April 17 is National Crawfish Day — a holiday that was actually founded in 2020 by Shell Shack, a Dallas-based seafood chain, which makes it especially fitting that this city goes hard on mudbugs every spring. Crawfish season peaks from February through mid-May, putting April 17 right in the sweet spot when Louisiana shipments are rolling in daily and the boils are at their best. Whether you want a classic Cajun boil, a Vietnamese-style butter sauce situation, or a plate of étouffée that would make a New Orleans grandmother proud, Dallas has it covered. Here is your crawfish locator:
Charlie’s Creole Kitchen — 2129 Greenville Ave, Dallas. This Lower Greenville institution started as Dodie’s in 1989 when the McGuinness family moved up from New Orleans and brought their recipes with them. The name changed but the soul didn’t. Charlie’s is the go-to for crawfish cooked with genuine New Orleans roots — boiled by the pound in season, plus étouffée, fried tails, and the Crawfish Pasta Monica year-round. Cold schooner beers, checkered tablecloths, sports on every screen.
Shell Shack — Multiple DFW locations including 2326 N. Henderson Ave, Dallas. The founders of National Crawfish Day itself. Crawfish arrive daily during season and you build your boil your way — Cajun, garlic, lemon pepper, or the Kitchen Sink blend of all three. Grade A Louisiana mudbugs, a Sunday deal of 4 pounds for $40, and multiple locations that make this one of the most accessible spots on the list.
Pier 88 Boiling Seafood & Bar — 10560 Walnut St, Dallas. One of the top-rated crawfish spots in the city right now. Pier 88 brings a Vietnamese-American boil style to the table with their signature 88 Special sauce — buttery, garlicky, Cajun-laced — that has developed a serious cult following. Live crawfish in daily during peak season. This is the spot when you want something a little different from straight Cajun, and the room delivers on atmosphere.
The Boiling Crab — 13340 Audelia Rd, Dallas. Built its reputation on the “Whole Sha-Bang” — Cajun spice, lemon pepper, garlic, and butter combined into something genuinely addictive. The line during peak season tells you everything you need to know. Bib-on, roll-up-your-sleeves, worth every minute of the wait.
Nate’s Seafood & Steakhouse — 14951 Midway Rd, Addison. The iconic pink and blue building has been in the crawfish game for years. Nate’s seasons their boil water heavily and gives the crawfish a proper hot bath — the result is a deeply flavored mudbug that earns its repeat customers. Live blues on Sunday nights, Gulf Coast seafood across the menu, and a full steakhouse side that makes it work for groups with different appetites. Call ahead to reserve your sacks.
Flying Fish — 1838 Irving Blvd, Dallas (plus other locations). The laid-back neighborhood option that punches above its weight. Boiled crawfish by the pound in season, fried crawfish tails, étouffée, and a crawfish po-boy that earns regular praise. Approachable prices and a casual-borderline-dive atmosphere that’s part of the appeal.
Aw Shucks / Big Shucks — 3601 Greenville Ave, Dallas (multiple DFW locations). A Dallas crawfish staple for decades. Crawfish available original, spicy garlic, lemon pepper, or crawfish style. Wednesday specials make it a smart weeknight stop, and DIY boil kits let you haul a sack home for your own backyard situation.
Tasty Tails — 4950 Beltline Rd, Dallas. Born and raised in New Orleans, this family-run spot does crawfish the right way — first boiled in seasonings, spices, fruits, and vegetables to really drive the flavor into the meat rather than just coating the shell. The Jambalaya Egg Rolls and Cajun wings have their own following, and the crawfish étouffée and crawfish pasta are Addison location exclusives worth making the trip for. Daiquiris on the side.
Red Crab Juicy Seafood — 1440 Northwest Hwy, Garland. Customizable Cajun-style boils where you pick your seafood, your sauce, and your heat level. Known for bold, well-seasoned crawfish in a lively atmosphere that’s great for groups. The RC Sauce has fans willing to make the drive to Garland specifically for it.
Red Claws Crab Shack — 4727 Frankford Rd, Dallas (plus Arlington location). Boiled-in-bag Cajun crawfish with sauce options from butter to X-hot, and an all-you-can-eat option that’s one of the better deals in the market at around $50 per person. The RC Kick sauce gets consistent shoutouts, and the fried catfish holds its own as a non-boil option when not everyone at the table wants to get messy.
Cap’t Loui — 4070 State Hwy 121, Suite 308, Carrollton. Founded by a Korean entrepreneur with Bonchon roots and planted right in the heart of Carrollton’s Koreatown, Cap’t Loui brings a bold, spicy Cajun boil style with a distinct Asian-influenced sensibility to the seasoning. Crawfish, crab, shrimp, lobster, and clams by the pound or half-pound, served in a bag with potatoes and corn. The room is lively and family-friendly, and the service comes with bibs and gloves as standard. OH! Dollar oysters every Tuesday.
