Hushpuppy Trail

Made fresh, served with butter and fried in separate oil, the hushpuppies at Riverview Café are extra special. The recipe is a Terwilliger family recipe that has been passed down since the restaurant opened in 1946. While much has changed since this boomtown era restaurant opened, the food has not. Shrimp and oysters are still some of their most popular dishes and the hushpuppies are still hand-mixed and fried in their own oil.

For savory hushpuppy lovers, these are just right: round, salty and crisp without any onions. A Riverview tradition, the hushpuppies come free with each meal and you can opt to buy a doggy bag to take home for later.

119 Hall Point Rd, Sneads Ferry, NC 28460
Riverview Cafe Information

These mid-size hushpuppies are slightly sweet with batter similar to funnel cakes: sugar, flour, salt and special seasoning. Only one person in the Thig’s Kitchen makes these puppies and they are served with each meal as an appetizer. You can dip them in the Thig’s famous swine wine, cinnamon butter (by request) or whipped butter on the table.

1722 Catherine Lake Road, Jacksonville, NC 28540
Thig’s BBQ Info

Fishmonger’s Honest Seafood

The oblong hushpuppies at Fishmonger’s including onion making them more savory. They are served as an appetizer or come with Carolina fish plates. Using the Bellshawl machine to give them their shape and fry in tallow to give it flavor. You can dip them in special honey butter or request a hot honey sauce.

756 East Ocean Rd, Holly Ridge, NC 28445
Fishmonger’s Honest Seafood Info

Perfectly paired with seafood platters or the coconut shrimp, the hushpuppies at Preston’s are made with a secret recipe that’s on the sweeter side. They are rolled traditional style and made with cornmeal. Pair with the house-made orange poppyseed dressing for a little tang, or with honey butter. These puppies also go great with the fried flounder or shrimp platter!

106 N. Front Street, Swansboro, NC 28584
Preston’s Corner Info

Meet Smoky Tony’s original hushpuppies—the perfect snack to fuel your trail adventure! It took a year and a half to nail down this secret recipe of sweet and savory cornmeal and real butter. Every batch is made fresh to order, dropped into the fryer using a donut-style machine that shapes them into perfect, oblong fritters. Enjoy them as an appetizer, pair them with a classic BBQ sandwich, and mix your own dipping sauces.

511 A US-Hwy 17, Holly Ridge, NC 28445
Smoky Tony’s Website

Jordan’s Smokehouse and Seafood serves perfectly round hushpuppies. Crafted with premium Sweet Betsy hushpuppy mix from Atkinson Milling Company, the batter features a savory touch of onion mixed right in.They are served complimentary or with meals, and you can pair them with delicious dipping options like plain butter, sweet brown sugar cinnamon butter, or their homemade tartar sauce. While they go great with anything, these hushpuppies taste best with a shrimp or flounder dish.

129 Phillips Loop Road, Swansboro, NC 28584
Jordan’s Info

At Baker’s Restaurant in Jacksonville, every meal order comes with a complimentary side of their signature hushpuppies. Typically round in shape, these deep-fried cornmeal treats are made using the local Atkinson cornmeal mix. They are served hot alongside whipped butter, making them a staple accompaniment to the restaurant’s classic Southern menu.

3257 Richlands Hwy, Jacksonville, NC 28540
Baker’s Info

Caino’s hushpuppies are delicious, oblong-shaped cornmeal treats that come served alongside their barbecue and seafood dinners, though you can also add them to any meal. They are made using Atkinson’s Sweet Betsy mix blended with onions, giving them a perfect touch of sweetness and flavor. When you order them, they come served with your choice of butter packets or tartar sauce for dipping.

249 Shell Rock Landing Rd, Hubert, NC 28539
Caino’s Info

Seaview Restaurant hushpuppies are round and made fresh every day. You can get them as an appetizer or eat them alongside a big 2- or 3-seafood combo platter. Just make sure you dip them in butter or their po’ boy sauce. They are so good that even Alex, who works at the restaurant, can’t get enough of them and always tries to snag a side order during her shift.

124 Fishing Pier Ln, North Topsail Beach, NC 28460
Seaview Info

Marina Cafe’s hushpuppies are oblong delights with a hint of onion. The secret? Marina Cafe has been using the exact same recipe and a 60-year-old hushpuppy machine for over three decades! They use Atkinson flour (a brand around since 1757), a technique passed down from Ray Wheeler, “the cornbread man.” Order them as an appetizer or alongside a seafood platter, slather them in butter, honey, or garlic butter, and taste 30 years of local history!

110 S. Marine Blvd., Jacksonville, NC 28540
Marina Cafe Info

Distinctly oblong in shape, these crispy treats are made using local Atkinson hushpuppy mix for that perfect traditional flavor. You can enjoy them as part of the buffet or order them as a side option. They pair amazingly well with seafood favorites like shrimp and flounder, and they come served with your choice of honey mustard or classic butter packets for dipping.

105 Sugar Ln, Sneads Ferry, NC 28460
Madison’s Info

JoeDeddy’s signature hushpuppies are made from a house recipe and cooked into a round shape. They are crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and can be dipped in melted butter. You can enjoy them as a starter appetizer or as a side dish with your meal—especially alongside our seafood entrees.

2421 Gum Branch Rd #500, Jacksonville, NC 28540

Sandridge hushpuppies are oblong-shaped and made with Atkinson hushpuppy mix. They are the perfect addition to any seafood plate, especially their shrimp platters. You can also order them as a standalone appetizer. If you drop in for dinner on Thursday or Friday evenings, a basket of these hushpuppies is served complimentary to your table, making them the perfect pairing for their special Thursday night barbecue.

578 Sand Ridge Rd #1, Hubert, NC 28539

Cajun Seafood’s round hushpuppies are made with a special ingredient: real corn, which gives them a delicious flavor and a hint of sweetness. They are so good they are delicious all by themselves, but they taste great with a little butter, too. You can order them as an appetizer to start your meal, or enjoy them as a side dish with your seafood entree.

1133 Gum Branch Rd, Jacksonville, NC 28540

These oblong-shaped hushpuppies are made from a special batter mix. The hushpuppies come included with the lunch specials and are served with simple butter packets for dipping.

2405 N Marine Blvd B, Jacksonville, NC 28546
Helen’s Info