Still on the amazing food stops from our December 2025 Smoky Mountains trip, our final Tennessee meal had to be memorable--and Soul Fish Cafe delivered. Memphis is a slight detour on our way back to Texas, but there was no way we were settling for fast food along the highway. We wanted good seafood--fresh, satisfying, and worth the stop. So glad we chose this spot. From the outside, it's simple and unassuming. Inside, it feels like a slightly bougie fish cafe--clean, cozy, and well-kept, with subtle holiday decor and that warm Southern hospitality greeting you at the door. Our server, Denise, was professional, knowledgeable, and genuinely welcoming. The one-page menu keeps it simple, and she walked us through it along with the daily special. We ordered the gumbo, salmon burger, and a grilled salmon plate--everything tasted fresh and cooked to order. A perfect seafood meal in Tennessee. We left full, happy, and already planning what to try next time. Definitely a spot worth revisiting. read more

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We eat at Soul Fish weekly. LOVE IT! My husband says their chicken wings are the best wings he's ever had. I'm mostly a vegetarian, and I love their sides. Delicious. However, when I stray, their blacken salmon is the best I've ever had. Love Soul Fish! read more

Had the best time eating a late lunch at Soul Fish on Cooper Avenue. I have been to the other locations but this one by far had the nicest hostess in the front of the diner. Our server Rachel was very nice and attentive. My friend and I started off with water because it was pretty hot outside. We ordered immediately since we were hungry. Both of us wanted the whole catfish platter that came with two catfish, fries, cole slaw and jalapeno hush puppies. Our food was fresh and fried just right. The diner was clean and spacious with tables and booths. Another gal brought us our food when it was ready. I like the team effort when servers are busy and someone else steps in to assist. Not sure what took me so long to try out this location. Another plus is there is a parking lot! Cooper Young is known for parallel parking galore. So glad we found soots. I am sure we will return again. It is a happy place. read more

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I've been thinking about catfish for a few days now and honestly, this delivered pretty good. I learned that there is no rhyme or reason to how soft or hard they fry the fish, so I recommend letting them know your preference ahead of time. My fish was fried super hard n crispy which I don't like, while my husband had a big nice and flaky piece, which he doesn't like, so we switched and were completely happy. The table next to ours said her fish was fried soft, so it was sent back to re-do. But maybe asking patrons ahead will save time, money n food. The fish was delicious and seasoned well. I had okra, which was battered, a lil thick for me but overall ok. The fries were cold and barely seasoned, so I didn't really like them. The hush puppies tasted good, a lil greasy but nice flavor. The sweet tea was delicious! read more

Soul Fish Cafe - Catfish Plate, okra, fries (good fish) - Southern Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

The food was the best. Service was better than best. I'm staying in the area and wanted to eat close by. Their menu looked like what I wanted. I ordered catfish, okra and a cucumber salad. Amazing. And the wait was not long at all, and it's a Friday night. read more

Soul Fish Cafe - Catfish, okra and cucumber salad, to go! - Southern Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

Dam this food slaps so hard. One of the best meals we had in Memphis. The fish was top notch. The greens were on point and flavorful. It was so good that we ordered to go boxes! Service was great! Staff was super friendly and helpful. We left a big tip! read more

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I travel to Memphis from AZ every summer and the Soul Fish location on 862 S. Cooper Street, Memphis is my absolute go to for delicious catfish, trout, hushpuppies, and all the sides you could ever want. Everything is always so fresh and you get your food Hot. You will get the best service in town. We usually sit on the patio and get Monica as our server, who is the absolute sweetest person ever. I recommend starting off with the hushpuppies, you won't regret them. I usually order 3 then quickly get irritated once I eat the last one... because you're still reaching for more LOL. read more

Soul Fish Cafe - Catfish, Broccoli, White beans and Fried Porkchop - Southern Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

Food and service were so good. I also got the fired pickles that aren't in the picture read more

Soul Fish Cafe - Catfish Plate with okra and Mac 'N Cheese - Southern Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

Great service, clean and bright, and a large menu selection. I had a large lunch earlier and we started with hushpuppies and fried pickles, so I chose the veggie plate. Black eyed peas, collard greens, and a sweet potato along with cornbread. The veggies were delicious but I just have to mention two things. The cornbread and hushpuppies. No. Not good. Two of my faves but neither had any flavor. Perhaps it is a regional thing, I'm from NC, but these just were bright yellow and lacking in so many ways. I would return for all the other reasons though. read more

Soul Fish Cafe - Southern Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

Service was prompt and friendly. They never left us wanting or needing anything. Relaxing atmosphere for some business talk while enjoying great food. Shrimp and catfish were breaded and cooked very nicely. I particularly enjoyed the cucumber salad as a palate cleanser and just refreshing. I must say the lemonade was very tasty as well. read more

Stopped by to grab a quick bite to eat before a volleyball tournament. Buffalo shrimp mild were really good! We should have ordered 2! Fried perfectly. Blackened chicken Caesar salad had some great flavor. They didn't skimp on that seasoning for the chicken! Blackened mahi sandwich (daily special) great flavor just needed some kind of spicy remoulade sauce to tie it all together. Bun was not able to hold up to the juicy piece of fish. Maybe french bread toasted would be better suited. Shrimp po boy disappeared before I could get a bite! So assuming it was good! Sweet tea was amazing! One of the best I have had. read more

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My sweet tea lemonade, broccoli (no cheese), and blackened salmon were perfect. Great food, chilled ambiance, and great service at the Cooper location. read more

My daughter and I went to Soul Fish in Collierville today for lunch. We go there at least twice a month and the food has always been wonderful. I get the two piece catfish Iplste every time was so disappointed. The fish was awful. It was mushy. It wasn't firm at all. It had a weird texture to it. I've never experienced that there before. We won't be going there again for quite a while. read more

The food was great and so was the service. Shrimp and catfish plate is amazing. Just right on the portions and great taste. It's rare that I order chocolate cake and eat more than one bite. This cake was amazing. The icing is perfect! What a great find! Our 11yr old enjoyed her chicken tacos and so did I...... read more

Food was delicious. Fried catfish was really good, the Mac n cheese was delicious, chicken wings had a great cook and seasoning to them. Unsweet tea was also very good and the mud pie was phenomenal. Hush puppies also were good. Hard to go wrong here read more

Great catfish, awesome service and fair prices! However, the atmosphere is quite loud since the last time we were here, several parties were intoxicated and trying to out-yell each other. read more

So I've had Soul Fish Café multiple times but always take out. This was my first in-restaurant experience. We were in a group of seven. The restaurant promptly seated us. And the weight staff was very pleasant. The food was delicious. The quantity was more than sufficient. And it was served fairly quickly. I will be back. I recommend you give it a try. read more

Soul Fish Cafe - Menu - Southern Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

This place is pretty darn good. And the food and service was fast! - Catfish: Good coating and clean tasting catfish. - Cajun cabbage: this dish was fantastic. A red wine vinegar, sausage and peppers...cooked down with the cabbage...darn good and wanted more. - White beans: not full flavored beans...but good and a nice side. read more

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This is always my stopping point when driving from OKC to Tampa. All about the wings, unsweet tea and cake here!!! So yummy!!! I'll see ya on my drive back home next week!!! read more

Soul Fish Cafe - Chicken Wings - Southern Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

The catfish dip was absolutely DELICIOUS!!! Our server was very knowledgeable about the menu and her suggestions were great! read more

Food was good. I had the catfish plate (regular /3 piece) with Mac n cheese and green beans. The catfish was light and seasoned well,Mac n cheese reminded me of Cracker Barrel's Mac n cheese and the green beans i liked as well. Service was fast and staff seems nice. Atmosphere was open concept and mixed crowd of people from young to old, diverse crowd. I was able to take the plastic cup as well .I would come back. read more

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I love this neighborhood and part of Memphis, the decor that lines the overhead walkways has so much charm. There's good parking available in the attached lot. Plenty of outdoor and indoor seating, with high chairs and booster seats also readily available. Service is friendly and also readily available, love when everyone had a great attitude. The food sticks close to the southern comfort food genre, there's some tacos and salads on the menu that give some variety. Mostly fried and grilled fish and shrimp plates and sandwiches. My wife loved the French fries and thought the sweet potato fries with the cinnamon dusting were also yummy. I couldn't get enough of the blackened catfish, honestly some of the best seasoned and delicate catfish I've ever had. I would be back for those filets alone. Only complaint was that the hushpuppies came out quite oily and that the tartar sauce was a bit too mayo forward, I though is could use some more seasoning to wake it up a bit. Wishing as I'm writing this that I had saved some room for the Mississippi Mud Pie that looked amazing. read more

Soul Fish Cafe - Hushpuppies - Southern Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

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I enjoyed my experience here. Great local neighborhood spot. Perfect place for a quick lunch. The service and the food were great. I'll definitely be back next time I'm in town. read more

This was my favorite meal in Memphis! I'm drooling just thinking about how tender and flavorful that blackened catfish was. Husband got the catfish po'boy and said it was excellent. His meal also came with some of the best sweet potato fries I've ever had. Waitress was super nice and complimented my dress, which made my day haha. read more

Soul Fish Cafe - Blackened Catfish, catfish po' boy - Southern Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

Had the pleasure of having an early dinner with one of my teammates I hadn't been to Soul Fish Café since it first opened up years ago. I was really impressed. The café had expanded so there was more room in the restaurant I had forgotten how good the food was. The place was not packed so that gave us a chance to really enjoy the atmosphere. we both opt to have the three fish dinner with two sides. (Fried) I had the Cajun Cabbage and Black Eyed Peas. Everything was delicious. The server was excellent. I will not wait so long to return. Kudos Catfish Café for being consistent after all these years. read more

Quick friendly service with no waiting on a Saturday afternoon. Food came out fast after ordering. Great place for a fast fried meal when you have other things to do. read more

Soul Fish Cafe - Cabbage - Southern Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

My FAVORITE SOUL FOOD!!!! Soul fish knows how to do it RIGHT!!! The catfish is amazing, the tacos are phenomenal too. Very quick, friendly service!! Great southern vibe! Fun patio drinking wine !!! :) read more

Soul Fish Cafe - Southern Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

10/10 definitely recommend! Shrimp app was phenomenal! Service was amazing! The restaurant was clean and the staff was so polite! read more

Soul Fish Cafe - Southern Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

I really liked this place - ordered carry out and it did not disappoint- crispy and extremely delicious fried catfish. Their fried catfish is so good it melts in your mouth. It's seasoned to perfection- not overpowered either. The blackened catfish is just as good and they really give you enough to last for two or more meals. Really impressed and please do not sleep on the grilled Zucchini - it will change your life. read more

We rolled into Memphis after a 650 mile drive on a Friday evening, it was time for dinner, and we were hungry. The Soul Fish Cafe delivered. Service was friendly and welcoming. The catfish was incredible - we shared blackened and fried. All the side dishes were really tasty, and do not skip the hush puppies with the house-made hot sauce. We made two visits here during our trip, and we had the sweet potato with cinnamon butter, zucchini, greens, cabbage, white beans, and macaroni and cheese, and enjoyed them all. The beer selection is good, and they have several local options (I liked the Wiseacre). And again, the service was so friendly and helpful. It was the right place to visit after being on the road all day long. If you eat too much, you can take a walk up and down Cooper Street afterward. Some attractions nearby include Burke's Books, Memphis Drum Shop, and House of Mews. Pro tip: This location has a parking lot, which we didn't notice until after we had parked a couple blocks away. read more

Ordered the Bristol sandwich (sliced pork loin, bacon & coleslaw on Cuban bread) ! Pork and pork on tasty bread - yes, please! Enjoyed the Mac & cheese - creamy ! Shared appetizers- hush puppies and fried pickles ! Big hit ! Dipping sauces creamy choice and vinegar hot were super yummy. I went for dessert- caramel pecan pie - house made. Wow! Buttery balanced with sweet made this pecan pie a stand out from typical pecan pies. Service was great. Eager to please and to give honest opinion about various dishes Ambience was bright and cheerful. Traveling through Memphis, eating at Soul Fish Cafe made a deep impression! Hope we can make it back to Soul Fish Cafe on return trip home to Dallas! read more

Best fried catfish I've ever had. Had the cabbage which was great and the hush puppies were like dessert. Definitely would be a regular stop for me if I lived in Memphis. read more

Always stop in when we visit the family in Memphis. Delicious fresh hot, home cooked tasting! I was so hungry I got into it before I remembered to snap a picture! read more

Soul Fish Cafe - Catfish Plate Black Eyed Peas - Southern Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

The food is absolutely amazing and the service stellar. I haven't had hush puppies and fried catfish this delicious in ages. The collards tasted just like my grandmother's. read more

We decided to try this place on a whim and it did not disappoint. The catfish was cooked and seasoned to perfection. Some of the best that I've had in quite a while. The sides of coleslaw and greens were also very tasty. We even came back a few night later with the entire family for dinner. read more

Soul Fish Cafe - Catfish Combo - Southern Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

We ended up at Soul Fish Cafe the day before Thanksgiving after trying three other spots that couldn't seat us, and I'm so glad they were open! The hush puppies were a hit with the whole table, and the cornbread and sides were equally loved by everyone. I had the fish sandwich, which was huge, crispy, and delicious, paired with some fantastic fries. My stepfather-in-law ordered the catfish, which looked amazing, and my mother-in-law really enjoyed her blackened Caesar salad. Everything we tried was fresh and flavorful, though I've heard the fried pickles might not be their best offering. The service was friendly, and the relaxed atmosphere made for a great dining experience. I'd definitely recommend it, especially for their Southern staples! read more

Ok the first time I ate here everything was nice well put together boom bam But this time is my last time whoever was cooking didn't know how to properly season anything the fish was over salted I will say this everything on my plate and my mother-in-law's plate was very salty even the deep fried pickles was so extremely salty why??????? Even the fries were bad and even worse we ordered a kids meal but the kid didn't even get a drink and the coleslaw they have no season and it tastes like nothing I think if you would have added salt to the the coleslaw probably would have been good but the slaw wasn't even good but the Mississippi mud dessert was off the chain a brownie with vanilla ice cream that was the best part of the meal right there so it wasn't all bad It's bad when the dessert or the salad was better than the main course that's bad read more

Soul Fish Cafe - Southern Near Me - Memphis, Tennessee

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Found this place on our way from the airport and not disappointed. The host was not the most welcoming, but I think it's just her personality.lol once seated the server was very prompt and helpful. She gave us time, offered suggestions and patient. We had 2 entrees and an appetizer. The buffalo shrimp had just the right kick and kind of a lemon peppery taste. They were served with fries as well. We left a happy plate for sure. Both entrees were good catfish had a good taste and fried perfectly. The Po Boy didn't stand a chance either. Unfortunately, the sides weren't all that, but wasn't bad either. I added a little more seasoning to the Mac n cheese and the texture wasn't too fresh. Okra was decent as well. We'd definitely go back and try other menu items. Overall nice spot and great fell. They have an outside area too, what was a plus. Stop by if you're looking for a little seafood comfort. read more

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Food is good but they will not seat you if everyone is not there. I stopped going here last time. They did this to me. My first trip back. They did it again walked in the door at 11 AM. Completely empty will not let me have a seat. Horrible customer service they will not get any more of my money. There are many more restaurants in Memphis that I can eat at if they don't want my money that's fine. Good luck. read more

This used to be one of my favorite places. However, the food isn't consistent. When I go for lunch and dine in the experience is great but when I do carry out in the evening, the food quality and service isn't great. When it's great, but it's not consistent. Food is too expensive not to be consistently good. read more