No where does a heaping pile of boiled seafood better than New Orleans. Whether your celebrating a graduation, or hosting a rural, southern Louisiana weddings, Seafood Boils are a popular way to feed a large crowd and celebrate an important occasion. From crawfish and shrimp, to corn and sausage, there are many components of a good seafood boil. New Orleans natives might argue about what is the best—but that can be for you to decide with these top 10 restaurants that serve some of the best boiled seafood in the city!
Where to Get Boiled Seafood in New Orleans
1. The Galley Seafood Restaurant
2535 Metairie Rd., Metairie, (504) 832-0955
A casual, homely, spot, the Galley Seafood Restaurant looks like a humble home from the outside, but on the inside serves up some of the best seafood in town. Boasting some classic porch seats and a full bar, the Galley is known for their "Soft-Shell Crab Po-Boy" sold at Jazz Fest. Closed Mondays and Sundays, but open every other day of the week, the Galley is a great spot to grab a casual lunch or have a cozy family dinner.
Their menu includes all the classics and serves all the best boiled goodies. From boiled shrimp and crawfish to their classic seafood boil including plenty of food. Whether you are a local or a tourist, the Galley Seafood Restaurant is a hidden gem that all must try to get an authentic seafood boil!
2. Bon Temps Boulet's Seafood
4701 Airline Dr., Metairie, (504) 885-5003
bontempsboulets.com
A seasonal restaurant only open January through late June, Bon Temps Boulet's Seafood is family owned and aims to create a warm and inviting environment where people can taste New Orleans classics with a fresh spin. With a passion for serving delicious food, the founders of Bon Temps Boulet's Seafood source the freshest and most authentic seafood for guests to enjoy!
Their large menu serves all the classics: po-boys, fried green tomatoes, and lots of seafood boil platter options. From boiled crawfish, crabs, and shrimp, you can build your own plate and choose your protein and all the fixings! Ears of corn, red potatoes, and link sausage, you are sure to have a truly authentic seafood boil at Bon Temps Boulet's Seafood.
3. Frankie and Johnny's
321 Arabella St., (504) 243-1234
frankieandjohnnys.net
Opened in 1942, with a customer base of mostly hungry dock workers and merchant men, Frankie and Johnnys is known for its warm personality, cozy ambience, and fantastic food. A well-loved neighborhood staple, the restaurant serves traditional New Orleans seafood classics, all prepared with fresh and local ingredients.
From po-boys to red beans, Frankie and Johnnys has so much to choose from! Their seafood boil platters and plates include shrimp, catfish, and oysters. They offer a selection of sides: potato salad, French fries, and veggies. Try Frankie and Johnnys for a classic seafood boil experience.
4. Deanie's Seafood Restaurant
Multiple Locations
deanies.com
Deanie's is so serious about crawfish that they've got one right in the logo! Deanie's opened in 1961 in Bucktown and became so synonymous with excellent boiled seafood that they expanded to have two more locations. You can still visit the original Bucktown restaurant and market (1713 Lake Ave.) or try out the French Quarter restaurant (841 Iberville St.) or Uptown Restaurant (2200 Magazine St.).
The menu can vary between the locations, but you'll always find tons of seafood from the appetizers to the entrees. The Legendary Boiled Seafood section of the menu features crawfish, crabs, and shrimp, which are available seasonally. You have the option to add boiled corn and a half pound of boiled sausage.
5. The Original Cajun Seafood
Multiple Locations
cajunseafoodnola.com
The Original Cajun Seafood does serve more than just Cajun boiled seafood. You can visit any of their four locations for a heaping plate: Uptown (2730 S. Broad Ave.), Tremé (1479 N. Claiborne Ave.), Downtown (1901 Almonaster Ave.), and New Orleans East (7020 Read Blvd.). Each location is open seven days a week with a large selection of po-boys, pastas, chicken, and seafood.
You'll find the regular boiled items like
crawfish, shrimp, crabs on the boiled seafood menu, as well as items like turkey
necks and wings, snow and Dungeness crab legs, and even pigs feet. You can add
fixings like boiled corn, potatoes, garlic, and even eggs for just a few cents
each.
6. Mr. Ed's
Multiple Locations
mredsrestaurants.com
For more than 35 years, Mr. Ed's has delighted the New Orleans community in many different locations, serving seafood, steak, Italian, Creole, and more. Their beloved Mr. Ed's Po-Boy on 620 Iberville St. is a fan favorite, and serves some of the best and most authentic po-boys in town.
Their seafood boils at Mr. Ed's Oyster Bar & Fish House, with shrimp, crab, fish, oysters, and more are authentic and use only the freshest of ingredients. For great fresh catches, classic New Orleans shrimp and grits, red beans and rice, or gumbo, try Mr. Ed's!
7. Acme Oyster House
Multiple Locations
acmeoyster.com
If you've ever walked past Acme Oyster House in the French Quarter, you've noticed that long line outside the door. Acme is famous for oysters, as well as other seafood plates, at all of their locations throughout the southern U.S. Locally, you can visit Acme Oyster House in the French Quarter (724 Iberville St.) or in Metairie (3000 Veterans Blvd.). You can smell the oysters chargrilling from a mile away!
While fried seafood platters like the Fried
Oyster Platter and Fried Fish Platter reign supreme here, hot boiled crawfish
are available in the springtime. Check out Acme's social media to keep tabs on
when crawfish are available.
8. Felix's Restaurant & Oyster Bar
Multiple Locations
felixs.com
Just across the street from Acme Oyster House in the French Quarter, you'll find one of Felix's busy locations (739 Iberville St.). This restaurant is popular with tourists who love to see the oysters getting chargrilled through the window. Locals, however, love the waterfront restaurant in the Lakeview neighborhood (7400 Lakeshore Dr.), which is a perfect spot for a sunset dinner or sun-soaked lunch.
Felix's boasts a huge menu of everything
from fried seafood platters to pasta to burgers. The Boiled Seafood section is
seasonal and every item is served with boiled potatoes and corn on the cob.
Choose from crawfish, shrimp, crabs, snow crabs, and Dungeness crabs.
9. Hieux Boil Seafood House
Multiple Locations
boilseafoodhouse.com
The founder's vision of Boil Seafood House is to have an establishment that great friends, family, and co-workers can all sit back, relax, and have a great time. At Boil Seafood House, that's how it is—and all with fantastic seafood.
While there are a ton of options for your boiled seafood, the Feast is the most monster option. The Feast is able to serve an entire family—with one whole Maine Lobster, one pound of Crawfish, one pound Snow Crab Legs, one pound of shrimp Shrimp, one pound of clam, one pound of Mussels, two corn husks, and two Potatoes. They also have a fantastic variety of po-boys, oysters, and char-grilled platters.
10. TD Seafood & Pho House
1028 Manhattan Blvd., Harvey, (504) 302-1727
tdseafoodphohouse.com
TD Phở House is a little Westbank hole-in-the-wall that is absolutely worth crossing the Crescent City Connection for. The restaurant has a lot of great tasting Vietnamese dishes like Phở, Bánh Mì, Vermicelli Salad Bowls, and Steamed Rice Dishes, but it also has an added bonus of serving boiled seafood.
Anyone hungry for boiled seafood can find shrimp, snow crab, blue crab, Dungeness crab, and crawfish. Said crawfish can come either plain or with TD's Khong Sauce, giving a unique and tasty Asian-flavor twist. Nothing sounds better than some boiled seafood with a side of delicious Vietnamese Spring Rolls.
Best Restaurants for Boiled Seafood in New Orleans
Whether you are a fan of boiled seafood, or a newcomer to the tradition, these restaurants serve fresh and flavorful dishes that are sure to have you craving more!
