Cathy MerrittA year or so ago, my family and I took a trip to New Orleans, Louisiana, and my goodness, it was a grand time! The French- and Spanish-inspired architecture had our jaws on the floor, the lively music had us dancing, and, of course, the food had us asking for more.
Cajun and Creole cuisine is so vibrant thanks to West African, French, Spanish, and Native American influences. Jambalaya brings my taste buds to life with all those spicy and savoury flavours, while gumbo tastes like a warm hug.
When I came back to Canada, I was hit with an intense longing for Cajun food again. Fortunately, there are a few Cajun restaurants in Toronto that have been able to satisfy my cravings. Here are my current favourites.
New Orleans Seafood and Steakhouse
From: modelvsfood
Address: 267 Scarlett Rd
Operating Hours:
- Tuesday to Thursday—5 pm to 9 pm
- Friday and Saturday—5 pm to 10 pm
Contact Number: +14167667001
If you can only visit one restaurant on this list, let it be New Orleans Seafood and Steakhouse.
A Toronto staple for 29 years, it’s best known for its bright charm and even brighter food. The Seafood Creole Pasta is my current favourite; the sauce has a lovely tangy zing to it, and the mussels and shrimp add a subtly sweet contrast that I really like.
| Pro Tip: You can book your party here. If you do so, catering will be included in your package. |
Upper Beaches Bourbon House
From: upperbeachesbourbonhouse
Address: 3655 St Clair Ave E, Scarborough
Operating Hours:
- Tuesday to Saturday—11:30 am to 10 pm
- Sunday—2 pm to 10 pm
Contact Number: +14165361806
Located in Scarborough, Upper Beaches Bourbon House was recommended to me by a friend. I admit that I didn’t really have any high expectations of this place, so when I finally got to try their food, I was happy to be proven to be wrong!
I always start with their gumbo, which has a layered flavour profile. A dark smokiness is the first to hit me, and then it’s followed by a rich savouriness from the chicken, ham, and sausages.
For the main dish, you have to try the Bayou Brisket. The beef is so tender and juicy, and the smoky, savoury, and garlicky flavours make it so addictive!
| Pro Tip: You can book them for catering. |
SugarKane
From: sugarkanerestaurant
Address: 699 Danforth Ave
Operating Hours:
- Tuesday and Sunday—4 pm to 9 pm
- Wednesday and Thursday—4 pm to 10 pm
- Friday and Saturday—4 pm to 11 pm
Contact Number: +14164690808
SugarKane combines the very best of Cajun and Caribbean cuisines, which is why their food is a delight to my tastebuds! Sometimes, it’s too much of a delight—and by that, I mean, it’s so spicy it feels like my mouth is on fire—but I don’t mind it at all.
The Creole Jambalaya is their bestseller here, and it’s also my favourite. The rice is perfectly fluffy, and it absorbs the tangy and savoury sauce it was cooked in. Plus, it comes with all sorts of toppings as well, such as chicken, shrimp, spicy sausage, and more, so every bite is an explosion of flavour.
| Pro Tip: Sometimes, this restaurant hosts SugarKane Nights, in which you can enjoy live music. This is a great opportunity to discover new local artists to support. |
Kajun Chicken and Seafood
From: sunszee
Address: 95 The Pond Rd Unit # 50, York University, North York
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—11 am to 12 am
Contact Number: +16473422950
I first tried out Kajun Chicken and Seafood when I was in Thornhill, and I immediately fell in love with the food. I thought this restaurant was exclusive to that city, so you can imagine my surprise when I discovered it has other outlets, and one is in North York!
My go-to order here is the Kajun Crunch Sandwich Combo. The chicken is perfectly crispy and savoury on its own, but I like to pair it with a smoky and tangy BBQ sauce. This sandwich also comes with fries, which have a nice kick of spice.
| Pro Tip: This restaurant has its own app that keeps track of all your loyalty points. Once you have enough points, you can score a special reward! |
Conejo Negro
From: saucehavemercy
Address: 838 College St, Toronto
Operating Hours:
- Tuesday to Thursday—5 pm to 10 pm
- Friday and Saturday—5 pm to 11 pm
- Sunday—3 pm to 8 pm
Contact Number: +14166373868
A restaurant that combines Caribbean, Creole, and Latin influences? Count me in! If this idea excites you, too, check out Conejo Negro!
The Creole Caesar impressed me the first time I tried it. At first bite, you’ll think it’s your typical Caesar salad—tangy and citrusy, with a peppery finish—but this one packs quite the spicy punch! It also has a cornbread crumble, which adds a bit of sweetness.
For the main dish, you can’t go wrong with the curried lamb. The lamb is slow-cooked, so it’s incredibly tender, and it’s also bursting with savoury and smoky flavours.
| Pro Tip: If you’re dining with a group, you can have any of their set menus. You have two options: one that costs C$60 and another that costs C$80. |
The Captain’s Boil
From: thecaptainsboil
Address: 4505 Sheppard Ave E, Scarborough
Operating Hours:
- Sunday to Thursday—12 pm to 10:30 pm
- Friday and Saturday—12 pm to 11 pm
Contact Number: +14169011688
One of the highlights when I was in New Orleans was eating a seafood boil, so when I came back, I looked for a restaurant that offered that. Fortunately, I found several, and one of my faves is The Captain’s Boil.
The main reason why I love this place is that it lets me customize everything—from the types of seafood and add-ons included to the spice level. I try to diversify my choices, but so far, my go-to combinations are lobster, dungeness crab, garlic butter, lemon pepper, and medium spice. I also add potatoes and sausages to the mix.
I’m aware that this seafood boil isn’t healthy for my heart, but it can’t hurt to try it once in a while, right?
| Pro Tip: If you want to host a party here, contact the restaurant via phone ahead of time. |
Crab Boil
From: crabboil.ca
Address: 2590 Weston Rd, North York
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Thursday—12 pm to 10 pm
- Friday to Sunday—12 pm to 11 pm
Contact Number: +14162418888
Another great spot for a seafood boil in Toronto is Crab Boil.
I like to get the Mix Boil because it has everything I want in one pot: a lobster tail, a crab cluster, shrimp, and mussels. All the ingredients are coated with the restaurant’s signature sauce, which is so garlicky and buttery that I can feel my arteries getting clogged. No complaints, though!
| Pro Tip: This place can get fully booked fast, so I recommend reserving your spot ahead of time. You can do so by calling the restaurant. |
King Rustic Kitchen and Bar
From: kingrustic
Address: 905 King St W
Operating Hours:
- Tuesday and Wednesday—4 pm to 10 pm
- Thursday—4 pm to 11 pm
- Friday—4 pm to 12 am
- Saturday—1 pm to 12 am
- Sunday—11:30 am to 4 pm
Contact Number: +14167925910
I admit: the main reason I checked out King Rustic Kitchen and Bar is its atmosphere. It’s cozy and beautiful. With wooden furniture, potted plants, and antique decor, the vibe is rustic and romantic.
But it’s the food that makes me keep coming back. I love coming here for brunch, and my go-to order is the grilled chicken. It’s seasoned with the restaurant’s very own Cajun spice blend, so it has that spicy, peppery kick, plus a hint of tanginess. It’s also a bit smoky, thanks to the char on the chicken’s exterior.
| Pro Tip: If you want to host an event here or you just want to book your spot ahead of time, send an email to [email protected]. |
Robot Boil House
From: joecyzhang
Address: 895 Yonge St
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Thursday—12 pm to 10:30 pm
- Friday to Sunday—12 pm to 11 pm
Contact Number: +14169687888
Robot Boil House’s claim to fame is the titular robot that serves customers their food, but I’m not really into gimmicks like that. For me, the highlight is undoubtedly the food.
This restaurant offers whole crabs for the seafood boil, which is why the prices look so crazy on the menu. The crabs are always fresh, so their meat tastes subtly sweet and buttery. The sauce, on the other hand, is savoury, with hints of heat.
| Pro Tip:If you want to book your spot ahead of time, fill out this form. |
Mermaids Find
From: mermaidsfind
Address: 1550 Eglinton Ave W, North York
Operating Hours: Thursday to Tuesday—12 pm to 11 pm
Contact Number: +14164109002
Yep, here’s another seafood boil restaurant, but can you blame me? Mermaids Find offers some variants that I can’t get enough of.
I like to get the combo boil because I want to get a taste of all the seafood—lobster, shrimp, and mussels. As for the sauce, you should try the Mermaids Blend Sauce, which has a distinct spicy Cajun seasoning and garlickiness. It also has a hint of coconut cream flavour, which I really like.
| Pro Tips: Did you know that you can use their special sauces for anything—cook it with seafood or chicken, or even use it to make pasta? Now, you do! I recommend buying the sauce a la carte and trying it at home. If it’s your first time ordering from their website, you can score a 5% discount off your order. |
Seau de Crabe
From: seaudecrabe
Address: #4, 670 Eglinton Ave W, Mississauga
Distance from TO: Around 55 minutes
Operating Hours:
- Sunday to Thursday—12 pm to 10 pm
- Friday and Saturday—12 pm to 11 pm
Contact Number: +19055070000
Technically, Seau de Crabe is in Mississauga, but I love it so much that I thought I might as well include it on this list. The hour’s drive from Toronto is worth it.
The Royal Sea Fest Bucket is my favourite thing to order here, especially if I’m dining with friends. It’s loaded with two lobster tails, 16 shrimps, and eight mussels, and the sauce is so delectably buttery and peppery!
The lone pasta dish they offer here is also pretty good. It has a nice tanginess and acidity that comes from the tomato sauce, and the shrimps and mussels are plump and juicy.
| Pro Tip: This place is pretty small, so if you want to secure a spot, I recommend calling them ahead of time. |
Krispy’s Kajun Chicken
From: krispyjaunchicken
Address: 4997 Hwy 7, Unionville
Distance from TO: Around 50 minutes
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—11 am to 8:30 pm
Contact Number: +19055137558
Krispy’s Kajun Chicken is another restaurant that’s technically not in Toronto but worth the trip.
Understandably, the best thing on the menu here is their fried chicken. It’s so dang crispy!
Once you get over the crunch, you’ll be hit by the flavours. Umami and savoury are the first to hit you, and then, the spice creeps in. The meat’s incredibly juicy, too!
| Pro Tip: This restaurant offers daily special meals, so try them when you can! |
