Casian Seafood — Restaurant in Lafayette

LOVE this place!

Today is our second visit. I can't speak highly enough about this spot. There is ample parking on the south side of the building. If you can't parallel park, don't worry. The patio is adorable and there is quite a bit of outdoor seating both out front and back. The restrooms are clean and the faucet in the bathroom is actually far enough away from the sink to wash your hands properly (unlike the majority of restaurants I've been to lately). It's casual so bring the kids or stop in after the mowing the lawn, you're good. There's a huge bar at the entrance so feel free to stop in just for a quick adult beverage too. There's barstools. Need to catch a game? The TV is huge! And there's more than one. The staff is amazing. They've been so helpful and friendly. It really makes you feel welcome and at home.

But, you're here to know about the food. That's the real show-stopper anyway. I would be lying if I said I wasn't nervous about trying an Asian/Cajun restaurant. I was. I'm a huge Cajun food fan so my expectations were HIGH! And they blew me away! The Po Boys are delicious!!! Dare I say, I might like them more than a traditional Cajun Po Boy! The egg rolls (which seems odd to pair with a Po Boy sandwich) are so delicious! And they compliment the Cajun sandwich perfectly. The fried mushrooms ... oh my yummy! Their truffle fries are fantastic! I mean... I haven't eaten anything that hasn't been amazing. They do have a kid's menu (they have nuggets and normal fries) so even the kids will be pleased. We are planning on coming back next week for a seafood boil and I'm already drooling.

This is a restaurant you...

Immerse yourself in Hmong culture by exploring their cuisine. I had an amazing time from start to finish. Sticky rice is, well, sticky, and this type of eating establishment is designed for diners to use their fingers, so don't hesitate to dive in. Wear a bib and enjoy your food without utensils.

I am a fan of Hmong sausage and eat it regularly. It's a hearty, meaty sausage that will fill you up and digest slowly. Pair it with a handful of sticky rice and dip it in some pepper sauce for a touch of heat. The combination of meat, sticky rice, and spicy sauce will leave your taste buds begging for more.

The papaya salad is a symphony of flavors, with a balance of spice, sourness, and sweetness. The combination of textures in this dish will make you want to keep it all to yourself, but I had to share.

The seafood boil consisting of crab, lobster, and shrimp was exquisite. The seafood was cooked to perfection, avoiding the common pitfall of being overcooked, which can result in a rubbery texture and make it less enjoyable to eat

I understand that wait times can be longer, but I also understand that each dish is cooked to perfection and takes time. I am willing to wait for delicious food.

I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the owners and staff for the incredible...

@casian_seafood a 2022 James Beard Best New Restaurant semifinalist was very good. I don’t believe I’ve had Hmong food before certainly not at a restaurant. It was subtly yet clearly different from other East and SE Asian food. I started with the Hmong style egg rolls. They were very crunchy nicely browned and not greasy. Reminiscent of Vietnamese egg rolls even with a similar dipping sauce. For my entree I had the Hmong Sausage it was very savory with pork belly and the distinctive flavor of lemongrass. They offered it with rice or sticky rice; I definitely wanted to try the sticky rice. It came extremely hot and was somewhat painful extracting it from the plastic wrap and the first few bites was amazing. Unfortunately as it cooled it dried out quickly and hardened somewhat.

I overheard the server mentioning fried ice cream to the next table and had to get it. The outside crunchy part [I really have no idea what it was wrapped in] was really good but the ice cream had melted a bit. It was still really good though.

Definitely want to come back and try more Hmong dishes. They were advertising live crawfish as well—though seasonal—but the boils looked good. Definitely want to try some...