Looking for crawfish? Here's where to find them in Memphis and why prices have gone up
This is the time of year that historically kicks off crawfish season, but this season will be different.
Crawfish will be pricier and harder to find.
According to a report by the LSU Agricultural Center, Louisiana experienced extreme drought conditions and record temperatures for an extended period in 2023. “Research, along with historic experiences and knowledge, shows a high correlation between drought and extreme temperatures to reduced crawfish production,” the report states. The cold winter weather in mid-January also impacted the 2024 crop.
Memphis crawfish purveyors are adjusting as they can. A handful of spots are currently serving crawfish, while most plan to start the season in March. Many are adding new items like crab legs and shrimp to their offerings. All warn that supply will be limited.
Jimmy Pegram of Cajun Crawdad’s said that for the first time ever, crawfish are as expensive as shrimp or crab legs.
"Last year, crawfish were around $3.50 to $4 a pound. This year, I have paid as high as $13 a pound," said Billy Crumley of Billy's Crawfish and Crossroads Seafood. Crumley said the good news is the price is dropping as the season goes on, with his wholesale cost dropping to $9 a pound this past week. He said he is hopeful the pricing will get closer to normal by the end of March.
Here is our annual roundup of Memphis-area places that are selling crawfish this season. But first, a few tips:
Check each food truck and restaurant’s social media before heading out, as availability will be limited.
If looking for live crawfish to cook at your own boil, it’s best to order ahead.
When you find your mudbugs, remember the proper way to eat crawfish is to peel 'em, eat the tails and suck the heads.
Where to find crawfish in Memphis
Billy’s Crawfish is open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (or until they sell out) at 1325 Church Road West in Southaven. Owner Billy Crumley cooks boiled crawfish from Houma, Louisiana, throughout the day on his truck. Live crawfish is available by advance order at (901) 832-0445. You can also enjoy his crawfish every day at his restaurant, Crossroads Seafood, 23 U.S. 51 South in Hernando.
Cajun Crawdad’s location is at U.S. 72 and Cayce Road in Byhalia. It is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. (or until they sell out.) They are currently serving only boiled shrimp, crab legs and their newest item — Cajun boiled eggs. Crawfish will be available in March. Check social media for availability.
Crawfish Cabin will be located at Walnut Grove and Houston Levee when it officially opens in March for this season. Owners Ulric Pegram and his son Justin cook up spicy crawfish Louisiana-style with all the fixin's — corn, sausage, potatoes and even shrimp. They also offer in-home and business catering services. Call (901) 674-8978. Check Crawfish Cabin’s Facebook page for availability.
MEMPHIS RESTAURANTS: 24 Black-owned Memphis restaurants that have made a mark on city's dining scene
The Crawfish Shack food truck will open in March at 964 June Road (the parking lot of Oxbeau). It will be open every Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Once the weather warms up, it will be at The Spirits Shoppe at 4848 Poplar Ave. on Sundays. The Crawfish Shack sells both live and cooked crawfish. Call (901) 303-0024 by Wednesday at noon to preorder live crawfish for the weekend. Check its Facebook page for availability and details.
Porter Seafood parks its truck every weekend at 2930 Goodman Road East in Southaven. The truck will open for the season March 1. Owner Ryan Porter brings live crawfish up weekly from Opelousas, Louisiana. They are open Friday from noon until dark and Saturday from noon until sold out. Check social media to see if they are open on Sunday. To order live crawfish by the sack, call (901) 335-2930 by 9 a.m. Thursday. Porter Seafood also offers on- and off-site catering.
Memphis Crawfish Company is located at 6211 Mississippi 305 in Olive Branch. With crawfish brought up weekly from South Louisiana, Macon Moore is celebrating his 21st year in business this year. Memphis Crawfish Company is open 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday. In addition to crawfish, they offer boiled shrimp and crab legs. Call or text (901) 371-1757 by Thursday morning to order live crawfish by the sack.
Memphis Crawfish Company 2 is located at 5133 Park Ave. It is open from 11 a.m. until sold out Friday, Saturday and Sunday with an adjusted menu, serving boiled shrimp, crab legs and boudin. Crawfish should be on the menu by mid-March, based on quality and availability. Call or text (662) 216-3559 for live crawfish orders; orders must be placed by Wednesdays.
Crazy Crawfish sets up shop at the intersection of Houston Levee and Dexter (2053 N. Houston Levee). The food truck is open 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday or until they sell out. They serve crawfish, crab legs, shrimp and other Cajun-flavored items like boudin and andouille sausage. Follow them on Facebook to stay updated. Call 205-541-9064 for questions or catering requests.
Southbound Seafood only sells live crawfish by the sack (about 30 pounds on average). Pickup is at Walnut Grove Road and Houston Levee Friday through Sunday. Owner Bryan Freeman brings his crawfish up from the Belle River in southeast Louisiana. Text Freeman at (901) 444-1784 for live crawfish orders.
Railgarten (2166 Central Ave.) will host crawfish boils every Thursday during the season. Once the weather warms up, it will start hosting crawfish boils on the weekends as well. Check Railgarten's social media for dates and times.
Loflin Yard (7 W. Carolina Ave.) will host crawfish boils on Saturdays during the season. Check Loflin Yard’s social media for dates and times.
The Second Line (2144 Monroe Ave.) plans to host crawfish boils during the season. Check The Second Line’s social media for dates and times.
NEW MEMPHIS RESTAURANTS: Memphis barbecue gets a twist at new restaurant from Bala's Bistro owners: What to expect
Glaze’s Crawfish plans to host a crawfish boil every Saturday afternoon (weather permitting) at Max’s Sports Bar, 115 GE Patterson Ave. The boils will start mid to late March this year, check social media for the exact date. They start serving crawfish at noon and go until they run out, usually around 4 or 5 p.m. Boiled shrimp is also available. Glaze’s also will serve crawfish at your home for a party. For catering information, email glaze.hardage@gmail.com.
Flying Fish (105 S. Second St.) offers boiled crawfish daily when in season. Order by the pound or get a combo platter with crab and shrimp. This year, they plan to start serving crawfish March 1.
Jennifer Chandler is the Food & Dining reporter at The Commercial Appeal. She can be reached at jennifer.chandler@commercialappeal.com and you can follow her on Twitter and Instagram at @cookwjennifer.
If you want to keep up with the tastiest news in the Bluff City — like the story above, sign up for our Eat Drink Memphis weekly newsletter for a hearty serving of stories on everything from restaurants to recipes. You can sign up here.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Where to find crawfish in Memphis and why they cost more this year
