1.If You Want To Try The Best Meat In New Orleans, Head To Cochon Butcher.
Cochon Butcher
930 Tchoupitoulas St
New Orleans, LA 70130
Yelp: 4 ½ Stars, 1,508 Reviews
The Cochon Butcher is no ordinary sandwich shop. This place redefines the word sandwich. Their buckboard bacon melt is great, but you can’t go wrong with the pork belly sandwich or the duck pastrami. Tip: Don’t skip the brussels sprout. They’re like vegetable candy.
2.Blackened Alligator and Po’ Boys At Chimes? Count Me In.
The Chimes Restaurant
3357 Highland Rd
Baton Rouge, LA
Yelp: 4 stars, 331 reviews
If you want to try some classic Creole food in Baton Rouge, this is the place to go. Start out with the blackened alligator, make sure to try the shrimp gumbo, and don’t miss out on the po’ boys (the fried shrimp po’ boy is definitely the best)!
3. Holy Pancake, Strawn’s Eat Shop Takes Diners To The Next Level
Strawn’s Eat Shop
125 E Kings Hwy
Shreveport, LA 71104
Yelp: 4 Stars, 193 Reviews
Well known for their delicious strawberry pie and strawberry pancakes, Strawn’s Eat Shop is the best diner in Louisiana. This place knows how to do all things breakfast; however, don’t underestimate their lunch! You can’t ever go wrong with their fried chicken.
4. You’ll Always Want To Go Back To Bacchanal Wine Bar
Bacchanal Wine Bar
600 Poland Ave
New Orleans, LA 70117
Yelp: 4 ½ Stars, 357 Reviews
Bacchanal Wine Bar, when it first opened, was no bigger than a closet-size wine shop. Now, every night Bacchanal is a garden party lit by tiki torches. There’s always live music, delicious local food sold from a takeout window served on disposable plates, and totally affordable bottles of wine at retail prices. This is one of Louisiana’s most laid back, and best kept secrets.
5. Pull Up A Chair On Parrain’s Patio
Parrain’s Seafood Restaurant
3225 Perkins Rd
Baton Rouge, LA 70808
Yelp: 4 ½ Stars, 467 Reviews
Parrain’s Seafood Restaurant is the best spot to get boiled crawfish and a pint. If you’re hoping for some simple, yet tasty, seafood paired with some delicious beer combined with a chill atmosphere on a perfect patio, then Parrain’s is the seafood joint for you. Tip: get the char-grilled oysters and the BBQ shrimp appetizers. Both are out of this world.
6.Shrimp Busters At Herby K’s Are Never A Bust
Herby-K’s
1833 Pierre Ave
Shreveport, LA 71103
Yelp: 4 Stars, 157 Reviews
You may not know it, but tucked away in Shreveport is the most delicious seafood you’ll ever taste. Going strong since 1936, Herby K’s is home to the famous Shrimp Buster, which is basically a jumbo shrimp sandwich covered with the secret shrimp buster sauce! While the Shrimp Buster is a local fave, the frog legs and crawfish Étouffée are must-trys! This place has a patio and bar seating, making for a laid-back atmosphere to enjoy your tasty food.
7. Fine French Dining Like You’ve Never Had It Before
Restaurant August
301 Tchoupitoulas St
New Orleans, LA 70130
Yelp: 4 ½ Stars, 813 reviews
Restaurant August in New Orleans is THE French restaurant in the area. The restaurant became well known after Chef John Besh went on the famous television show, Top Chef. This restaurant takes fine-dining to a new level. Great service, wonderful ambiance, and the most delicious French food you’ll ever taste. Just make sure you have a reservation! Oh, and order the crepes with bittersweet ice cream for dessert.
8. Louie’s Café Is 24 Hours Of Pure Diner Joy
Louie’s Cafe
209 W State St
Baton Rouge, LA
Yelp: 4 stars, 138 reviews
This 24-hour diner in Louisiana is a best-kept secret. Known for their renowned hash browns, Louie’s proximity to LSU campus makes it a staple in the area. Plus, their incredible sandwiches and delicious breakfast combos have kept Louie’s in business for over 70 years. The bacon, egg, tomato, and sprouts po’ boys are delicious, but secret tip: order the Eggs Cletus. This off-menu creation is white gravy poured over a homemade biscuit, sausage patty, and an over-medium egg.
9. Grab Some Southern Comfort Food At Chelsea’s
Chelsea’s Cafe
2857 Perkins Rd
Baton Rouge, LA 70808
Yelp: 4 Stars, 121 Reviews
You may think you know everything there is to know about fried chicken but that’s because you haven’t tried the chicken at Chelsea’s in Baton Rouge. It’s the only place in LA where you can get your bayou country super fest fried chicken, which is boneless-skinless fried chicken breast filet served with tasty brown gravy, garlic mashed potatoes, and fresh lemon garlic green beans. Yum.
10. The Po’ boys At Darrell’s Are LA’s Best Kept Secret
Darrell’s
119 W College St
Lake Charles, LA 70605
Yelp: 4 ½ Stars, 157 Reviews
Do yourself a favor and go to Darrell’s in Lake Charles for the best po’ boy in Louisiana. Make sure you order the Darrell’s Special for a real treat. It’s a Po’ Boy sandwich filled with three types of meats (Ham, Turkey, and Roast Beef) as well as three types of cheeses (American, Swiss, and Provolone) and comes with mustard, lettuce, and mayonnaise. Tip: Order the homemade jalapeno mayo on your Darrell’s Special. It’s out of this world delicious. Plus: the Darrell’s special is saturated in their savory roast beef gravy. Can’t go wrong!
11. The Best Way To Wake Up Is Beignets And Coffee At Coffee Call
The Coffee Call
3132 College Dr
Baton Rouge, LA 70808
Yelp: 4 ½ Stars, 143 Reviews
If you’re looking for the best place to get beignets (fried doughnuts with powdered sugar) than look no further: Coffee Call in Baton Rouge is the place to go. They’re handmade right in front of you, and they are so impossible to resist that you better be prepared to eat at least a dozen. Pair it with a delicious cup of fresh brewed coffee and you have a perfect Louisiana breakfast.
12. You Don’t Know Louisiana Cooking Until You Try Casamento’s Oysters
Casamento’s Restaurant
4330 Magazine St
New Orleans, LA 70115
Yelp: 4 Stars, 182 Reviews
This lovely restaurant, only open in the winter months, is the place to get your oysters in Louisiana. At Casamento’s, gulf oysters come raw, and you can enjoy them while standing at a short bar near the entrance of the restaurant. You can also have them charbroiled, lard-fried and served on Texas toast, or barely cooked in a buttery seafood stew. No matter what, you will walk away feeling the love for Louisiana oysters.
13. Searching For The Best Gumbo in Louisiana? Liuzza’s Is The Dive You’ve Been Looking For
Liuzza’s By The Track
1518 N Lopez St
New Orleans, LA 70119
Yelp: 4 Stars, 122 Reviews
Everyone always wants to know to find Louisiana’s best gumbo. The answer is Liuzza’s By The Track. This place is the most authentic New Orleans dive in the area, so it’s not hard to see why their gumbo is so excellent. It’s so beautifully seasoned that it’ll keep you coming back for more, spoonful after spoonful of delicious gumbo. Coupled with some Abita beer, you can’t go wrong with Liuzza’s gumbo.
14. You’ll Go Loco For Taceaux Loceaux
Taceaux Loceaux
Location varies, check Facebook*
Yelp: 4 ½ Stars, 94 Reviews
The food truck scene is relatively new to the New Orleans area. However, the Taceaux Loceaux food truck proves that just because the scene is new, does not mean it’s not epic and wonderful. Try the piquant braised greens, pepitas, and Cojita cheese taco. And don’t forget the avocado fries!
15. L’Italiano Is A Taste of Italy In Bossier
L’Italiano
701 Barksdale Blvd
Bossier City, LA 71111
Yelp: 4 Stars, 35 Reviews
While French, Creole, and Cajun food are what Louisiana is known for, that doesn’t man Louisiana doesn’t have incredible food representing other world regions and cultures. For example, L’Italiano in Bossier City has some of the best Italian food you’ll ever try. Their cozy atmosphere and authentic Italian cooking will make for an unforgettable meal.