Our Favorite Cajun Dining Spots Around Austin

Most people I talk to about Cajun cuisine, particularly those from Louisiana, have very strong feelings about all the various dishes and recipes that make up the bulk of what one sees on menus in Austin area restaurants. Some prefer a dark roux, others a lighter (blonde) roux. Boudin evokes all sorts of passionate preferences along with, of course, Gumbo and Étouffée.

I run into a guy from Louisiana every year at Vodka Fest, and he claims that all the local Cajun restaurants are all crap and that only in his kitchen can true Cajun authenticity be realized.

That being said, here’s our take on some of Dining Out with Rob Balon’s favorite area dining spots.

Evangeline Bellefontaine may have been a fictional character from a Henry Wadsworth Longfellow poem, but don’t you dare tell that to a true Cajun where she is revered to this day in many parts of southern Louisiana. I don’t know how Curtis Clark weighs in on this, but his Evangeline Café on Brodie is one tasty little joint. The Oysters Contraband are absurdly good, as are the famous Peacemaker Po Boy and the Catfish with Crawfish Macque Choux (Creole corn chowder). Weekends are a rousing good time as there’s usually a Zydeco band.

Ray and Melinda Overstreet are a couple of coon ass transplants from the Atchafalya and brother they have brought some serious grub to Main Street in Round Rock. The Louisiana Longhorn Café is a blast: plain and simple. The smoked Boudin sausage has a distinct and robust flavor, while the Crawfish Étouffée is one of my favs in the area with a somewhat lighter roux. And you want a great Muffaletta: well you’ve come to the right spot. (It’s not overly tricked up with olive relish.) And their Bread Pudding with Bourbon Sauce is symphonic (not to mention their German Chocolate Cake).

We all remember Yoli and Michael Amr, the founds of the original Gumbo’s on Bratton Lane. Their path gradually took them to Mama Roux’s at I-35 and Parmer. After their tragic deaths in early 2011, the head waiter (Scott) and the sous chef (Dave) joined together to create an homage to the couple at the same location called The French Quarter Grille. The Crawfish Gumbo features pristine Louisiana crawfish (or mudpups, yappies etc) and it’s a delight. Likewise for the Crawfish Beignets with jalapeno and roasted corn tartar sauce. And please try the blackened Fish Ponchartrain. The brandy mushroom sauce makes the dish!

The Cypress Grill on 4404 W. William Cannon is another good choice. It’s too bad that it’s so close to Evangeline. We all could use a little more distribution on the quality joints. The New Orleans style BBQ shrimp is a very good choice. Also love the Crawfish Enchiladas. The Atchafalaya Catfish, served whole, is another great choice.

And if you haven’t been out towards 620, you must check the Stuffed Cajun Meat Market near 183. This place offers a variety of Cajun dishes in a take-out and dine-in setting and they’ve also started a delivery service that can be set up on line. They always have a variety of étouffées along with Chicken and Sausage gumbo, Jambalaya, and Po Boys. Also fried seafood baskets on the more traditional side.

And don’t forget Quality Seafood on Airport. Much more than just the seafood retailer they used to be, they now offer up a variety of Cajun dishes including a Crawfish Étouffée and some wonderfully tasty Fried Oysters along with a Fried Shrimp Po Boy.

The upscale Gumbo’s that Yoli and Michael started downtown on Colorado has closed but there’s still a pretty decent one out at the Shops at the Galleria in Bee Cave.

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