This was our first visit. They were busy around lunch today but the server was great. We got our order to go so there was a wait. We will call in ahead of time on our next visit! The food was excellent. We had 3 orders; Joy's special, grouper platter and a shrimp and crawfish quesadilla with okra, fries and coleslaw. We will be going back! The waiting area was nice very clean. read more

Definitely a hidden Bessemer Gem, Boateng's is a quaint space with good food and adequate service. I've had a fried shrimp platter with fried green tomatoes and the ultimate gumbo and I've had a fried grouper platter before with same sides. Two weeks ago I had a salad with blackened grouper fish. My daughter has tried and I've sampled the seafood quesadillas and it too was good. Each meal is cooked fresh to order and worth the wait. Food, service and ambiance are all worth the visit so give them a try and you will go back!! read more

Boateng's Cajun Creation - Grouper salad with eggs, cheese and real bacon. Sorry the fish was so flavorful I pinched off it before taking the photo. - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Bessemer, Alabama

The best seafood gumbo and a side of red beans and rice ever. I didn't need a full entree, so I ordered a side of red beans and rice with a bowl of seafood gumbo. Both were outstanding. I usually add seasoning to everything I eat, but both items in my order were perfect. Highly recommend. read more

This is definitely one of Bessemer's best kept secrets! I had no clue they even existed in my hometown! A family member told me about this spot a few months ago I decided to come by after my hair appointment for lunch they're located on the south side right by the tracks parking was ok if you don't mind a little gravel but plenty spaces very cute establishment not a lot of seats but just enough the ambiance is giving a it feels like home setting the service was impeccable I was greeted warmly and with smiles by everyone my server was so sweet and patient with me I had no clue what to try they have a pretty extensive menu lots of items to choose from she suggested the joy special which was a little of everything I wanted all fried with one side it came with fish crab claws and shrimp but I opted for more fish since shrimp and I don't see eye to eye anymore my food came out hot and fresh all the sauces and dressings are homemade my side was the salad and it was very fresh overall I'll definitely be back 10/10 across the board ! read more

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Holy cow! Read the reviews & came in on a whim. It was absolutely fabulous, and Bridget is all that everyone says she is. We had the seafood gumbo and the other sausage gumbo and it was fantastic and split a shrimp Poboy. The Julie sauce is especially incredible. It's a small restaurant but full of character. Reasonably priced too. read more

Boateng's Cajun Creation - Seafood gumbo & shrimp po boy - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Bessemer, Alabama

Well Boateng's knocked it out of the park for my family and friend's get together. Everyone loved the seafood platter and the red beans and rice. The shrimp, fried fish and boiled vegetables were delicious. I would buy again for my family that loves creole dishes. read more

Some of the best Cajun food I've had in a while. We had the frog legs(awesome), gator bites(sooo tender), fried plantains(seasoned beautifully) for starters. For dinner I had the Gumbo and my girlfriend had the salad with shrimp, crab, and crawfish. The gumbo was seasoned excellently and tasted just how I make it at home in like 7 hours. My girlfriend's salad was amazing with the homemade ranch. We came in late and the service was still top notch. Finished off with banana pudding and my girlfriend said it was the best she's ever had. We were just in town for the weekend but to anyone looking for a place, do it! read more

This is a family own business and I was recommended this place from a few friends. I decided to try the craw claws for an appetizer and the oyster po' boy. I enjoyed the crab claws but I really did not enjoy the oyster po boy. The oysters taste a bit over cooked and greasy. I'm not ruling this place out because they have some other great dishes on there that I am willing to try the next time I come. My service was great and the staff was friendly. read more

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First off, Bridget is welcoming, great at her job and you can tell she loves what she does. Gumbo - more than excellent! Fried green tomatoes - excellent! Blackened grouper - excellent! Okra - extremely good! My wife had the jambalaya - excellent! We also purchased the bread pudding with whiskey sauce to go...thinking of having it for breakfast with a cup of Joe. If you are near Bessemer, take an hour and visit this restaurant. Great hidden gem! read more

Boateng's Cajun Creation - Cup of awesome gumbo - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Bessemer, Alabama

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I was pleasantly surprised by this place. My husband and I came for lunch on a Friday. It was busy, quaint, and the quintessential place for Bessemer culture. The food took about 30 minutes to come out which was fine because plenty of people were sat down before us and and it was cooked fresh! We both got poboys (him blackened gator and me fried shrimp) and I doused it with their homemade Jubilee sauce they leave at the table. I didn't get any photos because I ate it too fast lol. We also had the hush puppies and seafood bisque. Everything was so delectable. I will definitely be coming here again. I would give 10 stars if I could! read more

The food is awesome here and it is seasoned very well. Great cozy spot. Mom and pop feel with great food and customer service!

Every time we have eaten here, the food is fresh and delicious, and the host and wait staff and super nice. I always get shrimp, and it is as fresh as if you were at the Gulf Coast. The jambalaya is outstanding. My husband loves the lobster and crab bisque. It is a small family owned joined and isn't fancy at all, which is fine with us--because the laid back atmosphere is perfect for a quick lunch and the food is top notch! read more

Had a great experience! The best Jambalaya I've ever eaten! The blackened catfish was delicious, juicy and a very big piece of fish! My husband loved the gumbo and the okra! You get your money's worth! The waitress is wonderful and hilarious! A great find!!! read more

Boateng's Cajun Creation - Gumbo - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Bessemer, Alabama

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Well, I went for the first time on Friday the 24th. The food and the portions were awesome and the prices. I had the 3meat platter which included, shrimp (OMG seasoned to perfection), crab claws and fried grouper. My side was okra. I was so full, but I Stuffed myself to finish because it was so much food. Now the staff was very welcoming and top tier. She made us feel like family. I'm ashamed to say, but it was so good I went again on the 25th and the 27th. The blackened grouper is a must try and the fried green tomatoes. If you're ever in the Bessemer area, PLEASE try this place. you will NOT BE DISAPPOINTED!! read more

The food tastes AMAZING & AUTHENTIC!!!! The customer service is amazing as well. They are attentive to the customers first step in the door.

I do love the food, do not get me wrong. But the last time I went in with someone else there was a couple of people waiting on to go orders. We walked in they told us to sit down anywhere. there was only one more couple in there and someone sitting at a table by their selves. Someone brought the menus and the sauces to the table never ask if we wanted something to drink. The one sitting at the table with their phone turned up like listening to a book, had theirs put in a to go then sat there and kept the phone on. I said in a low tone that it was rude. Someone was behind me do silverware I guess, still nothing to drink. The point is I think that the guy with the phone should have been ask by an employee to turn it down or off. I really hated this happened but, We will not be back. Ended up at the Bright Star where service is always excellent! read more

The food and the service was 5 star. A hidden gem in Bessemer for people from out of town. We will definately go back! read more

Boateng's Cajun Creation - Fried Crab Claws and a cup of soup. - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Bessemer, Alabama

I love the food! I've had the seafood quesadillas, the crawfish bisque, the fried grouper! The plantains are to die for!

Service and people were a hoot! Super casual. Fun time. Food was excellent. Looking for some good southern cooking and seafood, this is it. read more

There was a fly in my gumbo. I really wanted to try them. But this will be my first and last time.

i really do not want to tell you how spectacular this food is nor do i want to tell you how massive the portions are or how welcoming the whole staff is or how reasonable the prices are no i do not want to tell you these things because i want to keep this hidden gem all to myself read more

Family has been eating here for years, since they had a booth at the outlet mall in Bessemer. Food is amazing, the atmosphere is always on point. The only downside is the service being slow on occasion. It really is hit or miss. The food is totally worth it though, so if you have extra time, GO THERE AND GET THE FOOD!! You absolutely cannot go wrong with the fried green tomatoes or the jambalaya! read more

I've been wanting to try Boatengs for awhile. A friend of ours highly recommended it so we finally gave it a try and I'm so glad we did! The restaurant is relatively small so I recommend coming early for dinner. I've heard lunch time is crowded and slow so probably not the best place if you need to have a quick lunch! We came early for dinner. Restaurant is very casual so no need to dress up. The staff were friendly from the start. Our waiter made recommendations since this was our first time. We were told by our friend that the food comes out as it's prepared so we ordered an appetizer to curb our hunger. We got the fried green tomatoes with crab. This was a big order so I'm really glad we shared! They were great! I ordered the crab claw platter. It came with two sides. My first choices were sold out but I got the hush puppies and the ultimate gumbo. Hush puppies were fantastic. I would definitely order those again. The gumbo was good as well. Crab claws were good but tiny but they did provide a plate full of them so it was enough for me. Of course I tried everyone else's food too. The shrimp and grits were the best I've had in Alabama. I will definitely order that on our next visit. Jambalaya was really good too! I liked everything I tried. For dessert they were out of everything except the banana cheesecake pudding. Fortunately, we liked the sound of it so we gave it a try. So glad, the hubby and I shared. It was a big bowl and we finished it! There is a nice outdoor seating area if you want to sit outside. No alcohol is served. Portions are generous, prices are reasonable. Can't wait to come back! This will definitely be my go to for Cajun from here on out. read more

Boateng's Cajun Creation - Fried green tomatoes w crab - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Bessemer, Alabama

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Several people recommended this restaurant as a great cajun place. Ot has also won best gumbo in Alabama for the last six years. So I headed to Bessemer, Alabama to try this hidden gem. Definitely a family business with a friendly staff and a toddler providing us a floor show as we enjoyed some seriously good food. I started with the Ultimate Gumbo, the prize winning gumbo, and for my main course I had the blackened grouper with jambalaya and red beans and rice. Truly great food. read more

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Are you looking for a good bite of soul food, here you found it (I guess)! Disclaimer: I have basically no clue of how actual souther food should taste like. ("soul food"...I don't even know what that means) This place is very unique: Cozy, fun, good, and in an interesting location. We got to know about this place by a random chat in town stating "they have the best southern food, you have to go if you like fish. To get there follow the railroad, and don't go there nighttime"! With that in mind, one night we decided to go, started Google Maps, got lost in the middle of nothing, but we finally found the place...by following the railroad. Always follow people suggestions!! The place looks like a big cart food placed almost sitting on the rails. You get in, and nice smily people welcome you in the warmest possible way. The room is very cozy and friendly with a lot of writings about life, people, love, and half the menu, with pictures! We started looking at the menu, chatting with the people there, .... ...long story short: The place is great, the food is really good and it tasted exactly like the one I had in Louisiana and Mississippi in a roadtrip. You won't drive there on purpose like I did, but give it a try whenever you'll be around there! read more

Boateng's Cajun Creation - Scallops and calamari - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Bessemer, Alabama

Simply the best independent restaurants in the Bessemer/ Birmingham area. Delicious offerings and fast and friendly service. You must give them a visit. I have the catfish Po boy! It was a delicious dish that I will remember and rave about to friends. I suggest that when you stop in there maybe you should have the same make sure to get some of their famous bread putting. But I hear they're banana putting is just as good if not better. A trip to Bessemer is never complete without visiting this local gem. The service is warm and friendly and the food will have you definitely planning to come back soon. There is sufficient parking and there is parking across the street. I hear it gets crowded during lunch. So it's best to show up early before the crowd gets in. The first thing to disappear I hear is the mac & cheese followed by most of the mouthwatering desserts. They serve New Orleans style cuisine and fresh gulf coast favorites hot and ready for pick up or to eat in. Come with an appetite and bring friends it's going to be a great foodie adventure. read more

Look for the words 'hidden gem' and you will find a picture of Boateng's Cajun Creation. If you are looking for the short version of the review I'll give it to you here.....Go now, thank me later! Ok, now for the real review. Came here on a Friday about 6:00 just beating the rush of people. Casual environment with indoor and outdoor seating. about a dozen tables inside and about 10 more located outside. Outdoor seating is right next to the road so you may have some road noise if you try to sit outside at busy times. The staff is friendly and attentive. Our waiter was awesome and gave us a five star experience all night long. He was very informative about the menu making multiple recommendations from apps to main entrees. I give him a ton of credit, but in all fairness I'm starting to wonder if everything on the menu is amazing. We started with Fried Green Tomatoes topped with Crab and Creole sauce. To begin they didn't scrimp on the crab. Plentiful and flavorful. The Creole was a perfect pairing to give the Crab a little moisture and the dish a little kick. Each of us ordered a different entrée. One order of Gator, one Crab Claws and one Crawfish (mine). Every last main course was spot on. I would really be tempted to go for the Crab Claws next time. The blackened Gator is probably the best I've had in the area. Crawfish was sautéed to perfection. Really the only thing I would consider giving a deduction for is they were out of some of their signature sides, and my one friend had to go to her third choice before finding a second side for her entrée. Also, they had limited availability on the desserts listed on the wall. Price was very reasonable running between $10 and $15 per plate. We all left absolutely stuffed and took food home as well. If you like Cajun food, seriously, what are you waiting for you need to go. If you don't like Cajun food, maybe you should consider trying it again because maybe you haven't had really good Cajun before. read more

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There are places that you just want to really keep to yourself... this is one of those places.... we had dinner here for the first time, and man were we glad we had heard about this place. I will first preface this review with one strong note... all the food cones out of this kitchen when it is hot... what that means is, your table will not get all food at once... so prepare yourself before hand. The server we had tonight was pretty good, only had to hail him down 3 times lol. And the food coming out at different times is why they do not have 5 stars.... I had the blackened gator and it was delicious!!! Also had the sausage and chicken gumbo as a side as well as shrimp and grits..... chicken/sausage gumbo was good and spicy, but the star of the sides was the shrimp and grits!!! Flipping amazing with a brown delicious sauce!!! And at this place you want to try at least 1 desert... BUT wait.... this was a bit disappointing as they seem to run out of things quick...the first 2 cobblers we wanted were out of...so we ordered one of the banana/cream cheese pudding.... and what a huge portion!!!! The desert was good and plenty.. my wife loved it, but to me it had a strange after taste, kind of like your grandmothers deserts that you could taste her house in... all in all diner here is by far the best time to come... but come early, this little place fills up fast with all the goodness that comes from the kitchen!!!! Try it at least once and see for yourself... you will just have to have patience with the kitchen and service!! Enjoy!!! read more

Boateng's Cajun Creation - Blackened gator!!!! Really good - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Bessemer, Alabama

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I finally made it to Boateng's, and we had a nice family dinner on Friday night. I first learned about Boateng's when they won the Episcopal Place Gumbo cookoff competition in 2014. They have won awards there for two years in a row, which is an impressive feat. Cool atmosphere and vibe at this family run restaurant. The customer base seems older, and consists of many regular customers. Based on the decor, we concluded the Boateng family immigrated from Ghana. The restaurant is established, and looks to be very successful. I love finding places like this. Our family ordered a wide variety of seafood entrees and sides that allowed us to sample a cross section of their specialties. I had Blackened Grouper and my two sides were the Ultimate Gumbo and the Jambalaya. I thought all were excellent, seasoned well, and spicy. The portions were generous and I couldn't finish my jambalaya. One other highlight at our table was the side of Fried Plantains. They were pan fried and seasoned with spices that complemented the sweet plaintains. The only negative was the time it took between ordering and when our food was served. The restaurant was busy, and it appeared that the kitchen could not keep up with the demand. I noticed other customers anxiously waiting for their food. Amazingly affordable. Our family of four had four entrees that were more than we could finish, and our bill was under $40. read more

Loved this place, wish I had one at home! We both ordered the platters, it's a lot of food for a small price. Loved everything that we got. Fried shrimp and crawfish was excellent, seafood gumbo was too! Black eyes peas has a surprising Cajun kick, but delicious. Wife had the cheese mashed potatoes and jambalaya for her sides and they were great. Add to that, quick service from nice staff and you have a real gem! read more

Boateng's Cajun Creation - Fried shrimp with cheese mashed potatoes and jambalaya. - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Bessemer, Alabama

This is a family own business. They have an extensive menu and options. The place is clean and the prices very reasonable. I eat here often when I am not in a hurry to be anywhere. Everything is cooked fresh once ordered. Therefore, the service leaves a lot to be desired. One of my friends had a situation and has made a serious allegation about the owner's customer service that made me feel torn about eating there. If they were treated like that, then so can I be miss treated. However, we all are humans and subjected to making mistakes. I recognize they hire and train servers with previous experience and want to see the small owner operator be successful. The food is good, prices reasonable and they give large portions. So if you are on an hour lunch break, give them a try. read more

Pros: The soups and gumbo was very good. It was seasoned well, but not over powering. My wife is a bit of lightweight when it comes to heat. I have the Alfredo with blackened chicken which was above average and my wife had the grilled talapi. They give you some squirt bottle with condiments (tarter, cocktail) which was appreciated so that you didn't have to ask for more. Our waiter was a nice young man who was very calm and polite and patient with my wife that had lots of questions having never eating Cajun before. Cons: Since I enjoyed the food so much everything is nitpicking. My plastic glass had seen better days with the rim being cracked and chipped. Your meal comes with plain fried bread which seems likes a waste since with so many spices available they could offer it as a appetizer so that you would have something to snack on while the food is being prepared. While the inside is neat and clean the outside is in serious need of a good pressure washing which would reflect the atmosphere inside. Conclusion: Boatengs is a great little place in Bessemer that offers something different than the chains around. The price for two was reasonable ($25 for two dinners and two drinks). We will definitely be back again. read more

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I can't say this enough. Boateng's was one of the best dining experiences I've ever had. A friend of mine and myself were driving through town on our way from Ohio to Houston. I found this little gem on Yelp and we couldn't have been more lucky. First off the service was amazing. Our waitress was extremely friendly, attentive and knowledgeable of the menu. Secondly, the food was just as amazing. My buddy had the blackened grouper with the regular gumbo, hush puppies and mashed potatoes. Everything he had was wonderful with the grouper and hush puppies taking the cake. I ordered the blackened gator and seared scallops with the ultimate gumbo, shrimp and grits and the bisque. Everything I had was delicious with the gator and shrimp and grits really standing out. I highly recommend this restaurant. If you are driving through or live close, I would definitely give this place a try. read more

Boateng's Cajun Creation - Blackened Gator and Seared Scallops with Shrimp and Grits and the Bisque... also the delicious Hush Puppies in the background - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Bessemer, Alabama

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I love this authentic creole food in Birmingham. It tastes a lot better than the other local Cajun restaurants in my opinion. The cost is less as well. Creole means the food is real spicy and full of flavor. I always get the to go order since the place is usually packed. read more

My first time here. Very clean, nice restrooms, & our server was super nice. We ordered the award winning jambalaya and red beans & rice as appetizers. My coworker and I enjoyed both. I ordered the fried grouper with coleslaw & hush puppies. He ordered the fried catfish, fried green tomatoes & cheese mashed potatoes. Upon arrival, the catfish and grouper were indistinguishable except by smell. And both were really greasy. The hush puppies were fried 5 hours too long. I did love the Cole slaw. Coworker says the cheese mashed potatoes were decent and his fried green tomatoes were good. Overall unimpressed but will return to try blackened fish instead of fried. read more

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Had the blackened Tilapia pasta and my spouse had a po' boy. It was all great! Employees were friendly, served us quickly, and were efficient. This is my new favorite restaurant. Highly recommend! read more

This was our go to restaurant for excellent seafood and exceptional gumbo!! Unfortunately the last (3) out of (4) visits they had run out of menu items (i.e. Gumbo, Calamari, Shrimp, etc). The FINAL time....we called to confirm that they had food on hand.....person answered phone and confirmed that all menu items were available. We arrived 15-20 minutes later to be told that they were completely out of ALL menu items!! Wow....what a disappointment!! read more

Darn Good Food!!! Stumbled on this place. Not much for atmosphere, but you forget very quickly when you taste the food. OMG soooo good. We have fried green tomatoes with crab meat-- no words to describe. So good. Also had crab claws, sampler with red beans, shrimp and grits and ultimate Gumbo. Will definitely come again when we are in town. So excited that we found this jewel. Great Food, very reasonably priced. Closet Thing to New Orleans read more

Best cajun I have eaten in years. I had chicken and sausage gumbo and hush puppies. The gumbo was flavorful and warm(spicy) but not intense. There were an incredible blend of flavors. The Hush Puppies were hot, fresh and awesome. Only negative was that service was inattentive after food arrived (i could have really used a drink refill) but that's a small thing with food so good! read more

Both times I went here were for lunch and they always have a wait... but it's worth it!!! I had the chicken and shrimp quesadilla and they are 8/10, good size portion, great seasoning, they shrimp could be bigger but it doesn't take away from the taste... Really didn't know about it until I started working in Bessemer, and it's a good lil ducked off spot!!! I'll be back to try some fish or some ... read more