Texas' Best Catfish (Houston, Abilene, Galveston: shopping center, yard, parks)

[GayleTX]

Windom TX , pop. 274, has a catfish/shrimp buffet $11 (includes drink and homemade cobblers and ice cream) that opens up in an old grocery bldg on Fri and Sat nights and serves 600-800 people between 5-9 pm....and across the street (which is dirt, about 20 ft wide) at the park pavilliion there is usually a good country band and people gathered around having a great time. (no alcohol). It's like a huge warm family reunion. The fish and shrimp and all the sides are outstanding quality. Be prepared to wait in line for up to an hour some nights, though.

[TexasReb]

I once did a little "home-computer" survey to find out where "catfish restaurants" are most prevelent in the country. The methodology was based on that first done by Dr. John Shelton Reed of UNC, a noted cultural sociologist (and "southernologist" LOL), who first attempted to find "the South" by comparing the number of business listings -- in telephone business pages -- containing the term "Southern" against "American".

Anyway, in my own sophmoric attempt to do the same, I used the internet business pages to compare simple "catfish restaurants" to "McDonalds" (which I figured would be a good independent variable). Here were my "findings"!

Mississippi 51%
Arkansas 47.5
Louisiana 16.0
Oklahoma 15.4
Alabama 13.5
Texas 12.0
Tennesse 10.3
Missouri 7.6
Georgia 5.7
Florida 2.4
Kentucky 2.3

(All other states, including the Carolinas, drop out of the picture at less than 1%)

Do y'all note that our bordering neighbor states to the north and east outrank us in the ratio of catfish joints to McDonalds? This is disturbing to me. I need to update this study and see if things have changed over the last several years...

[GayleTX]

Do y'all note that our bordering neighbor states to the north and east outrank us in the ratio of catfish joints to McDonalds? This is disturbing to me. ]

Maybe it's because BBQ mixes into the equation in TX and competes with food dollars moreso than in the bordering states? Too bad! Also possibly because TX has had such an influx of 'ferriners' from up north who don't appreciate a good catfish when they see it? And it could be...not a lot of places know how to cook good catfish any more - they really need to be cleaned right and get the black gooky stuff off to have every bite taste good - just one bad bite with that stuff on it can turn somebody off for life.

Interesting study!

[TexasReb]

Originally Posted by GayleTX

[i] Also possibly because TX has had such an influx of 'ferriners' from up north who don't appreciate a good catfish when they see it? And it could be...not a lot of places know how to cook good catfish any more - they really need to be cleaned right and get the black gooky stuff off to have every bite taste good - just one bad bite with that stuff on it can turn somebody off for life.

Interesting study!

It was fun to do, for sure, Gayle!

You have a very good point though as concerns the influence of northern transplants and other immigration (illegal or not! LOL). When I broke it down into regions of Texas, the results changed considerably!

For instance, in East Texas, the ratio was almost on par with that of Mississippi. North Texas, parts of West Texas and Central Texas were right up there as well. Hell, any of us who live in these regions know such as a fact of life! LOL

BUT...as Texas is such a large state, the percentage of catfish joints to McDonalds dropped off considerably in South Texas and far West Texas. Thus, the overall findings of Texas as a whole wasn't in the top tier!

On a related tangent, I almost hate to say it, but the BEST catfish joint I know of is located just across the Red River, from Wichita Falls, in Oklahoma. It is called "Bills Catfish"...and oh man, it is well worth visiting....

[case44]

Originally Posted by pfw

I have to completely agree with you on Catfish O'Harlies, and I'm more than willing to take a drive to go out there. I haven't been to Catfish and Company in awhile but I do remember them being pretty good.

O'Harlies is available in Decatur and Weatherford. They may have a few other locations, but I'd have to look it up. Those are the only two that I know. And Catfish and Company has big filets. They come out piping hot every time I order! They still have the Hurst location if you'd like to go.

[mrgoodwx]

Even though I grew up in Mississippi (and have eaten some fine catfish!), I've been in New Mexico so long, I'm not sure I can remember the taste of the best catfish. However, last year we were visiting my sister-in-law in Houston. We all went to a place called Sudie's Catfish House on Spencer Highway in Pasadena...and it tasted mighty fine to me.

[catman]

There is no catfish to be found in Albuquerque? That is a pity. I love NM, but that's a mark against it!

GayleTX: You're right about the "black gooky stuff". A funky serving of catfish can be a deal-breaker.

[MSJones]

The best catfish I ever ate in a restaurant was at Catfish Place on Hwy. 19 going towards Trinity. Unfortunately, it's closed now, which depresses me. *sigh*

[Danny Knight]

I agree that David Beards Catfish king has the best catfish. They recently closed the one in my town Waxahachie, Texas and I am going to Tyler Texas this weekend for a National Kidney Foundation meeting and told my 2 sisters I would only eat at Catfish King and one of my sisters does not even like fish. DAVID PLEASE OPEN ANOTHER ONE NEAR WAXAHACHIE !!!!

[case44]

Originally Posted by Danny Knight

I agree that David Beards Catfish king has the best catfish. They recently closed the one in my town Waxahachie, Texas and I am going to Tyler Texas this weekend for a National Kidney Foundation meeting and told my 2 sisters I would only eat at Catfish King and one of my sisters does not even like fish. DAVID PLEASE OPEN ANOTHER ONE NEAR WAXAHACHIE !!!!

He closed his store in Waxahachie??! Well, he just can't do that! There is one in South Oak Cliff on Hampton just north of Camp Wisdom if you're interested in driving over there, and, as far as I know, that one is still open.