13 New York Fried Catfish Spots That Locals Agree Are Worth Every Bite
Fried catfish may have Southern roots, but New York has quietly built its own reputation for doing it right, one golden fillet at a time.
I learned this the hard way after ordering catfish on a whim one afternoon and realizing I had been underestimating this city’s frying skills for far too long.
Across the boroughs, cooks are working hot oil and cornmeal with confidence, turning out crisp, well-seasoned catfish that earns repeat visits and loud local opinions.
Finding great fried catfish here can feel unexpected in a city famous for pizza slices and bagels, but locals already know exactly where to go.
These spots have earned their reputations through steady plates, generous portions, and the kind of crunch that stops conversation for a moment.
If fried catfish has somehow stayed off your New York food radar, these 13 spots are ready to correct that oversight one satisfying bite at a time.
1. Sylvia’s Restaurant, New York, New York
My first Carolina-style fried catfish at Sylvia’s hooked me before I even bothered to read the rest of the menu.
The catfish arrives golden and crisp, seasoned so the cornmeal crust adds crunch without hiding the fish.
I usually order collard greens and mac and cheese on the side, then stop talking for a few bites.
The dining room stays noisy and friendly, with regulars greeting staff by name while visitors study the walls.
I like sliding into a booth, tearing into warm cornbread, and waiting for that platter to land.
When friends ask where to start a first Harlem food tour, I send them here and insist they choose the catfish.
By the time I step back onto Malcolm X Boulevard, I always feel a little lighter in spirit and a lot slower in my stride.
Located at 328 Malcolm X Blvd, New York, NY 10027.
2. Charles Pan-Fried Chicken, New York, New York
Walking into Charles Pan-Fried Chicken for the first time, I was thinking only about chicken and walked out wondering why more people are not talking about the pan-fried catfish.
The catfish comes in fillets fried in the same old-school cast-iron style that made the chicken famous, so the crust shatters gently when I bite in.
I like grabbing a plate with braised collards and dirty rice, then finding a corner seat where I can concentrate on the food.
There is usually a steady line, but the staff moves with the speed of people who have done this for years.
Sometimes I split an order of catfish and chicken with a friend, purely for research purposes.
When the pan crackles in the open kitchen, I can feel my decision-making power weaken in the best possible way.
Walking back out onto 145th Street with that familiar pan-fried aroma on my jacket, I always feel like Harlem just taught me another small lesson in flavor.
Find it at 340 W 145th St, New York, NY 10039.
3. Make My Fish, New York, New York
The first time I followed the smell of hot oil up 116th Street and into Make My Fish, I knew I was not leaving without a catfish dinner.
Here, the fried catfish is straightforward and proud, dropped to order so the edges stay crisp and the interior stays tender.
I usually pair it with fries and a simple salad, then add a few extra lemon wedges because restraint is overrated.
The space is counter-service casual, which suits me, since I am usually too focused on the styrofoam container in front of me to worry about décor.
On busy days, I watch locals grab big seafood combo platters while I guard my catfish like it has its own reservation.
This has become one of my favorite quick Harlem stops when I want fried catfish without fuss, just hot, crisp, and ready.
Eventually, I step back onto 116th Street carrying the memory of that catfish like a quiet little secret only locals truly understand.
Located at 120 W 116th St, New York, NY 10026.
4. Lighthouse Fish Market, New York, New York
A rainy afternoon led me to Lighthouse Fish Market in East Harlem, where I ended up staying long enough to polish off a full deep-fried catfish dinner.
Their catfish strips and full catfish plates are fried to that sweet spot where the coating stays crunchy but never feels heavy.
I like ordering the catfish and shrimp combo, then adding mac and cheese and yams until the tray looks slightly ambitious.
The room fills with the sound of forks on plates and friends catching up between bites, and I always feel like I have stumbled into a neighborhood hangout.
Whenever I crave catfish that tastes fresh, hot, and seasoned with real care, I find myself heading back to this corner near the river.
Long after the plate is cleared, I can still taste the seasoning and hear the low conversations that make this place feel like part of the neighborhood’s heartbeat.
Visit at 508 E 117th St, New York, NY 10035.
5. CEA-LO Cafe, Bronx, New York
Curiosity pushed me to CEA-LO Cafe after a friend whispered that their fried catfish might ruin me for other versions, and I am still recovering.
The menu gives catfish its own spotlight, with single-piece catfish, full catfish dinners, and fish and grits that feel built for serious comfort.
I like grabbing a catfish dinner with cabbage and mac and cheese, then watching the neighborhood drift in and out around me.
The space is relaxed and unfussy, exactly the kind of room where fried catfish, collard greens, and cornbread make perfect sense.
On chilly days, I order extra catfish and tell myself it is for tomorrow, then somehow forget that plan once the first piece hits the table.
If you want a Bronx spot where catfish is treated as a headliner and not a side note, this is the address I share.
Leaving Soundview Avenue with a full stomach and a to-go box, I always get the sense that CEA-LO has turned an ordinary corner into a comfort stop.
Head to 1003 Soundview Ave, Bronx, NY 10472.
6. GG’s Fish & Chips, Brooklyn, New York
One spur-of-the-moment stop at GG’s Fish & Chips left me staring happily at a basket of catfish and chips that disappeared faster than my self-control.
Their catfish and chips plate comes with thick, seasoned fillets and a pile of fries that soak up every last drip of flavor.
Sometimes I switch things up with catfish and grits or a catfish and shrimp combo, just to keep my own order from becoming predictable.
The shop feels like the neighborhood’s unofficial cafeteria, with regulars grabbing takeout while I linger and pretend I am considering a second round.
Every time I leave, I end up brushing a trail of stray crumbs off my shirt and wondering how soon I can justify going back.
By the time I reach the subway, that Hoyt Street detour feels less like an errand and more like a very smart tradition I plan to keep.
Located at 234 Hoyt St, Brooklyn, NY 11217.
7. Peaches Kitchen & Bar, Brooklyn, New York
Word of mouth about Peaches and its Southern comfort plates pulled me in, and the cornmeal-crusted catfish kept showing up in my daydreams afterward.
The catfish here wears a crunchy cornmeal coat that holds onto just enough seasoning to stay interesting without crowding out the fish itself.
I like ordering it with salt and pepper fries or grits, then taking a slow breath before the first bite because I know conversation will pause.
The room feels warm and neighborly, with couples on dates, families splitting big plates, and solo diners like me working methodically through catfish and sides.
Whenever I want a Bed-Stuy evening that feels easy but still tastes carefully made, this catfish is the order that anchors the whole plan.
Stepping back out onto Lewis Avenue after dinner, I always feel like Bed-Stuy has handed me another reason to linger a little longer in the neighborhood.
Visit at 393 Lewis Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11233.
8. Sweet Catch BK, Brooklyn, New York
Brunch at Sweet Catch BK turned into an accidental discovery that their catfish and grits could hijack an entire morning.
The catfish arrives in generous fillets, fried crisp around the edges and set over creamy grits that soak up every seasoned crumb.
I like to add a side of greens or cabbage, then try to slow myself down because the plate disappears alarmingly quickly when I get distracted.
The sunlight through the windows, the music, and the steady flow of regulars all make it feel like a neighborhood living room that just happens to fry catfish very well.
Whenever someone tells me they want seafood in Brooklyn that leans soulful instead of fancy, I point them toward this Nostrand Avenue corner and tell them to start with the catfish.
When I finally push my chair back from the table, Nostrand Avenue looks softer around the edges, and my whole day feels quietly upgraded.
Find it at 1222 Nostrand Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11225.
9. Bed-Stuy Fish Fry, Brooklyn, New York
The first time I walked into Bed-Stuy Fish Fry on Fulton, I swore I would just get something small, then watched myself order catfish fritters and a full catfish dinner anyway.
Their menu gives catfish plenty of room, from fritters to full seafood dinners that feel built for serious appetites.
I like to grab catfish with rice and peas and maybe a side of cabbage, then take that heavy bag to a nearby bench if I am feeling impatient.
Inside, the energy is quick and no-nonsense, with orders called out, bags packed, and plenty of locals who clearly have a favorite combo locked in.
When I want fried catfish that feels purely about crunch, heat, and portion size, this is the takeout menu I pull up first.
Once the last crumb is gone and the bag is empty, Fulton Street somehow feels friendlier, like it knows I chose well.
Located at 940 Fulton St, Brooklyn, NY 11238.
10. Katie O’s Soul Food, Brooklyn, New York
A cold evening and a craving for something fried and reassuring led me to Katie O’s Soul Food, where the Fried Catfish SnackBox handled that request better than any pep talk.
The catfish here shows up in snack boxes, platters, and party trays, all battered, fried, and ready to meet seasoned fries and soft dinner rolls.
I like ordering a Fried Catfish SnackBox with extra fries and then pretending I will save half for later.
The space feels homey, with steady takeout traffic, friendly greetings, and that unmistakable smell of frying food that makes every plan involving salad feel unrealistic.
Whenever I want Brooklyn soul food that treats catfish as a proper star and not a side character, Katie O’s is where I end up scrolling through the menu again.
By the time I fold the SnackBox closed, East New York Avenue feels like the center of its own small, perfectly seasoned universe.
Visit at 452 East New York Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11225.
11. Shaw-nae’s House, Staten Island, New York
A friend talked me into booking a reservation at Shaw-nae’s House after hearing whispers about golden fried catfish tenders, and I still remember the moment that first piece landed on my plate.
The catfish tenders come perfectly fried, with a crackling exterior and juicy interior that make sharing slightly difficult.
I like pairing them with whatever sides Shaw-nae is loving that week, then sitting back and watching the small dining room fill with people who clearly treat this as a second home.
Reservations and limited hours make it feel special, so I always show up a little early, ready to give those catfish tenders my full attention.
If someone tells me Staten Island has no serious soul food, I point them straight to this address and let the catfish do the convincing.
Walking down Van Duzer Street afterward, I always think about how lucky Staten Island is to have a dining room like this tucked into its hills.
Located at 381 Van Duzer St, Staten Island, NY 10304.
12. Park Vue Soul Food Bar and Restaurant, Buffalo, New York
A drive across Buffalo’s East Side one afternoon turned into a mission to see whether the fried catfish at Park Vue really deserved the praise, and I left wondering why I had waited so long.
Their fried catfish shows up golden and generous, usually sharing plate space with greens, mac and cheese, and a piece of cornbread that does a lot of quiet heavy lifting.
I like taking a seat, listening to the conversation at nearby tables, and working slowly through catfish, sides, and one last bite of crust.
Every visit reminds me that Buffalo’s comfort food tradition stretches far beyond wings, especially when a plate of catfish lands in front of me at this address.
Driving away from South Crossman Street, I can still taste the cornmeal crust and hear the easy laughter that keeps this place humming.
Find it at 34 S Crossman St, Buffalo, NY 14211.
13. Phat Catz Restaurant & Bar, Buffalo, New York
A casual bite on Kensington turned serious the moment I walked into Phat Catz and treated the catfish dinner like a personal challenge.
Their catfish plate is a full event, with big fried fillets, sides like potato salad or cabbage, and cornbread waiting at the corner of the plate.
I usually sit near the window, watching traffic go by, while I negotiate with myself about whether I really need to finish every piece.
The room feels lively and welcoming, and I always hear at least one table debating which combination of catfish, chicken, and ribs they will try next.
Whenever I want fried catfish in western New York that feels bold, generous, and proudly Southern, this is the spot I add to the itinerary.
Heading back along Kensington Avenue with leftovers on the seat beside me, I know I have just added another non-negotiable stop to my Buffalo map.
Visit at 965 Kensington Ave, Buffalo, NY 14215.