Telegram - Serving Metropolitan Detroit Since 1944

This past winter, Westland neighbors received a new option for dining: Cajun seafood. In January 2021, Crab Kitchen Cajun Seafood opened on Wayne Road, across from the Westland Shopping Center. Restaurant owners Sue and Kenny Yim have been in the restaurant business for more than 30 years. The Yims previously owned the Asian restaurant, Fortune Buffet in Livonia but sold it two years ago.

The Yims have two grown daughters and when the COVID-19 pandemic and state shutdown became the normal order of daily life for Michiganders, Sue Yim says she and Kenny decided it was time to go back to work and get out of the house. Assessing the area, they saw that Westland offered plenty of opportunities for the restaurant business, so they decided to open a smaller business which they could easily manage. "Before we had big restaurants that were kind of hard to handle. This one...it's easier to handle, so far we are okay," says Sue Yim.

Both are originally from Mainland China and Yim says a smaller family-owned eatery emphasizing food from the American south is a new venture for them. Cajun-style cookery originated in Louisiana where French settlers who originally settled in Canada's maritime province in the 1600s, emigrated to the American south beginning in 1755. Cajun cookery utilizes readily-available fish and shellfish, along with rice and carrots. Seasonings were influenced by the Spanish, Native Americans, and African-Americans in the region. While neither has ever visited Louisiana,Yim says they both learned all they could about Cajun cookery andlistened closely to customer comments and online reviews to evaluate how well their menu was being received, and made adjustments to their recipes accordingly. Both are excited to learn a new style of seasoning and cooking food and Yim says it's a learning process they are enjoying. "We're learning; this type of restaurant we've never had before, we started with Chinese food.at the buffet," she says.

Crab Kitchen opened during the pandemic and business was carry-out only and, for the Yims, it has worked well. They have already cultivated a following of loyal customers andYim says they have had many customers who find it valuable to support small local businesses, which has helped them to remain in operation. Their customer base is very diverse, says Yim, and she adds that as they've become older their mindset has changed from one that focuses on making money to one that focuses on quality food, good service, and satisfying the customer's wishes. "They spend money; they want to enjoy their meal, so we try to satisfy everybody's request." She says.

Crab Kitchen offers a variety of menu items at a range of prices to suit most anyone. Menu items include Cajun-style seafood boils featuring crab, crawfish, shrimp and lobster;fried baskets featuring shrimp, chicken, frog legs, and a variety of fish; Po'boy Sandwiches; and sides such a Cajun fries, hush puppies, sweet potato fries, fried crab bites, and coleslaw. In addition to carry-out, dine-in seating has recently been added.

Westland's Crab Kitchen offers Cajun-style seafood boils featuring shellfish and vegetables.

Yim applauds the administration and leadership at Westland City Hall, and says all the officials they had to work with to get the restaurant up and running were very efficient and supportive. The biggest challenge they have found so far, however, is the harsh rise in food prices related to lack of workers and supply due tothe pandemic. They are working hard to keep prices reasonable and so far they are managing to do just that.

Hours of operation at Crab Kitchen Cajun Seafood are Monday-Saturday 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. and Sunday noon to 8:00 p.m. Pre-orders are accepted and can be place by phone by calling 734-744-7655 or online by going to http://www.crabkitchen.com. Crab Kitchen is located at 7520 North Wayne Road in Westland. You can also check out their Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/crabkitchenwestland/.