Just Across the State Line — Real Southern Catfish Awaits

Living just across the Louisiana border puts Waskom, TX in a unique position: one of the most established Southern seafood restaurants in the region is less than twenty minutes away. Jan's River Restaurant, located on W 70th Street in Shreveport along the I-20 corridor, has been serving American farm-raised catfish and homestyle Southern seafood since 1984. For Texas customers who've made the short drive across the state line, it quickly becomes a regular stop — the kind of place that earns a permanent spot in your dinner rotation after the very first visit.

East Texas communities have a long tradition of traveling regionally for dining experiences that aren't available closer to home, and Jan's is exactly the kind of destination that makes that drive worthwhile. The catfish here is American farm-raised redtail — sourced domestically with intention, not substituted with imports — and every fried item is prepared in 100% peanut oil. The result is a flavor that's clean, rich, and unmistakably Southern. Jan's open Tuesday through Saturday evenings, so planning a cross-state dinner run is straightforward and fits naturally into a weekend schedule.

The menu at Jan's River Restaurant gives Waskom visitors plenty to work with. Catfish is the anchor — fried or baked, in full platters or individual servings — and the surrounding menu includes fried shrimp, fried oysters, frog legs, and combination seafood platters. Appetizers like fried okra, fried pickle chips, onion rings, fried shrimp, and mozzarella sticks set the table for a full Southern meal, and the full bar ensures you can pace the evening at whatever speed suits you. Steaks, burgers, and sandwiches are available for non-seafood diners, and a kids' menu makes the trip family-friendly from the start.

Carry-out is available for evenings when you'd rather drive back to Waskom with dinner in hand rather than linger at the table. Jan's holds steady hours Tuesday through Thursday starting at 5:00 PM and Friday through Saturday starting at 4:30 PM — arriving early on a Friday means shorter waits and first pick of the dining room before the Shreveport crowd fills in. The restaurant has been drawing Texas customers for decades, and it's no mystery why that cross-state loyalty has held for over forty years.

Making the trip from Waskom to Jan's River Restaurant is easy — visit the contact page to get directions and everything else you need to plan your visit to Shreveport.

First-time visitors from Waskom quickly understand why Jan's River Restaurant has been drawing Texas customers across the state line for generations. There's a combination of sourcing standards, kitchen consistency, and genuine Southern hospitality that's difficult to replicate — and that combination has been holding steady since 1984.

• American farm-raised redtail catfish only — domestically sourced and freshly prepared
• Every fried item cooked in 100% peanut oil for authentic Southern flavor
• Convenient I-20 access makes the drive from Waskom quick and direct
• Full menu with seafood, steaks, sandwiches, and a dedicated kids' menu
• Carry-out available so you can bring Southern seafood back across the state line

When you're ready to see what Waskom regulars have been crossing into Louisiana for all these years, reach out to Jan's River Restaurant through the contact page to get directions and start planning your trip to Shreveport.