Where To Feast On The Best Cajun/Creole Eats In San Jose

The Caribbean or Cajun food is highly flavorful with just the right spice level for any Creole food lover. San Jose is home to some amazing Cajun spots from sleek, modern eateries to savory, no-frills Caribbean joints. Whether you’re in the mood for crawfish, po’boys, jerk chicken or oxtails, the San Jose Cajun spots have something for everyone. Feast on the Caribbean treats with a Cuban, Dominican, or Puerto Rican twist every time you come to this borough.

Here are the best Cajun/Creole spots to try in San Jose.

And if you’re on the hunt for a birthday gift for your friend or spouse, then you should consider getting them a virtual GiftYa card to their favorite Cajun restaurant. These cards are super easy to customize and you can adjust the amount you want to load them. Make sure you add a personalized message to make the experience even better!

The Boiling Crab

71 Curtner Ave Suite 20, San Jose, CA 95125 theboilingcrab.com

Casual tiny chain serving boiled-in-bag Cajun-spiced oysters, crawfish, shrimp, and other shellfish!

We know you like seafood especially when cooked Caribbean style. Well, at The Boiling Crab, they not only catch oysters, crab, and shrimp themselves but also prepare the fresh catch and add the right spicing to those incredible flavors. When you come here, you will be greeted by the beautiful setting where you get to enjoy bold flavors, fresh seafood, and have plenty of fun doing it.

Curious about what’s on the menu. Well, you will love it. Go ahead and choose your catch from either blue crab, snow crab legs, lobster, Dungeness crab, shrimp, crawfish (seasoned or frozen), oysters, clams, or mussels. Then add some sauce, Rajun Cajun, lemon pepper, or garlic sauce works great. Don’t forget to spicy it up to your liking. If you don’t want sauce, you can go for the naked or half-naked shrimp or crawfish.

If you like it fried, you will have a lot of fun enjoying the fried catfish basket, chicken tenders basket, oysters, calamari, and hot wings with Cajun or lemon pepper. Cajun fries, sweet potato fries, and steamed rice are great sides to enjoy with your main meal.

Claw Shack

1696 Berryessa Rd, San Jose, CA 95133 clawshack.com

Relaxed eatery serving a menu full of fried and boiled seafood in a modest setting!

Do you love lobster and beer? Well, why not try Claw Shack for some of the best seafood dishes and beer around. This relaxed restaurant is popular for its signature seafood options that are to die for. They make everything from scratch.

If you’re lucky enough to swing by on a nice afternoon, make sure you try the seafood sampler, the house special that includes a combination of deep-fried, lightly seasoned shrimp, calamari, and fine fish fillets served with tartar sauce, shrimp crackers, and cocktail sauce. The house clam chowder is also a great treat especially when it’s warm and fresh with chopped sea clams topped with fresh, pan-friend bacon bits, white pepper, and parsley.

They also serve incredible boiled entrees such as crawfish, manila clams, snow crab clusters in a bread roll, and lobster tail. Add a special house blend sauce and the experience is out of this world. Of course, your stay here wouldn’t be complete with a beer to make the experience even better.

The Kickin Crab

2675 Cropley Ave, San Jose, CA 95132 thekickincrab.com

Bustling chain offering Cajun-style seafood in a casual setting with a nautical vibe!

Craving the best Cajun seafood? Think The Kickin Crab. This sophisticated joint has joined the Crustacean group to satisfy the unending craving for Cajun seafood across San Jose. Patrons come here to enjoy the distinct ambiance plus the finest, flavorful Cajun food around town. If you’re planning a weekend outing with friends, then you should try The Kickin Crab. No plates, no utensils, just your hands to enjoy their irresistible sauces which is a combo of spicy, sweet, and tangy flavors along with freshly cooked seafood options.

Enjoy starters such as freshly shucked oysters served with tabasco, cocktail sauce, and lime wedges, or the crispy fried jumbo shrimp, Cajun fries served with a cocktail sauce. You will also have a lot of fun enjoying the fried fish taco served on flour tortillas and topped with pico de gallo.

SJ Crawfish

393 N Capitol Ave, San Jose, CA 95133 facebook.com

No-frill spot serving Asian-Creole seafood in a cool setting with marine-themed walls!

For the perfect combination of both upscale and casual, visit SJ Crawfish. The seafood is brought fresh, prepared in the kitchen, and served directly on your plates to ensure you get only the best quality there is.

Enjoy one of their popular lobster tail, crawfish, shrimp, raw oyster with homemade salsa, as well as Alaskan king crab legs. If you’re in the mood for the fried options, try the Cajun fries, French fries, buffalo wings, fried oysters, and chicken tender strips. Grilled entrees like SJ shrimp with chili are also a great option to try.

Combo deals are also great with selections such as a pound of crawfish, shrimp, clam, mussel, two corns, potatoes, and some pieces of sausages. Add a side either corn, steamed rice, or bread roll and you will have a favorite meal you can order every time you come to SJ crawfish. Don’t forget to grab a local craft beer or cocktail to enjoy along with your meal!

Cajun Bistro 7

3005 Silver Creek Rd STE 116, San Jose, CA 95121 cajunbistro7.com

Enjoy Vietnamese-style seafood options and other classics at this upscale eatery!

Nothing tastes better than some deliciously cooked tender crab. That’s what you get at Cajun Bistro 7. Here, you can enjoy Cajun food filled with spices and flavors that you will enjoy.

The menu is quite extensive but when you come here, make sure you enjoy the chef’s specials including boiled shrimp, crawfish, mussel, or manila clam. Also, try some grilled oysters on the half shell served with green onions, roe, and peanut, or some grilled lamb chop with French fries. Steamed clam with basil, shaken beef served with French fries, and a combination of fried rice with eggs, Vietnamese pork sausage, and greens will leave you wanting to come back for more. Don’t forget to grab a side order especially the sweet potato fries and parmesan garlic noodles to enjoy along with your meal.

If you want something fried, then the fried crispy tilapia and shrimp served with French Fries will surely satisfy your hunger. Vegan can grab the mixed salad and one of their combo meal. It will be worth it!

The Backyard Bayou

3210 S White Rd, San Jose, CA 95148 backyardbayousj.com

Casual, upscale eatery known for serving Cajun specialties plus delicious rice bowls!

What started as an old-fashioned backyard eatery has now transformed into a neighborhood favorite serving everything from po’boys to rice bowls. Whether you’re craving a basket of delicious and spicy southern fried shrimp or just want something as simple as steamed rice, The Backyard Bayou has something for everyone.  

Get the feast started with your favorite choice of seafood catch from crawfish (Louisiana), headless shrimp, mussels, clams, lobster, and more. Then make sure you state your style whether you want your selection with lemon pepper or garlic butter, and finally choose the spicing level you want. Also, order the selfie bucket and enjoy three options either crawfish, periwinkle, shrimps, mussels, and more.

Po’boys and sandwiches are served with Cajun fries or sweet potato fries which makes a great meal especially if you’re here in the early morning. You can add some extra condiments and sauces to make the experience even better. On the grill, you can enjoy the grilled gator or frog legs all served with Cajun fries.

End a long day of work with a plate of blackened catfish, and collard greens. You won’t forget this wonderful experience.

Crawdaddy Restaurant

779 Story Rd #10, San Jose, CA 95122 crawdaddy.co

Shrimp, crawfish, and other Cajun seafood favorites served in a no-frills eatery

When it comes to Cajun food, the Crawdaddy Restaurant is a bit of a hidden gem in San Jose. Rated as the number one Cajun spot, Crawdaddy is a one-stop shop for all things Cajun. From the amazingly fresh crawfish to the deep-friend catfish, there is something for everyone here.

Stop by the next time you’re in San Jose and enjoy their popular combos including Yo Mama’s combo, Baby’s Combo, Ms. Piggy’s Combo, and Roya Combo. Boiled options are also available, so you can order either boiled crawfish, king crab legs, clams, lobster tail, mussels, or shrimp.

Need a great drink after a long day, try out their signature cocktails with unique names such as “Who’s Your Daddy Hurricane” that taste like fruit juice. Wines are also available just in case you come in during the happy hour.

No matter what time of the day you come in, Crawdaddy restaurant is sure to fix your craving with one of their many signature plates on their menu.

There is nothing better than some perfectly grilled, boiled, or fried Cujan seafood no matter the time of the day. If you’re looking for the perfect spot to satisfy your craving for Cujan food, then these awesome spots in San Jose have a lot of surprises for you. So, which Cujan spot do you plan on trying next? Let us know in the comments!