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Memphis fried catfish is Mississippi farmed catfish coated in seasoned cornmeal and deep-fried until crisp, served with hush puppies and slaw. A Southern Memphis lunch standard.
Mississippi catfish farming exploded in the 1960s in the Delta and Memphis quickly became the urban hub for farmed-catfish frying. Most Memphis Southern restaurants carry it; the Four Way and Soul Fish Cafe in Cooper-Young codified the fried catfish lunch plate, and Tug's Casual Grill in Harbor Town does the riverside version.
3 editor picks for Memphis fried Mississippi catfish in Memphis, ranked by editorial score. All Memphis signature dishes · Memphis fried Mississippi catfish across every city.
The Four Way is Memphis's defining Black-owned soul food room on Mississippi Boulevard since 1946. Martin Luther King Jr. ate here; the walls show the guests.
OrderSmothered turkey wings, collard greens, mac and cheese, sweet potato pie.
TipOpen Wednesday to Saturday for lunch only, 11:00-17:00. Cash and card both fine.
Soul Fish Cafe's Cooper-Young Memphis original on South Cooper runs fried Mississippi catfish, hush puppies and Gambino-bread po'boys daily.
OrderCatfish basket with hush puppies and turnip greens.
TipCounter service. The shrimp po'boy is the second-best order; sit on the patio when it cools.
Tug's Casual Grill anchors the Harbor Town neighbourhood on Mud Island in Memphis with a wide riverside patio, burgers and Mississippi catfish dinners.
OrderCatfish dinner with hush puppies; sit on the patio at sunset.
TipWednesday is half-price burger night. The walk from downtown across the Auction Avenue bridge takes 15 minutes.
Memphis fried Mississippi catfish makes more sense with someone from Memphis explaining it. These are the classes and tours we have checked, with booking links.
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