For what you described, go to Joe Lee’s Seafood Kitchen. It’s the closest fit for a genuinely local, family-run, no-frills Gulf-Coast/Southern seafood meal—not a Palafox “experience,” not a beach-tourist place. Local diners specifically call out the fresh fried catfish; order that with hushpuppies and simple sides. Local review

Second choice: The Fishing Hole. It’s more of a casual seafood joint than a meat-and-three Southern kitchen, but it is the right direction if your goal is crispy fish, fried shrimp, and zero concern for décor. It’s also one of the recurring local “hidden gem” recommendations. Local discussion

I would not steer you to Five Sisters for this particular mission: good food, yes, but it’s more known, more polished, and more atmosphere-forward than the under-the-radar plate you’re asking for.

👉 Is fried catfish the non-negotiable, or would you rather have the best local oxtails, pork chops, or chicken-and-dressing kind of Southern plate?