Updated March 11, 2011
It's time to feast. Here some places to order a pound or two or 10.
- Ragin' Cajun has been boiling mudbugs for 35 years and sells the highly seasoned critters by the bucket. (And mark your calendars now: The Sugar Land store will host its annual Bike & Bugs festival from noon-10 p.m. May 7 where it’ll raffle off a Harley-Davidson.)
- Floyd's Cajun Seafood is another Houston institution that built its reputation on spicy crawfish. Try it with an order of super-thin onion rings, and you’ve got a masterpiece of a meal.
- Mardi Gras Grill touts every Tuesday as Fat Tuesday, when crawfish and Hurricanes are both on special. And the spiffed up patio is just the place to be.
- Don't be discouraged. There's almost always a line waiting to get inside the no-frills Boiling Crab. One a growing number of Asian-owned crawfish shacks, the Boiling Crab offers boiled crawfish, blue crab, lobster and dungeness (when in season), all brought steaming hot to the table in big bags that are served picnic-style, directly on the table. Messy, messy goodness.
- The sprawling patio at Big Woodrow's is akin to a block party during crawfish season. And the beer is the coldest in town.
- Benno's on the Beach in Galveston can get crowded on the weekends during crawfish season. And that should tell
you much about the quality of the super casual cafe’s crustaceans.
- My favorite Sam's Boat is in Seabrook, where you have unobstructed views of Clear Lake. But all are good choices for alfresco dining. In addition to mounds of mudbugs, there’s terrific adult beverage specials ($2 pints on Tuesdays) if you time your visit right. And ask about happy-hour specials on hot boiled shrimp and oysters, too.
- You can't beat Outriggers in Seabrook for its laidback atmosphere and sunny deck overlooking the ship channel. Grab a spot on the patio, order a couple of pounds of crawfish and a peppery bloody Mary and watch the hordes on the Kemah Boardwalk from safely across Clear Creek Channel. Sweet.
- One of my new favorite spots is Hank's Cajun Crawfish. The original Bear Creek restaurant is in a converted Taco Bell and there’s another in New Chinatown, but I’m smitten with the new spot on far west Westheimer. Young, friendly servers make you feel at home. It’s even got a drive-through so you can get your bugs to go.
You don't happen to have prices for each of these places do you? or which ones are good? or are they listed by best crawfish? or not listed in any order?
General rule of thumb is $6/pound, and my favorites are Ragin Cajun, Big Woodrow's, and Sam's Boat, in that order.
I like them at Willie's on Beltway 8 in Pasadena, Boudreaux's - any location, and Floyd's. I would never eat at Ragin' Cajun again, yuck.
It doesnt matter how much they cost. They are well worth every penny. Trust me. They remind me of miniature lobster. They come in mainly through the Atchafalaya Basin in Louisiana.
Jackie's Brickhouse (the old Heads N Tails) in Kemah, has BY FAR the best crawfish. After that, its Alan'e Swamp Shack, in Kemah also. Then T-Bone Tom's in Kemah. Floyd's SUCKS, their food is disgusting.
I saw that the Ziggi's in Montrose (Fairview) serves boiled crawfish on Sundays too. I haven't tried them, but I love the place.
We ordered up 5 pounds at Mardi Gras this weekend and they were fucking great! They were a little smaller than we had hoped this time of year but the seasoning was spot on and the atmosphere out on the patio was unbeatable.
The Social does All You Can Eat crawfish on Wednesdays.
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Boiling Crab at the southwest corner of Beltway 8 and Beechnut. Incredible flavors... the wait is always long, but it's always worth it. It's in the same parking lot as that HUGE Viet Hoa shopping center... GO GO GO!
Ragin' Cajun, Mardi Gras and Cajun Corner top my list.
How could this list not include Blue Water Seafood on 1960? I have been scribbling down the names of these restaurants and plan to try them all but Blue Water is tops for me right now. It is always packed and the crawfish are excellent. I look forward to venturing out!
Agree with the Bluewater comment. I moved right next to downtown and if I can't find a place that serves quality crawfish (still haven't found one a year later) I am going to drive all the way back to 1960 multiple times this season just for Bluewater crawfish. And they sell the jumbos out the back of the restaurant along with their seasoning if you want to boil yourself. Great place!!! Not to mention their gumbo and other seafood is amazing too. Wish they had a place in midtown.
Have been to Benno's on the Seawall many times. I prefer to boil my own as I like the sub-atomic (spicy) Mudbugs. Bennno's does a great job plus has a lovely view of the Gulf from the Seawall. They serve cold beer and you can bring a bottle for cocktails if you prefer a Crown and Coke with your bugs.
All of these places are big rip off's and the food Sux! You want good Crawfish go to Repkas in Brookshire, TX. www.repkas.com
Houston Crawfish Boilers! Stop pelting the boiled crawfish with Tony Chachere's after their boiled, and letting that be the only way you spice them. Why can't you boil the spices in with the crawfish? I get little joy out of eating Houston-style crawfish.
Illegal in Texas to add spices to the water when boiling like in louuusiana. Spices have to be added after something to do with the water disposal.
I won't eat them like that. They do that at Willie's and I tell them to just give me the dry seasoning and I will use it like I wish (I put it on the potatoes and corn). They use seasonings in the water too though.
Try Floyd's, he knows what he's doing.
Porch Swing Pub has em and they're the cheapest in town and the best!
Being from Lake Charles, I remember not all that long ago when you could get boiled crawfish, with corn and potato’s included, for $0.89 a pound. Now its $6?
I remember when you got the corn and potatoes for free. I really grouse when they charge extra for a couple of potatoes and a small knob of corn.
The ONLY place to get the best crawfish is Bayou City on Richmond PERIOD!
I ate crawfish there recently, and they were the worst I've had anywhere in Houston that is not a Chinese buffet. They were tiny, almost raw,and WAY under seasoned. If you are on Richmond, you absolutely must go a little further to Ragin Cajun. Best in town. No doubt.
I like Pappadeaux. They always have some good crawfish specials this time of the year.
Ive eaten at Hanks at Bear Creek a few times. I havent tried the other places so I cant really offer a fair comaprison.
Hanks was good, reasonably priced. I think crawfish went for 5.00 a pound, maybe a little less once the season got going.
The boiled shrimp were good too. The only drawback is they are boiled whole - heads and shell - for 9.99 a pound. They are big and taste great, maybe 6-8 shrimp to the pound, but I really prefer boiled shrimp without the head and poop track.
Had some shrimp etufee there that was really bad. Ive had better etufee at Boudreaux's Cafe.
Definately DONT do the All You Can Eat Crawfish at The Concert Pub on Richmond. I figured All You Can Eat and Crawfish was a bad idea, but I'm brave.
The best place to go get crawfish is on Sunday at Brixx on Washington(I think they are going to start on Saturday as well but call first). Eric the Crawfish Man is the best in town. He used to be at The Tavern on West Gray. I spoke to several people in line that have followed him all over Houston for his crawfish. It is all you can eat from 3-7pm, but get there early b/c once they get to capacity on the all you can eat they only sell by the pound.
hahah another fan of eric the crawfish man is he at brixx again this year?
Boiled Crawfish in Texas is expensive,and bland tasting,and I can't stand the way the sprinkle the seasoning on, after the crawfish is boiled.
I make the trip over to Lake Charles and get my crawfish from Steamboat Bills' on the lakefront or the Broad Street location.
That's some good eating.
itz okay,great taste,but not great in size frm what i had from them last year....twice,and i live in orange last city/town befor u cross over into la. but haaaay...they str8.
itz okay,great taste,but not great in size frm what i had from them last year....twice,and i live in orange last city/town befor u cross over into la. but haaaay...they str8.
lol...i never have, nor ever will pay $6 a pound for crawfish!!!!!...
The ABSOLUTELY BEST crawfish in town in is at Crazy Cajun Seafood & Sports at 290 & Hollister! Their crawfish is the most delicious that I have ever had! And they have it year round! Well worth the drive! I just started eating their blue crabs too! mmmmhmmmm
Crawfish Shack in Crosby is GREAT! Mudbugs, shrimp, snow crab are all yummy! It's BYOB, so you don't have to pay outrageous prices for drinks.
Wolfee's on 1960 and Stubner Airline has some of the best bugs to be served.....that is of course unless you are lucky enough to be invite to my annual crawfish boil.
Hey, Kyran's Dad, I've seen your username on the Chron and I usually agree with your comments, but now I don't think I like you at all (Annual Crawfish Boil jealousy never fades, fyi). The rest of us sad folks have to go to restaurants.
For one of the other commenters above, I don't understand the hype around Ragin Cajun. Every time I go there, the crawfish are tiny and hard.
We used to catch them with string and a piece of bacon on the end of the string. Wouldnt catch many. That was before I knew you could eat these tasty morsels.
DO NOT go to BRIXX, it is HORRIBLE! Went there 2 weeks ago, spent $25 for all you can eat crawfish, got there before 3, and the bugs were TINY, with absolutely NO spice. I also had to wait 25 minutes for each time I went back. On the third trip, I gave up and went home.
Ragin Cajun is AWESOME!--Sam's boat also has some BIG, spicy ones too! But I don't like that they charge you extra from melted butter. $6.99 a lb at Sam's.
Going to try Porch Swing this weekend for $3.79 lb, thats a steal!
Another good place is La Fisherman. It is fairly new but the crawfish and the boiled shrimp is good. You can choose from different flavord and heat. It is located on Hwy 6 and Briar Forest.
I've been meaning to try La Fisherman. Now I have a good reason to get there sooner rather than later.
In Katy - best place is Good Ole Boys - they sell them live too and KNOW how to cook them right with no need to sprinkle the seasoning on top! Plus their seasoning is hands down the best in Texas.
The crawfish at Swag sports lounge are the best i have had this season. They come with potatos, corn and sausage. They are a little on the pricey side (5.99), but worth it. I have also had them at Runway. They were good, but not as good as the ones at Swag. At some point, I plan on stopping in at Exit 73 and trying theirs. They serve them only on Saturday, but it is all you can eat for 15 bucks. I gave up on the crawfish at Crabby Daddy and Bluewater (2920 location) when they served them rewarmed. NASTY! I haven't been to the Bluewater on 1960 in a few years but from what I can remember, they were good.
There is a new place in 99 Ranch Market called LA Crawfish that is very good. Better than Boiling Crab imo. They slather on their secret sauce and it is capital "D"elicious!
Jackie's Brickhouse (the old Heads N Tails) in Kemah has BY FAR, the best tasting crawfish, then Alan's Swamp Shack, in Kemah, then TBone Tom's, in Kemah as well. Floyd's sucks, all their food has been disgusting, and I have been served rotton oysters there. Last time I ever went there.
Anyone know of any places doing all you can eat crawfish today for cinco de mayo near houston?
Seriously, you have to head out to the suburbs for good "backyard food".
I'm not sure why anyone is trying to find crawfish on Washington Ave or in Midtown.
And you'll avoid any bizarre fusion concepts the inner-loop is sure to come up with. Truffle oil crawfish nachos anyone? I have $20 that these already exist :P
Hank's is the best hands down. Boiling Crab, La Fisherman, La Crawfish have that fusion taste I dont like. I prefer traditional
T-Bones on W. TC Jester at 18th... by far the best I've had all season. (maybe ever) Seriously cannot stop talking about those bad boys. Relatively cheap too.. I think they were like $6/lb when I went on Saturday.
Must try!
If you live in the Pearland area the best I’ve found is Fish City Grill in the Pearland Towncenter (it was Sam's Boat until they closed down). Medium to large crawfish and it comes with corn and potatoes at no extra cost. They were $6 a pound. I've been to other places around town and I don't understand the whole serve you crawfish in a bag method. Also some places offer you different seasonings that are a bit overkill with big cloves of garlic or other unnecessary toppings that any good crawfish boiler wouldn't need. They have other good seafood there too. Check it out.