Reel in eats at these Oklahoma restaurants for National Catfish Day

Catfish are, quite frankly, monsters.

Look at the facts:

• They like to live in the dark.

• Their mouths are filled with needle-like teeth.

• Those barbels on their faces are creepy.

• Catfish live long enough that you could be attacked by the same fish that bit your grandpa.

But if you look at a lot of the aquatic animals we like to eat, they’re pretty monstrous too. Crawfish are like tiny lobsters, and lobsters are like giant crawfish. Eels look like snakes! Crabs are basically enormous sea spiders. And what do all of these have in common? They’re terrifying to look at and, coincidentally, they’re all great with butter.

While most of the above creatures are rare finds in the Sooner State, catfish are ubiquitous—not only in our rivers and lakes but also on menus all the way from Kenton to Broken Bow. With National Catfish Day noodling its way onto calendars June 25, it seems like a good time to run down some of the Oklahoma Today staff’s favorite spots for eating these horror movie rejects.

Wanda J's Next Generation in Tulsa. Photo by Lori Duckworth

Wanda J's Next Generation

Soul food has always been about making easily resistible foods taste irresistible, and catfish is no exception. On a menu dripping with Southern charm, Wanda J’s Next Generation in Tulsa serves plenty of staples—fried chicken, chicken-fried steak, liver and onions, and more. The hungriest of hippos ought to look at the catfish entrée, which comes either fried or grilled alongside a pair of sumptuous sides like candied yams, greens, and fried okra. Or if you’re not feeling quite so peckish, the catfish basket is a little smaller—but no less delicious.

Cattlemen's Steakhouse in Oklahoma City. Photo by Jim Argo

Cattlemen's Steakhouse

Hard as it may be to believe, not everyone goes to Cattlemen’s Steakhouse for a steak. Sure, the menu is overwhelmingly beef-tastic, with just about every cut under the sun available, but there are plenty of other options. If the lamb fries or the Hawaiian chicken breast aren’t tempting, check out the fried catfish dinner. Each filet is hand-breaded with a seasoned cornmeal crust that is as good plain as it is dipped in tartar sauce or liberally sprinkled with hot sauce. And if fish doesn’t seem filling enough, there’s a hefty baked potato on the side to put the kibosh on hunger.

Fried Water Critters (aka catfish) at Ole Red in Tishomingo. Photo by Lori Duckworth

Ole Red

What if your appetite includes fantastic foods and tasty tunes? Let Blake Shelton’s Ole Red in Tishomingo handle them both. With live music almost every night, this southern Oklahoma hotspot is a feast for the ears and the taste buds. After snacking on a plate of fried pickles and a giant Bavarian pretzel, diners can dig into an entree called Fried Water Critters, which includes a choice of fried catfish, shrimp, or a combination of the two. The lemon-pepper cornmeal crust gives the fish a zing of citrus heat that goes well with the pickled green tomatoes, french fries, and deep-fried hush puppies.

The Pub on the Bricks

Guymon is a butcher’s town, with plenty of beef and pork processing plants employing much of the population, but that doesn’t mean catfish isn’t still a favorite. Head to The Pub on the Bricks, one of Guymon’s best-loved eateries, for a menu overflowing with options. Barbecue ribs? Steak fingers? Enchiladas? They’re all here and more. But don’t sleep on the catfish, which is double-hand-breaded for extra crunch. Along with the full and half portions of fried catfish, the restaurant also swaps in catfish for cod in the fish and chips and strips away the breading for a healthier grilled catfish option, which comes with access to the salad bar.

All-you-can-eat catfish at McGehee's Catfish Restaurant in Marietta. Photo by Lori Duckworth

McGehee's Catfish Restaurant

Feed a taste for adventure with a trip to Marietta and a stop at the famous McGehee’s Catfish Restaurant. It’s well off the beaten path, but fortune (and fish) favor the bold when the restaurant comes into view. Chicken strips, fried shrimp, steaks, and even burgers are available, but it’s better to come hungry for a first visit, because the all-you-can-eat fried catfish dinner is no joke. As the name implies, McGehee’s Catfish knows how to cook these locally loved fish fast, delicious, and often. If non-stop catfish eating sounds like too much, a two-piece dinner with sides is available for a few dollars less. There’s even a grilled catfish option with a choice of mild, blackened, or Cajun seasoning.

JW Cobb's Family Restaurant

Here’s a secret: you don’t have to take your family to enjoy JW Cobb’s Family Restaurant. In fact, depending on your family, you might only enjoy it solo. But one way or another, fans of classic homestyle cooking find their way to Ponca City for this one. The catfish dinner is served daily with breaded, farm-raised catfish deep-fried to deliciousness and served with tartar sauce, homemade rolls, and two sides. But for those who are as serious about getting a good deal as they are eating good catfish, it’s part of the daily special on Fridays. Be sure to save a little room for slice of pineapple, Almond Joy, or peanut butter creme pie or a scoop of peach cobbler served á la mode.

Written By

Greg Elwell

Greg Elwell served as research editor and web editor of Oklahoma Today from 2018-2023. He also has worked for newspapers, medical research organizations, and government institutions.