Arizona might be famous for cactus and canyons, but there is a whole crowd of desert eaters chasing something else entirely: hot, crispy fried catfish. All across the state, from small towns to busy city corners, cooks are frying up fish plates that draw people off the highway and out of their way.
Some spots come with hushpuppies, others with sweet cornbread or thick slaw, and each one has its own way of doing things. If you love a good fish plate and a little road trip, this list is built for you.
Below are 12 Arizona places worth pointing your car toward when the fried catfish craving hits. Grab a napkin and get ready to plan your next drive.
1. Lo-Lo’s Chicken & Waffles, Phoenix, Arizona
Soul food fans in Phoenix already know the name, but plenty of folks show up for the waffles and leave talking about the fish. Lo-Lo’s built its reputation on Southern comfort cooking, and fried catfish sits right in that lineup…