The fast food selection in Odessa, Texas isn't terrible, but it could use a wider selection in my opinion.  Having moved here from San Antonio, I was accustomed to the endless variety of fast food places I could frequent.  In Odessa, things are a little different.

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In San Antonio, Long John Silver's is nonexistent.  The restaurants aged and were thrown into disarray to where it effected how many people would stop to eat there.  Eventually, the company pulled out of the San Antonio market.  Before they did the overall feel and vibe of the restaurant was not in the best looking shape.  This gave the appearance that the food quality was not ideal and sales eventually suffered. This is a story all too often with the brand as the same situation has sprung up in many other markets besides San Antonio.  In recent years, I did hear that the brand was trying to revitalize its brand and image.

The Odessa location appears to be following suit and the overall appearance of the restaurant does not seem appealing.  I've always loved Long John SIlver's so naturally, I was excited to try it again after all these years.

The Exterior:

The outside of the restaurant was pretty rough.  Not in a sense that you'd stay far away from it, but it certainly could have been given more of a curb appeal facelift.

The Food Presentation:

Shockingly, I was not presented with old fried leftovers that was swimming in grease.  To my surprise, it looked freshly cooked, warm, and smelled amazing.  The aroma of glorious fried fish and hushpuppies filled my nose. It was a smell I had long forgotten about.

Hushpuppies:

My only gripe about my favorite menu item was that I did not order enough.  Texture, smell, and even taste were all on point.

Fries:

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the fries, Which were simply waffle fries.  Nothing remotely fancy or out of the ordinary about them.  But to be honest, I initially thought I would hate them.

Fish:

The fish was insanely good.  The texture was what you would expect and taste like it should.  The fact that it was fresh and warm versus greasy and under a heat lamp very likely played a role in how much I liked it.  If that was the situation, my satisfaction would have been easily swayed towards the negative.

Conclusion:

I did enjoy this entire experience.  If this was a normal thing and the quality was always this good, then it is justifiable as to why this restaurant is still going strong in Odessa. Some things could be improved such as the exterior but that is probably an issue on the corporate level.  Will I return to this location? Absolutely.  You can all include me as one of the people who is keeping Long John Silver's in business in our area.

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Gallery Credit: Dominique Garcia