It seems like a lot of people crave fish this time of year, and if you have a hankering for some fried fish this season, here are great fried fish options in Champaign-Urbana, plus one just a bit farther away.
Starting tomorrow, Friday, February 24th through every Friday until April 6th, order the fish and chips at Fort Jesse Cafe. While not in C-U, the restaurant is worth the drive to Normal, Illinois. Pictured above, the fried haddock is crusted in a thick beer batter and pairs well with the restaurant’s house tartar sauce and crispy fries.
In Urbana, Silvercreek has an awesome appetizer of fried shrimp and calamari with fried jalapeños, sweet chili pepper sauce, and spicy marinara.
In Downtown Champaign, Neil St. Blues always has fried catfish on the menu, and it’s so delicious. For all-you-can-eat fried fish, catch the restaurant’s Sunday brunch buffet featuring fried catfish and a smorgasbord of Southern cuisine.
The food truck Piato to Go has a solid fried fish dish for only $7. Called the Finding Nemo, each taco has fried cod with lettuce, pineapple salsa, and sriracha mayo.
Over in West Champaign, Da Shark serves a variety of fried food including fried fish with a crispy and flavorful breading. The restaurant serves have perch, tilapia, and catfish in addition to chicken, gyro plates, okra, and more.
Billy Barooz serves a fried cod sandwich so big that it comes with a knife. Topped with coleslaw, the fish is flavorful, and the hand-breaded crunchy crust is excellent.
The fried cod at Hamilton Walker’s is really good. The golden brown breading encases soft and flaky fish, and each bite has a wonderful crispy crunch. It’s on the kid’s menu, too.
Bevier Cafe on campus also has a good fish and chips. The lunch comes with three pieces of fried fish and fries with tartar sauce, a cup of coleslaw, and a half lemon.
Anthony rounded up five fish options for Fish Friday back in 2021, and he really liked the flavorful fried fish at Wood N’ Hog
Lastly, I haven’t been yet, but I really want to try the Fish Fry Fridays at the Masonic Lodge in Champaign, too.
So, where else can you find great fried fish in and around C-U? Let us know in the comments or via email.
