The Indianapolis Fish Fry & Lent Guide

Local guide · 2026-06-08

Fish-fry season is practically a holiday in Indianapolis. Whether it's a Lenten Friday or just a craving for golden, crispy catfish, here's how to do an Indy fish fry right, and where to get fried fish that's actually fresh.

Fresh fish makes a better fry

The secret to great fried fish isn't the batter, it's the fish. A lot of Friday-night fish fries run on frozen, thawed-out fillets. Caplinger's fries the same real seafood we sell at our market: catfish, whiting, perch and more, hand-breaded and fried to order at all four locations.

What to order

The Caplinger Special, our famous fish sandwich, was voted Best Fish Sandwich for a reason, and the fried catfish is the Indy regular's pick. Round it out with hush puppies, mac & cheese, collard greens and fried okra, the sides our reviewers rave about. Feeling adventurous? Add gator bites or frog legs.

Fry it yourself

Hosting your own fish fry? Buy fresh fillets by the pound at our Shadeland or Southside markets and we'll clean and season them for you. For a crowd, we also cater fried-seafood trays and full seafood boils, just give us a few days' notice.

Plan ahead for Lent

Friday nights during Lent are the busiest fish-fry season of the year in Indianapolis. Order online for pickup to skip the line, or call your nearest location to place a big order in advance.