Chicago｜Fried Alligator + Crawfish Etouffee — Pappadeaux 🐊🦞

I first tried this place at Dallas Airport — usually, airport food means fast food, but that day, the incredible aroma pulled me in. I ended up trying crawfish etouffee and fried alligator — and I’ve been dreaming about it ever since! Turns out it’s a chain, and there’s one in Chicago’s suburbs… so of course, I took my parents! 👨‍👩‍👧 🦞 Crawfish Etouffee – The dish that stole my heart! A mildly spicy, buttery garlic sauce blankets a generous plate of tender crawfish tails — no shelling required, pure bliss! 😋 🦞 Crawfish Platter – An upgraded version with fried crawfish bites and dirty rice (Cajun-style chicken liver rice) instead of plain white rice. So satisfying! 🍉 Watermelon Lemonade – Sadly not a hit… tasted oddly bitter this time. Would skip! 🍞 Complimentary Bread – Fresh but bland (think Subway Italian bread) — perfect for dipping into soups and sauces though! 🐊 Fried Alligator – Served with a spicy honey sauce — sweet, savory, and a fun crispy bite! 🦀 Fried Soft Shell Crab – Comes with fries (because why not?). Crispy, juicy, and delicious. 🥗 Salad with Fried Crawfish/Chicken/Salmon – Nothing special, but I needed some greens! 🍲 Louisiana Gumbo – Packed with seafood and that signature okra thickness. A hearty Southern classic! 🐟 Wild-Caught Grouper – Topped with crab and shrimp, lightly fried in a buttery batter. Fresh and flavorful. This is a place I’ll keep coming back to — a bit of a drive, but the flavors and portions are worth it! Even on a Sunday afternoon, it was packed. Walk-ins may wait ~40 minutes, so reservations are highly recommended! 📅 📍 Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen 921 Pasquinelli Dr, Westmont, IL 60559 #Pappadeaux #CajunFood #CrawfishEtouffee #FriedAlligator #ChicagoSeafood #SouthernFood