I saw then today also and they were lively.
About two weeks or so ago I purchased 10 # from H-Mart and the manager got them for me right out of a 50# mesh bag.
Lively, excellent quality, boiled 2 minutes and steeped 15 minutes in Zatarain's liquid crab boil.
Most cost effective way I know of in this area and excellent quality.
If they aren't lively, don't purchase.-Dick

budrichard wrote:If they are lively, don't purchase.-Dick

Did you mean "aren't"?

Corected(pun)!

Better Bait: How to Keep Crayfish Alive For Weeks
Perhaps some useful tips in case you need to keep crayfish alive until you can cook them.

Regards

We have live crawfish for sale in Central Arkansas. We sale both live crawfish and cooked crawfish. Find information on how to place an order to buy crawfish at http://www.lacrawfish.com/Boiled-Crawfish-C29.aspx . thanks

Hell Yeah! Crawdaddys $1.39/lb 40/lb sack, Restaurant Depot New Orleans LA.

Hey all!

I'm trying to track down some crawfish for an at-home boil this weekend...any tips on where one might purchase some fresh ones?

Thanks and Happy Saturday!

I think it'd be pretty difficult to get fresh crayfish around Chicagoland this time of year (although I hope someone will prove me wrong). Many seafood markets have frozen crayfish, which can be pretty good. Also, I've good results from Fabian Seafood, which brings up a truck with seafood, often including (but not always) high quality frozen crayfish. Fabian's schedule for tomorrow:
SATURDAY APRIL 9
NAPERVILLE 8 am - NOON 5TH AVE STATION lot 200 E 5TH ST
ELGIN 2:30 - 5:30 pm ACE HARDWARE lot 1158 LILLIAN

H-Mart periodically brings in live crayfish during the season but it is never listed on the ad flyer.
Most frozen is from China and if frozen and USA, not suitable for a 'boil', the best way to enjoy them in my opinion.-Richard

budrichard wrote:H-Mart periodically brings in live crayfish during the season but it is never listed on the ad flyer.
Most frozen is from China and if frozen and USA, not suitable for a 'boil', the best way to enjoy them in my opinion.-Richard

I've been looking for a source myself, as I can find nothing around here in WI. The only source I've come across is direct from LA. Budrichard, do you know where the live from H-Mart originates?

I'm trying to track down some crawfish for an at-home boil this weekend...any tips on where one might purchase some fresh ones?

Thanks and Happy Saturday!

It's a bit late, I know, but I just got home. One of my stops today was the Broadway Supermarket in Uptown, and they had a ton of live mudbugs @ $2.99 per lb. Good source for live blue crabs in season, too (though none in stock today). Still open, BTW - they close at 8:30 on Sundays.

Broadway Supermarket
4879 N Broadway (just north of Lawrence)
Chicago 60640 773.334.3838

Moulardalot wrote:

budrichard wrote:H-Mart periodically brings in live crayfish during the season but it is never listed on the ad flyer.
Most frozen is from China and if frozen and USA, not suitable for a 'boil', the best way to enjoy them in my opinion.-Richard

I've been looking for a source myself, as I can find nothing around here in WI. The only source I've come across is direct from LA. Budrichard, do you know where the live from H-Mart originates?

I always assumed USA origin.
But I never asked.-Richard

Thanks Richard. I love where we live but there's a lot my family and I miss sorely. High on the list for me would be ready sourcing from places like L. Isaacson & Stein, etc.

Fredo at Analogue suggested Louisiana Crawfish Co. to me last year. They were cheap, delivered promptly (same day in peak season), and big & meaty. The yield was about 60% alive + the purging & the pinching, no small feat for 25 lbs. Overall, I was happy with the product and I think its likely one of the best options to get real deal Louisiana crawfish quickly to the north.

http://www.lacrawfish.com

Jefe,

Thank you, that's a good endorsement. I have them on my "favorites" and was considering them, so this is great. Thanks again.

We have been using Louisiana Crawfish company for years, hands down the best. Have already boiled down 1800 lbs from them this year at toons.

Danny

Great to know, thanks as well, Danny.

-Paul

I stopped at HMart yesterday and couldn't help but stop to watch the live crayfish. In the self-serve coolers in the seafood aisle, it was nothing short of mesmerizing to watch these lively little guys wriggle about.

$5.99/lb

I purchased 7#'s at H-Mart Saturday, price is right but they are smaller than I like.
Crab boil with Zatarain's Liquid Crab Boil, corn and onions followed later in the day.
Rinse crabs at least twice, into boling water along with the crab boil and salt, return to a boil, turn off heat and let sit for 30 minutes along with corn and onions
My granddaughters had no problem with them.
A Commander's Palace recipe Remoulade for dipping.
No Arbita though. -Richard

Restaurant Depot has them, and for that matter, some pretty nice whole fish all around.

Sorry to be posting many many moons later, but I recently had a friendly nudge from a fellow LTH member reminding me to update this thread, so here I am!

First of all, I just wanted to say THANK YOU for all of these great suggestions (I know I messaged a few of you specifically, but thanks to all, just the same!).

After poking around on Devon, H-Mart and calling Fabian Seafood, I ended up going with the Louisiana Crawfish Company, as many here have suggested and was THRILLED with their service. I had 14 pounds of live crawfish delivered fresh to my door for $65, including a flat $10 shipping fee. I would say 90-95% were alive upon opening the crate. The customer service was on-point, and I was really happy with my decision.

I was having the shindig on a Saturday, but if you were looking for a Friday party, their $10 shipping fee was waved for a Thursday delivery (at least it was when I ordered!). Finally, if you simply google "Louisiana Crawfish Company Coupon" I also found a 10% off coupon through Retailmetnot, which was awesome.

All in all, I found the price, service and ease of which to buy these little buggers was phenomenal through LCC, and would highly recommend using them if and when the time arises!

Thanks again, all!

My friend sent me a decadent jambalaya recipe but it includes crawfish. I'm lazy and won't shell these SOBs. Does anyone sell shelled crawfish here?

Pie Lady wrote:My friend sent me a decadent jambalaya recipe but it includes crawfish. I'm lazy and won't shell these SOBs. Does anyone sell shelled crawfish here?

IKEA has frozen, but I think it's already cooked. Boston Fish Market serves it in their gumbo so they undoubtedly have some. Fishguy had live crawfish in warmer weather, give them a call to see if they carry frozen.

I remember seeing, a few years back, a frozen, cryovacked foodservice pack of pre-shelled crawfish tail meat. It was probably a 2 or 3-pound pack. Product of China. I never tried it. All I can say is that it was -- and may still be -- available.

=R=

Valli Produce, at least the Evanston location, usually has crawfish tail meat, but I'd call first to be sure.

I think I've seen fairly large packages of cryovacked shelled Spanish crawfish at Woodman's. Also at Walmart, although I can't remember where that was from.

Give Dirk's a call - they carry various preparations, or can get it, depending on the time of year - from both US and China - http://www.dirksfish.com/otherseafood.htm#preparedfrozen

I know its a bit early in the season, but has anyone seen live crawfish for sale this year yet locally or know where I can order online?

I used to order them from LA Crawfish, but it looks like they no longer ship to Illinois since we started designating crawfish as an invasive species. They used to overlook this rule up until last year.

Usually during the season H-Mart has live crawfish.
They are small.
Not advertised, so it’s hit or miss for me when I go there.
You can call the fish department manager for definitive information.
I am in Wisconsin, so am subject to the same regulation.
If you do find a local source, please Post.
Thank you.
-Richard

H-Mart, Park to Shop, and 88 Marketplace used to have them in years past, but I have yet to see any this year (I was at Park to Shop and 88 over the weekend). I actually live relatively close to the Niles H-Mart and Assi, and will report back if any pop up. A friend of a friend also able to order one last year through a restaurant, but she no longer has the relationship this year in order to do so.