Highway 21 Seafood in Beaufort: Fresh Catch and Local Flavor
What Highway 21 Seafood offers
Highway 21 Seafood is a working seafood market in Beaufort that sells fresh fish, shrimp, and shellfish directly from local waters and regional suppliers. The market operates as a retail counter where you can buy individual portions or bulk quantities, and the staff can tell you what came in that day and how to cook it. The space also includes a small restaurant side where you can order prepared seafood to eat there or take home.
The market sits on Lady's Island, just off the main highway that connects Beaufort to Hunting Island State Park. Because it's a working market rather than a chain, what's available changes with the season and the catch—shrimp peaks in summer and fall, oysters are best in cooler months, and local flounder and grouper rotate through the year.
Key Takeaways
- Highway 21 Seafood sells fresh local and regional seafood at the counter, with availability that changes based on what's in season and what local boats bring in.
- The market includes a small restaurant where you can order cooked seafood to eat on-site or take with you.
- Staff can recommend how to prepare what you buy and often know the source of the catch.
- The location on Lady's Island makes it convenient if you're heading to or from Hunting Island State Park or exploring Beaufort's waterfront area.
The market counter and what to expect
When you walk in, you'll see the seafood displayed on ice behind a counter. The selection typically includes shrimp (white, brown, and sometimes rock shrimp), oysters, clams, crab, and whatever fish came in that morning or the day before. Prices are posted, and the staff will weigh and pack what you want. You can buy a pound of shrimp for a weeknight dinner or ten pounds for a gathering.
The market doesn't take advance orders in the traditional sense, but if you call ahead and ask what's in stock, they can tell you whether they have what you're looking for. If you're particular about size—say, large shrimp versus medium—mention that when you call or arrive, and they'll show you what matches.
The restaurant side and prepared seafood
Highway 21 also operates a small eat-in and takeout counter where you can order fried shrimp, fish sandwiches, crab cakes, and other prepared dishes. The menu leans toward classic Low Country seafood—nothing elaborate, but straightforward cooking that lets the freshness of the catch show. You can sit at a few tables inside or take your order to go.
This side of the business is useful if you want a quick meal without cooking, or if you want to try the seafood before you commit to buying raw fish or shrimp to prepare at home. The prices are reasonable for fresh seafood, and the portions are honest.
Seasonality and what to buy when
Beaufort's seafood seasons follow the water temperature and the commercial calendar. Summer and early fall bring peak shrimp season, when white shrimp are abundant and prices are at their lowest. Fall through winter is oyster season—the water is cold enough that oysters are at their best, and this is when you'll find the freshest local oysters on the half shell or for cooking.
Flounder and grouper are available much of the year but are most plentiful in spring and fall. Crab is available year-round, though the quality and price fluctuate. If you're not sure what's in season when you visit, the staff can point you toward what's freshest and best priced that day.
How to use Highway 21 Seafood in your meal planning
If you're cooking at home, Highway 21 is a place to buy ingredients rather than a prepared-meal service. You pick out your fish or shrimp, take it home, and cook it yourself. The staff can offer basic guidance—how long to cook shrimp, whether a fish fillet is better fried or baked—but they're not a cooking school.
For visitors to Beaufort, the market is a way to eat local seafood at a lower price than a restaurant charges, and to understand what's actually available in the area rather than what a menu curates for you. For locals, it's a regular stop for dinner ingredients and a way to support a working waterfront business.
Location and hours
Highway 21 Seafood is located on Lady's Island, on the main route between Beaufort and Hunting Island State Park. If you're exploring Beaufort's waterfront or heading to the beach, it's a natural stop. Hours vary seasonally and by day, so calling ahead or checking their current schedule before you visit is a good idea, especially if you're making a special trip.
Parking is available on-site, and the market is easy to find from the main road. It's not in downtown Beaufort proper, but it's close enough that you can combine a visit with other activities in the area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I buy just a small amount of shrimp or fish?
Yes. Highway 21 sells by the pound, and you can buy as little as a pound or two. There's no minimum purchase. If you're cooking for one or two people, you can get exactly what you need without waste.
Do they sell oysters on the half shell?
They sell fresh oysters that you can eat raw on the half shell if you ask, or take home to shuck yourself. During oyster season (fall and winter), they usually have them in stock. Call ahead if you want to be sure they have them the day you plan to visit.
What's the difference between white shrimp and brown shrimp?
White shrimp are milder and slightly sweeter, and they're the most common in Beaufort during summer. Brown shrimp have a richer, more pronounced shrimp flavor and are available in fall and winter. Both are good; it's a matter of taste. The staff can show you both if you're deciding.
Is the restaurant side full-service dining?
No, it's a counter operation. You order, pay, and either eat at a few tables inside or take your food with you. It's quick and casual, not a sit-down restaurant with a server.
Do they ship seafood or take mail orders?
Highway 21 is primarily a walk-in market. For current information about mail orders or shipping, call them directly—policies can change, and they're the best source for what they offer.