Ishaq A.
Yelp
This is my honest opinion from my experience at Swamp Cafe on Saturday, October 24, 2020. I am not taking any personal shots at the owners. I do not eat Zabiha-Halal frequently so this review may be biased. However, my friend, Zamun Murtaza, eats Zabihah Halal, and we generate a concise, yet thorough review for our readers. This review is tailored to those who want a "visual" walkthrough of what to expect when visiting a restaurant. If you do not wish to read about my full experience, feel free to scroll down and read how I rated the food below.
VERIFIED - Owner buys meat from IndoPak's and Restaurant Depot.
Preface:
The chef/owner, David, was extremely friendly and to that point, we decided to ask him about his story and frankly why did he choose to use Zabihah meat at his restaurant. Grew up in Shanghai, China and lived in New Orleans for 30+ years - he learned about Zabihah Halal while growing up in China. David travelled to Xinjiang, where he learned how Uighur Muslims practiced the Zabihah halal method of slaughtering animals. With this knowledge, he only wanted to use Zabihah halal meat moving forward. After moving to New Orleans, he noticed that diverse groups of people would visit NOLA for the sole purpose of their Cajun food. As we all know, Cajun food usually consists of pork. He saw this as an opportunity to cater to everyone's dietary needs. As of today, he has succeeded. His entire menu is full of Zabihah Halal meat with no sight of pork and he serves a variety of seafood for those who opt for that.
Review:
Over the course of time, I have heard nothing but good things about Swamp Cafe and decided to try it with my friend, Zamun. I grew up in South Alabama and remember eating po-boys with my mom in the town of Bayou La Batre after she got off work. Cajun food is some of the best food in my opinion, the history behind it is so rich and considered a "melting pot" of different cuisines and flavors. I think I can speak for most Muslims when I say this but being able to try Gumbo without worrying about pork is a great experience.
Overall Experience: 9/10
We ordered the following:
Chicken Gumbo 20z - $7.99
Lamb Shank w/ Gumbo - $15.99
2 Shrimp Po Boys - $8.99 each
Beignets (3 pcs) - $4.29
Cafe Au Lait - $3.29
Chicken Gumbo: 9/10
The chicken gumbo was served with a hearty amount of jasmine rice, which was greeted with a warm, toasted loaf of bread (pictured). At first, the aroma of the gumbo travelled through our face masks causing us to salivate over the toasted, blend of Cajun spices. We were so surprised by how the blend of flavors compliment each other.
Lamb Shank w/ Gumbo: 10/10
As you can see, the picture below does not do it justice. The shank was slow cooked within the gumbo to the point where the meat falls right off the bone. Honestly, this was one of my favorite items off the menu. Highly recommend this dish if you are a lamb lover.
Shrimp Po Boy: 9/10
As soon as I got it, all I could say was "Ohhhh boyyyy"
The bread encompasses all the sandwich essentials - lettuce, tomato, mayo and fried shrimp (breaded with Cajun seasoning). You can expect about 7+ decently sized shrimp in just one sandwich. The only reason why we couldn't give it a full 10/10 was because of the sauce that was provided on the side. It was a little sourer than expected, which left a bitter aftertaste. All in all, I still would recommend.
Beignets: 10/10
If you like sopapillas, this is literally the cherry on top of a wonderful Louisiana-rooted meal. Piping hot pastry served with a generous amount of powdered sugar and I would recommend adding a slight drizzle of honey to appreciate all the flavors of this dessert.
Cafe Au Lait: 10/10
If you are familiar with Vietnamese coffee then you know that Cafe Au Lait is a very strong coffee. Be prepared to be knocked off your socks because this coffee is incredibly strong. It paired well with the hot beignets and deserves to be eaten together after your meal.
Conclusion:
This hole in the wall Cajun food joint in North Dallas welcomes people from all backgrounds. After this constructive analysis, Swamp Cafe has earned a place in our hearts. Southern Hospitality at it's finest. Additionally, I wanted to address the hospitality that David and his daughter provided. They took care of us and made sure our every need was met. In addition, he educated some fellow diners about the Zabihah Halal concept (which was explained to the tee.)
I apologize for writing a novel, however, I wanted to provide this in-depth analysis of our experience. I wish the best for this business and hope to see it grow.
**Please follow my Instagram @yuhungry_ for more in depth reviews!