Where to Eat Cajun Food in Atlanta

Inside a century-old corner building that once housed an Episcopal church, the Corner Grille is a laid-back spot to grab brunch, lunch, or dinner in historic College Park. The husband-and-wife owners’ Louisiana roots are proven by the beignets: deceptively thin pillows of chewy, layered yeast-raised pastry covered in a blizzard of powdered sugar. Eat them piping hot with a cup of coffee for the ultimate NOLA-inspired treat.

Boudin, a distinctly Acadian-style pork and rice sausage, is a pleasure that is almost nonexistent outside of a small corner of west Louisiana. The Vietnamese-run Crawfish Shack, which has imported the flavors of Louisiana and executes them with its own touch, serves up deep-fried balls of this greasy, soul-satisfying treat. They're not on the menu, so you'll have to ask.

Any effort to produce a Cajun menu outside New Orleans produces the same kind of argument about authenticity that people have about barbecue and deli food. The Po'Boy Shop is obviously mindful of that. Their po'boys start with French bread from New Orleans' Leidenheimer bakery — and they are all traditionally dressed with a spicy remoulade, lettuce, tomato, mayo, and pickles. Oysters, shrimp, catfish, grouper, sausage, muffaletta, and chicken tenderloins are among the close to 20 varieties available, including cheeseburger, vegan burger, and the notorious Debris, a sandwich made with roast beef slow-cooked so long it falls apart, producing fat “debris” used to make gravy, served with a horseradish sauce.