Arkansas takes its fried catfish seriously, and some of the best plates are hiding out in little towns you might blow right past on the highway. These are the family-run spots where hush puppies keep coming, the slaw is worth a second helping, and the sweet tea flows freely.
I pulled together eight catfish joints across the state that folks come back to again and again. Whether you want a river view, a barbecue side, or a pie to finish the meal, there is a stop here for you.
Grab a napkin and let’s take a road trip through Arkansas catfish country.
1. Murry’s Restaurant, Hazen, AR
Some places earn loyalty across generations, and Murry’s in Hazen is one of them. Families have been coming back to this US-70 spot for decades to fill up on fried catfish.
The menu leans into Southern comfort cooking done right. Alongside the catfish, you will find steak, fried shrimp, frog legs, and even steak and shrimp combos for bigger appetites.
The onion rings and slaw get plenty of attention too.
Homemade bread is part of the draw here, and the bread pudding is a signature way to end the meal. Prices run about ten to thirty dollars per person, which covers a hearty plate.
One thing to plan around: Murry’s keeps a short schedule. It is open only Friday and Saturday from 5 to 9 PM, so this is a weekend-dinner destination.
There is a kids’ menu, high chairs, and usually plenty of free parking. If you are cutting across the state on Interstate 40, Hazen makes an easy detour worth building your evening around.
2. Dondie’s White River Princess, Des Arc, AR
Eating catfish while watching a river roll by is a rare treat, and Dondie’s White River Princess delivers exactly that in Des Arc. The building is shaped like a riverboat and sits right on the White River.
The buffet is the main event. You can load up on catfish, fried shrimp, and other seafood, and there are crab legs and a shrimp buffet that keep regulars happy.
Desserts here get real praise, and the tea selection rounds out the meal. Expect to spend around twenty to thirty dollars per person for the all-you-can-eat spread.
Dondie’s runs on a limited schedule, so timing matters. It serves dinner Friday and Saturday from 5 to 8 PM and a Sunday lunch from 11:30 AM to 2 PM.
Reservations are accepted, and there is usually a wait, so it pays to call ahead at busy times.
With private dining space, high chairs, and a kids’ menu, it works for celebrations and family gatherings alike. Grab a table near the windows and let the river view do part of the entertaining.
3. Catfish Hole Alma, Alma, AR
Free-flowing hush puppies are the calling card at Catfish Hole in Alma. While you wait for your order, you can help yourself to an all-you-can-eat bar of hush puppies and coleslaw, which is a smart move if you are hungry off the interstate.
The catfish comes as filets or steaks, both tender, and the kitchen also turns out fried shrimp, chicken tenders, clams, and okra. Green tomato relish and coleslaw give the plate a Southern finish.
Prices are friendly, generally ten to twenty dollars per person, which helps explain the steady crowds. Fridays and Saturdays evenings get the busiest, while Sunday mornings and weekday afternoons stay calmer.
Located just off I-40 in Alma, the restaurant offers dine-in, drive-through, and takeout, plus free wi-fi and a kids’ menu. Reservations are accepted for groups.
Open Tuesday through Sunday with a Monday closure, it is an easy stop whether you are passing through or making a point of it. Come with an appetite for those hush puppies.
4. Nick’s Bar-B-Q & Catfish, Carlisle, AR
Can’t decide between barbecue and catfish? Nick’s in Carlisle settles the debate by putting both on the same menu.
You can order St. Louis-style ribs, pulled pork, and farm-raised catfish in one sitting.
The lineup runs deep with dry-rub ribs, fried green tomatoes, fried pickles, and Nick’s signature Bar-B-Q burger. Save room for pecan pie or banana pudding, and note the fried pies the place is known for.
Plates land in the ten to twenty dollar range, and portions are generous. There is a large truck parking area, which makes this a favorite pit stop for folks hauling down the highway.
Nick’s keeps long, dependable hours, open daily from 10 AM, running to 9 PM most days and 10 PM on Friday and Saturday. Sundays and weekend evenings are the busiest stretches.
Dogs are welcome inside and out, there is a kids’ menu, and reservations are not needed. Between the ribs and the catfish, this is the rare spot that scratches two very different cravings at once.
5. Whippet Restaurant, Prattsville, AR
Follow the parked cars along Highway 270 in Prattsville and they will lead you straight to the Whippet. This small country eatery has become a local favorite for hometown cooking.
Catfish is the star, served with unlimited sides that keep the plate full. Beyond the fish, the kitchen turns out Southern specialties, burgers, and chicken fried steak.
Then there are the pies. The desserts here are a big reason folks come back, and the coffee gets high marks too.
Meals land around ten to twenty dollars per person, and the atmosphere is casual and family-friendly with clean facilities. There is a kids’ menu, high chairs, and quick service.
The Whippet is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 AM to 8 PM and closed Sunday and Monday. Tuesday and Friday evenings draw the biggest crowds, so aim for an off-peak visit if you want a quieter table.
If you like the kind of small-town spot where the food tastes home-cooked, this one earns its regulars honestly.
6. Fred’s Fish House, Mammoth Spring, AR
Up near the Missouri line, Fred’s Fish House gives Mammoth Spring a Main Street catfish stop with a nostalgic, hometown feel. The batter runs thin and crispy rather than heavy, which lets the fish shine.
Walleye sets this place apart from the pack. Alongside the catfish, you can build a fried seafood platter, order frog legs, or go for the sampler with okra, hush puppies, and pickled green tomatoes.
The hush puppies are made fresh to order, and the homemade onion rings pull their own weight. A family can eat well here without spending much, with most plates in the ten to twenty dollar range.
Fred’s is open daily, running 10 AM to 8 PM on weekdays, until 8:30 PM Friday and Saturday, and a shorter Sunday from 11 AM to 2 PM. Friday and Saturday evenings are the busiest.
With a kids’ menu, high chairs, and coffee and tea that get called out, it fits families and solo travelers alike. If you are exploring Mammoth Spring’s park and springs, this is a natural place to refuel.
7. JoJo’s Catfish Wharf, Mountain View, AR
A deck over the White River makes JoJo’s Catfish Wharf near Mountain View feel like a proper getaway meal. The river views from the deck are as much a reason to visit as the food.
Both fried and grilled catfish are on offer, so you can go traditional or lighter. Shrimp, crab cakes, chicken planks, and a salad bar fill out the menu, and the homemade tartar sauce gets its share of love.
Sides deserve attention too, from sweet potato fries to fried pickles and pickled green tomatoes. Finish with possum pie for a local dessert twist.
Plates stay affordable at ten to twenty dollars per person.
Part of Jack’s Resort, JoJo’s is open Monday through Saturday from 11 AM to 8 PM and Sunday from 11 AM to 3 PM. Saturday afternoons and Sunday draw the heaviest crowds.
Reservations are accepted, there is free wi-fi, dogs are welcome outside, and it is set up for families. Come for the catfish, stay for the river and the sweet tea on the deck.
8. Woods Place, Camden, AR
Down in south Arkansas, Woods Place has made itself the go-to catfish table in Camden. Regulars swear by the catfish steaks, the crisp fries, and hush puppies that hold their own against any in the state.
Homemade cooking runs through the whole menu. You will find catfish paired with fried chicken or fried shrimp, hand-battered onion rings, fried okra, fried pickles, and home-cooked veggies.
The coleslaw comes perfectly dressed, and there is a chicken salad platter and old-fashioned hamburger for anyone not in a fish mood. Meals land around ten to twenty dollars per person.
Woods Place is open Monday through Saturday from 11 AM to 8 PM and closed Sunday, with Friday afternoons and evenings the busiest. It also doubles as an event venue, and it offers delivery, takeout, and dine-in.
Reservations are accepted, there is a kids’ menu, and the vibe is casual and welcoming. If your travels take you toward Camden, this down-home kitchen is a fine place to cap off the catfish tour.
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