Astros baseball isn’t the only in-season game in town. So is eating crawfish after they are boiled and seasoned in a variety of ways. And sometimes people combine the sports by gorging on the shellfish meat while taking in Major League Baseball games at sports bars.
Regardless, Spring Branch offers many sources and venues for cooked mudbugs, from restaurants and supermarkets to a church festival. Here’s a mere sample of nearby places to go:
— Bayou Seafood and Wings, 10123 Hammerly Blvd., has crawfish on the menu year-round. After opening in April 2021, this place quickly became a local favorite. Here you get bang for your buck.
Online orders are $7.99* a pound.
“We got takeout crawfish there on Friday! AWESOME! Not a bad one in the bunch!!! WE WILL BE BACK!!,” a customer named David wrote. “Bonus is it is 2 blocks from our house!”
Crawfish flavorings include Garlic Butter Sauce, Bayou Sauce and Ooh La La Sauce; you can choose spicy or even extra spicy. Ooh La La is my favorite.
— The crawfish trail led on to the sprawling Ranch 99 Market at the corner of I-10 and Blalock. Nestled in the food court area of this Asian supermarket is a branch of the LA Crawfish chain.
On the menu you will find special dishes like its “World Famous Crawfish Pho,” which the chain says was invented in an LA Crawfish test kitchen years ago and featured in publications worldwide.
Crawfish empanadas, stuffed with a mix of hand-peeled crawfish tails, mirepoix, and the Cajun seasoning blend are also on the menu. Cajun Style Crawdads are top on the menu, tossed in your choice of sauces Garlic Butter, Cajun Style and Hot & Sour. You can get your crawfish fix there year round.
— Mambo Seafood combines the best elements of traditional and innovative American, Latin and Pacific seafood cuisine, and now has added crawfish to its repertoire. During crawfish season, Mambo Seafood at 10002 Long Point has added Mambo Style Crawfish to the menu with garlic butter, boiled for $8.99* a pound. Seems to be a perfect blend of Latin flavors, taste of Texas and Latin spice. Chase it down with the popular Mambo Michelada alcoholic beverage and enjoy the spicy life.
— For those who are all about the crawfish feasts at home without all the backyard fuss, the neighborhood H-E-B at the corner of Gessner and Kempwood has you covered.
“Boil Masters” serve up hot fresh boiled crawfish Friday through Sunday beginning at 11a.m. and lasting until they run out, usually around 6:00p.m. Crawfish is available by the pound for $7.25* and you can add corn and potatoes for an additional price.
According to H-E-B customer Kaitlyn Campbell, “I love when they have it for sale. Wish I could buy it out here all of the time. So much easier than doing the work myself.”
— Looking for an opportunity to help a local Spring Branch church and get all you can eat of crawfish? Mark your calendar for the St, Jerome Catholic Church Spring Festival, April 29-30. The All-You-Can-Eat Crawfish Boil takes place on Saturday, April 29, 3:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.at the St. Jerome Parish Activity Center located at 2759 Hollister Rd.
Pre-sale tickets are $40 per person online and $50 per person at the door. The event includes raffles, games, music, drinks and food trucks. Go to www.stjeromehou.org for more information.
*Prices according to website listings at the time of publication.
— by Jessika Leal
