Crawfish Cafe

"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 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 photo credit: Liz Silva 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." - Julie Takahashi

"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

"Create your own seafood boil at Crawfish Café, where proteins include crawfish, Dungeness crab, head-on shrimp, little neck clams, black mussels and whole lobster. Here, flavor options range from classic Cajun to Thai basil, and the spice level ranges from mild to medium to extra-spicy." - Megha McSwain