10 North Carolina Friday Fish Fries That Locals Love
Friday fish fries are a beloved tradition across North Carolina, where locals gather to enjoy crispy, golden seafood at the end of the work week.
From coastal towns famous for their fresh catches to inland cities with surprising seafood gems, the Tar Heel State offers some truly exceptional fried fish experiences.
Whether you’re craving catfish, flounder, or shrimp, these 10 spots serve up the kind of Friday fish that keeps North Carolinians coming back week after week.
1. Twin Tops Fish Camp – Gastonia
Family-owned since 1968, Twin Tops serves mountain-style fish camp fare that’s worth the drive from anywhere in the state. The flounder practically melts in your mouth while the crispy exterior provides that perfect crunch.
Locals start lining up before 5 pm on Fridays, bringing generations of family members along for the weekly ritual.
The hushpuppies alone have achieved legendary status among regulars who swear they’re the best in the Carolinas.
2. The Captain’s Cap – Belmont
Nautical decor sets the mood at this Belmont institution, where Friday means all-you-can-eat flounder, perch, or Calabash shrimp. The fish arrives piping hot with a cornmeal coating that seals in moisture while delivering satisfying crispiness.
Captain’s Cap doesn’t try to reinvent seafood classics. They simply perfect them. The sweet tea flows freely while families catch up on weekly news, creating a community atmosphere that feels like stepping into someone’s home rather than a restaurant.
3. Catfish Cove – Belmont
Catfish Cove elevates the humble catfish to art form status with a proprietary breading recipe guarded for three generations. The fish arrives with that distinct clean-water taste that true catfish aficionados crave.
I still remember my grandfather taking me here as a child, telling me that finding perfectly fried catfish was like finding treasure.
Thirty years later, that treasure remains intact at this Belmont landmark where Friday crowds spill into the parking lot by 6 pm.
4. Love’s Fish Box – Kings Mountain
Housed in an unassuming building off the main drag, Love’s Fish Box proves you shouldn’t judge a fish joint by its exterior. Their Friday flounder special draws folks from three counties away for perfectly seasoned fillets that strike the ideal balance between flaky and firm.
The restaurant’s walls tell stories through decades of community photos. Regulars claim the secret lies in their 60-year-old cast-iron fryers that have never been fully cleaned, just seasoned with time and thousands of fish dinners.
5. Saltbox Seafood Joint – Durham
Chef Ricky Moore’s celebrated Durham-Chapel Hill Boulevard eatery transforms locally caught seafood into crispy masterpieces that honor North Carolina’s coastal heritage.
Fridays feature whatever’s freshest, fried in a light, non-greasy batter that enhances rather than masks the fish’s natural flavors. The no-frills atmosphere keeps focus where it belongs, on impeccably prepared seafood.
Lines form early, but regulars know the wait is part of the experience, with strangers becoming temporary friends united by anticipation of that first perfect bite.
6. Saltwater Seafood & Fry Shack – Raleigh
This Raleigh establishment marries coastal traditions with urban convenience, offering rotating fried-fish specials (e.g., whiting, flounder, shrimp) every Friday. The fish arrives with a delicate, seasoned crust that shatters perfectly with each bite.
I once brought an out-of-state friend who claimed North Carolina couldn’t match her hometown’s seafood. After one meal at Saltwater, she admitted defeat.
The restaurant’s commitment to authentic preparation methods, quick frying at precise temperatures, ensures consistent quality that keeps regulars returning weekly.
7. The Mecca Restaurant – Raleigh
Established in 1930, this downtown Raleigh institution might be known for Greek-American fare, but locals treasure their Friday fried fish special.
The flounder arrives with a perfectly seasoned crust, accompanied by classic southern sides that complement without competing.
The restaurant’s vintage atmosphere adds to the experience. Third-generation customers sit at the same booths their grandparents frequented, creating a time-capsule effect that’s increasingly rare in fast-changing Raleigh.
The fish recipe remains unchanged since the 1950s.
8. Pier 41 Seafood – Lumberton
Pier 41 brings coastal flavors to inland Lumberton with Friday fish specials that draw crowds from across Robeson County. Their signature Calabash-style fried flounder achieves the perfect texture, crispy outside, flaky inside, without excess grease.
The restaurant feels like a community gathering spot where everyone seems to know everyone. I witnessed a 90th birthday celebration there where four generations gathered around platters of fried fish, the birthday honoree declaring it hadn’t changed since she first visited in her 40s.
9. Calabash Seafood Hut – Calabash
Located in the town that gave “Calabash-style” seafood its name, this unpretentious eatery serves the definitive version of North Carolina’s famous lightly-breaded fried seafood. Friday brings specials featuring whatever local boats delivered that morning.
The restaurant’s simplicity lets quality shine. Paper plates and plastic forks disappear from consciousness once you taste the delicately fried shrimp and fish.
Fishing boats visible from the dining room windows reinforce the direct-from-the-ocean freshness that defines authentic Calabash seafood.
10. Beck’s Restaurant of Calabash – Calabash
Family-owned since 1940, Beck’s represents the gold standard for traditional Calabash-style seafood. Their Friday fish fry features flounder, spot, and mullet with that characteristic light, crisp breading that made this coastal town famous.
The restaurant maintains time-honored cooking methods. Fish is fried quickly at high temperatures in small batches, ensuring each piece achieves that signature delicate crust.
Generations of families make Beck’s their Friday tradition, some driving hours across state lines for what many consider the definitive Carolina seafood experience.