We learned about the Westwego Shrimp Lot Louisiana from friends of ours (the ones we met for lunch at Café Hope) who are also full time RVers like us. They hail from Louisiana so when they suggest we visit somewhere in the state, we listen.

Westwego Shrimp Lot Louisiana

The Shrimp Lot is on the West Bank of the Mississippi River and only about fifteen minutes from downtown New Orleans. It’s not huge. Basically there are two rows of brightly colored, open front shacks that line the parking lots just off the Westbank Expressway at Louisiana Street. The buildings are bubblegum pink and fire engine red in color. But as you approach the vendors wares you will find a treasure trove of fresh seafood. It doesn’t get any fresher that right off the boat as it is there.

A couple of vendors storefronts at the Shrimp Lot

At the very back end of the Westwego Shrimp Lot is where the boats come in from the Mississippi, Bayous and Gulf with their abundant catch. You can find everything from Alligator meat, to frogs legs, fresh shrimp, catfish, and oysters. Pretty much anything you can catch with a net or a rod can be found at the Westwego Shrimp Lot Louisiana! The fisherman split their catch between different vendors that specialize in a certain fare. The fishermen bring their daily catch to sell to locals and tourists who make the short journey to the market.

Red and green plastic baskets holding fresh blue crabs at Westwego Shrimp Lot Louisiana

Blue crabs in all sizes!

We came prepare to keep our purchases fresh on ice in a cooler. I felt like a kid in a candy store. The variety of seafood was so awesome. But even if I hadn’t purchased anything, the trip across the bridge just to view the seafood at this iconic marketplace was worth the trip alone.

An ivory colored plastic basket holding large blue crabs at Westwego Shrimp Lot Louisiana

These jumbo blue crabs are the ones I would choose!

A yellow storefront with red and white striped awning at Westwego Shrimp Lot Louisiana

This is where we got our amazing oysters.

But purchase we did! We came home with a huge bag of fresh oysters, about six dozen, as well as a few pounds of enormous head on Gulf shrimp. Let the feasting begin!!!

A few more seafood shacks at Westwego Shrimp Lot Louisiana

More fresh seafood vendors at the Shrimp Lot

History of the Shrimp Lot

The Westwego Shrimp Lot opened to the public in 1977. Now, over 40 years later, New Orleanians still rely on the market’s affordable prices and friendly faces to keep their food traditions alive. The essence of Westwego is the beauty of its casualness and Cajun authenticity. It is a true New Orleans landmark.

A large market with colorful signs offering fresh seafood and more.

Market-Wego at the Westwego Shrimp Lot Louisiana

The Westwego Shrimp Lot is a whole lot more than just Shrimp. Officially it is zoned as a Cajun Village. This 10 acre plot of land is home to 14 vendors each independently owned and operated by local families, some of these are owned by second and third generations. Also on the property is Market-Wego which is the home of the best boudin you’ll ever taste, as well as homemade sausages, cracklin’, gourmet stuffed chickens and boiled seafood.

Our Oyster Feast

A man sitting at a picnic table shucking fresh oysters.

Oyster shucking is serious work!

Shortly after we got back home from the Westwego Shrimp Lot, our friends Bill and Patricia came over to help us enjoy our feast. We were lucky to have our own personal oyster shucker extraordinaire! Bill took his job very seriously and didn’t stop shucking until the last oyster was done. We ate about half of them raw with a little dousing on mignonette. The others were bathed in lemon garlic butter with a bit of chopped parsley and grated parmesan before they went on the grill. I honestly couldn’t decide which I like better. None of us could. So we just kept going back and forth between the uncooked oysters and the ones hot off the grill until the very last oyster disappeared.

Sitting on a red checked tablecloth a sheet pan filled with dry rice and topped with fresh oysters on the half shell.

These babies are ready for the grill

A colorful plate topped with oysters on the half shell sitting on a red checkered cloth.

Hot off the grill, these were cooked with lemon garlic butter and parmesan.

There was something very special about enjoying such fresh, plump, briny oysters at a picnic table with friends. It is just one more thing that we love about New Orleans!

2 Comments

Joe Boyle on September 27, 2021 at 7:49 pm

Those oysters look so good. Fresh oysters are hard to find in Minnesota. I’m jealous.
- Sandy Axelrod on September 28, 2021 at 11:42 am
  
  They were so delicious Joe! Fresh from the Gulf just a couple of hours before we ate them. But I’m sure Minnesota has it’s own special foods. And Steve and I are counting on you to show them what they are when we visit next year!