Arkansas Fried Catfish at Mr. Whiskers, Hot Springs

Arkansas Fried Catfish

by Mr. Whiskers, Hot Springs, AR, USA

Fried catfish is the official state dish of Arkansas, and when you're visiting the "The Natural State", there's no better place to stop for a delicious bite of freshly fried catfish than at Mr. Whisker's in Hot Springs!

deep-fried catfish, the official state dish of Arkansas, USA at Mr. Whiskers in Hot Springs, AR

Fried catfish is the official state dish of Arkansas, and it's a delicious way to enjoy this freshwater fish. The catfish is coated with cornmeal and spices, then deep-fried until golden and crispy. It's served with lemon wedges, various sauces (see below), coleslaw, and hush puppies. 

When I was searching for good "must-have" food in Arkansas, Mr. Whiskers kept coming up time and time again in my search bar. I knew I had to try it!

Mr. Whisker's is one of the best places to try fried catfish in Arkansas. They use fresh catfish from local farms and fry them to perfection. The portions are generous, and the prices are reasonable. You can also enjoy other dishes like shrimp, po boys, and burgers, but I 100% recommend that you order the catfish, as that's the dish that put them on the map across the state and beyond. 

inside Mr. Whisker's, Arkansas, USA

If you're looking for a mouthwatering meal in a cozy and friendly atmosphere, you must visit Mr. Whisker's. When you walk in, it feels very cozy, very home-style restaurant. It feels quite comfy.

After placing your order at the counter, take a seat at any table you like. The staff are super friendly and helpful and are willing to make good recommendations if you don't know what to order. The menu itself is very clear, and it's easy enough to decide what you want to eat.

For this blog post, we each ordered a catfish basket with sides of fries, hushpuppies, and slaw. I had never had this kind of fried catfish before, because in Thailand we only have grilled catfish. While visiting the USA, I learned that Americans love fried catfish... Arkansans particularly!

 

fried catfish and sides (fries, hushpuppies, and slaw), Arkansas, USA

The food was incredible! The catfish had a great batter. It wasn't too heavily battered, but was fried crispy and perfect, and wasn't at all too oily. The fish was slightly salted, and was served with four different types of dipping sauce: ketchup, tartar sauce, cocktail sauce, and the local house "Whiskers Sauce". Every dip gave you a slightly different taste, and we recommend trying each one to decide what you like the best.

The fries were standard thick-cut fries; heavily salted and crispy. The coleslaw was a very traditional American diner-style slaw and was great for those who love their slaw slightly sweet.

Mr. Whiskers has other items on their menu, like chicken, shrimp, and burgers, but we'll have to save that for next time we go on a road trip through Arkansas.

Overall, we enjoyed our meal, and would definitely come back when passing through Hot Springs!

Various dipping sauces (ketchup, tartar sauce, Whisker's sauce, and cocktail sauce). Try them all!

Hours

Mr. Whiskers in Hot Springs, Arkansas is open:

Tuesday - Saturday 11:00am - 7:00pm

Closed Sunday and Monday

Menu

Mr. Whisker's Menu is available online: 

https://www.greatcatfish.com/menu.html

Website

Find Mr. Whisker's online:
https://www.greatcatfish.com/

Traveler's Tips

When you are in Hot Springs, don't miss out on a visit to Hot Spring's National Park! 

This park is famous for its natural hot springs, which have been used for centuries by Native Americans and European settlers for their healing properties. You can soak in the thermal waters, enjoy a spa treatment, or explore the historic bathhouses along Bathhouse Row which are currently operated as museums and shops run by the US National Park Service. You can also hike on the trails, see the wildlife, and admire the views of the Ouachita Mountains. 

Hot Springs National Park is one of the oldest parks in the country, established in 1832 to protect the springs from commercial exploitation. It is also the smallest national park by area, covering only 5,550 acres. But don't let its size fool you - this park has a lot to offer for visitors of all ages and interests. 

Location

Mr. Whisker's, the best catfish in Hot Springs, Arkansas?

Mr. Whiskers is located at 4195 Malvern Ave, Hot Springs, AR 71901, United States. It's just a few minutes' drive out of downtown Hot Springs.

See the map below for the exact locations, or visit this Google link:
https://goo.gl/maps/1goUr4CmCUyqmq9E6