Family recipes and comfort flavors at Esther's Cajun and Soul Food

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- If you follow the smell of oxtails, fried fish, and cooked greens, you'll find Esther's Cajun and Soul Food in Independence Heights. The same neighborhood where the owner, Esther Lewis, was born and raised.

"Food is our nutrient. We need food to keep us healthy and strong. So, I love food. I love feeding people," Esther said.

That nurturing spirit led Esther to open her restaurant in 2008. Before that, the single mother of six worked three jobs.

"My mom is a very hard-working woman," Her daughter Dru Evans said. "First and foremost, she is a visionary. She is a giver."

Lewis said her family has been in her corner since the very beginning.

"I'm proud of my family being here with me by my side. You know, because some day I want to leave this legacy to them," Lewis shared.

In the video above, Esther shares how her mother's cooking and family collaborations led to the menu that remains today.

Esther's Cajun and Soul Food is located at 5007 N Shepherd Dr in Houston.