Looking for the best New Orleans Cajun seafood restaurants? You’ve come to the right place!
New Orleans is the largest and major city in the state of Louisiana, United States. The city is well known for its history, delicious Cajun cuisine, unique architecture, and culture.
The city was founded in the early 17th century. It owes its name to its European roots, which were established by French and Spanish settlers. It has an active nightlife and is famous for its diverse music scene. Its location on the Mississippi River contributed to the development of trade, and it became a major port.
New Orleans boasts a large variety of food and drinks establishments, with cuisine ranging from native Cajun and Creole to modern French, Italian, and Latin American.
Nicknamed as the ‘’Big Easy,’’ this city is a destination you must visit at least once in your lifetime.
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Cajun Seafood Cuisine And Its Origins
Cajun seafood cuisine has roots in the cultural history of the Acadian people, who first came from France to L’Acadia (Canada), and then they were expelled from the British in the middle of the 1700s, eventually settling in Louisiana. The Cajun approach to cooking stripped away the need for labor-intensive preparation, which was a necessity in their compact communal settlements.
While they cultivated crops, hunting and fishing provided most of the Cajuns’ calories. Le grand dérangement, the forced expulsion of the Acadians, meant that many of these settlers were forbidden to return to France. They became “Cajuns” and focused on immigrating to what eventually became known as Louisiana. This forced migration created isolated human settlements and communities that developed a unique variety of French culture, language, and place names in Louisiana, notably in the bayous.
Cajun seafood cuisine is a natural result of the bounty of the Gulf, the Mississippi, and the bays and estuaries along the Louisiana coast. Seafood is often served with a base of rice and is heavily seasoned with black and red pepper, as well as onions, garlic, and celery to create sausages and savory stews. One of the main ingredients used in Cajun seafood cuisine is mustard, served on the side or added to sauces. Other spices commonly used are paprika, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, and hot sauce.
Locally harvested shellfish include crawfish, shrimp, oysters, and crawfish, and alligators are also one of the main foods of this cuisine. Cajun seafood can be prepared in a variety of ways: boiled in spicy water or hot sauce, fried in butter, steamed, or grilled. Some of the most famous traditional Cajun dishes are jambalaya, gumbo, boiled crawfish, crawfish etouffee, shrimp and grits, and many more.
10 Best New Orleans Cajun Seafood Restaurants
Taste is power, and the siren call of seafood spread in New Orleans is impossible to resist. New Orleans Cajun seafood cuisine is so diverse that it could be used to celebrate any occasion.
If you love seafood, there are numerous restaurants throughout New Orleans that serve up delicious dishes and famous Cajun seafood recipes.
Here is a list of the best restaurants offering Cajun seafood in New Orleans.
Mulate’s
201 Julia St., New Orleans, LA 70130, USA //+15045221492
If you love spicy flavor, you’ll love everything they have to offer at Mulate’s. From the food to their live and local entertainment, right down to their traditional Cajun cuisine and music, they are all about good food with a kick. Plus, the atmosphere at Mulate’s is unlike anywhere else in New Orleans—located close to the Mississippi river, Mulate’s is set away from the hustle and bustle in New Orleans.
They are proud to be The Original Cajun Restaurant™ serving recipes like Shrimp Etouffee, Catfish Mulate’s, Gumbo du jour, Traditional po’boys, and they will be honored to have you as their guests.
Cajun Seafood
Uptown–2730 South Broad Ave. New Orleans, LA 70125 //+15048214722
Treme–1479 N. Claiborne Ave. New Orleans, LA 70116 //+15049486000
Downtown–1901 Almonaster Ave. New Orleans, LA 70117 // +15049455447
East-7020 Read Blvd. New Orleans, LA 70127 // +15042411396
Their original location, their flagship store, has been family-owned and established since 1995. They love their community, serving quality food for over 20 years. They continued growing their business and opened restaurants in three other locations in Nola. Their food is consistent, and their commitment to the customers is always the same. The Uptown location remains one of the best smelling corners in New Orleans with its incredible seafood from Gulf waters and local farms and bayous.
At Cajun Seafood restaurants, you will taste mouth-melting Cajun recipes such as Po’boys, Cajun’s Gumbo, Shrimp, and Catfish, and with their hospitality, you will have a great experience from start to finish.
Cochon Restaurant
930 Tchoupitoulas St. Suite A, New Orleans, LA 70130 //+15045882123
The Cochon philosophy is all about celebrating the simple pleasures of life—the hard work that goes into living a long and healthy life with good food and drink, family, friends, and community. The owners and chefs have used their New Orleans roots to create a restaurant that reflects the exuberance of its surroundings.
Make a reservation at Cochon Restaurant at their dining room, open kitchen, or bar and try their fried alligator, wood-fired Gulf fish, or their shrimps.
The restaurant is nestled behind Cochon Butcher – the only full-service retail butcher shop in New Orleans. Together these establishments offer an unparalleled experience for anyone who appreciates top-quality meat and seafood.
Original Pierre Maspero’s
440 Chartres St., New Orleans, LA, 70130 //+15045248990
The Original Pierre Maspero’s (Est. 1938) has been serving locals and tourists alike who frequent their French Quarter restaurant for delicious New Orleans food and beverages. Celebrated for their authentic cuisine served in a historic, casual atmosphere, they’ve become an institution in the ‘’Big Easy.’’
At this historical and classic setting, you can enjoy the music and Cajun seafood recipes such as Seafood Pistolettes, Crab cakes, Crawfish Etouffee, and much more.
Their chefs are highly knowledgeable and prepare the best traditional Cajun recipes with fresh local ingredients. Their staff is very friendly, and they will be honored to serve you.
Nonno’s Cajun Cuisine and Pastries
1940 Dauphine St, New Orleans, LA 70116 //+15043541364
Seafood lovers will find a lot to love at Nonno’s Cajun Seafood Cuisine and Pastries. If you’re in the mood for shrimp, oysters, or any other type of seafood, then this is definitely the place to go. They serve fresh homestyle foods and breakfast all day for everyday convenience.
The recipes are inspired by Southern history as well as their French roots. This inspiration, as well as constant attention to taste, texture, and visual presentation, has elevated them to a state of the art gourmet dining experience.
Their flavorful dishes are complemented by the best in Cajun cooking: jambalaya, po’boys, gumbo, and a variety of seafood.
Galliano Restaurant
200 Julia St., New Orleans, LA 70130 //+15042185753
Treat your taste buds to a feast at the Galliano restaurant. This New Orleans restaurant is famous for its Cajun Seafood cuisine. With a menu featuring fresh seafood, local produce, and wild boar sausages, you will be spoiled for choice.
Enjoy traditional New Orleans dishes with a twist at this breezy restaurant. The menu features appetizers, seafood platters, seafood jambalaya, raw oysters, crawfish from the swamps, wild boar sausages, and more. Some of the local favorites are barbeque shrimp, fried Louisiana oysters, and crawfish, which are served either in a garlic butter sauce or spicy Cajun blackened seasoning.
Restaurant R’evolution
777 Bienville St., New Orleans, LA 70130 //+15045532277
The Restaurant R’evolution is a culinary collaboration between two of the most celebrated names in food, Chef John Folse and Chef Rick Tramonto. Located in the Royal Sonesta Hotel and operating since June 2012 in the French Quarter, this restaurant is famous among the locals and the tourists, offering a combination of tradition and cultural fusion of food and unique flavors.
Restaurant R’evolution showcases the fresh seafood and local produce of the Gulf Coast, rooted in early French settlement and Mississippi River valley traditions.
In this elegant, yet comfortable dining room, a single tasting menu celebrates the best of Louisiana’s culinary offerings, like gumbos, Cajun salad with fried oysters, Gulf shrimps, and redfish. All are served in an intimate atmosphere with a bar that showcases innovative cocktails and wine selections with a nod to New Orleans tradition.
Olde Nola Cookery
205 Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA 70130 //+15045254577
Olde Nola cookery is a perfect spot for anyone looking for some great Cajun seafood cuisine. Colorful and comfy, this restaurant serves up your favorite local dishes: gumbo, fish, crawfish tails, shrimp, aligator sausage, catfish, and po’boys, to name just a few. You can dine indoors or on the charming outdoor patio, which offers daily food and drink specials.
The food is super fresh and expertly prepared by their team of culinary professionals behind our modern staged kitchen. Visit Olde Nola for a taste of their exciting menu and quality southern hospitality!
Evangeline
329 Decatur St., New Orleans, LA 70130 //+15043734852
At Evangeline Seafood Restaurant, they believe in serving the freshest, seasonal cuisine available. They know that Southern food has a rich tradition, and they think it’s their job to make it even richer by converting traditional recipes into new dishes that the guests can fall in love with time after time.
A variety of Cajun seafood can be found on their menu, such as catfish, jambalaya, po’boys, crab cakes, and shrimp and grits.
Evangeline Restaurant is located in the heart of the French Quarter. The ambiance is both friendly and relaxed as you enjoy an extraordinary meal from their chef made from local ingredients. The wine selection is matched to the menu, hand-picked by their knowledgeable staff for your enjoyment.
Brigtsen’s Restaurant
723 Dante St., New Orleans, LA 70118 //+15048617610
Brigtsen’s is a charming, family-owned, Cajun-style restaurant located in the historic Riverbend District of New Orleans’ Uptown neighborhood. Chef Frank Brigtsen’s extensive training, diverse experiences, and talent contributed to the opening of this place. Together with his wife Marna, they are focused on Cajun cuisine.
Brigtsen’s ambiance is casual and somewhat rustic. It offers superior cuisine at reasonable prices. This restaurant is quintessential New Orleans. The food is traditional, the service prompt and professional, and the ambiance genuine. The menu offers many Cajun favorites, including fresh crabmeat stuffed, grilled redfish, and Louisiana jumbo lump crab cakes.
Experience Cajun Seafood In New Orleans
New Orleans is characterized by its unique and flavorful cuisines, and it is among America’s favorite tourist destinations. Nola is known for its Cajun seafood, extraordinary cuisine that can be attributed to the cultural diversity in the region. The Southern, French, and Spanish traditions merge well in a delightful gastronomic experience open to all international travelers who discover all the variety of New Orleans foods.
New Orleans is a place of exquisite culture, exciting bistros, French and Spanish influences and has been known as one of the most romantic destinations by many writers, poets, and music composers. It’s a delightful place where you can enjoy your tour and taste the local dishes.
The city’s culinary culture and the warm hospitality of its locals have become a must-visit tourist destination.
Visiting other destinations in Louisiana? Check out our other delicious guides:
- 15 Most Delicious And Popular Foods of Louisiana
- 10 Best New Orleans Seafood Restaurants
- 10 Best Shreveport Restaurants
Which of these New Orleans Cajun seafood restaurants will you try first? Let us know in the comments section below!
Igor Jovanovski is an aspiring digital nomad, travel blogger and graphic designer who really loves food. He also has a creative side, and he works as a freelance graphic designer in his spare time. He has traveled across Europe quite a few times since he was young and recently started his mission to visit every country in the world! Igor’s favorite thing about traveling is the way he gets to know new people, food, places and cultures.
This exciting experience helps him create his own stories and make memories that will last forever