5 Must-Try Cajun, Creole Restaurants In RivCo: Hot Out Of Louisiana

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — The Historic New Orleans Collection knows a little something about Cajun and Creole people.

"Today, common understanding holds that Cajuns are white and Creoles are Black or mixed race; Creoles are from New Orleans, while Cajuns populate the rural parts of South Louisiana. In fact, the two cultures are far more related—historically, geographically, and genealogically—than most people realize," according to HNOC, which is a museum, research center and publisher "dedicated to the stewardship of the history and culture of New Orleans and the Gulf South."

There is much to learn, and HNOC is a start. A visit to Louisiana is the only way, however, to become properly acquainted. Still, there are some folks in Riverside County who can school you on the Pelican State's melting-pot culture — including its unbelievably tasty food.

Here we've rounded up five authentic Cajun, Creole and Louisiana-inspired restaurants in Riverside County — with a bit about each. The menus are varied and offer a gastronomic experience straight out of Bayou Country.

1. Sharon's Creole Kitchen, 24530 Village Walk Place, Suite A, Murrieta

Sharon's is a quick-service cafeteria-style eatery offering authentic Louisiana homestyle favorites featuring several traditional Creole and Southern favorites. Gumbo, jambalaya, fried chicken, fried fish, po boys, collard greens, mac-n-cheese plus many other dishes are on the menu.

Creole is more than just a type of cuisine, however, according to owner Sharon Cunningham.

"I started cooking at an early age with my mother, aunts and grandmother," Cunningham writes on her restaurant's website. "They would tell me stories about our family's history in Louisiana as we all prepared old family recipes and created new ones. These moments gave me a deep appreciation and pride for my heritage. I found wonderful satisfaction in cooking homemade dishes for my family and friends. Good food, good friends, and great family; these were inseparable."

It is that feeling of family and togetherness that Sharon's Creole Kitchen wants to replicate for its patrons.

2. Felix's BBQ with Soul, 123 N. Main Street, Lake Elsinore

Felix’s BBQ with Soul is "a confluence of Cajun and ‘que, gumbos and fried chicken, collard greens and red beans — a tasty mix, served at breakfast, lunch and dinner," according to the eatery's website.

Founder Felix Berry earned his cooking chops via a local restauranteur. The story goes this way: Felix’s mom was a beautician. She did hair for the wife of James Mitchell, a man who owned a BBQ restaurant down the block from Felix's house. From the time Felix was 12 until he went off to college, he worked at the restaurant. Mitchell taught the young man “the flavor comes from the smoke," according to the website.

Fast forward and Felix's has a vast menu selection at its four restaurant locations: Lake Elsinore, Carlsbad, Oceanside and San Marcos.

Felix's encourages ordering for the family. Check out this blog, "10 Delicious Soul Food Dishes for Your Next Group Order."

3. Da Big Easy Bayou Kitchen, 29992 Hunter Road, Suite 102, Murrieta

Da Big Easy Bayou Kitchen touts that it's a veteran-owned family business and its chef is "a Southern boy whose passion is cooking and pleasing his guests with good food."

The restaurant features lots of fried entrees such as catfish, red snapper, gator, chicken, pork and shrimp. Specialties include Southern smothered oxtails over mac-n-cheese and chicken wings with waffles. Sides like candied yams, hush puppies, rice and gravy, Creole crawfish meat pie, boudin balls, jambalaya, and fried okra are also available. See the full menu.

4. Cravin’ Crab Haus, 1201 University Avenue, Suite 117, Riverside

Cravin' Crab Haus is all about serving up seafood in a Lousiana-themed setting. The restaurant offers an extensive range of Cajun dishes prepared using Creole recipes, with various choices, including live crawfish, King crab, lobsters, oysters on ice and others. Check out the full menu here.

When ordering, it's a step-by-step process: Pick your seafood (priced by the pound); choose your sides such as Lousiana sausage, eggs, corn on the cob and others; select your seasonings and then let 'em know just how spicy you want to go.

Cravin' mixes the Southern experience with south-of-the-border offerings like micheladas and margaritas on the rocks — beverages the restaurant says complement its Cajun seafood dishes.

5. Mr. Claws, 67555 E. Palm Canyon Drive, Suite F120, Cathedral City

A recommended menu item at Mr. Claws is called "One Bag" — where you build your own Cajun seafood boil. Choose from shrimp (head on or head off), crawfish, mussels, crab (different varieties), lobster tail and/or clams. Select your sauce and let them know how spicy you want to go; Cajun, "Crazy Claw," garlic butter and lemon pepper are the sauce selections. Mix those with options like egg, potato, rice, sausage and/or corn.

Hot tip: Don't dump the bag. Keep all the yummy stuff inside. #seafoodboil #cajunfood

If seafood in a bag doesn't tempt, Mr. Claws has a pretty big selection of other Southern dishes such as Cajun garlic noodles with lobster tail and starters such as coconut shrimp and sweet potato fries. See the full menu here.