5 to Try: Gulf Coast Seafood

710 Colorado St, Austin, TX 78701 (map)

This Cajun steak and seafood fave in the Brown Building offers slightly more casual offerings at lunch, including fried shrimp and oyster po-boys, the famous New Orleans muffaletta sandwich (no, it's not seafood, but worth a try all the same), smoky seafood gumbo, crawfish etouffee and more. Make sure to save room for the bread pudding.

6319 N I Hwy 35, Austin, TX 78752 (map)

It may be a chain restaurant, but the lively seafood restaurant just off the freeway makes for a relatively authentic Gulf Coast experience. Sample oysters on the half shell, crispy fried alligator (it tastes like chicken--scout's honor), pan seared frog legs and crispy fried shrimp. When in season, this is one of the few places in town to get your spicy boiled crawfish fix.

5621 Airport Blvd, Austin, TX 78751 (map)

If this is the place where local chefs get their seafood, you know it's got to be fresh. Pull up a seat at the Aw Shucks! Oyster Bar and stuff yourself with as many Gulf Coast oysters on the half shell as you can handle. The to-go family packs are a super value and the seafood is always well-priced for an at-home backyard party. During the season, this spot is also a favorite for spicy crawfish by the pound.

3908 W Braker Ln, Austin, TX 78759 (map)

This party place has all the Cajun standards (plus some seriously cheap daily happy hour specials), but locals know to hit Sam's Boat come crawfish season in the spring. Bring a group of friends (weed out the squeamish) and get ready to tear into a tabletop piled high with spicy boiled mudbugs, corn and potatoes. Peel and eat shrimp and a few dozen raw oysters make perfect sides.