I’ll preface this article by saying that I am in no way a food critic. However, I was born and raised south of Interstate 10 in Louisiana. For me, growing up, Cajun food wasn’t a destination restaurant—it was just what was for supper. Every chef may have their own inspiration for Cajun food, and I’m not a snob when it comes to authenticity. While I can appreciate each individual touch on a classic dish, I still love going somewhere that I can enjoy what I know as comfort food. And for me, comfort food is REAL authentic Cajun/Creole cooking.
I can still hear my Maw-Maw speaking Cajun French while dancing as she stirs a pot of rabbit fricassee. I smell the roux as the entire family slowly starts filing the house to eat together. After being in Birmingham for seven years, I still search for the feeling and comfort of home. With that being said, I have compiled a list of four Cajun restaurants in the Birmingham area where I feel like my soul is at home. Bon appetite!
1. Cajun Seafood House
Rocky Ridge, Vestavia Hills
What better way to test the waters than to order the sampler? First I started with the pick 3 and chose fried boudin balls, fried gator, and crab claws. They were all delicious and seasoned to perfection. As an entree I ordered stuffed shrimp butterflied and stuffed with crab cake mix. The rest is history -Ca C’est Bon!
2. Crazy Cajun’s Boiling Pot
Inverness Plaza, Hwy. 280
I went here with one thing in mind–pasta! Depending on which part of Louisiana you are from you will argue whether or not pastalaya is truly authentic. For those unfamiliar with pastalaya it is exactly what it sounds like, jambalaya with pasta instead of rice. So, I went with the next best thing, which was seafood rotini. This was a combination of pasta mixed with crawfish tails, andouille sausage, shrimp, and a homemade cajun sauce. It’s simple yet delicious dishes like this one that bring the me joie de vivre!
3. Half Shell Oyster House
Trussville & Pelham
Although this is a larger chain restaurant, you will find that they are generally located near the Gulf of Mexico to bring that element of freshness from the seafood they prepare. I would be remiss if I did not include oysters on my list and Half Shell knows their oysters! I started out my meal with the oyster sampler, because who can pick just one? The sampler included charbroiled, Beinville, Rockefeller, and Orleans style oysters. After that I helped myself to a serving of royal reds (peel and eat Cajun boiled shrimp) and one crab cake. This wasn’t the first time I have eaten here because they have these chains in Louisiana, so I’m very familiar with the menu. I was curious if it would taste different being so far from The Gulf/Louisiana but they were spot on! Great seasoning, taste, atmosphere, and lagniappe!
4. The Rougaroux
Forest Park, Birmingham
Here’s a fun fact for those who are unfamiliar with the term rougarou. It’s derived from the French words “loup garou,” meaning werewolf. Legend has it that the rougarou still roams the swamps of Louisiana. Half man/half werewolf, this cursed figure is still used as a scare tactic to keep children obedient. “You betta clean dat room or the rougarou will get cha!”
Okay, I’ll admit I was off-put when I first browsed their website. I was pleasantly surprised to walk into the very eclectic building filled with Saints and LSU memorabilia that also had a very NOLA style voodoo feel. I like that they offered potato salad in their gumbo, and even though it was not what I consider traditional, it was still tasty. Additionally, I ordered a small red beans and rice and a link of boudin. The red beans and rice had just the right amount of spice, and the boudin was smoky with a horseradish based dipping sauce. Again, this was not a traditional combination, but it was surprisingly delicious. Dining out is an adventure, and, while I would not consider every item on their menu to be true Cajun, I definitely believe they deserve recognition for the experience and yummy twist on classic Cajun favorites.
Lagniappe
I hope this list helps you navigate through all the great food and culture from Louisiana conveniently located in the Magic City! Enjoy and laissez les bon temps roulez!
