6 Mississippi Catfish Buffets That Reel You In
Nothing says Southern comfort like a heaping plate of golden-fried catfish, and nobody does it better than Mississippi.
I’ve spent years traveling the back roads of the Magnolia State, hunting for those all-you-can-eat catfish havens that locals whisper about.
From family-owned joints with decades-old recipes to modern eateries with clever twists on the classics, these six catfish buffets serve up the freshest catches with all the fixings that’ll make your mouth water just thinking about them.
1. Berry’s Seafood & Catfish House: A Family Legacy Of Flavor
My grandpa first took me to Berry’s when I was knee-high to a grasshopper, and I swear their hushpuppies haven’t changed a bit since 1982. This Florence institution (with a second location in Magee) has perfected the art of catfish – crispy on the outside, tender and flaky inside.
The buffet spreads across three tables, featuring whole fried catfish, catfish fillets, and their famous thin-cut catfish strips that crunch like potato chips. Don’t miss their jalapeño hushpuppies – little cornmeal bombs of happiness that’ll have you reaching for seconds.
Berry’s down-home atmosphere feels like Sunday dinner at your Southern aunt’s house. Checkered tablecloths, sweet tea in mason jars, and servers who call you “honey” complete the experience that’s kept folks coming back for over 40 years.
2. Cravin’ Catfish: Sherman’s Hidden Treasure
Stumbled upon this gem during a rainstorm last summer when my GPS failed me somewhere near Tupelo. Talk about a happy accident! Cravin’ Catfish may look unassuming from the outside (it’s literally an old gas station), but inside awaits catfish nirvana.
Their buffet rotates daily specials, but the constants are their signature blackened catfish (spicy enough to make you reach for that sweet tea) and their “Mississippi Mud” catfish – rolled in a secret cornmeal mixture with what I suspect is coffee grounds and brown sugar. Bizarre but brilliant.
Weekends bring out the crawfish boil addition when in season. The owner, Miss Patty, walks around offering homemade peach cobbler to first-timers. “Can’t let nobody leave without dessert,” she told me, patting my shoulder as I contemplated a third plate.
3. Butler’s Fish & Steak: New Albany’s Catfish Cathedral
Holy catfish, Batman! Butler’s doesn’t just serve catfish – they worship it. Walking in feels like entering a cathedral dedicated to the whisker-faced fish. Fishing memorabilia covers every inch of wall space, and I counted at least seven taxidermied catfish mounted above the buffet.
Their Thursday night all-you-can-eat spread is legendary among locals. The centerpiece is their “Butler’s Best” – whole catfish soaked in buttermilk overnight before being double-dredged and fried to perfection. The buffet includes four different preparations: fried, grilled, blackened, and their unique “drunken catfish” simmered in beer and spices.
I practically rolled out after trying their catfish hush puppy stuffing – yes, they stuff hushpuppies WITH catfish! My cardiologist would faint, but my taste buds threw a party. Worth every extra mile on the treadmill afterward.
4. Seafood Junction: Where Algoma’s Roads And Rivers Meet
Last spring, my fishing trip got rained out near Pontotoc County, so I consoled myself with the next best thing – eating someone else’s catch at Seafood Junction. This place sits at an actual crossroads in tiny Algoma (with a sister location in Byhalia), and locals time their days around their famous lunch buffet.
The catfish here comes from ponds visible from the restaurant’s back windows – can’t get fresher than that! Their specialty is “Junction Nuggets” – bite-sized catfish pieces marinated in hot sauce before frying, creating little flavor bombs that dance across your tongue.
What makes this place special is their rotating side dishes. Tuesdays feature Mississippi Delta tamales, Thursdays bring fried okra and green tomatoes, and weekends showcase their famous corn fritters drizzled with honey. Arrive early – by noon, there’s usually a line stretching into the gravel parking lot.
5. Catfish Cabin: Boyle’s Beloved Buffet Bonanza
Confession time: I once drove three hours just for Catfish Cabin’s Saturday night buffet. This Boyle landmark has been frying up Mississippi farm-raised catfish since bell-bottoms were first in fashion, and they haven’t changed their recipe once. Why mess with perfection?
The log cabin exterior gives way to a surprisingly spacious dining room where the star attraction awaits – an all-you-can-eat spread featuring their signature thin-sliced catfish fillets with edges so crispy they shatter like glass. Their cornmeal mixture includes a hint of lemon pepper that cuts through the richness perfectly.
Most folks don’t realize the true hidden gem here is their pickle-brined catfish – soaked in dill pickle juice before frying. Sounds crazy, tastes amazing! Pro tip: Owner Jimmy still works the fryer on Friday nights, and he’ll make you a “captain’s platter” with all four styles if you ask nicely.
6. Rocky Creek Catfish Cottage: Lucedale’s Riverside Retreat
Found this place by accident when my cousin’s wedding in Mobile ran long, and I needed dinner on my drive back to Jackson. Rocky Creek sits beside an actual creek where, according to local legend, the catfish swim up to volunteer for dinner service. That’s obviously tall-tale territory, but after tasting their catfish, I wouldn’t be surprised!
Unlike other buffets, Rocky Creek takes a more upscale approach. Their catfish is farm-raised in Mississippi but prepared with techniques you’d find in fancy restaurants. The pecan-crusted catfish with brown butter sauce changed my life, while their spicy remoulade-drizzled blackened catfish made me consider relocating to Lucedale.
The Friday night jazz trio creates the perfect atmosphere as you watch the sunset over the creek through picture windows. I’ve since made this my mandatory stop whenever I’m within 50 miles. Their hushpuppy recipe remains a closely guarded secret – I’ve tried bribing the chef twice!