3 Best Seafood Restaurants in Corpus Christi

March 25, 2020

3 Best Seafood Restaurants in Corpus Christi

Looking for an establishment offering excellent seafood in Corpus Christi, Texas? Here are the top three restaurants I recommend for a memorable dining experience.

If you are in Corpus and craving seafood, you are in the perfect place. Corpus Christi offers some of the best seafood in the Gulf. From shrimp, crab, fish, oysters, and more, Corpus offers what you are looking for, and here I hand picked my top three favorite seafood restaurants in Corpus Christi, Texas.

In Corpus, you will find some of the most delicious seafood in the Gulf.

1. Doc’s Seafood and Steaks

Dining and Great Views

Not only does Doc’s Seafood have incredible food, but it also offers unobstructed views of the water and magnificent sunsets. If you haven’t been to Doc’s, I highly recommend you go. Located under the J.F.K. Bridge on Padre Island and right on the water, this open-air restaurant is a gem of a place with a casual, coastal atmosphere that offers fresh waterfront seafood, which is some of the best in Corpus Christi.

The customer service at Doc’s is impressive. Our attentive and pleasurable waiter made the dining experience even more enjoyable. His knowledge of the menu and recommendations were spot on. He kept our glasses filled and was a wonderful conversationalist. Not once did we lack any service. The customer service at Doc’s is truly a pleasure.

The menu offers food choices of steak, fresh Gulf shrimp, seasonal fish from the Gulf, salads, burgers, sandwiches, and much more. The delicious food and generous portions leave you happy and satisfied. The food is phenomenal.

For our appetizers we chose Doc’s Seafood Queso, which is a house-made velvet queso with roasted salsa, blackened shrimp, fresh Pico, and served with home-cooked chips. It’s a wonderful starter for your meal and so delicious.

For our main entrees, my husband had the Coastal Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp, which were six jumbo shrimp stuffed with cilantro lime cream cheese and wrapped in apple wood bacon. I had the Grilled Coconut Shrimp, which I absolutely loved. Its shrimp skewered with pineapple and red bell peppers grilled and topped with coconut cream and toasted coconut flakes. Both meals were incredible and prepared to perfection.

And for the dessert, we shared Fried Cheesecake. Have you had Doc’s fried cheesecake? If not, drop everything, get to Doc’s, and order some now. There’s nothing more scrumptious than cheesecake wrapped in a cinnamon tortilla, then fried and topped with chocolate syrup and served with vanilla ice cream. This decadent dessert is divine. I encourage you to order the cheesecake when you dine at Doc’s. I still think of it all the time. It’s that heavenly.

As you dine, enjoy the views, the call of the seagulls, and the bay breeze. You may even get lucky and see the dolphins swimming in the bay near the restaurant. They made an appearance during our visit, and we watched them while we enjoyed our appetizers. It was a memorable dining experience.

I highly recommend dining at Doc’s Seafood and Steaks. The next time I am in Corpus, it’s one of the first places I’ll visit. Head over to Doc’s by car or boat and enjoy an incredible meal at a picturesque location right on the waterfront. You’ll be glad you did.

Location:

Doc’s Seafood & Steaks

Under the J.F.K. Bridge on Padre Island

13309 S. Padre Island Dr

Corpus Christi, TX 78418

Phone: (361) 949-6744

Hours:

Hours: Sun–Thurs: 11am–9:30pm

Fri & Sat: 11am–10:30pm

Sunday Brunch: 10am–1pm

https://docsseafoodandsteaks.com/

2. Catfish Charlie's

Come on in and enjoy some really good food and meet some of the friendliest people you’ve run into in a long time. — Catfish Charlie’s Motto

Known for their mouthwatering catfish, delicious hush puppies, and exceptional service, Catfish Charlie’s is a must when you visit Corpus. This family-owned restaurant has been a local favorite for over thirty years. Located inside the Crossroads Shopping Village, it may not be an obvious find, but once you step inside and enjoy a meal, you’ll be hooked. I wasn’t sure what to expect when we pulled into the parking lot, but we left delighted with our meal and the exceptional service. We felt as if we had discovered a hidden gem, and trust me, you’ll leave wanting more.

At Catfish Charlie’s, you’ll dine in a casual, Louisiana wharf-style setting. This family-style eatery with the checkered tablecloths has a cozy atmosphere, and the service is exceptional. I haven’t experienced customer service like this, ever. From the front of the house to the back, the service at Catfish Charlie’s far exceeded our expectations. The food arrived at the table lightning-fast, and as for our server, it was as if we had our own private waitress, which we did not have to share with anyone. The staff makes you feel as if you are the only patrons in the restaurant. I haven’t had an experience like that before or since. The incredible, attentive, and super prompt customer service is a wonderful part of the unforgettable dining experience at Catfish Charlie’s.

The menu offers choices from farm raised fried catfish, a few shrimp choices, oysters, Cajun style frog legs, baskets of hush puppies, and gumbo. And if you are not a seafood fan, you choose from chicken-fried steaks, chicken strips, and Louisiana Style Red Beans and Rice with Ham. They offer some of the best Louisiana fare in Corpus Christi. The delectable hush puppies, delicious entrees, and generous portions leave you satisfied. The food is fantastic.

For our appetizer, we had the Crab Pepper Puppies and the Fried Pickle Spears. We loved the Crab Pepper Puppies. The fried jalapenos stuffed with crab meat were a treat. The jalapenos had just the right amount of heat and were fabulous paired with the sweet crab meat — a wonderful combination. And we absolutely loved the crisp Fried Pickle Spears. They were crisp, flavorful, and prepared to perfection.

For our main entrees, my husband ordered the Fried Mississippi Catfish Fillets. The mouthwatering fillets came with country fried potatoes, zesty red beans, hush puppies, and coleslaw. Cooked to perfection, the tender white strips of catfish hit the spot after a day on the beach. I had the Bayou Style Fried Shrimp also served with country fried potatoes, red beans, hush puppies, and coleslaw. The creamy coleslaw, perfect fried potatoes—crunchy on the outside and light and fluffy on the inside, and flavorful red beans complimented my shrimp, wonderfully. Cooked and seasoned perfectly, the fried shrimp was some of the best I’ve had, and the hush puppies are to die for.

If you are looking for unforgettable service and fantastic food, I highly recommend a stop at Catfish Charlie’s in Corpus Christi. The food is incredible, and you’ll feel right at home while you dine and enjoy a delightful meal.

Location

Catfish Charlie’s (Inside Crossroads Shopping Village)

5830 McArdle Rd #12

Corpus Christi, TX 78412

Phone: (361) 993-0363

Hours:

Hours: Sunday-Tuesday: 11am–9pm

Weds & Thurs: 11am–9:30pm

Fri & Sat: 11am–10:30pm

https://www.catfishcharlies.net/

3. Harrison's Landing

Harrison’s Landing offers more than a wonderful meal.

You’re in for an enjoyable experience dining at this outdoor, floating restaurant with perfect views of downtown Corpus. In the heart of the Corpus Christi Marina and surrounded by sailboats, Harrison’s Landing has fantastic food and local live music. You will love dining outdoors in this quaint eatery. Known by the locals as “Tavern on the Bay,” this family-owned business offers three experiences in one location. Not only do they offer incredible food and a unique dining experience, but they also have a boutique and give boating tours.

We received personable and friendly service, but it lacked in promptness compared to the other establishments we visited in Corpus during that trip. There was not a long wait for our appetizer or entrées, but our server seemed to “disappear” at times. Overall, the service was okay, and our server was pleasurable, but she needed to be more attentive. The food was phenomenal and arrived at the table without a long wait, which made up for the mediocracy of our server.

The menu offers a variety of appetizers, soups, salads, seafood, sandwiches, burgers, and more. They have an extensive drink menu from cold beer, margaritas, and wine, and they offer a daily drink special.

We started with the Seafood Ceviche, served with House Fried Tortilla Chips. The ceviche consisted of Gulf shrimp and white fish marinated in a blend of citrus, cucumbers, tomatoes, green onions, cilantro, and red onions. Then, it’s topped with diced avocado and served with the house fried tortilla chips. It’s divine.

For our main entrées, we ordered the Redfish Casino, a grilled fillet dressed with homemade hollandaise sauce, Pico de Gallo, lump blue crab, and sliced avocado, and served with rice pilaf and grilled mixed vegetables. Seasoned perfectly and grilled to perfection, the fish scored high on our list. We also ordered the Tavern Panko Shrimp with Shiner Bock Rings served with coleslaw and hush puppies. Those shiner rings, y’all! Not only are they ginormous, but I have to say they are the best onion rings I’ve ever had—ever. They are huge, crispy, and so flavorful. You must sample the Shiner Bock Rings when you visit Harrison’s Landing. The shrimp was amazing. I loved every bite.

As you dine on the floating dock, enjoy the live music, the salty sea air, and the sights and sounds of the waterfront. We loved the live music and found the casual atmosphere of the establishment relaxing.

I highly recommend a visit to Harrison’s Landing. The phenomenal food and unique establishment leave you with a memorable dining experience. Enjoy fresh seafood on a floating dock and soak in the beautiful scenery around you. After your meal, shop for gifts, apparel, and décor in the boutique, then end your visit with a boat tour around the marina. You won’t be disappointed.