Tennessee takes its fried catfish seriously, and the true test of a good fish fry might just be the hushpuppies that show up alongside it. Across the state, from riverside spots near old battlefields to busy family joints in Nashville and Memphis, there are places where those golden little cornmeal bites come out warm and by the basketful.
This list rounds up seven of them, each with its own story, setting, and reason to grab a plate. Whether you want all-you-can-eat sides, a river view, or jalapeno-spiked hushpuppies, there is a stop here worth the trip.
Save this one for your next drive and pick a spot to start.
1. Hagy’s Catfish Hotel Restaurant, Shiloh, TN
Sitting at 1140 Hagy Ln in Shiloh, this storied family-run eatery has been serving Southern classics long enough to earn a loyal following that spans generations.
The menu leans into fried catfish done two ways, both fillets and whole catfish, served with sides like coleslaw, baked potatoes, and those famous hushpuppies. You can also order fried green tomatoes, grilled shrimp, or a full seafood platter if you want to branch out.
Plates come out heaping and hot, often with baskets of hushpuppies and biscuits alongside the catfish. The setting is casual and historic, with a fireplace inside and a river view that makes it a pleasant place to settle in.
Reservations are accepted, which helps because Friday evenings and Saturdays get busy. Parking is easy, and the kitchen keeps a kids’ menu and high chairs on hand for families.
Hours run Tuesday through Sunday, with the doors closed on Mondays.
2. Uncle Bud’s Catfish Chicken & Such, Nashville, TN
Playful decor and a whole lot of fried food make this Nashville fixture on Old Lebanon Pike a comfortable place to eat until you are full and then some.
The draw here is all-you-can-eat catfish, chicken, and Southern sides, so the white beans, coleslaw, pickles, and hushpuppies keep coming. A typical catfish dinner arrives with fillets, fries, slaw, pickle spears, onions, and a lemon wedge, plus plenty of tartar sauce.
Beyond the classics, the kitchen fries up clams, shrimp, gator tail, oysters, and chicken livers. The hushpuppies here have a flaky texture that even hushpuppy skeptics tend to come around on.
Prices land in the friendly range, roughly ten to twenty dollars per person. The restaurant does not take reservations, but it offers curbside pickup and delivery if you would rather eat at home.
Hours are Wednesday through Sunday, with the busiest crowds arriving Sunday afternoon and Friday and Saturday evenings. Come hungry and pace yourself.
3. Huck Finn’s Catfish, Pigeon Forge, TN
Right on the busy Parkway in Pigeon Forge, Huck Finn’s serves sweet tea in mason jars and dinners built for big appetites.
Everything centers on all-you-can-eat Southern catfish and fried chicken, plus a la carte down-home dishes for those who want to keep it simple. Order a catfish dinner and a spread of vittles shows up ahead of your meal, including hushpuppies, pickles, onions, beans, and slaw.
Bottomless hushpuppies, coleslaw, and beans round out the grilled shrimp and catfish, so nobody leaves hungry. Menu extras include popcorn shrimp, country fried steak, chicken livers, and fried clam strips.
Open seven days a week from late morning to evening, this is one of the easier stops to fit into a Smokies trip. It welcomes families with changing tables, a kids’ menu, and high chairs, and dogs are allowed in the outdoor seating.
Fridays and Saturdays draw the heaviest crowds, so a weekday visit means a shorter wait for that first basket.
4. Catfish Kitchen, Burns, TN
Family-style sides are the quiet danger at this Burns spot on US-70, where the creamy coleslaw, white beans with red pepper relish, and hushpuppies keep refilling before the catfish even lands.
All-you-can-eat catfish fillets anchor the menu, with hot boneless options and crispy hushpuppies that regularly steal the spotlight from everything else on the plate. Fried scallops and onion rings show up as worthy sidekicks.
The vinegar slaw and mayo coleslaw give you two ways to go, and there is a full vegetarian menu for anyone in the group skipping the fish.
The atmosphere is cozy and casual, with live music at times and space that works well for groups. Reservations are accepted, which is handy on Friday and Saturday evenings when it fills fast.
Hours run Tuesday through Saturday for dinner and Sunday starting late morning, with Mondays closed. Pricing stays in the ten to twenty dollar range, and there is plenty of free parking.
5. A & J’s Catfish Station Memphis, Memphis, TN
A catfish basket done right is the calling card at this laid-back Memphis spot on Knight Arnold Road, where fillets come crispy outside and light and flaky inside.
The setup is straightforward: fried catfish and chicken served with hushpuppies and fries, plus sides like mac and cheese, yams, spaghetti, okra, and slaw. A small catfish plate comes with three fillets, fries, and hushpuppies that earn a lot of praise on their own.
Value is a real selling point here. The lunch catfish basket carries the same contents as the dinner special, so timing your visit can stretch your dollar.
Order it blackened if you want a version packed with flavor. Counter service keeps things quick, and free wi-fi makes it an easy weekday lunch stop.
Hours run Monday through Saturday, closing earlier in the day than the sit-down places on this list, and Sundays are closed. Fridays and Saturdays are the busiest stretches.
6. Tommy Lees Catfish Shack, Parsons, TN
Set on the Tennessee River in Parsons, this down-home shack keeps things simple and does the catfish extremely well.
The stars are crispy catfish and hushpuppies, with sides like beans, fries, and slaw filling out the plate. If you want to shake things up, the jalapeno hushpuppies and corn nuggets are the moves to make.
One thing to know before you go: the dining room fills up fast, so arriving early is smart. The doors are only open Friday and Saturday, which makes a visit here feel like a weekend event rather than an everyday stop.
Pricing sits in the ten to twenty dollar range, and the vibe is friendly, clean, and welcoming, the kind of place where the staff check on you and answer questions.
Coffee, tea, and comfort food round out the offerings, and there is easy free parking. For a river-town fish fry with a spicy twist on the hushpuppies, this one stands apart.
7. Catfish Cabin, Jackson, TN
Enormous glasses of sweet tea set the tone at this sizable, rustic Jackson restaurant on South Highland Avenue.
The kitchen turns out fried catfish two ways, both fillets and whole catfish, with unlimited coleslaw, homemade fried green tomatoes, and hushpuppies that draw high marks. Shrimp, crab legs, snapper, and a seafood sampler give the menu some range beyond the fried standards.
There is a blackened catfish option for anyone who wants a break from the batter, and the baked potatoes make a solid side. A fireplace and a cozy, casual layout make it comfortable for groups.
Reservations are accepted, and the staff have a reputation for helping guests pick their dinner and checking in throughout the meal. Pricing lands in the ten to twenty dollar range.
Hours cover every day of the week, with dinner service Monday through Thursday and longer stretches on weekends. Sunday afternoons and Friday and Saturday evenings pull the biggest crowds, so plan ahead if you are bringing the whole table.
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