Farm-raised catfish dredged in yellow cornmeal and deep-fried, a Southern Oklahoma tradition served with hushpuppies and coleslaw at Oklahoma City's diners.
Catfish frying is central to southern and eastern Oklahoma's food culture, where the Red River and Canadian River tributaries have supported catfish for centuries. By the late 19th century, fried catfish was a Friday tradition across Oklahoma, spreading beyond Catholic fasting origins. Oklahoma's technique uses yellow cornmeal rather than white, deep-fried in cast-iron. Catfish farms in southeastern Oklahoma, developed in the mid-20th century, ensured year-round supply. In OKC, fried catfish appears at Southern diners and church fish fries alongside hushpuppies and coleslaw.
2 editor picks for Southern fried catfish in Oklahoma City, ranked by editorial score. All Oklahoma City signature dishes · Southern fried catfish across every city.
Also in: Birmingham, Jackson, Nashville.
Cattlemen's Steakhouse ★ 4.5
stockyards-city · 1309 S Agnew Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73108
Cattlemen's Steakhouse in Stockyards City Oklahoma City has served USDA prime beef and cowboy breakfasts to ranchers and visitors since 1910.
McNellie's Public House ★ 3.8
midtown · 1100 Classen Dr, Oklahoma City, OK 73103
McNellie's Public House in Oklahoma City pours 60 taps of craft and imported beers alongside pub food and charburgers on Classen Drive daily.