Best Cajun Food In San Francisco

Where in San Francisco can you taste the mouth-watering, down-home flavors of the deep South? There are okay Cajun food restaurants here in the Bay, but then there are really, really good restaurants that will give your taste buds the zip they have been pining for in fried deliciousness. Here are five of the best here in the Bay to get quality eats when you want to dive into scrumptious, cheesy, spicy, creamy, calorie-laden goodness.

You'll be taken on a Creole culinary adventure with the selections of food and wine from this restaurant's bayou-centric menu, imagined by Southern Louisiana native, Chef Justin Simoneaux. The Boxing Room opened its doors in what is a former 19th-century Standard Shirts factory in the Hayes Valley Neighborhood. Flavorful crawfish, fried alligator, gumbo, hush puppies and fried Boudin balls tasty enough to bring tears to yours eyes are all waiting for you to sink your teeth into. Devour plates of gumbo (pictured above) or jambalaya and enjoy the feel-good ambience and fabulous wines on tap. Boxing Room is open daily for dinner, lunch during the week and brunch on the weekends.

This soul food haven prides itself on using fresh fish that is never farmed and cooks with only the highest quality oils. Located in the Tenderloin district, you'll enjoy a decadent dining experience with hearty courses of all your favorite Southern fried dishes. The splurge is said to be well worth the calories you'll ingest as you delight in Brenda's rich gumbos, grits, flavored beignets (plain, chocolate, apple and crawfish) and anything and everything cooked with butter, cheese and fried dough. Be advised that it is not a bad idea to wear the fat pants before dining at Brenda's. Enjoy the kitschy vibe as well, with splendid, colorful murals and giant, vintage mirrors accenting the walls. The restaurant sells a selection of wine, beer and cocktails at very fair prices. Click here to view the drink list.

Leave your diet at the door because you'll only get comfort food at its finest that will hit you smack in the taste buds at The Front Porch. The name says it all – it's like hanging out in the deep South on someone's front deck and sucking down cornbread, greens, macaroni and cheese, fried chicken, spicy crab and grits. The restaurant is full of character and boasts an amazing, friendly staff. After downing a good beer and your down-home Southern delights, waddle home and take a dream walk down memory lane of the scrumptious good food you had at The Front Porch.

CCC is described as a "little piece of heaven" and is one of the most widely reviewed Cajun/Creole restaurants in San Francisco. Your food will come to the table piping hot and you'll enjoy a dinner with low lighting and fun music. This is also the place to order pre-party snacks. The tapas are great for groups. The sangrias are perfectly made, yet deceptively strong and can be ordered by the pitcher. Try the potatoes, shrimp, plantains, ceviche or the fall-off-the-bone jerk chicken with rice. CCC is a great place to eat family-style dinners. The dishes are designed to be shared.

A fried food fantasyland awaits when eating at Farmerbrown, located in the Tenderloin neighborhood. Creamy and home cooked is how many of the food items are made. Creamy and yummy is the only way to describe the macaroni and cheese here. Ethically raised meats and a farm fresh twist to Southern cuisine is the perfect combination for fans of this place. The cocktails, served in mason jars, are delicious. When all is said and done, this is a solid place for soul food.

Kelly Gullo is a freelance writer in San Francisco, CA. Kellys topics are about music and nightlife. Kelly has also written a variety of articles on health and dieting and topics related to the environment. Kelly has a degree in journalism and public relations from Ferris State University in Big Rapids, MI. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.