Some people plan whole weekends around a plate of catfish and a basket of hot hushpuppies. Across Tennessee, old-school fish camps keep that tradition going, and the golden little cornmeal bites often get just as much love as the fish itself.
From Reelfoot Lake to Pigeon Forge, these eight spots have folks driving past a few county lines for a seat at the table. Here is where to point the car when a craving for real Southern catfish and hushpuppies hits.
1. Hagy’s Catfish Hotel Restaurant, Shiloh, TN
Set along the Tennessee River at 1140 Hagy Ln, this family-run spot has been feeding folks for generations in a historic riverfront setting.
The menu leans hard into Southern classics, with catfish filets, seafood platters, grilled shrimp, and deep fried frog legs. Sides like coleslaw, fried green tomatoes, and a strong tea selection round out the plates.
The hushpuppies here have a reputation of their own, often arriving in baskets right alongside the catfish. Many people order the catfish filet with a sweet potato and let the hushpuppies do the rest.
The atmosphere is casual and cozy, with a fireplace and a river view that makes it feel like an occasion. Prices run around 20 to 30 dollars per person.
It stays open Tuesday through Sunday, closed Mondays, with later hours on Friday and Saturday. Reservations are accepted, and parking is rarely a problem.
2. Boyette’s Dining Room, Tiptonville, TN
Serving since 1921, Boyette’s is about as time-tested as a Tennessee fish camp gets. You will find it at 10 Boyette Rd in Tiptonville, right on the edge of Reelfoot Lake.
Generous portions are the whole idea here. The kitchen turns out southern fried catfish, its own special country ham, fried chicken, and quail, along with all the trimmings.
A classic catfish or country ham dinner comes complete with the restaurant’s own recipe onion rings, fries, beans, and hushpuppies or rolls. That kind of spread keeps regulars coming back for decades.
The building itself is a vintage charmer with a stone fireplace, and the atmosphere stays warm and homey. Prices are easy on the wallet at around 10 to 20 dollars per person.
It runs Tuesday through Saturday until 8:30 PM and Sundays until 8 PM, closed Mondays. If you are anywhere near Reelfoot Lake, it earns a stop.
3. Fish Camp Restaurant, Centerville, TN
Surrounded by ponds and creeks where you can actually fish, this Centerville spot leans right into its name. Find it at 406 TN-100 in Middle Tennessee.
The specialty list covers catfish, shrimp, and stuffed crab, plus hushpuppies to keep the plates full. The catfish platter is the go-to order, and portions come huge for the price.
Being community oriented is part of the appeal here, with good value daily specials and homestyle cooking. Save room for the hot fudge cake if you have any space left.
The setting is relaxed and family-friendly, with a dock and a quiet feel that fits a slow Middle Tennessee afternoon. Expect to spend around 10 to 20 dollars per person.
Hours are limited, so plan ahead. It opens Wednesday and Thursday until 8 PM and Friday and Saturday until 9 PM, closed Sunday through Tuesday.
Takeout, delivery, and curbside are all options.
4. Catfish Kitchen, Burns, TN
All-you-can-eat is the magic phrase at this Burns favorite, and the sides come family style. You will find it at 3069 US-70, near Montgomery Bell State Park.
Beyond bottomless catfish, the menu stretches to frog legs and quail. The family-style sides include creamy coleslaw, white beans with red pepper relish, and those hushpuppies that people rave about.
Some folks admit they could make a whole meal out of the sides before the catfish even reaches the table. The hushpuppies alone are worth the drive from a county over.
The vibe is casual and comfortable, with live music at times and room for groups. Plates run around 10 to 20 dollars per person, which is easy for all-you-can-eat.
It opens Tuesday through Saturday from 4 PM to 9 PM and Sunday from 11:30 AM to 8 PM, closed Mondays. Reservations are accepted, and the parking lot is roomy.
5. Tommy Lees Catfish Shack, Parsons, TN
Get there early, because word travels fast about the jalapeno hushpuppies at this Parsons shack. It sits at 1002 Perryville Rd, a friendly down-home place near the Tennessee River.
The combo of crispy catfish and hushpuppies is the whole draw, and the fish earns some serious praise around here. If you want a twist, the jalapeno hushpuppies and corn nuggets are the ones to try.
Sides keep things classic, with beans, fries, and slaw filling out the plate. The waitresses move quick, which helps when the place fills up.
The atmosphere is casual and welcoming, clean and easy, the kind of spot regulars plan a weekend around. Prices land around 10 to 20 dollars per person.
Timing matters here. It is only open Friday and Saturday from 11 AM to 8 PM, so this one is a weekend mission.
It gets crowded fast, so arriving early pays off.
6. Catfish Campus Restaurant, Columbia, TN
Butter with your hushpuppies is a little detail that sets this Columbia mainstay apart. Open since 1989, it sits at 2509 Keith Dr and has become a genuine dining institution.
The star is farm-raised catfish, served bone-in or bone-out, cooked fresh daily. Alongside it come hushpuppies made in-house, plus one signature extra you do not see everywhere: pickled green tomatoes.
The menu also stretches to crab legs, fantail shrimp, fried pickles, and soft-serve ice cream for dessert. Sweet tea keeps coming, and the sides come at reasonable plate prices.
The setting is casual and quiet, family-owned and friendly, with a low-key comfort that fits a family dinner. Most plates run around 10 to 20 dollars per person.
It stays open Monday through Thursday until 8:30 PM and Friday and Saturday until 9 PM, closed Sundays. Reservations are accepted, and parking is plentiful.
7. Huck Finn’s Catfish, Pigeon Forge, TN
Right on the Parkway in Pigeon Forge, this one puts the bottomless bowl of hushpuppies front and center. You will find it at 3330 Parkway, in the foothills of East Tennessee tourist country.
The all-you-can-eat catfish and fried chicken dinners come with what the menu calls unlimited vittles. That means bottomless hushpuppies, coleslaw, white beans, sweet onions, and pickles delivered right to the table.
Beyond catfish, you can order popcorn shrimp, fried chicken livers, country fried steak, and fried clam strips. Huck’s famous iced tea washes it all down.
The place is family-friendly and set up for groups, with fast service and a casual feel. Dogs are welcome on the outdoor seating, and plates run around 10 to 20 dollars per person.
It is open seven days a week from 11 AM to 9 PM, which makes it an easy stop between Smoky Mountain plans. No reservations, so just show up hungry.
8. Catfish Cabin, Jackson, TN
Two kinds of coleslaw and a never-ending basket of hushpuppies make this Jackson spot stand out. Its rustic dining room sits at 1290 S Highland Ave.
The setup is sizable and built for seafood mainstays, including catfish, crab legs, and snapper. Fried whole catfish and catfish fillets anchor the menu, and the seafood sampler covers the bases.
What people talk about most are the unlimited portions of coleslaw and hushpuppies that come with the fish. The slaw arrives in both mayo-based and vinegar-based styles, so you can pick your side.
Big glasses of sweet tea, a fireplace, and a cozy casual feel round out the experience. Plates run around 10 to 20 dollars per person.
It is open daily, with dinner-only hours Monday through Thursday from 4 PM and full-day service Friday through Sunday. Reservations are accepted, and catering is available.
Whether you are chasing catfish or just those famous hushpuppies, these eight Tennessee fish camps prove the little cornmeal bites can be a destination all on their own. Pick a town, plan a weekend, and enjoy the drive.
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