Cajun-Creole in LA

[kevin]

Now that Cafe n awlins is long gone and so is the location of Stevie's on the Strip, where do you currently like to go?

Places that are not very good at all in my opinion that I have tried in the past are the gumbo pot, uncle darrow's, mardi gras, harold and belle's (ok, but then it's seriously overpriced), the creole chef, bayou grille, new orleans grille in bixby knolls.

does anyone happen to know if Gagnier's ever re-surfaced?

[bulavinaka]

I haven't been but remember this rec from a "Good Food" interview on March 5. Bourbon Street Fish on Prairie in Inglewood was recommended by a Gisele Perez (Small Pleasures Catering) on "Good Food." She also likes Uncle Darrow's shrimp po' boys (I like their oyster ones as well).

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Bourbon Street Fish
601 S Prairie Ave, Inglewood, CA 90301

Uncle Darrow's
2560 Lincoln Blvd, Venice, CA 90291

[PayOrPlay]

The real deal is hard to find out here, as always, but we like New Orleans in Hermosa Beach, especially for the expensive, very well put together seafood gumbo. Good red beans too. Po-boys and fried things are more inconsistent: sometimes very good (with the most Leidenheimer-like bread I can remember getting in Los Angeles) and sometimes not so much (with the same uninspired bread as you usually get at Creole places out here).

http://neworleanshermosa.com/

We would also like to know about the Gagniers, if ever they turn up again.

[Servorg]

Place Link

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New Orleans Cajun Cafe
140 Pier Ave, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254

[kevin]

i'll have to hit up new orleans again in hermosa beach, last time there a little less than a year ago i had the blackened snapper or was it catfish with mac n cheese, it was good though not amazing. and pretty pricey at a little over 20 bucks and it took forever to make the dish, i think it's a one-proprietor operation who is chef, owner, and waitstaff all rolled into one. next time i will try that seafood gumbo, but i've noticed it's like 26.95 per bowl, which is pretty exorbitantly pricey, if you ask me, and not to mention the remainder of the dishes on the menu are also very very very pricey. has anyone tried the cajun fried turkey there either????

thanks a bunch, i kinda forgot about this place. it's weird to think there is a great cajun creole joint in the middle of drunken, debauched hermoas were 1.99 slices of greasy cheese pizza are more the order of the day.

[bulavinaka]

That neighborhood loves Cajun. The Ragin' Cajun has been there for decades and is always crowded even with New Orleans there.

[kevin]

but if you've been to both, they serve completely different food and at way different price levels (think gumob at cliff's rajun cajun is like 8 bucks a bowl, and a bowl at new orleans down the same street is 26 bucks a bowl, and it seems like rajun is usually way more busier and fits a more causual vibe than possibly the more staid though not fancy at all new orleans.)

[bulavinaka]

Yup - they're each hitting a different market. Ragin' Cajun has a loyal following because of those reasons. I have no idea of how they rate as authentic Cajun but I used to go a lot back in the 90s and liked their food. If I recall correctly, it was started by brothers who were from Lafayette and were Cajun to the bone. Again, I have no idea how Cajun the food was, but my pre-Hound taste buds enjoyed it.

[Phurstluv]

I've heard from a fellow CH who rec'd the place to me that she gets all of her seafood from N.O. That bowl of gumbo was enormous, could feed two people easily, and was full of crab, shrimp & andouille. The prices may be pricey, but the portions are large, we had a table full of food, with leftovers for lunch the next day.

[reality check]

I thought RC was closing?

[Phurstluv]

Not Ragin' Cajun (if that is what you are referring to as RC), I am talking about New Orleans Cajun Cafe.

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New Orleans Cajun Cafe
140 Pier Ave, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254

[reality check]

I wasn't talking about New Orleans Cajun Cafe. I was asking if Ragin Cajun is closing/has closed.

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Ragin Cajun Cafe
422 Pier Ave, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254

New Orleans Cajun Cafe
140 Pier Ave, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254

[Phurstluv]

I have no idea, have never been there.

[wienermobile]

Ragin Cajun lost their lease after years in Hermosa Beach and are moving to Plaza El Segundo off Sepulveda Blvd (next door to Starbucks) in El Segundo. Construction is now going on and they should be opening in a few more weeks.

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Ragin Cajun Cafe
422 Pier Ave, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254

[Phurstluv]

Agree with PayOrPlay, that's where we've gone to get our gumbo fix. Gumbo portion is large, enough for two or more to share. Fried oysters were great, po-boy was huge. Ribs were good, sticky & saucy. Red beans & rice were solid.