Calabash Fried Seafood appears as a signature dish in 1 United States cities. See each city's local variant and where to eat it.
Calabash-style fried seafood · Charlotte
Calabash-style fried seafood is the North Carolina coastal frying tradition of light cornmeal-battered shrimp, fish and oysters, named for the fishing.
Calabash-style frying emerged in the small fishing town of Calabash, NC on the South Carolina border in the mid-20th century, when Captain Lucy Coleman opened the first calabash-style restaurant in 1940. The light cornmeal batter became the standard for fried seafood across the North Carolina coast and now defines fried-fish counters across Charlotte; Hot Fish Club, Captain Steve's Family Seafood and Boardwalk Billy's run the canonical Charlotte versions.
Where to eat in Charlotte:
- Fin and Fino
- LuLu's Maryland Style Chicken & Seafood