Hudson's Seafood House On The Docks

Absolutely worth the wait! The seafood was incredibly fresh and full of flavor, easily some of the best we’ve had. It’s also dog-friendly, which was a huge plus for us. While the wait time was around 1 to 1.5 hours, they’ve made it easy to enjoy with a scenic spot to relax and take in the view, or grab a drink from the bar while you wait. Love their hush puppies! Great atmosphere, delicious food.

When I lived on the island for a few years back in the 90s, this is the place where all the Islanders would go to get away from the tourists. 30 years later. It is as good as it ever was. But it now appears the tourists have discovered it as well! Excellent food, excellent service, excellent atmosphere, on the water. Dollar for dollar, probably the best restaurant on the island! And no matter what you order for lunch or dinner, you must, without fail, start with fresh steamed shrimp and old bay from the oyster bar! 👍😋

Went out for dinner, highly recommended from multiple people in town. Willing to wait the 45-60 minutes, went to get a drink at the bar to help the time pass and seats opened up at the bar. Sat at the bar and had INCREDIBLE service from Jamie, Josh & Jack. Jamie & Josh had the best attitude and so attentive not just to us but everyone in line as well. The food was delicious as well! Understand why it's highly recommended. Will recommend as well!

Been wanting to try Hudson’s for a while now. So glad we did! Food and service were great! And you can’t beat the view! I had the shrimp burger and it was delicious! My wife enjoyed her beet salad with local mahi mahi. We will definitely be back next time we are in HHI.

Always a wonderful experience. We had an exceptional server on this visit. Her name was Erin. I had blackened flounder and my wife had wonderful Swordfish. We arrived at about 5:15 (a bit early) for dinner. We were promptly seated by a window with a great view. Generous drinks were served quickly. We had a chilled shrimp appetizer. They were locally caught and were delicious! All in all, great low country eating. We’ve been many times and will continue to return.

Hudson’s is a solid spot with a fun, lively atmosphere and some of the best views on the island. The hush puppies they bring to the table are always a highlight, and the fresh seafood is definitely the way to go – I’d skip most of the fried options, which can be hit or miss. Their pies for dessert are excellent! The outdoor waiting area is great (and necessary), since the wait can sometimes stretch to a couple of hours. The staff is always friendly and welcoming, which makes the experience even better. Worth a visit if you’re in Hilton Head!

I love their food, and eating outside by the water made my day it was under umbrellas with fans blowing, so it made it cooler, and being by the water, you had a nice breeze. The fried flounder sandwich had 3 big pieces to it. The gumbo soup was to die for. I had the bison burger that was huge. The service was fantastic. Never had to ask for a refill or anything. Our server was very attentive to us. Always right there refilling cokes. We even got glasses of water with lemon in them and didn't even have to ask for it. I definitely recommend this restaurant, and if you love seafood, it's a most definite place to go.

Outdoor seating is OK. Fried green tomatoes were great. Oysters were great. The crab cake sandwich was not so great. Don't like the choice of bread paired with it. It needs a little more flavor (sause added or something). The scallops were just ok. I would go again.

The food was great as well as the atmosphere! We dined at the bar and the bartenders were awesome! Will definitely eat here the next time in Hilton Head.

The atmosphere was great sitting outside enjoying the view. No complaints on the service which was awesome the waiter took great care of us I don't know if he owns the restaurant or is just great employee but the service was phenomena. Food was great for my wife and I would definitely recommen.

It was great! Borg was the BEST server and made our experience all the better!! Food was delicious as always and we all enjoyed our evening. Borg went above and beyond!

Hudson's Seafood House On The Docks in Hilton Head Island is a must-visit for seafood lovers. The restaurant's prime location right on the docks offers stunning water views that complement the delicious food. I enjoyed a delightful dinner at Hudson's with a group of coworkers. The seafood was incredibly fresh and cooked to perfection. I had the shrimp pasta with a side of hush puppies, and it was absolutely delicious. The hush puppies were crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, and the shrimp was perfectly seasoned. The service was friendly and attentive, and the atmosphere was relaxed and inviting. Whether you're celebrating a special occasion or just looking for a casual night out, Hudson's Seafood House On The Docks is a great choice.

2nd time visiting while in town. Staff is very friendly and cared for all of our needs. Wait can be long during peak hours so plan accordingly. Fried shrimp dinner - shrimp was lightly fried and very good. Fries were dry and hard like they had been sitting under the heat lamp for a while. Rice was dry and lacked flavor. Coconut shrimp - very good. Filet - very good, cooked perfectly with nice flavor. Oysters - very good. Better than what we had at Crazy Crab.

Perfect day for lunch at Hudson's Seafood. We come for the crab cakes, but the slaw, potato salad, French fries and hush puppies are all great. Service is always very good. Owner is often helping out to be sure all customers are happy. The marsh and creek views from the dock are beautiful. My wife and I vote Hudson's as best crab cakes on HHI. FYI - I grew up on the Chesapeake Bay so I know good crab cakes.

Tried a lot of food here, my favorite was the crab cake and coconut shrimp. The service was interesting, we sat in the bar so idk if that had something to do with it. We got the snapper special and it was ok dry, maybe a bit overcooked. The appys were good though and the local oysters were bussin. My recommendation is sit outside or inside but not the bar, order more apps less entrees. Don't leave without eating a crab cake or two.

Great spot for drinks or dinner with your fam. They offer both indoor and outdoor seating. There's a huge patio and seating area out on the water for beautiful views of the sunset. Get there early for a good table. If there's a wait you can sit in their Adirondack chairs and sip on some water while you wait. Love that their water cups are all recyclable! Cute cups for the kids too. Their menu is huge and has something for everyone. Spinach salad was delicious we really enjoyed the dressing. The crab cakes were my favorite all crab and no filler. Hush puppies were some of our favorites on the island. Most important skip all of the desserts and be sure or order the mud pie. You will not be disappointed. I'm giving them an extra star purely because our waitress not only had wet wipes for our hands, but a shout wipe for my husband's shirt!

I came here highly recommended by a friend, and it was amazing!! It was so packed that I was fortunate since I was by myself, and I got the last bar seat. Because I checked in with Yelp, I could use their coupon to get a draft beer! I also ordered a Bloody Mary, which was very watered down, so I didn't finish it, but the beer was good! I got the scallops, rice, and coleslaw. The scallops were delicious, but I didn't finish everything else since I was downing the hushpuppies with every meal. I would 100% come back for a drink and the views!

What a great place. Seeing the shrimp and fishing boats coming in. Doesn't get any fresher. Outside seating is beautiful. Very casual but expertly prepared dishes. Our server was great and recommended a few item which were a hit with us. Well done Hudson's staff!

I just this place Been there 6 times now over the last 5 years AMAZING THIS PLACE NEVER DISAPPOINTS!!!! Highly recommend everything Sit inside if you need AC OR outside for stellar views! Try their specials or go with your regular It's ALL good

Do not skip Hudson's during your HHI visit! This is hands down the best seafood spot on the island. They always have delicious catch of the day options--we got the swordfish and seafood pasta daily specials. Both were fabulous--flavorful but the fresh fish really shines through. The hush puppies are also to die for! Great cocktails as well. You really can't go wrong no matter what you have here. Service is excellent and food comes out fast and hot! The restaurant itself is super cute and overlooks the water, and there's plenty of outdoor seating. Really great spot to just grab drinks too! I'd plan to wait around 30 minutes to an hour at least for a table. But it's well worth the wait!

Came here at around 7 and was given an estimated wait time of an hour and 45 minutes. Me and the group of 7 I was with were pretty set on trying this place so we opened a tab at the bar and went by the water to take a few pics. I got the painkiller which was really good, as well as a margarita. When we were finally seated, we ordered the mussels and hush puppies to start. Both really good. Probably the best part of the meal. For my entree, I got the seafood pasta which was on the menu of daily specials. I confused this with the local seafood pasta which is also on the regular menu. The difference between the two didn't really make sense to me. Both seemed like the same thing, except the regular menu one came with Cole slaw, and a side. The "special" came with just the pasta itself and I ended up getting the rice a la cart. When the pasta came, it was underwhelming. A bit dry, only four pieces of mussels and a handful of shrimp. Overall, I'd come back for pre dinner drinks, and maybe some appetizers.

Hudson's is a go to if you're visiting Hilton head, have been coming here since I was a kid, and my dad was a kid. Fresh sea food, great view. Definitely should add some live music. Local IPA was good, calamari was nice, got a side of the bling bling sauce for it. Mom got the beet salad (the Star Wars lookin one) Sister got the Caesar, and dad got the gumbo with shrimp. All tasted good! Service was nice aswell, our guy knew the menu and everything about the fresh catches today, wanted to get to know us, props to him.

The wait for a table at Hudson's was made tolerable by the band, which played music from every decade. When the lead singer is a lady who can play a wicked harmonica, you know they are good. Our seating was on the dock next to Hudson's Shrimp boats. It was THE place to get a picture of yourself at sunset. So we were bumped a bit while people jostled for a space to take a picture. I ate their crab cakes, and there was more crab than cake. For a starter, I had oysters on the half-shell. They were blue point oysters but somewhat small in size. Mrs. K. had shrimp caught on the boat tied to the deck next to us. The captain needs to watch for slightly larger shrimp--The smallest shrimp I have seen in a long time. One thing I saw repeatedly was that when you were finished with a plate of food, they dumped what was on the plate into the water. How odd it is to be among today's ultra-environmental warriors. First, my oyster shells went into the water. Later, my french fries went into the water.

Came here on the 4th of July for lunch, since the place doesn't take reservations and it's always packed for dinner. It's not a fancy place, but there are great views and food is great! Still a lot of people at the restaurant for lunch but there is a lot of seating. It was nice to see the fishing boat parked almost adjacent to the restaurant, that the food is fresh and to know that if you go out fishing, the restaurant will cook it for you too! We split the she crab soup, it was tiny but delicious and just enough to taste it, which is just what we wanted. My daughter and I had the mahi tacos, which were great! I liked both the chipotle and salsa verde sauces. My husband had the blackened shrimp and he said it was delicious. Service was very good! I asked our waitress for a couple of extra lemons for when the food came out. We got an entire plate of lemons. Not the end of the world, just thought it was funny! We would come back if we're in Hilton Head again!

Good dockside seafood and great history to the restaurant. This has been a Hilton Head staple for many years. We went about midday (4pm) which is smart to beat the crowd. Although the facility is quite large and you can eat inside or out, they get very busy. Fresh seafood and fish straight from the source. Our server was super sweet, helpful, and made great recommendations. We were celebrating a birthday- you gotta get the chocolate cappuccino ice cream cake!

Good place. Beautiful area. The seating area is by a boat dock and has a relaxing coastal feel. The place is popular with locals. They do not take reservations and the wait was about 30 minutes for a 6 person table for dinner. They have a Yelp special - complimentary draft beer with check-in. I did that and got a cider which was a nice add to the evening. Food was pretty good. The fish is locally caught and preparation is simple. I had mine with potatoes and some vegetables. It was simple and good. Healthy, even. It's not Michelin star restaurant type cooking but what I tried was pretty basic and good. Service was great. Our waitress was very patient with us deciding what we want and all our dietary restrictions. She came by frequently to check on us as well. Very pleasant experience overall and I can understand why the place is so popular. I gave it a 4 and not 5 because I think they could do better making the actual dishes more original, but was happy with the visit regardless.

We were visiting my friends who live in SC and were looking for a spot with the right vibes, on the water with good drinks and Hudson's fit the bill! We ordered a few things to share: Oysters Rockefeller, coconut shrimp and fried calamari. Everything was so good! I also loved that they gave us hush puppies as a complimentary starter. For my entree I ordered the stuffed shrimp. To be honest it was smaller than I expected. I just thought stuff shrimp would be like a jumbo shrimp and they were very small. At least we had a lot of appetizers so I was fine. We also had the Skinny Margaritas which were good. We also decided to get them spicy with muddled jalapeños. Service was great and the views were perfect. You can definitely expect a wait even during the week, but it wasn't crazy. Maybe an hour. We just hung out by the bar in the mean time.

This place is amazing! Friendly service, incredible ambiance on the docks or inside, and great food! This is a must stop when you visit HHI! The stories that you read on the menu, that looks published like a paper, awesome touch!

This was far and away our best dining experience during our long weekend on Hilton Head Island both in terms of food and service. It's no wonder this place is an iconic mainstay of the area despite its "no frills" appearance. We were traveling with a large party of 11, and at many restaurants this seemed to (understandably) frazzle the staff. Our server at Hudson's, however, appeared completely unfazed and handled all of our needs with ease. When she delivered the (free!!!) hush puppies to our table, she asked if anyone had a shellfish allergy and I raised my hand. She said they were cooked in the same oil as shellfish, but generously offered to have a special batch made for me. Not wanting to be a bother, I declined, but she told me to let her know if I changed my mind. At the insistence of some other people at the table, I took her up on the offer. Usually restaurants won't even do that for paid items, so I was impressed that this was offered, and the hush puppies came out fresh and delicious. The vegetarian ravioli, which apparently changes regularly (the day's offering is shown on the specials menu), included mushrooms and a balsamic glaze on top. It was the best thing I've eaten on HHI and the portion size was generous. Though this was the only vegetarian entree offered, it is a seafood restaurant and it is a spectacular and well-crafted option, so I have no complaints. The side of garlic bread is a great compliment to the raviolis. This was a highlight of our trip and I can't wait to return next time I visit Hilton Head Island!

Great place for outdoor water front dining such as refreshing atmosphere. Servers were very attentive and energetic. The food was fresh and delicious such a welcome change of pace.

It's a little hard to find in that you have to drive through another restaurants parking lot to get to it. Keep looking, with it! Came for a shrimp po'boy. You can tell they are proud of their fish, the breading was so light you could see the shrimp through it . Their pride is not misplaced. Delicious. All the sandwiches come with hush puppies and 7 day slaw. Don't sleep on those hush puppies! Sale was unique and in a good way.

Authentic location. Exterior seating is over the water with fishing and other ships docked alongside it. Hudson's has first dibs on shrimp caught in the channel next door. Try it blackened; it's the best. Service was good. They offered four types of oysters, but our uneducated palettes could hardly tell the difference between them.

A beautiful setting on a very hot muggy day but subpar food. The waiter forgot our hush puppies and brought it after dinner. We sat outside and sometimes the umbrellas don't provide enough shade so we kept adjusting our chairs. Food portion size was huge but the baked roasted oysters were a big letdown. The crabs were already de shelled and had a good kick to it, scallops were nice and juicy.The seafood platter was probably better with different things to choose from. We ordered clams too at the end, as we were a bit hungry. Overall ok , a must go for the location and view but nothing stood out, a bit choppy service on busy days.

The food was not amazing. Of course seafood but it was mediocre. This restaurant is a gem mainly for its views and location near the water.

Used to be really good 5 yrs ago . Now its so busy that its just all tourists . The atmosphere outside has great setting but food is very bad .

The food was good ! The scenery was awesome . We went to the outside bar and ate ! So beautiful

My friends and I went down to Hilton Head because a few of them were running the half marathon. We went to Hudson's for dinner and it was exactly what we needed. We started out with peel and eat shrimp and calamari as there were too many good options to decide between for appetizers. After that I got the shrimp and grits that was topped with a gooooddd bbq sauce. Every bite was worth it, I'll tell you that. And the grits was so creamy! Another plus to our visit was taking a walk down the dock at the back of the restaurant! Highly recommend visiting :)

My husband and I were looking for some fresh caught fish and we found it here. We shared a special of swordfish with rice with black bean, corn salsa, and a most delicious sauce as well as an almond crusted catch of day which was Tile fish. Both fish were excellent. The hush puppies and 7 day slaw was also good. Pricey, but we expected that from fresh fish. Best meal on the island. Our service was prompt. Our wait was less than 15 minutes but we got there around 5pm on a Monday. There was a lot of people waiting when we left but there was plenty of tables and benches as well as entertainment. Options to eat inside or out. We chose inside as the sky looked iffy but would choose outside next time as it can get noisy inside.

A super busy restaurant right on the water- this came highly recommended and we were eager to try it. The wait: unless you come at like 4:30-5pm to eat dinner, there will likely be a wait. It's spring break so we expected it to be busy, but we showed up at 5:40 and already it was a 1 hour wait for 3 people. They do have a texting system / line tracker so you can see how much further you have to go. Of note, the outside seating is a separate wait from the inside seating so you have to decide up front where you want to sit. There is a bar that we were able to snag some seats at and eat an appetizer since our hangry toddler was not going to make it to our seating. Their local shrimps are so tasty! We tried their soft shell crab since it was in season - it is very filling/rich and in hindsight we each could've eaten one instead of ordering ourselves 2. Our kiddo loved their shrimp meal and kudos to the staff for prioritizing the kids meal to come out ASAP. The she crab soup is amazing and rich full of crab. This was probably my favorite of the entire meal. Hush puppies were complimentary. The coleslaw does have mustard in it so if you're not a fan, this may not be the coleslaw for you. Austin was a great server quick and attentive. There are many families eating here and they have plenty of high chairs. The ladies room has a large counter that you could change a diaper on if you had to. Overall it was great, just wish the wait wasn't so long!

The view is absolutely beautiful. The food was amazing hands down the crab cakes were full of crab so delicious. The service was amazing he was funny and was honest with his recommendations. I will definitely be back here.

Very welcoming staff. Our waiter Greg was fabulous. He knew everything about the different kinds of fish. He was quick with a beer and very friendly. The crab cake was amazing. It was so amazing we ate it before I thought to take a pic. Great dockside atmosphere and amazing food.

Cool spot on the water. The folks who sat us gave us a table right next to the docks where fishing charters come in from a day of fishing. Our server Geoffrey was friendly & helpful with our selections as well as some recommendations, I.e in lieu of cod for the fish 'n chips he recommended the fresh flounder). It was excellent! The shrimp cocktail as an appetizer was cold and cooked perfectly. The setting definitely sells the mood and is well worth driving to experience.

The best meal I've ever had in Hilton Head. I ordered the Blackened Grouper and it was phenomenal. When we got to the restaurant, the wait was ~45 minutes. We went to the bar on the dock and were able to order some hush puppies - they are small and addicting. We only had to wait 30 minutes for our table and were sat where we could see sunset! Great views but do recommend bringing bug spray as you are by the water. The service was great and the food was even better. Highly recommend this restaurant but know the parking isn't the best. If you drive down and there is not a spot, it is difficult to then turn around.

Our favorite seafood from the weekend! Love the vibes and the food. Service was great both times! Prices are very reasonable. Love that they catch their own food. Fried shrimp! Blackened grouper! Crab cake sandwich! I don't think you can go wrong with whatever you order.

Really fantastic experience. Service and atmosphere were great. The crab cake sandwich is unbelievable, I would recommend to anyone.

One of our favorite restaurants in HHI. The coconut shrimp was awesome. The fresh flounder and crab cake is always good. Nice place for kids who enjoyed grilled cheese and chicken tenders with fries. FYI, No reservations taken.

Absolutely fantastic all around! Beautiful views, friendly service and amazing food, all in one! Our party of 6 was seated outdoors after ~45 min wait and enjoyed a nice view of Skull Creek. Our server was excellent, ensuring that we were welcomed, had a good idea of what she enjoyed on the menu, were aware of the specials, and always had plenty to drink. The meals were top notch and among the best we've enjoyed on HHI. One had a shrimp and crab cake combo, another a blackened grouper atop creamy grits with wilted spinach and a lovely sauce, another the risotto with corn cream topped with blackened grouper - excellent!, another enjoyed the shrimp and grits, and the final two raved about fried flounder. The night we joined, they had a film crew taking footage for the New York Times. Such a perfect evening with a delicious food! We look forward to the next visit!

Seafood doesn't get any fresher and for a little on the water local seafood joint their preparation is very chef inspired and always interesting. It's a very busy place and they take no reservations so be prepared for a wait. It's always quicker during peak season to get a table indoors but the view seated on the dock adds a lot to the experience. They start you off with hush puppies, which will not disappoint. There's always fresh catch options to ponder and I find their pricing to be quite fair on the day's selections. I recently had fresh caught blackened red snapper that came with mango salsa served over rice and beans on a bed of spinach with local stewed tomatoes on the side. The photo attached is that dish. Amazing is the best word to describe this and I'd get that again in a heartbeat. We had quite a wait for a table while dining with some friends recently and all got margaritas at the bar while we waited. I recommend those, too.

Hudson's gets a lot of publicity. We really liked it but liked Crazy Crabs in Harbourtown and Fishcamp at Broadcreek better. This is a must if you are in Hilton Head for a week. We went on Wednesday night at 5:00 and walked straight in. Usually 1.5-2 hour wait.

We had a great experience, food, drinks, service. And then the bill came. $44 for two crab cakes? They were good and meaty, but..... The Coco Lemonade was the best! And those hush puppies!! Yum.

Service was great but unfortunately the food standards are subpar. The hush puppies seem massed produced, the shrimp cocktail was warm and the cocktail sauce was room temperature in a squeeze bottle at the table, along with the tartar sauce - imagine warm tartar sauce...

Great location on the dock. Food was excellent. Got of couple signature drink and they were okay. A little watered down. Natalie was a wonderful help going thru the menu and making a choice.

Food, service, and ambiance! Triple check all the boxes!! There's a reason they have been here forever!

This place was great. The wait was quite long but I was prepared for that and I knew that going in. There was Music playing and it was not an issue passing time until our table was ready. Every dish we had was delicious this place was on their A game last night! Highly recommend this place it's worth the wait.

When you live "in the middle" you want to take advantage of when you're at the sea! Fresh seafood is awesome and there's none better in the Carolinas than Hudson's. Fresh and hot - comes right off the boats at the dock - best of the best and then prepared for us freshly. The folks are friendly - time after time. The place is clean as a whistle and comfortable for any occasion.

Great Food - weather and service was awesome. Always a long wait but it's worth it. Must go place when in HHI...

Hudsons never disappoints!! Atmosphere was great, had the Clam Chowder, Shrimo and grits, She Crab soup, and the Special pasta dish, all were very good. Only complaint was the steamed oysters were very small.