Crawfish Chef — Restaurant in Kent

Maaaaaaaaaaaaaan!!!! I just came from there and trying it for the first time, and I'm glad I did! I was trying to decide between Dukes Chowder House (I always get the Uncrab Cakes) but then my curiosity got me to asking, "What's the best seafood in Kent?" After looking through the list, this came up and I was like 'whaaaa?' where did this come from and how long has it been there? And because I like trying new places, I was all about trying this place out. I looked at a couple of reviews and pics, and then said, "Once again it's on!!" and proceeded to head down to check it out. Luckily, it's not that far my house, so it's a welcome drive rather than going to Seattle or Vancouver (WA) for this type of meal. Upon arriving, the restaurant wasn't filled and was pretty quiet when we arrived. We were then greeted by the hostess/server who then sat us and and given menu's (standard S.O.P.) and didn't have to wait too long before ordering. I ordered the garlic bread just to give it a try (as well as) soak up the Vandori Pino Grigio that I ordered. My lady ordered the Mussel, Crab and Lobster (which is asked as a pound each) seasoned with Garlic and Butter, and I went with the Lemon Pepper seasoning. All I can say for both sides is, "Daaaaaaayyyuummm!!' and as a Taurus, former Army cook and food critique, I'm hard to please when it comes to food and very critical when trying new places. All I can say is, if you like seafood, then you HAVE to try this place at least once. Total price out the door was $200 + for two people, so be ready for a high price but at the same time, it's WORTH it. What it would seem, is that it's boiled in a bag, but they've done to perfection. For the first time inna while, we had to take our food home which usually isn't the case. We both got full and had to take our food home, and that's not a bad thing. Something new and different that the other restaurants don't offer, is the option to use gloves. I don't know about y'all, but that's a + in my book vs. using wet wipes after your meal. They gave us kitchen shears vs. crab crackers for everything, and we had to ask for forks (which were plastic) and it helped a bit, but only for the included potatoes and some of the crab and lobster picking it out of it's shell. Other than that, it was up to your hands and technique to get the best out of your meal. For the drinks, your only choices are, Beer Wine, and your usual choices of sodas and juices. Overall, if you love seafood, then this is the place to go, just make sure you've got the cash on hand or that your card works for their card reader (mine didn't as my bank was from out of state). While I wouldn't be eating there every night, it's our worth it winner over 1. Joe's Crab Shack 2. The Crab Pot 3. Red Lobster 4. Dukes Chowder House. So if you've got the money and crave quality, then this is...

If you haven’t been to Crawfish Chef in Bellevue yet, drop what you’re doing and go now. Yesterday was my first visit, and let me tell you—it won’t be my last. From the moment I walked in, I was greeted by Katrina (with a K) and another lovely young lady whose name I didn’t catch. When I asked if the food was good, they humbly said it was “decent.” Decent? I laughed it off, but little did I know, they were underselling the culinary masterpiece that awaited me.

I ordered the codfish platter with ALL the sauces (yes, I mean all), extra sauce on the side, calamari, fries, and onion rings. Let me tell you, that was some of the freshest seafood I’ve had in a long, long time. The cod was crispy and flaky, the calamari was tender and perfectly fried, and the tartar sauce? A revelation. I originally avoided the seafood boil because I didn’t want to show up to work looking like I wrestled an octopus, but even with a “simple” order, I was blown away. I already knew I’d be back before I even finished my meal.

Fast forward to today, and I couldn’t stay away. This time, I went all-in on the seafood boil, and oh. my. goodness. I ordered the king crab boil with two eggs, an extra three potatoes, instant ramen noodles (yes, ramen—game changer), and a pound of scallops. I got it medium heat, and it was perfectly spiced—enough to tingle but not enough to torch. Every bite was a flavor explosion. The sauces? Unparalleled. You must pair your meal with the passion mango and strawberry lemonades—pro tip: mix in a little Sprite for a DIY punch. It’s next-level refreshing, but don’t forget a side of water because you’ll need it after diving into this feast.

The service was as excellent as the food. Katrina and her colleague are absolute gems—attentive, friendly, and funny. When I walked in again, the young lady who had modestly called the food “decent” laughed and said, “Oh, you came back!” My response? “Yeah, it was decent.” (Spoiler alert: It’s so much more than that.)

The Crawfish Chef is now my go-to spot. I’ve already started planning my next visit to try the po’ boy because if it’s anything like the cod platter or the boil, they might as well build me a room in the back. There’s so much on the menu I want to explore, and I’ll be recommending this place to everyone I know.

If you’re reading this, stop what you’re doing and go. Don’t wait. The food is fresh, the flavors are unforgettable, and the service makes you feel like family. Whether you’re a seafood lover or just looking for a spot that’ll make your taste buds do a happy dance, Crawfish Chef is the...

I brought my wife and daughter here last night and it was GREAT. I formerly worked at Joe's Crab Shack for 6 years. The assortments that Boiling Crawfish offer are very similar to - but with more variety and options - than the large pots at JCS. My wife and I shared a large bowl that included a pound each of snow crab, crawfish, mussels, and shrimp, along with corn, sausage, and potatoes. I was very impressed with the ingredient quality and the perfection with which the seafood was cooked. I have seen in restaurants that snow crab size will vary, and ours was slightly above average compared to what I've seen. The mussels, shrimp, and crawfish were all larger than anything I have served or eaten at Joe's. Everything was cooked to perfection. In hundreds of comparisons at my former place of work, they have never served shrimp, crawfish, or mussels that were either as large or as well cooked as what I just had. It is not a super cheap place, but I would say that the value is great and pound-for-pound a little bit cheaper than JCS. The only potential criticism I could imagine, food-wise, is that all the contents are tossed in a large amount of butter (and seasonings) before being brought to your table. I thought it was absolutely wonderful, but if you would like the choice of not having every ingredient coated and soaked in butter, you may want to give special instructions to your server. The calamari was amazing. Tubes and tentacles, served over fries. Not a huge amount, but also not pricey. The rings were cooked perfectly. They were, IMO, the perfect texture- soft, not rubbery or chewy. Even the fries were really good. They did have some non-seafood items. My 5-year-old enjoyed her chicken strips. The tables are covered in large pieces of paper which provided a good, large drawing board to keep the kid entertained (BYO writing utensils) before the food arrived. I will definitely be going back. I would love to try their salmon or swordfish, but I probably won't be able to stray away from the big bowls. Be prepared to get messy. Wear your bib or be prepared to throw...