These 7 Mississippi Catfish Houses Keep The Hush Puppies Coming Until Grandpa And The Kids Are Stuffed
Some of the best meals in Mississippi happen in buildings you might drive right past. Pull into a gravel lot off a two-lane highway, and you could find a dining room full of families passing hush puppies down the table.
Catfish houses have fed big groups across this state for generations, and many still let you eat until you are happily stuffed without draining your wallet. Here are seven spots where Grandpa, Grandma, and the little ones can all leave full and smiling.
1. Larry’s Fish House
Out on MS-7 in the Mississippi Delta, Itta Bena is the kind of small town where a dinner out still feels like an event. Larry’s Fish House answers that feeling with an all-you-can-eat spread built around catfish three ways: fried, BBQ, and lemon pepper.
Baked catfish and ribs show up too, so picky eaters have options.
Sides come buffet-style and plated, with more than ten choices on hand. Expect hush puppies, coleslaw, greens, green beans, pickles, and French fries.
Grandkids tend to save room for the finale, which is ice cream for dessert, including a chocolate-covered treat.
Price matters on a family outing, and the adult buffet runs about $19. That covers every refill of fish and sides, which makes a big table much easier to plan for.
High chairs are available, and the laid-back mood means nobody frets about a little spilled tea.
Hours are limited, so plan ahead. Dinner runs Thursday through Saturday from 5 to 9 PM, with a short Friday lunch from 11:30 AM to 1 PM.
Friday and Saturday evenings fill up fast, and reservations are accepted, which helps when the whole family is coming. Parking is free and plentiful.
2. Jerry’s Catfish House
Kids spot it before the adults do. Jerry’s Catfish House sits inside a giant igloo-shaped building along US 49 in Florence, and that dome alone turns the drive into a game of who sees it first.
Inside, the focus stays simple. Catfish arrives fresh, hot, and crispy, paired with well-fried fries, coleslaw, and a pitcher of sweet tea for the table.
Hungry teens can go for the all-you-can-eat catfish, while lighter eaters might choose the Small Catfish Plate. Shrimp and oysters round out the menu, and the Popcorn Shrimp Basket is a reliable pick for younger diners.
Families get real support here. A kids’ menu, high chairs, and a clean, family-friendly room make it easy to bring toddlers and great-grandparents to the same meal.
Fried okra makes a solid side for anyone who wants a little Southern crunch beyond the fish.
Timing takes a bit of thought. Doors open Thursday from 5 to 9 PM, Friday and Saturday from 4 to 9 PM, and Sunday from 11 AM to 3 PM.
Weekend evenings usually bring a wait, so a Sunday lunch after church can be the calmer choice, and reservations are accepted for larger groups.
3. Cravin’ Catfish
Budget-minded families, take note: Cravin’ Catfish sits in the $10 to $20 per person range, one of the friendliest price tiers on this list. Tucked off Cemetery Lane in Sherman, a small town in northeast Mississippi, it feels like supper at a relative’s house.
What fills the buffet? Catfish fillets lead the way, joined by chicken strips, meatloaf, and grilled lemon pepper fish for anyone who prefers something not fried.
A salad bar balances the plate, and a dessert bar plus ice cream gives the youngest diners something to cheer about.
The atmosphere is down home in the best sense. Staff are friendly and the room is casual, so a toddler in a high chair and a grandparent taking a slow second trip to the line both fit right in.
Takeout is also available when a busy week calls for catfish at home.
Plan on an evening visit. Hours run Thursday 4:30 to 8:30 PM, Friday 4 to 8:30 PM, and Saturday 3:30 to 8:30 PM.
Saturday gets the biggest crowd, while Thursday and early Friday tend to be quieter, which suits older family members who like an easy pace.
4. Catfish Country
Picture a buffet where catfish shares space with frog legs and four kinds of shrimp. Catfish Country, on US-45 in Booneville, delivers that kind of variety, which is handy when three generations rarely agree on dinner.
Fried whole catfish and fillets anchor the line. Chicken strips, popcorn shrimp, steak, and other Southern specialties fill out the rest, so a grandkid who skips fish still eats well.
A salad bar and dessert bar complete the spread, all at an all-you-can-eat price in the $20 to $30 range.
Small details make a difference with little ones. There is a kids’ menu, high chairs are ready, and the dining room leans cozy and quiet rather than loud.
Older relatives who like to actually hear the table conversation will appreciate that.
Here’s the catch: the schedule is short. Catfish Country opens only Friday and Saturday from 4 to 9 PM and Sunday from 11 AM to 2 PM.
Sunday lunch is the quietest window and a natural fit for a family meal after church. Reservations are accepted, takeout is available, and the free lot usually has plenty of room for every car in the caravan.
5. Berry’s Seafood And Catfish House
Lunch on a weekday might be the smartest move a grandparent can make in Magee. Berry’s Seafood and Catfish House opens at 10:30 AM Monday through Saturday, a rare thing among catfish houses that often stick to evenings.
The buffet covers a lot of ground. Fried catfish and shrimp sit alongside frog legs, fried green tomatoes, boiled shrimp, oysters, and softshell crab, with steak and fried chicken for the meat lovers.
An all-you-can-eat salad and dessert bar adds lighter choices, and the Berry’s Seafood Sampler is there for anyone ordering off the menu.
Few places on this list go as far for young families. Changing tables, high chairs, and a kids’ menu are all on hand, and the crowd is decidedly family-friendly.
Prices land in the $20 to $30 range for the full spread.
Located on US 49 in Simpson County, Berry’s adds dinner hours Thursday and Friday from 4 to 9 PM and Saturday from 3:30 to 9 PM. Saturday afternoons and evenings are busiest, while weekday mornings stay calm.
Reservations, catering, and takeout are all available for larger gatherings.
6. Catfish Cabin
Few restaurants in the Delta carry as much backstory. The building in Boyle started in the early 1970s as Catfish Kitchen, a cafeteria-style spot, and later went by The Pagoda and Katfish Korral before becoming Catfish Cabin in 2005.
That long run shows on the menu. Catfish comes with hush puppies, fried corn, and french fries, and crawfish, oysters, and chicken tenders give kids extra choices.
Fresh salads and a salad bar balance out all the fried favorites, and all-you-can-eat fish options are available for big appetites.
Cost is a strong point. Catfish Cabin sits in the $10 to $20 per person range, which leaves room in the budget for dessert.
High chairs and a kids’ menu make it an easy stop for families, and outdoor seating and a drive-through add flexibility.
Find it on T M Jones Highway in Bolivar County. Lunch runs Tuesday through Friday from 11 AM to 1:30 PM, with dinner Thursday through Saturday from 5 to 9:30 PM and Sunday lunch from 11 AM to 2 PM.
Sunday afternoons and Friday evenings draw the biggest crowds, so arrive early or call ahead for reservations.
7. Aunt Jenny’s Catfish Restaurant
Ceiling fans turn slowly over wainscoted walls, and the bayou glimmers through the windows. Aunt Jenny’s Catfish Restaurant fills a quaint 19th-century house on Washington Avenue in Ocean Springs, and the setting feels like a step back in time.
Family-style service suits a crowd. The all-you-can-eat menu brings crispy fried catfish, shrimp, and chicken to the table with hush puppies, coleslaw, and homemade biscuits with apple jelly.
The catfish carries just enough breading for a good crunch before the tender fish takes over.
Value is the surprise. A large plate of fried catfish, shrimp, or chicken costs about $15.95, and upgrading to all-you-can-eat adds roughly one dollar.
Drinks run around $1.95, so a whole table can eat well without much fuss over the bill.
Save room for banana pudding, which kids and grandparents alike tend to claim. Other menu favorites include Catfish Creole, Gumbo Fries, and Paw-Paw’s Favorite Fried Okra.
Hours are Tuesday through Thursday from 4 to 9 PM, Friday and Saturday from 11 AM to 9 PM, and Sunday from 11 AM to 3 PM, with reservations accepted and free parking nearby.