BEST FRIED DISHES IN OMAHA
My Personal Mount Rushmore
This list is not for the calorie conscious.
No, it’s for the cheat-meal enthusiasts who throw calories to the wind and embrace the wondrous flavors that emerge when a piece of food is pulled from a vat of hot oil. In the span of just minutes, the texture and flavor profile of an item can completely evolve into a higher form. It’s like a butterfly emerging from a cocoon… only, in this case, the cocoon is a boiling cauldron of bubbly oil.
There’s all kinds of great fried food in Omaha, and I obviously haven’t eaten it all. But when I get a craving for a deep-fried dish, these are the plates that jump to the top of my mind. These is my Mount Rushmore of Omaha Fried Food (with honorable mentions). I didn’t include fried chicken sandwiches or chicken wings here; they both deserve their own lists.
***Note: Just one dish per restaurant is included on this list. I wanted to showcase many restaurants rather than shower all praise on a few elite joints.***
Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos (Sauced by Alfaro)
With fried shrimp and shell, Sauced by Alfaro doubles down on the fried elements in this masterclass of a taco. Owner Michelle Alfaro’s steadfast belief that everything should be hand made and cooked to order is evidenced in this dish. The tortillas are hand crafted each morning, and the jumbo shrimp are hand breaded the day of service. And does the extra effort ever show.
The three gigantic shrimp stuffed inside each taco remain plump and tender while gaining a crispy coating from the deep fry, and bang bang sauce adds both sugar and heat. But the brain-twisting shell is what really makes this dish. It has a crisp exterior, yet it’s somehow still chewy at the same time. There’s no way to better describe the shell than make the drive to Louisville and experience this for yourself.
Chicken & Pancakes (Dirty Birds)
If there’s better fried chicken in Omaha, I have yet to find it. Dirty Birds‘ poultry finds that near impossible fried chicken balance: crispy enough on the exterior to produce an audible crunch, yet still the chicken remains incredibly moist and tender inside its batter armor.
That brilliant balance is present with these chicken tenders, which are plated with fluffy, dense pancakes stuffed with tart blackberries and blue cheese. A sassafras (root beer-flavored syrup) puts a bow on this sweet/savory mash-up.
Fish & Chips (Dundee Dell)
The Fish & Chips at Dundee Dell have helped make this pub an Omaha favorite for decades, but the recent recipe revamp took this dish to an even higher level. The Icelandic cod is both firm and flaky and tastes fresh enough to just have been bold from the sea. Its breading is light and airy, adding just enough of a salty punch. The batter is almost fluffy in texture, and it doesn’t allow the oil to reach the fish at all.
Don’t sleep on the fries though, which are some of the better ones in Omaha. They’re beer-battered too, giving them a light feel and crispy consistency. A tad more seasoning would help, but they’re still quite good.
Carne Frita Mofongo (Elie's Chinchorro)
Every version of mofongo, a traditional Puerto Rican dish of mashed plantains, fried pork skin, and seasoning, at Elie’s Chinchorro is special. The mashed base is similar to mashed potatoes but with more chunks, and the salty, garlic flavor is spectacular.
But the best version comes with chunks or pork that are flash fried to give them a thin, crispy shell. The interior remains succulent and fatty while the outside has a brilliant texture contrast. Pro move: dunk the entire dish in Elie’s homemade chicken broth, which is delicious enough to drink through a straw.
Honorable Mention Omaha Fried Dishes
Chicken Parmigiana
There’s so much to love about this dish, starting with the fried chicken cutlet large enough to eclipse your face. It’s fried to a perfect golden brown, draped with tangy marinara, and loaded with melty mozzarella cheese. WD Cravings could’ve stopped there and had an awesome dish.
But chef Piero Cotrina specializes in handmade pasta, and the silky pappardelle in this dish is no exception. It’s tender texture is the perfect complement to the crunchy chicken.
Crab Rangoon Nachos
Nice Rollz perfects the flavors of deconstructing crab rangoon and building it in a better form. Too many crab rangoons are sad, soggy messes, but these fried wontons remain crispy throughout. The housemade cream cheese adds a luscious tang, while the sweet and sour sauce slaps your taste buds awake.
And best yet, every layer of these nachos is layered with ingredients; there are no naked chips here.
Beef Coconut Fry
I wanted to use this list to highlight deep-fried dishes, but I’m going to make an exception and allow for one pan-fried option. The Beef Coconut Fry at Kinaara is too delicious not to include.
Kinaara starts with tender hunks of beef from Raikes Beef Co. and slow roasts them in ginger, spies, garlic, and onion, resulting in a dish that pops with bold, peppery flavor. Like most of Kinaara’s dishes, it’s difficult to describe with words. It simply must be experienced.
Onion Rings
It might seem odd for a restaurant known as one of Omaha’s best Greek restaurants to be known for its onion rings. But one bite of these crunchy hoops is all it will take to put these among the finest in the city.
Jim & Jennie’s rings have solid structure and aren’t at all limp, featuring a crisp, crunchy edge. The batter is present and adds a strong savory saltiness, but the rings aren’t over battered, and you can actually taste the original onion.
Buffalo Cauliflower Wings
Fried food doesn’t need meat or cheese to be elite. As Modern Love proves, something as simple as cauliflower can do the trick.
Chopped into hefty chunks and lightly battered, Modern Love’s cauliflower is deep fried to a perfect crisp. The batter creates a pleasant, solid barrier is complements the soft, meaty cauliflower inside. While any of this vegan restaurant’s sauces are worth trying, the buttery, rich buffalo version is my personal favorite. Just be ready for some kick.
Crispy Potatoes
While the Crispy Potatoes at Culprit Cafe or the Home Fries at WD Cravings easily could’ve made this list, Good Lookin’s version of fried breakfast spuds stands out for their preparation method.
These potatoes are boiled, smashed, then fried. This not only ensures that no two bites are exactly alike, but it invites more crispy nooks and crannies to add texture. Slather them in Good Lookin’s bacon jam to really send them over the top.
This list covers just a brief sampling of Omaha’s great options for fried food, and I haven’t tried them all (who could?!) So tell me about your favorites! Tweet at me @danhoppen or message me on Instagram @dan_hoppen.