In town on business and as an Elite Yelper, I always look for local dining gems. So I opened up my Yelp! and found Hook's Catfish Kitchen in downtown Erie! I stopped on my way back to my hotel and ordered two catfish filets (they were BIG), some fried okra, fries and hush puppies. The service was friendly and my food was delicious. All of it- great flavor! Great find! Fantastic catfish! And that, folks, is all she wrote. read more

Went on a day trip to the lake. The wife said she had been dying for some Walleye. Looked on the Old Faithful Yelp for some suggestions. We didn't want to break the bank as this was a spur of the moment trip. Read the reviews for Hooks and decided to give it a try. Now as others have mentioned - it is a hole in the wall. Sitting on a corner lot in downtown Erie. But the food and friendly service made it worth while. We both got the Walleye single fillet which came with 2 slices of bread and steak fries. The fillets were of a generous size. They were breaded and cooked fresh as we waited for them. The flavor was fantastic. Next time you are in downtown Erie or hankering for some Walleye, head on down to Hooks Catfish Kitchen. You belly will be glad you did!! read more

Amazing place! I got two pieces of cat fish with fries and two hush puppies for about $21. Cat fish was fried fresh and it was very crispy and juicy on the inside. Very large portion of fish for both pieces, this was enough to last almost two meals for me. Fries were pretty standard, nothing too special about them. Hush puppies were very good, I will definitely order more of those next time. Not much seating inside is something to keep in mind but not a big deal. Overall, very solid place to get some fried fish! Will definitely come again. read more

Hooks Catfish Kitchen - Fried cat fish - Seafood Near Me - Erie, Pennsylvania

Small hole in the wall but totally worth the stop. Most will take out but I ate in. Only a few tables, mostly for those waiting for their takeout since it's made on the spot once you order. Chef/owner very friendly and accommodating. Went in looking for some Perch, cause, y'know it's Erie! But he was out, no perch to be had...likely a good sign. So Walleye it was, and that was not a downgrade! Fresh battered and fried. Hot and ready on a bed of fries. Once it cooled down, the walleye was quite tasty! And the steak fries were good too. Also ordered some coleslaw but wasn't to my liking. Now I need to go back for some Perch! read more

The Food was delicious And the Owner was very nice the portions were well worth the price and wait. Hands down my Favorite read more

Hooks Catfish Kitchen - Hooks Catfish Kitchen Erie Pa. Excellent!! - Seafood Near Me - Erie, Pennsylvania

Catfish was delicious, light corn meal crusted. Perfectly fried. Will be anxious to try other fish next time. One disappointment is packaged tartar sauce. I true fish place should be making the best homemade tartar. Parking is rough during the day. read more

We were delightfully surprised by this hidden gem in downtown Erie. We had the catfish - freshly fried, crisply coated in cornmeal crust. Delicious! The steak cut fries included were great too, as were the extra sides... fried Mac & cheese wedges and super fresh fried okra. Though take out is the norm, there are a few small tables for travelers like us to enjoy a quick meal. Well worth the visit! read more

The monster whiting fish was light flaky and cooked to perfection. Loved the fried corn bites, a perfect complement to the fish. Talking to the owner was an extra special bonus! read more

Super pumped that I found this on Yelp and read that they take cash and then found my secret hidden cash for when I'm out of cash and need it in an emergency because... THIS WAS EXACTLY WHAT I NEEDED IN MY LIFE. I came to Erie for the first time and drove around the Presque Isle loop and sat on the beach and enjoyed everything but I needed fish in my belly. Good fish. So I yelped from the shore and settled on this place. I may have asked the owner if he recommended his catfish or perch since that's popular up here. It's called Catfish Kitchen folks. He didn't answer and he didn't make me feel bad for asking. He silently communicated with a smile and I understood. Catfish. And it was PERFECT. I added corn nuggets and fried okra and a couple of hush puppies and took it all back to my hotel to eat while looking out at the bay. Super crunchy and perfectly seasoned. Can't wait to bring some friends up in a few months and eat here again. read more

Hooks Catfish Kitchen - Catfish, Corn Nuggets, Fried Okra - Seafood Near Me - Erie, Pennsylvania

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The food and service was amazing! The seasoning used in the breading on the catfish was delicious. The restaurant itself is very quaint and has a pleasant atmosphere. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone who enjoys genuine country cooking. read more

Fish is done really well. Taste is really good. Comes with decent fries (not stellar). I'm not a huge fan of hushpuppies but these were really good. Overall, nice staff, good food. Decently priced (wouldn't consider it being cheap) but worth a try. Will be coming back again! read more

What a unique find in an unexpected place. Food was delicious and reasonably proced. Interior is a bit sketchy. Great to have a conversation with the owner while he prepared the meals. read more

Amazing food but get your order in early cause they run out. Catfish was great, the shrimp, the whiting... wish we could of had the walleye and perch! Great onion rings too! read more

On my adventures today in downtown Erie, PA, I needed to try Fried Lake Fish. Stopped into a tiny place called Hooks Catfish Kitchen in downtown. Ordered Fried Perch, Fried Walleye, Fries, Hushpuppies, Corn Nuggets and Coleslaw. And a Pop (they call Soda "pop" here). What I got was fantastic although a bit small for the price ($25.00). The Perch and Walleye were cooked perfectly and right when you ordered them, great corn meal crust and you can definitely tell this is a fresh water fish by the taste. It has a slightly muddy taste (but in a good way), the fries were big steak fries and the corn nuggets were great (think creamed corn thickened, balled up then fried) and the hushpuppies had great spice to them. I liberally sprinkled Malt Vinegar on everything for that acid component dish needs. All in all great meal and I was definitely full. I love finding places like this that aren't tourist destinations so it's more local fare. read more

Best catfish north of Mississippi in my humble opinion! Fried okra is to die for. Great art on the walls, it's a small place with only a couple three tables. Most orders are to go, the TV is on. Food is cooked to order, hot and fresh. Drinks are in the cooler opposite the register, cash only, ask for tartar sauce, etc if you use it. You get a generous portion of fish and the hush puppies are tasty! read more

Hooks Catfish Kitchen - Traditional fried catfish! The best outside Mississippi! - Seafood Near Me - Erie, Pennsylvania

What!? How did I never come to this place? I've been complaining for years that Erie, despite being located on a Great Lake, lacks places that know how to fry our local fish. This place fries the best fish in Erie, hands down. I went with the fried perch, an underrated Lake Erie fish, and some hush puppies. Wow. What a simple, yet delicious meal. I'll definitely be back. read more

Arrived on a Friday night. Young fella prepared our food and to sum things up it was DELICIOUS! We drive from Cleveland to gamble in Erie and this place is always our first stop! Perfectly seasoned hot fresh catfish and the hush puppies were so good! Will continue to visit Hooks whenever we are in town! read more

Just moved to the area from Florida and I was feeling majorly homesick, Hook's catfish completely cured my homesickness. My first bite of the fried okra instantly took me back down south. Most fried okra is this frozen slimy vegetable that makes most people hate the vegetable, this was absolutely not the case here. The okra was crunchy, unbelievably fresh and simply amazing. The hush puppy's were also delicious but the cat fish was phenomenal. His batter was on point and paired beautifully with the hot sauce. The French fries were crunchy and good and the under rated addition was the twice slices of white bread which cooled your mouth from the hot sauce and topped off this comfort food meal. They have call ahead but it didn't take more than 10 mins to get all that is pictured. And the price was spot on for $9 and change. I will absolutely be back for more of this southern comfort food. read more

Hooks Catfish Kitchen - Fried Catfish 1 piece hush puppies fried okra fries and bread. - Seafood Near Me - Erie, Pennsylvania

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Two stars is not for the food, we actually didnt eat here, tried too but the owner doesnt take credit cards, serously? When we walked in I didnt see any credit card logos so i thought I better ask before we ordered, I was told cash only, so we left with the intention of hitting an ATM machine and going back, but didnt feel like going through the hassle. I hope the owner reads this, DUDE get a square reader for your smart phone and take credit cards! It costs nothing for the reader and pennys per transaction, stop being foolish thinking your smart being an all cash business, its dumb and your losing business! And your probably wondering why your not growing your establishment, take credit cards and you will increase your business and grow, its a proven fact! read more

Definitely a hole in the wall restaurant but the food was great. I had the walleye and my friends had the perch. Note, bring cash because they don't take any credit cards. Support local and this spot definitely serves up good portions for the price. read more

Was craving fried perch on a recent visit to Erie. Found Hook's and it was just what the doctor ordered. Bought a variety of fish and sides to cater a small picnic for 10 Everyone was happy with me and the food. read more

We were in town for Roar on the shore, didn't want to eat vendor food and saw this place right by the park and decided to stop in. At first I was concerned since it was literally feet from the event and it was empty. I've been all over the country eating catfish and this place was some of the best catfish I ever ate. I really screwed up not getting the 2 piece. I liked this place and Ill be back. read more

Came here today on Black Friday while visiting Erie. It seemed like it was gonna be closed, but luckily it was open and I'm so glad it was! We had the catfish, shrimp, clams, hush puppies, corn nuggets, zucchini, and chicken tenders, and all of it was delicious! Best fried catfish I've had since I was in Memphis! Not only was the food great, but the owner was very friendly and cool. Even gave us a break since we had a big order. So happy we had a chance to eat at Hooks! A must visit if you're in the area! read more

Southern comfort food restaurant specializing in amazing fried fish sandwiches in the heart of Erie. Large portions at a great price! The catfish was perfectly fried and there was a large selection of sauces to complement it. Every order comes with large cut fries that were lightly crunchy on the outside and soft in the middle. The people working here are extremely nice and make you feel welcome the moment you step in the door. An unbeatable place to stop by for a quick and filling lunch/dinner when in town. read more

The catfish is good and I suggest getting some hushpuppies! The service is friendly and good. Love this place!

Hooks is likely the guy's name. Yet, it fits what the food did to me...hooked me. Those hush puppies were da bomb and I didn't go here for those. So let's tell some fish stories. I got the giant whiting at Hooks' suggestion over the perch. People listen, I'm a big guy and I had my fill with the fish, fries and puppies because the fish was huge. Slap some hot sauce on that dude and go to town because the breeding in nice with good flavor and cooked perfectly. Hooks got me hooked y'all. Forks way up! read more

I just left Hooks Catfish Kitchen, the fish was so fresh and so good, I am trying to find an excuse to come back to Erie. I ordered the catfish platter with a side of clam strips for about $15 bucks. My only complaint is they do not take credit cards. This has to be the best fried seafood in Erie. The owner is the cook, waiter and hospitality chief. I ate in to enjoy my food hot. I would have sat there all night but I didn't want to take up space. There were very few tables, but it is neat and clean and will not disappoint. I might have to swing back by before I head out on Thursday. read more

The catfish was very good. Reminds me of down in Atlanta. Restaurant was very clean. Should over more sides to go along with fish besides fried items. read more

we have moved up here from Mississippi 8 years ago and this is our first time to try this catfish we have been craving. It was fried to perfection, crisp, not greasy, seasoned well and soo big. We will surely make up for lost time. read more

Love this place! A lot of food for the money, and the owner is a super nice guy. He's always happy to see people and very friendly. Cash only, but there's an ATM on the next corner. Small eat in area, but everything is packed to go so either is fine. I found out about this place when overhearing a conversation at Country Fair- glad I decided to investigate further! Best fish in town! read more

Small hole in the wall type restaurant, but easily the best fried fish I've had in Erie.

Delicious food, very low prices, quick service, friendly staff, clean environment... not much more you could ask for. An Erie gem

I was in town doing some fishing and wanted to find a good place for some walleye, so naturally I turned to Yelp. After reading the reviews I decided to give Hooks Catfish Kitchen a try. I got the walleye meal and hush puppies. The food was over cooked just on the verge of being burnt. I love walleye and this was the worst walleye I've ever eaten. Hopefully for the restaurants sake it was an isolated incident, but I will not be going back when I'm in town. read more

The place is small but the food is excellent!! The service was wonderful, I am so glad we went there!!!

This place is the real deal. There are just a few things on the menu. If you want fried fish in Erie, this is the place to go. Also awesome fries and excellent hush puppies. read more

A great fried fish joint. Asked where their catfish were from, the owner answered right away. They tasted very fresh. Not many items are on the menu, as if they are specialized on offering fresh fried fish. Looking forward to trying these different fish on the menu. My wife loves Sweet Corn Nuggets too. read more