Mel’s Fish Shack

Reviews

• Evan L.

  star star star star star 27 July 2026

  I was looking for somewhere that delivered to my house recently and this restaurant was running a delivery discount so I figured I'd try it out. I ordered the catfish fried crispy with hush puppies and coleslaw.
  
  I've had a fair amount of soul food out in LA, and most of it's okay if not really authentic. This was different - a no frills, really exceptional Louisiana style meal. I've honestly not had this good of fried fish since I was in New Orleans.
  
  The catfish was cooked perfectly, tender inside with a crispy, flaky crust. The hush puppies were also exceptional, flavorful and crunchy on the outside with fluffy cornbread inside. The Cole slaw was also good, though maybe less exceptional. It had a touch too much dressing, but it was still very tasty. The meal also came with a tasty tartar sauce, and a really wonderful hot sauce. The hot sauce was a very vinegar strong Louisiana style sauce that really completed the meal. Also included were two slices of white bread so you could make the meal into a sandwich if desired.
  
  What really stuck out to me was how exceptional this meal was, and I didn't even go to the restaurant. Delivery is never quite as good as getting the food fresh, and yet this was still the best soul food I've ever had in LA. I can't wait to actually visit the restaurant and try the catfish fresh.

• Liza Jane J.

  star star star star star 15 July 2026

  After my first trip to New Orleans, I've been searching high and low for the perfect fried shrimp with that golden cornmeal batter.  Mel's Fish Shack is the closest thing I've found to my perfect Fried Shrimp moment back in NOLA.
  
  The first time I came to Mel's Fish Shack was on a Sunday  People were trickling in - Church goers in their Sunday finest, Delivery orders to people at the counter enjoy a delicious seafood meal.  This place is special to the community and you can feel it.
  
  Food:  I love the fried shrimp - medium crispy.  Crispy and Golden outside and juicy on the inside.  I'm a fan of greens so I get them wherever I go but if you come on a Monday (or any other day of the week) they have red beans and rice as one of their sides too.
  
  I love seafood but the fried shrimp is what draws me every time.  I've enjoyed the Grilled Salmon and Fried Catfish but by far my favorite has been the Fried Shrimp.
  
  Ambience:  I can't say enough for the friendly service and good vibes at this West Adams establishment that has been a neighborhood fixture for decades.  
  
  Bottom-Line:  Come here for a seafood plate, take a seat at the counter if you have time and leave with a happy belly!

• Shone J.

  star star star star star 14 July 2026

  The best OG fried fish spot you can find in L.A hands down! Always my go to spot when feeling fried fish and I drive one hour from the i.e just to curb my craving.‍

• Katie Y.

  star star star star star_border 11 July 2026

  I was a little confused by the menu, but after not ordering enough food and going back for seconds, I finally figured out that you can actually specify the amount of fish that you want (number of pieces of shrimp, for example). The restaurant is literally a shack, so it's small and a little dingy. The employees are incredibly friendly and you can tell it's a family owned operation.
  
  I opted for the fried shrimp and they fried it fresh (in front of us since we could see into the kitchen from where we were sitting), and it was some of the best fried shrimp I've had. The shrimp was still incredibly juicy and tender, and the breading on the outside was crunchy and actually packed a ton of flavor (I think maybe because the breading was on the thinner side? I'm trying to figure out how to describe it, since it was distinctly different from all other fried shrimp that I've had).
  
  Their version of tartar sauce that they give you is AMAZING. I looooove tartar sauce, and this version was even better than standard tartar. Worth a shot, especially if you like fried shrimp.

• Joi R.

  star star star star star_border 2 July 2026

  Cool little shack to come to if you're in the mood for some good fish and chips. I ordered the Red Snapper dinner with onion rings and hush puppies, I was really feigning for something fried, and the Red Snapper hit the spot. Of course it comes with hot sauce and and tarter sauce which was a delicious dill sauce, quite different from what I'm use to. However, it's a tiny cup serving so you'll definitely want to ask for two...maybe three.
  
  Like I said, it's literally a shack, so plan to order take out, and call ahead of you don't want to wait. The employees were very warm and seem like real cool people.
  
  The parking lot is tiny, but there's plenty of street parking. It's conveniently closer to the Culver City, Palms side of West LA than I expected, so I will definitely be back. The food is good and the employees make this a business worth supporting.