Catfish King — Restaurant in Beverly Hills

Walking into Catfish King on South Valley Mills in Waco, I was met with a scene straight out of a Texas roadside diner playbook—rustic wooden walls, dim lighting, and an atmosphere that leaned more toward functional than inviting. The counter greeted me first, along with an employee who, when asked how his day was going, responded with, “It’s tolerable.” Not great, not bad—just tolerable. That set the tone for what was to come.

The Food: A Catch That’s Been Sitting Too Long

I ordered the Special Catch Cajun, which came with four fillets of catfish, coleslaw (which I opted out of), Cajun beans, fries, hush puppies (or cusp puppies, as the menu amusingly listed them), and pickled relish. Instead of coleslaw, I went for double beans and rice, which turned out to be the best decision of the meal.

Catfish: The Lamp’s Unforgiving Embrace

The catfish arrived at my table quickly—too quickly. That’s always a telltale sign. Freshly fried fish takes a few extra minutes, but this was clearly pre-cooked and held under a heat lamp, its outer crust already succumbing to time. It lacked that crisp bite that a proper cornmeal batter should have. Inside, the fish wasn’t tender and flaky but rather… something else. You know that texture when fish has just been sitting too long? Yeah, that.

Fries & Hush Puppies: Mere Afterthoughts

The fries—uninspired, limp, and pale—relied entirely on salt, pepper, and ketchup to be anything beyond filler. They had that “we don’t season these because condiments exist” energy. As for the hush puppies? Dense. Heavy. They’re not there to be enjoyed; they’re there to take up space. The kind of hush puppies that make you wish you’d saved room for literally anything else.

Pickled Relish: A Lonely, Neglected Sidekick

The pickled relish? An afterthought. I couldn’t figure out why it was even included in the meal. It didn’t complement the fish, nor did it have a reason to be on the plate. It felt like it was placed there out of habit rather than culinary intention.

Beans and Rice: The Unsuspecting Star of the Show

If anything deserves praise, it’s the beans and rice. Spiced just enough to be interesting, they provided the only real comfort in the meal. The heat, the texture, the seasoning—it was the one thing that didn’t feel rushed or neglected. If I were to come back, it would be for these alone.

The Atmosphere: A Job, Not a Passion

Catfish King doesn’t hum with the energy of a place that loves what it does. The employees were present but not engaged—there to do their job, but not to make anyone’s day better. And I get it, not every place needs to be a vibrant, high-energy eatery. But this was the kind of place where you felt like you were interrupting rather than being welcomed.

Final Verdict: 3.5 Stars (Mostly for the Beans and Rice)

Would I come back? Maybe—for the beans and rice. But for catfish? Not unless it’s guaranteed fresh. If you’re going to call yourself Catfish King, the fish should be the highlight, not the disappointment. Here, it was just tolerable—and maybe that’s the best way to sum up the...

I'll start with that I have been biased in favor of Catfish King for years and have historically loved the food. This has been a staple for my parents, my family, and me for decades now when making trips throughout Texas (especially this location on the way to Dallas). I once again was excited about making a detour to hit this location on New Year's Day. I hit some traffic, but I made it to the location just in time before they closed. I got to the drive thru to order, and an employee came on and said, 'we're closed'. I was quite confused and told him that it was still a couple minutes before they closed per the sign posted. He told me, 'no, we are closed and the fryers are off.' Seriously? If you are going to stop serving customers before closing time, then what is the point of a closing time? The customer service was very poor, and I have a totally different view of this location despite happy memories as a child stretching back decades. At minimum, the employee could have apologized and offered to sell whatever food was already made (not necessitating the fryer being started up again). I'm super disappointed, and it looks like I'll never have a need to stop in Waco again. This location does not value their customers and needs education in...

Catfish King: A Hearty Meal with Ample Portions

Catfish King offers a truly generous dining experience, with massive portions that will surely satisfy even the hungriest diners. I recently tried the Cajun catfish and was impressed by the colossal plate of food that arrived at my table.

The catfish itself was expertly fried, with a crispy exterior and tender interior. The Cajun seasoning added a subtle kick, enhancing the natural flavor of the fish. However, it could have benefited from a slightly more intense seasoning to truly elevate the taste.

Despite the mild flavor, the sheer volume of food made up for any lack of intensity. The catfish was accompanied by a staggering array of sides, including coleslaw, fries, hush puppies, and beans. Each side was well-prepared and complemented the main dish nicely.

Overall, Catfish King is a great option for those seeking a hearty and affordable meal. With ample portions, a wide selection of sides, and efficient service, it's a perfect choice for casual dining. While the Cajun catfish could use a bit more flavor, the overall experience is...