Want to try some Alligator Nuggets?  Care for some crawfish?  Cravin’ Cajun? Hungry for hushpuppies?  Few people could expect a true taste of Louisiana on San Antonio’s South West Side, but on 1289 SW Loop 410, near the Wal-Mart and Target (next door to Drafthouse Cinemas) is the Acadiana Café.

Walking in, you will be tempted by the smell of Cajun spices and fresh seafood.  The décor, though eclectic, has a homey rustic feeling, despite the fact that the restaurant is packed with tables.

Like bees buzzing around a honeycomb, the waiters quickly, yet amicably, take orders and serve food. Even in its busiest hours, the Acadiana dishes out its delectable fare at lightning fast speeds.

Lunch is the time to go for the frugal college student. With every plate on the lunch menu priced at $6.25, even the stingiest person can eat well. The fried catfish is well prepared, neither fishy nor muddy, and the lunch portion could feed a linebacker.

If fish is not your thing, the Chicken-Fried Steak is truly a dish to behold, topped with their delicious gravy. And what is Cajun coking without chicken and dumplings, red beans and rice, fried okra, or country greens? With enough choices of sides to make your head spin, the lunch menu is only an excerpt of the complete dinner menu. 

With the colder months around the corner, the Cajun Sampler ($7.10) is a great dish to warm up with. It features hot and spicy gumbo, jambalaya, and Crawfish etoufee (thick red stew over rice).

Should you have room for dessert, which rarely happens, you must go for a slice of their gourmet cheesecakes. It doesn’t matter which (the flavors are rotated), but be prepared to indulge in a rich decadent flavor that should be a sin.