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Mudbugs Cajun Kitchen

4.4 (673 reviews)
Closed 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
Updated 2 months ago

Mudbugs Cajun Kitchen Photos

Business Info

MUDBUGS CAJUN KITCHEN ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Moderate noise
Good for kids
Good for groups

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Recommended Reviews - Mudbugs Cajun Kitchen

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Reviews With Photos

Lobster roll
Ingrid H.

This place is wonderful. Right out of New Orleans! Savanah, our server, was top notch. Food, drinks and ambiance was fabulous. A must go when in Sanibel.

Menu 3
Dave T.

Tried for our Easter dinner spot. We started with some fried pickles as an appetizer, very good. I went with the fried catfish po boy sandwich. Also ordered a side of fries. Both the sandwich and the fries were huge. My wife went with a shrimp boil. Comes with corn on the Cobb, potatoes, and large shrimp. My wife said it was delicious and so was mine. Orders came out real fast and hot. We sat on the second story balcony. Great ambiance. Guy was playing guitar and singing classic songs. Will be back again.

Phil E.

Very busy Not an overloaded menu, but good choices Lots of specials (including happy hour deals) Live music Pricing is a little steep but the food is quite decent I loved the Fried Green Tomatoes BLT

Kerri E.

Went here for dinner, and the parking lot was packed but there was plenty of seating inside and outside. We were seated upstairs, right between the musician (was good but so loud we couldn't hear each other or the server) and the restroom (one person unisex so anyone waiting was staring at us) They have a happy hour menu with drink specials and appetizer desks 3-6. Our server was Daniel who took a bit to come to the table initially, snd forgot to bring our drinks and we had to ask him for them as the appetizer was already half gone , but he did a good job otherwise. We got the fried pickle fries that were great. I had the grilled shrimp platter with mashed red garlic potatoes and seasonal vegetables. Everything was delicious but the vegetables were cold. Portions were good sized and prices were Island reasonable. Will add this to our rotation list for when we're here.

Jumbo shrimp creole. So good you and a generous portion.
Sean M.

4.5/5. Food 5/5. Service 5/5. Ambiance. Authentic New Orleans decor. Super fun with Mardi Gras beads included. We stopped to sample a few small bites and were not disappointed. We ordered the charbroiled oysters and were so good, we ate up before I could snap a photo. Perfectly cooked. The shrimp 'oh-my,fries a margarita and an orange cream cider in the can. I definitely recommend and wish there was more space in my tummy to try more.

Steak bites, crawfish tails, conch fritters, and gator tail.
Gee P.

The service is a strong 5 STARS! In fact, it's the best thing about this place--good service and good, strong drinks. The food was OK. Here's the good: fried gator, blackened mahi mahi, grouper fish. Here's the not so good: steak bites were so salty, it was inedible. The jambalaya was dry, powdery and mealy...like rice that's been overcooked and reheated too many times. I was really disappointed with this dish. Jambalaya is a staple for any cajun restaurant, and this one really missed the mark. We also had blackened grouper, it was OK- rather plain and meh. Would we come back? Sure, for drinks and snacks. The vibe was good. I just really wished the food was better.

Gator Tail
Cameron S.

Beyond thrilled to see Mudbugs survived through the series of hurricanes from 2022. Ron and his team are a huge part of the community and a staple of Sanibel Island. We always enjoy the live music when we come here. From the overstuffed Po Boy sandwiches to char grilled oysters...everything is top notch! The gumbo and jambalaya are also generously portioned. With just the right amount of spice, it pairs well with a mudbug mojito. When you stop in here, make sure you tell Ron that the Harbuck family sent ya!

Great for dates or families, probably is rowdy on holiday
VortexMama A.

Great experience! We visited Sanibel for a quick weekend, stayed down street at Sanibel Hotel. Easy to find on main road, plenty of parking! Nice menu. Lots of choices. It's not Nawlins but close! Everything was fresh, cooked well. Stuffed signature was great! Good cocktsil menu too! Bloody Mary was excellent! Got it topped with everything! Get the Beniets to go! The sauces on side. Partner devoured those fluffy pillow dessert in our room!

Blacked Gator
Darrin B.

Unless you are really into Cajun food, the food options are limited. Went with small group that really like Cajun food so they enjoyed it. I will admit the ambiance is really cool. I had the chicken something and it was bland and rubbery. I did try the blackened gator and had to spit it into a napkin. It was like chewing on a small rubber ball. But the others enjoyed it to cheers to them. The service was nice and we were well attended to during our time there.

Oysters

We stopped here more than once on our vacation! The food was some of our favorite on the island. Live music was a nice addition too and the drinks were good as well!

Crème Brûlée
Christina H.

Round 2! Stopped by for brunch on a beautiful Sunday morning and grabbed a seat on the patio. Though you can make reservations for security, walk ins are also acceptable. We've only sat inside, but because it was such a beautiful day, we sat on the patio. The outdoor space is spacious and seating is on a wooden deck. Unfortunately, since the outdoor dining space is in the back of the building, it's located near a dumpster, so it can ruin the mood when people toss out their trash. My partner and I ordered the Caesar Salad, the Crab Cakes, their signature dish, the Taterfish, and finished with a Crème Brûlée. The standout by far were the Caesar Salad and the Creme Brûlée. What made the Caesar Salad unique was how perfectly tossed the salad and dressing ratio were and the micro-shaved parmesan elevated every bite. The Crab Cakes were a bit too fishy for me and left an odd aftertaste.

The menu...
Mike C.

If you're looking for a "NOLA" experience in Sanibel, FL MUDBUGS Cajun Kitchen is the place to go! My wife, myself and friends dined here one evening at the recommendation of our friend's daughter, while we were attending a work conference for my wife. From the moment we walked in, we were transported straight to the heart of the New Orleans French Quarter! The theme and atmosphere were spot-on, making it a truly immersive dining experience. From Mardi Gras bed hanging from balcony rails, to memorabilia, street signs and Fleur-de-Lis throughout! The energy in the restaurant was incredible, and the live music was the perfect backdrop for our meal. It added such an authentic, lively touch that really elevated the whole night. If you're looking for dinner and a show, this is the place to be! The food was just as impressive as the ambiance. Everything our party ordered looked and smelled amazing. I opted for the Fried Shrimp Po-Boy, and it was perfectly crispy, flavorful, and loaded with shrimp--exactly what a great Po-Boy should be! To wash it down, I had a Hurricane cocktail, and it was dangerously good; potent and tropical. Oh... and I can't forget their Beignets. Closets I've had to Cafe Du Monde Beignets outside of New Orleans! And I have to thank our server for convincing me that it wouldn't disappoint - he was RIGHT! So, if you're ever in Sanibel, FL (Ft. Myers area) craving genuine Cajun flavor, a fun atmosphere, and a taste of the Big Easy, you MUST try MUDBUGS. Our whole group had a wonderful time, and we'll definitely be back for more good food and great music!

Coco J.

3 is a-okay. We really enjoyed some parts of the meal. We came Monday early afternoon for a spot of birthday brunch. We chose a table upstairs on the balcony which was a lovely spot, but maybe too out of sight from servers. Our service was dreadfully slow, just took a looooong time for everything to come out. Oysters were delightfully though could have used some extra lemon, mango carts refreshing as always, he thought the Cajun burger cheese was fun to try & pretty good - spicy. I loved the fries they had a great texture. Free bday beignets were a true treat. I was afraid they didn't offer regular beignets since I didn't find them on the menu but they do! They came with your choice of dipping sauce and we picked chocolate but raspberry also sounded good. Would love to come back during hh and hear some live music!

Oysters Florentine

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6 months ago

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21 days ago

We got takeout and the food was ready quickly. It had great flavor- wishing we requested more spice, but all was delicious!

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2 months ago

As with everything in February, get there early to avoid a wait. Great service and atmosphere

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7 months ago

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2 months ago

Loved the vibes! Food was average. Enjoy the style and atmosphere of this place- very fun!

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Mudbugs Cajun Kitchen Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Mudbugs Cajun Kitchen

Is there a kids menu?

I can not say for sure? But I would think so, everyone does these days!

Hi, Is there live music every night? What time does it begin? Thanks, kathy

I think every evening. Entertainment is on second floor of building. Some tables downstairs can view. I would call and confirm

What is the dress code there?

Dress is casual. Masks are required indoors when not seated at a table.

What time is happy hour?

11 to 5 daily

Are there any non seafood items?

Yes. Salads, fried green tomatoes, jambalaya, red beans & andouille sausage, ribeye, chicken, burger, blt, pork belly, veggie pasta, roast beef....side dishes.

Is there Live music?

Sometimes

Are there menu items for those who do not like spicy food (at all)?

Yes, lots!!

What's the happy hour situation?

A few drinks and a few apps specially priced. We were there yesterday for Happy Hour. I'd suggest calling them: (239) 472-2221. Here are the food Happy Hour Specials, they also have drink special but I can't remember what they were. Sorry.… Read more

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The food is so good and the service is super fast. All of the waiters are very nice and friendly…read more You get to sit over the water on the marina and the views were amazing.

We visited Dixie Fish Co on a Friday afternoon. Parking was a bit tricky, so plan ahead. We only…read morewaited about 10 minutes for a table, but it got very busy shortly after we were seated and wait times increased quite a bit. It was a sunny, warm day and we sat outside under an umbrella, though there wasn't much shade coverage. The overall vibe is a casual, waterfront fish shack--laid-back and lively. We started with the stone crabs. While the crab itself was great, the mustard sauce was a little too mayo-forward for our taste and wasn't our favorite. For my entrée, I had the hogfish special served over sweet potato mash with green beans. The hogfish was fresh and delicious, but the sides missed the mark--the green beans were overcooked and the mash was a bit watery and lacked consistency. My husband and daughter both ordered the whole fried fish (yellowtail snapper that day), and they both said it was perfect and absolutely delicious. The fries were good, and while the red beans and rice were just okay, my husband really enjoyed the zucchini and tomato side. Service by Olivia was spectacular--attentive, kind, and always on top of everything we needed. We come back here every time we're in the area. My takeaway: come for the fresh fish and great service, not the sides.

Mudbugs Cajun Kitchen - cajun - Updated May 2026

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