Fishy Fishy Cafe

Really enjoyed this place. Great atmosphere on the water. Had a delicious orange bourbon with a prime rib cheese steak that was phenomenal. They say their clam chowder is the absolute best, so I tried it and it is pretty spot on with New England style clam chowder, and I’m from Massachusetts and basically grew up on “chowdah”. This was in November and obviously not tourist season so the area was quiet and peaceful. Our server was very kind, friendly and explained all of the specials to us, which is how I came about the prime rib cheese steak. I’d definitely go here again in the future.

We went for late lunch/early dinner. It was a beautiful autumn afternoon. Lots of sunshine and light breezes. We were promptly seated next to the water, in the sun. Our server, Drake, immediately opened the isenglass curtains to let the breeze come in. It was perfect. We started with the jalapeño hush puppies. They are absolutely amazing. My wife got the shrimp po boy, I got the fish & chips. Both were very delicious. And Drake was extremely attentive and regularly checked with us in case we needed anything. In the 5 years we’ve now lived in the area, Fishy Fishy has become one of our favorite go-to’s. Highly recommend!

Our shrimp feast was fabulous! My favorite was the peel and eat and the coconut shrimp was a close second. Phyllis' shrimp cocktail was also awesome. Easy boat parking and friendly, fast service from Amber with lots of drink refills. Highly recommend!

Can’t beat eating out on the water with a cold beer! Had the chicken wings and buffalo shrimp and they were fantastic. Service was great too…multiple people showed up to make sure we were taken care of. Great time! And even a good playlist too!

Located close to The Provision Company is Southport you will find this gem of a restaurant with awesome beach culture rooted deep into the decor and food. There was a variety of awesome decorations and a beautiful view of the water from the seating area. Fishy Fishy is a must visit when in the Southport area and with such great food their popularity speaks for itself.

Quick wait time, prompt and attentive service. The jalapeño hush puppies were amazing. We enjoyed our sandwiches - the tuna and crab cakes. Highly recommend for location and delicious food!

Very good food. The crabcakes were my favorite. The sitting area is outside however, it is covered to protect from sun and rain. If you go around diner time, you may get to see the dolphins go swimming by.

This place is known for its shrimp. Wish I had known that before I ordered yhe crabcake sandwich. It's wasn't bad but I like my crabcake crispy on the outside. This one looked liked it had been riddled. My dategot the salad with shrimp. It was a much better choice although he did steal some of my very crispy fries. You just could beat the view.

Amazing view on the water. Great food and happy servers. I love this place Ask for Carolina.

FFC has been a tradition for our family since we started coming together oak island before the turn of the century. Haven't thought to do a review til now. It's ALWAYS busy in the summer so get there early or you'll be waiting for more than an hour for parties of 5 or more. This summer was even longer! Parking is also a challenge but if you are patient a spot usually opens up. We got a table on the patio and everyone really enjoyed our experience once we got seated. For apps we got 3 to share with 6 people which worked very well for our group. Fried calamari Cajun mahi bites Buffalo shrimp I thought the the mahi bites were the best. The calamari was a little chewy, but everyone else seemed good with it. I'm not a huge calamari fan though anyways. My husband who normally doesn't like blue cheese really enjoyed the Buffalo shrimp so that's saying a lot lol. For entrées we got: Caribbean Grouper-which was the special and it was incredibly delicious. Fresh and flavorful. Probably one of the best entrées I've had at fishy fishy. Fish and Chips- a staple at fishy fishy and always good. Large fish portions and perfectly crispy. Shrimp and Grits -also a staple and something my daughter can't resist every time she comes. She says it's the best shrimp and grits from any restaurant she's had. Service is generally friendly and prompt. Can't recall ever having a bad service day here in over 25 years. I can't really fault them for being popular and waiting a long time for a table. They could probably do a better job estimating sometimes though. On this particular visit, they said 40 minutes and we ended up waiting an hour and a half.

Delicious spot. Waited about 30 mins but we sat outside and it was beautiful. Service was great. Food was delicious especially the clam chowder! I would pass on their pasta but everything else was good.

Five star experience in every way! View cannot be beat. Service was impeccable. The blackened Mahi could have been a little more blackened, but that is a personal preference. The haddock sandwich was among the best I've ever had!

We went here for lunch and sat outside in the beautiful sunshine with lovely views. Our server Miranda was "The best". She was Fun and personable. We ordered the bang bang shrimp tacos that were "perfection" and a bacon cheese burger that tasted like it came right off the backyard grill (sooooo good). We've been traveling for months and this was one of the best meals we've had along our journey. We'll be in the area for another week so we may have to come back one more time before we leave.

This place was packed and the wait was about an hour long. I was visiting so I am not sure if it's always like that, but my guess is that it is a pretty poplular spot. Funny, I have watched at least 1-2 movies and a tv show that all have this place and it's beautiful views since I have been here. Ok, down to business... 3 out 5 of us ordered the fish and chips, 1 had the clam chowder, rice and a side of bread, and 1 of had nachos. My favorite hands down was the bread. Sorry no photos but they were like these lil pillows of goodness, so warm and fluffy and either they had a touch of sweetness or the butter that they serve was like heaven. I also have NEVER had fried green tomatoes and was dying to try them. But because I do not know what the "standard" is to rate them against I am not sure it would be fair. They were fried in cornmeal which I believe is standard and they had a remoulade sauce on them. So I do not know if they are supposed to be crispy on the outside like fried pickles or if they sre supposed to be soft? These were soft and the remoulade gave it a tangy sour taste. I thought they were interesting but nobody else at the table cared for them. On to the fish and chips. This is most likely one of their popular dishes because it seemed like lots of ppl had them. But at out table, all 3 orders looked like they were 3 different things. I felt like Goldilocks and the 3 fish. 1. Looked battered, crispy and fried to a dark golden perfection. This guy loved it! 2. The other was slightly lighter but from what I hear it was still good according to my NON- FISH eating hubs. His was good!! 3. I'm the one who loves fish, and I'm not sure if it is because the fish was a very large piece and not your typical fish tender type, but mine looked fried but the batter was very greasy and not crispy at all and the fish inside just felt like a big hunk that was salty butwithout a lot flavor to me. They do give you vinegar and tarter sauce. I honestly think it was just me and my taste buds that day. But I couldn't get past that the coating wasn't crispy. It looked like it would be, but it wasn't. The cole slaw was also not a hit for me and tasted very bland. Take my experience and taste buds with a grain of salt because everyone else enjoyed their food. So I rate it a 3 because it was good, but not my favorite and maybe I shoulda opted for the fried shrimp or something else? It is cute as a button and I do think visitors should check it out if they are in town.

Scallops had a strong ammonia odor and taste. Only are two - they did offer to replace after I said something to server. I looked it up, ammonia smell for scallops is bacterial breakdown, bad scallops. So a little scary. Rest of meal was ok. Not great, not terrible. Kind of location based

I am so happy that Fishy Fishy was able to accommodate our party of 2 with a table located inside as Southport was so busy. To start it was a beer for me, the bourbon orange crush for my husband and the crab dip to split. For our entrees it was the bacon wrapped stuffed shrimp for me and the fresh catch for him. It was all really good and so was the service. The only thing that we did not care for was the cocktail. This is a good spot to grab dinner and/or drinks on the water.

Our first time in NC Oak island was super excited to try some seafood and also our dogs first time in a restaurant where he was welcomed did have to wait about 10 mins for a table for outside seating but the hostess made sure to get us sat as quick as possible. We were very serviced as well wish I could of gotten the the servers name but over all 10/10 experience the music was great the vibes were definitely there everyone was so friendly hope I could come back sooner

Seaside eating is a must when visiting Southport, and Fishy Fish Cafe is one of more spacious places on the water that visitors tend to gravitate towards. It has been used as a filming location regularly for movie and television productions over the years. As I'm not big on seafood and came here mostly for the atmosphere, I was pleasantly surprised with the lunch experience here. We went with the nachos, a chicken tender basket, and a salmon sandwich with side Caesar salad. The nachos were a huge portion perfect for sharing, and while it won't win any awards, were tasty for a place that specializes in seafood. Both the chicken tenders basket with fries and the salmon sandwich with Caesar salad were well enjoyed and much better than we were expecting. For a restaurant on the water with decent waterfront views, the kitchen delivers food in quality and flavor a notch above what you'd find at your average pub/bar. Service was quick and friendly, and checked in on us just the right amount. Overall I'd rate the food 3.5/5, but the views alone are worth the price of admission, so happy to round up to 4 stars for this enjoyable lunch experience at Fishy Fish Cafe.

We had a group of 12 on a busy Friday night so service was slow & we often had to make 2nd requests for items. The food was good & I really liked the outdoors seating area on the waterfront!! Plenty of free parking across the street which is not the case everywhere in south port! Our hearts go out to the area regarding the recent sad incident. We were there the night before. ‍

Came here for an early dinner with a party of four and was sat right away with no issues. Atmosphere is just about as seaside chic as you can get, distressed wood, bright colors, aluminum roof, it doesn't get any more stereotypical than that, but that's a good thing! You have the option of sitting inside or out, which is nice, but given the lateness in the year, we opted for the indoor option. Staff were kind, attentive and quick even as things were starting to pick up for the evening rush. We split the fried green tomatoes as a perfectly tasty and delicious appetizer to start, be careful not to burn your tongue though, they come out HOT! I got the Fishy Chimi for my main, which was a deep fried fishy delight. Also tried their chicken nachos, which on top of being delicious were enormous! You definitely get your money worth there. But affordability feels good here for everything, especially considering the quality you get too. Would definitely love to come back here in warmer weather and get to enjoy the outdoors while sipping on some refreshing drinks and trying more of the menu! Parking is pretty good in the attached lot, but it can get busy so show up early if you can.

Dining at this restaurant is like slipping into a comfortable pair of perfectly worn-in shoes--you know what you love, what you don't, and exactly what to expect. It's familiar, reliable, and so very comforting. On our recent trip to Oak Island, we made it a point to come for lunch on Sunday right at 11 AM when they open, which is our favorite time to visit. We chose a seat outside on the patio with our dog, enjoying the view of boats coming in and watching the restaurant gradually fill up as the post-church crowd arrived. My wife absolutely adores their shrimp tacos, and for me, it's all about the classic fish and chips. The staff is always friendly, and the atmosphere is warm and welcoming--our adorable schnauzer was a hit, with many stopping by to say hello. We've made so many happy memories at this spot over the years, and it's always a pleasure to return. To those about to nosh, we not only salute you but envy that you're there right now while we're not!

Brought my Neighbor today for her 76th birthday lunch. Got here a little after 11 it was already busy. We started with bloody Mary's and fried green tomatoes. Neither of us got a buzz and tasted no booze, but they were flavorful. Fried green tomatoes a must! We both had the grilled shrimp and scallops Carolina platter. Fries were crisp fresh and so worth the calories. I would have liked some seasoning on the seafood but it came with tarter and cocktail sauce. Our waitress was attentive and friendly. At noon this place had a wait, so best to come right when they open to be seated right away. Nice view of the water. But today was way too windy to sit outside. Bathrooms and clean, always a good sign. All in all I would come again.

We arrived around 1:45 on a weekday and were seated immediately with no wait. Our server Carrie greeted us and quickly had us beverages. Our party of 7 (6 adults and one 5 year old) all found something to our liking. Pros: 1.) Excellent service. Carrie provided great recommendations that our party enjoyed, including for vegetarian guests. Additionally, when one of our dishes was dropped while being delivered to the table, it was quickly remade and that person was given a side to enjoy while waiting for their plate to be remade. 2.) The food. From top to bottom, we enjoyed everything we ordered. The fish was well seasoned and well cooked. The crab cakes contained plentiful crab. The fries were crispy. 3.) The location. We sat outside right on the water with a view of the Oak Island Lighthouse. Cons: 1.) Each of the adults had an alcoholic beverage and the consensus was that they were okay, but not nearly as good as everything else on the menu. This is a very minor criticism, though, as everything else was exceptional! An excellent restaurant we visit every time we're in Southport!

Stopped in at Fishy Fishy and really enjoyed it! The Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos were delicious -- great flavor and crunch. I just wish they had some fresh cilantro on top instead of only in the sauce. The Fish Chimi Basket with Mahi-mahi was super tasty and definitely underrated, just like our bartender said! Great spot overall -- I'd definitely come back.

EddieZ here again.if you want some shrimp tacos or some killer fried scallops,give this place a try. We started out with a perfectly fried order of fried calamari that was outstanding.then came our meals as my wife and I looked at each other as to say,finally some good seafood. My tacos were so stuffed with shrimp I could only eat one and took the other with me. Finished off with a slice of key lime pie which was good.(Lauren our server)was excellent.

We first visited fishy fishy about 2 years ago because my mom had seen a good review on TikTok, back then I think I had the flounder which is my safe go-to food when at a seafood place. It was super good and I also remember getting the crab dip and we DEVOURED it. This time, I got the shrimp and grits (~$23) which comes with sausage, bell peppers, and okra. It was a little spicy and honestly getting such a hot meal while eating outside was probably my own fault because it was hard to eat when it's 95 degrees out. It was super savory though and Brianna had a few bites and really enjoyed it as well. To drink I got the Southport Sunset (~$10) and it was superrr sweet, if you don't like the taste of alcohol I recommend this drink because you can't even tell it's a cocktail. For my side I had a basic house salad but it added 2 dollars to my meal, the ranch was slightly sweet. Brianna got the fried fish basket (flounder) with sweet potato fries (~$16). She likes the breading of the fish and the fish itself was good, she rates it 10/10 "it was the perfect fried fish to me, not too much breading, not too soggy." My mom got the appetizer nachos (~$14) for her meal and they smelled amazing. "They were fantastic, 10/10." I wanted to try them but honestly I was so full. I forgot to take pics of our appetizers, but we got spinach artichoke dip and calamari. My siblings BEGGED for the calamari so needless to say it was good. The spinach artichoke dip was very very creamy, I personally give it a 9/10 and the calamari 7/10. Overall, this place is kind of on the pricier side, but you do sit on the water and you can even park your boat there. I believe you get what you pay for. Service was very quick for a party of 9, and our waitress was very sweet and calm despite our party size ans how busy it was. 8/10.

The view was perfect. We had good service. They got the food out accurately and quickly even though they were very busy. The food was amazing. We all got different dishes and were all very happy. (Four different versions of the fisherman's plate).

Really a 3.5 than a 3. Place was packed so it must be good. Waited about 15 minutes on a Sunday evening 630pm. Not bad. Fish and chips was a solid choice, huge portion. I opted for grits in place of cole slaw. Food was slow to come out. Maybe the crowd? Only 2 in our party. My guest did not get the flounder part of his entree, which was a miss but he was a good sport about it when the server offered to correct it. It never came and we were ready to go. Fun ambiance right on the water. Hopping area, a bunch of restaurants right on the water.

Had lunch here last week with my mother. We both had the clam chowder and split a basket of hush puppies. Both very good. Never had--nor tried--ranch dressing with a hush puppy before. Loved it.

We had the clam chowder, mahi Reuben & the haddock sandwich. They were all delicious. Our waitress was so friendly and very attentive to our special needs. We had our dog with us & they made sure she was taken care of also. The restaurant overlooks the water & the decor is a lot fun. The fact that it looks just like it did in the movie Safe Haven makes it even better. If you're looking for a place with delicious food and a friendly staff look no further than the Fishy Fishy Cafe.

This is the kind of place I love at the beach, bright and cheery, on the water, casual atmosphere, clean, friendly people and good food! I had the Blackened Shrimp Low Country salad, the portion was perfect, a good size but not too much. The shrimp was tender and delicious. Sorry, I forgot to takes pictures, good reason to go back!

We took a road trip from our house rental in Holden Beach to Southport and a Facebook recommendation was fishy fishy Cafe. It lived up to the name. I had the flounder basket and my lady had the grouper sandwich which was a special. We sat right on the water and the food and ambience was fantastic. The server was prompt and informative and earned her 25% tip. Southport is a great town with a lot of good restaurants and this is certainly one of them

One of the staples of Southport in my opinion! Always get the fish and chips, and they never fail me. Drink was amazing too just cannot remember the name of it. Great view and great service!

Loved it!! We both had a full fried fish dinner . Best fried fish I have ever had. Very meaty! The margarita was just the way I like it with a shot of Grand Marnier The view well we all know it was beautiful We will be back most definitely and we live in Wilmington

Spoke with Pam the manager and asked for her help in planning our engagement surprise. She was unbelievable in her ability and willingness to help. She took our pup Jasper and placed a "Will you marry my daddy" dog tag on his collar and Mare broke down with excitement!!! The food and service was amazing and I would never trade the experience that they afforded us in our special day!!! Highly recommend everything here!!! Having a private area in the back truly added to the ambiance of the restaurant!!! Thank you Pam and the entire staff at Fishy Fishy for a truly wonderful experience!!!

I love taking the family here! The kids love it and it is a guilty pleasure for the wife and I. Fried food! So good though.

Ate there this past Saturday...super crowded at 4pm but were seated quickly right by the water. Service was also fantastic. We ordered the fried green tomato appetizer, enough for 3-4 people...incredibly yummy. I had the stuffed shrimp with green beans and mac and cheese...also super yummy with a sweet and smoky taste. My son ordered the shrimp and grits, which was nothing short of amazing. We will be back for sure!

Food is awesome, service is very good and friendly, ambiance is amazing, especially sitting on the water front. We got there right at 11am when they opened, went right in, no wait. Aldo went back at 3pm a few days later and walked right. Shrimp tacos are amazing!

Fish plate was terrible. Over cooked fish fried in bread crumbs(?). Fish was soggy in some areas, hard, crunchy and burned in others. Oil tasted old and needed to be changed. Yuck! Shrimp boil was equally as gross. No traditional boil sauce was used, but rather some mixture of a butter, hot sauce and black pepper concoction. Chicken tenders were anything, but tender. Dry and tasteless. A seafood restaurant literally on the coast, but has terrible sea food. Who do they have back there in the kitchen trying to cook??? Waste of money. Definitely won't return nor recommend.

Lunch today was disappointing: bird crap on table to start. Cheese wasn't melted on my grilled cheese and cucumber salad was old and soggy.

Came here on a Sunday afternoon and we were seated right away with a view of the water. Staff was friendly and attentive. Food came out fresh and hot. The peel and eat shrimp was in a flavorful sauce. The crab cake was delicious and crispy on the outside but portion was small.

Experience didn't start well. Host seated us on the pier but didn't let any servers know. We went back to hostess stand where Carrie saw what happened and promptly seated us indoors and took care of us. She is the epitome of Customer service. She was extremely courteous and expeditious in handling our order and checking on us. You have a true asset in Carrie

Awesome fresh seafood. Both grilled and fried. Even has a great bar. Located along the inter coastal water way. Fun to watch some of the boats go by through the evening. Easy parking

This is the "Fresh Catch" sandwich. The piece of fish was tiny, thin and it was overcooked , crispy and dry. The service was also terrible. The location and ambiance were great.

Fishy Fishy has the best food around . And their clam chowder soup is the best anywhere.

Nice location , View of water , Sea shanty vibe . music . Lots of fried seafood . Typical pub / burger n fry menu, salads . Service fair to good . Very Dog Friendly ! , Drinks here are very expensive .

Year after year we keep coming back! Food is on point. I recommend the crab dip but get an extra bread loaf! You get more dip than bread. Fish and chips were excellent! Shrimp Po Boy was fantabulous.....roumalade is a tad spicy but good!! Homemade ranch for those ranch lovers. Lunch served till 4 pm. Service is as expected for a busy establishment. Atmosphere right on the waterway seals the deal! We had 10 people so they can handle a crowd. See you next year!

Fun atmosphere and friendly service. We enjoyed eating outside on a pretty day but inside was hopping and also looked happy. Classic and yummy food. I enjoyed the seafood--shrimp tacos with a vibrant sauce that was so good I used my fries to soak up any extra yumminess.

I've been here a few times now, and it is definitely a place with yummy food. You can expect a wait, no matter what time you come. There is always a full parking lot and huge crowd waiting outside. Is it worth the wait? I'm still undecided. The view from our table was absolutely gorgeous, and they also have screens that come down in case it starts to rain, which was really nice on our most recent visit. I ordered one of their specials, which was Mahi Mahi with a pesto sauce. The fish and the sauce were both incredible. It was cooked to perfection and I couldn't stop raving about how delicious it was! However, I chose the green beans as a side and they were extremely salty. I ended up being unable to eat them at all, it was pretty unbearable. As if the lid to the salt shaker fell off while they were cooking them. We always get the jalapeño hush puppies and while they aren't very spicy, they still have a great flavor! The fact that it's so crowded all the time should tell you that it's a place worth visiting, but it does make it a bit inconvenient.

Took some visitors there over weekend. We were seated fairly quickly, atmosphere was good. Being in the water was nice with great breeze. As for the food: all four of us had something different and all were just ok. I may go for a drink but that's about it.

Took my grandchildren for dinner, kids cheeseburgers were very small and the meat looked grey. Not very good.

Fishy fishy is a nice seafood restaurant right on the water. Great for family's and friends. The menu has a good selection of food. Service was really good as well as great beach environment.

I stopped here for lunch and truly enjoyed my lunch. I had the CA tuna sandwich which consisted of blackened tuna, with cucumbers, avocado aioli and a sweet chili sauce. My side was sweet potato fries and I added the honey mustard dressing to dip the sweet potato fries into. Everything was cooked to perfection and was so very flavorful. It's quite a colorful place and there was Caribbean music playing. I had a wonderful view of the water too. I had outstanding service as well. Without asking the waitress refilled my drink. This is one of my favorite restaurants in Southport and it had a wonderful ambience as well.

I want to love Fishy Fish because it's a staple in Southport and everyone loves it, right? It's okay. Hence the three stars. Foods good but not over the top special. Service is adequate. But I would give the view 5 stars. I also think the mixed drinks have always been good. It is fun to hang out there with friends because of the casual atmosphere.

Amazing seafood with a view! My friends and I visited Southport on a Friday night for dinner. We waited about 15 minutes for a table and we're blessed with a water view. I would highly recommend to request to be seated there especially during sunset! Our server was SO friendly and extremely attentive to us. We ordered the bacon wrapped shrimp and local shrimp pot with sides: sweet potato fries & roasted broccoli. Both dishes were a 10/10! The bacon wrapped shrimp had a maple syrup glaze and it was AMAZING. The local shrimp pot consisted of unpeeled seasoned shrimp with corn on the cob & potatoes. There were butter and cocktail dipping sauces as well. Shrimp was cooked perfectly in both dishes and we would definitely come back again!!

Gosh this place has a great view and boat dock but it's terrible. Husband got fried fish and was super fishy to the point he didn't eat. I don't understand how on the ocean the fish is not fresh? Friend had crab cake sandwich, same said was terribly fishy to the point only had a few bites. I had grilled cheese since I don't do fish and it was eh. Cheese wasn't melted. Server at the bar was super nice and on it even though busy. Fries were the best thing we had.

Our service was pretty decent, the waiter was super nice when he was around, which we appreciated! The place was definitely awesome, it was right in a little canal with lots to look and enjoy. The food on the other hand was hit or miss, I had the shrimp boil pot and it was pretty gross and so was the kale salad with the salmon addition. Our appetizers were great though, we got the calamari and it comes with fried banana peppers, which was new but I loved them! Probably one of the best appetizers I've had! The Key Lime pie was pretty great too, but the main food kind of sucked! We took our dog there and everyone loved him(we sat outside of course), and he loved it too! We would go back just for appetizers more than likely and drinks, but that's about it!