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Top Cajun Food In Denver

Lucile's (credit: CBS)Lucile's Creole Café (credit: CBS)

If you enjoy Cajun food, you may think that the Mile High City doesn't have a lot to offer. After all, Denver is more than 1,200 miles away from Louisiana, so how could it possibly know how to serve up all of those classic Cajun dishes? Lucky for you, there are plenty of restaurateurs that have relocated to Denver and are happily dishing out plates full of gumbos, etouffees, catfish and jambalaya. If you are in the mood for breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner, there is a Cajun restaurant for you. Check out these great Cajun spots in the Denver area.

Gumbo's Restaurant
1033 E. 17th Ave.
Denver, CO 80218
(720) 266-5300
www.gumbosdining.com

For true Louisiana-style Cajun food, check out Gumbo's on 17th Avenue. You'll find all of your Cajun favorites like crawfish etouffee, chicken and sausage gumbo and even tilapia Pontchartrain. If you are looking for a great deal, make sure to swing by during happy hour from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. You can get small plates of all the best Creole dishes including crispy catfish, red beans and rice and, of course, the famous gumbo. You'll also want to come thirsty, as the bar is serving up plenty of great happy hour bar specials. One note – this spot is closed on Mondays, so you'll want to make sure you visit on any other day.

Bayou Bob's
1635 Glenarm Place
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 573-6828
www.bayoubobs.com

For more than 30 years, Bayou Bob's has been serving up authentic Cajun cuisine to the hungry fans in Denver. Everything is made fresh to order and you can find so many classic treats that you'll want to visit again and again to try them all. You can even try dishes like deep-fried alligator tail, blackened catfish or a crawfish sampler. Of course, Bayou Bob's also serves up plenty of etouffee and gumbo as well as jambalaya, red beans and rice and so much more. Plus, if you visit during Mardi Gras, prepare for a lot of people and plenty of other seasonal fun.

Related: Top Food Trucks In Denver

Lucile's Creole Café
275 Logan St.
Denver, CO 80209
(303) 282-6258
www.luciles.com

You'll have to wait when you visit Lucile's for brunch but that wait is always worth it. For more than 32 years, Lucile's has served up amazing Creole-style breakfast and lunch in Boulder and has since expanded to offer its amazing menu in Denver, Fort Collins, Littleton and Longmont. But make no mistake, this is no large chain restaurant. This is all home-grown, local food but served up according to the original Creole style. Enjoy shrimp and grits, pain perdu or a true Cajun breakfast with red beans and grits. After brunch, make sure to save room for the beignets, which are practically perfection.

The Asian Cajun
2400 W. Alameda Ave.
Denver, CO 80223
(303) 922-0699
www.theasiancajun.com

The Asian Cajun is a fascinating blend of Cajun and Asian cuisines. The menu brings everything from gumbo to crawfish as well as spring rolls and pho. Basically, if you have two people in your group that can't agree on a style of food to enjoy, this is a great place to visit because you can get both. Make sure to try the oysters and Cajun chicken wings to start; both are great appetizers filled with all of the perfect Cajun flavors. You can even get fried frog legs and alligator here, so you know you'll find all of the classic Creole dishes.

Related: Top Mediterranean Food In Denver

Sassafras American Eatery
2637 W. 26th Ave.
Denver, CO 80211
(303) 433-0080
www.sassafrasamericaneatery.com

Serving up breakfast and brunch with a Southern and Creole twist, Sassafras American Eatery is always popular. You'll end up waiting a while if you visit on a weekend, but it will be worth the wait as you dine on Cajun benedict, biscuits and gravies, eggs sardou, Creole gumbo and amazing barbecue. While you are there, you simply must save room for a milkshake. Sassafras serves up some of the best hand-spun milkshakes in Denver with flavors like chocolate dipped bacon, Twix, Cinnamon Toast Crunch and even Twinkie. Visit for the delicious Cajun-style brunch, stay for the delectable milkshakes.

Deborah Flomberg is a theater professional, freelance writer and Denver native. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.

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