10 North Carolina Fish Camps Locals Adore More Than Any Seafood Chain
Forget those fancy seafood chains with their glossy menus and tourist prices! North Carolina’s beloved fish camps serve up no-frills Southern seafood that’ll make your taste buds do a happy dance.
These unpretentious eateries, often family-owned for generations, dish out massive portions of perfectly fried catfish, hushpuppies, and slaw that’ll have you unbuttoning your pants before dessert arrives.
1. Good Hot Fish – Asheville
Holy mackerel, this Asheville gem serves hushpuppies so addictive they should come with a warning label! The crispy-on-the-outside, fluffy-on-the-inside cornmeal delights arrive piping hot alongside mountain trout caught practically in the restaurant’s backyard.
Grandma’s secret batter recipe remains locked in the family vault, guarded more carefully than Fort Knox. Though tucked away on a quiet street, locals form lines out the door every Friday night.
2. Pisgah Fish Camp – Pisgah Forest
Nestled among towering pines since 1968, this legendary spot could write the book on perfect mountain trout. Wooden paneling and checkered tablecloths transport you straight to simpler times when calories didn’t count and seafood came with a side of small-town gossip.
Hikers fresh off nearby trails mix with multi-generation families celebrating special occasions. The hushpuppy basket? Refilled without asking – just try saying no!
3. Twin Tops Fish Camp – Gastonia
Where time stands deliciously still! Twin Tops’ secret weapon? The same cast-iron skillets they’ve used since opening day in 1967, seasoned with decades of flavor that no newfangled cooking gadget could ever replicate.
Regulars swear the flounder sandwich could end family feuds. Their tartar sauce recipe remains more closely guarded than superhero identities. Bonus points for the waitresses who remember exactly how you like your tea sweetened!
4. Captain’s Cap – Belmont
Greetings, lovers of seafood! From the outside, Captain’s Cap may like your grandfather’s garage, but within lies treasure more valuable than any pirate’s chest. Many diet plans have been derailed by the Captain’s Platter, a mountain of fried delight that could feed a small fleet.
Families with three generations gather on the weekends to share stories while munching on platters of crispy catfish. Their fabled banana pudding? Even if your clothes tell you differently, it’s worth making space for!
5. Amber Jack Seafood & Steaks – Gastonia
Whoa, those hushpuppies! Amber Jack drops golden cornmeal magic bombs tableside faster than you can say ‘more please.’ Founded by former commercial fisherman Jack Wilson in 1978, authenticity swims through every recipe.
The walls showcase decades of local fishing legends and their prized catches. Though technically serving steaks too, nobody remembers the last time someone actually ordered one – the seafood’s just that legendary!
6. Catfish Cove – Belmont
The whiskers of Neptune, sweet! Catfish from Catfish Cove is so delicious that it virtually floats off your fork. Since bell-bottoms became trendy in the first place, the Johnson family has operated this establishment.
Three generations, two floods, and one very inquisitive health inspector did not destroy their tartar sauce recipe.
Just look at the autographed pictures on the “Wall of Fame” to see how celebrities’ security teams smuggle them here for a true Southern experience when they visit Charlotte.
7. Long Creek Fish Fry – Dallas
If you blink, you’ll miss this roadside gem, where the parking lot fills up more quickly than a Fourth of July kiddie pool! Although the structure may appear to have seen better days, you are about to experience the happiest day of your life with your taste sensations.
They only accept cash since their old register hasn’t taken a credit card since the 1980s. A customer who won a county fair blue ribbon three years in a row is said to have given them the recipe for their coleslaw!
8. Forest City Fish Camp – Bostic
Howdy, hushpuppy heaven! This unassuming cinder-block building houses seafood magic that’s converted many a fish-hater into a true believer. The Thompson family has been frying up happiness since 1972, using recipes passed down through tearstained, grease-spotted index cards.
Local farmers stop by after market day, still in overalls. Their secret weapon? A mysterious ‘Fish Camp Dust’ seasoning that would make Colonel Sanders weep with jealousy!
9. Libby Hill Seafood – Mount Airy Area
Seafood sensation meets Mayberry charm! Libby Hill is regarded as honorary fish camp aristocracy by the locals, despite being a tiny regional chain. You won’t believe how many fried goodies they include on their seafood platters!
Since its founding in 1953, they have outlasted numerous trendy eateries by focusing on what works: tasty seafood without ostentatious extras. The renowned “Landlubber’s Warning” sign at the door reads, “Prices may vary depending on how much you gripe about the Yankees.”
10. Walkertown Seafood Shack – Walkertown
Great googly moogly, those scallops! Housed in what was once literally a bait shop (the original hooks still decorate the walls), this hidden gem serves seafood so fresh you’ll check for gills.
The owner, Captain Mike, still makes weekly coastal runs in his pickup truck. Kids get coloring sheets shaped like fish while parents enjoy hushpuppies that somehow taste like cornbread, donuts, and happiness.