Looking for some of the best fish fries in The Lou? Look no further than this list of favorites compiled by one of our STLMom contributors!
Whether you’re a St. Louis native, a recent transplant, or somewhere in between, it doesn’t take long to get caught up in some of St. Louis’ most cherished cultural nuances. Enjoying the beauty and free attractions in Forest Park, float trips in the summer, trivia nights with friends, overeating toasted ravioli and gooey butter cake, and seeing the 650-foot tall Arch off in the distance are some of the things that make St. Louis special.
Of course, Cardinals baseball holds a special place in most of our hearts, as does earning the title of the second biggest Mardi Gras celebration in the country. But in between these two events comes a time where we kick off a series of 40 days where every Friday, hundreds of local churches and organizations host weekly fish fries.
Why?
Simply put, it’s the Lenten season observed by Christians around the world, which begins on Ash Wednesday (or the day after Fat Tuesday) and ends on Easter Sunday. Some Christians will opt to fast in some way or another during this period of time. For Catholics, especially, the most common form of fasting is a rule I grew up with: “no meat on Friday.”
No meat = a fish frenzy for all to enjoy! And what better method of cooking fish than to fry it all!
While the majority of locations that host fish fries are Catholic churches, a lot of other Christian churches and non-denominational organizations get in on the fish fry fun to bring the community together. Your religious beliefs and affiliations don’t matter – your love of fish (fried, baked, cod, tilapia, tacos, and more!), food, friends, and family are all you need for the next several Fridays.
And because St. Louis does not like to be outdone, we take our fish frying to another level with literally hundreds of fish fry options.
To help you pick your Friday dinner destinations for the next few weeks, I recently polled our St. Louis Mom’s Contributor Team. They were happy to share their personal favorites, so as you pack up your crew after a busy week and head out for some fish fry fun for dinner on Fridays over the next several weeks, be sure to check out their top-ranked fish fries:
Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church
205 S. Market St., New Athens, IL
Fridays February 20 + 27, March 6 + 20, April 3
From 4:30 – 7 pm
Collinsville American Legion Post 365
1022 Vandalia St, Collinsville, IL
Fridays during Lent
From 3 – 7:45 pm
Evangelical United Church of Christ
1212 W Homer M Adams Pkwy, Godfrey, IL
Fridays during Lent
From 4:30 – 8 pm
Glen Carbon American Legion Post 435
190 S. Main Street, Glen Carbon, IL
Fridays during Lent
From 4:30 – 8 pm
Highland Knights of Columbus
12454 IL Route 143, Highland, IL
Wednesday, February 18, and Fridays, February 20 through April 3
From 4 – 7 pm
Holy Family Catholic Church + School
1900 St Clair Ave, Granite City, IL
Wednesday, February 18 and Fridays from February 20 – April 3
4 – 7 pm
Holy Trinity Catholic Church
505 Fountains Parkway, Fairview Heights, IL
Every Friday during Lent
From 3:30 – 7:30 pm
Immaculate Conception – Columbia, IL
411 Palmer Road, Columbia, IL 62236
February 18 + 20 | March 6 + 20 | April 3
3 – 7 pm
Knights of Columbus Council 1193
7132 Marine Rd, Edwardsville, IL 62025
Fridays during Lent
From 4:30 – 7 pm
Knights of Columbus Council 6165
409 Palmer Rd, Columbia, IL
Wednesday, February 18 and Fridays, February 20 + 27 / March 6 + 20 from 3 – 7 pm
Knights of Columbus Council 625
Mother of Perpetual Help Church: 200 Lange Ave, Maryville, IL
Fridays, February 20 – April 3
From 4 – 7 pm
Mascoutah VFW Post 7682
620 Donaphan St, Mascoutah, IL
Fridays during Lent
From 11 am – 2 pm + 5 – 8 pm
New Baden American Legion Post 321
105 E Illinois St, New Baden, IL
Wednesday, February 18
From 5 – 8 pm
O’Fallon Knights of Columbus Fish Fry
402 E Hwy 50, O’Fallon, IL
Wednesday, February 18 and Fridays, March 6 + 27
From 11 am – 1 pm + 4 – 7 pm
Our Lady Queen of Peace
5915 North Belt West, Belleville, IL
Wednesday, February 18 and Fridays, March 6 + 27
From 4:30 – 7:30 pm
Smithton Turner Hall
115 N. Julia, Smithton, IL
Wednesday, February 18 and Fridays during Lent
From 5 – 8 pm
St. Henry Catholic Church
5315 West Main Street, Belleville, IL 62226
Fridays during Lent
4 – 7:30 pm
St. Mary Parish
1706 W. Main St, Belleville, IL
February 18, 20, + 27 | March 6, 13, 20 + 27 | April 3
From 4 – 6:30 pm
St. Teresa
1201 Lebanon Avenue, #4095, Belleville, IL 62221
February 20, 27 | March 6, 13, 20
From 4 – 7:40 pm
Epiphany of Our Lord
6596 Smiley Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63139
Famous for its cornmeal-crusted catfish
Dine-in and carryout options available.
Every Friday during Lent from February 20 – March 27
4:30 – 7 pm
Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Church
1910 Serbian Drive, St Louis, MO 63104
Every Friday of Lent from 5 – 7:30 pm
Spanish Society Fish Fry
7107 Michigan Ave, St. Louis, MO 63111
Every Friday during Lent from 4 – 7 pm
Join us on Fridays during Lent for our rumored to be world famous Spanish Society Fish Fry!
St. Alphonsus Liguori “Rock” Catholic Church
1118 N Grand Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63106
February 20 through March 27 from 11 am – 5 pm
St. Cecilia’s Catholic Church
5418 Louisiana Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63111
Fridays during Lent (except Good Friday) from 4:30 – 8 pm
St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish
6303 Nottingham Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63109
Every Friday in Lent February 20 – April 3 from 4 – 7 pm
St. Joseph Croatian Catholic Church
2112 South 12th Street, St. Louis, MO 63104
Every Friday during Lent except Good Friday
St. Nicholas Orthodox Christian Church
Held at the St. Nicholas Family Life center in West County: 12550 S. Forty Dr., St. Louis, MO 63141
4967 Forest Park Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63108
February 27, March 6 + 13 from 4 – 7 pm
St. Stephen Protomartyr
3949 Wilmington Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63116
February 18, 20, 27 + March 6, 13, 20, 27
From 4 – 7 pm
Christ the King Church
7316 Balson Avenue, University City, MO 63130
February 27 + March 27 from 4:30 – 7:30 pm
Mary Queen of Peace
676 W. Lockwood Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63119
February 20 + March 27 from 5 – 9 pm
St. Gerard Majella Parish
1969 Dougherty Ferry Road, Kirkwood, MO 63122
Fridays from February 20 – March 27 from 4:30 – 7:30 pm
St. Mary Magdalen
2618 S. Brentwood Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63144
Fridays in Lent except Good Friday from 4:30 – 7:30 pm
St. Peter Catholic Church (Kirkwood)
243 West Argonne Drive, Kirkwood, MO 63122
Fridays in Lent through March 20 from 4:30 – 7:30 pm
St. Simon the Apostle
11011 Mueller Rd, St. Louis, MO,
Wednesday, February 18 and Friday, March 6 from 4 – 6:30 pm
American Legion Post 111
7300 Landsdowne Ave, Shrewsbury, MO 63119
Fridays from 11 am – 7 pm
Assumption Parish (Mattese)
4725 Mattis Road, St. Louis, MO 63128
Every Friday during Lent through April 3 from 4:30 – 7 pm
Themes: 3/14 New England Style Lobster Po’ Boys | 3/28 Southwest Style Fish Tacos | April 11 Hot Honey Rockfish Sandwich
Mary Mother of the Church
5901 Keith Rd, St. Louis, MO 63128
February 27 + March 20 from 4 – 7 pm
Queen of All Saints
6603 Christopher Dr, St. Louis, MO 63129
Wednesday, February 18 and Fridays through Lent
Our Lady of Providence
8866 Pardee Road, St. Louis, MO 63123
Fridays During Lent from 4 – 7 pm
Our Lady of Sorrows
5020 Rhodes Avenue. St. Louis, MO 63109
Ash Wednesday, February 18 from 4:30 – 7 pm
Fridays, March 6, 13, 20, 27 from 4:30 – 7
St. Catherine Laboure
9740 Sappington Rd., Sappington, MO 63128
February 20 + March 6, 27 from 4 – 7 pm
St. Elizabeth of Hungary
1420 Sappington Road, St. Louis, MO 63126
every Friday during Lent from February 20 – March 27 from 4 – 7 pm
St. Francis of Assisi
4556 Telegraph Road, Oakville, MO
Ash Wednesday + Every Friday in Lent from 4 – 7 pm
Good Friday, April 3 from 4 – 6 pm
St Justin Martyr
11910 Eddie + Park Road, St. Louis, MO 63126
March 6 from 4 – 7 pm
St. Mark Catholic Church
4200 Ripa Ave, St. Louis, MO 63125
Fridays During Lent from February 20 – March 27 from 4 – 7 pm
St. Simon the Apostle
11011 Mueller Rd, St. Louis, MO 63123
February 18 + March 6
From 4 – 6:30 pm
Seven Holy Founders
6737 S Rock Hill Road, Affton, MO 63123
Fridays During Lent from 4 – 7 pm
Blessed Teresa School of Sacred Heart Parish
150 N. Elizabeth Avenue, Ferguson, MO 63135
Friday February 20, 27 and March 6 from 4 – 7 pm
Holy Name of Jesus Church
10235 Ashbrook Drive, Bellefontaine Neighbors, MO
March 6, 13, 20, 27 from 4 – 6 pm
Our Lady of Guadalupe
1115 S. Florissant Rd., St. Louis, MO 63121
Fridays During Lent from February 20 – March 27 | 4 – 7 pm
Christ Prince of Peace
415 Weidman Road, Manchester, MO
Fridays During Lent (except Good Friday) from 4:45 – 7:30 pm
Holy Infant Catholic Church
627 Dennison Drive, Ballwin, MO 63021
Fridays During Lent 4:30 – 7:30 pm
Incarnate Word
13416 Olive Boulevard, Chesterfield, MO 63017
Every Friday from February 13 – March 27 from 4 – 7 pm
Our Lady of Pillar
401 S. Lindbergh Blvd, St. Louis MO 63131
February 20 – March 27 from 4:30 – 7:30 pm
Sacred Heart Valley Park
17 Ann Avenue, Valley Park, MO 63088
Ash Wednesday, February 18 and every Friday in Lent through March 27 from 4 – 7 pm
St. Alban Roe
2001 Shepard Road, Wildwood, MO 63038
February 20 + 27 | March 13 + 20 from 4:30 – 7 pm
St. Clare of Assisi
15642 Clayton Road, Ellisville, MO 63011
Fridays in Lent: February 20 – March 27 from 4 – 7 pm
St. Clemont of Rome
1510 Bopp Rd, Des Peres, MO 63131
Fridays in Lent: February 20 – March 27 from 4:30 – 7 pm
St. Joseph Manchester
567 St. Joseph’s Lane, Manchester, MO 63021
Every Friday during Lent except Good Friday from 4:30 – 7:15 pm
St. Monica at St. John Bosco Parish Hall
12934 Marine Ave, St. Louis, MO 63146
February 20 – March 27 from 4 – 7 pm
St. Nicholas Orthodox Christian Church
Held at the St. Nicholas Family Life center in West County: 12550 S. Forty Dr., St. Louis, MO 63141
4967 Forest Park Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63108
February 27, March 6 + 13 from 4 – 7 pm
St. Paul Catholic Church
15 Forest Knoll Dr, Fenton, MO 63026
Every Friday during Lent
From 3:30 – 7 pm
St. Richard Catholic Church
11223 Schuetz Rd, Creve Coeur, MO 63146
Fridays during Lent
From 4:30 – 7 pm
All Saints – St. Peters
7 McMenamy Road, St. Peters, MO 63376
Fridays During Lent except Good Friday, from 4 – 7 pm
Immaculate Conception of Dardenne
7701 Town Square Avenue, Dardenne Prairie, MO
Fridays During Lent from 4:30 – 8
Immaculate Heart of Mary
8 West Highway D, New Melle, MO 63365
Fridays During Lent from 4 – 7 pm
St. Charles Borromeo – St. Charles
601 North 4th Street, St. Charles, MO
Fridays during Lent from 4 – 7 pm
St. Cletus – St. Charles
2705 Zumbehl Road, St. Charles, MO
Fridays from March 7 – April 11 from 4 – 7 pm
Sts. Joachim and Ann
4112 McClay Road, St. Charles, MO 63304
Every Friday during Lent except Good Friday from 4 – 7 pm
St. Joseph’s – Wentzville
1410Josephville Road, Wentzville, MO 63385
Fridays During Lent from 4:30 – 7 pm
St. Patrick’s – Wentzville
405 S. Church Street, Wentzville, MO 63385
Fridays February 20, 27 and March 6, 13, 20, 27 from 4 – 7 pm
St. Peter Church – St. Charles
221 1st Capitol Drive, St. Charles, MO 63301
Fridays during Lent
Of course, this is not an exhaustive list, so we want to know which St. Louis area fish fry is your favorite?
Hi Kelly,
If it is not too late, can St. Simon’s be added to your Fish Fry list.
Dates: February 18 and March 6
Times: 4:00 to 6:30
Location: St. Simon the Apostle
Address: 11011 Mueller Road, St. Louis, MO 63123
Website: https://www.stsimonchurch.org/news/fish-fry
We offer four different entree options. Each entree comes with hush puppies, two sides, and a dessert. We offer dine in, carry out, and drive through options.
Thank you!
Robyn Hoffmann
Hi, Kelly: Can you add St. Monica Parish’s “World Famous Fish Fry” to your list?
Location: St. John Bosco Parish Hall
Address: 12934 Marine Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63146
Dates: Every Friday in Lent except Good Friday, i.e., February 20 & 27, March 6, 13, 20 & 27
Time: 4:00 – 7:00 pm
Website: https://stmonicastl.org/events/world-famous-fish-fry
Features delicious cod & shrimp dinners, including fries, spaghetti, coleslaw & dessert. New this year: Ice Cream for the kids and “Beergaritas” for the moms & dads (any anyone 21+). Dine in and carryout. Bulk fish & shrimp (by the pound) orders welcomed.
You should also add St Joseph Croatian church. Every Friday till good friday
St Joseph Croatian Catholic Church
2112 S 12th St
I would also add the Spanish Society at 7107 Michigan Ave.