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A restaurant exterior shows a patio made of red-stained wood. A blue neon sign reads: “Beatrice.”
Step into boil season on the patio of Restaurant Beatrice.
Kate Voskova

8 Spots to Find the Best Crawfish in Dallas

Spicy and saucy, this Cajun staple is best enjoyed on a patio with beer

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Step into boil season on the patio of Restaurant Beatrice.
| Kate Voskova

The arrival of spring in Dallas means a lot of things — blooming flowers, bizarre weather, and allergy overload. But one hallmark of the season is what truly matters: crawfish. This seasonally available Cajun staple, at its height between February and May, is best consumed with lots of beer or white wine on a breezy patio.

While the crawfish in Dallas doesn’t quite rival the mudbugs served in New Orleans, when a craving strikes, these restaurants will satisfy it. Check out the establishments serving up the best crawfish in Dallas.

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The Boiling Crab

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There’s a reason that having dinner at The Boiling Crab means waiting in line for hours, and that’s because it’s arguably the best purveyor of boiled seafood in town. Best bet? Eat as many pounds of crawfish tossed in as much of its trademark “Whole Sha-Bang” seasoning as humanly possible. 

Shell Shack

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Shell Shack opened a new location in Lake Highlands this year, but this chain can satisfy the need for spicy crawfish at all its locations. Ask the kitchen to drench a couple of pounds of crawfish in garlic, Cajun, or lemon-pepper seasoning, or go whole hog with “the Kitchen Sink,” a blend of all three. Heat levels, which range from mild to diablo, can also be customized. 

Hook Line & Sinker

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Of course, Uptown’s favorite rowdy seafood spot is hosting crawfish boils. This menu item is available in-season only and available by the pound. 

The Crab Station

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Head to any of this spot’s many locations around the Metroplex for a crawfish boil. Eat ‘em urban-style in Deep Ellum, or order online to take the boil to go.

Rex's Seafood and Market

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Rex’s has live crawfish available at all locations and asks that customers pre-order. At its Farmer’s Market location, cooked-to-order crawfish are available for the season. And it will host a crawfish boil this St. Patrick’s day at the Farmer’s Market. 

Restaurant Beatrice

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Beatrice hosts seasonal boils on the patio and will offer crawfish this spring, harvested from a farm in Branch, Louisiana. It’s first come, first served on this patio with no reservations when it hosts boils on Friday through Sundays from 5 p.m. until closing time.

Krio Bishop Arts

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Available by the pound at this Cajun-Asian eatery in the Bishop Arts District, crawfish are slathered in a spicy, buttery, garlicky sauce. There’s also “Connie’s sauce,” which combines Cajun spices, coconut milk, and green onion for a fresh take on this classic. 

Sunset Crab Shack

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Order a crawfish boil with “SunsetBang” seasoning, and if you get there at 4 p.m. for happy hour, pair it with these great frozen margaritas to cut the spice. 

The Boiling Crab

There’s a reason that having dinner at The Boiling Crab means waiting in line for hours, and that’s because it’s arguably the best purveyor of boiled seafood in town. Best bet? Eat as many pounds of crawfish tossed in as much of its trademark “Whole Sha-Bang” seasoning as humanly possible. 

Shell Shack

Shell Shack opened a new location in Lake Highlands this year, but this chain can satisfy the need for spicy crawfish at all its locations. Ask the kitchen to drench a couple of pounds of crawfish in garlic, Cajun, or lemon-pepper seasoning, or go whole hog with “the Kitchen Sink,” a blend of all three. Heat levels, which range from mild to diablo, can also be customized. 

Hook Line & Sinker

Of course, Uptown’s favorite rowdy seafood spot is hosting crawfish boils. This menu item is available in-season only and available by the pound. 

The Crab Station

Head to any of this spot’s many locations around the Metroplex for a crawfish boil. Eat ‘em urban-style in Deep Ellum, or order online to take the boil to go.

Rex's Seafood and Market

Rex’s has live crawfish available at all locations and asks that customers pre-order. At its Farmer’s Market location, cooked-to-order crawfish are available for the season. And it will host a crawfish boil this St. Patrick’s day at the Farmer’s Market. 

Restaurant Beatrice

Beatrice hosts seasonal boils on the patio and will offer crawfish this spring, harvested from a farm in Branch, Louisiana. It’s first come, first served on this patio with no reservations when it hosts boils on Friday through Sundays from 5 p.m. until closing time.

Krio Bishop Arts

Available by the pound at this Cajun-Asian eatery in the Bishop Arts District, crawfish are slathered in a spicy, buttery, garlicky sauce. There’s also “Connie’s sauce,” which combines Cajun spices, coconut milk, and green onion for a fresh take on this classic. 

Sunset Crab Shack

Order a crawfish boil with “SunsetBang” seasoning, and if you get there at 4 p.m. for happy hour, pair it with these great frozen margaritas to cut the spice. 

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