Crawfish Cafe
Seafood restaurant · Greater Heights
1026 N Shepherd Dr, Houston, TX 77008
Highlights
Viet Cajun seafood boil with Thai basil & garlic butter flavors
Viet Cajun seafood boil with Thai basil & garlic butter flavors
"Crawfish Cafe in The Heights delivers the same great crawfish flavors and experience as its other four locations throughout the city. Your journey with bagged crawfish begins by choosing a base full of real butter and sugar, which makes their sauces like original cajun, garlic butter, and coco loco (coconut, garlic, and citrus, of course) that much better. But the thai basil is our favorite seasoning, striking a perfect balance of heat and herbs." - gianni greene, julie takahashi, chelsea thomas
"Cited as a Viet-Cajun destination where diners can experience "Viejun" dishes like fried rice and seafood boils covered in Viet-Cajun sauces, illustrating the fusion of Vietnamese and Cajun Gulf seafood traditions." - Brittany Britto Garley
"Crawfish Cafe in The Heights delivers the same great crawfish flavors and experience as its other four locations throughout the city. In a neighborhood with flashy new “fusion” concepts popping up monthly, Crawfish Cafe has successfully served Viet-Cajun seafood effortlessly and consistently for years. And you can taste every bit of bold flavor from their custom spice blends, making you wonder why you wasted time eating mediocre crawfish on your cousin’s patio. photo credit: Liz Silva photo credit: Liz Silva photo credit: Liz Silva photo credit: Liz Silva video credit: Liz Silva Pause Unmute Your journey with bagged mudbugs begins by choosing a base sauce from their mix-and-match flavors, which are all made using real butter and sugar. That’s the not-so-secret secret. The thai basil is our favorite seasoning, striking a perfect balance of heat and herbs that distinguishes itself from the classic cajun or lemon pepper. Whether you order crawfish by the pound or in customized combos with snow crab and turkey necks, this place is great for groups of friends looking to crack a fresh batch of mudbugs. Food Rundown Oyster Nachos Wonton chips are topped with breaded oysters and a drizzle of spicy mayo, creating a nice balance of heat and creaminess. photo credit: Liz Silva Gumbo The sausage’s smokiness and the roux’s depth make this a great beginning to your seafood boil. photo credit: Liz Silva Fried Rice This fried rice isn’t your typical rice dish. It has umami-rich flavors and a hint of sweetness, plus a spice that perfectly complements your pounds of crawfish. photo credit: Liz Silva Thai Basil Crawfish This is why you come to Crawfish Cafe. The must-try batch combines the traditional cajun-style crawfish with a lemongrass fragrance, which creates a slightly tangy flavor profile. photo credit: Liz Silva" - Julie Takahashi
"This spot serves up heaping metal trays of crawfish eggrolls, oyster nachos, black mussels, blue crab, little neck clams, and some great combos for seafood boils. For major munchies, go for a Smack Pack — sort of its take on the KFC family meal options. Speaking of, it’s a casual, family-friendly spot." - Brittany Britto Garley
"Viet Cajun cuisine might be one of the most distinctly Houston (and Southern) food traditions to come out of the Gulf Coast region. It was pioneered by Vietnamese immigrant communities living in the H-Town area in the mid-2000s. One of the cuisine’s signature dishes is the Viet Cajun crawfish boil, which is much like a traditional American crawfish boil but with an important twist: After the crawfish is cooked, it’s tossed in a rich, butter-based sauce flavored with lots of garlic, ginger, scallions, peppers, lemongrass, and other aromatics. Crawfish Cafe, which has two locations in the Houston area, is one of the O.G. places to get Viet Cajun food in the city. The original Crawfish Cafe is located in the Hong Kong Food Market shopping complex, home to the eponymous supermarket and several Asian-focused restaurants, stores, and bakeries. I prefer the location on North Shepherd, which is in Houston’s Greater Heights neighborhood and has more seating than the original restaurant (though I recommend visiting the Hong Kong Food Market locale if you’d like to devote an afternoon to lunch and browsing the neighboring establishments). For a tried-and-true Viet Cajun classic, opt for the crawfish and Gulf Coast blue crab slathered in the original Cajun sauce—you can adjust the spice according to your comfort level. Be prepared to leave the restaurant with oily fingers and a full belly." - Mae Hamilton
