LJz Backyard Bayou

LJz Backyard Bayou Veteran-owned Cajun & Creole restaurant in Harvest, AL, founded by Army vets Larry & Wendy Johnson. LJ’z Backyard Bayou was born from faith, family, and flavor.
(2)

Known for scratch-made boudin balls, gumbo, po’boys & étouffée. Weekend dining, full-service catering and soon packaged products bringing Louisiana flavor Founded by Larry and Wendy Johnson — both proud U.S. Army veterans — our restaurant is built on service, resilience, and the rich traditions of Louisiana cooking. After serving our country, we turned our focus to serving our community by bringin

g the authentic taste of the Bayou to North Alabama. What started humbly with plate lunches on social media has grown into a beloved weekend restaurant and trusted catering service for families, businesses, and celebrations across Harvest, Madison, and Huntsville. At LJ’z Backyard Bayou, every dish tells a story. Our house-made boudin balls, gumbo, po’boys, and étouffée are cooked from scratch with fresh, high-quality ingredients — just like they’re made back home in Louisiana. We take pride in offering not only great food, but also a welcoming atmosphere rooted in community, hospitality, and authenticity. Our mission is simple: to honor our Louisiana heritage, to serve with integrity, and to create a place where good food and good people come together. Whether you’re stopping by for a meal, booking us to cater your event, or soon taking home our packaged boudin balls, you’ll always get a taste of tradition — served with heart, veteran-strong

06/20/2026

Good morning, Bayou family!

This weekend, we’re celebrating all the dads, daddies, pops, grandpas, and father figures out there. We appreciate everything you do, and we’d love to help you celebrate with some good food and good company!

Starting around noon, we’ll be serving up our famous 1-inch thick stuffed pork chops, packed with a rich Parmesan cheese filling and cooked to perfection.

Still craving those Oyster Rockefellers? We’ve got them ready for you! Order 3, a half dozen, or a full dozen.

And yes, we’ve still got crawfish by the pound while they last! Come pinch some tails and suck some heads before the season slips away.

Plus, all your Cajun favorites are waiting for you:
• Seafood Mary Pasta
• Chicken & Sausage Pasta
• Whole Catfish
• Jambalaya
• Gumbo
• Crawfish Étouffée

Whatever your Cajun craving is today, let us take care of it!

Come see us at LJ’z Backyard Bayou. If I don’t see you today, then maybe some other day. As always, we’re grateful for each and every one of you.

Happy Father’s Day weekend, y’all! ❤️🦞

Wait a minute… did I forget something? Yep! Crawfish Po’boys are on deck! Toasted Gambino bun- Get ’em traditional or de...
06/19/2026

Wait a minute… did I forget something? Yep! Crawfish Po’boys are on deck! Toasted Gambino bun- Get ’em traditional or deluxe, in a 6-inch or a hearty 12-inch. Comes one of our delicious sides. Stuffed with crispy crawfish and packed with flavor. Come on in and grab one while the getting is good!” 🦞🥖😋

06/19/2026

Happy Friday from LJ’z Backyard Bayou!

What a beautiful day to get your Cajun fix!

Today we’re featuring our Crawfish Bayou — a bed of steamed white rice topped with a crispy fried fish filet, smothered in our Louisiana-style crawfish étouffée, and finished off with fried crawfish. It comes with one delicious side and a dinner roll. Trust us, this one’s a winner!

And yes… the Oyster Rockefellers are back! You asked for them, so we keep bringing them. Get them by the 3, 6, or a full dozen while they last.

Starting at 4 PM, we’ve got our Crawfish Boil rolling! This may be one of our last crawfish weekends of the season. The pickings are getting slim, but we’ve got a few sacks ready to go and we’re hoping they’ll carry us through the weekend. Come on out, pinch some tails and suck some heads while you still can! We’ve got all the fixings waiting for you.

And don’t forget about all your Bayou favorites:
• Gumbo
• Jambalaya
• Crawfish Étouffée
• Seafood Mary Pasta
• Fish & Shrimp Platters
• And all the usual suspects!

Thank you for supporting our small family business. We appreciate each and every one of you.

And to all the papas out there, Happy Father’s Day Weekend from all of us at LJ’z Backyard Bayou!

Open 11 AM – 8 PM
If we don’t see you today, we’ll see you some other day!















06/13/2026

Most people know me as the guy behind the crawfish pots and seafood platters, but there's a little more to the story.

I was born and raised in Franklin, Louisiana and spent 21 years serving our country in the United States Army. After retirement, I had a dream of bringing a piece of Louisiana to North Alabama and creating a place where family, friends, and great food could come together.

The journey hasn't been easy. We've faced setbacks, construction challenges, long days, and plenty of obstacles along the way. But through faith, family, hard work, and the support of this community, we're still standing and still growing.

Every plate that leaves our kitchen represents more than food. It represents a dream, a sacrifice, and a commitment to serving others.

Thank you to everyone who has supported LJ'z Backyard Bayou. Whether you've been with us since day one or just discovered us, we appreciate you being part of our story.

Welcome to the Bayou Family. ❤️

06/12/2026

Happy Friday!! Let’s get it!! See you soon

06/12/2026

☀️ Happy Friday from LJ’z Backyard Bayou! ☀️
What a beautiful day! The umbrellas are out on the deck, the sun is shining, and there’s not a drop of rain in sight. It’s a perfect day for some Cajun goodness!
And guess what? We heard you! We saw your Facebook messages, your comments, and your requests. You asked for them, so we brought them back…
🦪 Rockefeller Oysters are BACK! 🦪
Fresh half-shell oysters baked to perfection and topped with our savory Parmesan sauce loaded with bacon and spinach. Available by:�• 3 oysters�• 6 oysters�• Half dozen�• Full dozen
Don’t wait on these—they’ve been a customer favorite!
🍝 Seafood Mary Pasta�Loaded with crab, crawfish, shrimp, and sausage. Served with two sides.
🍝 Chicken & Sausage Pasta�A Cajun classic served with two sides.
🐟 Our famous fish platters and fish & shrimp combo platters are ready to go all day long!
🦞 And yes, we still have CRAWFISH!
Crawfish season is winding down, and from here on out availability will be week-to-week, so come get your fix while you can!
🦞 $9 per pound�🦞 3 pounds or more just $8.50 per pound�🌽 And yes, we got all the fixings—corn, potatoes, sausage, and eggs!
Don’t forget about all your Cajun favorites:�🔥 Gumbo�🔥 Crawfish Étouffée�🔥 Jambalaya�🔥 Dirty Rice�🔥 Crawfish Mac & Cheese
Come grab a seat on the deck, enjoy this beautiful weather, and let us do the cooking!
📍 LJ’z Backyard Bayou�⏰ Open today from 11 AM – 8 PM

06/07/2026

🎤 Public Speaking 101 with our young crew!

At LJ’z, we believe in more than serving great food—we believe in building confidence, leadership, and the next generation. Today the young crew got a little lesson in public speaking, communication, and stepping outside their comfort zone. Proud of these future leaders! ❤️

🍤 Seafood & Grits is on deck!
🥣 Shrimp Stew is on deck!
🔥 Fresh, hot, and packed with Louisiana flavor.

….And Crawfish!!

Y’all know how we do it—nothing fancy but the flavor!

📍 LJ’z Backyard Bayou
🌶️ From the bottom of the boot to the heart of Alabama

🇺🇸🦞🍤🔥

💜💚💛 Louisiana Love All the Way to Alabama! 💜💚💛Over the last couple of weekends, we’ve been blessed to have some of my hi...
06/06/2026

💜💚💛 Louisiana Love All the Way to Alabama! 💜💚💛

Over the last couple of weekends, we’ve been blessed to have some of my high school classmates, family, and friends pull up and show love at LJ’z Backyard Bayou. There’s something special about seeing folks from back home make the trip and support what we’ve built.

From the bayous of Louisiana to the heart of Alabama, your support means more than words can express. Every handshake, hug, story, and meal shared reminds us where we came from and why we do what we do.

To all my classmates, family, friends, and loyal customers who continue to support this dream—thank you. We don’t take it for granted.

The Louisiana roots run deep, and the love keeps us going. ❤️

From the bottom of the boot to the heart of Alabama… thank y’all for the support!

🦞⚜️❤️

06/06/2026

🦞⚜️ SATURDAY AT LJ’Z BACKYARD BAYOU ⚜️🦞

Something good is always happening at the Bayou!

🍤 Shrimp & Potato Stew with Chunks of Chicken is happening today!
🦪 Oyster Rockefeller is happening today!
🎶 Zydeco Vibes are happening today!
🦞 Boiled Crawfish are happening today… while they last!
😎 Good Food, Good Friends & Good Times are happening today!

If you’re looking for authentic Louisiana flavor without making the drive to Louisiana, we’ve got you covered.

📍 LJ’z Backyard Bayou
⚜️ From the Bottom of the Boot to the Heart of Alabama ⚜️

Grab your family, bring your appetite, and come spend your Saturday with us!

🦞 Crawfish
🦪 Rockefeller Oysters
🍤 Shrimp & Potato Stew
🎶 Zydeco Music
❤️ Bayou Family Atmosphere

LET’S GEAUX!!! 💜💚💛

🦞⚜️🎶🍤🦪🔥

Address

3155 Old Railroad Bed Road
Harvest, AL
35749

Opening Hours

Friday 11am - 8pm
Saturday 11am - 8pm
Sunday 11am - 6pm

Telephone

+12564890759

Website

,

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when LJz Backyard Bayou posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Restaurant

Send a message to LJz Backyard Bayou:

Shortcuts

Share

Category