Best places to eat crawfish near me

Crawfish, famous for its feel-good yet straightforward taste, is one of the most popular delicacies in the world. Several restaurants have dedicated their menus to offering freshwater crustaceans to customers in Mesa alone. However, similar to other seafood, determining a crawfish’s sex is one of the things people get confused about. But how can you tell if a crawfish is male or female? Here are some tips.

1. Males Are Bigger

Male crawfish are more extensive than females. Their size is one of the easiest things to tell if you have a pair of crawfish in front of you. The males are about three inches in length and weigh approximately 1.5 ounces. If a crawfish is more extensive than this, it is more likely to be a male.

2. Females Have a Small Hole Behind Their Swimmerets

Although females are generally smaller in size, one of the signs you can use to tell if a crawfish is female is its small hole behind the swimmerets. If you try to look for it, you will be able to find a small spot that is only visible if you separate the hindmost part of the body from the head. The hole serves as the female’s reproductive opening.

3. Males Bear Bigger Claws

Although male crawfish are more significant, the most notable difference is in their claws. The males have enormous claws to protect their territory. The claws are also an indication of their health, often used as a defense against other males to establish their territory. You can also use the claw size of the crawfish to tell if it is male or female.

4. Females Have a Wider Abdomen

Females have a broader abdomen than males because of the fat deposits stored underneath their shells. The stomach can be as large as the body for some females. A broader abdomen is a sign it is carrying eggs. There is also a slight difference in color between males and females. Female crawfish are generally a little bit lighter in color.

5. Males Have a Fully-Developed Gonopod

Gonopods are found in both sexes but are more developed in males. A crawfish’s gonopods are tiny, appearing as a small pair of white threads. However, they grow as the male crawfish grows, reaching up to 4 inches in length. The gonopods are used for the male’s reproductive function.

Which Crawfish Sex is Better?

The two genders of crawfish are known for their different taste and size. Female crawfish are usually more undersized and more flavorful, tender, and juicy than males. Therefore, if you want to fish for a romantic dinner, choose female crawfish for it.

If you are looking for cheap and filling food, male crawfish are the best. Although males are smaller, the males are more flavorful and have thick shells. The males’ shells have a nice crunchy texture, which can accompany your chaser or be eaten on its own.

Conclusion

As compared to other kinds of seafood, it is easier to tell if a crawfish is male or female, particularly when you have a pair of crawfish in front of you. However, if you have just purchased crawfish from the market or grocery store, the task can be difficult. In that case, it’s best to ask the seller for the seafood’s gender to be sure.

Crawfish Cafe offers the best crawfish in Mesa. Our most famous order, the seafood boil, is something most customers come back for. Containing only the best ingredients—mixed with the best Viet-Cajun seasonings—will surely bring your senses to the most incredible heights. Enjoy good crawfish near you today by ordering through our website right away.

While many people prefer other meats like beef and chicken, you shouldn’t be taking seafood for granted. Not only is seafood diverse and delicious, but it can also come with a lot of amazing benefits. In fact, here are just some of the great benefits you can get from eating seafood.

1. Seafood Can Have Great Benefits for Your Memory and IQ

Seafood is high in the omega-3 fatty acids DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (Eicosapentaenoic acid).

In fact, research has shown that consuming enough of these fatty acids can have significant benefits for your brain. That’s because they’re known to benefit brain cells in a number of different ways, including helping to reduce inflammation and improve overall function.

So, if you’re trying to keep your brain healthy and sharp, consider making seafood a part of your diet. It can help do wonders for your memory and IQ.

1. Seafood Helps Promote Muscle Growth and Recovery

Seafood is a great option to add to your diet to help promote muscle growth and recovery. That’s because seafood is high in protein. Specifically, it’s high in omega-3 fatty acids that come from DHA and EPA. These fatty acids have been shown to have some very powerful effects on muscles.

Studies have shown that DHA and EPA can help improve muscle recovery after training and even build new muscle more effectively.

Since seafood is also high in protein, you may also find that eating more seafood can help you feel less hungry during the day. This can prevent you from overeating and help you reach your weight loss goals.

1. Seafood Is Good for Bone Health

As we age, our bones become weaker and more fragile. This is especially true when we’re not getting the nutrients we need to build and maintain strong bones.

However, seafood is a great option for building and maintaining healthy bones. That’s because it’s very high in protein. Protein has been shown to help stimulate bone growth and prevent bone loss.

So, if you want to reduce your risk of developing osteoporosis, try to get more seafood in your diet. It can help build and maintain healthy bones.

1. Seafood Is More Sustainable and Eco-Friendly

Seafood is an eco-friendly and sustainable option for people looking to eat healthier. That’s because seafood usually comes from the sea. And, the sea is an endless source of food.

So, unlike other animals that were raised for food and die after a certain period of time, seafood is a very renewable resource. As long as we continue to take care of the earth, it should never run out of fish.

In fact, studies have shown that we could actually increase our seafood production by 60% without any impact on the environment. That’s a much larger increase than could be achieved with land-based animals like chickens and cattle.

And not only is seafood more sustainable and eco-friendly, but it’s also healthier because it’s lower in saturated fat. So, if you’re looking to eat healthier, feel good about your health, and help save the environment, consider eating more seafood.

Final Thoughts

Not only is seafood delicious, but it can also come with a lot of great benefits. Seafood is high in protein and can help improve memory, muscle growth, bone health, and more. It’s also more sustainable and eco-friendly than land-based animal products. So, if seafood is something you’re interested in, you may want to start adding it to your weekly diet. 

Reap these amazing benefits by eating some delicious seafood at Crawfish Cafe. We are the best crawfish restaurant in San Antonio, serving Viet-cajun crawfish and seafood, including gulf blue crabs, littleneck clams, black mussels, snow crab legs, king crab legs, and shrimp. Order now!

What Are the Health Benefits You Can Get From Seafood?

Seafood is one of the most delicious things to have graced the human palate. There are so many awesome restaurants with crawfish, crabs, shrimp, mussels, and more that showcase the vast flavors that can be found in our waters. You hear a lot of contradictory things when it comes to seafood, but the truth is that it is simply delicious and even has many health benefits.

What makes seafood good for you?

It Promotes Brain Health 

The brain is necessary for all of our daily functions. Our mind is also the cornerstone of what makes us individuals. Because of the omega-3s found in seafood, cognitive functions are actively boosted. This helps improve one’s focus and memory. 

Not only does this improve the general quality of life but also helps prevent the development of other diseases like Alzheimer’s.

It Improves Heart Wellness

When regularly eaten in moderate amounts, seafood has a significant impact on the wellbeing of your heart. Because it is inherently high-protein and again has the right nutrients, it can truly help your heart perform its daily functions with ease. 

On top of that, seafood isn’t naturally high in saturated fat. So, it shouldn’t be harmful if cooked properly. In fact, it can even help reduce the risk of experiencing cardiovascular issues.

It Provides Necessary Daily Nutrients

The importance of getting enough nutrients every day cannot be stressed enough. Eating the wrong kind of food results in malnutrition, even if you look physically okay and you are at a heavier weight. 

When you eat seafood, you get a solid helping of vitamins A, B, B-complex, and D, omega-3 fatty acids, iron, zinc, potassium, and more. This keeps you healthy by boosting your immune system. 

It Can Maintain Your Eyesight 

In the digital age, pretty much everyone is exposing themselves to factors that hurt their eye health. This isn’t helped by the abundance of junk food and drinks that make matters worse combined with poor visual habits.

Regularly eating seafood can actually help your vision as it helps to prevent further problems from occurring. This can be just what you need if you are constantly exposed to screens, blue light, and other harsh elements. Certain seafood can even help boost your vision at night.

It Helps With Mental Health

The positive benefits of consuming seafood are not just physical, either. Aside from the fact that being able to enjoy good food is generally a mood booster anyway, seafood carries the right nutrients that can help improve mental wellbeing.

With the likes of omega-3 stimulating the brain, it can help reduce depressive symptoms. On top of that, it can greatly improve sleep quality, which is a catalyst for many mental health conditions. 

Conclusion

This entire list should help ease your mind the next time you visit your favorite crawfish cafe. The health benefits you can get from seafood just make it that much better to consume. There are definitely worse (and less filling) ways to get your necessary nutrients than some deliciously cooked seafood that dances with taste in your mouth.

Go ahead and enjoy the best crab legs in Houston. Visit the Crawfish Cafe for crowd-favorite dishes that come in a variety of flavors!

If you’re one of those people who are constantly confused by the interchanging uses of crawfish, crawdad, and crayfish then fear not — you certainly aren’t alone. Many people have turned towards the internet in the hopes of settling the one question on their minds: what is the difference?

Ultimately, there isn’t much of a difference between the three names. They all refer to the same animal, with minor differences that aren’t really significant in the greater scheme of things. In the end, everyone’s cooking and eating the same thing. So why do people use these different terms?

Geographical Significance

The main reason for all the different names is more to do with geography. The crawfish (or crayfish or crawdad) is classified under the phylum Arthropoda, similar to the lobster, and has three major families. These are the Cambaridae, Astacidae, and the Parastacidae. The Cambaridae crawfish is the biggest family, making up the majority of the US’s crawfish population.

Astacidae crawfish are commonly found in Northwestern areas of North America while Parastacidae is found in the Southern hemisphere. Regardless of the family, crawfish are freshwater animals and can be found in lakes, ponds, streams, and rivers. Some need running water to survive, but others are perfectly capable of thriving in swamps.

Crawfish vs Lobster

Now if there’s one animal a crawfish is commonly compared to but has significant differences with, it’s the lobster. Lobsters are significantly bigger than their crustacean cousins, but they’re also under the phylum Arthropoda. They also exclusively live in saltwater.

Crawfish can only grow up to six or seven inches long, depending on their species. But similar to lobsters, they have hard shells that cover their soft bodies. Crawfish also have claws at their front legs and several sets of whiskers by their mouths. They use these whiskers to hold on to their food.

Appreciating Your Crawfish

When you’re indulging in the crawfish from different states, you’ll want to remember that the south calls these crustaceans crawfish while the mid-Atlantic and Gulf Coast states call them crawdads. In the northern US, you’ll be hearing a lot of people calling these crustaceans crayfish.

No matter what the name is, the dishes they make are delicious and mouth-watering. A Louisiana-style crawfish boil is always going to be a classic crowd-pleaser but you can also enjoy crawfish as a New Orleans-style etouffee. Other people also serve it in patties, casseroles, or soup.

Final Thoughts

Whether you use crawfish, crawdad, or crayfish, you’ll be pleased to know that there isn’t a difference between any of them. All names refer to the same animal and the difference only matters geographically. If you’re concerned about fitting in, then it’s useful to know the distinctions between the names but, other than that, you’re good to use the terms as you please.

Crawfish has been one of the best, crowd-pleasing foods to serve people, whether they’re tourists or not. You can enjoy them in a classic crawfish boil or as other dishes like patties, casseroles, or soup. However, keep in mind that they’re not to be confused with their cousin, the lobster.

For some of the best crawfish in Houston, Texas you can visit the Crawfish Cafe. We serve some of the best crawfish dishes including other seafood like gulf blue crabs, black mussels, king crab legs, and shrimp.

7 Delicious Side Dishes for Your Next Crab Leg Feast

Crab legs taste unmistakably sweet and tender, making it a meal fit for a king! However, if you want a true seafood feast, you’ll need some classic sides to go with your crab legs. To help make your decision easier, you can check out these seven side dishes that you should consider serving up on your next crab leg feast.

1. Clarified Butter

When it comes to cooking crab legs, clarified butter is the best choice. It’s important to clarify butter because it gets rid of the milk solids, which can otherwise cause your butter to burn when cooked.

You can either use high-quality butter or clarified butter for dipping your crab legs. You can also use clarified butter to make a delicious crab boil. By using clarified butter, you’ll eliminate the need to make a fussy roux, which can be a challenge.

1. Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Don’t forget your classic side dishes like garlic mashed potatoes. This side is an excellent choice because it pairs well with crab legs and baked fish. Mashed potatoes are easy to make, but to make them better, you can add garlic to give them a zesty taste. Garlic mashed potatoes are a great choice because they’re simple and go well with other dishes.

1. Creamed Spinach

What’s a crab leg feast without creamy spinach? Creamed spinach is the ideal side dish because it tastes amazing, but it’s not too difficult to make. You can cook this dish on the stove or in the slow cooker. This makes it the perfect choice for busy families.

1. Dipping Sauces

One of the best things about a crab leg feast is that you can dip the crab legs in a variety of dipping sauces. You can choose from sweet and spicy, gluten-free, smoked, and even homemade dipping sauces. They can transform boring meals into a delicious feast. Dipping sauces can be used as a base for crab dips, but sometimes you can use them alone. Simply mix your favorite sauce with crab meat or whole crab legs. Keep in mind that you should serve your sauces chilled.

1. Fresh Salad

Salads should be your go-to side dish for summertime crab leg feasts. They’re easy to make in large batches, and they look incredible. There are plenty of choices, from simple spinach salads to more intricate side dishes like this crab and grapefruit salad.

1. Corn on the Cob

It’s best to serve corn on the cob with your crab legs. This side keeps your crab legs warm and fluffy. Plus, you can use the corn to scoop up any leftover crab butter on your plate. If you want to please the crowd, opt for a classic bicolor corn. It’s fun to eat, and you can use both colors for a delicious, sweet taste. The sweet taste of corn is a simple and delicious accompaniment for crab legs.

1. Stuffed Cherry Tomatoes

Every meal needs a colorful side to round it out. Stuffed cherry tomatoes are beautiful additions to your crab legs. You can use them as a colorful garnish or even as a tasty side dish. Plus, they can be used at any time of the year! The best part is that they require minimal effort. Simply fill the tomatoes with the foods you like, and you’re good to go.

Conclusion

Every time you’re serving up a crab leg feast, you have to have side dishes, too. You can eat crab legs by themselves, but they taste even better when matched with the right sides. If you’re tired of serving the same crab legs, you can spice things up with a variety of side dishes from this list.

When it comes to finding the best places to get crawfish in Houston, your first choice should be Crawfish Cafe. We serve Viet-Cajun crawfish and other seafood dishes like steamed oysters and Cajun calamari, among others. Order from Crawfish Cafe today, and let us satisfy your cravings! We offer take-out and delivery services.

If you’ve enjoyed buckets of shrimps, prawns, crabs, and lobsters, but you’ve never had crawfish before, you may be wondering if they’re any different from the shellfish you’ve feasted on before. While they look like tiny lobsters, these tasty treats are prepared differently, bringing a world of flavor with each bite. 

Crawfish are surprisingly low in carbohydrates, making them an excellent option for those trying to cut back without sacrificing delicious food. They’re also full of nutrients, which is why they’re a guilt-free option. Here’s what you need to know about crawfish:

All About Crawfish

A crawfish is a crustacean resembling a tiny lobster, usually measuring between three and six inches long. Like their bigger siblings, they have a protective exoskeleton. However, they have ten walking legs, with the front two acting as larger claws. They scuttle on the floor of nearly every ocean in the world, but they usually hang out by the shoreline. When they’re left to roam the seas, they can live as long as 50 years!

What Crawfish Tastes Like

While crawfish is a type of seafood, it doesn’t have the same intense flavor as the other delicacies found underwater. It certainly offers more zest than crab, and it is much meatier, with people often describing the taste as a cross between shrimp and crab. They’re a bit sweet and salty with a hint of a mineral flavor, given their marine nature. However, what ultimately determines the taste of crawfish depends on the parts you’re eating and how you prepare them. 

The tasty, edible parts of a crawfish are the claws, tails, roe, tomalley, legs, and outer shell. The most desirable features are easily the tails, legs, and claws, containing the most meat. The claw meat has a mild, sweet taste with a smooth texture, while the tails are tougher to chew due to their thickness. Still, a quarter pound of tails contains only 82 calories, making them an excellent choice for those on diets.

How to Cook Crawfish

Crawfish can be prepared and cooked in many different ways. The most popular methods are steaming and boiling, like lobster, but you can also bake, grill, pan sear, and broil them. Crawfish tails are popular in Cajun recipes that use various spices and ingredients to complement the sea creature’s flavor. 

Most people go straight for the tail when eating crawfish, squeeze out the meat, and discard the head. The same approach is usually applied to shrimp and lobster heads. However, the head contains the most flavor, and when you suck on this after eating the tail, you’ll experience an array of flavors that will take your experience to the next level. 

The head contains what looks like a big glob of fat or crawfish brain, but it is the hepatopancreas, which work similarly to the human liver. Its flavor is amplified when you use a spicy combination of cayenne pepper, oregano, paprika, and other herbs that often go into a traditional crawfish boil. 

Conclusion

Crawfish may be small and unassuming, but they’re delicious regardless of the many ways you can cook them. By using our guide, you’ll be prepared to enjoy crawfish in the best way possible when looking for the best places to get crawfish in Houston!

Crawfish Cafe has the best crawfish in Houston, offering the tasty sea creature in nine tantalizing flavors. We also serve gulf blue crabs, littleneck clams, black mussels, snow crab legs, and many more. Check out our menu today!

If you’ve ever taken on the challenge of hosting a crawfish boil in Houston, you’ll know that it requires plenty of preparation to make it a success. For cooking tools alone, you’ll need an outdoor propane cooker big enough to hold your boiling pot. Your boiling pot should have a lid and perforated boiling basket, and it must be big enough to cook all the shellfish you’ll be serving. On top of those, you’ll need a solid stirring paddle, some ice chests, a washtub, a sturdy table, and butcher block paper.

When sourcing the crawfish, you can do a few options, but many prefer buying from local seafood distributors at a discount. Depending on the number of guests, you’ll have to buy at least three pounds per person. For seasonings, you’ll need some prepared boil seasonings along with lemons, garlic, onions, celery, potatoes, and corn on the cob.

It’s a long process, but the results often make it worth it. However, if that sounds like too much work for you, don’t worry. Many of the best crawfish restaurants in Houston serve amazing dishes that are fit for a boil. All you have to do is schedule a takeout order, pick up the dishes, and prepare the party.

Now, when you’re setting up the venue, there are a few things you can do to get your place looking ready for a proper crawfish boil. Here are some of them:

Set Up the Dining Area

The first thing you’ll do is set up the dining area. You’ll need long tables, as many chairs as there are guests, and some towels or napkins. 

Make sure there’s enough space between chairs for your guests to sit comfortably. Things are bound to get messy during a crawfish boil, so it’s always good to have the extra legroom to move around comfortably.

Prepare Decorations

One of the best ways to set the mood for a party is to have the appropriate decorations. It doesn’t have to be complicated; it just has to look nice. You can lay out some gingham-patterned tablecloths and set down some placemats. 

A table runner is also great to bring more attention to the food, which will be the center of attention anyway. Lastly, don’t be afraid to add in some fun elements from the ocean, like decorative coral, seashells, or even tropical flowers add to the vibe.

Plate the Food

Another thing you can do to bring up the party mood is to plate your takeout food. There’s no shame in the fact that you’ve ordered everything from a restaurant, but you definitely want to make everything look as appetizing as they taste. 

Arrange the food the way you normally would in a crawfish boil. You can even set it in a buffet style, where you lay out all the food in the middle of the table, and people are free to get whatever’s in front of them.

Conclusion

A crawfish boil is one of the best eating experiences a person can have. However, it also takes a lot of work that not many people may have the energy for. That’s why you can always grab some ready-made dishes from the best crawfish restaurants and prepare your place the way you usually would for a fun party.

Crawfish Cafe is one of the best crawfish restaurants in Houston. If you’re looking to set up an event or even enjoy a few dishes with yourself, don’t hesitate to check out our menu! We also offer takeout services for your convenience.

Whether you call them crawfish or crayfish, one thing is true: these little critters are absolutely delicious. With the right recipe and some tender loving care, you could have a filling meal that is hard to forget. And to pay homage to the animals that bring us our favorite dishes at our favorite crawfish bars, we will talk about how they are caught and prepared.

Where Can You Find Crawfish?

Before you get around to catching them, you have to know about their habitat. Crawfish prefer shallow and gentle fresh bodies of water, like lakes, rivers, ponds, and streams. They hide under rocks and plants and feed on a mix of water plants and small aquatic animals. 

They thrive in warm and rainy places, which is why it is a staple in the South. Many Southern places, like Louisiana, have the perfect conditions for crawfish to thrive and breed. However, you can find different varieties of this crustacean in other areas, both in the USA and worldwide. 

Common Methods of Catching These Crustaceans

Long before they end up in the kitchens of crawfish bars, they pass through the hands of fishermen and trappers first. These culinary heroes catch these sea creatures mostly through three methods:

• By Hand

One strange thing about crawfish is that they swim backward, making it fairly easy to catch them by hand. Anglers often stand facing against the current, lifting rocks and catching the crawfish as they attempt to swim away. More often than not, they use special gloves or a net to do so. 

This could be an incredibly fun activity to try, especially with family and kids. 

• With Bait

Like with any form of catching live animals, you might do better with a bit of bait. You can tie some meat to a string, let it float along with the water’s flow, and catch the little crawfish that come close. 

You can also dangle the meat near their habitats—the little rocks and plants they call home. When they attach themselves to the bait, you could pull it up slowly and catch the crawfish with a net. 

• Using Traps

The beauty of traps is that you can leave them behind for a few hours. You could spend time doing other things while the trap does the work for you. Usually, this involves a collapsible net or a cone-shaped funnel trap of some kind. Bait is stored in a nylon stocking at the end of the funnel.

Over time, the crawfish may eventually find themselves swimming into the cone and the stocking. If you make the trap well, the crawfish will not escape. 

Boiling Crawfish

The most fun part of crawfish is eating them. Boiling and preparing them, however, follows closely behind. It is pretty easy despite being exquisitely delicious. 

You need to fill a pot halfway with water to match the amount of crawfish you have. Add one bag of seafood boil and stir. Ignite your stove, and once it is bubbling rapidly, add your crawfish and cover the lid. 

Wait for the water to return to a boil, and boil them for no longer than three minutes. Once three minutes have passed, remove the crawfish from the water and throw them into a clean ice chest sprinkled with seasoning and seafood boil. You can also season on top to your taste. As a good rule of thumb, you generally need one pound of spice for every fifteen pounds of crawfish.

After mixing, keep the ice chest closed. Once enough time passes, you can finally enjoy your delicious meals. 

Conclusion

Catching them, boiling them, eating them, or even keeping them as pets—crawfish are fun no matter what you like to do with them. They are a bountiful gift from nature packed with unique flavors that you can make into a variety of dishes. There truly is nothing like a good platter of well-made crawfish. 

If you’re craving some seafood, you could try making the best crawfish recipes or skip all these steps and just go out to eat at a crawfish bar in Houston instead. Crawfish Cafe has some of the most delicious crawfish dishes in the area. Satisfy your crawfish craving with us today!