8 Old-School Illinois Fish Fry Spots Where A Family Friday Dinner Still Won’t Break The Bank
Crispy catfish wrapped in paper might be the most honest meal in Illinois. Across the state, from river towns to city side streets, small counters and old taverns have been frying fish the same way for years.
None of them look fancy, and that is exactly the point. These eight spots serve hearty plates at friendly prices, making them perfect for a cheap family outing you will want to repeat.
1. Beasley Fish
Grafton sits right where the Mississippi and Illinois rivers meet, and the little town of around 600 people knows a thing or two about fish. Beasley Fish, on West Main Street, is a riverside seafood market that keeps things refreshingly simple.
Fresh-caught fish goes into the fryer, and out comes something hot, crunchy, and worth the drive.
The catfish filets are the star here. They arrive piping hot with a crisp coating, and they taste especially good on a cool autumn afternoon when the river towns glow with fall color.
Classic sides round out the plate, and service moves quickly even when the line grows.
Budget-minded families will love this one. Portions run generous, and a single order of fish and fries can easily feed two people.
Compared to other stops in town, the value stands out in a big way.
Plan around the schedule, since the market closes Monday and Tuesday. Hours run 11 AM to 7 PM Wednesday through Saturday, and noon to 5 PM on Sunday.
Saturday afternoons get busiest, so a weekday visit means less waiting. Free parking in a lot and along the street makes stopping easy, and restrooms are available.
2. The Fish Keg
Decades of frying have earned The Fish Keg its spot on Chicago’s West Howard Street. Walk in and you will find a no-frills counter, a menu packed with seafood, and the smell of hot oil doing its happy work.
No tables are served here, and nobody seems to mind.
Variety is the big draw. Catfish, shrimp, scallops, oysters, clams, walleye, and lake perch all take a turn in the fryer, and chicken is on hand for anyone who prefers it.
Each order gets a splash of vinegary, spicy hot sauce, and the hush puppies come with tartar sauce for dunking.
Want something on the side? Try the American potato salad or the oil and vinegar coleslaw.
Save room for a slice of sweet potato pie, a sweet finish that feels like a family recipe.
Prices land around $10 to $20 per person, which makes it a friendly pick for a quick lunch or easy dinner. The shop is closed Mondays and opens at 10 AM most other days, with Sunday hours starting at noon.
Takeout is the smart move, since there are no restrooms. Parking is usually plentiful, with free street spots and a lot nearby.
3. Goose Island Shrimp House
Jumbo shrimp are the signature at this cash-only carryout joint on West Division Street, and one bite explains why. Goose Island Shrimp House has a historic feel and a simple mission: fry seafood well and hand it over the counter fast.
A half-pound of those big shrimp makes a fine start. The fried catfish comes out crispy and juicy with seasoning that hits just right, and oysters and scallops are also on the menu.
Fish chips are another favorite, with a flavorful batter and portions that feel fair for the money.
Not into seafood? Fried mushrooms give everyone in the car something to munch on.
Keep a few things in mind before heading over. Bring cash, because cards are not part of the deal.
There is no seating or restroom, so plan to eat at home, in a nearby park, or right in the car with the windows down.
Doors open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 AM to 8 PM, with Sundays and Mondays off. Saturday afternoons draw the biggest crowds, and a short wait is normal.
Expect to spend about $10 to $20 per person, a pleasant price for a true Chicago classic. Free street parking is usually easy to find.
4. Old Mill Tavern
Out in LaSalle County farm country, the village of Sheridan has fewer than 3,000 residents and one very popular Friday night tradition. Old Mill Tavern is a cozy, historic spot with wood-paneled charm, and its fish fry pulls in neighbors from miles around.
All-you-can-eat crappie is the headliner. The fish is fried in fresh oil and served alongside home-cooked classics like fried chicken.
Then there are the onion rings, hand-breaded and piled into a huge plate that practically begs to be shared across the table.
Families will appreciate the details. High chairs are available, staff keep things attentive and pleasant, and the room is built for groups.
Portions are large, and prices of roughly $10 to $20 per person feel more than fair for how much food arrives. Plan on bringing cash.
Timing matters with this one. The tavern opens only Friday through Sunday, from 3 PM to 9:30 PM, so it works best as a weekend trip.
Pair it with an afternoon drive through the countryside near the Fox River and you have an easy, affordable outing. Free parking is plentiful, and takeout is available for anyone heading home early.
5. Cat & Fiddle Tavern
Four generations have kept the fryers going at Cat & Fiddle Tavern on Old St. Louis Road in Belleville. Here in the Metro East, the place is known as a laid-back neighborhood hangout with a historic, cozy feel and fish dinners that keep regulars coming back every week.
Fridays are the main event. The fried cod is crisp and satisfying, and the whole fried catfish offers plenty of tender meat with typical sides on the plate.
Thick-cut onion rings make a smart add-on, with a decent portion for the price.
Thursday has its own fan club too, thanks to chicken wings. Daily specials keep things interesting all week, and the staff bring an easygoing, fun energy to every table.
Budget fans, take note: plates run about $10 to $20 per person. There is outdoor seating, counter service, and table service, plus takeout for anyone who wants to carry a fish dinner home.
Friday afternoons and evenings get packed, so arriving early helps. Reservations are not taken, but free parking in a lot and along the street is usually easy to grab.
For a classic Southern Illinois fish night without fuss, this humble tavern delivers.
6. Track Shack
Springfield is famous for Lincoln history, but locals also know the value of a good weekly special. Track Shack, on East Laurel Street, is a welcoming neighborhood restaurant with a casual, cozy layout and a calendar built around comfort food.
Thursdays belong to fried chicken, the house signature. Fridays bring the fish fry, and that is when the kitchen really shows off.
A walleye dinner is a popular order, and catfish with French fries makes a hearty, no-nonsense plate.
Service runs fast and friendly, so it works well for a lunch break or a relaxed dinner after touring the capital city. Plates cost around $10 to $20 per person, which keeps a family meal reasonable.
A few handy features set this spot apart. A drive-through offers a quick way to grab food on the go, and a private dining room is available for bigger gatherings.
Dessert is on the menu as well.
Hours are long, starting at 10:30 AM on weekdays and 11:30 AM on weekends. Thursday evenings get busiest, while weekday mornings stay calm.
Free parking in a lot and on the street means no circling the block before digging in.
7. Sharkey’s Fish and Chicken
Kids who claim they do not like fish may change their minds at Sharkey’s Fish and Chicken in Peoria. Located on North Sterling Avenue, this casual counter-service spot fries catfish so well that some regulars call it one of the best things they have ever tasted.
The menu covers a lot of ground. Catfish nuggets, walleye, and jumbo shrimp sit alongside chicken tenders, fried okra, and gizzards with fries.
Combo platters like two pieces of fish with four chicken tenders make sharing simple for a hungry family.
Looking for something unexpected? Loaded nachos, mozzarella sticks, and an Italian beef sandwich prove this is more than a one-trick fryer.
Coleslaw adds a cool crunch, and dessert is available too.
Parents will like that there is a kids’ menu and a kid-friendly vibe. Food tastes fresh, and the value is strong, with most meals landing between $10 and $20 per person.
Open every day from 10 AM to 11 PM, it fits nearly any schedule. Sunday afternoons and Wednesday and Friday evenings fill up, while mornings stay quiet.
Free parking, restrooms, delivery, and takeout make this an easy Central Illinois stop.
8. Pee Wee’s Soul Food Restaurant
Cornmeal batter makes all the difference, and Pee Wee’s Soul Food Restaurant in Rock Island has it down to an art. Set on Martin Luther King Drive in the Quad Cities, this cozy eatery serves Southern home cooking with a Louisiana twist.
The catfish fillet is the reason it earns a place here. Cooked perfectly with a golden cornmeal crust, it shows up as a dinner plate or tucked into a catfish po boy.
Shrimp po boys and seafood gumbo carry that Louisiana spirit even further.
Sides deserve their own spotlight. Candied yams, greens, mac and cheese, cornbread, fried okra, and red beans with rice fill out a plate the way a grandmother would.
Finish with peach cobbler or sweet potato pie for a true comfort meal.
Families fit right in, with high chairs, a kids’ menu, and a clean, friendly dining room. Full dinners cost about $10 to $20 per person, and the Tuesday wing special adds even more value.
The restaurant is closed Mondays, open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 AM to 7 PM, and Sundays from 11:30 AM to 5 PM. Free parking and Wi-Fi round out a warm, welcoming stop near the Mississippi.