The Onslow Hushpuppy Trail (14 Great Places to Taste-Test, Enjoy, or Both)

If you think all hushpuppies taste the same, the Onslow Hushpuppy Trail in Eastern North Carolina would like to have a word. First, you might want to buckle up and slip on your stretchy pants!

This delicious trail will take you to restaurants across Jacksonville, Swansboro, Sneads Ferry, Holly Ridge, Hubert, and North Topsail Beach to tantalize your taste buds! 

Read More: Things to Do in Onslow County

What is a Hushpuppy? 

As you’ll find on the Onslow Hushpuppy Trail, hushpuppies come in different variations. They differ in shape, sweetness, and the dips you pair them with!

History of the Hushpuppy

Before anyone called them hushpuppies, a version of these fried cornmeal bites went by another name: Red Horse Bread. In the 1870s, Romeo Govan, a formerly enslaved man, became known for his fish fries along South Carolina’s Edisto River. He served red horse fish with a fried bread made from cornmeal, water, egg, and salt.

No one knows for sure how they became “hushpuppies.” The most popular legend says fishermen tossed bits of fried batter to their begging dogs and told them to “hush.” It’s a good story, even if nobody can prove it.

Like a lot of Southern food, the hushpuppy borrows from several traditions: cornmeal from Native American cooking, fried fritters like West Africa’s akara, and a name with English roots. For the full story, Onslow County Tourism’s History of Hushpuppies page goes into much more detail.

Onslow County’s Hushpuppy Connection

North Carolina has its own piece of hushpuppy history, right here in Onslow County. In 1948, Walter M. Thompson of Thompson’s Fireside, a fish camp near Swansboro, created one of the earliest commercial hushpuppy mixes that only needed water.

He packaged it in pasteboard tubes, sold it for 30 cents a can, and marketed it as “A delightfully different Southern hot bread.”

Hushpuppy Trail Tips

As someone who hit all 14 stops on the Onslow Hushpuppy Trail in 2-1/2 days, I highly recommend some of these tips!

Stretchy pants are also a requirement.

• Check hours 
• Ask whether the hushpuppies are complimentary or included with specific meals 
• Bring a big appetite 
• Consider splitting orders if you’re trying multiple stops

What we love about the Onslow Hushpuppy Trail is that all these restaurants are locally owned, and all the hushpuppies are fried to order and NEVER frozen!

Restaurants on the Onslow Hushpuppy Trail

Now, it’s time to feature the stars of this article: the Onslow Hushpuppy Trail restaurants!

Angie’s Family Restaurant 

Address: 233 S Marine Blvd, Jacksonville, NC 
Hushpuppy Shape: Round 

When we walked into Angie’s Family Restaurant, I immediately knew it was a place locals eat. Serving only breakfast and lunch, Angie’s is a Southern homestyle restaurant with friendly servers and freshly cooked meals.

It’s cash-only, though, so make sure to hit the ATM before you sit down for a meal. The hushpuppies are made with Atkinson hushpuppy mix and come with all of the daily specials and entrees.

Read More: Jacksonville Restaurants

Baker’s Restaurant

Address: 3257 Richlands Hwy, Jacksonville, NC 
Hushpuppy Shape: Round 

A little unassuming spot along the highway, Baker’s Restaurant serves up home-cooked comfort food. From delicious breakfast to what is probably one of the best dough burgers I’ve ever had, Baker’s is a no-frills spot for good, simple home cooking.

Every meal comes with a complimentary side of hushpuppies, so make sure to save some room!

Cajun Seafood

Address: 1133 Gum Branch Road, Jacksonville, NC
Phone Number: 910-219-8625
Hushpuppy Shape: Round 

Want to have a classic seafood boil with a side of hushpuppies along the trail?! Cajun Seafood is a locally owned restaurant in Jacksonville that serves fried and steamed seafood.

We really enjoyed their hushpuppies; they were on the sweeter side, with chunks of real corn mixed throughout.

Captain Bob Beck’s Marina Cafe

Address: 110 S Marine Blvd, Jacksonville, NC 
Hushpuppy Shape: Oblong 

Captain Bob Beck’s Marina Cafe, known to locals as Marina Cafe, is an amazing waterfront restaurant in Jacksonville and serves up some awesome hushpuppies!

Marina Cafe has a laid-back vibe, beautiful views of the water, and even a resident parrot. Locals love it!

As for the hushpuppies, they’ve been using the same tasty recipe for over 30 years, with a classic 60-year-old hushpuppy machine.

Make sure to add an order of crab dip to enjoy with your hushpuppies!

Helen’s Kitchen

Address: 2405 N Marine Blvd, Jacksonville, NC
Phone Number: 910-455-9882
Hushpuppy Shape: Oblong

Helen’s Kitchen is a local favorite that has been serving Southern comfort classics since 1980. They are known for their great customer service and serve breakfast and lunch!

Their hushpuppies use a special batter mix and come with daily lunch specials.

JoeDeddy’s Bar & Grill 

Address: 2421 Gum Branch Rd #500, Jacksonville, NC
Hushpuppy Shape: Round 

JoeDeddy’s Bar & Grill has a super-cool, lively atmosphere. With live music, karaoke, and AYCE oyster specials, this locally owned sports bar is one Jacksonville restaurant to keep on your radar.

The hushpuppies are crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and have a delicious mix of sweet corn and red onions. Not to pick any favorites… but JoeDeddy’s is near the top of my list for the Onslow Hushpuppy Trail!

Read More: Carolina Museum of the Marine in Jacksonville

Jordan’s Smokehouse & Seafood

Address: 129 Phillips Loop Rd, Swansboro, NC
Official Website
Hushpuppy Shape: Round

This little hidden gem in Swansboro is a local favorite! The family-owned restaurant serves oak-smoked pulled pork alongside other delicious specials and seafood classics.

Using the Atkinson “Sweet Betsy” hushpuppy mix, we highly recommend asking for some of their brown sugar cinnamon butter to dip those fried pillows of heaven in!  

Madison’s Prime Rib & Seafood

Address: 105 Sugar Ln, Sneads Ferry, NC
Hushpuppy Shape: Oblong 

I first met the owner of Madison’s early in the morning in front of his shrimp boat. We went out on the water and, for 2 hours, sorted shrimp and talked about what it takes to be a fisherman in North Carolina.

Later that day, after a much-needed shower, we met up at Madison’s where we could eat that freshly caught shrimp right off the buffet! The hushpuppies are traditional, made with Atkinson hushpuppy mix to order, and perfectly delicious dipped in butter.

Preston’s Corner Bar & Grill

Address: 106 N Front St, Swansboro, NC
Official Website
Hushpuppy Shape: Oblong 

In the heart of Downtown Swansboro is Preston’s Corner, a favorite for breakfast (weekends only), lunch, and dinner by locals. This coastal-inspired restaurant serves up delicious Southern fare with a great view of the water.

Their hushpuppies are made from a secret recipe and are on the sweeter side. Ask to sample some of their housemade sauces and dressings (like the orange poppyseed dressing!) to dip your hushpuppy in. 

Riverview Cafe 

Address: 119 Hall Pt Rd, Sneads Ferry, NC 
Hushpuppy Shape: Round

Riverview Cafe needs no introduction. This classic, well-loved riverfront seafood joint has served Sneads Ferry since 1946.

Known for its huge and incredible homemade desserts (don’t skip that lemon meringue pie!) and incredibly fresh seafood, this is a must-stop on the Onslow Hushpuppy Trail.

The hushpuppies are a Terwilliger family recipe, made fresh to order and even fried in a separate oil. We highly recommend a stop at Riverview and expect a wait, since locals and tourists alike love it!

Sandridge Diner 

Address: 578 Sand Ridge Rd, Hubert, NC
Hushpuppy Shape: Oblong 

If you find yourself out and about in Hubert, Sandridge Diner is a local favorite. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Sandridge Diner has it all on the menu!

But on Thursdays and Fridays, their housemade hushpuppies come complimentary with the daily dinner special. This is an especially great deal on Thursdays when they have barbecue!

Seaview Pier Restaurant

Address: 124 Fishing Pier Ln, North Topsail Beach, NC 
Hushpuppy Shape: Round

You really can’t argue with a meal with an ocean view! Seaview Pier Restaurant is the only place on the Onslow Hushpuppy Trail on Topsail Island, but you could argue the view can’t be beat!

This small, family-owned fishing bait shop and restaurant serves no-frills breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Order the hushpuppies as an appetizer or they come with a seafood combo platter.

Whatever you do, linger a little bit longer outside for that magical ocean view!

Read More: Things to Do on Topsail Island

Smoky Tony’s BBQ

Address: 511 US Hwy 17 N, Holly Ridge, NC
Official Website
Hushpuppy Shape: Oblong 

Brisket, baby back ribs, homemade cheesecakes, and banana pudding with a secret ingredient from Mexico! Pitmaster and owner Anthony Bowman learned Mexican Pit Barbacoa and then continued to learn techniques in California, Texas, South Carolina, North Carolina, Arizona, and even Utah.

The barbecue is out of this world, but so are the hushpuppies! It took Tony a year and a half to perfect his recipe, and we gotta say… the sweet-and-savory dough pillows were worth the wait!

Thig’s BBQ House 

Address: 1722 Catherine Lake Rd, Jacksonville, NC 
Official Website
Hushpuppy Shape: Round 

Smoking meat since 1989, Thig’s BBQ House is an Onslow County classic. Delicious barbecue, absolutely insane desserts, and friendly staff make this one of our favorite spots to eat in Jacksonville.

Their hushpuppies are on the sweeter side, and the batter is often described as similar to funnel cake. They make some great sauces, including Thig’s famous Swine Wine, which makes for an excellent dipping sauce for your hushpuppies!

Make Hushpuppies at Home!

Want to make your own hushpuppies at home? Here are some North Carolina brands of hushpuppy mix you can take home and try to make your own!

North Carolina hushpuppy mixes: 

• Atkinson Milling Company (Selma) is used by many restaurants for their “Sweet Betsy” mix and has been in the cornmeal business since 1757. 
• House-Autry Mills (Four Oaks) is a 200-year-old business that has made hushpuppy mix since 1950. 
• Southern Breeze Seafood (Jacksonville) has a gluten-free breader mix.

More Things to Do in Onslow County

Want to keep exploring Onslow County? Here are a few more of our NC travel guides to plan your trip!