Westwego Shrimp Lot

 

Westwego Shrimp Lot has been around a long time (since 1975), and it’s a guaranteed location to get fresh fish, shrimp, crabs, and oysters.  The aroma when you pull into the shell parking lot is part of the experience, but just remember it has years of soaked-in water from rinsing down the booths, tables, and ice chests of fishermen after selling their day’s catch here at the Shrimp Lot.  All of the fish, shrimp, crabs, and oysters I have ever seen for sale here have been absolutely fresh and of excellent quality.

The market has is open from 9-7 pm every day, with over 20 vendors selling fish, crawfish, crabs, oysters, and shrimp in the horseshoe shaped market, as well as a market selling prime meat for doing the “surf & turf” experience.  The vendors are helpful and friendly, and if you don’t know how to cook something, are very willing to share a recipe or two with you.

The variety will vary according to the season, but the prices are consistently fantastic, and invariably carry a variety and quality not available at most supermarkets.  It’s all local—you won’t find any Chinese crawfish or Norwegian salmon here, making it very easy to use Louisiana products for dinner.

The Shrimp Lot is easily accessible from either the West or East banks, and is located at the corner of the Expressway and Louisiana Blvd.  If you are already going to the Westwego Farmer & Fisheries Market, Louisiana Blvd. is the stoplight on 4^th Street right by the Market, just turn left and it will take you right down to the Expressway to the Shrimp Lot—it can’t get any easier than that!  (The reverse is true, if you stop at the Shrimp Lot, just take Louisiana to 4^th Street and turn right, you will see the Market on your left, and the parking lot is along Salas Avenue to your left as well.)  Remember to bring your ice chest to the Shrimp Lot to keep your “catch of the day” ice cold until you get home.

The next time you see a fantastic shrimp recipe, such as Shrimp Gregoriano with fettuccine, have the urge to slurp some raw oysters, or are having out-of-town friends in and want to host a seafood boil, remember the Westwego Shrimp Lot.  It will save you money and time with the excellent assortment that is available in one stop.  Even taking your out-of-town guests to the Shrimp Lot usually provokes groans and drooling—there is no place quite like the Shrimp Lot where you can find such wonderful variety for such good prices.