfect! Eli and crew.. You have San Diego customers for life!

    (5)

  • Clif M.

    Place is great, first they give you hush puppies, boiled peanuts, and cole slaw. We had the fried seafood and crab cakes, everything was so good

    (5)

  • Liby B.

    Just got back to our hotel after a surprisingly poor dining experience at Hyman's. They must have had a real staff shortage in the kitchen because we waited way too long to get our food order and then the order was wrong and it wasn't served together. Example, I ordered shrimp scampi and it came out broiled with no sauce and by the time I got the correct order everyone else at the table had finished. My friend ordered fried shrimp with 2 sides. The shrimp came out, but the the sides came out about 5 minutes later for one and 10 minutes later for the other. Everyone in the room was complaining to the waitstaff who could do nothing to solve the problems. When we got back to our hotel, we told the concierge and he said they do not recommend Hyman's to their customers anymore. I wish we had asked before we left!

    (1)

  • Scott S.

    Hard to give this place anything but 5. I am very glad we went in the winter, as the wait during summer looks insurmountable. The food was absolutely amazing, rave reviews all around. A true southern experience, from boiled peanuts when you sit down, to shrimp and grits that you can write home about. Averaged about $20 per person, and it was worth every penny. Didn't get dessert because everyone was stuffed to the gills. ---- See what I did there?

    (5)

  • Kevin L.

    Great food, great service, great atmosphere - the cajun grouper and crab cakes were delicious and the fried green tomatoes and hush puppies as appetizers were outstanding. The service was quick and attentive.

    (5)

  • N F.

    Great folks. Lots of fresh options. Carolina special with shrimp was awesome appetizer. She-crab soup is a winner. Just look at the posting board for options. You can't go wrong.

    (4)

  • Vim I.

    This place is huge and with all the pictures of celebrities on the wall and girls handing out flyers outside the restaurant, you know it's a popular tourist destination. Hyman's reminded me of a Cracker Barrel with the retail/restaurant concept...so I was little turned off by the atmosphere--it just didn't appear authentic even though it's a Charleston institution. It took me a while to figure out how the menu worked...mainly because I was overwhelmed by the slew of choices. We took advantage of the yelp check-in to get a free fried green and tomato app. The items that really stood out to me were the hush puppies (definitely on the sweeter side but they were addictive) and the red rice. The seafood items (which should have been the center of attention) left something to be desired. We had the Shrimp and Grits, Crabcakes, and flounder with cajun seasoning. Basically, they tasted good but I've had better. And for a seafood place, I would definitely expect better. The Shrimp and Grits were strange because they came with a thick gravy--i prefer my shrimp and grits to be more New Orleans style. When I get crab cakes, I prefer chunks of crab but they were over processed. The flounder was just bland and forgettable. The staff is friendly and service is pretty quick, but I was turned off by the fact that they make you wait outside while it's raining so another hostess can come get you. At the very least, they should have a waiting area inside.

    (3)

  • AJ P.

    Friend had classic dinner they recommend which was grit cake with Parmesan sauce and shrimp- yummy! Mac n cheese was awesome! My grouper medley was very dry and fishy :-(. Service good other than seating yourself

    (4)

  • Tricia H.

    The best dish was the free fried green tomato appetizer for checking in on Yelp. The She-crab soup was tasty. This is a quirky touristy place with marketing gimicks and a store attached. We shared some good jokes about the "... sat here" plaques on the table (especially the Joe Lieberman one.). The owner came round to talk up his positive attitude philosophy and pro-Israel views. The one strong negative about this place is that it needs a very thorough CLEANING!! Especially the floors which were greasy!

    (3)

  • Britt K.

    The service was good, food was yummy. I had fried shrimp, it was just ok, but everything else with it was amazing. Sweet potato soufflé. Ohmahgah! Salmon and grits. Yum. The hush puppies. LOVE. go, it's so delish.

    (4)

  • John B.

    We will not be returning. The food was pretty short on any kind of seasoning, but otherwise good. The wait staff was knowledgeable and attentive. What we didn't care for was the cramped seating, excessive noise level, multiple interruptions from the owner, a greeter, and "Rusty"--an older guy with a strange hat who seems to have been assigned the mission of pestering people, and the general lack of attention to cleanliness -- our table had smeared food remaining after a rapid wipe down, the drink menu was just plain nasty, and my wife reported that the women's room was not well taken care of. The place has been chosen by Southern Living magazine as the "best seafood restaurant in the South" for nine tears in a row....a fact which has removed that publication from my reading list. All-in-all, not a dump, but ...unless you groove on touristy hype... there are way better options all over the place for about the same price. A final note concerns the many (old) photos of stars and political notables on the walls...how they were all enticed into this place is a mystery worthy of investigation!

    (1)

  • Scott P.

    I lived in Charleston for a few years and Hymens was a favorite for both tourists and locals alike, and for good reason. I love the place and we try to make it there every time we go back to Charleston. In the twenty odd years we have been going, we have been disappointed only a couple times. Even then, the item in question was promptly replaced with a perfectly cooked item.

    (5)

  • Sandi T.

    Tourist trap, NO. It does dump you out to their gift shop but hey their sawgrass baskets are the cheapest in town. Now you will not find a more loved family business. We hosted our client dinner their, the employees all grateful family members would come by and tell tales and share their family history. They have excellent catfish, I had the shrimp and we had people rave about the steaks. We hosted the dinner for 30 people with open bar, appetizers and our cost was a thousand dollars. We also stopped by mother day for bloody Mary's. exiting through the gift shop made us chuckle, even locals couldn't argue that you leave happy,

    (5)

  • Sterling L.

    I really enjoyed my experience here. While you could say it's touristy, I certainly didn't feel like it was a trap. It seemed like a well run business that truly cares about the experience of it's customers. We were in a party of 10 (plus an infant) and had to wait about an hour for seating on New years eve at around lunchtime. Once we were seated, the waiter came around and got our drink order quickly and took my iphone coupon for a free Fried Green Tomatoes. We got 2 or three other free appetizers as well, and I don't think it was because we were Yelpers because other tables were getting them too. Maybe they were running behind in the kitchen or something, although I didn't feel like it was slow service at all. Just a busy restaurant. The manager was going around talking to customers and being very friendly. Food was great, I got the fried platter and everything was delicious. I'd go back here if I was in Charleston.

    (5)

  • Ashley A.

    This place was pretty great. The wait was pretty crazy..we went in the middle of the week and had to wait almost 45 minutes for a table, but apparently that's normal. We are friends with a few of the members of the waitstaff and were visiting so the managers treated us very nicely. They sent up a couple of free appetizers, some soup and hush puppies. The Carolina Delight, which is their flagship appetizer was just insane. So good, but a heart attack on a plate..naturally, we ate all of it. We were so full after all of the food they sent initially that we didn't even order dinner, which in my book is a great experience. We'd definitely go here again if we were in the area and definitely be sure to arrive early due to the crowds that flock here for dinner!

    (4)

  • Carol M.

    We read the reviews about this place and had to give it a try. We liked this place as soon as we walked through the door. Restaurants in the area close a little earlier than what we're used to. Everyone was very friendly even though the kitchen was going to shut down in the next half hour. The bartender, Jessica was very patient with us and walked us through the menu. She even suggested most popular preparation methods for the fish we chose. We started with the fried green tomatoes. How could we resist when we saw on the yelp app it was free when we showed her our phone!! They were delicious. Well, after adding my signature pound of salt and pepper, they were delicious. I'm just not a true southerner. I don't get what the big deal is about grits. I had the Cajun mahi with fried oysters and sautéed shrimp. A huge plate of food! More than I could eat. Thankfully, my husband was there to pick up my slack. My favorite was the shrimp. Perfectly cooked in a buttery sauce. Low fat, no doubt. The fried oysters were a bit too done, but we managed to eat each and every one. Hubby got Cajun salmon, bbq shrimp and fried calmari. His was also delicious. They don't cook the crap out of the fish. It's a pet peeve of ours and we were pleased with their preparation. Jessica spent her time restocking and thoroughly cleaning all the while remaining attentive to our drinks, etc. It was a very nice find!

    (5)

  • Heidi V.

    Definitely a tourist favorite, but the food is great, the service is friendly, and the hush puppies are amazing.

    (4)

  • S S.

    This place is just OK. Not great and definitely better places in Charleston. Too commercialized! A little dirty. Owner does make his rounds and thanks you. Good touch. Beer was good but the oysters were only average. The rest was only average. Not a 're-do' or 'must-do.

    (3)

  • Nicole C.

    Probably some of the best shrimp and grits I've ever had. The Parmesan sauce was a nice touch. The crab cake had plenty of crab in it and the hush puppies were also some of the best. Our server was on top of things but, we went during the slow part of the day.

    (4)

  • Spyro A.

    Headed out to one of the plantations? Stop by and pick up a couple of sandwiches for a little picnic. We enjoyed the quick service and good food.

    (4)

  • Carlos T.

    This was my first time ever having grits and hush puppies. I would say they were the best ever. However, the Guiness beer was the worst ever. So stale and rancid.

    (5)

  • Samy N.

    Interesting atmosphere, great crab cake appetizer. Squash casserole was yummy as a side. wasn't pleased with my dinner, I had the Carolina Delight with shrimp. Shrimp part was great but wasn't satisfied with the rest. We also didn't receive very good service.

    (3)

  • Mrs. W.

    We sat at Lynyrd Skynyrd's table! ...and some others. This place has got culture! And great food at that. It's cool that the owner walks around meeting his patrons. Staff are incredibly friendly, and the freebees and hush puppies on the sidewalk make the short wait all the worthwhile. I'm not a grits fan, but the fried green tomatoes and grits, and their classic shrimp and grits were very good. If I lived here, I would be a regular. Great taste of South Carolina culture here!

    (5)

  • Michael I.

    Great service and really good food. Manager checked to make sure we were happy and with that kind of business lined up out front you know it has to be pretty good. Saw a guy outside the next day giving out free hushpuppies. I was overall pretty impressed with this place.

    (4)

  • Cindy M.

    Unbelievably over rated. Our entire meal was comped because it was so bad. Fast food is better!!

    (1)

  • Steve W.

    All five of us loved our food, but our server had to struggle just to get to incompetent. She seemed unable to focus on what was being said, and had food brought at the wrong time, didn't refill our teas or waters, and didn't mention the specials until one of us at the table ordered one of them. The food, however, was REALLY good, which made it worth it to me. The flavors were great and the fish was cooked perfectly.

    (4)

  • Marissa F.

    I thought the food was really good, despite it being a so-called tourist trap. I have had some bad food at some of the "good" restaurants in Charleston. The Carolina shrimp and grits were delicious as were the fried green tomatoes. This is not a fancy place. The service was terrific. I would not lump this in with your typical chain tourist establishments. Touristy? yes. Worthwhile? yes. Will I visit again? yes.

    (4)

  • Tanita W.

    This is not fresh seafood. Just an ok experience.

    (2)

  • Jon S.

    Good food average price for seafood. We got fried green tomatoes, crab cake and Jambalaya. they all tasted very good. The service there was very pleasant. I would go again.

    (4)

  • Rodney A.

    Somewhat overrated... We went here because all the advertisement in Charleston said it was the top seafood restuarant in the Southeast. Furthermore, the menu said the flounder was the number one selling item. So that's what I ordered. The flounder was big, but I've had better tasting flounder. Definitely not the best in the southeast, and probably not even the best in Charleston. Hushpuppies were amazing, and the sides were good. I was pleased with the service as well. If you go to this restuarant with high expectations, you'll be disappointed. If you're going simply for a meal, then you'll be fine.

    (2)

  • Josh A.

    I know I'm going against what everybody tells me, especially since I am a born and bred local, but I like Hyman's. The prices are fair, especially considering it's downtown, the food is good, and the service is decent. The trick though, is that you be a local, so you skip that looooooooooong line out front. I was impressed that their red rice was actually moist, which is fairly hard to do, or so I heard. I left full and happy. What else do you want?

    (4)

  • Caroline M.

    We had dinner there last night with our 2 year old who loved their calamari (he ate half of mine). The food was very nice we had combo plates and both myself and my husband really enjoyed our meal. Nice local beer, lovely staff, and not a tourist trap at all, as the quality of the food is very good. Don't be scared by all the ads and the people with leaflets on the street, go in and have a great meal.

    (4)

  • Rayzl F.

    Overrated. Like eating in the high school cafeteria. Why do they sell sweet grass baskets from abroad when the low country folks make them right in SC?

    (1)

  • Jim U.

    Hyman's is like the Carnegie Deli of Charleston. It would seem that anyone and everyone who was famous in 1980s and 1990s has paid a visit here. There are autographed plates on the walls, and the tables have little plaques indicating which celebrity has previously eaten at your very table. On our visit, we had a great little table by the window overlooking the street. It was to our liking, and apparently to Mel Gibson's as well since he too sat at that table. Additionally, there are plenty of accolades for the place from all of the usual magazines. Closer inspection though reveals that the heyday for this place was about 20 years ago given the dates of the fanfare and some of the celebrities highlighted. It is almost not possible to visit Charleston and not hear of this restaurant. Just about every tourist kiosk hands out coupons offering free crab dip here. They advertise on all of the maps too. The crab dip was really enough to get us to give it a try. We're easy. The crab dip was pretty good too. There was plenty of crab and it was flavorful too. Served up with a lot of crackers, this was a great way to start our lunch. For lunch properly, I had the "Choose 3" combo platter wherein I chose the broiled fish, hushpuppies, mac and cheese, and shrimp and grits (Carolina style). It was a definitely a mixed plate in terms of offering and quality. The shrimp and grits were quite good. The shrimp were fresh and prepared correctly, and the grits were really nicely done. The white cheese really brought it together. I also liked the hushpuppies a lot too. Great texture and flavor. The mac and cheese was just okay. It was very creamy, but it was kind of reminiscent of Velveeta, so not the best. And unfortunately, the broiled fish was downright dreadful. Advertised as one of the freshest selections, it tasted anything but. More than overcooked, it was tough and dead on arrival. For a place renowned for its seafood, this was sinful. A point of note though, my girlfriend's fried fish was considerably better. Apparently, this is how you want to order any and all seafood dishes here. It is the more popular request, and it requires less skill. The service was impeccable and included a table-side visit from one of the owners. I found this to be very thoughtful and friendly. In all, they make this a great place to have a leisurely meal. I recommend it for atmosphere. For food, you need to be careful about your selections and not set your hopes too high. It's decent and filling, but probably half as good as it used to be.

    (3)

  • Jeff W.

    Tourist spot but still has good food. My wife's pick three was good as was my Cajun shrimp. We enjoyed the fried green tomato appetizer. It's a little crowded and hectic, but worth the 35 minute wait we had for a table.

    (4)

  • Amanda R.

    This was one of my favorite restaurants when I lived in Charleston. Yes, it does get crowded with tourists, but the service and food are great.

    (4)

  • Thomas N.

    My wife and I very much enjoyed the meal. Crab cakes were quite good with large portions of crab. The cakes were moist as well. They were a bit smaller than we are used to but delicious. My seared tuna was average, nothing to write home about. The broiled flounder tasted well seasoned and was cooked to perfection. The shrimp trio appetizer was as advertised... a must!!! Definitely a recommended restaurant with only a few other seafood restaurants which I would consider better.

    (4)

  • David A.

    I just saw someone review this and it reminded me of my most memorable restaurant in Charleston. WOW! The best seafood experience that I've ever had at a restaurant by far. The owner came over and introduced themself to us and asked how things were going. They had a HUGE fresh seafood menu to choose from and told us where they caught it from. The line was off the hook! Plan on waiting in line (I don't know if they take reservations). Of note, when I told the owners that I was from Boston, they said they'd associated with the Berkowitz's (Legal Seafood fame). Well, their restaurant puts them to shame. WOW! SEND ME BACK!

    (5)

  • Mary I.

    Ate two days at Hyman's for Lunch while in a continuing education Class for Real Estate. First day we had an hour for lunch, great food and service. Second day we had 45 minutes and SLOW service, never got to finish our food. I had crab cakes the first day and they were wonderful! Sweet Tea was great both days! Second Day I had steamed Mussels, ehhh and Fried Green Tomatoes, wonderful! So my opinion is most of the food is Really Good and I will go there again. I'm sure the issue we had was a one time thing on the second day. The menu was confusing to me but maybe that's just me - I was too embarrased to tell my companion eaters they seemed ok ordering. :-)

    (4)

  • Konny W.

    BEWARE!!! TOURIST TRAP!!! DON"T LOOK AT THE LINE OUTSIDE THE DOOR - THOSE PEOPLE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEY ARE GETTING INTO! My husband and I decided to give Hyman's a try since we are newbies to Charleston. We really thought the place was a JOKE! It was like elementary school cafeteria seafood. Even seafood at Apple Bees is way better. Sides were not fresh - like instant food, greens tasted like they were canned, and the fish fillets were thin and sprinkled with artificial lemon pepper seasoning - like McCormicks. Gosh, at least squeeze real lemon juice! I bet food at an old folks home taste better. We sat at Sarah Jessica and Matthew Broderick's table and afterward we felt bad for those Hollywood stars that got sucked into Hyman's. Hyman's a poor representation to the culinary delights Charleston has to offer. For Lowcountry cuisine at wonderful decent prices ($7-15) please do Charleston a favor and try: Hominy Grill Virginia's on King Josephines Fleet Landing There are other fabulous places as well. Make sure you ask a Charlestonian that actually appreciates cuisine and please don't read other reviews by tourists. Also avoid the Noisy Osyter! Tourist trap! Ciao Ciao

    (1)

  • Brad W.

    Great experience! The bartender was very helpful answering questions about the menu and serving drinks. Only waited about twenty minutes and the wait was worth it. Our server was friendly and prompt. While waiting for our food, the owner, Eli, stopped at our tabled and chatted with us. Soon after, a complimentary plate of fried green tomatoes and grits arrived at our table!! The entree was tasty and filling. Would go back again.

    (5)

  • Pegah M.

    Amazing food, outstanding service and hospitality, and overall, a great experience. No wonder why they are so successful. The wait for 3 was a bout 10-20 minutes, but while we waited, the hostess came around with warm hush puppies that were fresh and just tasted amazing. When we sat down, the waitress was very friendly. They brought us out a complimentary appetizer and lots of hush puppies. I ordered the Spicy Shrimp with sweet potato fries and really enjoyed my experience there. We will definitely come back when we are in Charleston.

    (5)

  • ng g.

    The food was really delicious. The staff also was very good. The day we went they were serving a new appetizer (i forgot what it was called)on the house. It had grits and roasted tomatoes i think and cheese. It was so good that after finishing our main course we ordered for this appetizer, and it was awesome.

    (4)

  • Marlow L.

    I was absolutely impressed with the food and the service. Bought the pick seven. Everything was tasteful. Even the manager came and thanked us. I felt like a valued customer.

    (5)

  • Peggy A.

    The Boiled peanuts as the free appetizer were great. After that it was pretty much down hill. My husband, son and I ate there at around closing time and we got closing time food and closing time service. My fried shrimp Poboys was loaded with limp damp fried shrimp on top of tomato that was probably sliced for lunch. My husband had the Carolina shrimp and grits. They bowl was loaded, but basically it was an ocean of sauce without much flavor. My sons chicken tenders were over cooked. I guess they tried to compensate by giving him so many. I had eaten half my shrimp by the time our waitress brought the Texas Pete instead of Tabasco. I am from New Orleans don't give me Texas Pete that is made in Pennsylvania. It was the end of our meal before she filled our drink glasses She was quite perky but slow on service. Oh and the ladies room needed cleaning. I hope I can remember to not eat here when we visit Charleston in the future. I would have given it 1 star but I liked the warm boiled peanuts.

    (2)

  • John J.

    Tourist trap. Greasy food. Owner was friendly though.

    (1)

  • Hoss M.

    Great food and people watching here. Can't wait to get back to Charleston,SC!

    (5)

  • Michelle M.

    Delicious everything! Not a fan of boiled peanuts, but the ambiance was very cool. Food was amazing. We had the salmon salad, swordfish and shrimp alfredo. A must when in Charleston!

    (5)

  • A X.

    My boyfriend Stanley and I came across this restaurant recommended by a friend of mine. This place serves yummy and good foods. We both got the regular combo platter where you can choose 3,4 or 5 items off the menu to meet your appetite: Stanley got shrimps, scallops, and flounder with a hint of cajun. I had the crab cake, fried calamaries, and Carolina's grit with shrimps. Our meals were delicious! We got free crab dip and the drip was alright. I also love their bloody mary drink! You must try it when you ever visit Charleston, SC. The restaurant can be LOUD with music and people talking!

    (4)

  • Cicily H.

    After doing a little research on Yelp we decided to hit Hyman's for lunch instead of dinner and didn't have to wait for a table. Good idea since we were both starving. We got the free crab dip appetizer which was awesome. The menu is pretty overwhelming for a first timer. After trying to figure it all out I just asked our waiter what he recommended. I forget his name but he was fantastic! I got the swordfish (lightly cajun), crab cake, and I forget what else but everything was great. The swordfish was my favorite though. I LOVED the hushpuppies. By far the best hushpuppies i have ever had. The owner came around to talk to everyone and make sure everything was great and it was fun to sit at the same table as Neil Armstrong and Gladys Knight. My only complaint was that you had to have each of your items prepared the same way like if one of your pick three was fried then all three things had to be fried. Since I don't eat fried food this meant me and the bf couldn't save a few dollars by getting the pick 7.

    (5)

  • Steve T.

    Being new to Charleston, I decided to give Hyman's a try during restaurant week. The wait was about 20 minutes which in my opinion is not too bad for a Friday night. The service was also slow but it could have just been a busy night. They start you out with lots of hush puppy's which are good but nothing to get overly excited about. The she crab soup was good but I have found much better elsewhere. I have the whole flounder which is dipped in batter and fried. I have to say it was pretty cool but picking the meat off the bone got a little old after awhile. I had the brownie Sunday for dessert and that was probably the highlight of the meal. In all, the food was okay but Hyman's in reality is a tourist trap. There are so many other good restaurants in the area. The thing that really soured me was that you have to go through the gift shop to get out of the restaurant. The last time I was at a restaurant with a gift shop was my last stop at Cracker Barrel. Give it a try if you want but there is much better around.

    (3)

  • Louie N.

    The hype is true... One of the beat seafood restaurant in Charleston. Very casual and busy but worth it. Recommend you have an early or late dinner because this place can get packed and the wait can be long. Do bring you appetite because the food is real good and you want to have enough room to enjoy it all.

    (5)

  • Cheryl M.

    We went to Charleston for the weekend. We spotted the long line of people from down the street and decide to dine there. The food was FABULOUS! We tried the crab cakes...Out of this world! 2 perfectly prepared cakes of Lump crab meat. No fillers. Hushpuppies were crispy outside, warm and moist inside and seasoned to perfection. Definitely coming back.

    (4)

  • JENNIFER W.

    Before our entrees came we had already eaten boiled peanuts, crab dip (free coupon from our hotel), hush puppies (YUM!), and a complimentary fried green tomato over cheesy grits appetizer. I could have left at that point....but we still ate our entrees! The crispy flounder was awesome-but it is a WHOLE fish! I had the swordfish which was good, but my husband's flounder was better! Decor is photos and paraphernalia of famous people who have eaten there. Delightfully tacky.

    (5)

  • Zach B.

    Good, middle of the road seafood joint. Had a great seared flounder plate.

    (3)

  • Joel C.

    As Maria, David and I were walking around the Green Market at the park, we were getting hungry! As Maria was buying a pint of fresh homemade pickles she asked the lady of any recommendations on where to eat. The pickle lady told us to check out Hyman's on Meeting Street. It wasn't very hard to find and it was super busy! It was really interesting how the restaurant itself is not one big establishment, but each entrance has its own kitchen slash dining area which is only accessible via outside. We had a good 20 min wait and decided to hang out at the bar. All I have to say is Charleston...thank you for Sweet Tea Vodka! It was amazing with lemonade and tasted just like canned Nestea! We finally got a table and checked out the menu. There are lots of options available as well as a fish board on today's catch. David ordered the Mahi-Mahi Po Boy on a wrap, Maria ordered the Fried Shrimp Po Boy on a wrap and I got the Buffalo Shrimp Po Boy. We also started off with boiled peanuts and fried calamari. The calamari wasn't bad...the rings are definitely a bit larger than what I am use to. I avoided the boiled peanuts, since I've never like them as a child and still do not like them today; although David and Maria were all about the Southern edamame! Our food came out and it was good! I liked that the shrimp was not overly breaded. The wedge french fries were amazing and I think I just discovered the best hush puppies in the U.S.! The Lobster-Bisque soup was OK...just wish they had some Clam Chowder in this town! Best part of the meal...was when Rita the Greetah stopped by to say hello and welcome us to Charleston. She gave us stickers to wear around and we liked her so much that we had to have a picture with her! Seriously, she was so adorable...I wanted to take her home! Overall a fun place to check out if you have never been. Yeah it could be a bit touristy but that's part of the fun. I mean who can resist sitting at the same table Bob Villa sat at when he last visited Hyman's...ha!

    (4)

  • Chris B.

    This place is for tourists who don't know anybody in the city to tell them that it's crap. Take it from a Charlestonian...there is better seafood at Captain D's...

    (1)

  • La'Von F.

    Hyman's is one of the best family-friendly restaurants that I've ever eaten at. For starters, the customer service there is great! Very friendly wait staff & one of the managers came over to our table (as well as several others ) to check out our dining experience. He gave my kids coupons for free homemade ice cream that they could get on the way out in the shoppe downstairs. I must say that was some of the tastiest strawberry ice cream ever!!! Like some of the other reviews, Hyman's does have a bit of a touristy atmosphere.....but who cares? If you're just visiting the Charleston area for the 1st or 2nd time primarily for leisure, then you really are a tourist! It was definitely busy when we went to Hyman's for lunch in Aug. 2012, but our wait was relatively short since we were there mid-day on a Sat. We ordered the salmon w/grit cakes & cheesy white sauce, a side of collards, cole slaw, garlic toast with sweet tea done right & loads of the best hush puppies ever!!! The portion sizes were large......so we had enough left over for dinner that evening & lunch the next day! While there are definitely several worthwhile restaurant options in the Charleston area, I highly recommend checking out Hyman's! You may want to go earlier to avoid extra long wait times though.

    (5)

  • Stephen C.

    Good value for money. I liked the buffalo oysters. Flounder was big for $17 but taste was quite ordinary.

    (4)

  • Mary L.

    What can I say but WOW! These hush puppies rock! Make sure you get there early as it is 1st come, 1st served. Our party of 4 had fried shrimp (just OK), fried lump crab cakes (outstanding) and 2 had fish and chips (to die for). Check your table to see who else has sat there. We had Hulk Hogan's seat among others. I would definitely come here again.

    (4)

  • Heather S.

    The food is good. I had the fried shrimp. Sweet tea was good. Place is low key and apparently has a crazy wait most of the time, but we went early (5) and were seated right away. There are probably better options for seafood in Charleston, but this was close to our hotel and it looked like it was going to rain like crazy (which it did).

    (3)

  • Mercedes G.

    It was ok

    (3)

  • Ann V.

    Very popular with the tourist crowd. Wait times can be lengthy but friendly staff will ply you with hush puppies and the occasional taste of homemade ice cream. The menu is extremely varied, but tends toward grease and salt overload, and nicer seafood can be had elsewhere for the same price.

    (2)

  • Bobby S.

    The best seafood and service ever! Start with the fried green tomatoes and make sure to see who sat at your table ;) Combo platters are a good way to taste some of the massive menu options. Crab claws for appetizer were endless/awesome and by far a sweet deal. The hushpuppies are the best on this planet, can't wait to go back.

    (5)

  • Whitney L.

    The only good soup is the okra stew. Don't try the lobster bisque or she crab soups. You will be disappointed. I tried them both on takeout orders on separate occasions and they were both so saltly I had to throw them away.

    (2)

  • Kinda Invisible S.

    So not worth the wait and way over-priced. Food was very disappointing. How can you ruin fish and chips if you're a seafood restaurant? Too much of a legend that doesn't deliver on its reputation.

    (2)

  • Lance R.

    Had a great experience. Best Po Boy we have ever had. Lightly breaded shrimp and the bread was not too thick. You might have a wait to get in and it gets pretty crowded. Overall we would certainly return.

    (5)

  • Louise M.

    Every time I visit Charleston (I live 3 hours away) I make a point of going to Hymans, for the experience more than the food! It's like a tradition with me. Yes, it's touristy and there's always a wait for seating, but the service is good, food is good enough and Eli will stop by and chat! High entertainment value, boiled peanuts are addictive, and they raise a hell of a lot of money for local charities!

    (4)

  • Wes G.

    Just a great place to eat. The seafood is excellent and the atmosphere just tops it off. You are definitely paying for the name to a degree. However, food is excellent and Rusty was very nice. It is definitely a "must go" place in Charleston.

    (5)

  • Dan A.

    I was a bit apprehensive after reading the "tourist trap" reviews. We got the free crab dip - a bit too creamy for my tastes...but hey it was free! The kids had the calamari. Perfectly cooked though batter and marinara was bland. Still, considering how rare it is to find a place that doesn't overcook calamari to rubberiness, I viewed this as a strong positive. Hush puppies were fantastic fried heaven (100% soybean oil but I am not sure how much better it is for you). Especially good with the Cajun mayo. I had the lobster bisque (yum) and my wife the she crab soup (yum but I preferred the bisque). In case anyone doesn't feel like the fried fish specialties, ask for the menu from Aaron's Deli, from which you can also order. The best Reuben I have had in years. Perfectly prepared. My wife had a turkey sandwich but based upon the stolen bites of my sandwich she also thought the reuben was quite delicious. No beers are available on tap, but if you are from outside of the area I suggest one of the Palmetto locally brewed options that are not commonly found elsewhere (my pick is the porter brewed with coffee). Finally, the service was superb from the start through the end, and included a visit by one of the family owners. If you've not been before I'd recommend a visit to Hyman's.

    (3)

  • Melissa R.

    Yes, it's tourist trappy but the crispy scored flounder is delicious and it's a fun place to take kids! They get free ice cream on the way out. You will not leave hungry and the boiled peanuts are great! Eli Hyman the Jewish cowboy is always on the scene visiting every table, nice touch! If you return he will remember you and take time to chat. It's not fine dining but it's fun! Try the fried pickles!

    (4)

  • Kenneth W.

    Very dissapointed in his place. Too gimicky. Food was overcooked and nothing special. Service wws the only plus. I definitely recommend somewhere else.

    (2)

  • Nikki B.

    I LOVE HYMAN'S!!! This is one of the places that I have to visit every time I come to Charleston. The crispy flounder is a beast and is very filling! So are the hush puppies.

    (5)

  • Joseph L.

    Its good. Not outstanding, as might be the feeling one would get reading about this place. The price was fair. Portions could have been a little larger. Overall, a good experience.

    (4)

  • Mohamed M.

    I know this review is SUPER late but I ate this place August 2010, and it was the best seafood i had in my LIFE. I wen to SC for my birthday, and i happen to accidentally end up at Hymans, I can honestly say that even after 2 years I still remember my meal and loved it lol. I ate Hymans for the rest of the trip and did not get tired once, it was a wonderful experience.

    (5)

  • John M.

    The only good thing about this place is that it keeps the tourists from overcrowding the really good seafood restaurants in town. Sure, wait an hour (plus) in the reeking heat, pouring rain, or winter cold for a meal of comparable quality (and freshness) as a Red Lobster in Des Moines, Iowa. They don't care if you have a bad experience, because they know you're only there because you don't know any better. The tour guides and Visitor's Center employees hawk this place because they get kickbacks for doing so.

    (1)

  • Anthony J.

    A must visit in Charleston, a few thing the hostesses suck. Don't judge a book by its cover. The food is great, you must visit

    (5)

  • Leo C.

    Great sea food for a decent price especially when compared to how much food they give you.

    (5)

  • Natasha A.

    I knew we should not go here, as it had "tourst trap" written all over it. However, we wanted something casual and basic and did not want to spend much more time wandering around. Well, my suspicions were proven correct and then some. This place is just bad. We ordered a variety of seafood and everything was extremely overcooked. The swordfish was completely dried out, the calamari way over-breaded and overcooked, and so on. Oysters were horribly shucked, dirty and full of grit. Yes, the hushpuppies are tasty but this is a seafood place...I would expect decent enough seafood, not just hushpuppies. I admit they do make a tasty and well-spiced bloody mary. We did let the owner know when he asked us how everything was that it was rather disappointing...and got 10% off the bill..woohoo. Stay away.

    (1)

  • Reese M.

    This is one of those "gotta try" places if you're in Charleston. It is definitely a tourist attraction. The service is awesome! We had a very large party and the service could not have been better. Servers were patient and more than happy to share the history of Hyman's. Now on to the food...it was okay. Let's just say the restaurant was more memorable than the food. The fried fish was a bit greasy and I would have liked it to have more flavor and/or seasoning. The chowder was pretty good. I would order it again. All in all, I would recommend for you to try this place out.

    (3)

  • Eli S.

    It's the place to go if you come to Charleston SC the food was great even the owner Eli stop at our table to make sure everything was good. We had lobster bisque, Carolina special, flounder and grits with shrimp. Von appetite.

    (5)

  • Souad D.

    We put our name in for a table, but then were able to get two seats at the bar. Jennifer and Steph were behind the bar and they rocked it. They were busy, but kept a great attitude and we're very friendly. We ordered the shrimp and grits Carolina style -THE BEST! Be sure to add the toppings (bacon and cheese). We also ordered the crab cake...that was ok. The mussels were the third appetizer we ordered, and they were a big thumbs up. They are not sweet, lots of flavor and garlic. Someone else accidentally ordered the shrimp and crab dip, so jennifer kindly gave it to us to indulge. ...super yummy :) they are known for their bloody Mary's so if you like them, DEFINITELY get one here :)

    (4)

  • Brittany C.

    Ok, first let me say I wish I could give Hyman's a higher rating. The Hyman's brothers that come around the restaurant from time to time are so very nice. But the fact of the matter is, the food just isn't anything special, not by a long shot. Do NOT go here expecting great fresh seafood. Their fish is frozen and vacuum packed. They simply thaw it then fry it. The sides are just ok. The she crab soup is ok. Hush puppies are very good. If you want a large portion of run of the mill fried foods for $30 plate, go to Hymans. If you are a foodie or are going out for a nice date, go to one of the MANY fantastic places around Charleston (Hanks, Fleet Landing, Blu, etc). Hyman's has a cool atmosphere but it's really just a tourist trap. I definitely wouldn't recommend it if you have to wait more than 10 min, even if you do love mediocre fried foods! If you do end up going be it you're in the area or just want to check out the atmosphere (which is pretty cool and unique, I have to admit), I recommend the Carolina delight. It's something different and unique to Hyman's.

    (2)

  • char o.

    Hey Ira human I thank you for coming to my table abd personally greeting my family! Get the crab cakes guys! My sisters meal which she shared was wonderful. Fried flounder was great enough to share! Also we loved the cole slaw! This place really was worth the food, the people were great. Try the lavender sugar scrub when in the washroom We loved it here !

    (4)

  • Kaitlyn P.

    This place was just wonderful. Our server was extremely friendly. The food was just outstanding! I'm pretty sure these were the best hush puppies I've ever had. The entire experience was beyond pleasant!

    (5)

  • Jack F.

    Their customer service from the manager ( big burly friendly guy ) and owner ( Eli ) is as they all say - phenomenal. Our waitress tho left a LOT to be desired. So rigid in her rules, that simple requests were hard to get. It was INCREDIBLY hot ( I know, we were in the south in the summer, I get it! haha ) We ordered 2 apps, and I ordered a local beer to refresh. She refused to deliver it until after we had placed our food order. Simply would NOT serve us our ordered beer -- and thats after I asked TWICE for it, after ordering. Anyways - beyond that, the food was good. They live up to their reputation for good seafood. I had the salmon sampler ( salmon done 3 ways ) and it was...well. It was quite good! :) My fiance had a mini sampler of a side salad, 2 more apps, and a drink. All around - I get it. It was good. The waitress was terrible and unfortunately that skewed our time there.

    (3)

  • Chelsy P.

    A total tourist trap. I went once to fulfill the destiny every seems to think Hyman's holds for them, but I was not impressed. It was nice to have the boiled peanuts on the table. The hushpuppies taste good, and might be the best thing I had. My mahi-mahi was just okay, but my dad's fish had two bones in it; the server offered to take it back, but the next fish he brought out had even more bones in it. We only ever saw the waiter again to get the check. There are PLENTY better seafood places in the area; we're a port city, for God's sake. Don't let the big name and the famous faces fool you.

    (2)

  • Robert P.

    We came here on a recommendation and were not disappointed. The service is EXCELLENT! The food was as expected and very good but it was the staff that won me over. We ordered drinks at the bar while waiting for a table and although I didn't like the first drink I got another and it was much better. Without even being asked the bartender removed the first from my bill. At our table, a manager greeted us before our server did and helped us through the menu. After a short wait our server, Perry, arrived and provided professional, friendly, and attentive service the entire evening. Not to ignore how incredible the food was but they get a 5 star rating because the staff did such an awesome job. Only negative was that the weather was cold and the downstairs had a chill to it.

    (5)

  • Sip C.

    I knooow it's a tourist haunt... But its still good! Great Carolina shrimp & grits, fried oysters, etc. Fantastic hush puppies. Some craft beer (Palmetto), also had a margarita special when we went. I don't think it's posdible to leave here without being stuffed full of fried fish... and dammit, sometimes I'm okay with that.

    (4)

  • Tamara R.

    We went against the advice of a local and went to Hyman's. We were sadly disappointed. The fried dill pickles and hushpuppies were really good. I ordered the broiled stuffed grouper...The taste was awful. To replace it, I ordered fried whiting. How do you mess up fried whiting?! It was bland...no seasoning whatsoever. Needless to say, we will not be back and will warn future visitors not to give in to the hype.

    (2)

  • Aaron B.

    This place is just average. I've been here a few times, because the people I was with wanted to, but have only been met with something alright. The prices are too high for what you get as well. I had a great ipa though.

    (3)

  • Wesley M.

    I returned to Hyman's this afternoon with my girlfriend and her parents and again we were all impressed. They have a wait for lunch even on a Monday afternoon. Sure, this place is super touristy, but the food and service area always spot on. At Hyman's you will find your basic seafood fare that's cooked to your liking - broiled, sauteed, blackened, or lightly blackened. My only criticism here is that the "blackening" seasoning is too salty, but not enough to take away the 5 stars. We started with some complimentary hush puppies again, but no soup samples this time. Maybe that's a weekend thing? Eli the owner stopped by to say hi. Nice touch.

    (5)

  • Lindsey D.

    Time for lunch at the famous Hyman's Seafood Company! We walked right in, too... it was amazing! The night before, there was a long line of people out on the sidewalk waiting to get in. The menu of the day was up on the wall near our table, as were photos of the many celebrities that have eaten there. The chairs at the tables also have name plates of the famous people that had eaten there. Our table had the likes of Neil Armstrong, Jodi Foster, and Bob Villa! ;-P I finally got to try boiled peanuts here and I loved them! Coming from the midwest, I was very confused by this way of eating peanuts - but after trying it, I totally get it. The boiled peanuts are the complimentary snack. We tried their crab dip - good - and got their hush puppies and O-M-G... they were the BEST hush puppies I have ever tasted in my life! My partner loved his fried shrimp. My friend loved her shrimp and grits and she crab soup. I got the Carolina Delight with a crab cake and it was tasty, too. We were in seafood heaven. The waiter was great. The prices were great. There were cards with funny little sayings on the table that were amusing and they give you stickers to spread the Hyman love around the city! We also enjoyed wandering through their general store after our meal. This was a great stop and I would definitely go back!

    (5)

  • Evan S.

    This is definitely a tourist trap... and I knew that walking in. The food is decent. I used the yelp check-in freebie to get a free order of fried green tomatoes which were awesome! We tried fried green tomatoes at about 3 other restaurants on our vacation and these were the best! They also start you off with complimentary boiled peanuts which are tasty after waiting for however it'll take you to get in. The hushpuppies were average. The mac n cheese is pretty bad. I was expecting more of a home recipe as opposed to the velveeta version that they serve. Clam strips = good. Snapper was ok, but kinda dry. And the shrimp & grits were average as well. The service was very good.

    (3)

  • Emily B.

    I don't know why people line up for this place. If you want fried seafood, then this may be the place for you, but if that's not your thing, steer clear. Sure, there are celebrity pics on the walls, but don't let that fool you. This place is a tourist trap. For better seafood with decent prices, check out Coast on John St.

    (2)

  • Kristine B.

    Best seafood dinner I have ever eaten!! Amazing customer service as well. I highly recommend the scored flounder and the crab cakes.

    (5)

  • Jeff K.

    We have been wanting to eat here for years but never had time to wait in the summer tourist line. We were in Charleston this weekend and found ourselves looking for a good meal downtown. Hyman's did not disappoint, the fried shrimp was perfect along with red rice & hush puppies. It was a great experience that I will share with many people, great food, service and a customer driven attitude. Our server Kimberly was very friendly, helpful and sincere. Thank you for a great dining experience, we'll be back soon.

    (5)

  • Marco F.

    Everything was awesome besides the calamari.

    (4)

  • Cortney K.

    I am not a seafood eater but I was with company who wanted to try this place so I tried it. Luckily there are several options that do not include seafood. The prices are very reasonable especially for the amount of food. You get a lot of extra things included with every meal (slaw, hush puppies, etc.) so I was definitely full by the end of the meal. My steak was cooked perfectly and the seafood that was ordered was delicious (supposedly). The food was great and the waitress was very nice. I will definitely be eating here again.

    (5)

  • Stefan S.

    By far some of the best seafood I've ever had plus a friendly and knowledgable waiter (Henry) and Manager (Corky) made this meal a memorable one. And to top it off the owner Brad stopped by to see how we were doing. You can't beat that!!! The food is AMAZING!!!! We had a variety of dishes and we weren't disappointed. Plus after dinner go to the general store and have the chocolate ice cream, it was smooth and creamy, YUMMMMMMY...

    (5)

  • Shannon A.

    The best seafood I've had in Charleston!

    (5)

  • Michelle B.

    The best part about this restaurant is the service and the attention to their customers. We initially sat down and experienced some dripping from the air vent above the table. We asked to move and were quickly accomodated with a new table and free appetizers. The owner and a cousin of the owner both came to our table to asked if we needed anything. When we complained that they didn't make the drink we wanted in a pitcher, the owner quickly accomodated. It is obvious that this place is popular due to their attention towards their customers. The food is good and there are a lot of choices. Great place to take a family however you want to get there before 6pm or you'll be waiting in line for a very long time.

    (3)

  • Kristen D.

    This place is resting on a history that doesn't hold true. If you like overpriced frozen fish...then head on over. The cole slaw was so wet and mushy you couldn't eat it. This place just isn't what it used to be. Which is why most of the VIP pics are from the 80s and 90s.

    (1)

  • Amy S.

    Loved it here! Visited in Oct 2011 with a large party, and we were seated within a half hour during a busy lunchtime, without a reservation. Awesome! LOVED the fried green tomatoes. Being a Yankee, I've always wanted to try them and wouldn't even think to start hunting them down in Chicago. Did NOT love dropping a bit of that delish spicy mayo dip in my décolletage, on a bright white tank top, no less! The fried okra was awesome and I had clam strips...fried of course...and learned the hard way they really do love their fried food in the South. Thankfully we did a lot of walking around post-meal to keep from falling into a food coma. The staff was super friendly (split our bill like 5 ways without complaining - thank you!), portions are obnoxiously huge. Case in point: the meals are served with bowls of cole slaw. Here I'm lucky to get it as a side (charged $ for) or a bit served in a portion cup the size of a Jell-o shot. Some will say they are not the best or to stay away because it's a tourist trap. It takes a smart establishment to cater to a group of people for any need and keep them all happy. Hyman's did a great job. I think they deserve the tourist business they get and if it's not your thing then pffffft to you, go elsewhere.

    (4)

  • Kevin G.

    Amazing service, quality and quantity of food. It cannot get better than hyman's! A who's who of celebrities have indulged themselves an you can see who sat at your table by the small plaque on each one. It took our meal a bit so they provided free hush puppies while we waited, they were phenomenal. The owner also came around and thanked everyone at each and every table in the restaurant for choosing his. He checked on how the service and food was and made it clear if anything wasn't liked let him know. He noticed one man kiddie-corner to me had a thinner fillet of paddock. He asked if he wanted a thicker one at no charge. The man said it was fine. The owner then went to the waiter and asked why he got such a thin filet, then went to speak with the chef. We stopped down at the shop afterwards and got some ice cream that was pure deliciousness. You must try it. Also, they are extremely busy so make sure you allow time or go at off-peak hours. If you are told to wait outside or it is realt long chek out the store. They also have an express location/deli next door for faster service. Everything is fresh and delicious.

    (5)

  • Scott E.

    I was there in late August 2012 and while the place isn't bad, I didn't see what all the fuss was about either. They spend a lot of effort saying what a landmark they are and I wasn't sure why. Being from NJ, maybe I don't fully get Southern cooking, but I found the greasy peanuts and hush puppies kind of gross. However, I liked the fried tomatoes. I ordered some kind of fish platter which was good, but nothing to live up to the hype. I thought the same thing about my wife's dish. The atmosphere is good for a fish place and I enjoyed seeing signs of all the famous people who have dined there. Hyman's prides themselves on service and they lived up to that claim, though perhaps TOO attentive.

    (3)

  • Sara S.

    Hyman's Seafood is obviously a very profitable tourist trap. There's something fishy about a restaurant that relies very HEAVILY on the awards they've won "#1 seafood in the SE by Southern living", "#1 Bloody Mary in the city" and they also note the celebrities that have dined there. Ok so we got trapped too... The staff there are friendly, but the service was very much a redundant spiel--and the server was constantly pushing upsell after upsell (it's not a problem to upsell, but it made the experience seem a little forced.) The food here is just OK. We got the fried calamari, which was cooked very well. A salad and the buffalo oyster po' boy. The sandwich was absolutely huge and could easily be split by two people and was smothered in cheese and onions. But the she crab soup was the worst I had, the server mentioned that a new batch was being made and it came out pretty late in the meal--it was basically warm cream with large clumps of flour and a SLIGHT taste of crab...disgusting. While we only had to wait 10minutes to sit down for lunch, I wouldn't wait around any longer, it's just not worth it.

    (2)

  • Dana J.

    Quick service! Great Hospitality! Good food! I never had fried green tomatoes and grits and my friends and I loved it. Give it a try, the best ever!

    (4)

  • Rashawn W.

    A great place to eat. The food is great and the waitstaff is friendly. I would happily recommend this restaurant to my friends. The hostess seating process is somewhat difficult because it is slightly unorganized but worth it

    (4)

  • M L.

    Over rated and a tourist trap! My breakfast that consisted of a apple stuffed french toast was much better than the raw oysters, buffalo fried oysters and shrimp po'boy we had for lunch. The shrimp po'boy lacked any flavor for being referred as creole. Buffalo fried oysters were too greasy! The only good thing I found about this restaurant was the promotional give a way cards with sayings, things to live by etc. If you are in the area, don't stop by this place, run to McDonalds instead.

    (2)

  • Rachel M.

    Their hushpuppies are the best and you can buy them at their take out window. Beyond that, the rest our meal was mediocre at best. We had the shrimp po' boy, the shrimp, scallops, and crab cake dinner, and the chicken tenders with mac n cheese. The service was indeed friendly and fast. For the money and time, I recommend going else where as many, many great options.

    (2)

  • Elliott D.

    Located on Meeting Street, this restaurant is positioned near the heart of Charleston. We actually ended up going here twice because our group arrived in the city at different times. We only went the first time because someone randomly recommended it to us as we were discussing lunch walking down the street and I'm certainly glad she did. The decor of the place is pretty laid back. This is also a pretty touristy location which I say with no implied judgment as oftentimes places become tourist stops because they are popular with locals and have good food. Fortunately we did not have to wait as we were well aware of the waits that some have had to undergo. We were seated right away and were cared for by a very attentive staff. Our drinks were always filled and the menu well explained. A theme of my trip was she-crab soup and it was pretty good here. However, it had more of a generic seafood chowder taste rather than the specific taste of crab. That said, I ate the whole cup. They start out the meal with cole slaw and hush puppies. The cole slaw was a little heavy on the mayonnaise which I'm not a huge fan of so I couldn't finish it. However, the hush puppies were amazing. They were not too heavy and they had a perfect balance of cornbread. Eat them with the spicy mayonnaise and you'll love it. For my meal I had the Cajun Shrimp Po' Boy. It was delicious and I recommended it to my friend the second time we went and he similarly enjoyed it. The shrimp had a nice kick to them but were by no means overwhelming. The hoagie was nicely toasted as well. Great sandwich. For dessert I had the homemade cheese cake which was great, definitely would recommend it if you like cheese cake. The owner came around to us and thanked us for coming and was just generally a nice guy. I would definitely come back.

    (4)

  • Andrew F.

    Based upon all of the positive reviews here, I'm thinking it must have ordered the wrong thing. I grew up in Rhode Island, and had experienced many a clambake in my lifetime. When I saw the low country boil, which appeared to be just like a clambake, I was excited and ordered it. One of the challenges when you boil food is ensuring that you don't boil all the flavor out of it, this meal really had no taste, and was a far cry from what I had experienced as a kid. So I suppose the next time that I go there I'll order something different and hopefully have a similar experience as what the folks that filled out all his reviews did when they ate there. I will add that the fried green tomatoes were very good.

    (2)

  • Joanna R.

    The amber jack was so overcooked. It was so sad. I wished that I could have taken it home and cooked it myself., then it would have been delicious. The fried green tomatoes were good with the sauce they serve with it but that was it. VERY touristy. I definitely was expecting more since EVERYONE says to go here. I think it's because everyone who visits goes here only because they don't know any REAL restaurants in Charleston. Such a waste.

    (2)

  • Paula D.

    Great seafood! The building is awesome. Try to go later in the afternoon so that the lines are nonexistent. My husband and I split the three-option platter. The food is a bit pricey, but this was plenty of food for a reasonable price. We had calamari, fried clams, and chilled shrimp (sides of slaw and mac&cheese). The chilled shrimp wasn't cold enough. They also gave each table a sampler including calamari, hushpuppies, and delicious shrimp salad. The cajun mayo was awesome! They had a roving hostess who stopped by your table, very friendly. Our waitress was TERRIBLE, but the owner stopped by each table, so I was *very* impressed with that.

    (4)

  • Corey K.

    My family had dinner at Hyman's a couple months ago. The food and atmosphere were terrific. Gabrielle, Eli, Martin, & Tim made us all feel at home! I highly recommend this family establishment!

    (5)

  • Critic E.

    This place is a joke, first I was sitting at the bar and noticed a brown waxed box that they ship oysters sitting on a counter where the bartender could grab 6 or so and shuck them. The box however had a few pieces of ice but that was it. The box of oysters was sitting at room temperature as the few ice pieces were at the bottom of the box. Now I cannot stand a warm oyster on the half shell. However, when I saw the bartender serve up a half dozen oysters he served them on ice, all the good that would do. Serving them on ice at this point is nothing but for show. Now I ordered a fish and chips and let me tell you it was so over cooked I could hardly eat it. The French fries were no different. Now any fish restaurant with any quality of cooking would never serve a dried up over cooked piece of fish that was as tough as shoe leather. Last when I was walking outside the restaurant, they have some windows so you can see the cooks in action. This is a huge turnoff as below one of the windows there was another large waxed boxed layered with different types of fish and again I saw no ice as the fish was sitting there at room temperature waiting to be picked by the cook to throw in a pan or the fryer. I was twice turned off by the lack of keeping the fish product in an ice cold environment, thus keeping the fish or shell fish in the best condition possible. Then add the over cooked fish I could not eat, and this place I would rate a "0" if I could. I further suggest you never waste a dime in this place and stay far away.

    (1)

  • Fae W.

    It's alright, customer service was really good especially the host. Gift shop service was terrible. Food was decent.

    (3)

  • S B.

    The Bloody Mary's are the best I ever had. The food was great and the waitress was wonderful. We had a party of 6 and didn't have to wait to get a table. I'll be back.

    (5)

  • Randy R.

    Pricey, but worth every penny. Excellent food and staff.

    (5)

  • Tanya R.

    Great Salmon! Best I've ever had. Nice staff and atmosphere. Even bought some of the Cajan seasoning to bring home!

    (4)

  • A L.

    Let's face it, Hyman's Seafood is not a fancy 5 star restaurant and not a place you would want to go out to on a romantic date! Yes, every tour and hotel in sight will recommend this restaurant...making you (or at least me) believe it is a high-end, top scale restaurant. In reality, Hyman's is surprisingly casual. The interior is large yet cozy - think a sports bar or the inside of Applebee's, and extremely busy and loud. The servers are very young, but friendly. Some of them look like they are in high school. I see this as more of a lunch place or maybe good for a casual dinner. There is really no need to dress up. The 4 star rating is for the delicious greasy, fatty food that is simply irresistable. I would compare it to high end fast food. The hush puppies are to die for. Be prepared for long lines, and dozens of tourists scrambling around the restaurant. This is the most touristy/gimmicky restaurant I have been to in a while. But if you come with an empty stomach and a good mood, I can't imagine you not having a good time.

    (4)

  • Rob B.

    Sat at the bar and had great service. Ordered the deviled crab with collard greens. It was very tasty washed down with a Palmetto Pale Ale. The greens needed minimal doctoring with some pepper vinegar. The hush puppies were okay but not great.

    (4)

  • Sara D.

    Hyman's is good and deserving of it's awesome ratings and recommendation by Southern Living. It's very touristy and the food is not the best in Charleston but it's traditional fried southern seafood. I've been twice and both times had a good experience. Service is good - lots of staff always around and all friendly and quick with smiles. The last time I went I got the carolina style shrimp and grits. Not a huge fan of grits in general and am extremely picky, but the cheese sauce plus grits was pretty delicious. Super rich. And surprisingly a decent amount of shrimp in the dish. Fried Green Tomatoes are worth trying (though again not the best in Charleston). If you're touring Charleston and want a "taste" of the city, fun atmosphere, and delicious food, but don't want to spend $50 per person to feed your family lunch or dinner, this is a great choice. There is ALWAYS a wait though so be prepared!

    (4)

  • MomontheGo G.

    Skip it. I have no problem with a tacky tourist trap...but the food really sucked. The shrimp and grits were a joke. I wish I had taken a picture so I could compare them to the same dish at Magnolias. I read the reviews and wondered how bad could it really be....I now know.

    (2)

  • Chris R.

    Ok, so I sat at Ollie North's table - very cool. Why is it, in a famous seafood place that can tell me where every fish is from, they wont tell me where the shrimp are from? Easy, they don't want to because they are probably farm raised in Thailand. Very disappointed old restaurant whose owners decided profit was more important than integrity. All that, and then a forced disneyworld type exit through the gift shop. Seriously - WTF?

    (1)

  • Jeremy E.

    Tourist trap.

    (2)

  • Tony K.

    One word, fantastic!! Any trip to Charleston should include a meal at Hyman's. The staff are friendly and are genuinely dedicated to your having a great meal and experience. Ely Hyman himself stopped by our table and thanked us for coming. The food was excellent, including the best hush puppies my wife and I have ever had. You may have a bit of a wait to get in but all great restaurants have a wait. But trust me, the experience and the food are worth it.

    (5)

  • Rick W.

    Great food crab cakes were amazing. There was a wait, but the staff was turning over tables incredibly fast. They were also very friendly and I was talked to by three different managers throughout the visit in addition to our attentive waitress and another one who noticed our 2 yr old was getting fussy. Definitely will go next time in Charleston and will recommend to others.

    (4)

  • Andrew D.

    Wow, what an operation is all I can say. In town for my only night in Charleston and I wanted to see this place with my own eyes. At 5:30 the wait was a half hour. So we waited in the general store and then the bar until 6. This place is popular! I give this place four stars not as much for the food, but for the service, history and fairly good value. The owner, or the GM make an effort to visit every table. Even in the restroom there are signs explaining that they really want to hear if anything is not right with your meal or the service. The place seems sincere in its effort to strive for a high degree of service in an otherwise touristy, mass appeal establishment. We had Lobster Bisque which held nice size pieces of lobster, but lacked a good flavor. The hush puppies are great. We also had the Shrimp and Grits which were fair. The fried green tomatoes were OK, but I do not know if I would ever rave about that as a dish being from up North. We had the Fried Flounder with chutney which is one of their best sellers. Were were not impressed, seems that back in the day deep frying good seafood may have been more common. But nowadays it just seems like to fully deep fry good seafood zaps out the true fresh flavor. I had the All You Can Eat Shrimp and Crab. The Crab was larger then normal now crabs and it seemed fresh. The shrimp were all fresh and I tried them breaded, in Jerk, and Spicy. They were quite good. the accompaniment of red rice was dry and disappointing. Overall I like this place and although it is not fine dining seafood, it is great for a family, bug groups or tourists like ourselves.

    (4)

  • Jennifer K.

    Had really great service eating at the bar. The slaw and Gator Po Boy were very good.

    (4)

  • Victoria B.

    Highly recommend. Greeted warmly by numerous employees upon entering and on the way to our table. Generous portions. Try the hush puppies. They are hot, sweet, and crispy - just the way they should be. I had the shrimp and grits and they were the best I've ever had. That's saying a lot, because those are two of my favorite foods. The grits were the yummiest and creamiest I've ever eaten, and the shrimp was cooked to perfection.

    (5)

  • Christie B.

    We were told that this place was a must on our visit to Charleston. I completely disagree and would not recommend it. Service was awful...a bunch of teens who don't even acknowledge you or tell you if you're supposed to follow them or not. Our waitress took forever to get our drinks, we didn't get our appetizer until our meal was served, and we didn't have any silverware or napkins. Food is sub par at best. Certainly not the best that Charleston has to offer!

    (2)

  • Keith K.

    Definitely a tourist favorite but a place those in SC will visit when in Charleston. At times the waiting to be seated can be a pain but not as bad as parking is in the area. The food is good and the services has been great each time I have visited.

    (4)

  • Brian T.

    I got to try a lot of different food while at this restaurant. I got try the shrimp n' grits, fried green tomatoes, raw oysters, crispy flounder and hush puppies. Everything I had was excellent with the flounder and hush puppies being the best I have ever had. I also loved the location of Hyman's Seafood, being close to the heart of Charleston. I would advise get to Hyman's early, because it gets crowded with people lining up outside to get in.

    (5)

  • Chris D.

    By far the best crab cake and hush puppies I have ever had! Great service and atmosphere.

    (5)

  • Brooks I.

    The staff was awesome. There was a wait but that was a measure of how great the restaurant is. We hung out at the bar, had a great IPA (Thomas Creek's Extreme IPA) while waiting for out table. Once seated, our waitress was great, really friendly, helpful and funny. The owner (one of) came over to talk to us, stayed a few minutes and made sure we were taken care of which was really appreciated. Oh and the fried scallops were by far the BEST I've ever had.....hands down.

    (5)

  • Michael T.

    Oh please...Tourist trap! Leave it for the tourists. And if you are visiting from out of town, pass on this place. Everything is fried in old used oil and tastes lousy! Charleston has more to offer!

    (1)

  • Ron H.

    Was here 10 years ago and it was amazing. Couldn't wait to get back. Unfortunately the restaurant Has slipped immensely. I had their number one seller: the crispy flounder. I almost sent it back and I never send anything back! Something was also wrong with the sweet potato french fries. They had a funny taste. Hush puppies and coleslaw were acceptable. Ate in the bar and the bartender was attentive and did a good job. I had similar flounder at Grimaldi's in Savannah numerous times. It is outstanding. When they score the fish they do it into maybe 1/2 inch blocks. Crispy and delicious. And importantly the technique made it very easy to eat the fish. Hymens on the other hand, only scored the fish three or four times in each direction. The result was it was very difficult to eat and not the same texture. Overall I thought the restaurant was a little rundown. The waitstaff appeared young and unsophisticated. I used the men's room and when I was leaving a waitress was talking to another waitress so loud I thought she was talking to me. Extremely unprofessional,

    (2)

  • Xavier B.

    I always go to Hymen's when in Charleston because it is a local landmark and it is always great seafood and service. It's busy but always worth the wait. Get the crispy Salmon it's classic and plenty of fish.

    (4)

  • Bruce B.

    Had dinner at Hyman's last night, a Sunday in mid-November. We were seated right away, which I understand is unusual. Based on some of the reviews I read, I was concerned that the restaurant was over rated. That couldn't be further than the truth. This isn't gourmet food and white glove service, but our waitress was very attentive and the service was great. The food was very good and the portions were ginormous. It lived up to the hype and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to anyone looking for a good hearty southern style meal and a casual setting. Additional note - they don't cook with peanut oil, which was important to us because my wife is allergic to peanuts.

    (5)

  • Heather B.

    I totally don't understand the hype. First there was the wait. I bought some popcorn at the store, but it was inedible because it was so salty. I love salt, but there was no way to eat this popcorn. The decor is unattractive and the system where they run people through quickly is not welcoming, in my opinion. We were seated at a table where an air-conditioning unit was dripping on us and given napkins that were oily and brown from the bowl of boiled peanuts that had dripped on them. When we pointed this out, they did take care of it quickly, moving us to another table and bringing fresh napkins. The food is mostly fried. Unless you adore fried food, do not eat here. I had the shrimp and grits (traditional style) and it was ok. Not great. We also had fried okra which was also just so so. One of our party really wanted to eat here, but even she was disappointed. Her she-crab soup was so salty she didn't eat it. I read online that the seafood is not local and not fresh and that locals do not eat here. Oh well. Lesson learned.

    (2)

  • Carol B.

    And the hush puppies just kept coming! I think we had over a dozen of them pass through our table (we ate a couple.) I came to Hyman's because I had the crispy flounder years ago and I loved it. It was just as good this time. We had to wait 45 minutes for a table, so we sat at the bar and had a dozen oysters. Our bartender was a baby, it was his first day and it was fun watching him trying to find things. At one point he had his hands full with TV remotes, smiled and said "none of them work." We were taken to our table through a maze of old restaurant. Our table for two was tucked away in a corner. The room we were in was crazy. There was an incredibly rapid turnover. The large group of elderly people were leaving as we were beginning our meal. They were replaced by a large party of adolescents. A young lady huffed as she tried to find a table "I have no friends!" Two girls were put at a table with three of the boys and hormones steamed up from all of them. That group finished up and left (and my husband and I are not slow eaters) and was replaced by a large party of pre-adolescents. A manager stopped by and praised me and my husband for how pleasant we were being in a room full of chaos. The rest of the food was nothing special, presentation was plastic containers and paper napkins and ambiance was dingy, cribbed together, old building.

    (2)

  • Rena B.

    The waitress at the wine place next door and my daughter's friend from Chicago both recommend Hyman's so we decided to give it a try. We were told be prepared for a wait. After a carriage ride around town and some shopping in the city market, we headed to the restaurant. We were seated almost immediately. We had gotten a coupon for either the crab dip or potato soup. We went with the dip. It was pretty decent - lasted thru our first beer. We decide to do the combo platter - you have the option of choosing 3-5-7 entrees. The menus says that the 7 will feed two - it really will. We ordered the 7 items ( fish - haddock, NC shrimp and grits, traditional shrimp and grits, shrimp, scallops, mussels and calamari) and we each received a side as well as cole slaw and hush puppies. The shrimp and scallops were cooked perfectly - we tried both shrimp and grits dishes with cheese and bacon - I would recommend the NC style with the dark gravy. We didn't leave room for dessert but had a coupon for a kiddie ice cream that we could not pass up. We had the birthday cake - very very good. Well worth the price

    (4)

  • Stephen H.

    Hyman's has got to be the biggest, baddest restaurant in Charleston, just in terms of sheer volume. They do an ENORMOUS amount of marketing. They are on the maps, on ads at the airport, at the concierge desks, and when you finish your meal, they give you green stickers that say "Hyman's" on them and have you wear them around town because they tell you there is a prize truck driving around that will give you $100 if you're "caught" wearing one. Great, great marketing gimmick. Additionally, even though we had a small party of 4, one of the owners managed to make it over to our table, say hello, exchange a few words, and encourage us to wear those stickers. Had a classic southern dish here, shrimp and grits, and it was fine. Just keep in mind that when you're cooking for this many people (a lot, and there's almost always a line) it can't be high-end. It's a great, VERY touristy place to eat should you be completely out of all other options. But make sure you've tried Jestine's and Virginia's on King first.

    (3)

  • Mattie C.

    I want to complain about how this place is PACKED with tourists, but as I am from DC, I guess that would make me one of those annoying tourists as well. As hypocritical as it sounds though, I do not like the tourist frenzy around this place. When I was here, I had a meal that you really can't screw up or do wrong - a big bucket of peel-and-eat shrimp. That of course was heaven. They also have pretty big, good crab claws. Fine but overpriced drinks. This would have gotten 2 stars because I don't like the atmosphere that much but anyone that offers a shrimp bucket to me gets an A-OK. Shrimp bucket was also reasonably priced. This seems to be THE place to go in Charleston, but other than the delicious shrimp bucket (which can be gotten elsewhere) nothing seemed particularly noteworthy about it. Just an average restaurant filled with tourists.

    (3)

  • MJ S.

    Every time we walked passed this place there were people lined up waiting for a seat. You can understand why we couldn't leave Charleston without trying it out... All I can say is: Fried Goodness.... Enough said. The Buffalo shrimp are the way to go. The shrimp grits are pretty awesome. Who would have thought combining Shrimp and Grits could be so delicious? The hush puppies are fried goodness. The sweet potato casserole is creamy and delicious. The fried oysters were okay, but not my thing apparently. Know that you will not find anything healthy on this menu... Come prepared to feast on Fried Goodness....

    (3)

  • Marc W.

    I thought that this place was ok but not great. Being by myself, I grabbed a stool at the bar and ordered a soft shell crab po'boy. While I waited I ordered a decent local ale. The po'boy that I got was not the greatest. The crab was rather on the small side and just didn't have a very good taste. I'm not sure why. Perhaps it had been in a freezer for just a little too long. Nothing like what I'm used to getting when I'm in New Orleans. But the beer was good. I didn't have to wait too long. The service was friend. And I was in and out of there in a minimun of time which was important b/c I was on my way for the last ferry out to Ft. Sumter.

    (2)

  • Randolph T.

    Worth the wait? Yes, I didn't wait because I didnt get there early enough! I went to their take out express area. I ordered the spinach wrap fried scallops and fried oysters to go. The wait was 20 minutes and it is worth the wait. The fried oysters were so fresh I could kick myself for not going inside for dozen raw oysters on the half shell. The spinach wrap fried scallops were also fresh and was NOT chewy done just right! I will go back and will give my name on the waiting list to those lovey ladies! Semper Fi...

    (5)

  • Sandra M.

    This place was great! Loved the hush puppies. They were giving them out as you waited in line outside, and I think I had way more than my share. I had my hubby take some to give to me. The fish was great... The hush puupy mix in the gift shop was not as good when you made it at home. The fire alarm went off 3 times while making it.

    (4)

  • Kait G.

    I was worried when I saw Hyman's stickers all over the city and all over the tourists. This sort of obnoxious self promotion usually foretells a dismal dining experience. I passed Hymans on my way to Roberts for dinner, the line to get in ran around the front and down the side of the 3 buildings of it's storefront. My thought was either the masses are insane or perhaps I was a tad critical of their overt promotion and maybe should give them a chance. The next day I went to Hymans for lunch. I ordered the Carolina Delight appetizer a lightly fried grit cake topped with shrimp, overed with a cajun alfredo sauce (awesome!) I passed on the complimentary boiled peanuts which I'm sure are good but my Yankee palate finds these a tad gross. My entree was the combo platter with Shrimp and Grits, lump crab cake, deviled crab and a side of sweet potato souffle. Everything was really good, served hot and fresh. The crab cakes contained crab! Shocker as most places give you a ton of binder with a little "show crab" on top to fool you. The sweet potatoe souffle was dessert, fab! I'd go at an off peak time to enjoy your food without a lot of noise, mayhem and waiting.

    (4)

  • Kaitlin S.

    I feel kind of bad giving Hyman's a 2, since most people probably had better experiences than I did, and it was maybe partly my fault, but allow me to explain. I was in Charleston with my boyfriend and Hyman's was recommended to us as a relatively inexpensive place to get some seafood. We'd eaten brunch around 11, so we weren't super hungry, so we decided around 2:30 or so to head over to Hyman's for a snack. I ordered the cajun shrimp with hushpuppies and she-crab soup. My boyfriend got a shrimp po'boy, and we split an order of fried green tomatoes with cajun mayo because we wanted to try them. When we started getting our food, I realized everything I had ordered was fried/high in fat. Oops. So much for that light snack. The shrimp and hushpuppies were pretty good. The fried green tomatoes were so oily that the breading fell right off. I barely ate any of the soup because it was too rich for me, especially in conjunction with the tomatoes. The shrimp po'boy was huge-- he wasn't sure how to eat it. After we ate, we were looking around in the gift shop when our gastrointestinal tracts started doing somersaults. We bolted back to our hotel room and spent the next few hours in recovery, alternating turns in the bathroom. So be careful what you eat, kids, because that's what happens when you eat too much fat/oil/grease.

    (2)

  • Joseph H.

    No! They fry everything they put out.. The boiled peanuts,cole slaw annd the hush puppies are all re-used.. The she crab soup is mainly milk.. Any time they are low on soup they just add more and more milk.. This is not traditional she crab soup! I will say this, the crispy fried flounder is pretty damn good. But if your a local(like me) its just another whole fried flounder.. Super easy to do. The majority of their fish is frozen, and their shrimp is imported. Key lime pie is pretty good though..

    (2)

  • Ashley B.

    There are few things in life better than good food, few joys that are more pure then the enjoyment of a well prepared meal. I guess that sentence makes me out to be a foodie, but don't worry I'm not a pretentious foodie. How could I be? An eastern North Carolina raised girl like me has few aspirations to pretentious food what with having grown up on a steady diet of grandma's fried chicken and mashed potatoes, and more to the point for this review, her fried seafood. Shoot I was probably 12 or older before I realized you could eat most seafood any other way but fried. It was what I grew up on, and it's still what I love best. Hyman's I am very happy to tell you knows how to do fried seafood right. In my three different visits to Hyman's over the course of my vacations in Charleston, I have always gotten fried seafood that exceeds my expectations. And that is saying something because my expectations hover somewhere around the moon. This is some of the best fried fish, fried shrimp and fried softshell crab I have ever had and it surely must be among the best in the low country. Lest you think my meal begins and ends there I should also tell you that they have extraordinarily good shrimp and grits as well. They are rich and buttery and wonderfully consistent in their texture and flavor. The hush puppies here are also above the average run of the mill hush puppy. They are never overcooked and have just a hint of sweetness just the way I like em. The coleslaw is also quite good, and the crab dip is a great way to start your meal. The portions here are colossal. In fact they are so large that I left the table full while barely touching my fries, and that is a good thing, because the fries are the one complaint I have about my meals here. I simply don't like heavily seasoned fries, and I prefer my fries not be the size of a quarter of the potato per piece. They are the one and only thing I find disappointing at Hyman's. Service has always been outstanding here, waitstaff is always attentive and either the manager or one of the owners always stop by the table to check on you during the meal. Although there is always a wait to get a table here I've never had to twiddle my thumbs for more then 15 minutes or so. In fact there is usually just enough time to tour the gift shop before my name is called. I'd love to live full time in the Charleston area but I would probably be broke if I did since I would constantly want to eat out. Hyman's is a big part of that and it is the only restaurant I have ever chosen to eat at twice on the same vacation trip. I can give no higher praise then that, and they deserve every bit of it.

    (5)

  • Anne F.

    We went here twice while on a 3 day vacation to Charleston. The first visit was for lunch, which was superb. I got the spinach and cucumber salad with broiled shrimp and balsamic vinegarette. Was very tasty. The second visit was for dinner a couple of days later. I got the hushpuppies (I would go back just for them), the crab cake and seafood pizza. The seafood pizza was amazing! The dough was light with a tender sweetness to it. The sauce was perfect; rich, but not overwhelming. The seafood on the pizza was abundant and nicely seasoned. Will I be back? Yes!

    (5)

  • Fontane L.

    Great service, solid food. Came here because of reviews and recommendation from tour guide. The food was good - solid seafood fare, with numerous fresh fish options daily and tasty sides. What I'd recommend: - crab cakes were packed with crab - yay! - highly enjoyed the salmon and grits - shrimp is tasty - fried oysters were fresh - grilled fish was good, but not spectacular - fried green tomatoes were highly worthwhile I think Hyman's provides fresh seafood at what is considered a moderate price for Charleston, but I feel like it was so-so for me. However, I will say that the service there was excellent, with the owner coming around to check that things are going well. He clearly cares about his customers' experience.

    (3)

  • Sheridan P.

    A Charleston staple. The food doesn't claim to be anything fancy, quite the opposite. It's a bunch of country(ish)-type folks who are slamming some fried food baskets together. The fried oysters were nice and juicy. My friend got the crab cakes and said they were very crabby! It was crowded with a long wait, so you'll need to plan around that. It is quite messy since the busboys fall behind. But they're catch up eventually. Don't go here if you're short on time or patience, for sure!

    (4)

  • Kayla J.

    I would just like to go ahead and state that locals do not eat here. This is a major spot for tourists and those getting off cruise ships. If you want bleached frozen food aisle of the grocery store seafood then this is your spot. Also it's a fact that they rope off dining rooms to create waits (which explains the huge masses of people outside the restaurant on the sidewalk) in order to make the place look amazingly popular and worth the wait. There is a reason why their advertisements start at the airport. They are marketing geniuses making a killing off horrible food. No judgement if you love this place though; to each is own!

    (1)

  • Zach M.

    We went during a weekday, pretty crowded. Wait was 15 minutes for 8 people. Hush puppies served during the wait. I have a shellfish allergy so I had salmon. One of the better pieces of salmon I have ever had. The sweet potato fries were really good. Ceasar salad was lame. Wife got crab legs, she said they were good, not the best ever but good. Doubt you will have room for dessert we did not. Prices were reasonable. I would go back. Appetizers arrived after main course and were not discounted or removed from the bill. But other than that good experience, and neat layout/decor.

    (4)

  • Gary T.

    I checked this place out for lunch while walking around downtown Charleston. I walked by Hyman's a few times over the course of two days and there seemed to be a line outside every time, so it's definitely well-liked. The service was good and the food was 3.5 / 5 stars. Don't fill up on the hush puppies...they're delicious. I had the blackened swordfish with a side of steamed broccoli. All and all, a decent meal.

    (3)

  • Sheila C.

    We were told we must come here to eat on our vacation, so we did, of course! The atmosphere and entire restaurant has a cozy, comfortable feel to eat and lots of history to take in. The food was amazing and the portions were very large and very fresh! The waiters were so accommodating and the seating was fast and easy as they tell you your table number outside before you enter the restaurant!!! Last but certainly not least, the dessert was "over the top" wonderful!

    (4)

  • Lilee N.

    nothing too great. didnt quite understand the hype. slow service. food is underwhelming. had shrimp and gator po'boy. the hushpuppies were good, but nothing to make the effort to visit

    (2)

  • Joe U.

    Very disappointed, we drove especially to Charleston to eat here and did not like. We remember eating here two years ago, and the owners ran a superb restaurant. Our appetizer came late and the so called "squash casserole" was a squash mess and soupy. Also, they placed us at table 73 near the kitchen, awful, awful location for a table near the pick-up window and all the waitstaff congregated near our table to pickup orders. Yes, many movie stars and big wigs have eaten here, but it's not their endorsement. I reported it to the manager but all he could do was move our table back during our meal. They promote having good attitudes but not all staff seems to be smiling and friendly. Very disappointed, Sea Captain's in Myrtle Beach was far superior and service A++++++, the hushpuppies were even better.

    (2)

  • Michelle W.

    This was my third visit to Hyman's. Each time has been wonderful. This time, we had a coupon for a free crab dip, were treated to a free Wadmalaw Delight, and had an amazing lunch of crab cakes and shrimp and grits. Our server was attentive and kept our tea glasses full. I will definitely be back next time I visit Charleston.

    (5)

  • love lv f.

    I heard all the raves.... but then saw the reviews that were mediocre.. but my aunt had recently visited and loved the She-Crab Soup so I had to check it out. With the long wait, you knew it had to be good. We walked around the streets and came back to the bar and waited for our table. While in the bar we looked at the menu. Everything looked great, the descriptions of food had your mouth watering. But that's where it stopped. In our party of four.. we ordered the Gumbo, She-Crab soup and Potato Soup. Gumbo didn't have any large pieces of okra, lots of rice and bits of sausage. The shrimp was even diced. The She-Crab soup was a bland white roux with pieces of crab, small bits, but a lot of them. A little heavy handed on the salt, I thought the soup could have used a dash of sherry to bring out more flavor. The potato soup had the most flavor and was delicious. We ordered all appetizers because there were so many to choose from, you couldn't decide... I was looking forward to trying the Fried Green Tomatoes, I am going to have to try them again somewhere else, these appeared to have come out of a box frozen not sliced up fresh and fried. Steamed crab claws were great, but how could you go wrong.. Melted butter would have been great to have dipped them in.. Fried Oysters were GREAT.. so is there remolaude sauce. Boiled Shrimp.. looked a bit tired and were mushy and the Fried pickles.. ehhhh.. Not sure what the appeal is to this place.. but I can say that I have been there.

    (2)

  • Claire P.

    Oh my goodness! This is my favorite place to eat! Its in the heart of downtown Charleston Service is great people are so friendly! I had the basket of shrimp and hushpuppies all I can say is wow...I highly recommend this place!

    (5)

  • Mandi H.

    The food at Hymans was great... I enjoyed the personal touch that the owners gave, coming around to each table. We went in the middle of the day so there wasn't a wait!

    (4)

  • Bruno S.

    Very family friendly during late lunch times. There was no wait. The staff was very very friendly and the service was excellent. The atmosphere is great, good for family, friends, and big groups. It was loud but not too much, and just good enough to where everyone can carry on their on conversation without the other table hearing it. Had boiled peanuts there for the first time it was okay lol I prefer them non-boiled though. I had their fish n chips it was very lightly battered and you can really taste the fish which was great. Their hush puppies are so good y'all. My wife had the crab cakes and she says they were good and very filling. They have greeters/management come by the tables, they were very nice and treated the kids great, even gave them some free ice-cream. Overall a great place right in the heart of down-town. If you're down there you need to stop at Hyman's! A friend recommended this place to me and the reviews on Yelp were only 3 stars so we almost didn't go...but sure glad we did!

    (4)

  • Deanie B.

    Had the fried flounder. Unreal. The best. Great service. Very organized. Will go back.

    (4)

  • James T.

    I had an overall good experience, the atmosphere is to be as expected. The service was excellent! Jessica our server was right on time. My crispy flounder was dry on bland, everyone else had a good meal. With allof the great restaurants in Charleston, I would be hard pressed to return.

    (3)

  • Daniel G.

    Good food and very good service. Somewhat of a tourist trap, but still good food. We will definitely go back simply because of the wait staff hospitality. My wife and I went to dinner with our 2 year old and a new born (first mistake!) Both children lost it right after we ordered our food. The wait staff (and us) did everything we could to make the kids happy. We ended up getting our food to go and eating it on the hotel room floor... and it was still delicious.

    (4)

  • Deb E.

    Wow. That is all I can say. Come early to grasp the menus....both if the. Our waiter was terrific. Just terrific.

    (5)

  • D B.

    Food is good and lots of it. Excellent service. There are better seafood places, but this spot is truly unique.

    (4)

  • Nicole B.

    I was in Charleston for the day and stopped here for lunch. I had the most amazing crab cake sandwich. It was made with huge chunks of crab meat. Cooked perfectly. They have a Cajun mayonnaise sauce, so yummy, I put it on almost everything. I really love that they give you boiled peanuts when you sit down. I would recommend it to anyone who comes here to visit. Lovely place and such sweet servers. So helpful with explaining the menu. I will be stopping here every time I visit Charleston!

    (5)

  • Brent K.

    Service great - ask for Amy - fried green tomatoes and cheese grits superb! Going to try the Salmon medley soon. Good portion on the raw oysters. Manager came by and checked on us - nice. Thanks for the attention.

    (4)

  • Jane S.

    You must try this at least once while in Charleston. All items we tried were extremely tasty, without exception, and reasonably priced.

    (5)

  • C G.

    Crispy flounder is their specialty and a MUST TRY!! Good fried food.

    (4)

  • Dave K.

    The food at Hyman's is top notch. It's nice to travel in the South,and find a kosher meal. The place is well attended for those who do and don't keep kosher. The wait staff is first rate,and if your waitress happens to be Samantha,you will have a wonderful dining experience. Very professional,and a charmer. I wish the kosher menu could be larger,especially the deli menu. I will definitely return!

    (4)

  • Elizabeth H.

    This is my fifth year coming to Charleston for vacation and have been to Hyman's each visit. Today I had a late lunch of Carolina shrimp & cheese grits. Absolutely fabulous! The food was hot, plentiful, and as good as I remembered from a previous visit. However, I am only giving it 3 stars because the server left a lot to be desired. She seemed upset because I already knew what I wanted to order. She placed a small bowl of boiled peanuts on the table; I asked her to take them since I wouldn't eat them and she let out a deep sigh. She brought my food and did not come back until it was time to give me the check. When she returned my bill with the credit card slip, she was suddenly very nice and cheerful. That didn't get her a 20% tip which is what I typically leave. Sad... she dampened a good visit.

    (3)

  • HK M.

    This place is a Charleston tourist trap...seriously. The food is okay, but there is so much GREAT food in Charleston that this place shouldn't top your list as a must visit place. If you want fried seafood like this, go to Captain D's and save yourself the wait and money. cons: crowded, long wait, okay food pros: friendly staff, fried green tomatoes...if you do go here, you must get these, shop downstairs is fun for tourist

    (2)

  • Odie O.

    Started with gator nuggets, fried green tomato (thanks yelp for the f.g.t) po-boys with Amberjack, and one with calamari. Delicious, in budget. Chelsea was great. And Oral, who delivered our food was nice too.

    (5)

  • Tammy L.

    The most amazing thing is I don't eat grits and stopped ordering crab cakes, but Hyman's has an app that is on a grit cake this is a must try then my cousin kept telling me about the crab cakes so I ordered it and my mouth was so very impressed it has real lump crab meat and a lot of it so much that I could not tell how they held it together. The wait was only 30 min for a table for 4 and I am told that on weekdays there is no wait. Must try.......

    (5)

  • Stephen M.

    Haven't been here in several years and the food was just as good as I remembered. The hush puppies and fried shrimp are well worth the trip. On top of the great food, the service was excellent. Will definitely be back on my next trip to Charleston.

    (5)

  • tom j.

    Typical tourist trap. Not worth the wait in line. Over priced for what it is, and I doubt that anything is fresh. Resting on the laurels of the days of old.

    (2)

  • Bethany W.

    We go here every time we come to Charleston! Hushpuppies - ridiculous Mac and Cheese - heaven on earth Carolina Delight - salmon and grits - worth the 5 hour drive!

    (5)

  • Gary K.

    First of all, big KUDOS for having a YELP check-in offer... a FREE APPETIZER of fried green tomatoes. YAY!!! Never had them before, so FREE is always a great way to try something!! For my entree, I had the scallops, shrimp, and crab cake dinner with a side of coleslaw, hush puppies, and sweet potato souffle. All was just ok. Not much flavor... not sure if much seasoning is used... if any at all... My group was referred here from the hotel we were staying at.... I guess because we were from out of town, and they thought we would like an incredibly busy, touristy restaurant... The wait was about 45 minutes once our name was put in. You have to wait on the sidewalk outside... if it had been a warm summer day, it would have been miserable... well actually I wouldn't have waited. Once they call your party's name, they give you directions on where to go once you get inside... very confusing since the place is two stories had HUGE. Once we checked in upstairs and got to our table..... we waited forever before we were acknowledged by our server, but she did have a huge party of 15+ at the table next to us, so we understood. However, over the course of our meal, we never really had much service at all because of her big party. My water never did get refilled even after asking.... Oh well... I did understand how busy she was. However I do blame the management for not assisting her with her large and very busy section!! Hence the two stars... the food was just ok... had better... the service was.... ok... definitely had better.... I think this place is so popular as a tourist place in the old town district, that they make enough business on onetime customers, so they really don't care how good the food or service is... just my opinion based on my experience...

    (2)

  • Greg M.

    Sure, it's a bit kitschy, but the seafood is always fresh & good (love the mussels) and the service is outstanding.

    (4)

  • Shy A.

    Meh. I've experience better. That about sums up my visit here. I was suckered in by the free hush puppies at the door! Darn those hush puppies! They are so friggin good! We Sat @ same table as Neil Armstrong, Patti Labelle, The Beach Boys and Ruben Greenburg. We ordered: She crab soup-sweeter than clam chowder but better. HUGE chunks of crab which was a plus! We told our server we would be sharing the soup. She came back with the soup and only one spoon. LOL. WOW. Fried green tomato-definitely had better in my home town of Seattle @ Toulouse Petit. LOL. So much for authentic southern cooking. The problem wasn't the taste, it was the batter. It reminded me of the same batter you would use for onion rings. If I can remember, traditional fried green tom were all about seasoning the green tom, dipping in a buttermilk egg mix then using corn meal. Maybe I'm way off, but I really looked for the corn meal texture and was disappointed when I didn't get it. Crab and artichoke dip-seriously disappointing. Actually, it bordered the worst I've had anywhere. Shrimp and grits-got them traditional style. It was yummy; but you must be a grits fan to enjoy. The gravey was good as well. We drank Peach tea w/ firefly and charleston lemonade. Both highly recommended. I LOVED the spicy boiled peants on the table.wish they woud give you more than just a tiny bowl for the entire group :( The service was so-so. Our server wasn't very warm or hospitable but we saw other tables with friendly servers so maybe ours was just having an off day. But the true star to this meal were the hush puppies! YUM! Too bad they are not enough to make me want to return.

    (2)

  • Susy Y.

    Solid food, good service, a little touristy but all in all a good place for dinner with the family. The hush puppies are super yummy. The fried shrimp and the crab cakes are pretty good too. The pasta sauce isn't the greatest but then this isn't claiming to be an Italian gourmet restaurant.

    (4)

  • Chari M.

    Go for the shrimp n grits or the free fried green tomatoes! Stay as far away as you can from the fried clams n calamari! Tough and rubbery! Better at red lobster or even Howard Johnson! This place is a tourist trap deluxe! You should go to Hanks seafood just another block east and pricier but worth every penny!

    (1)

  • Franklin M.

    This place is VERY popular, with a long wait outside. I did not want to wait so I went next door to the express take out. We wanted to try out the soups so we ordered the she crab and potato soups. There are a couple of stool seats available so you can eat at the window and people watch at the same time.

    (4)

  • Jessica A.

    Yeah I know that everyone thinks Hyman's is nothing but a tourist trap but personally I have never had bad food here. Went thre Friday night for lent with the husband, Dad, and daughter. I had a 3 choice combo with scallops, Salmon, and Mussels. It cam with cole slaw (or you can upgrade for $2.50 more to a salad --- which I did) and a side (I chose a baked potato) The food was out quickly and was fresh and hot. My only beef? The manager got onto one of the waiters because he sat a group at a wrong table. If you need to do that, do it outside of the dining area next time.

    (4)

  • Patricia C.

    I came here during my birthday trip with the sole purpose of trying different foods at restaurants I discovered on Yelp. This was my first dinner in Charleston. It was only me dining so I decided to eat at a high table near bar. I was served pretty quickly. I ordered the Fried green tomatoes for my appetizer. They were decent but I have had some that were more flavorful. I ordered the fried shrimp with hush puppies for my entree. The shrimp was decent but I was expecting fresher shrimp. I grew up on seafood so I can taste the difference between fresh and frozen. The hush puppies were phenomenal! I could gave just eaten those all night. The service was great. One of the managers came over and checked on me which is always a nice touch. I was given a coupon or a free promo shirt for my birthday at their general store next door to the restaurant (dessert was an option but I was stuffed). This is a good place to try once in Charleston but I will probably not actively seek to eat here again my next trip here.

    (3)

  • AJ M.

    This as really good food and great service! Eat here if u get a chance! I recommend the fried shrimp and mahi mahi!

    (5)

  • Maddie O.

    Maybe I'm just used to the snarky attitude of off-duty actors that make up the majority of New York's restaurant industry, but Hyman's took "friendly service" to a new level. The two pretty girls outside beckoned us in with free hush puppies, and the smiling hostess led us to a table "Where Metallica once ate" according to the plaque. I was dead set on some Shrimp n' Grits, and being a Yankee in a foreign land, the sweetheart waitress wisely advised me to order an appetizer portion of "Carolina Style," and a side salad so I wouldn't die of a heart attack right there. I'm sure glad I opted for the smaller portion, as it is a VERY RICH dish, but I enjoyed every bite. The salad was chock full of fresh veggies and acted as a much needed palette cleanser. The Bloody Mary was one of the best I've had. Throughout our meal not one, but TWO managers came by to say hello and check in. Hyman's definitely delivered that southern hospitality that I've heard so much about!

    (4)

  • Heidi A.

    It was ok, I was more impressed with all the stars pictures on the walls that had eaten here. We had flounder, fries and coleslaw and a appetizer with fried green tomatoes . Probably would try someplace else next time, not memorable

    (3)

Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.

Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.

Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : No
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Lunch, Dinner
    Parking : Street
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : Yes
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Touristy
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : Full Bar
    Outdoor Seating : No
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : No
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : Yes

Hyman’s Seafood

Share with your social network

WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES

Looky Weed - Buy Marijuana Online

Looky Weed is here to help you navigate the maze of legalized marijuana. We provide you with a complete dispensary directory.

© 2024 Restaurant Listings. All rights reserved.