Some of the best-known restaurants in Louisiana by city, along with a brief description of their menu:
New Orleans:
Commander’s Palace: A classic fine-dining restaurant serving Creole dishes, with a beautiful garden setting. Address: 1403 Washington Ave, New Orleans, LA 70130
Cafe du Monde: Famous for its beignets (fried doughnuts) and chicory coffee, this cafe has been a New Orleans staple since 1862. Address: 800 Decatur St, New Orleans, LA 70116
Cochon: Specializing in Cajun-style pork dishes, this restaurant has won numerous awards for its unique flavors. Address: 930 Tchoupitoulas St, New Orleans, LA 70130
Baton Rouge:
Parrain’s Seafood: A local favorite for fresh seafood, including oysters, crawfish, and catfish. Address: 3225 Perkins Rd, Baton Rouge, LA 70808
The Chimes: Known for its Cajun and Creole dishes, as well as a wide selection of craft beers. Address: 3357 Highland Rd, Baton Rouge, LA 70802
Juban’s: Offering upscale Louisiana cuisine in a refined setting, with dishes such as turtle soup and grilled duck breast. Address: 3739 Perkins Rd, Baton Rouge, LA 70808
Lafayette:
Prejean’s: Known for its traditional Cajun dishes, such as gumbo and crawfish étouffée, as well as live zydeco music. Address: 3480 NE Evangeline Throughway, Lafayette, LA 70507
Johnson’s Boucanière: A family-owned and operated BBQ joint famous for its smoked sausage, brisket, and pulled pork. Address: 1111 St John St, Lafayette, LA 70501
Blue Dog Cafe: A casual restaurant serving Cajun-inspired dishes, focusing on fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Address: 1211 W Pinhook Rd, Lafayette, LA 70503
At Commander’s Palace, some of the signature dishes include turtle soup, gumbo, and bread pudding souffle. Cafe du Monde is famous for its beignets, which are a must-try for visitors to New Orleans. Cochon offers dishes like a fried alligator, smoked pork ribs, and boudin.
At Parrain’s Seafood, popular dishes include crawfish étouffée, seafood gumbo, and grilled catfish. The Chimes is known for its shrimp and grits, as well as its selection of craft beers. Juban’s offers dishes like Louisiana blue crab cakes and blackened redfish.
At Prejean’s, traditional Cajun dishes like jambalaya, andouille sausage, and gumbo are top favorites, and on weekends they offer live zydeco music. Johnson’s Boucanière has a variety of smoked meats including pork, beef, and turkey, served with sides like mac and cheese and baked beans. Blue Dog Cafe’s menu includes dishes like crawfish etouffee, fried catfish, and po’boys.