The Yummiest Cajun/Creole in Houston

Schilleci's New Orleans Kitchen

★★★★☆ 4.4 (1009) • $$

"As I've yet to try their savory dishes, this review is for the dessert only...which is delicious. I love me some beignets, these are not only one of a few options in town, they're also arguably the tastiest. The order is a bit expensive but comes with enough beignets to share amongst 4 guests. But the surprise of the evening was the chocolate lava cake...or should I say cakes. The order comes with two, and each are an incredibly decedent chocolate lovers dream! Expect fudgy, chocolate covered, ice cream topped, textural bliss!If you're on Market Street this shop is certainly worth a stop in, even if it's only for dessert!"

Viola & Agnes' Neo Soul Cafe

★★★★☆ 4.4 (885) • $$

"Fellow yelper Derek Y. highly recommended we come here on our Houston trip in September. We planned to check out Galveston for one day so this place was on our route. Great recommendation!Short but sweet review is that this spot is delicious. Important things to note- if you're very hungry and need food sooner than later, order an appetizer. There is literally a sign on the door that asks for patience for food to be prepared. Our order did take a while and I kept seeing other tables get food, they ordered a first course before the main entree. I was just getting hangry lol. Once the food came it was so delicious. The sticky chicken meal is unbelievably good. The chicken is full of flavor and sticky glaze. Really tender and soft meat. Also very enjoyable was the fried catfish sandwich. The only thing I didn't really like was the fried okra. I had wished I ordered a different side. It was a bit dried out. Otherwise everything else was really great. Order a tea if you want to drink it our if the largest ball jar with refills. I drank so much iced tea haha."

Lotus Seafood

★★★★☆ 3.8 (866) • $$

"This review is for delivery via Uber Eats about 10-15 minutes away from the location. Nut allergy friendly - stated on app and had no issues.We ordered the Fully Loaded Loud Pack ($22), Trout (2x+Fries) ($8.25), Onion Rings ($4.40), and Crack Sauce ($0.83) for 3 adults (subtotal $35.48). It came with ketchup and tartar sauce.Fully Louded Loud Pack: Wow, the portions are great here. Corn, potatoes, shrimp, egg, sausage, and rice were all seasoned well and had a good kick even without the crack sauce (which is an awesome addition). Two pieces of egg, one sausage, one piece of corn, one potato, a good amount of shrimp. Some of the shrimp felt overcooked. I wish there was some more sausage, but the rest was well shared among 2-3 people. Crawfish in the rice was a great addition. 4.5/5Trout (2x + Fries): Surprised that these were full pieces of trout, with bones and all (be careful biting in). The fries arrived crispy and seasoned. The trout felt a bit dry. 3.5/5Onion Rings: I could see these being fantastic at the location, but they do not travel well. Half arrived soggy. The ones that were still crispy were pretty good. Nothing too unique about these, though. 2/5Crack Sauce: Just get it. It's a garlic butter cajun tangy sauce that goes on anything seafood. 4.5/5Overall rating: 4/5 for great portions and flavor but with a couple misses that may be due to delivery (definitely so on the onion rings, less so on the trout and shrimp). Also, the food is pretty salty; be warned that they are heavy handed on the seasoning."

88 Boiling Crawfish And Seafood

★★★★☆ 3.9 (768) • $$

"Came with a group of yelpers on a Saturday. Arrived at 11:55a since then open at noon. Staff member was just opening the door and turning on the lights. I walked inside, and the staff member told me they would have food ready by 12:30p. I said wait what? Then she said ok, maybe 12:20p but need time to cook. I was surprised, to say the least. Not a good start. Ambiance - your typical whole in the wall spot. Keep your expectations accordingly. Food- I ordered 1 lb of crawfish/$8.99 market price, with there 88 boiling special seasoning. I got medium spice. And it was spicy enough for me. I saved the extra sauce from the bag to make ramen at home, like I usually do.I think they charge for gloves and butter? The reviews I recently saw said they are charging automatic gratuity for a party of 2 or more, yikes! Review that receipt before you pay."

Phil & Derek's Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.5 (918) • $$

"My friend and I arrived at Phil & Derek's for Saturday brunch on September 16th. They have a large parking lot with plenty of parking so that shouldn't be an issue.Upon entering, we were immediately greeted and seated on the extensive patio area that can comfortably accommodate at least 100 people. We sat under the covered portion of the patio near the fans. VIBE (5/5): Live R&B music, DJ's, hookah, friendly staff, beautiful decor, what more can you ask for?FOOD (5/5): My friend and I both ordered the blackened catfish and grits with potatoes. Everything was seasoned and properly cooked. I highly recommend this dish.DRINKS (4/5): We both initially ordered individual mimosas, but the juice to champagne ratio was slightly off, so we ordered a bottle of champagne so that we could make them ourselves (98% champagne and 2% juice) :)My overall rating of this restaurant is 5/5. The staff is friendly, no wait time, great music and amazing food. Take my word for it and go check them out for yourself."

Gumbo Jeaux's

★★★★☆ 4.1 (645) • $$

"Always bring clients here for lunch and dinner. It has become a staple as the food and service are great. It is nice bc you can get in and out fairly quickly for a sit down restaurant."

The Rouxpour - Baybrook

★★★★☆ 4.1 (600) • $$$

"The service was great and the food was delicious. Came here with family the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend. We all got an assortment of food, and everyone loved it. We shared the deviled eggs appetizer, and I split the chargrilled oysters with my cousin."

Mike's Seafood

★★★★☆ 4.1 (565) • $$

"I finally went to Mike's Seafood after a very long time, while visiting Houston. The food is still awesome, the way I left it.I ordered the three piece catfish meal with french fries, and since it was a weekend, I went ahead and ordered a waffle by itself. They have wings n waffle dish on weekends. The fish was delicious. Seasoned to perfection and perfectly coated. The french fries were delicious. Golden, crisp and tasty. I had their waffle for the first time and it was very good. Came with powdered sugar n maple syrup. My belly was a whopping balloon, by the time I was finished with my meal. Restaurant was quite full and the music was jamming. Great vibes n beats. It's counter service to order. I'll be back soon."

Boil House

★★★★★ 4.5 (464) • $$

"Sometimes, you want straight up Louisiana crawfish boil. Not Louisiana "style", or cajun-ish. No dusting the mud bugs after boiling, no pastes or garlic butter (though I do sometimes enjoy these types too). I mean like they been doing on the bayous for decades. That's Boil House. They know how to season the boil, and to let the seasonings penetrate in during the soak. Spices hit you from tail to head, because if you're eating these right, there will be no head left unsucked. The potatoes and corn is always a good accompaniment, but if you want another nod to bayous, get the button mushrooms too. You're welcome. Staff is always nice and friendly. Can't wait for crawfish season again!"

Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen

★★★★☆ 3.9 (580) • $$

"Pappadeaux's always hits! Today I'm recovering from a night out so I wanted something filling but not heavy. I chose the Texas Redfish Pontchartrain. It was something new and different from my usual go-To's but it was delicious! Our server was excellent! Very attentive!"

Jenivi's Seafood Shoppe & Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.2 (466) • $$

"This is my second time eating here. The closing times are a bit early and we got there 20 minutes before close. The waitress seemed to also be the manager and she let us sit if we would order quickly. I tried their Salmon Alfredo. It was a rich sauce and Salmon seasoned well. Everyone else enjoyed their food as well. My friend said the crawfish was spicy."

Harold's

★★★★☆ 3.7 (590) • $$

"My friends and I stopped in here during a pub crawl mainly to get some food in our bellies as well as have a drink. They are located in the Heights and street parking was available. We walked into the bar area which was narrow and made our way upstairs to a patio. The place has an older feel to it, but it's only been around for about 10 or so years. There looked to be alot of regulars as the wait staff seemed to focus more on them. Our service upstairs was slow, but good company and great weather made it ok. I was in the mood for something fruity and refreshing so I ordered a 19th Street Cosmo. It came served in a Deep Eddy Vodka cup, looked good and tasted fine. We also ordered an order of the crawfish fondue. This was really tasty and served with crostini. I'm sure we could have asked for more, but the amount of dip to bread was way off. We waited so long for drinks and food that we didn't want to get a second round of drinks or entrees.Overall, this was an ok spot. They had a crowd that night and we expected service to be slow. I would consider coming again."

Lotus Seafood

★★★★☆ 3.9 (513) • $$

"This place was all over social media a couple years ago and I tried it a few years back and it was good then and it's still good now. It seems like they've expanded since the last time i tried it with several locations in the area now. Find the nearest location and go try it out immediately! Food is so good!I go here every time I'm in town. This location had Great Wall art to look at."

Esther's Cajun Café & Soul Food

★★★★☆ 3.7 (559) • $$

"I'm updating my review of Esther's 1) Because they have a new location & 2) Because I'm grown.The new(ish) spot is waaaay more spacious & accommodating to Esther's crowd. They're no secret at this point, so it's nice to be able to see them better cater to people who come from all over the city. The food/menu is virtually the same...which I love, because why change? It was perfect before, so you'll enjoy it even better now. The added bar space w/signature cocktails was an unexpected addition. I popped in to grab & go with my order, but I plan on going back to see what that's all about. They also now have a patio area with live bands/music. Hope you like to slow groove & zydeco! Esther's did not. come. to. play. They plan to feed you & feed you well, & make sure you have a good time; the whole time. Literally can't ask for much more! Highly recommend."

The Cajun Stop

★★★★☆ 3.6 (584) • $$

"Hello again! It's me coming from the 281 & 713 with a few pounds of one of my favorite crawfish spots. This time they forgot my celery, but Johnathan quickly corrected the error. There weren't many people inside dining today, but many people came in and took food togo! I'm gonna say it again if you haven't been already your better hurry before crawfish season is OVER!! The staff is friendly and very accommodating; just ask for what you need. If they can do it they will definitely make it happen."

Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen

★★★★☆ 3.9 (491) • $$$

"What a great place to spend our Mardi Gras evening! Seats at the bar with a live band, special Mardi Gras entrees, drinks, and specials couldn't be beat. Gumbo fantastic, catfish portion was huge and cooked perfect!All the bartenders made it a great experience and even through in souvenir glassesGreat place to go for all things Louisiana!"

Sleepy's Poboys

★★★★☆ 3.9 (468) • $$

"Very pleasant staff clean restaurant. The fried fish and chicken reminded me of my mom's it was very comforting and delicious seasoned excellently and fried very crispy while still being very juicy. That's the way you do chicken and fish!The potato salad was also very tasty as well as the macaroni and cheese was creamy and tasted of grilled cheese flavors the noodles are very large elbow noodles so lots of cheese can get in between them it was very good I enjoyed this whole dinner and can't wait to have more"

Ragin' Cajun

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (604) • $$

"Ragin Cajun's been a round for a while and has been a staple in cajun cuisine around town. There use to be a lot more locations but over the past decade, they've been shuttering doors. However this particular location has survived the purge. I came here to hit up their happy hour as I was craving oysters and some cheap light beers. I'm glad to share that this place delivered strongly in those two categories. The oysters were fresh and large. The beer is cold and crips. Straight up what I needed at the time. The atmosphere has the walls decorated with memorabilia and folks are chill. The service was pretty quick, but we were there on their down time at around 4 pm for their food. They'll have the daily specials listed on the front board so keep your eyes peeled.If you need a fix of oysters and beer, this is the place to remedy that."

Marais

★★★★☆ 4.2 (391) • $$$

"It's very rare to find a gem in Southeast Austin, but when you do, it is every bit worth it. Marais is decorated elegantly and reminds you of somewhere in the garden district in New Orleans. Every Sunday, Marais hosts a Sunday Jazz Brunch between 9:30 AM - 2:00 PM where jazz musicians and Marais breakfast buffet (a la carte also available) come together. Reservations highly recommended and as far as my favorite dish goes, THE FRESHLY MADE FRENCH TOAST made right in front of you! Also, who can say "no" to $10 whole bottle mimosas?!"

Crazy Alan's Swamp Shack

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (557) • $$

"After a whole day of playing at Kemah boardwalk, I was looking forward to getting some crawfish! I was seated really quickly and opted for the upstairs seating- there are a handful of comfy booths! I got the "G Style Flavored Pot" which came with 3 pounds of crawfish and 1 pound of shrimp! The shrimp was exceptionally large and fresh! And the portion is good for 2-3 people! There was also lots of crawfish and it tasted really good with the mild seasoning (which was not mild btw) I also had some southern gumbo - very heavy and hearty taste; as well as some catfish - super flaky and fresh! (The Catfish and Shrimp Feast could feed 2-3 people as well!)An overall great experience for my first crawfish boil!"

Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (545) • $$

"I had dinner at Pappadeaux a few months ago. Prior to this visit, I hadn't eaten at Pappadeaux in about 20 years.We had a reservation on a Saturday night which was helpful because the restaurant was very busy. We were seated at a table kind of tucked away towards the back of the restaurant. Our server was Joseph. He was really nice and did a decent job, but he was slammed with the dinner rush. I started with a cocktail called the Spring Fling. It was good and had a spicy kick to it because of the serrano syrup and serrano pepper garnish. I don't love spicy foods/drinks, but I was able to tolerate the heat. If I were to order it again, I would ask for half the spice level.For my entree I had the Catfish Fillets. I love catfish. These fillets were really good, especially with the tartar sauce. The batter was tasty and and not overly crunchy. It came with fries and hush puppies which were yum! The portions were generous and I had plenty for leftovers the following day."

LTK Crawfish

★★★★☆ 4.3 (340) • $$

"LTK is such a gem. I ordered yesterday and got 3 pounds of baby lobster sized crawfish for $7.99/lb, a side of sausage and potatoes slathered in Cajun garlic butter. When the Bay Leaf makes it in the bag, you know you're getting something good. My order was so good I messed around and went back the next day My day 1 orders' crawfish stuck to the shell a smidge (as is the case when seasons change), but they slid out as expected Day 2."

Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen

★★★★☆ 3.9 (408) • $$

"I made reservations online prior to dining here. When we first got into the area we couldn't find any street parking. The restaurant advised us there was a parking structure in the area that we could park in & they would validate it. This location appeared to be attached to a shopping center and was not very spacious. Once we got inside we were taken to our seats. Our server was friendly but not overly attentive. We checked out the menu online prior to dining here and were disappointed to learn that this location only has a limited menu so some of the items that we wanted were not served here. I ended up ordering the Salmon Alexander with a side of dirty rice. The rice had a nice kick and was flavorful. The salmon was topped with shrimp, crawfish, and scallops. It was a nice portion and i had leftovers to take with me. Overall the food was good. If I came back to this restaurant I would go to another location that has the full menu available."

Swamp City

★★★★☆ 4.1 (358) • $$

"After seeing some good reviews online, we decided to come out and give it a try. It's not located in the best area of town, and you can tell they've had some security concerns since there was a police officer camped out inside - never a good sign. The food itself was pretty good. I got the cajun boiled shrimp, and the cajun fries. They asked how I wanted the shrimp - mild, hot, extra hot, etc - and I chose hot. The 'hot' was very hot, and I don't want to know how spicy the extra hot would have been. It had a good flavor, but it was almost too hot to be enjoyable. The cajun fries were excellent though, and I really enjoyed them. I wish all fries were seasoned like those.Overall, I would come back since the food was good, but I'd get my food to go next time, or delivered to me."

Razzoo's Cajun Cafe

★★★☆☆ 3.2 (587) • $$

"Oldie but goodie for sure. Their 2 for 20 meals are back ! We had a good drink, pasta, and wings! The children's meal comes with huge portions. We went on a week way during happy hour and the vibe was so chill. Overall good service and great food !"

The Crawfish Pot & Oyster Bar

★★★★☆ 3.6 (452)

"First time I came here was before I had to go to the airport. I didn't expect much since I wanted some decent seafood. They are a good size restaurant with plenty of places to sit and eat. I decided to go with the trio platter and selected fried oysters, fried shrimp, and fried catfish. It came with onion strings and Cajun fries. I also tried crawfish from my family's plates. I don't usually eat a lot of fried seafood but these came out really well. I loved how the moisture was trapped inside of all 3. The batter was crispy and flavorsome. Those Cajun fries reminded me of Popeyes but freshly made. Onion strings were delicious. Service was okay. Prices were very reasonable for the generous portions."

Babin's Seafood House

★★★★☆ 3.7 (411) • $$

"If you have not had lunch at Babin's, it's definitely worth a look.My wife had the $12 blackened chicken and loved it. I had the crawfish half and half, which was offered as a special with red snapper bites instead of fried crawfish tails. The crawfish étouffée was delicious, and the fried snapper bites were excellent. Add a side of dirty rice, and this was a very enjoyable meal.Landry's has a rewards club called "Landry's Select". We signed up for it a week prior at Saltgrass. Basically, we paid $25 to get setup, then received $50 in credits to use right away. So we cashed-in one of the rewards with our meal. If you like the Landry's restaurants, ask your server to get setup.All in all, for lunch we spent about $15 per person for a quality meal (drinks brought it closer to $20 per person). Not bad at all!"

Crawfish Shack

★★★★☆ 4.3 (304) • $$

"Love the drive-thru convenience. They get busy but it's worth it! The crab legs are the best in Lufkin and the best price. Wednesday is boiled shrimp special price night. Pleasant service too! Highly recommend."

Casarez

★★★★★ 4.5 (271) • $

"Our second time to try this place out and this time I tried their menudo (on a Saturday). I have to say it's hands-down one of THE BEST menudo in the greater H-town area!!! I got the large portion and boy-oh-boy... I had food coma after that! But in a good way! I definitely got my fill for menudo!! I love that they didn't go easy on the tripe. Maaaannn... that bowl was about 3/4 filled with it and I super love it! And that broth... hooo boy... y'all just go head down there and check it out as I'm now getting lost for words!Hubby ordered the 5 pc tacos and he cleaned the plate up. I wish I had some space in my stomach so I could've tried those too but that big bad bowl of menudo filled in every gap there is!Oldest kiddo got the chicken chimichanga and left only the refried beans and rice (he's not into those anyway). I tried to get some of his rice. But that menudo y'all.... I just don't have the space for anything else! Then youngest kiddo ordered the scrambled eggs and sausages. He ate it all up! And understandably so since he just got out of a swim meet. To add to that... their complementary chips were warm and crispy. Our server was extra attentive that as soon as we're down to the last 5 chips, she's back with another bowl. We probably pigged out on about 4 bowls of those chips. Oh... and that salsa... we mixed the tomato salsa with that green one. I seriously could drink that thing but damn this menudo!! I had to make tummy space for it! Ha! I'll be sure to get me more menudo when we're back in that general area again! And I'll keep ordering until I get tired of it (which I doubt I would)!"

Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen

★★★★☆ 3.5 (445) • $$

"Wonderful location! I visit Houston often as most of my family is from there. Dad and I sat at the bar and experienced phenomenal service. It got super crowded after church so we made sure to get an early start for Fathers Day. Honestly I only frequent Pappadeaux in Houston because the seafood obviously never disappoints. Love the outdoor patio area, great for special occasions and pics by the fountain. I removed a star because I miss Pappadeaux incredible brunch buffet. And yes, it was so special because it was special to this area and they don't have the brunch in Dallas. Oh well. Maybe one day they can make a comeback."

The Boot

★★★★☆ 3.7 (396) • $$

"Came here during happy hour. Crawfish was $5.99 a pound. So flavorful with a little kick. How I like them. Decent size & fresh! Only downside was I ate outside so I had to fight the flies over my food. I didn't like that. I paired it with a Jameson ginger beer. Next time a beer will do just fine. 4 stars cause customer service wasn't really that great. I just flew in town from Cali. I love visiting Houston for the good food and southern hospitality but the gentlemen who helped me wasn't very friendly at all. I would def go back for the crawfish alone. So good. The best I had in a while."

Capt Benny's

★★★★☆ 3.8 (368) • $$

"A Houston institution! I've been eating at Capt Benny's literally my entire life. The food is always fresh. The service is always superb. I particularly enjoy this location because the staff is always so warm and welcoming. By far my favorite dive seafood spot in Houston! Give them a try."

Zydeco Louisiana Diner

★★★★☆ 4.4 (266) • $$

"Easy 5 star review! I drive all the way from champions area for this amazing food and will continue to do so. I've been coming hear for years! The owners are very nice people and they are serving some great authentic Cajun / Creole food on the city. Food: the baked chicken is my go to and it's top notch! Full of flavor and very tense. The stuffed pork chop is also top notch. The fried chicken is amazing as well. All of the sides are excellent. I really like the jambalaya, greens and mashed potatoes. The jalapeno cornbread is amazing too. This should be your go to if you work in the downtown area. I always make it a point to come here. One of my favorite places to eat in houston Texas. Top notch amazing food !"

BB's Tex-Orleans

★★★★☆ 3.8 (350) • $$

"I pretty much live in the middle of this BB's location and the Pearland one. Typically prefer this one. I think I'd say this is more the family one and the Pearland one is slightly more of the "friend" one. Service is usually a little better at the Webster one as well and it's often easier to get a table. Our waitress was wonderful. I think Olivia, was our waitress. She's been there for a while, because she was also my brother, niece and my waitress the last time we visited which was at least a year ago. She is very kind, attentive and got us anything we needed. The downside, while our waitress was great overall service was a little slow. I think the kitchen was backed up. We were nearly done with our meals by the time they brought out our hush puppies and my basket of fries. I was excited to see the limited menu! Available M-F, 11am- 6 pm. For as little as $9.99, you can get a pretty good meal. With that said however, I was a bit disappointed with the puny amount of fish and shrimp I received with my fish& shrimp plate. See my pics. My brother ordered the same thing but fried fish w/ grilled shrimp and he had so much food on his plate. They had to have put some of my fish on his plate. No way that was fairly distributed. No way cornmeal adds that much to one's dish. At any rate, the collard greens were good and I couldn't help myself and also ordered a basket of fries which my niece and I shared. My niece ordered a boil. She got one crab, one potato and one corn cob, lol. Not at all enough food which she admitted but she seemed to enjoy and have fun with it. My fry basket helped fill her up a bit more.BB's is a great place to go with family, friends, groups or you could even dine solo on a lunch break or in the bar. They've got great happy hour specials on both their food and drinks, crawfish specials, and now the limited lunch & early dinner menu.I'll definitely be returning to take advantage of more of the limited menu options but will avoid the teeny blackened fish I got before. Bb's might be a summer go-to for me this year."

Yummy Seafood & Oyster Bar

★★★★☆ 4.1 (296) • $$