Fried fish sandwiches are crispy, golden, and downright comforting. Some come with slaw, others with spicy remoulade, and every state has its own twist.
From flaky whitefish to thick-cut catfish, these sandwiches serve serious flavor between two buns.
Here’s the best fried fish sandwich in every U.S. state, chosen for taste, freshness, and local love.
1. Alabama – Saw’s Soul Kitchen (Birmingham)
A generous slab of golden catfish sits on soft bread with creamy slaw and tangy sauce. Every bite sings with Southern comfort.
Locals line up early, knowing this crispy classic always hits the spot.
2. Alaska – The Hangar On The Wharf (Juneau)
Wild-caught halibut gets a light, shatter-crisp coating and a squeeze of lemon. Toasted bread soaks in every ocean-bright bite.
It’s fresh-from-the-dock flavor with a side of stunning harbor views.
3. Arizona – Angie’s Lobster (Phoenix)
Despite the desert heat, this seafood drive-thru serves a perfectly crisp cod filet on a buttered bun. Tartar sauce brings zing.
Affordable, fast, and crunchy—it’s a fish sandwich oasis.
4. Arkansas – Flying Fish (Little Rock)
Fried catfish, golden and flaky, is the hero here, stacked high and served with a peppery bite. Add pickles and hot sauce.
It’s bold, rustic, and deep-fried to Southern standards.
5. California – Malibu Seafood (Malibu)
Pacific cod, battered fresh and fried until golden, is tucked into a soft roll with house slaw. The view adds flavor.
Every bite feels like coastal sunshine and seaside salt air.
6. Colorado – GB Fish & Chips (Denver)
This British-style fish sandwich features thick cod fillets wrapped in a crispy ale batter. Malt vinegar is encouraged.
7. Connecticut – Captain Scott’s Lobster Dock (New London)
Crisp-fried haddock meets pillowy rolls and tangy tartar at this charming dockside shack. It’s fresh, simple, and no-frills.
Every sandwich is made to order and loaded with New England flavor.
8. Delaware – Matt’s Fish Camp (Lewes)
Their beer-battered cod is buttery inside and crunchy outside, layered with lettuce and sharp house pickles. The brioche bun seals it.
This one’s coastal comfort with gourmet edges.
9. Florida – The Fish Shack (Pompano Beach)
Fresh mahi-mahi gets a crackly crust and zesty sauce, then lands on a toasted hoagie roll. It’s beachy and bold.
No frozen fish here—just sunshine-seasoned perfection.
10. Georgia – The Optimist (Atlanta)
Buttermilk-battered snapper gets dressed with house pickles and tangy remoulade on a toasted bun. Texture and flavor are dialed all the way up.
Fine dining meets fish shack in this polished take.
11. Hawaii – Nico’s Pier 38 (Honolulu)
Fresh island catch, often mahi or ono, is lightly battered and paired with spicy aioli. It’s crispy, ocean-bright, and deeply satisfying.
You can taste the Pacific in every juicy bite.
12. Idaho – Reel Foods Fish Market (Boise)
This market favorite features flaky halibut with a lemony crunch and generous dill tartar. The bun stays pillowy despite the juice.
Freshness leads the way in every bite.
13. Illinois – Calumet Fisheries (Chicago)
A South Side legend fries smelts and cod to crispy perfection, with soft white bread and hot sauce. It’s old-school, no-nonsense.
Bold, briny, and full of flavor, it tastes like history and grit.
14. Indiana – Caplinger’s Fresh Catch (Indianapolis)
Wild-caught catfish is seasoned with secret spice, then fried crisp and served with slaw. Every sandwich bursts with backyard fish fry energy.
It’s generous, golden, and deeply Midwestern.
15. Iowa – Bluff Lake Catfish Farm (Maquoketa)
Caught on-site and fried on demand, their catfish sandwich is rich, flaky, and dripping with lake-grown flavor. It’s straight from the pond.
This one comes with a view and a story.
16. Kansas – Hook & Reel (Overland Park)
Their fried tilapia sandwich comes stacked with creamy sauce and Cajun crunch. Toasted bread holds it all together.
It’s bold, saucy, and pure comfort food.
17. Kentucky – The Fish House (Louisville)
This drive-in favorite dishes out whitefish on a hoagie with tartar and iceberg crunch. The batter is peppery and light.
A hometown classic, crisped to golden perfection.
18. Louisiana – Parkway Bakery & Tavern (New Orleans)
The catfish po’ boy here is legendary, with cornmeal-coated fillets and soft, overstuffed French bread. Dress it fully for the full experience.
Spicy, crunchy, and overflowing—it’s a bite of Louisiana soul.
19. Maine – Bite Into Maine (Cape Elizabeth)
Battered haddock tucks into a soft bun with crisp slaw and tangy remoulade. The fish flakes like butter.
It’s simple, seaside, and everything Maine does best.
20. Maryland – Thames Street Oyster House (Baltimore)
Cornmeal-fried rockfish meets brioche and tangy aioli at this upscale tavern. Each bite balances crunch with creamy richness.
It’s Chesapeake comfort with a fine dining edge.
21. Massachusetts – Kelly’s Roast Beef (Revere)
They’ve been frying golden cod since the 1950s and stacking it on buttery rolls. Add tartar, pickles, or coleslaw to taste.
Old-school, crispy, and generously portioned—it’s pure coastal nostalgia.
22. Michigan – Scotty Simpson’s Fish & Chips (Detroit)
This Motor City mainstay fries cod to a golden crackle and slides it into a classic sandwich. Tartar sauce and lemon finish it.
It’s crispy, clean, and totally timeless.
23. Minnesota – Mac’s Fish & Chips (St. Paul)
Their fried walleye sandwich comes stacked high with tangy slaw and soft white bread. It’s flaky, buttery, and lake-town perfect.
Locals love it for its crisp edges and light, fresh flavor.
24. Mississippi – Bozo’s Seafood Market (Pascagoula)
Bozo’s delivers massive catfish sandwiches on toasted buns with spicy tartar and a pile of crispy fries. The fish is always fresh.
Golden and satisfying, it’s a Gulf Coast favorite with serious staying power.
25. Missouri – The Shaved Duck (St. Louis)
This barbecue joint offers a smoked-and-fried catfish sandwich with tangy slaw and house remoulade. The crust shatters, the inside melts.
Southern smoke meets crispy comfort in every loaded bite.
26. Montana – The Dive Bakery Café (Missoula)
A local favorite features fried cod with jalapeño slaw and lemon aioli on a fluffy potato bun. It’s light, spicy, and unexpected.
Café-style flair meets diner comfort with mountain-town charm.
27. Nebraska – Timmy’s Fish & Chips (Omaha)
Alaskan cod fillets are dipped in beer batter and fried until golden, then layered into soft white buns. The crunch is unbeatable.
A squeeze of lemon and a swipe of tartar seal the deal.
28. Nevada – The Codfather (Las Vegas)
British-style fried cod takes center stage on thick rolls with tangy vinegar and creamy tartar. The batter stays airy and crisp.
It’s a little bit London, a little bit Vegas, and all flavor.
29. New Hampshire – Petey’s Summertime Seafood (Rye)
Golden haddock gets sandwiched on a toasted roll with fresh lettuce and house tartar. Ocean breeze not included, but highly recommended.
Simple, briny, and deeply satisfying, this one’s a seaside staple.
30. New Jersey – The Chubby Pickle (Highlands)
This spot serves up beer-battered cod with slaw and spicy pickles on a brioche bun. It’s crunchy, creamy, and punchy.
Every bite balances texture and tang with bold confidence.
31. New Mexico – Down N Dirty Seafood Boil (Albuquerque)
Their fried catfish sandwich comes stacked high with zesty Cajun remoulade and shredded lettuce. It’s spicy, bold, and deeply Southern.
Every bite delivers heat, crunch, and serious swagger.
32. New York – Seamore’s (New York City)
Sustainably sourced fish, crisp-fried and layered with avocado, pickled onions, and herb aioli, define this coastal-inspired classic. The bun holds nothing back.
Bright, balanced, and wildly fresh—it’s New York chic with beach-town heart.
33. North Carolina – Saltbox Seafood Joint (Durham)
Cornmeal-crusted whitefish gets fried crisp and served with pickled slaw and tartar on a soft roll. It’s local, clean, and packed with flavor.
This sandwich is simple but unforgettable, just like the shack that serves it.
34. North Dakota – Deep Blue Seafood (Fargo)
Fried walleye is the star, paired with tangy slaw and soft toasted buns. The crust crackles with every bite.
It’s fresh-caught Midwest flavor at its absolute best.
35. Ohio – Frank’s Fish And Seafood Market (Columbus)
A fried perch sandwich rules the menu, packed with flaky filets and tangy tartar. The bread is soft and lightly toasted.
It’s crispy, unfussy, and beloved for good reason.
36. Oklahoma – White River Fish Market (Tulsa)
Southern-fried catfish gets piled into soft sandwich rolls with slaw and a punch of spice. The flavor is bold and comforting.
Decades of seafood know-how show up in every crispy bite.
37. Oregon – Southpark Seafood (Portland)
Their fried Pacific rockfish sandwich comes with dill pickles, slaw, and citrus aioli. The fish is light, flaky, and perfectly battered.
Refined and fresh, this one feels elevated but still cozy.
38. Pennsylvania – The Original Oyster House (Pittsburgh)
Their crispy cod sandwich is a Pittsburgh tradition, served with thick-cut fries and house tartar. The fish is tender and golden.
A bite of history wrapped in crunchy comfort.
39. Rhode Island – Iggy’s Boardwalk (Warwick)
Lightly fried scrod rests on a soft roll with lettuce, tomato, and house sauce. The fish tastes just-caught.
Every bite feels like a New England summer.
40. South Carolina – Bowens Island Restaurant (Charleston)
Fried local flounder goes straight from the fryer to the bun, with slaw and lemon on the side. It’s crispy coastal bliss.
No frills, just ocean flavor and Lowcountry love.
41. South Dakota – The Breaks Coffee Roasting Co. (Sioux Falls)
This surprising café favorite features battered tilapia with spicy mayo and tangy slaw on focaccia. It’s unexpected and totally craveable.
Coffee shop cool meets fish-fry flavor.
42. Tennessee – Ed’s Fish House (Nashville)
Thin catfish filets get fried golden and tucked into white bread with hot sauce and mustard. It’s old-school and wildly flavorful.
A Nashville classic with serious crunch.
43. Texas – Pappadeaux’s (Houston)
A Cajun-spiced catfish sandwich gets paired with Creole slaw and crispy fries. The bun holds everything together just right.
It’s big, bold, and deeply seasoned.
44. Utah – Freshie’s Lobster Co. (Salt Lake City)
Lobster might steal the spotlight, but their fried cod sandwich holds its own with slaw and tangy lemon aioli. It’s clean, crisp, and buttery.
A coastal bite in the middle of the mountains.
45. Vermont – Archie’s Grill (Shelburne)
Lake Champlain perch gets fried light and served with tartar and shredded lettuce. The roll is toasted, soft, and slightly sweet.
It’s regional, rustic, and rich in charm.
46. Virginia – Captain Groovy’s Grill & Raw Bar (Norfolk)
Fried flounder comes with slaw, tomato, and zesty remoulade on a toasted hoagie. The fish is fresh and just the right kind of flaky.
Simple and satisfying, it tastes like a dockside lunch done right.
47. Washington – Seattle Fish Guys (Seattle)
Crisp-fried lingcod is layered with sesame slaw and chili mayo on soft bakery bread. It’s bold, tangy, and deeply textured.
A perfect bite of Pacific Northwest soul.
48. West Virginia – The Market Vines Grill And Wine Bar (Wheeling)
Beer-battered haddock lands on a warm bun with garlic aioli and crisp greens. It’s pub-style comfort with upscale flavor.
Hearty, clean, and full of crunch.
49. Wisconsin – St. Paul Fish Company (Milwaukee)
This Milwaukee icon piles crisp lake perch onto rye with creamy slaw and onion. It’s a local Friday favorite.
Traditional and proudly Midwestern, it tastes like home.
50. Wyoming – King’s Corner Sandwich Shop (Cheyenne)
Battered cod comes out piping hot and stacked on a toasted bun with tangy sauce and slaw. Each bite delivers savory crunch.
It’s straightforward, satisfying, and always hits the spot.