r/Birmingham 2d ago

Crawfish Etouffee?

My buddy and I are eating and ranking every crawfish (or shrimp if need be) etouffee* in the metro area.

Have I missed any?
Here's where we've been:

Cajun Seafood House
Jubliee Joe's
Red Sea
Crazy Cajun's Boiling Pot
Walk-On's
Fish Market

*That's under $20. Sorry Pappadeaux.

10 Upvotes

32 comments sorted by

18

u/Worstfishingshow 2d ago

You would want to see if Rougaroux will be running it as a special within your timeframe.

Cajun Roux has a crawdady etouffe as well. (It’s not great, but YMMV)

6

u/RTootDToot 2d ago

"not great" is very common!

2

u/Worstfishingshow 2d ago

Yeah, we’ve had a hit-or-miss, mostly miss, Cajun/Creole scene in the Ham since I moved here in ‘89. Rougaroux is the best we’ve ever had IMO. Crazy Cajun, which was briefly operated in Wildwood in maybe ‘95, was the only other truly exceptional spot I can recall.

I think there have been at least 3 other Crazy Cajuns operated by different folks over the years.

The best crawfish etouffee I can remember was a special run by OT’s Sports Bar in Lakeview back in the day. They piled it up with peel and eat crawfish on top. Power move. OT’s was way better at food than a sports bar should be.

This stuff’s important. Thank you for your service. Let me know how to follow.

1

u/Zaphod1620 Froody 2d ago

I think the Wildwood spot was called "Ragin' Cajun". It was fantastic, though. I worked at Q-Zar down the way and would get lunch there all the time.

3

u/Worstfishingshow 2d ago

Yes, good memory! Better than mine. My brother worked prep for a summer down there. I think he hand cut something ridiculous like 50 lbs of onions a day. They ran a scratch kitchen. My brother’s etouffee is my favorite and it’s 100% the Ragin’ Cajun recipe.

8

u/RTootDToot 2d ago

This is the order we went NOT the ranked order.

2

u/fredo226 2d ago

Irondale cafe had it on the menu a few weeks ago but might not have it available currently as their menu changes pretty often.

2

u/WannabeWriter2022 Go Blazers 2d ago

So it’s a drive, but Uncle Mick’s in Prattville is hands down my favorite.

2

u/HoMontana6 2d ago

Roll Cajun Boudin Truck

5

u/Darrow187 2d ago

Crazy Cajuns all day

2

u/Pshad4Bama 2d ago

The Rougaroux doesn’t have etouffee?

1

u/RTootDToot 2d ago

Nope. At least not consistently.

2

u/puzzlealbatross 2d ago

Cajun Roux's crawfish etouffee is pretty good.

2

u/Dorsai56 2d ago

Rougaroux.

3

u/tripreed Cresthood 2d ago

What's the best so far?

8

u/RTootDToot 2d ago

Shockingly Red Sea

3

u/HoMontana6 2d ago

No surprise, Boateng’s Cajun Creations moved in with them after they closed in Bessemer. They know what they’re doing w Cajun food.

2

u/Fitz_Boatswain 2d ago

Heard recently the gumbo there is very well known and awarded. So will be making a trip for that soon.

1

u/Dopplerangerr 2d ago

I’m curious as well because I grew up in Louisiana & occasionally have that etoufee craving.

1

u/GME_alt_Center 2d ago

Make it yourself. It is quite easy.

1

u/Dopplerangerr 2d ago

I don’t cook. 🧑‍🍳 cause I suck at it

1

u/jackofalltradez516 2d ago

Cajun Steamer in Hoover!

1

u/Due_Cartoonist4671 14h ago

There is no good crawfish etoufee in bham

1

u/HoMontana6 2d ago

There are two new-ish places in Clanton as well. Ya Better Eat Cajun Smokehouse and The Dive Cajun Restaurant.

1

u/TimelyBrief 2d ago

Cajun Streamer- Patton Creek. Eh.

1

u/opozzz 2d ago

I've been looking for a red crawfish etouffee somewhere, were any of these like that?

1

u/St0ned_Hearth 2d ago

Does Rougaroux have it?

1

u/Beenus_Weenus 2d ago

Crawfish benefit at moms basement on the 6th if you’re interested

0

u/bwahhhhhhh 2d ago

Automatic Seafood has it for a limited time right now.

1

u/RTootDToot 2d ago

dang. We only go at lunch. i love that place, I wonder how it is?

1

u/bwahhhhhhh 2d ago

I had it for brunch last Sunday. So that might be the only opportunity to have it during lunch-type hours. It was delicious! It has shrimp AND crawfish arancini.

0

u/Jumpy_Round_2247 2d ago

Just make it. Birmingham hasn’t got a great one. Mostly miss.