Nestled just off the beaten path near a slightly industrial area of Waco, I discovered an unexpected gem, Cajun Craft. I was staying near Waco for a few days, but the area I was in had very limited choices for food. So, I looked up some nearby restaurants in Waco, and found Cajun Craft. It was worth the drive in from where I was staying. From the outside, it doesn't look like much: small parking lot, rusted roof, etc. However, I have found that often conceals some of the best places. An immediate friendly greeting was offered at the door and I was surprised by the quaint setting. There were only a few tables near the bar, but there was a covered patio attached and even more seating outside. The menu offered most of the traditional Cajun dishes at a modest price, but I already knew what I wanted. I ordered the Atchafalaya Catfish, a catfish filet over a bed of rice smothered in crawfish Étouffée. It was amazing. The Étouffée was rich and hearty, with the perfect spice level, maybe the best I have had west of Baton Rouge. The catfish was crisp and golden, giving a great balance to the creamy Étouffée. If you are ever in the Waco area and have a craving for some authentic Cajun cuisine, you must give Cajun Crafts a visit. read more

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RATING - 3.65 Cajun Craft is found just off of one of the main roads that's runs along Waco. Off its first appearance, the restaurant appears as your classic no-frills, get-what-you-asked for establishment. There is lots of outdoor seating, very fair pricing, and a surprisingly extensive menu; I doubt you'll fail to find something you enjoy here. Overall it seemed like a location that would be bumping in conjunction with Baylor college nights, post church service, or otherwise Waco-oriented affairs. My only complaint was really the smell. We came near close when some workers were cleaning, however there was an apparent chemical stench within the patio, between the inside seating and outdoor seating. My partner ordered the sausage po boy, while I ordered the fried chicken plate, wish mashed potatoes & gravy + green beans. The wait was rather long, which can be attributed towards the chicken's cook time - which might be front scratch. After we got our plates, I certainly couldn't complain. The chicken was decently sized and decadent with flavor. Consistent, strong Cajun spicing littered the tray and chicken, while its interior was extremely juicy and filled with flavor; additionally, it still maintained structure and provided a nice crunch on the surface. The mashed potatoes were equally as enjoyable. The gravy complemented the potatoes well, and established an equilibrium through texture. The green beans however, were not my favorite. They initially appeared fine on the surface, but became watered down and lacking in flavor the farther down the bowl you went. I would not be surprised if these beans were canned. I would certainly find myself eating here again. Its biggest appeals are the prices, genuine quality of food, and disposition. It is not perfect, but it is more than satisfactory. If you cannot get over the minor inconveniences that you may run into here, then you probably shouldn't be eating Cajun anyways. read more

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Da-yuumm! On the way to Oklahoma, on I-35 we stopped at this unassuming southern eatery and were not expecting our minds to be blown away by the fabulous quality of Cajun food. We liked the food so much that we stopped here on the way back from OK We got the fried shrimp basket and shrimp poboy the first time and got the Boom boom Shrimp starter, Atchafalaya Etoufee and, Gumbo and rounded it off with Beignets the second time on Mother's day. Food is absolutely delish. Not visiting this place should be a felony read more

EXCELLENT FOOD, easy location & parking. Really nice decor on the inside. Definitely Cajun vibe. BUT THE FOOD Y'all is delicious!!!!! Service was great... there was a bit of a wait to get our food but it was fresh, and hit so it was well worth the wait. We will absolutely be back read more

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I tried this place with a couple of friends and to say I was disappointed would be a massive understatement. After ordering the pork short ribs basket, I proceeded to watch my friends, and everyone else around me, receive their food while I continued to wait. After my friends finished their food, I asked the employee behind the register to check on my order. I proceeded to wait an additional 15 minutes -- a 40 minute wait time in total -- for my food to arrive. The pork short ribs were underwhelming and extremely difficult to eat. The fries were good though. read more

This is honestly some of the best cajun food I have had in Texas. The service is excellent and the staff is very warm and friendly. We ordered the Korean and Tennessee hot wings and the Cajun Trio. I would probably pass on the wings next time because I don't usually enjoy ones with a lot of breading but it was nice to give them a try and they count the WHOLE wing as ONE WING.....You gotta love that. Not trying to count a flap and a drummie as two wings! I wanted to comment mainly on the absolutely outstanding quality of the items in the Cajun Trio (Gumbo, Etoufee, Red Beans & Rice) and the sides of loaded mashed potatoes and the most excellent and piping hot fried okra!!!! Wowowowowowwwww....in my best Christopher Walken voice! I would definitely go back for more items on the menu! The restaurant was immaculately clean and had very well curated decor inside and out. The patio was lovely and I will be that is a pretty popular place when the weather is nice. They have houseplants everywhere and the atmosphere is terrific! read more

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Came into town for an event and looked up something close for lunch. This place was a winner all around! Beautiful interior, service and staff were so friendly. The food was incredible! Son gave the chicken tenders a 12 out of 10. My shrimp po boy was so fresh and the bread was so soft. Next trip to Waco we will definitely be back. There was plenty of outdoor and indoor seating. Parking is tight but don't let that stop you from stopping by. Also, BYOB read more

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Service was nice, kind and, helpful. The atmosphere was very relaxed, they kept it clean and, offered outside seating. The food was okay. Gumbo was warm and had good The beignets were flaky and fresh. The fried rib basket was probably my favorite, they had tender texture and great flavor. The Korean wings had great flavor but the chicken was a little undercooked. The catfish atchafalaya was a bit bland and underwhelming. Not pictured was the Crafish Poutine, those were okay aswell. read more

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I wish I could give this place 100 stars! The food was amazing & the staff were so kind! The inside looks incredible, it's also BYOB!! read more

Cajun Craft - Fried Fish basket - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Waco, Texas

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Food is really good, and probably worth waiting on, but my time limit is 45 minutes. Appreciate that it's a nice, little local place. read more

Cajun Craft - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Waco, Texas

Needed a light bite but we are not fast food people, so we had Cajun Craft on our list so why not try it? We did and LOVED IT! We got the seafood platter without oysters. We had an extra piece of fish. Now I'm picky about my fried fish, so I let my husband eat that and I eat the shrimp unless I know it's good. Well, we were fighting over this fish! It's seasoned well and fried just right! The shrimp was tasty too. We had to get up and get a to go order to take. Home to the rest of the family to try! We took fried ribs and gumbo for the family. So good! It's a cute little restaurant and the restroom is on the other side of the building. It looks like it's family owned and they are really nice. No complaints about the service. FYI, they are cashless so make sure to bring a card and your appetite! read more

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Super casual place with outdoor patio seating. U order at the counter then find a seat. I was there in a Tuesday and after a family of 5 left, I was the only one which worried me. Maybe there was some takeout on the other side ????? Reviews were pretty good so I gave it a shot after walking out at first. I went back in and spoke to a woman who was friendly. read more

Cajun Craft - Gator bites - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Waco, Texas

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Celebrating Mom's birthday, she had first chosen another catfish establishment in China Springs, something like Family FishBait, but they had decided to close up early with a silly unprofessional note on the door. Well, no matter. Mom wanted good fried catfish for her birthday and that lead us to Cajun Craft. Parking lot is very small, but we were able to park. Once inside, we stepped up to the counter to order. Staff was nice and very helpful. Soda machine, Iced Tea, and Topo Chico. We found a place to sit while our food was made fresh. Fried Catfish and Crawfish. Hush puppies. Red Beans and Rice. All. Excellent! We enjoyed everything and will definitely be back. read more

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Service was fantastic and the food was THE BEST! Genuinely, everything we had was delicious and homemade! The chicken tenders were so tender and flavored wonderfully with a light batter. The hush puppies were awesome! Red beans & rice delicious and huge portion along with the Jambalya! Everything was delicious and the restaurant was very clean and well decorated. We went on a Tuesday at 3pm, so not many people there...but I bet it's packed at lunch & dinner time! Highly recommend!! read more

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My first time here and will never come back. Our food took close to an hour. Very poor service too!

Took my 80 year old friend here and it did not disappoint. They had so many things to choose from. She got gumbo (in 90 degree weather), I got catfish, Gator and hushpuppies. It was amazing !!! So fresh so crispy. Place was clean and neat. read more

If you're in Waco, Cajun Craft is definitely worth a stop. Laid-back spot with bold Cajun flavors that hit. The fried oyster po'boy was loaded--crispy oyster, good seasoning, chunky lettuce and tomato and that sauce tied it all together. The fries had a nice Cajun kick. Only knock I have was bread was I wish bread was little softer, kind of falling apart on me while I ate it. 4.5/5 The gator bites with two dipping sauces were crispy and packed with flavor. 5/5 Portions are solid too. read more

Cajun Craft - Oyster Po Boy - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Waco, Texas

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We came based on the Yelp recommendation. This looked like a local place, not touristy. Very laid back vibe. Service was excellent. We were well taken care of during our entire visit. The etouffee sauce was delicious. The fried crawfish was just okay, and the rice gummy, but that sauce was so good. The stars were definitely the bread pudding and the beignets. I would order that every day and be so happy. Is it worth going back? Definitely. I'd like to try the gumbo and some other menu items. And order dessert. Next time, I may not share with my fellow diners. They can get their own. read more

Cajun Craft - Bayou Etouffee - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Waco, Texas

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3.5 stars* Lets start with the food: I ordered the sausage po boy and my partner ordered the fried chicken dish. My po boy was a 6.5/10 overall; I liked the bread and the freshness of the veggies but I think the sausage could have been elevated flavor wise. The fried chicken was really tasty and juicy! The sides on the dish weren't anything to cry home about but overall both mains were good. The star of the show was the chocolate bread pudding. Came out warm and delicious and delightfully sweet. The only thing that could've made it better would be some ice cream. Lastly the service and environment: when we first came in the restaurant was completely empty. We weren't greeted immediately but the service wasn't bad. I liked the outdoor seating and overall vibes but there was an interesting smell inside the building portion. Overall a good first experience :) read more

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Location: It is located in downtown Waco just minutes away from the Silo district. Parking: They do have free parking with less than 10 parking spaces in their lot. Food: We ordered the shrimp po boy and the seafood platter and it included fried catfish, shrimp and oysters. Price: The fried seafood platter cost $19.99 and the shrimp po boy cost $14.99. Soft drinks cost $3 and they'll give you cups for water. There is both indoor and outdoor seating. You will order first and then they'll deliver the food to your table. Overall food was good and restaurant is nice. We walked it from the Silos district and it seemed a lil sketchy walking there but we were fine and got to the restaurant safely. read more

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Took a long weekend trip to Waco with my family and wanted to try a new restaurant that I can't try in Dallas. Cajun craft had good reviews so decided to try it out. Sunday afternoon around 1:00 pulled up to a spot that wasn't fancy but kind of gave that hole in the wall feel. The parking lot was full so that was a good sign. Once inside the menu is on the wall and there are smaller menus to check out. You can order and then take your number to any seat you want. I ordered the Cajun tenders with Cajun fries and a roll. It's not much seating at the front but once you go through a doorway there is more seating plus I could see outside there was tables with heaters as well. It didn't take long for the food to come out fresh and hot. The tenders were good and the seasoning gave it just the right amount of kick. What took it up a niche for me was the customer service. We were checked on a lot making sure everything we ordered was to our liking. The gentleman helping us even gave my son two small little race cars. If you want good food but especially if you want good customer service this is the place to go read more

Cajun Craft - Cajun tenders with Cajun fries and roll - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Waco, Texas

Came to Waco for a gymnastics competition with my daughter. After checking in to the hotel we were definitely hungry. Daughter loves Cajun cooking and crawfish, so we decided to come here and saw high ratings on Yelp. My daughter found her self indecisive of what to get so she ordered the Cajun Trio and I ordered Jambalaya. The Trio includes Red Beans and Rice, Gumbo, and Crawfish Etouffee. She found the Red Beans and Rice to be good with great flavor and rice cooked just right. The gumbo had rich texture and okra cooked excellent with andouille and chicken. It just lacked seasoning and was a little bland and was the Etouffee. Not what was expected by the ratings . The Jambalaya I had was pretty good. Decent flavor with andouille and chicken. The texture was just a bit stickier than others I have had or what my wife makes. There was plenty of seating in the restaurant and the staff were very friendly. read more

Cajun Craft - Cajun Trio - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Waco, Texas

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We came over here on a whim. Dude, they have angels working in that kitchen. Everything was delicious and I'm still thinking about it. Next time I'm back in Waco we are definitely stopping here again read more

Didn't love the food and the service was rough, also the restaurant is crowded. If you love fried food- you may love this place better

First time having real Cajun food! SUCH a great place, hidden in the walls of waco. Friendly staff, we met the owner, chi chi, he's a sweetheart. I absolutely loved my fish the only timing I would change is one of the scoops of rice was pretty dry and hard. Everything else was amazing! The chicken sandwich was also spectacular!! I was literally licking the plate afterwards, the ambiance was great too with indoor and outdoor seating. We sat outside bc it was nice out! read more

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Once again out of town and rely on my handy dandy Yelp! App! What a gem! Was not sure when we pulled up, not many cars. But we trusted our Yelp ratings for here and they did not let down. This is a gem hidden off of the highway. If you do not follow your GPS correctly you will drive by at night. You order at the counter. The young man helping us was so gracious and made wonderful suggestions. The prices are great not over the top. Very reasonable especially when you get your food and it can feed 2 people! Very laid back atmosphere. Started off with the boudin balls. Like the size of large meatballs! The shrimp was breaded perfectly and fries seasoned wonderfully. The New Orleans Trio was absolutely amazing. Seriously enough for 2! The cook treated us to a wonderful dessert. This was truly a great experience! Felt like eating at a family home. read more

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The place is super cute, there is indoor and outdoor seating available. The service was very kind and hospitable. The food is visually pleasing but disappointing flavor-wise. The Korean chili wings were the most flavorful thing we tried -- they had a nice crispness, but without the sauce, they were bland. The fries were not good, and I also got a side of mac and cheese that I only took one bite of. Don't even get me started on the roll. For $18 a plate, it felt like a let down. My friend ordered the Cajun tenders and okra. They were also unimpressed with the quality and lack of flavor. Maybe we ordered the wrong things, but it's probably not somewhere I'd make an effort to come back to. read more

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Came to Waco to visit my sister at Baylor and stumbled upon this place. I was very skeptical because I am a Cajun girl with deep Louisiana roots. But I was very pleased with this gumbo. Absolutely delicious. The flavors were all there, it wasn't too spicy but just the right amount of kick to it. Definitely was a winner in my book. Service was great. A man by the name of Chi Chi, I believe, kept checking in on us and sparking up conversation. The restaurant overall was great. It was a different type of atmosphere but with Waco being such a small town, I definitely understand the aesthetic and building structure. Great place. read more

Cajun Craft - Chicken and Andouille Sausage Gumbo - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Waco, Texas

5 stars- no notes! Stopped for lunch on our way back home to Austin and everything was delicious. We wanted everything on the menu but settled for fried chicken, loaded mashed potatoes, Mac and cheese, and bread pudding. Food came out piping hot and clearly made with quality ingredients. The service was elite and the atmosphere was relaxing. We will definitely be back! read more

Cajun Craft - Fried 3 Pieces Chicken Plate, Mac n cheese, loaded mashed potatoes - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Waco, Texas

The food had zero flavor, super bland. Also, paid $1 for. $.50 thing of ranch and they will not give change. No boudin balls, no jalapeño poppers. Extremely disappointing. read more

One of the best fried chicken and tenders I've ever eaten...Corn was excellent... Pop corn shrimp was fabulous... The service was excellent.... read more

Food is always on point from the chicken to red beans and rice to the fried ribs Everything here is good Get you some ! read more

Man! What a find!!! Just wrapped up lunch here. Three of us...the order: shrimp poboy & fries, catfish poboy & fries, crawfish etouffe, a cup of gumbo & boudin balls. However, after finishing my etouffe and the boudin balls...I went back for a cup of red beans & rice...because I knew if what I just consumed what so DANG GOOD...those beans were going to be OFF THE CHAIN!! I was so happy we gave this place a shot! I'm Cajun, everyone knows we are the toughest critics on anything branded as "Cajun"...so to be 100% real...the gumbo was the only item, typical of most restaurants that serve "gumbo". The gumbo "stew" was too busy to be gumbo...BUTTT...IT WAS STILL GOOD!!! So, if you're looking for a solid Cajun option in a sea of burgers and chain restaurants in Waco...head downtown and give Cajun Craft a shot! --- CAJUN APPROVED --- read more

You MUST eat here. There is soul in this food, you will not find authentic Cajun food outside of the creole towns that taste this good, no should leave this earth without eating this food. Could not recommend enough, absolutely amazing service, food and quality. read more

Cajun Craft - Jambalaya - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Waco, Texas

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Great food! Every order is made fresh! The owner was walking around checking on customers, which I thought was really nice Outdoor area was pretty with all the plants. A really great place to stop by. read more

Good but expected better. Plenty of outdoor seating a few inside. Food - New Orleans Trio ($22.00), Gumbo not too flavorful (expected better), Crawfish Ettouffee' ok, Red Beans & Rice boring, no flavor, disappointing. Just looked like canned kidney beans with white rice. - Fried pickle spears were good ($8.50) - Fried chicken was good, not mind blowing. - Fried shrimp was plump and great flavor. Fried okra was good as well, not slimy. - Beignets was amazing and covered with powdered sugar. The best thiunbg we had here. ($5.25) - Bread pudding had good flavor but too mushy for us. ($6.50) The food too quite a while to get once ordered and thew service was ok. I would probably go back but have had much better Cajun food. read more

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Once we tried this place last week, we were hooked and needed a round two! Today, we split the Cajun Trio which consisted of Gumbo, Étouffée, and RedBeans and Rice- served with saltines and French bread. We added a starter of hushpuppies. Well, this food is not for the faint of mouth. Since we chose to enjoy sitting outside in 50 degree weather, the heat was perfect! My eyes and nose watered a bit, but my tough husband enjoyed every spicy, savory bite. The RBR had a slight vinegary back to the seasoning. The andouille sausage also leant a backbone to the flavor. This just tasted incredibly authentic to us as if we had been invited to dinner at the home of a fantastic generational home cook. The gumbo, my husband's favorite was chock full of fish, okra, peppers, shrimp, and sausage. It was spicy. The flavor, though, was delicious. The étouffée was my favorite. The tiniest bit less spicy with buttery crayfish. Just sooo satisfying. The hushpuppies were a perfect addition to our meal. Order at the counter from a really sweet young woman. read more

Cajun Craft - Hush puppy appetizer. A bit of spice. Warm and delicious. - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Waco, Texas

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The food at Cajun Craft is great. Every time I visit Waco I make sure to stop by here. They have been super accommodating when I've come in with a large party and I love their patio seating. Would highly recommend the Crawfish étouffée. read more

How we got here: Union Hall was closed. I love to go to Union Hall when I'm in Waco because everyone can get what they want. Cajun Craft came up on my maps as a restaurant that wasn't too far away. I checked Yelp, as I always do, and the reviews were great. Pulling up: The outside appearance is most definitely an eye sore, but due to the raving Yelp reviews, I figured this was a hole in a wall and the food was about to blow us away. Red flag number one. Cleanliness: The restrooms are outside so as we were waiting to use the restroom, an employee walked out of the bathroom with an apron on. After we used the restroom, we noticed there wasn't any soap. The employee that just walked out of the restroom with the apron most likely didn't have soap either. There wasn't soap in either restroom. Red flag number two. Food & Ordering: You order your food at the counter and they'll bring your food to you. The food took a while for them to make and for us to receive our food. After the long wait, we were eager to dive in and eat. I ordered the Bayou Etouffee and the rice was overcooked and mostly warm, with some bites being cold. The roux wasn't good at all. It tasted like something that might have been frozen or bought from the store where you just add water to a mix. It was pretty horrible. The boudin balls were okay. This place really deserves 1.5 stars, but I gave it 2 stars since the food was edible. read more

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I was in the area and Cajun Craft came up as a highly-rated restaurant on Google reviews. I was looking forward to trying it out because of this. Cajun Craft was easy to find, with a small parking lot in the front of their building. As I entered I was greeted immediately. The lady was very friendly and helped me select some food options. She exhibited great customer service. I ordered the Gator fried basket. The gator was very good and tasted like flavorful fried chicken. The remoulade sauce was good as well. The hush puppies were good too but they only put two in an $18 meal! I didn't try the ranch. HOWEVER, the portion was too small. As you can see from the picture 10 very small pieces for $18! I also ordered a catfish fillet at $5 this was also small. I was very disappointed. Luckily it tasted good, but not worth the small portion size. The Gumbo was average in flavor however the small portion was $6 not bad. The mashed potatoes with boudin gravy were good. Nothing was spectacular here. If the portion size was larger I could recommend this place. I would pass unless you want to see if they have increased the portion size since my review. read more

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