20 LIVING HERE 2021
FOOD
8 places to eat some great Cajun food
Fried shrimp with hush puppies and french fries at Cher-Amie’s in Cut Off. [FILE]
By Scott Yoshonis News Editor
in high-end places. Open for lunch only.
Shrimp boulettes with white beans and potato salad at Big Al’s in Houma. [FILE]
4. Boudreau & Thibodeau’s Cajun Cooking, 5602 W. Main, 2. Spahr’s Seafood, three Houma. Tourists and locals agree, there Don’t let the kitchy decor and is nothing like the cuisine of south locations, 3682 U.S. 90 in Des Allemands, 601 W. 4th St. in corny jokes aimed at tourists fool Louisiana. Thibodaux and 16816 La. 3235 you; this place features one of Not only does this area enjoy a the best selections of Cajun food variety of distinctive dishes but an in Galliano. Billing itself as “Where Catfish anywhere. In addition to the usual abundance of places to find them. is King,” Spahr‘s serves up Catfried seafood and boiled crawfish, From jambalaya to red and white beans to gumbo to catfish and fish Chips and a blackened catfish Boudreau & Thibodeau’s goes deep into the swamp for such dishes as shrimp and crawfish, it’s hard to filets covered in crawfish cream get a bad meal in Cajun country. sauce, as well as “World Famous” redfish courtbouillon and alligator Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Bloody Marys, Seafood Gumbo and sauce piquante that are anything some restaurants may be closed or more. A Lafourche Parish institu- but gimmicks. have reduced capacities. Be sure to tion since 1968 when it opened on 5. The Shack, 1226 Grand call ahead for more information. the banks of Bayou Des Allemands, Caillou Road, Houma. Here are eight local establishSpahr’s serves up incredible fried This east-side eatery does a ments -- in no particular order -- seafood in an unpretentious atmobrisk business both in its dining that serve quality, authentic Cajun sphere. room and its often-busy drifood: 3. Big Al’s Seafood, 1377 W. ve-through window, with regular 1. A-Bear’s Cafe, 809 Bayou Tunnel Blvd., Houma. specials on raw and chargrilled Black Drive, Houma. A popular spot for both lunch oysters in addition to outstanding Nestled into a cozy corner near and dinner, Big Al’s serves up huge takes on the usual Cajun favorites Barrow Street and La. 311, A-Beportions of just about every fried like Seafood Gumbo and Crawfish ar’s is where the locals go when seafood this area can produce. Etouffee. they want the real stuff. Their It’s also one of the most popular spots for boiled mudbugs when in gumbo is consistently rated the 6. Cher-Amie’s, 15628 W. season -- roughly mid-January best in the area, and dishes like Main St., Cut Off. through late June -- and regularly It doesn’t get much more Catheir Catfish A-Bear show that wins local crawfish boil-offs. truly great food is not only found jun in either menu or location
than this down-the-bayou gem. Its soft-shell crab with crawfish etouffee stands up to any restaurant dish of any kind, anywhere. In the best Cajun tradition, CherAmie’s takes local ingredients and prepares them simply into something spectacular. 7. C. Moran’s, 27900 La. 1, Golden Meadow. You can’t get much closer to the Gulf of Mexico than this place, and it shows on the menu. Also a marina, seafood comes fresh off the boat at this spot, serving fried seafood dishes, poboys and homemade favorites. And if you happen to take one of the abundant fishing charters, C. Moran’s will cook your catch for you. 8. Cajun Critters, 6240 W. Main St, Houma. This west-side eatery does a brisk business serving down-home seafood, with regular specials on boiled shrimp and crawfish in addition to outstanding takes on the usual Cajun favorites like Seafood Gumbo and Crawfish Etouffee.
