Flying Fish

This restaurant took me by surprise in a big way. I was hesitant because it was a counter order and pick up self serve. But let me tell you I could not be any happier that we came in for dinner. Rave reviews is what I would like to say about The Flying Fish! 10 stars for the food quality. Shrimp Po boys are one of my favorite things to eat in a seafood restaurant and this one was off the best ones I’ve ever had. The bread was wonderful and that’s important to me in a po boy. The sides were delicious. The inside of the restaurant was vintage and fun with half of the wall displaying Big Mouth Billy Bass. This is definitely a must visit for anyone that wants great seafood. We will see you the next time we are passing through! You guys did not disappoint!

I am in Little Rock on a business trip, and was walking by Flying Fish. It looked so cool/authentic that I thought to myself, “you’re going to regret it if you don’t eat here!” I had the grilled rainbow trout and it was exceptional. The people here are kind and friendly, the music is great, the vibe is chill and fun. I am SO glad I stopped here today and recommend to all🐟🐠🎣 It’s memorable!

* Very cool spot in the River Market district in Little Rock. Interior has fascinating decor of seafood and fishing memorabilia. Definitely adds to the unique vibe. * Food was really good! We got a lot of fried seafood items and it really hit the spot. The gator nuggets were especially interesting - like a mixture between swordfish and chicken. The frog legs were also tasty. The cocktail sauce was really good. And the grilled fish was a perfect complement to our otherwise fried meal. * Staff there was polite. Seating is also very spacious with three rooms of tables. Worth visiting if you're swinging through Little Rock and want some good no-nonsense seafood!

Absolutely, my favorite place to eat when I come to Little Rock! My most recent order had a little hangup with Uber Eats and Flying Fish took great care of me… Delicious seafood, reasonable prices, great vibe in the restaurant, and top-notch customer service, even when the mistake wasn’t theirs!

We were driving through and stopped for a carry out. The fish was breaded to perfection and cooked perfectly. It was flaky and delicious. Would love to swing by again and try more dishes. Highly recommend that you try it.

This place was great! If you are looking for an upscale dining experience, this is not it. If you are looking for great seafood cooked with soul, this is the place! What I appreciated was the fact that they have nearly as many non-fried options as they have fried options. My wife got the Cajun plate while I got the grilled Mahi plate (with chimichurri). We also got some pickled green tomatoes and coleslaw slaw. Everything was prepared very well and had great flavor. Nothing was overcooked. We now plan to visit the location Memphis since that is much closer to home.

The line moved fast. You order and the buzzer they give you goes off when it's ready. IWe ordered oysters, oyster po-boy and gumbo to go with our beers. It didn't take long after ordering for it to be ready. It was awesome!

Have been here a couple of times when we visit Arkansas on occasion. It’s near the Museum of Discovery that we like with grandchildren. Both times I ordered the boiled shrimp platter. My wife got the fish tacos. The shrimp is great. I also loved that there was no fried food in this dish. Added a little Louisiana hot sauce in the cocktail sauce for a bit of a kick. Loved trying a bite of the fish tacos as well. Will return.

Eight years since my last visit to Little Rock, and The Flying Fish was at the top of my list. Some places you wonder if it will still be the same. Flying Fish hasn't missed a beat. The setup tells you everything you need to know before eating: paper towel roll on the table, hot sauce lineup, Lance saltines, and a soundtrack of Lightin' Hopkins and Son House fill the room. The chairs look like they escaped from a 1950s diner and that's how everyone likes it. The catfish is the real deal -- cornmeal-crusted, perfectly seasoned, tender inside with just the right snap on the outside. The shrimp are butterflied, large, perfectly breaded, and fried with the same care. Hush puppies that are neither greasy nor dense, which sounds simple until you realize how rarely anyone gets it right. There's a New Orleans soul to this place, and some Memphis too, but nothing precious about it. No one here is performing. Farmers, families, folks still in their work clothes. The people who cook this food grew up eating it every Sunday at grandma's table, and it shows in every basket. If mudbugs are still on the menu when you visit, don't overthink it. Order them. The Flying Fish isn't trying to be anything. That's exactly why it's everything.

If you're passing through town and want a quintessential central Arkansas experience, come here. It has everything: copious faux fish and pics of folks with their own big catches COVERING the walls, mid-19th century memorabilia plus neon signage, and blues music from the Delta playing over the sound system. I ordered the oysters and a beer, and they're not bad. This is the first time, however, I've ever gotten oysters anywhere and there's no red wine vignette. Also, the shucking seems less fastidious than it could be. The first 4/6 oysters were crunchy and had bits of shell in them, and 3/6 of them weren't disconnected from the shell so I had to scrape them out. All that extra work (fishing shell out of my mouth and scraping oysters) makes me consider not finishing the rest (I hate to have to fight my food). I will say that the staff is responsive and moves quickly, and when I noticed the table I wanted to sit at was dirty from the last customers all I had to do was look at a server and she what time it was. It took less than a minute for me to have the seat of my choice. All of the plates coming out the kitchen with deep fried food looks good, so maybe that's what I should have done in the first place. Seriously, you don't go to McDonal's and order a taco, now do you? This is a quaint place, VERY central Arkansas, filled with everyone from every walk of life, and the food prices are solid. There's a great selection of beers, $13 margaritas, AND a speed-to-the-front-of-the-line option if all you want is to have a few drinks. I had 12 oysters and a beer for $37.95, which is about right for the area. However, for almost $40 they could slip clients the standard red wine vignette that usually comes with oysters...and hold the shell.

Visited for lunch on New Year's Day 2026 w/ my wife. Pretty much everything along Bill Clinton Ave. was closed (except for Flying Saucer) so we decided to come here, and we were very pleased! I got the Nashville hot catfish sandwich with fries and hush puppies, my wife got the catfish fillet, and we both got an extra side of red beans and rice. Both meals were exceptional, especially the beans and rice! Perfectly done! Plenty of seating, not many people were out on this day. Counter service was fast, and the food didn't take long. Can't wait to go back again.

* Very cool spot in the River Market district in Little Rock. Interior has fascinating decor of seafood and fishing memorabilia. Definitely adds to the unique vibe. * Food was really good! We got a lot of fried seafood items and it really hit the spot. The gator nuggets were especially interesting - like a mixture between swordfish and chicken. The frog legs were also tasty. The cocktail sauce was really good. And the grilled fish was a perfect complement to our otherwise fried meal. * Staff there was polite. Seating is also very spacious with three rooms of tables. Worth visiting if you're swinging through Little Rock and want some good no-nonsense seafood!

New quaint seafood spot. Had the catfish jambalaya plate. Price is right, diverse crowd. Good experience!

We walked past walls of fish and photos of people with caught fish and came to the back room where we got on a line to order. The menu is up on the wall. Everything looked delicious & was reasonably priced. There was an interesting mix of locals. The line to order moved very quickly, and our meal came out in minutes. We hen we l fly there was a line out the door. I ordered a bowl of seafood gumbo & 6 oysters on the half shell while my husband ordered an Oyster p'boy. There was a counter with soft drinks and condiments. The oysters were fresh huge and delicious. My gumbo had big pieces of fresh seafood, and a perfect kick..

Local staple. Big ole portions. Oh, and there's fish! Flying fish not so much, but the fish they DO have is pretty great. There was even a fish named Larry up in that joint. Cool dude. Tasty AF. Good service. Chill environment. You can't go wrong here. A+++++++

The food is fresh n spiced just right n the chips are made there and are Yum!! I always try something new each time I go. The 2nd best part are the huge portions. You wont go hungry even if its just an appetizer.

The line moved fast. You order and the buzzer they give you goes off when it's ready. IWe ordered oysters, oyster po-boy and gumbo to go with our beers. It didn't take long after ordering for it to be ready. It was awesome!

As a first time visitor, I enjoyed the ambience. Service was average. I did not enjoy my fried fish, shrimp, and fries. The food was nothing to write home about. I also did not enjoy the frozen margarita. I came, I saw, and I left! The restaurant was clean, and the flow of customers was steady.

This was an accidental find. So we don't like to stop and use the facilities without at least buying something. So my wife grabbed us a two piece catfish and shrimp plate. We weren't hungry but still purchased. So glad we did. This was a great choice!! The fish was fried just right and all the way through!! Came with a couple of delicious hush puppies which brought it all together!! The people cooked everything fresh to order, so it came out piping hot. Not friendly people, but tolerable. So they could use some training from "HR" The interior was different with all of the talking trouts on the wall (none of them worked) and I thought the "liars wall" was cool. A place definitely worth trying if you're ever in downtown Little Rock, AR.

I think I remembered coming here almost a decade ago and this was my second time returning. The fish was good and there a LONG line which means we were in the right place. They don't let you grab a table unless you order food which is helpful of the customers and their experience inside. The place was clean, quick and the menu options are almost endless which I wish I could order more but I'm only one person. I would like to try more things.

The place is hole-in-the-wall, very cool and high energy. Help was friendly and patient. We got catfish, cheeseburger, red snapper and tilapia. The grilled snapper was better than the fried and was excellent! Decor was fun and entertaining. Highly recommend! It is great food and an experience.

Great spot for catfish! I was craving some fried catfish as my last meal in Arkansas before heading to the airport. Thankfully this spot was open on Memorial Day! In the afternoon the line to order was short and moved quickly. Food came out quickly too. We all ordered the same thing so I can't speak to the rest of the menu items, but the catfish basket was great! Fish was lightly breaded, perfectly cooked leaving it tender and moist on the inside. The fries and hush puppies were a good portion - nothing wildly amazing about them but they were good. Fun eclectic decorations on the walls!

My partner and I really excited we found this place and we've been craving seafood boil. Combo: I was expecting like other seafood boil with lots of sauce to go with the seafood. But unfortunately it wasn't like that, they sprinkle the seafood, potatoes and corn with paprika. I have to dip the seafood on the Gumbo because they barely taste anything. 7.5/10 Fried Calamari was good but they're small but good portion. 8/10 Gumbo: it was too salty and small kick of spicy which is good for me. But I only used it to dip the seafood. 6.5/10 Rice: it was plain and some seasoning but taste okay. 4/10. The service was good, the guy taking our prefer was patient enough to explain to us all the food. Inside the restaurant was "Whoaaa" so much Bass o fishes. They have plenty of tables. Overall, it was good. 8.5/10

Came to Flying Fish 20 years ago when they first opened and I was happy to see they are still there. I had my usual whole fried catfish which was perfect as usual. The sides were great as well. This is another must when visiting LR and its right down the street from the Clinton Library.

Seems to be a local favorite. Wasn't impressed. I got the lobster stew. And it was 100% crawfish. Very hole in the wall dive. Prolly 300 big mouth Billy bass on the wall and that was cool. But just not much more than a dive on Main Street

Came to flying fish for lunch during a work trip to Little Rock. It was recommended by a local co-worker and was a wonderful recommendation! You order at the counter and are served at the counter. Plenty of seating and the food comes quickly even though most of it is made to order. I ordered the crawfish jambalaya and thoroughly enjoyed every bite. The crawfish was freshly fried, hot and crispy. The jambalaya was delicious. The flavor was great with nice Cajun kick. And the portions were good for the price. This is a super casual spot. Fresh seafood cooked to order, great food and great portions. I would definitely go back.

Fish (shrimp) taco! Tasteful with a bite from the pico. Would have preferred soft shells. The slaw and red beans and rice were very good. Self- service and nice , comfortable atmosphere.

Huge selection of seafood. Great food and unique decor. The lemonade is fantastic. We were pleasantly surprised by good everything tasted.

Really glad we found this place after a quick scan of Yelp. We were in town visiting the Clinton Library and touring the waterfront area and decided to see about eating in town versus near our hotel on the far west side of town. We got here a bit after 5pm on a Saturday and found a line about halfway to the door - it moved relatively quickly (by the time we left the line was out the door!). While waiting we amused ourselves looking at the collection of stuffed bass covering the walls. We grabbed a menu on our way in so we could decide while waiting. I was very pleasantly surprised at the reasonable prices of this place. Every restaurant these days has jacked up their prices. The menu is quite large which made it hard to choose. My wife opted for the grilled tilapia tacos which she really liked. I got the lobster roll platter with two small lobster rolls (actually langoustines) on a buttered New England style bun. Fries and Cole slaw came with it. It was very good. They have a selection of can and draft beers - good and better. Big thumbs up! If we were here longer I would return!

On the last night of our visit to Little Rock, most of us decided we had to try the delicious food (fish) that everyone was talking about!! Stepping in to see (literally) hundreds of Billy bass fish on the walls, I wasn't exactly sure what I was getting myself into, but I quickly felt comfortable and found a seat in one of the multiple sections of the restaurant. The food staff don't serve you at a table, but instead you order at the window up front and come when your number is called. My table ordered the grits and gumbo, tilapia tacos, catfish, and the jambalaya. We also got hush puppies and fried pickles to share between the four of us. The food was great! Like many places I went to in Arkansas, it was very simple, but that made it even better. We ate quickly before spending a long time chatting and enjoying the atmosphere of the restaurant. They don't have a lot of fresh options, but if you're looking for some delicious fried food that will improve your time in Little Rock, definitely stop by! Don't forget to bring in a Billy bass fish if you want a free catfish basket!!

Just wow. If I lived closer I would gain serious weight. The food and atmosphere and the music was a perfect supper I thank you for the smiles.

I have just experienced the hardest week of my life. Between losing Ozzy and my great Uncle Albert, the family decided to try this place out after driving in town for the funeral. We are just at a loss of words for this place. The name of this restaurant is truly fitting because it sure will have you flying. This gave me a one way ticket to food poisoning. Never in my life have I seen lobster stew this bad and don't get me started on the oysters. We felt so rushed with everything and the servers kept telling us to "make it snappy!" I should rate it one star for that alone, however it was decorated nice so I give it two! Be blessed, Sharron!

We were greeted by a very friendly Hispanic man who took our order. I apologize I have forgotten his name, but he was so amazing. I ordered the fried shrimp salad and my husband ordered the fried or Caesar salad, and a side of hush puppies. Other reviews talked about how big the salads were and I must say mine was pretty big, but my husbands was small, he could've used another handful of mix. The hush puppies were not our favorite. The first two or three were good but after that, they just had a strange taste to us. I think they were too brown. I think they could've been removed from the fryer about a minute or two and they would've been perfect. $43.86 was the total for our meal. We love the decor, and the tables are like an old-fashioned table that you found at your great grandmothers very comfortable chairs.

I have not been here for a while. So, the other day, I went after lunch and before dinner, and the line was not long at all. I ordered fried calamari and fried oysters. I ALWAYS ask to have it fried soft. Mane, the calamari was fried so hard, they were tough and the oyster were also fried hard and no flavor. I was totally disappointed. The first time I had such an awful meal here as Flying Fish!

A great yelp! find in downtown Little Rock. Seems like this run down fish shack has been here for decades. Lots of tables, good working AC, and a huge menu of Southern and Cajun seafood. Walk in, order at the counter and they buzz you when the order is ready. Grab a beer from the cooler and get ready to eat some delicious fish. My wife and I both had the grilled catfish plate and we split a bowl of seafood gumbo. Deliciously seasoned and perfectly cooked. Fish doesn't get any better than this.

Went twice in 3 days. 10/10!! I'll most likely be back for the catfish basket again because you can't go wrong there. Love their tartar sauce.. Loved the hush puppies! Perfect crunch on that fish batter. Fries were hot and fresh! Love the staff. The cleanliness was up to par. I tried the ceviche and had to return it, too tomatoey, not Baja California style neither did it have enough lime - the shrimp were cooked which is not authentic ceviche style. However, the nice cashier guy who I spoke with used to live in Dallas, he exchanged it for me without charge. We tipped him! Very nice guy! This is the kind of place where you stick to what you know is good.

Fresh and hot. Had the fish/shrimp basket. A large menu to choose from. Will be returning when back in Arkansas.

Great restaurant to grab some fish in the heart of the city. Service was fast and easy, and restaurant has some great history to it. Overall can't go wrong eating here.

I love to go to the Flying Fish whenever I'm in Little Rock. It a very casual place. They offer a nice selection of seafood including fried catfish, shrimp, oysters and more. Plus fries and hush puppies. Good selection of beers and soft drinks. The restaurant is unique in that the walls are covered with hundreds of "Billy Bass" plaques! A neat place to visit for a good meal.

Great food and drinks. Love the fish and okra. The best in Little Rock. Can't beat the service. They go the extra mile in getting your food prepared.

I really liked this restaurant. They serve up cajun favorites and seafood. They also have limited adult beverages and some of the best homemade lemonade that I have had. There is metered street parking in front of the restaurant and within a reasonable walking distance. The meters run from about 8AM to 6PM on weekdays and is free all other times, including weekends. They have a huge dining area split across three sections. They do not have table service, so you place your order at the counter, they call your number and then you take your food to the table of your choice. You cannot help but notice all the fake bass mounted on the walls of the restaurant. I think people purchase them and then have them put on the wall. Some of their menu items include shrimp, oysters, gumbo, po'boys, tilapia, jambalaya, chicken strips, and other fish. I was ambitious with my ordering and got an order of frog legs and fried gator po'boy combo, which came with a side of fries. It took about 12 minutes for me to get my food, which was good, because they were slam packed during my visit. Even though I had a limited interaction with them, the staff there was very friendly, accommodating and helpful. It was a ton of food and it was fresh hot and delicious. I could not even start on my frog legs and had to take them to go. The po boy was over flowing with gator bites. It was packed. I really enjoyed my meal. This is a very nice restaurant that is located in downtown Little Rock. I really enjoyed my meal and time that I spent here. I highly recommend checking this place out.

This place is so cool!! The food was amazing, prices were reasonable, and the place is so amazing! The service was quick and polite, nothing outrageous but they did their job! The restaurant has a bunch of things going on the walls and it was so cool to look at! Highly recommend!

I may or may not have came here solely for t-shirt haha. But I'm glad we stopped in when we were in town. I'm a fisher so this was a cool little joint. The food was just okay, not much to say. It wasn't bad and it wasn't amazing. I think it's worth a stop if you like fishing and cool shirts and want some hush puppies and fish.

Flying fish was amazing all around! We ordered 2 kids meals ($6.95/each), 1 bowl of alligator queso & chips ($13.95), and the crawfish plate ($8.95). Our meals were ready pretty fast and were hot. The crawfish were the star of the show. They serve it with potatoes and a corn on the cob. It had some spice but definitely kept the Cajun flavor throughout. As someone who used to live in Louisiana, I was excited to order this and they did it just right! The kids meals were good portions for my kids-7&8. It was served with catfish, fries and a hush puppy in a cute paper boat adding a nice touch. The alligator queso was pretty tasty all around and I'm glad I tried it. The atmosphere was cozy and comfortable, it was my two sons and I who dined in today. You order first at the counter then choose your seat. Parking is street parking but very reasonable about ~$1/hour give or take. We were able to park extremely close. The only staff we encountered was the one taking our order at the stand, but very friendly and polite. I was expecting this place to be more pricey just off location and serving seafood, but they are very reasonable and you will leave satisfied. I highly recommend this place if you're checking out downtown Little Rock! I'll be coming back for more one day!

I have been here twice once for lunch and then for dinner. I love this place! Great food and the style of the restaurant is exactly what you would want for a fried fish restaurant in the south.

A fun place for fried seafood. A must for visitors. Not a fan of fried anything. Pictures and singing bass on the walls make the place fun.

Little Rock AR holds some trophy restaurants that are favorites to the locals. This one came to me as a recommendation. My visit to the FLYING FISH did not disappoint. I ordered the lobster rolls to go. I needed to catch my wings for work so I needed to get this and go go. The portions were perfect and freshly tendered with a side of fresh Cole slaw and fries. Btw - You get two rolls in the special that they were running. Lobster can be tricky in cooking just right. But FF nailed it. I will be coming back to try their beloved catfish soon! It's a cool place with lots of historical photos. And..... you get to see the action of the team preparing all the orders. There was a cadence call that the team would yell in rhythm that I couldn't catch but kinda cool at the same time. I'm thinking it had to do with a certain order and placed, or maybe reaching a certain number of orders. Cool none the less.

I ordered their special which was grilled trout with rice and bean and veggie. I really enjoyed it. It's great choice for good,quick, delicious food. The prices are very reasonable. Overall very happy with this choice.

Fantastic food, great service, perfect decor and ambience! Highly recommend to visitors and locals alike.

I came to Arkansas for a work trip that lasted less than 24 hours so I only had the time for one good meal in Little Rock. Man oh man did I nail my choice by coming here!! Every single bite I took was phenomenal. The batters for all the various fried options were crispy to perfection and absolutely jam packet with flavorful spices. The hush puppies were moist and delicious. But my favorite dish has to be the Crawfish Chowder!! Big generous chunks of crawfish and my mouth is watering just thinking about that chowder's savory, spicy, and smoky flavor. Also I'm a huge fan of the wide selection of sauces placed on every table! The service was also super quick despite there being a good amount of people when I was there. It took me a minute to choose what I wanted from the massive menu but they were patient and kind while I ordered. The interior really makes you feel like you stumbled into a fisherman's tavern with walls covered in pictures of people's big catches and wall mounted fish! Loved the vibe and if I have to go back for another super short work trip this would 100% be the one good meal I enjoy!

The Missus and I hadn't been back to FF in probably 10 years, so we showed up ready to rediscover. We took a good 5 minute perusal of the expansive menu and gravitated, like 4 year olds, to the items with the pictures. I went with the Caddo, a dish of shrimp, sprinkled on tilapia, smothered on rice. On top of this seafood stack was an incredible savory-sweet sauce that was so plentiful, if the tilapia were still alive it could have gone swimming in it. The sauce was the showstopper. Had I lacked just a shred more dignity I could have drunk it straight. I would describe it as a bit of a creole version of a Thai green curry. There is a slight kick with some chili flakes swimming about, but it's not spicy. I heard one guy switch out his tilapia for grouper, so I guess you can do that. I would also recommend adding a slice or two of bread with which to sop up the sauce. Absolutely great meal. I knock one star for the played out walls of Billy bass. Time for a refresh!

The fish was cooked well but the traditional seasoning was a bit bland, the fries were crunchy, the cole slaw got a thumbs up from my sister in law. My crawfish chowder had way too many jalapeños in it. More jalapeños than crawfish. Not good. And I couldn't finish it. What I could not get over was the "banana pudding". It's like canned pudding. It's like the pudding in a nursing home. They toss 4 Nilla wafers and 2 slices of bananas and then pour the pudding over it. No whipped cream. Not good at all--unless you have never had banana pudding and don't know any better. But we are in the SOUTH. Come on. Get it together. And whoever called the banana pudding delicious in their review--I feel bamboozled. Service and vibe were okay.

The food was very good, and the Billy Bass Adoption Center and Cajun friendly decor is welcoming. It's an informal place with yummy seafood. I tried the Langostino Lobster Roll, Cole slaw, and grilled zucchini. Delish!

Food and service was excellent. I especially enjoyed the grilled catfish (garlic butter style) with the grilled vegetables.

I'm a flight attendant so whenever I layover I try and find a local spot to eat and this place was yummy. The crawfish chowder alone is 5stars. The pricing was good and fair the shrimp and catfish was fried perfectly. I didn't care for the hush puppies and the coleslaw was mid. I like the cool and casual vibe. The line was long but worth the wait. You order your food at a window and then they buzz you and pick it up from the counter. The decor is very eclectic and I enjoyed that. Definitely gonna visit again next time I'm in Little Rock.

The catfish jambalaya was awesome! Great flavor and the fish was fried perfectly. Second time visiting and I would return!

This crap is mid and very much so over priced. Had the catfish poor boy today and was not impressed. Nothing to call home over. Asked the guy to sub fries for red beans and rice. He didn't listen and insisted a pay for a whole entire new side of red beans and rice which was $5 Avoid if you can