Fried mullet is one of the oldest flavors in Florida, and it still shows up on plates from the Panhandle to the Gulf Coast fishing villages. Long before fancy seafood spots took over the coast, small shacks and family kitchens served this salty, crispy fish with grits, hush puppies, and slaw.
The places on this list keep that tradition going in towns where fishing is still part of daily life. If you want a taste of real Old Florida, these seven stops are a great place to start.
1. Seafood Shack, Carrabelle, FL
Carrabelle is a small working seaport on the Forgotten Coast, and its seafood spots tend to match the town’s no-fuss style. Seafood Shack on Avenue A South fits right in, with tables set under a canopy and a menu built around fresh local catch.
Fried mullet shows up here as a salty, crispy side, and it pairs well with fried shrimp, fried okra, French fries, coleslaw, and hush puppies. The kitchen also turns out fried grouper and whole fried flounder, and the portions run large.
Prices land around $10 to $20 per person, which makes it an easy lunch for families. There is a kids’ menu, and dogs are welcome at the outdoor tables.
Plan ahead, because hours are short. The shack is open daily from 11:30 AM to 3 PM, and parking is usually easy with a free lot and street spaces nearby.
2. Star Fish Company, Cortez, FL
Few places in Florida still look and work like a true fishing village, but Cortez is one of them. Star Fish Company sits right in the middle of it, part fish market and part waterside hangout with picnic tables outside.
Mullet has deep roots in Cortez, so it makes sense that fried mullet is the order that brings plenty of people back. It comes out well cooked, and the portions are generous.
I like this stop because you get the seafood and the setting at the same time. Boats, docks, and the working waterfront are all part of the meal.
Hours vary by day. It opens at 11:30 AM daily, closes at 3 PM on Sunday and Monday, and stays open until 8 PM Tuesday through Saturday.
3. Rusty Bellies Waterfront Grill, Inc., Tarpon Springs, FL
Most people come to Dodecanese Boulevard for the famous sponge docks. Smart eaters also save room for Rusty Bellies, a family-owned grill right on the Tarpon Springs waterfront.
The fried mullet plate here comes with your choice of sides, and options like black beans, grilled Brussels sprouts with bacon, and broccoli with bacon give it a little extra personality. Cheese grits, spiral fries, hush puppies, and a well-liked tartar sauce round things out.
The menu goes well beyond mullet. Steamed Cedar Key clams, fried whole belly clams, blackened shrimp, and a grouper po’boy are all on the table.
There is live music and outdoor seating, plus a kids’ menu and high chairs. Expect a wait on weekend afternoons.
Rusty Bellies is closed Monday and open Tuesday through Sunday starting at 11 AM, with later hours on Friday and Saturday.
4. The Fishing Hole Milton Restaurant, Milton, FL
Cheese grits, hush puppies, and fried mullet form the holy trinity at The Fishing Hole, and the kitchen treats all three seriously. Milton is a historic Panhandle town, and this restaurant on Avalon Boulevard serves the kind of Gulf seafood people around here grew up on.
The mullet comes out hot and crispy. Fried okra is another favorite, and the menu also lists shrimp and grits, fried oysters, fried shrimp, a blackened grouper sandwich, and a shrimp and crab chowder.
Families will find high chairs and a kids’ menu. Reservations are accepted, which helps on Friday and Saturday evenings when it gets busiest.
The Fishing Hole is open every day from 11 AM to 8 PM. Plan on roughly $20 to $30 per person.
5. Kathi’s Krab Shack, Steinhatchee, FL
Steinhatchee is a remote Big Bend fishing and scalloping village, the kind of place you reach on purpose. Once you arrive, Kathi’s Krab Shack makes a strong case for staying through dinner.
Crab cakes and fried mullet make a winning combo here. Fried scallops are a natural pick in a scallop town, and fried shrimp, blackened shrimp, grouper sandwiches, and seafood boils also fill the menu.
Sides include hush puppies and a chunky coleslaw. The setting is casual, with live music, outdoor seating, and dogs allowed.
Reservations are not accepted, so arrive early on Friday or Saturday evening. Kathi’s is closed Monday and Tuesday and opens at 11 AM the rest of the week.
6. Annie’s Cafe, Cedar Key, FL
Fried mullet for breakfast is an Old Florida move, and Annie’s Cafe has it down. This cottage-style mom and pop spot in Cedar Key serves mullet and grits alongside biscuits and gravy and veggie omelets.
Cedar Key is a small island fishing community, and Annie’s matches its easy pace. There is an outdoor deck, a long table where strangers end up chatting, and a fried mullet sandwich that pairs nicely with cheesy grits.
Other plates include fried oysters, soft shell crab, and blackened grouper with grits. Meals usually run $10 to $20 per person.
I would save this one for a slow morning. Annie’s opens at 8 AM and closes at 3:30 PM, and it is closed Tuesday and Wednesday.
7. Jerry’s Drive In, Pensacola, FL
Some regulars come back to Jerry’s after years away and find it pretty much unchanged, which is exactly the point. This longtime Pensacola neighborhood joint on East Cervantes Street keeps its vintage drive-in style and its old-school menu.
Fried mullet with grits sits right alongside cheeseburgers, grouper sandwiches, gumbo, and pork rinds. Milkshakes and malts are a big part of the draw too.
Service is at the counter, and the walls are known for funny signs. It is a simple, casual stop with a kids’ menu and high chairs.
Jerry’s is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 AM to 9 PM, Monday from 11 AM to 3 PM, and closed Sunday. Reservations are not taken, so just show up hungry.
From Panhandle drive-ins to island cafes, these seven spots prove fried mullet still has a firm place on Florida tables. Pick one close to home or plan a coastal road trip and try them all.
Enjoyed this story?
Add Fast Food Club as a preferred source to see more of our reporting on Google.