Catarino’s Cajun Creole

Been there several times and all I can say is they never disappoint. The food is is so good and tasty. The shrimp diablos are one of my favorite.

FM 812 is turning into an interesting place to eat.Seven hundred thousand million billion people are moving to Southeast Travis County and Southwest Bastrop County.A very large proportion of them are Mexican or Central American.That usually leads to a lot of food trucks, many of them excellent.North Lamar has an outstanding collection of food trucks. The economic driver is the nearby population of Honduran immigrants. Now FM 812 is getting its turn.Ten years ago there was virtually no place to eat on 812.Now there are regular clusterings of interesting trucks - along with some new brick and mortar places and some excellent Mexican grocery stores.Okay, the brick and mortar places are often plywood and concrete slab places. But that still means lots of customers and a potentially good kitchen.Nearly all of the new establishments serve traditional Mexican food.* * *Except Catarino's.Catarino's is run by a former manager of Captain Benny's seafood-in-a-boat restaurant on I-35.Captain Benny's was and is a first rate seafood restaurant - with a heavily Mexican and Central American clientele.They are known for their grilled and fried seafood and a superlative shrimp diablo that is worth dying for.What does a former manager of a good grilled and fried seafood and shrimp diablo place do when he opens up a food truck?Serves good grilled and fried seafood along with shrimp diablo.Catarino's calls itself Creole/Cajun to set itself off from the twenty five other taco trucks and Mexican home cooking trucks located elsewhere on 812.They justify the Creole/Cajun label by serving po-boys ....And technically Louisiana food does involve a lot of fried seafood.But this is basically Captain Benny's II - with chicken tenders and a cheeseburger added to the menu for variety.* * *How is it?Outstanding.My male partner in crime (this time a carnivorous male and not the usual pescatarian female) went nuts over the grilled tilapia.I am not a tilapia fan and avoid tilapia whenever I can.But management says the tilapia is the house specialty.Even stubborn me has to admit this is very very good tilapia.The cajun rice that comes with it is knock your socks off.We both went with shrimp diablo.The shrimp diablos are just as good here as they are at Captain Benny's.I could eat about thirty or forty of these babies happily.(And so could my partner in crime.)I went with a fried chicken tenders with french fries and a country gravy dipping sauce.The house offers Valentina's hot sauce to pour on the chicken tenders.TAKE THEM UP ON IT.The tenders dipped in gravy are nice enough.But add Valentina's hot sauce on top of the tenders for the combo and you get die-and-go-to-heaven good eating.For the record -There are a lot of places that serve awful chicken tenders.(Top Notch Diner - I'm talking to YOU, baby!)So a good tender is a good thing.* * *If you live anywhere near this part of the world,You want to definitely check Catarino's out.But then you probably want to go up and down 812Eating up a storm.There is a lot of good stuff here.Someday, those food trucks won't be food trucks,And those establishments will be famous.You can say you ate there just when they were getting started.

Great food ! The shrimp Pinot is a hit! The grilled chicken sandwich was wonderful. The burger is great as well as the chicken wings

If your looking for some bomb ass Cajun food EAT HERE !! Some of the best and freshest sea food we've ever had was definitely at Catarino's. Service is amazing and quick you order and your foods out within 15-20 minutes max !. It's a self Owened little food truck and he's out here working hard in this summer heat. I truly recommend for y'all to come down to cedarcreek and try this !

I ordered near closing time on a Monday night and got nothing but great customer service! Food was fresh and delicious! Definitely one of my go to places from now on.

Food was very good it came out fast I would definitely recommend. The customer service was great.

Burger plate was very tasty! Looking forward to trying some of the other items on the menu very soon!

Amazing wings, great shrimp po-boy and yummy catfish! Love the relaxed seating area and their service was wonderful! Go Catarinos!

This place has food full of flavor and spice. They have appetizers, baskets and plates all at a reasonable price. My go to entree is the grilled tilapia and shrimp plate all sitting on a bed of cajun rice. So good I visit this place at least once a week. Avoid waiting and call ahead.