Nebraska surprised me with its seafood. I started in Omaha’s Old Market like everyone else, but the real joy came later, driving through river towns and ducking into strip-mall spots where the steam hits you the second you open the door.
I’ve had po’boys so overstuffed the fish slid out the sides, and boils where the garlic butter clung to my sleeves longer than I’d like to admit. Some of these counters barely have room to turn around, yet the plates land with a confidence that makes you pause.
Following these places feels like following a breadcrumb trail across the Plains, each stop a small reminder that good seafood shows up where you least expect it.
1. Shucks Fish House And Oyster Bar, Omaha
Shucks keeps it unpretentious and wildly fresh, with a counter full of daily arrivals and a staff that talks like they’ve been on the boat. Start with chargrilled oysters bubbling in butter, then slide into blackened catfish or a shrimp po’boy with lettuce crunch…