The Viet-Cajun crawfish boil trend that swept the Gulf Coast and California has found a welcome home in Chicago. While Chicago isnt known for crawfish like Houston or the Bay Area, the city has developed a solid Viet-Cajun seafood boil scene — led by Vietnamese-owned restaurants that serve crawfish, shrimp, crab, and other seafood in bags coated with garlic butter, Cajun spices, and house-made seasonings. These spots are especially popular during crawfish season (March through June) but serve year-round seafood feasts.
The Crab Pad Top Pick
Founded by Theresa Tran, this women- and minority-owned restaurant serves seafood-in-a-bag feasts that bring together Vietnamese flavors with Louisiana-
Ocean Grill & Bar Best Value
Their crawfish boils are prepared with Vietnamese-Cajun seasonings — garlic butter, lemongrass, and chili are all in play. Th
Madison Crab House Hidden Gem
Their crawfish, when in season, are well-sourced and prepared with a choice of house-made sauces — the garlic butter a