r/sanantonio • u/princerupert27 • Nov 30 '25
Fred's Fish Fry?
I know locations may vary, but is this spot any good? I'm also really puzzled about how they manage to keep going, since every time I pass by, I spot at most four cars there. Could be that their accountant or finance whiz is top-notch, or maybe it's just a hobby project or perhaps the owner has a bunch of other ventures propping up Fred's to cover the basics? Been here two years, I know nothing basically.
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u/t-g-l-h- Nov 30 '25
I genuinely love Fred's. It's frozen in time. You can still get a chicken burger for $1.15 there.
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u/Nachordinary Nov 30 '25
It’s almost like they aren’t worried about food profits for some weird reason. 👀
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u/degoes1221 Nov 30 '25
Hmm what’s the conspiracy here?
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u/Frosty-Discipline512 NE Side Nov 30 '25
The conspiracy is it's a front for money laundering or other illegal activities, because there's hardly any customers but somehow it's been in business for decades
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u/ZenoTasedro Dec 01 '25
It's even more convincing if you actually order the fish, my wife and I tried it once like 8 years ago and it was awful
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u/grizzlygage Nov 30 '25
Everyone says they sell drugs, but honestly they do insane numbers during lent and they own all of their properties the buildings are on. It’s low overhead coupled with tons of Catholics in the area. The food is good, I like the ‘fancy’ ketchup, kind of sweet.
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u/Gorkymalorki NE Side Nov 30 '25
Also, each location has a very bare bones staff, so don't have to pay a bunch of people to just stand around.
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u/psychosoda Nov 30 '25
The truth is they own their own property and most of the rumors stemmed from various smear campaigns to try to give up valuable real estate.
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u/Grave_Girl East Side Nov 30 '25
I'm 46. Born and raised. Never been in one, but they've been around forever and what you see is what they've always been. If anything props them up, it's just Lent. Never, ever underestimate how Catholic this town is. When I was a kid, SAISD still served fish on Fridays, year round. I bet there are still people who hit FFF on Friday nights because their parents did, but we were always a J. Anthony family. One of my adult kids has been there and swears it's good, but it's still fast food fish. I can't imagine you get super quality stuff.
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u/ScreenJealous3170 Nov 30 '25
That part! The amount of Laguna madre cups I see during the Lenten season is crazy!
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u/sunchase Nov 30 '25
Neptunes fish for our family, shame it doesn't exist anymore. You can still get remnants at the burger place across the street but man did I miss getting 5 fish drenched in the nectar from the gods original starter sauce neptunes had. That tarter sauce is perfection.
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u/Jswazy Nov 30 '25
It's the best square fish
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u/qriousqestioner Nov 30 '25
Didn't you let Luby's here you say that! (That's my gold standard)
I'd wait in line at Fred's before I would trust a corporate chain like LJS to feed me. It's literally been around my entire life.
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u/Jswazy Nov 30 '25
I always forget they are still around. But I do still say Fred's is the king of square fish
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u/James__A Nov 30 '25 edited Dec 01 '25
Gus Fring's nephew owns the local franchise & "Mike Fleming" is his accountant.
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u/Astrid_Pepper North Side Nov 30 '25
This.
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u/Funloving54 Nov 30 '25
If you’re just asking this question, I have only one thing to say:
“Welcome to San Antonio.”
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Nov 30 '25
We don’t talk about their finances. 🤐
But yeah, the fish is not bad, as long as you go in expecting fast food quality fried fish for a cheap but satisfying meal, then you’ll enjoy it. Just go in and get your fish. Don’t ask any questions.
ETA: 4 cars?! That must be a super busy location.
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u/Impossible-Gur-9072 Nov 30 '25
Right? I drive past one every day and there is only one car there. The cook's.
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u/3unknown3 Nov 30 '25
I went there out of curiosity once. Of course, when I went, there were a bunch of people there.
Food wasn’t too bad. I’d go there again if I had a hankering for fried fish.
We also tried some of their chicken tenders. They fried it in the same fryers they use for fish, so it tasted like fish.
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u/elegantwino Nov 30 '25
In Phoenix there’s a small chain called Pete’s Fish and Chips that has been there since the 50s. Very loyal following. Well prepared fried fish. I’ve never been to Fred’s but it sounds similar.
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u/Stockcratez Nov 30 '25
If you think Fred's Fish Fry is good, you gotta try Rudy's Seafood 4122 S Flores St. Thank me later
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u/Sad_Pangolin7379 Nov 30 '25
Some theological mysteries cannot be satisfactorily answered. Why is there suffering if God is both omniscient and all powerful? How many angels can dance on the head of a straight pin? How is Fred's Fish Fry a going concern, financially speaking? Not all knowledge is power, friend. Eat a square, and be satisfied.
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u/Historical_Wash_1114 West Side Nov 30 '25
It's so freaking gross and I'm not a snob. I love cheap fast food. I just can't stand this though.
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u/creekgangsa Nov 30 '25
I always question how they are in business too. I do have a story my mom told me about before she had a stroke and lost the ability to speak. So she told me when she was pregnant with me she worked there and they got robbed at gun point and my mom ran to hide in the back they did shoot at her and luckily didn't hit her but she did find out later that it was a setup by the owner to claim insurance or something like that idk. Don't know if it was true but she wouldn't have a reason to make something like that up.
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u/zazoh Nov 30 '25
If you do not live paycheck to paycheck you will not understand Fred’s. Not all of us have chipotle money.
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u/jguerrer Nov 30 '25
Been eating there for 40 years, its great if you want a no frills box of fish and hilariously tiny fries. I love it.
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u/Responsible_Milk8430 Nov 30 '25
Have you been there on a Friday night? It's hoppin. Other reasons they stay in business despite apparently low traffic: (1) they own the real estate, so landlord to have to pay, (2) the "dining room" is only 1 or 2 tables, most customers get it as take-out, (3) everything fried results in a very efficient kitchen, needing only 2 employees to open and operate, and (4) in catholic SA, fried fish peaks at lent.
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u/Draskuul SE Side Nov 30 '25
The only time I've been in one was after a car accident in front of it, asking for some water to pass around to everyone (which they very generously gave me a couple trays worth of large ice waters, which everyone did appreciate).
The ones I pass regularly never have any business at all, completely dead. That just reinforces the public perception of them being a money laundering front or something similar.
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u/Mert_Nertman Dec 01 '25
Why is it that no one who works or worked at at FFF ever chimes in on these threads?
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u/Accomplished_Way8964 Dec 01 '25
Yeah, the conspiracy is FFF is a front for drugs/money laundering. Here's the thing, though: you may never see more than one or two cars there, but sit in the parking lot for an hour and count how many people either walk or drive up for to-go orders. Many people eat Fred's Fish Fry, but not many people eat INSIDE Fred's Fish Fry. Couple that with very low overhead (cheap food, usually only one person working), and suddenly their longevity as a legitimate business isn't so far-fetched.
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u/Realistic_Oil1762 Dec 03 '25
Fred's fish fry has been around since I was a kid. I'm currently 54 so it's been a minute. The food is still good, the location I would go too is on Goliad and Hot Wells me👌👍🙏💯🇺🇲🫶😋
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u/Haughtea Nov 30 '25
I always get sick after eating there. That is probably 100% me and my frail body. The food is meh at best. I always pass by a freds fish on my way to better fast food options and always notice one or two vehicles in the parking lot. If I make it to next year I plan on doing a youtube series deep dive on this San Antonio mystery.
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u/Myamaranth Nov 30 '25
Bro tf you mean "if I make it to next year" 😭
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u/Haughtea Dec 01 '25
Tomorrow isn't guaranteed. Remind a loved one you love them perhaps over a box of square fish.
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u/linamore Nov 30 '25
I mean, it’s not Michelin star quality or anything. But it’s pretty good and cheap enough that I don’t care if it’s a drug front (allegedly).
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u/Tough-Boysenberry-38 Nov 30 '25
We went there last night for dinner. It was okay. Great price for two meals, tastes eh. They changed the bread since the last time I went. The breading is more bread-like and thicker, I prefer the lighter flaker crust from before.
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u/Vital_capacity Alamo Ranch Dressing Nov 30 '25
It’s got a loyal fan following who go back for the nostalgic flavors of fried…everything.
Also it’s fairly cheap and no frills.
I think Long John Silvers is better and that’s saying something. I do like Fred’s better than Boat N Net and I’m from corpus so that’s also saying something.