Food Critics Say These 10 Louisiana Restaurants Serve Outstanding Meals At Surprisingly Affordable Prices
Stuffed turkey wings smothered in Cajun-Creole tradition, or thin-cut fried catfish with a lakeside view?
Go ahead and pick one. Thought you had your answer? Not so fast.
A quirky sandwich shop with kitschy decor was once named Best New Restaurant in America by Bon Appetit.
Then there’s a po’ boy spot that has been feeding hungry crowds since 1911. Well, that complicates things.
Oh, and the bill stays friendly at each of these Louisiana kitchens. Your stomach wants a feast, and your wallet barely notices.
Critics and road-trippers keep praising them, which only makes choosing harder.
Which plate grabs you first, and how long until you cave and try every single one?
1. Parkway Bakery & Tavern
Some sandwich shops chase trends, but this one has roots stretching back to 1911. That’s more than a century of neighborhood history, and the sandwiches have become a New Orleans tradition.
Parkway began as a bakery on the corner of Hagan and Toulouse streets.
In 1929, it added po’ boys, turning the original bread-making business into a much-loved sandwich stop. Today the atmosphere remains casual, with a counter-ordering setup, indoor tables, and an outdoor patio.
Your big decision is which po’ boy to grab. The wild-caught Gulf shrimp version features flash-fried shrimp inside French bread.
Slow-cooked roast beef comes with gravy, while the Surf & Turf combines beef and shrimp in one generous roll. Fried oyster po’ boys are offered on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Hungry for something alongside the sandwich? Fried pickles, potato salad, and fries round out the savory choices. Banana pudding offers a sweet finish without requiring another trip across town.
Order at the counter and listen for your name before finding somewhere comfortable to eat.
The restaurant opens Wednesday through Sunday, from morning until early evening, so lunch is the natural plan. Outdoor seating is available for families bringing dogs.
There’s something appealing about eating a sandwich that grew from an old neighborhood bakery.
This Mid-City stop brings generations of food traditions together. Find the original storefront at 538 Hagan Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70119.
2. Laura’s 2 Soul Food
Stuffed turkey wings are the stars here, and they’ve earned top billing. If you’ve never had one, Lafayette is a fine place to start.
Laura’s Cafe Two serves Cajun-Creole soul food built around traditional plate lunches.
The stuffed baked turkey wing is paired with rice and gravy, plus a choice of sides, turning one main dish into a substantial midday meal. Seasoned cabbage, green beans, red beans, and macaroni and cheese are among the kinds of accompaniments offered.
The menu extends beyond turkey. Fried pork chops, smothered pork steak, fried chicken, seafood gumbo, and Gulf Coast catfish appear among its changing daily selections.
On some days shrimp and grits or seafood stew add another option for anyone in the mood for coastal flavors.
This isn’t a place that needs a complicated dining ritual. Choose your main, decide which sides sound appealing, and enjoy the familiar combination of rice, gravy, and slow-cooked dishes.
Lunch hours are relatively short, generally Tuesday through Sunday from late morning into midafternoon.
Mondays are reserved for other activities rather than regular plate-lunch service. Arriving earlier gives you more time to consider the day’s options.
For a taste of home-style Louisiana cooking, make your lunch stop at 1904 West University Avenue, Lafayette, LA 70506.
3. Herby-K’s
Opened in 1936, this tiny Shreveport spot has outlasted plenty of flashier restaurants. Its signature sandwich arrived a few years later and still gives the menu its unmistakable identity.
The Shrimp Buster dates to 1945. Butterflied fried shrimp rest on buttered, toasted French bread, served with fries, coleslaw, and a house dipping sauce.
It’s an unusual take on the po’ boy idea, with the shrimp spread across the bread rather than packed inside a tall roll.
Seafood extends well beyond that classic. Fried catfish, stuffed crab, fried oysters, and shrimp dishes share space with gumbo and other regional favorites.
Hush puppies, onion rings, and fried pickles give the table something to snack on while choosing a main.
Inside, the room retains an old-fashioned, close-knit feel, with simple furnishings that suit a restaurant built around decades of regular meals. Outdoor seating adds another option on pleasant days.
Its schedule takes a little attention: Sunday and Monday finish in the afternoon, Tuesday and Wednesday run into early evening, and Thursday through Saturday offer later dinner service.
Larger parties can inquire about limited reservation arrangements on certain weekdays. One interesting detail is how little the Shrimp Buster needs to explain itself.
A piece of toast, a spread of golden shrimp, and sauce have been telling the same story for generations. Your destination is 1833 Pierre Avenue, Shreveport, LA 71103.
4. Anthony’s Italian Deli
Muffulettas get serious attention on Government Street in Baton Rouge. Anthony’s Italian Deli has been serving them since 1978, alongside Italian sandwiches and traditional pasta dishes.
The New Orleans-style muffuletta layers capicola, Genoa salami, ham, mortadella, and provolone with the deli’s olive mixture and dressing.
It’s a substantial sandwich, available in smaller portions for anyone who prefers room for a side or dessert.
Want something beyond the classic? The Italian Lover takes the idea in po’ boy form, while the Godfather brings prosciutto, salami, provolone, lettuce, and marinated peppers.
The Marie combines salami, ham, cheese, and vegetables with a house dressing. Meatball and sausage sandwiches provide warm alternatives.
Pasta is another reason to visit. Spaghetti with meatballs, Italian sausage, and lasagna appear alongside salads and rotating daily choices.
Shelves of Italian groceries, imported cheeses, and specialty ingredients add the feel of a neighborhood deli and market combined.
The setup is straightforward: order at the counter, choose somewhere to sit, or collect a sandwich to take away.
The deli also carries frozen foods for home cooking. The shop operates Monday through Saturday and closes on Sunday. Catering is available for larger gatherings, too.
It’s the kind of place where lunch can easily become an excuse to browse for pantry ingredients. Explore the deli at 5575 Government Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70806.
5. Glenda’s Creole Kitchen Restaurant
Blink and you’ll miss lunch here, since the kitchen serves only a few hours a day. Showing up on time is half the battle.
Glenda’s Creole Kitchen sits along Main Highway near Breaux Bridge, serving traditional Creole plate lunches from a small, rustic building.
The menu changes through the week, making the day’s selections part of the experience rather than a fixed list of identical meals.
Stuffed turkey wings are a signature. Other rotating dishes include smothered pork chops, meatball stew, round steak, red beans with sausage, and okra cooked with seafood.
Plates come together around rice, gravy, and home-style vegetables such as cabbage, yams, corn, and beans.
Thursday might bring meatball stew, while Friday can feature shrimp stew or catfish coubillion.
Sunday often includes barbecue-style chicken, pork, and traditional sides. The exact lineup depends on the day’s cooking, so choosing from the available specials is the simplest approach.
The restaurant has a rustic drive-through as well as takeout service for busy lunch breaks.
Hours are generally 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday through Friday, with Saturday closed. For a midday Louisiana meal filled with familiar Cajun-Creole flavors, follow the road to 3232 Main Highway, Suite 31, Breaux Bridge, LA 70517.
6. Darrell’s
Roast beef, turkey, ham, three cheeses, jalapeño mayonnaise, and gravy walk into one sandwich.
Darrell’s Famous Poboys has served Lake Charles since 1985. Its signature sandwich features sliced roast beef alongside ham and turkey, dressed with provolone, American, and Swiss cheeses.
Lettuce, mustard, and a choice of regular or jalapeño mayonnaise complete the combination, with roast beef gravy bringing everything together.
The Surf & Turf takes a different direction, pairing roast beef with sautéed shrimp in rich gravy and a homemade butter sauce. Spicy Cajun sausage, smoked brisket, grilled cheese, and classic roast beef round out the focused po’ boy menu.
Sandwiches come in smaller and larger lengths, which makes ordering for different appetites fairly simple. Chips, cheese bread, and extra gravy provide options for anyone building a fuller meal.
The dining room is casual and energetic, suited to a quick lunch or a relaxed evening with friends. Takeout makes the sandwiches equally practical when there’s somewhere else you want to be.
The kitchen operates Monday through Saturday from late morning until 10 p.m., with Sundays closed. The menu’s appeal is easy to understand: recognizable sandwich ingredients assembled with distinctly local sauces and gravy.
For a classic Lake Charles po’ boy outing, head to 119 West College Street, Lake Charles, LA 70605.
7. Lea’s Lunchroom
Pie lovers, take note of a little town on Highway 71 in central Louisiana. Lecompte’s historic lunch stop built its identity around homemade pies and baked ham.
Lea’s Lunchroom still prepares its pies from scratch, rolling the dough by hand and offering familiar flavors alongside some unusual combinations.
Pecan, apple, peach, cherry, and coconut meringue are among the choices. Bumbleberry brings strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries together in a double-crust pie.
Before dessert, the ham sandwich deserves a look. Baked ham has been a staple here for generations, served on a small round bun, either plain or with cheese.
A changing chalkboard menu also offers plate lunches with two other meat selections and a choice of sides.
Sunday brings its own tradition: baked ham alongside turkey or fried chicken, cornbread dressing, and vegetables. Breakfast is served in Lecompte until 10:30 a.m., so early travelers can stop long before lunchtime.
The dining room keeps an old-fashioned lunchroom mood, with uncomplicated tables and a menu designed around familiar Southern dishes. Whole pies are available for advance ordering, particularly useful during holiday seasons.
Hours run Tuesday through Sunday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., with the lunch line finishing shortly before closing.
A little pie planning makes the drive especially worthwhile, particularly during the holidays. Find the Lecompte location at 1810 Highway 71 South, Lecompte, LA 71346.
8. Middendorf’s Manchac
Thin is in when it comes to catfish here. The fillets are sliced unusually thin, coated, and fried, a preparation that has defined Middendorf’s since 1934.
The recipe began with the founding family in the lakeside community of Manchac.
Instead of serving thick pieces of fish, the kitchen developed delicate portions with crisp edges and a distinctive texture. That technique remains central to the menu more than ninety years later.
The setting gives lunch another attraction. Waterfront seating looks toward the surrounding lake and marsh scenery, and the Deck opens seasonally on weekends during warmer weather.
The casual dining rooms welcome families and groups, with room to settle in over a plate of seafood.
Catfish is the signature, but the menu extends to fried shrimp, oysters, stuffed crab, and other Gulf Coast dishes. Homemade tartar sauce accompanies the fish, while side dishes complete the traditional seafood-restaurant experience.
Families can explore the gift shop, and a children’s menu helps younger diners find their own favorites. Dogs are welcome on the designated Porch seating area when leashed, rather than throughout the interior.
The Manchac location opens Wednesday through Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Reservations aren’t taken for regular dining, so arrival order determines seating.
For thin fried catfish and waterfront views, follow US-51 to 30160 Highway 51 South, Akers, LA 70421.
9. Turkey And The Wolf
A collard green sandwich turned heads at this New Orleans shop.
Bon Appétit named Turkey and the Wolf America’s Best New Restaurant in 2017, just a year after it opened.
Mismatched decorations, bright colors, and playful details make it feel more like an eccentric neighborhood gathering place than a formal dining room.
Start with the collard green melt. Slow-cooked greens meet coleslaw, pickled cherry peppers, Russian dressing, and melted cheese between slices of toasted rye.
Another signature piles fried bologna, cheese, potato chips, and mustard onto bread for an entirely different kind of crunch.
These aren’t sandwiches that treat ordinary ingredients as an afterthought. Layers of seasoning, acidity, heat, and texture make the familiar combinations interesting without requiring a lengthy explanation.
The restaurant operates as counter service, and regular reservations aren’t offered. Seating includes an outdoor area, while the indoor tables share space with the shop’s collection of retro furnishings.
Lunch service runs Wednesday through Monday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday is the weekly closing day.
The restaurant also earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand designation in the guide’s New Orleans coverage, recognizing its approach to creative, casual dining.
For a sandwich with plenty of personality, visit 739 Jackson Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70130.
10. Olde Tyme Grocery
Shrimp po’ boys with French bread and generous fillings have kept this Lafayette counter busy for decades.
The shop’s sandwich tradition dates to 1982, when a small neighborhood grocery began focusing on made-to-order po’ boys.
Olde Tyme Grocery uses local French bread for sandwiches filled with Gulf shrimp, oysters, roast beef, ham, turkey, and other classics.
The shrimp version arrives with lettuce, tomatoes, and condiments, while the Olde Tyme Special combines ham, turkey, roast beef, and Swiss cheese.
Ordering a whole or half sandwich gives you flexibility, especially if you’d like room for fries or something sweet afterward.
Friday specials sometimes add seafood plates or catfish, while changing seasonal features bring an occasional new combination to the counter.
The atmosphere is straightforward and lively, with counter ordering and outdoor seating on covered and rear patios. Seasonal live music adds another reason to linger over lunch or supper.
It’s also close to the university campus, making it an easy stop during a day in Lafayette.
The kitchen opens Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m., with shorter Saturday hours and Sunday closed. Catering trays make it possible to share the shop’s sandwiches at group gatherings.
For a familiar Louisiana po’ boy experience with plenty of choices and a casual neighborhood atmosphere, pull in at 218 West Saint Mary Boulevard, Lafayette, LA 70506.
