Catfish has long been the South's favorite fish. As Dallas has traditionally been a southern city, catfish has been a popular item on area menus for years. Restaurants specializing in catfish have been, and remain, part of the local restaurant landscape. In addition to the deep-frying common throughout the South, some of the dishes and flavors at local catfish houses now come from southern Louisiana.
Both the catfish and the blues are dished up here. At this casual roadhouse south of downtown, the deep-fat fryer gets a workout: hush puppies, fries, shrimp, crawfish tails, alligator and catfish, of course. In addition to fried, you can get the catfish grilled or blackened as part of a dinner plate. If not in the mood for catfish, you can substitute salmon and shrimp. Hamburgers, po boys, salads, and a couple of gumbos make up most of the rest of the Cajun-influenced offerings. There is live music, usually blues, on Friday and Saturday. There is a charge for the music, but you can bring in your alcoholic beverages. For those late nights, the kitchen stays open until 2:00 with a limited, but appropriate, menu of breakfast tacos, chicken and waffles and fried chicken wings.
Catfish Blues
1011 Corinth
Dallas, Texas 75215
214-565-9300
catfishbluesdallas.com
Serving south Dallas since 1971, Catfish Smith has long been a place to satisfy a catfish fix; fried, of course. In addition to filets, you can order a whole catfish here. The vast majority of customers order some version of catfish, but there are other options. Additional hefty platters feature deep-fried oysters, shrimp, crawfish, and a couple of items you do not find very often any more, frog legs and salmon croquettes. These can be complemented with their house-made tartar sauce, of which they are very proud. There is also a version of seafood gumbo, one of the few nondessert dishes that escapes the fryer.
Catfish Smith
4620 S. Lamar
Dallas, Texas 75215
214-428-4407
catfishsmith.com
This mini-chain of fast casual restaurants has three other Metroplex locations, and a fairly lengthy menu. You can get your catfish, and also other fish and many nonseafood dishes. The catfish necessarily comes deep-fried, but also grilled, in po boys and even on a salad. Other fish, which are served grilled, include group, rainbow trout, red snapper, salmon and tilapia. There is also shrimp, snow crabs, boiled crawfish (in season), ceviche, fish tacos, hamburgers and, seemingly, something for everyone. With just a handful of exceptions, prices stay under $10. Adding to the customer-friendly approach is a breakfast menu that has over 30 choices.
6126 Luther Lane
Dallas, TX 75225
214-696-3474
flyingfishinthe.net
