Catfish Charlie's

I stopped by Catfish Charlie’s and ordered the combination plate with frog legs and catfish, along with a salad and beans. I also ordered a bowl of seafood gumbo and they bring hush puppies to the table while you wait. Now, I’m normally not a hush puppy fan, but these? 🔥 Absolutely the best I’ve ever had.... crisp, flavorful, and cooked to perfection, wow!. I could’ve eaten a basket of them but I wanted to eat at least some of my main entree. The main entrée, however, left me underwhelmed. The frog legs were surprisingly small and disconnected (not paired as I usually see elsewhere). That didn’t bother me as much as the flavor or lack thereof. They really need a bold marinade or better seasoning in the batter. Even hot sauce and butter couldn’t save them. The catfish was fried well, but again, it lacked flavor and didn’t present as traditional fillets, strips, or steaks, more like unrecognizable cuts. On the bright side, the beans were excellent and it's hard to sell me on beans.... these were rich, flavorful, and hearty. The salad was fresh, colorful, and delicious. But the star of the show? The seafood gumbo! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Hands down one of the best I’ve had. Flavor-packed, LOADED with seafood in every bite, and absolutely worth the trip. My advice: skip the plate and go straight for the gumbo and make sure you get the bowl, not the cup. If I’m ever in the area again, I’ll be back for the gumbo without hesitation.

Absolutely adore this place! The staff is always super kind and the hush puppies are addictive. Perfectly crispy but fluffy on the inside. My go to order is the SOBs, Fried catfish and fried oysters!

Amazing food and hospitality! I moved out of Texas when I was 11 and brought my family back to Corpus to see where I grew up. I recognized the Catfish Charlie's building and had to stop in. The food was amazing! Not many places have 40+ years in business. Kudos!

The food was really good for the most part (I didn't care for the seafood gumbo, but it wasn't bad either. It wasn't a dark enough roux for my taste, and could have used more cajun seasoning). The catfish was AMAZING!! It was so meaty and tender!! All of the pieces we had were about 1" thick (pics below to show how thick the catfish was) and fried to golden perfection. If we're ever back in the CC area, my husband and I agreed that this place is a keeper.

I haven't been here in 35 years and it's still amazing. 5 stars all around. Just as I remember; the tartar sauce is amazing. You can put that on everything. It's great to see this place still in operation. Shout out to my waitress Bella for a great service experience, she was super friendly. Was greeted with smiles and was quickly seated. Food came out quickly and was hot. The food here is seasoned perfectly and not overboard like most places. Fresh and fried The hush puppies, are amazing. I could eat 20 of those just because they are on the table. Delicious. Thank you Catfish Charlie's for allowing me to relive a childhood memory thru your determination and commitment to great tasing food and business. Y'all have to stop by this 'Gem of the South'.

I was excited to try this place out. The waitress didn't seem very welcoming at all. I'm visiting from out of town and from what I saw this place looked to be popular and welcoming. When I asked about grilled options, it seemed to irritate my waitress. I had a long wait to even get offered a drink. I decided to try the special gumbo. It actually tasted pretty good. However, the shrimp in it were not deveined.

Ya know, when I just want good seafood, no frills, sweet tea and best ever hush puppies this is where I go when I am in town. It’s a staple. Iconic. Straight forward. Great service. But, the decor is dated. But as they say, that’s part of the charm. I take out of towners there a lot. I will always go there when I am in the mood for great food. Never falters. Count me in.

I had the gulf coast combo off the lunch and it was great. The catfish and shrimp were cooked perfectly with a good crispy batter. The coleslaw and red beans were good. The hush puppies were awesome. The tater sauce and cocktail sauce were great and complemented the fish and shrimp well. My waitress was on point and the prices were reasonable. I can’t wait to come back and try other items. I highly recommend Catfish Charlie’s in Corpus Christi.

I've going to Catfish Charlie's for over 40 years!!! Best place in Corpus for seafood!

I don't even know where to start.. except I WISH I HAD SOME NOW! When we arrived here we were told there would be a 15-20 minute wait- my son almost wanted to leave but we saw how quickly they reset tables and were moving. About 12 min we got seated with a basket of warm crunchy hush puppies. That is the way to a woman's heart! I knew I wanted catfish for days I been craving fish and chips.. they have a PICK 2 - choices are catfish, frog legs, shrimp , chicken tenders.. plus fries, red beans and rice AND coleslaw. My son ordered the same but he also got a cup the jambalaya- came with bread and honestly we wish we had each ordered a bowl of that! It was so full of flavor and pieces of shrimp and fish almost beat my Aunt Jill's from Louisiana- ALMOST! When our plates came we could not believe the amount of food for the price. You get all the fixins! Butter, lemon, tartar sauce and cocktail sauce. You don't have to ask for a thing! Our waitress was amazing!! All around the entire experience was 10/10!! Next time I'm trying to frog legs! Side note: Sunday is their busiest day from 11am-4pm (per the waitresses we asked) . They do have lunch specials Monday - Friday. Handicap ramp for wheelchair accessible. Bathrooms. Easy parking. If you're in Corpis - I recommend!

The hush puppies they give you to start are fresh and very good. A few had a little kick to them but still delicious! I do not eat seafood but their chicken fried steak was amazing and it was a generous portion. The service was great and there was a decent amount of seating. I would definitely return when in town again!

The food the service ambulance is good. I would go back there to eat again. Very good food and experience.

Delicious food, friendly service, large portions! It's a busy restaurant with decent seating and parking. We probably ordered much more than we needed. Tried the fried fish, gumbo, and shrimp by the pound. The shrimp by the pound was fresh and tasty but our eyes were definitely bigger than our stomach! Only order the shrimp if you have time to peel, relax, and eat. Otherwise, it's a lot of work and it's much more filling than you'd think! The catfish was crispy and fresh along with the rest of the fried items.

Worst gumbo I've ever had in my life. Service was great. Ambiance was forgettable. Hush puppies and dips were a nice touch.

Very disappointed in the food and service tonight, this restaurant is usually pretty reliable but not this evening. It wasn't crowded at all, only a few tables occupied. We gave our orders and munched complimentary hush puppies and waited...and waited...and waited until finally our entrees appeared. All the food was stone cold, even the French fries. Catfish had an off taste, oysters were very tiny and the shrimp were good but cold. Service wasn't good at all as no one asked about refilling our drinks or replenishing napkins and sauces. They weren't busy and we could see no reason for the cold food and bad service. One other thing: the chairs are the most uncomfortable chairs in any restaurant we've tried in CC. Old, rickety wood chairs with no cushion and curved backs. A small investment in some metal or plastic chairs would be very welcomed!! Total for two entrees and two ice teas was $52.63 including tip.

Best catfish with light breading Super fast service Really enjoyed the home style atmosphere Cole slaw was good

Hadn't been to this place in years but I wanted a chicken fried steak and knew they fried everything . OMG what a deal ! Small size portion (9.49) was half a steak, 3 sides (steak fries were so good, red beans, cole slaw ) and gravy. Plus a basket of hush puppies. Everything was hot, delicious , and served quickly. Nothing was greasy , the batter on the CFS was crunchitty n crispitty perfection. Our server Deena was literally the best waitress we've had in a while, probably ever. We never had less than half a drink and she checked in on us often. Without even asking, she saw we had leftovers and brought to go containers for everything. What a gem ! The resteraunt was clean and tables were spaced out far enough so it doesn't feel too crowded. The menu sure isn't diet food but if you're in the mood for fried proteins n carbs, make a stop at Catfush Charlie's. I'll be back to try the fried frog legs.

Everyone is very friendly and the food is great with very good prices. I had the shrimp plate and my wife had the fish plate, both very good

Had to get some seafood since we were this close to the water. So we tried Catfish Charlie's. You are greeted across the room at the door and told to grab a seat. The room is kinda dark with a bar in the front and beer signs on the wall. Once seated hubby chose the frog leg meal and I chose the gulf shrimp. Both meals came with fries, beans, and slaw. They bring you a basket of hush puppies. These are not my typical hush puppies. If you are used to long John silvers or NC, then you will be disappointed. These are not sweet, they are seasoned with a spicy kick. Hubby said everything was good on his plate. The frog legs could have had a little more seasoning though. My six jumbo shrimp were good. The steak fries were good too. Overall it was tasty and filling. Hit the spot for what we were looking for during this visit.

There are a lot of fried items on the menu so if you are looking for fried seafood this is your place. The hushpuppies, fried catfish and oysters are all delicious. A little on the salty side but really tasty. The gumbo and creole shrimp soup were not very good. In particular, the shrimp soup tasted like it came from a can and had no creole flavor. Gumbo was super soupy and very muddy. On the bright side, portions here are very large and the food is affordable. Our waitress was swamped but still provided fantastic customer service with a smile. Drinks were always full and food came out quickly. Interior is pretty dark and has old fisherman hut vibes. Not a bad thing but I wasn't expecting it to be darker. Overall experience here was good but I am selective with what I would order in the future. Catfish Charlie's definitely serves a good catfish though.

Good place of need more atmosphere. gumbo is some of the best but the shrimp are well battered but had no seasoning in the batter leaving for a very bland taste. Lots of elderly people love this spot. Good but please hit that shrimp with some seasoning

Hush puppies were excellent (the highlight of our meal) and the service was good. Chicken Fried Steak met but didn't exceed expectations. The Bayou Teche Shrimp on rice sorely disappointed and resembled watery gumbo out of a can. If we ever returned, I'd want to try the red beans and rice with ham or fried catfish or shrimp.

My husband and I were on a weekend get-away to Corpus Christi, and one of the things on my bucket list was to hit up a seafood joint. It goes without saying that there are a plethora of options for seafood in CC, but a fair number of them are also pricey, which wasn't in our comfortable budget. After spending awhile searching Apple Maps and cross-referencing Yelp, I discovered Catfish Charlie's, and lemme tell you-- it did not disappoint! It was fairly quiet on that Sunday evening with lots of open seating available; we were told to pick any square table. Our waitress, Grace, was very friendly and responsive. She checked in with us many times during our stay to make sure we were enjoying things, kept our large ice water glasses full, and didn't need anything else. I especially appreciated that the menu simultaneously had variety and affordable options! I spent awhile trying to decide between frog legs and catfish, LOL, but ultimately settled on the item in the name of the establishment, figuring it was probably what they were known for! They have a section of the menu specifically advertised as "Adult Menu for Smaller Appetites." If that isn't me 100% on the nose, I don't know what is. I was delighted. And it was PLENTY of food even still, ahaha. The taste and freshness of the food was great. I happily snarfed it all up. It's safe to say that if we lived nearer to CC, we'd be back for more. As is, eventually I will be back for those frog legs, make no mistake! ;)

Best catfish and red beans and rice in town. Shrimp and oysters are great also. Always great service with a friendly staff.

Good food. Perfect service. Very cheap! I wish i can go back as i was traveling for business.

I ordered the dozen fried oysters. It was 15.99. For the most part I had a plate of fried crumbs. The small pieces of oysters were very fishy tasting. The hush puppies were a bit overcooked. The coleslaw was good and the service was good too. I would not recommend this place.

Great food! Never had a bad meal. 5 The hush puppies are to die for! If you are looking for good sea food this is its

Great food, great service. We shared the Catfish Charlie's Bayou Country Feast and 1/2 pound of peel n eat shrimp. Everything was delicious!

Not pretending to be anything they're not! It's a busy restaurant with tables that were a little too close to each other. Simple menu of fried fish, shrimp, or frog legs with beans, fries and coleslaw. Staff welcomed you as you enter and leave. The service was friendly and efficient. The green onion used for decoration was not necessary, but other than that, it's a no frills take-it or leave-it kinda food.

Great catfish and hush puppies Good service and quality food Have been eating here for years

Stopped by while in town visiting some friends. They bring jalapeño hush puppies to your table, they weren't what I would call spicy, but it did add a little extra flavor to the puppies, they were even willing to bring more out just for the asking. We shared crab pepper puppies (seems to be a bit of a theme), they take the seeds and membrane out of the peppers, so again, not very spicy - but VERY good flavor, crispy exterior, I would definitely order them again- I could make a meal out of those alone My entree was the Bayou fried shrimp, panko style exterior with a seasoning added, the shrimp had been cleaned before the breading. The only thing that wasn't to my liking were the Red Beans, they had the bacon and onions added while cooking, but they are served almost like a soup - that just isn't my personal preference Plenty of food for the price, very good flavors, I see why it has been around Corpus for so long

Great choice for my Super Bowl Dinner. Just what I was craving. Very nice staff. Got my Togo. They're closing at 4pm for the game today. So go now

Great food and great friendly service. We walked and were attended too right away. The waitress was very helpful since this was our first time. We will definitely be back

Stopped for a quick late lunch on Friday afternoon. Fish came hot and was decent. My only objection was paying with cash, the waitress (Ticket says Michaela ) did not bring me back the loose change. Only the bills, so she actually shorted me! Yeah, it's only .55¢ , but, it was the point of it! I just reduced her amount of tip! Count your change, customers.

So this spot has been one of my favorites! The locals love it and during lent they are busy! When you visit, they provide hush puppies and they are super delicious! Th fried catfish is very popular and their beans are savory, a bit spicy but I enjoy them. I ordered pick up this time and wasn't a fan of the grilled catfish. It was a little burnt. But the rice and beans were great! Also, the hush puppies seemed a bit small, I don't know if it was because it was to go. Usually they are really good. But the staff is always nice and at least in person, the food is great. So stop by if you're in town!

Good food & service. Fried shrimp or fried catfish always tasty. Laid back environment. What's not to like!

We stop here everytime we're in town and love the food and service we get here. Our group is anywhere from 4 to 10 and they amaze us everytime.

Did a seafood search on Yelp and ran across Catfish Charlie's and said why not let's try this place out based off the reviews. They delivered, the food was outstanding! Price was reasonable. No long wait. Everyone was very friendly and helpful with making the right selection off the menu as well. Will definitely be returning here again when in Corpus Christi.

This was my first trip to Corpus in 30 years. The BEST SEAFOOD this boy's had in Texas in years (and I'm a native SoLa Cajun). I should give 3 stars just to keep the crowds away but I'd be lying. The people were so friendly. The service took a short while on a Sunday at lunch but so worth it! Those were the freshest tasting frog legs I've ever had, and the shrimp were SO fresh tasting. I'm very picky about fried shrimp, being a native Cajun. They nailed it! If you want great seafood, stay away from the tourist joints on the water. This is Corpus' hidden gem.

Never a fishy flavor. Fast and great service. Hushpuppies and the TARTAR SAUCE are amazing. I don't know what they put in the tartar sauce but it's amazing.

Best seafood in Corpus in my book. Have been going here for years any time we are in town. The hush puppies they bring out to start are great. Gumbo is outstanding! Everything I've had is good but especially the shrimp. They have REAL cocktail sauce. The kind that can clear your sinuses and doesn't just taste like ketchup. Wife is not a seafood person so she got the chicken fried steak and says it's the best one she's ever eaten! Service was great as well. We will be back.

We had the lunch frog legs and catfish meals. Both come with red beans, fries and cole slaw. Very quiet and pleasant dining area. Very nice and polite waitress with a great smile. We will be coming back. Worth your time to stop and enjoy.

Pros: 1) nice waiter - Rylee; 2) liked the taste of shrimps. Cons: 1) most the food is fried; 2) portions of shrimps are small.

I've been coming to Catfish Charlie's since I was a little kid, and I love their catfish!! Although I do remember when they had all you can eat catfish, those were the days!!! But non the less they still bring back memories!! The parking is vast. It's in the corner and shares a parking lot with other businesses so theirs no need to worry about that. The outside has been the same for years and is a trademark with Charlie the catfish outside the restaurant. Once inside you will surly be greeted by the crew of Catfish Charlie's and seated as soon as possible with great hospitality. From the get go you smell the food and are given their amazing hush puppies with dipping sauce. I always get the fried catfish plate, which comes with French fries, coleslaw, and red beans. I also get the tea which they fill constantly when they see it half empty (amazing service)! The price is decent and the food is great! So if you're in the mood for great service and great food then come on down to Catfish Charlie's!

We are new to the area and decided to stop in with our toddler for some dinner. The food was so good! The complementary hush puppies when you sit down are delicious and a really nice touch. They were super busy but still able to get us a table and we had great service. We had a seafood combo plate and frog legs. Our daughter had catfish. The whole family enjoyed the food and experience. We will be back for sure.

We did takeout and ordered the catfish lunch combos and they did not disappoint!! Also had great service as well!

Service was great. Atmosphere is a little outdated. Casual dining. Food was ok. A little Louisiana Fried shrimp was the best. The catfish was a little bland and pieces were nugget size verses filets. Fries were perfectly cooked. I love steak fries. Disappointed they only had hush puppies with jalapeño, I think. Hush puppies are a family favorite but kids don't do spicy. Hush puppies were also over cooked. Coleslaw was perfectly shredded which you rarely find and creaminess was on point but it was a little bland. Kids meal was good portion size but chicken tenders were also a little over fried. Beans were ok. Might give it an ok then try.

" in all my years here in corpus, i've never come here, so it has to be not that good" Exactly What I Said Before Entering. Walking in and i asked the waitress behind the counter if the food is good, and she said yes so i smiled and said cool. Very dark and dim atmosphere due to the lighting. Was helped by a gentleman who's took our drink orders but was later helped by a girl who i believe stole the table from the gentleman who helped us at first lol poor guy lost a tip. Coke was missing syrup and was more on the carbonated water side and the sweet tea and the lemonade were mediocre. Hush puppies were complimentary and had a good spice to them, however they were on the burnt side. I ordered the catfish fillets and substituted the red beans and coleslaw for extra fries, also a side order of six fried shrimp. Food took more than 25 minutes to come out, and when it did, It was barely warm. Fries were already in the soft soggy side and the catfish was the most shocking. My current profession is a fish monger at my local seafood department and i know for a fact we were served catfish nuggets rather than actual fillets. ( The menu stated that they serve the best catfish fillets and not catfish nuggets, brazilian catfish, etc. ) The fish still had the skin attached which is very common in catfish nuggets and was thin just like catfish nuggets are ( belly trim ). And to top it off, fin bones were still attached to the nugget but fried to where you couldn't see them. Really dissatisfied with this establishment, i hope they can be better for themselves and the community/customers.

Reminds me of the old-time family restaurants my grandparents took me to after church. Loved the blackened catfish with rice, it was huge! The gumbo was so good, I'd order just a huge bowl of it. Our server was just lovely. We'll be back for sure!

The Hush Puppies are great, and having them instead of bread is a great idea. The Catfish was great as well. Loved the red beans, and the coleslaw.

Wife and I visited this place Saturday afternoon Food was delicious she had the catfish Plate and I had the shrimp plate They didn't exactly practice social distancing Which was not attractive in the time of this Pandemic Service was a little slow But I would recommend

My favorite part were the complementary, spicy hushpuppies that started the meal! I mean, that and a cup of gumbo would have been enough! Not knowing this, however, I decided to order the Cajun Sampler. For $15.99, it had a little bit of everything I wanted to try and enjoyed all of it. I ordered too much food, for certain, but everything was great. Catfish Charlie's sounds like, acts like, and tastes like a local's favorite eatery. If you're on the fence between a chain restaurant or Charlie's definitely go here!

My rating is held at a two because the service was great, very nice staff, loved that all the food was hot at fresh served fast. The over all vibe of the place felt off, not welcoming sitting so close to the next table and having people randomly join your conversations. Food was fresh but honestly non of it had flavor, no seasoning added at all. We had gumbo with in my opinion super super fishy couldn't enjoy it and beer tasted off which is weird cause it was bottled so don't know why it tasted funny.

Fried shrimp was the best I ever had! Red beans, coleslaw and hush puppies were excellent. Service top notch. I will return when am back in Corpus.

Outstanding! Great hushpuppies, great food. A gem. Lucky you have this restaurant Corpus Christi.

Favorite restaurant in the city. Hands down. Been coming here forever (even as a kid).

Always love that they're so accommodating and Love!! their lunch chicken fried steak and hush puppies! Can get full on those alone! I mix my own cocktail sauce add a bit of Tabasco or best yet Cholula!