Bring $20 And A Big Appetite To These 6 Mississippi Catfish Houses Families Drive Miles For
Mississippi has a way of hiding its best meals behind plain doors and gravel lots. Pull off a quiet highway, walk inside, and suddenly the whole table is passing hush puppies and reaching for one more crispy fillet.
The six catfish houses below keep prices friendly, welcome kids with high chairs and easy menus, and serve enough food to send everyone home happy and full. Bring an empty stomach, about $20 a person, and a family ready for a real Southern supper.
1. Larry’s Fish House
Out in the flat farm country of the Mississippi Delta, a single stop on Highway 7 near Itta Bena draws families from nearby towns and far beyond. Dinner here starts like a buffet, then turns into table service once everyone settles in.
Plates keep coming until nobody can lift a fork.
The big draw is catfish three ways. Diners get fried catfish in both whole and fillet form, plus barbecue fish and lemon pepper catfish that is baked for a lighter bite.
Kids who would rather skip the fish can pick ribs or chicken tenders instead.
Sides cover all the Southern classics: hush puppies, coleslaw, greens, green beans, pickles, and French fries. Dessert is the part children tend to remember most, because chocolate-covered ice cream closes out the meal.
At about $19 per adult for the all-you-can-eat spread, a $20 bill nearly does the job.
Plan ahead, since hours are short. Doors open Thursday through Saturday evenings from 5 to 9 PM, with a brief Friday lunch from 11:30 AM to 1 PM.
Friday and Saturday nights get crowded, so the Friday lunch window is the calmer pick for little ones. High chairs, free parking, and reservations make the trip easier for bigger groups.
2. Cravin’ Catfish
Picky eaters, meet your match. Tucked along a county road in Sherman, in Northeast Mississippi, Cravin’ Catfish runs a buffet so wide that every person at the table can build a totally different plate.
Catfish fillets anchor the line, and there are several catfish options to try, including grilled lemon pepper fish for anyone who wants something less crunchy. Fried chicken, chicken strips, and meatloaf sit nearby, so the kid who refuses anything with fins still eats well.
A salad bar adds some green to the mix.
Then comes the dessert bar, which earns its own trip back to the line. Parents get a break here too, because the price range lands around $10 to $20 per person.
That makes it one of the easiest ways on this list to feed a hungry crew without stretching the budget.
The feel is down home and relaxed, with friendly staff and plenty of room for groups. High chairs are available, and parking is free and easy.
Hours run Thursday from 4:30 to 8:30 PM, Friday from 4 PM, and Saturday from 3:30 PM. Thursday evenings tend to be the quietest, while Saturday afternoon and evening bring the biggest rush.
3. Moss Creek Fish House
Thin, crisp, and fried just right, the catfish at Moss Creek Fish House explains why Pearl sees so many families pulling in on weekends. Being close to Jackson in Central Mississippi helps, but the fish is the real reason people come.
Diners can order all-you-can-eat catfish, whole or fillet, and the kitchen keeps it hot and fresh. Sides lean classic and well made: hush puppies, fried okra, turnip greens, coleslaw, and French fries.
For variety, the menu stretches to gumbo, fried shrimp, Boom Boom Shrimp, fried pickles, and a fried oyster platter.
Families get more flexibility here than almost anywhere else on this list. A real kids’ menu includes chicken tenders, high chairs are ready, and the room is clean and cozy for a sit-down meal.
Prices fall around $10 to $20 per person, a welcome number for bigger households.
Schedules are generous too. Doors open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:30 AM to 9 PM, and Sunday until 8 PM, so lunch is easy to fit into a day trip.
Sunday afternoon and Friday night bring crowds, while weekday mornings stay calm. Reservations, takeout, and delivery round out the options for busy parents.
4. Shivers Creek Catfish House | Simpson County
Fewer than 500 people call Pinola home, yet the parking lot at Shivers Creek fills up most weekend nights. Set in rural Simpson County, this classic Southern fish house serves fresh Mississippi farm-raised catfish to guests who happily make the drive.
Thin, crisp fillets are the headliner. Complimentary hush puppies land on the table early, and homemade coleslaw and fresh turnip greens follow close behind.
The greens are all-you-can-eat, a rare treat that Southern families appreciate. Other choices include fried shrimp, an oyster po’boy, grilled blackened redfish, and chicken tenders.
Parents of babies will notice small details that matter. The restaurant has changing tables along with high chairs and a kids’ menu, and the mood is calm and quiet rather than loud.
Plates and specials sit around the $20 mark, with the overall range running $20 to $30.
Timing takes a little planning. Hours are Wednesday from 4:30 to 8 PM, Thursday until 9 PM, Friday from 4 to 9 PM, Saturday from 11 AM to 9 PM, and Sunday lunch from 11 AM to 3 PM.
Saturday mornings and Wednesday afternoons are the least busy. Reservations and curbside pickup add even more convenience.
5. Jerry’s Catfish House
Kids spot it first: a giant igloo sitting beside Highway 49 in Florence. That odd dome is Jerry’s Catfish House, and the building alone turns a dinner stop into a road trip memory.
Inside, the setting is a modest country fish house, and the specialty is thin and crispy fried catfish fillets. All-you-can-eat catfish is on offer for big appetites, while the Small Catfish Plate suits younger or lighter eaters.
Shrimp, oysters, a popcorn shrimp basket, okra, and hush puppies fill out the menu.
Consistency is part of the appeal. The fish comes out fresh and crunchy every time, at a fair price that usually falls between $20 and $30 per person.
Service is quick and friendly, which helps when little ones get restless.
Family needs are well covered with a kids’ menu, high chairs, and a clean dining room that regularly hosts several families at once. Expect a wait on Friday and Saturday evenings, because locals and travelers alike crowd in.
Hours run Thursday from 5 to 9 PM, Friday and Saturday from 4 to 9 PM, and Sunday from 11 AM to 3 PM. Calling ahead for reservations can save time, and free parking is plentiful.
6. Catfish Country
Banana pudding made from scratch might be the sweetest reason to aim for Booneville. Catfish Country, on US-45 in North Mississippi, pairs that homemade dessert with a full buffet built around fried catfish.
Both whole catfish and fillets come off the fryer, joined by popcorn shrimp, chicken strips, peel-and-eat shrimp, and steak on the line. Southern specialties and plenty of sides keep plates crowded.
A salad bar and a dessert bar offer something for everyone, from veggie lovers to sugar fans.
The dining room is newer, clean, and cozy, with a quieter feel that suits families with small children. High chairs and a kids’ menu are available, and the price range of $10 to $30 per person leaves room for flexibility.
Groups and visiting relatives fit in comfortably, and a private dining room is an option for larger gatherings.
Hours are limited, so mark the calendar. The buffet opens Friday and Saturday from 4 to 9 PM, plus Sunday from 11 AM to 2 PM, which makes it a popular after-church lunch.
Saturday evening is the busiest stretch, while Friday afternoon is calmer. Reservations are accepted, and free parking is easy to find.