Who doesn't love the rich bold flavors of authentic Cajun food? Simmering pots of rice and beans, crawfish, and vegetables, spiced heavily with cayenne and black pepper are making me hungry just thinking about them. Traditional Cajun meals came in three pots: a main dish, a plentiful vegetable, and a hearty base such as rice, sausage, or crawfish. It's not normally served that way at restaurants, but you can still get all the dishes you crave. Get your holy trinity fix at these Cajun restaurants in Atlanta.

First, let's get one thing out of the way. Many Louisiana Natives will say that you can't get good authentic Cajun food at a restaurant. It's got to be made at home with fresh ingredients. The biggest complaint is finding the proper meat products, like crawfish tails and andoullie sausage, in a city far from the roots of the bayou. My Cajun friends, this is your hookup. Cajun Meat Company has a wide range of specialty meats including crawfish tail meat from Louisiana, alligator, tasso, jarred roux, pickled pork, and yes, andoullie sausage. They provide full-service butchering, and serve pre-made dressings and etouffee. Pick up some beans and rice from their side store and a few Cajun cooking tips and you can't go wrong.

Just up the road from Cajun Meat Company and tucked right next to a Kroger is an awesome Cajun joint. The po'boy is Louisiana's answer to a submarine sandwich, but with some important differences. First, it must be served on French bread with a crispy outside and a soft center. Second, it's got to have flavorful toppings packed thick to the point of messy. Try a crawfish or oyster Po'boy followed with some gumbo as a main meal. If you're feeling adventurous, the gator tacos appetizer is awesome. They also have a rotating bar menu serving Louisiana-based beers. This place is claimed by many to have the best po'boys in the city. Give it a try and see if it holds up for you!

I don't know why it's this way, but all the best Cajun restaurants in Atlanta are outside the perimeter! This place is a bit more formal than AJ's. Chef Marc Wegman has studied under many chefs in New Orleans before coming here to open a Cajun restaurant with fresh ingredients and from-scratch cooking. Most of the items on the menu are po'boys, but it's the more formal dishes that really shine. Skip down to is Lauren's Trio, where you can pick three signature Cajun dishes. Try Red Beans & Rice, Crawfish Etouffee, and Marc's Seafood Gumbo, with a side of Mardi Gras Cole Slaw. Finish it up with some sweet beignets. That's a good traditional Cajun meal!

It may be a bit of a journey, but going a little OTP for Cajun food is better than driving 10 hours to New Orleans! Cajun food is simple in look but complex in flavor and big on size and heart. Try one of these places today and see if I'm wrong.