Located on the Strip in Asiatown Mall Cajun Kitchen HoustonIt's a top destination for Viet-Cajun cuisine, a hybrid cuisine that was born when Vietnamese refugees on the Gulf Coast began applying Southeast Asian seafood boiling techniques to local crawfish.Though it's now found across the country, Viet Cajun cuisine is undoubtedly a Houston specialty.
Originally opened in 2005 as a traditional Cajun crawfish restaurant, Cajun Kitchen has expanded its focus to Vietnamese Cajun cuisine since current owner John Nguyen took over in 2015. Growing up in Norway, Nguyen was first introduced to crawfish from Vietnamese relatives in Louisiana. Having originally moved to Houston for a corporate job, Nguyen developed a passion for crawfish.
Today, Cajun Kitchen's menu ranges from traditional crawfish seasonings like garlic butter to more Southeast Asian influences, like a Thai basil-flavored variation. The kitchen special, served with a wedge of citrus, is particularly popular. Nguyen has also expanded his Vietnamese Cajun ethos to other seafood dishes, like mussels steamed with lemongrass and Maine cockles topped with a Vietnamese chili butter sauce and Vietnamese coriander leaves.
Because fresh crawfish are in season (usually January through July), Cajun Kitchen has diversified its menu beyond its specialty crustaceans. The restaurant serves Cajun classics like gumbo, po'boys, and crab bread roast year-round, as well as traditional Vietnamese street food like fried rice, grilled calamari, and escargot.
