Sam’s Southern Eatery Brings a Taste of Louisiana to Central Kansas with New Fish Restaurant from kami's blog

From fried shrimp and catfish to okra and hushpuppies, Sam's Southern Eatery in Hutchinson and Salina serves up authentic Southern cuisine in central Kansas.

Sam's opened in Salina on March 20 and reopened under new management in Hutchinson late last summer. Since 2008, this Louisiana-based chain, now with locations in 12 states, has introduced the famous po'boy sandwich to diners far beyond the South.

Classic Southern offerings also include fried liver, pickles, and tilapia.

“We clean the fryers each day, so it’s not greasy,” says Bayatena. Though the recipe is secret, he shares that the batter includes cornmeal and special spices. 

“Customers just love it. They keep coming back for more.”

Emanuel Ashiedu, a software engineer from Salina, first heard about Sam’s from his brother-in-law. Together, they decided to bring something unique to Salina. Once Ashiedu tasted the food, he was convinced.

“The food is amazing,” he says. “We have a custom-made recipe that is called Sam’s breading.” After months of training, conducting research, and refurbishing a location, Sam's Southern Eatery opened in late March at 122 W. Crawford St. in Salina.

Since opening, the restaurant has enjoyed a steady clientele.

“The turnout has been great, and what’s amazing is they’re repeat customers,” Ashiedu says. “The same people who came on the first day still come in every day.”

The menu boasts oysters, crab, chicken wings, and fried green tomatoes. In addition to lunch and dinner plates, the fast-food restaurant offers large family platters and a kid-friendly selection of shrimp, chicken strips, and grilled cheese.

"We come here almost once a week," says Daryl Adams of Hutchinson. 

“Everything is always fresh.” Adams, who frequents the Hutchinson location with his wife Kaya, praises the price and quantity, with hamburgers starting at $8 and a 12-piece fish dinner for around $30.

“It’s fantastic,” he says. “The portions are so large; we often split it.”

Ashiedu, who owns a foster youth residential emergency shelter and the Salina Code Academy with his wife Wannakei, is thrilled with the response to the restaurant.

“People really appreciate the good food, and they appreciate that we’re a small business,” he says. “The support has been amazing. We appreciate the town of Salina.”

If all goes well, Ashiedu plans to open a new location in Salina next year. “Once we have everything set here, we’ll try to open another one,” he says. “The people here are just awesome, supporting local businesses and owners.”

In addition to Kansas and Louisiana, Sam’s Southern Eatery has locations in Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas.