Crazy Cajun --- A Melting Pot Story!!

Crazy Cajun / Brooklyn Park, MN << YES!!

Two words to describe the Crazy Cajun restaurant:  Perfectly Fried!

We were on our way back from dropping a grandkid off at an Olympic Development soccer event in Maple Grove when hunger struck.   Using our trusty phone map and food locator, we were directed to Crazy Cajun in Brooklyn Park.

We've been to this strip mall before....hard to find tucked behind other strip malls and the Festival Foods.  Crazy Cajun is 2 doors down from one of our previous favorities....Gramsky's Sandwiches.  Sadly, Gramsky's is gone (25% of new restaurants fold in two years)....we loved the food.  But mom and daughter did most of the work (gee, I can identify with that part of the story), and mom was really tired last time we were there.   Looks like maybe it was all too much work for them.    The Gramsky's space is now a Mexican restaurant...we'll have to go back and give that a try.

But today, it's Crazy Cajun.

Crazy Cajun:  Viet Nam to Lousiana to Minnesota

Now if this isn't an American story, I don't know what is.   The Crazy Cajun is run by a guy of Vietnamese descent from Texas.  He moved to MN and missed his favorite cajun foods....so he recreated them here.

Our server, likewise, was the granddaughter of Vietnamese immigrants from Louisiana...she splits her times between MN and Louisiana (I hope that's Louisiana during the winter here!!!).  She's not related to the owner, but was connected by a mutual friend....so she's worked here for much of the time the restaurant has been in business (about 3 years or so).

We liked the food at Crazy Cajun...a lot!!

Since it was our first visit, we tried to sample a few items.  The menu is heavy on seafood....but I have an allergy...so we tried other options.   But lots of customers were having seafood...and wearing the appropriate bibs!  We tried the Louisiana pie appetizer, the chicken po' boy, the sweet potato fries, and the chicken and sausage gumbo...along with a sweet tea.  

Crazy Cajun Gumbo

The gumbo was full of chicken and smoky sausage...that smoky flavor really came through.   Lots of okra, not too much rice....a great tasting broth, not too salty.  The cup was a very ample portion.

 

Crazy Cajun Sweet Potato Fries

We fell in love with the sweet potato fries.   The huge portion was perfectly fried...not greasy...so the sweetness and fresh sweet potato flavor came through big time.  Our server apparently accidentally brought us the horseradish cocktail sauce instead of ketchup (I really don't care for ketchup on sweet potato fries)...the horseradish was a great mate for the fries....a fun, fun flavor combo.   We'll have to remember to ask for the sauce next time so we can re-live the experience.   So many fries that it was not humanly possible to eat all of them.  So good I brought the leftover home (with more sauce)....I'll try to re-crisp them in the oven for a tasty snack.  Loved 'em.

Crazy Cajun Chicken Po' Boy

John went for the chicken po' boy.   It was a typically generous sized sandwich with a nicely fried piece of boneless chicken....the edges were actually crispy even halfway through the sandwich.  The bun itself was big...but actually very tasty (often this is a let down in po' boy world).  It was chewy (John found the bottom of the bun too chewy so resorted to a knife and fork).  But I found it appealing, slathered in butter and mayo and a bit of mustard .... I ate 1/4 of the bun by itself.  The sandwich was a mouthful...the

big bun (slathered in fatty goodness), with lettuce, tomato, spicy sauce, pickles, and the nice, dense perfectly fried chicken.  It did become a bit drippy, so make sure you tear some sheets of paper towels off the roll before you pick the thing up!

Crazy Cajun Louisiana Pie

Finally, we dug into the Louisiana pie appetizer at the end.   Yes, we're smart like that...deep fried pie....gonna burn the roof of your mouth if you dig in when they deliver it!   A dense meat and potato filling in this half round hand pie....with fork marks around the edges.   It was a rich, tasty appetizer with a little bit of zing (heat)...easy to cut in half and share (once it cools off so that it's approachable).   Good to have a cold glass of sweet tea nearby just in case.

Crazy Cajun Customers & Service

The customers all seemed to be happily enjoying their Cajun specialties.  The service was super friendly and helpful; pretty quick food arrival, too.

Overall Rating for Crazy Cajun Visit #1:  4 stars

 

Outstanding sweet potato fries, meaty gumbo with good broth, a po' boy on a good bun with all the fatty goodness you want, an interesting little Louisiana handpie and great service.

We'd say:  "Try it!"

 

Details:

Location:       Google Maps

Website:        Crazy Cajun

Menu:            Food Menu