10 Hidden Mississippi Seafood Shacks Locals Flock To Before They Sell Out
Last summer, I drove two hours for fried catfish that sold out by noon, and honestly? Worth every mile.
Mississippi’s Gulf Coast hides some of the best seafood joints you’ve never heard of, the kind where locals line up before opening and everything’s gone by early afternoon.
These aren’t fancy restaurants with reservations and dress codes, just honest-to-goodness shacks slinging the freshest catches around.
1. Bozo’s Grocery & Grill (Pascagoula)
Walking into what looks like your grandma’s corner store only to find some of the Gulf’s best fried shrimp is peak Mississippi magic.
Bozo’s has been a Pascagoula institution since forever, tucked away where tourists rarely wander. The seafood platters here disappear faster than ice cream on a July afternoon.
Locals know to call ahead or risk missing out on the daily catch, which gets snatched up by lunchtime regulars who’ve been coming here for decades.
2. Taranto’s Crawfish (Biloxi)
Biloxi locals guard this spot like a state secret, mainly because Taranto’s boils some of the spiciest, most perfectly seasoned crawfish on the coast.
During crawfish season, cars pack the lot before the doors even open. The family running this joint has perfected their spice blend over generations.
You’ll see everyone from construction workers to business folks elbow-deep in mudbugs, and nobody leaves without stained fingers and a satisfied grin on their face.
3. Desporte Seafood (Biloxi)
Part seafood market, part lunch counter, Desporte’s operates on a simple philosophy: catch it fresh, cook it right, serve it hot.
The place doesn’t look like much from the outside, which is exactly why it stays packed with people who know better.
Their gumbo has won over skeptics and food snobs alike. Get there early because once the day’s catch runs out, they close up shop without apology, leaving late arrivals to kick themselves all the way home.
4. Fayard’s Po-Boys (Ocean Springs)
Forget everything you think you know about sandwiches until you’ve wrapped your hands around a Fayard’s po-boy.
These aren’t dainty little things, they’re architectural marvels of fried seafood piled so high you need a strategy to eat them. Ocean Springs residents treat this place like their personal kitchen.
The bread comes fresh daily from a local bakery, and the shrimp gets breaded to order, creating a crunch that echoes through the tiny dining room with every bite.
5. Lil’ Ray’s Poboys & Seafood (Gulfport)
Ray might be little, but his portions sure aren’t. This Gulfport gem serves seafood plates that hang off the edges of styrofoam containers, making takeout a two-hand operation.
The catfish here gets fried to golden perfection with a cornmeal coating that stays crispy even after the drive home.
Regulars know the secret menu items by heart, ordering combinations that never made it onto the chalkboard but taste like pure coastal heaven anyway.
6. The Crawfish House & Grill (Ocean Springs)
Pulling up to this spot during peak season feels like arriving at the world’s best backyard party.
The Crawfish House doesn’t mess around with fancy presentation, they dump pounds of perfectly boiled seafood right onto your table and let you go to town.
Their garlic butter sauce has developed an almost cult-like following among Ocean Springs residents.
Weekend waits can stretch over an hour, but watching people leave with satisfied, exhausted expressions tells you everything about whether it’s worth it.
7. Claw Daddy’s (Gulfport)
Someone at Claw Daddy’s clearly understands that seafood boils are supposed to be messy, loud, and absolutely delicious.
They’ve nailed the Louisiana-style approach with a Mississippi twist that keeps both tourists and locals coming back for more.
The spice levels here range from “my grandma could handle this” to “why is my face melting,” so order wisely.
Their combo platters disappear fast on weekends, leaving disappointed latecomers staring at the sold-out signs with genuine sadness.
8. Ben’s Deli (Gulfport)
Don’t let the name fool you into thinking this place only does pastrami. Ben’s serves up some seriously underrated seafood that flies under most people’s radar, which is exactly how the regulars prefer it.
Their fried oyster sandwiches have converted more than a few oyster skeptics into full-blown believers.
The lunch rush here moves fast because everyone knows exactly what they want, having ordered the same perfect sandwich for the past twenty years without getting bored.
9. Pirate’s Cove (Pass Christian)
Perched right where it should be, near the water with a view that makes you forget your phone exists, Pirate’s Cove serves the kind of seafood that reminds you why people moved to the coast in the first place.
Their blackened redfish could make a vegetarian reconsider their life choices.
Pass Christian folks know to arrive before the weekend lunch crowd descends, because once word spreads about what’s fresh that day, tables fill faster than high tide.
10. John’s Seafood (Gulfport)
John’s keeps things refreshingly simple in a world obsessed with complicated menus and fancy presentations.
Fresh seafood, hot grease, and reasonable prices have kept this Gulfport staple in business while trendier places come and go. The daily specials board tells you exactly what came off the boats that morning.
Smart locals call ahead to reserve their orders because John’s operates on a first-come, first-served basis, and when they’re out, they’re out until tomorrow’s catch arrives.