Chow Daddy's - the name would suggest an old school barbeque joint or maybe a diner; but it is neither. Hilton Head Island has seen some changes in food offerings in the last decade, but fresh and new American fusion isn't common. Enter Chow Daddy's. With two locations (the other in Bluffton) we hit this one on Hilton Head. It's a risky place to put a restaurant, buried in the back plaza of a nondescript but high-end shopping center deeeep in the wooded neighborhoods of the island's Southern tip. If you're staying elsewhere on the island, you'll find you have to pay a small fee to access Sea Pines but many people do to get to the Salty Dog Cafe as well. While it may not get a lot of visibility, it is definitely worth seeking out for the very good Latin American cuisine being offered. Out party of five arrived on an August Friday evening after making reservations and were impressed with the cleanliness and upscale minimalist vibe. Dark booths and Edison-style lighting are offset by the daylight let in by picture windows. There is outside seating in the patio (very pleasant in the shade) and a small bar open off the host area. Inside seating is large enough for bigger parties of 6-8. Definitely not a post-beach day place, but perfect for date night, or more dressy family dinner out. Service was quick and talkative; we enjoy chatting beyond food with out severs which makes the experience even better. Apps and mains were delivered quickly with good presentation. We started with the fine fresh corn dip - extra tortillas were helpful to get the last bits. Mains included a fresh and well pattied cheesburger, mix-n-match tacos and two specialty bowls - cajun shrimp with spicy fine fat prawns and an Ahi-tuna poke style bowl. The rice in both was excellent and the portions were perfect. I'll try to un-hide this hidden star with this review and encourage you to seek it out if you live on "HHi" or make your next visit. Rare 5 star from us. read more

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Maaaaan, I came here YEARS ago (try almost 11, if my photo on FB is to be believed) before I was Yelping regularly, but I saw this restaurant pop up on a Yelp list I was reading the other day and it unlocked the deeply-buried memory of my visit here and I thought...might as well chronicle that memory with a quick review! I came here with a bunch of friends from my undergraduate research lab while we were in Hilton Head presenting at a conference. We had rented a condo to all stay together and this place was in walking distance, so we headed over. I don't remember what all everyone else got to eat, or much about the service, but I do remember it was a total vibe. Beachy decorations that were fun but still classy and not too kitschy, warm lighting, good music. I ordered an item probably not even on their menu anymore: pulled barbeque chicken on a hunk of spicy cornbread with a side salad. I checked online and it's nowhere to be found, but it slapped at the time, and from pictures it seems like you can still maybe order their spicy cornbread at least, which was the best part! It had a great cakey texture and some legit heat. The chicken was succulent and tender and the smokiness paired well with the salad. It seems Chow Daddy's enjoyed a decade of success after my visit so long ago. I hope the temporary closure listed on the Yelp page doesn't turn into a permanent one. It was a pleasant surprise to be reminded of this visit and my time with friends. read more

Chow Daddy's - Pulled barbeque chicken on spicy cornbread - New American Near Me - Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

Service was great. The burger? Just okay. Not much flavor in the meat. The mushrooms were good, but with all the arugula on the burger, they were mostly on the side of the plate. Adding caramelized onions didn't really help, but I did dip it in ranch and that helped the flavor. I came here before and the food was good, so maybe an off day today. A large party was inside with us. There was good music playing in the restaurant and we all ended up participating in a singalong. read more

Chow Daddy's - Mushroom burger - New American Near Me - Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

Came in looking for dessert and they only have one thing...an ice cream cookie sandwich filled with Haagen dazs vanilla ice cream. We ordered it and 2 cups of coffee. Coffee was dark and strong; very good. Ice cream sandwich was excellent! Small establishment with modern cozy seating, big flavors and great service. read more

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Very nice cozy atmosphere, great service with friendly waiters, and the food is AMAZING! My go to is the avocado salad with pulled chicken, and I could eat it every day! read more

Chow Daddy's - Avocado Salad with pulled chicken - New American Near Me - Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

Walked right in and was seated, drinks and appetizers served quickly and the meal exceeded our expectations. Chef used fresh ingredients and the fish bowl had lots of different flavors that blended perfectly. Truly a hidden gem of HHI read more

Chow Daddy's - Fish Bowl - New American Near Me - Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

Ambiance great! Very nice restaurant. Strip mall location but still nice. Noah (5 stars for him!) was an excellent server. I would give the restaurant 3.5 stars but not an option. The food is average and like something you'd get at an Applebees. Not bad and fresh and okay, but nothing special. We also ordered the cheese dip that was supposed to have Gouda. Pretty much just white cheese. Not bad but nothing special. The corn bread was probably the best thing of the meal. Nice bar atmosphere. May go back just to grab a drink. Too many great places in HH for food. Sorry CD food quality just not there. read more

We were in town for a short off season vacation and curious about CD because of the solid reviews. The restaurant is on the smaller side but the ambience is nice and conducive to good interaction. As nice as our server was, it was distracting as we had to ask for multiple items and felt like we had to be super on top of what was going on. Again, being the off season. I'm wondering if they were short staffed. The food itself was solid but expensive for what you got. Each taco was $7.50-$9,50. And even though they were a bit larger than the typical Mexican food truck taco, I wasn't expecting to spend $30 on a taco entree with no sides. Added a chopped salad to make it a filling meal. Again food was good but it feels flat for us overall. read more

Chow Daddy's - Chopped Salad - New American Near Me - Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

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The service, food, atmosphere and location was great. You do have to pay admission ($9) to get to the area but it is great if you are coming to the lighthouse, etc. read more

Chow Daddy's - New American Near Me - Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

Food was good, service was very nice and I loved the light fixtures. Very cool vibe. It's definitely a good solid meal to keep patrons coming back. read more

This is exactly how we could have wanted to end our Hilton Head vacation - this was like quintessential summer evening. Chow Daddy's feels like someone's backyard - there are a couple ping pong tables, some high tops with a wooden fence surrounding them. It's super homey. We started with the cornbread. It must have been fried. It was really moist and at the same time had this crisp exterior. I mean maybe it was baked, but damn it was good and it came with this awesome chipotle aioli. We then got some tacos. At most you need two tacos and depending on apps/drinks you might be able to get away with just having one taco. The tacos are huge. They're really good too. One major downside: there were a ton of mosquitos. Seriously, a ton, I got eaten alive. There should be like 4 of those citronella candles to repel mosquitos on every table. read more

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The food was great and the service was even better I think if you're at HHI it's a must visit!!

I have heard the hype about this place, but I have never made it until now. Very good food, drinks and service! I ordered the Mahi bowl and all of the flavors complimented one another. Grilled wild caught mahi, basmati rice, green slaw, salsa verde, homemade pickled peppers, fresh corn salsa, black bean salsa. Delicious! read more

Chow Daddy's - Mahi bowl - New American Near Me - Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

Um, yes. A million times yes. First of all, I just need to say Chow Daddy's cornbread is the best cornbread I've ever had, and I'm not even the biggest fan of cornbread. I need an unlimited supply of their cornbread shipped home, monthly. Thanks. My partner eats more burgers than anyone I know, and he said that his burger at Chow Daddy's was "one of the best burgers" he's ever tried. I can also say the same about my chicken sandwich. It was absolutely out of this world. The food at Chow Daddy's was incredible and we can't wait to dine here again during our next visit to HHI. The service was also top-notch. The perfect dining experience! read more

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Chow Daddy's is furthest I have ventured out on the island. Not that 15 minutes further makes a real difference but it is just in an area I have not been before. I am glad I made the trip as I had a chance to see some interesting things along the way and the food experience at the place made everything worthwhile. The Pork Nachos -- Poblano queso, fresh corn, smoked pork, cilantro, house-pickled peppers, were amazing! Great presentation and done in a way that was fresh departure for a somewhat usual menu item. For the main course I had the Spicy Fish -- Grilled with Cajun spices, lemon garlic butter. I was told it was a blacked cod which seemed about right. The bowl was great but I wish I had a head's up on the Cilantro as I would have asked to have it without it. The only ding I would give the place is what seems to be a bad combination of hard to read menus in extremely dim lighting. I almost NEVER use a phone light to read in a restaurant but I would not have been able to get by here without it. I also say someone across the way probably a 1/4 of my age having to do the same thing so it is a real problem. Otherwise the food is great and it would certainly be a place to return to on a trip back into this area. read more

Chow Daddy's - Pork Nachos - New American Near Me - Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

great casual dining in Sea Pines Center very good small plate Mexican food our bartender, Xiaoling, was really good-friendly and welcoming with lots of knowledge of Hilton Head indoor and outdoor seating read more

My friend and I came in here for dinner on a Saturday evening. We got here pretty early, and the place was fairly empty. The service was very quick. We both ordered burgers and fries which really hit the spot! read more

Chow Daddy's - Burger - New American Near Me - Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

Great food and great service! Xinoling was our server and was fantastic! Will be back again!

Super, super excellent. We love Hilton Head and had never been here before. We came to celebrate my dad's birthday and it did not disappoint whatsoever! We opted to eat outside. They have a very pretty patio and very effective heat lamps by each table. We started with the black bean dip and corn bread appetizers. Both of these were delicious--very good and balanced flavor wise. For entrees, we ordered the fried chicken bun, the chow daddy's burger, the cotija burger, and the spicy fish hot bowl. No one would let me try a bit of their meal because they were all so good. I'm going to be dreaming about and drooling over that chicken sandwich for a while. The chicken sandwich was so juicy and nicely seasoned. I'm trying to be ~healthy~ and I ordered bacon brussel sprouts instead of fries. I wish these had been a bit crispier, but I still ate them and enjoyed them thoroughly. We had a great experience here and I cannot recommend this place enough! read more

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Visited Chow Daddy's in their new location in Sea Pines several times this January during our month in HH, and it was one of our favorites! Every time I went in I was shocked it wasn't more busy. My 1st visit I had the avocado salad with grilled shrimp- everything was so fresh and flavorful. This last visit I got the grilled shrimp taco and lobster taco and they were fantastic too. Their guacamole and chips also made for a fan favorite appetizer with our group. Sea Pines location is smaller and more intimate than the old location on the island- I hope that it sticks around! read more

Chow Daddy's - Nachos - New American Near Me - Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

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Excellent food and top notch service! Our server was working the restaurant floor and bar by himself. He didn't seem flustered, was extremely personable, and we didn't feel any lack of service, even though there were several tables with customers and a couple at the bar. The food was excellent, and the sangria was the best I have had in a long time! read more

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Great wait staff and food was delicious! Burger was cooked to perfection. Convenient location for biking to and from...

Okay, so we've been eating here for years and honestly, I just can't figure out why it's not always packed? I'm not complaining, but the food is excellent - always top quality and the service friendly too. I just think it's a well-kept secret, or perhaps it's because there are multiple locations in the area. We always try to sit outside. If you're waiting with kids, there's a couple of ping pong tables to keep them occupied. There's nice lighting for the mood, but wow would this place be incredible if there was some live music, maybe acoustic guitar. We have never had luck making reservations online, so it's just easiest to call when they open to make a reservation. That's what we always do. Okay, for the food. We loved everything we had which included: Appetizers: Cornbread (served with the most amazing chipotle aioli) - This is seriously so good - just get it. Nachos with chicken (you can opt for pork, but we went chicken). They are served over saratoga chips. Dinner: My husband and I split a Chow Daddy's burger (as is) with shoestring fries. I'm so glad we had leftover chipotle aioli to dip those fries in. YUM! Pork taco and fried fish taco - not one drop left behind and both were rated excellent. Fried Chicken Bun - they are know for this item and you'll see it mentioned in a lot of reviews. There's a reason for that - it's really, really good. Finally, there's a decent selection of craft beers (check the bar, don't just look at the menu because I saw Palmetto Amber at the bar but it was not listed on the menu. The wine selection is quite balanced as well. This place will be on the list and always be a spot I recommend to friends who visit - small groups and large as well. read more

Food was great. We had the nachos, mahi bowl, ice cream sandwich, and a few rounds of margs :) Our server, Kaitlyn, was super fun and knowledgeable of the menu. My wife and I agreed that the ice cream sandwich was our all time favorite and had the perfect cookie/ice cream ratio! read more

Chow Daddy's - Ice Cream Sandwiches - New American Near Me - Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

Grilled Mahi Bowl The Mahi tasted really good. The staff was awesome. I would highly recommend this dish read more

Chow Daddy's - Grilled Mahi Bowl grilled mahi, lemon garlic butter, basmati rice, green slaw - New American Near Me - Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

The food was really good but seemed over priced. Service was great. We did love the ambiance inside. We feel we will keep this place on our list to go back. read more

Food was fantastic and service was very good as well. The pictures from Google do not correspond to this location

Had a reservation.. got sat immediately... and then waited.. and waited.. Multiple waiters passed us by. Not a single word. Waited 15 minutes and I had to go back up front to ask if we had a waiter. Still nothing - then one waiter came up and finally asked if we needed something and told him we were sitting for awhile and he paused and said we are really busy. There are a bunch of open tables. Hmmmm. Poblano queso appetizer was very good. 4.5 out of 5 for me. So I had the tuna taco, grilled mahi taco and the pork taco and they were all phenomenal.. and popping w flavor. I can't say enough good about these tacos. A total 5 out of 5. The chicken bun was spectacular as well. 5 out of 5. The grilled mahi bowl was kinda plain. 3 out of 5. The pork sandwich was really good. The bun was soaked in bbq sauce. 4 out of 5. So overall based on the food I'd say it's a must eat at. However if the service stays this way, it won't last no matter how good the food is. We even spoke to a manager who apologized but did nothing for us at all. Two tables we ordered before and had bigger parties had their food come out before ours. Frustrating to say the least. The entire service experience ruined what should be a phenomenal meal. Service is a 0 out of 5. Food overall is a 4.5 out of 5. read more

Best nachos we have ever had-- sweet chili sauce was phenomenal! Enough to share! Great service! Only neg-- it was FREEZING inside restaurant. read more

Good but pricey. We enjoyed the ambiance and the food was okay but service was slow. I wish it was better. read more

Amazing service, high quality food, drinks on point, atmosphere was amazing. Best of all the staff is so polite and courteous, especially Renzo. read more

Chow Daddy's - New American Near Me - Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

This is our Go-to spot in Hilton Head for in-person or take out. Food is amazing every time and service is always friendly and fast. Shrimp bowl is a favorite as is the fried chicken. Casual low country atmosphere with excellent food and people - we love it! read more

This is the worst place to eat at in all of HHI. I didn't even have to get inside to know how my experience would go. We showed up and were told it would be a 20 minute wait which we were fine with, and then we were notified that we were up next. We went to the front and were told that our table was given to a different family because "they thought it was us" even though we had a different name and had no similarities whatsoever. We asked if we could still be next to get a table and they told us to go screw ourselves essentially. They said we can if we want and that they "can't guarantee anything." Worst experience and then when we confronted them and talked to someone who knew what was going on, they acted like they couldn't remember what happened. Bum service and bum night. read more

Overall this place has good food, fast service, and was less expensive than many of our other dinners in HHI! Shareable: -cornbread: 8.5/10 the creamy chipotle sauce to dip the cornbread in was delish -poblano queso: 7.5/10 the queso was pretty good, but would prefer it to be served with tortilla chips instead of potato chips Food: -fried chicken taco: 9/10 sooo good!!! -fried fish taco: 8/10 -Smoked pork taco 9/10 great!! -steak bun w sweet potato fries: 8/10 -fried chicken bun: 8.5/10 Drinks -chowrita: tasted too much like orange juice for us read more

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Food presentation, taste and service was impeccable. Will definitely make this a regular stop when in Hilton Head.

First lunch in HH, and it didn't disappoint. It was a rainy day in November, so the crowd was light. We sat at the bar and were helped by a super friendly bartender. I ordered the pork tacos. They were huge and so flavorful. The greens added a nice freshness. Bf had the bacon & cheddar burger which was deeeelish (recommended by both bartenders). They let him mix regular and sweet potato fries since it was his bday; both were tasty, I couldn't stop eating them. read more

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The service was amazing the best I have ever had in my life the food taste like Gordon Ramsay everyone should cum to chow daddy's and the daddy's need to bring their families read more

Delicious. One of the best meals we have had down here and that's saying a lot. Tasty tacos. We had the fish, spicy shrimp, and steak and all were great. Also had a pulled chicken bowl which was tasty. Awesome coleslaw. Great service. And nice clean atmosphere. Highly recommend. read more

It was ok. Was pretty excited after looking at the menu. Service was good, and we were seated promptly. But food was so so. My husband loved the fried chicken bun and ordered a side of fries, only to find out that fries were already included. Shame on us for missing that; would have been nice for server to mention though. I had the pulled chicken bowl. It was ok, nothing special. My daughter in law had the mahi-mahi bowl. Same thing. My son had the burger and didn't finish it. Said it was dry and flavorless. My friend had a fish taco and it was tiny, like a street taco. She was disappointed. My son summed it up, pretty pricey for what you get. Probably one and done. read more

Excellent food. Perfect meal after a sunset cruise. The burgers were great as were the bowls! Service was perfect.