The Yummiest Soul Food in New Orleans

Heard Dat Kitchen

★★★★★ 4.7 (725) • $$

"Upon arrival we weren't sure if this was the correct place because it looked so small! But it indeed was! There's really only outdoor seating and a few inside. We came as soon as it opened and it did take awhile for food to come out but the girl the took our order gave us a heads up! So do not come hangry because it does take awhile for the food to come out but just know ITS WORTH THE WAIT! We got the bourbon street lovers - chicken over Mac and cheese. It was delicious. Chicken is nice and juicy but is still crispy. Mac and cheese is full of flavor. My personal favorite was the superdome. It's blacken fish topped with mash potatoes, crispy onion rings in a lobster sauce. YUMMMM. At first I thought it being fish was going to be sus but I'm really glad I tried it! This was one of my favorite things we had out here. This place is a must! You will not regret it!"

Sweet Soulfood

★★★★★ 4.7 (535) • $$

"Came here before heading to the airport and it was wonderful. The food tasted amazing! My favorites were the barbecue cauliflower and the fried cauliflower with sweet heat sauce. The macaroni and cheese was excellent, as was the cornbread. I haven't liked collard greens or okra much in the past, but I enjoyed both here. Bread pudding was also great.It's cafeteria-style and the line moves quickly. Wasn't super busy when we arrived shortly after they opened at 11 but by noon it was pretty full.Staff were friendly and wanted to make sure you knew that everything was vegan, even if it looked like meat.Great value for the amount of food you get too. My spouse and I each got a four-item plate which essentially served as 2-3 meals for each of us throughout our travel day.Highly recommend to anyone in New Orleans looking for vegetarian or vegan options."

Bspot Nola

★★★★☆ 4.1 (121)

"We found out about B Spot through tik tok reels and had to check them out for brunch. B Spot did not disappoint!!! The music and vibes were great. Every table was packed so that's always a good sign when trying out a spot. The establishment is cute and although not as large as you expect, the wait time was not terribly long. We only waited half a hour for a table of 4. I ordered the grandma's gumbo, which came with a side of fried fish & grilled cheese . The gumbo was very flavorful & seasoned well. The crab in the gumbo definitely was on point . The fried fish was crispy and fresh how I like it & the grill cheese complimented the gumbo. I've never had this combination but so glad I tried it. My husband ordered the Deep fried lamb chops which came with breakfast potatoes and scrambled eggs. The fried lamb chops were delicious!! I would definitely reccomend both brunch dishes. Our waitress was super friendly and our service was great ."

Lauras Two

★★★★★ 4.7 (83) • $$

"Some of the best food you will ever eat. From the ribs on Sundays (gotta get there early) to the Turkey legs, you simply won't be disappointed. There is a reason Anthony Bourdain went to this gem of a restaurant. Some of the best food in Lafayette."

Wags Food & Culture

★★★★☆ 4.4 (78) • $

"Five fuckin stars. I'm giving 5 's. Ok. We were here for a few days and I'm one to try out the local places cuz thats where the best food is.....usually, about 80% of the time. Two things to keep in mind. Don't let this place fool you. Its off the main street, looks suspicious, maybe on the list for a failed food inspection, but no. Its a local joint. The parking: Not a lot of room to park because of its locations so you might have to hoof it but we were lucky it wasnt too busy. The food: Sooooo good. They seem to have daily specials and on our first visit, I ordered the catfish with red beans and rice. My brother had the fried chicken, also with red beans and rice. And corn bread on both orders. Bruh let me you, this is BY FAR THE best red beans and rice I have EVER had. I took that corn bread and broke it into the red beans and rice and just about inhaled it after the first bite. It was that good. The catfish was good too, they had this sauce that was very similar to Louisiana Hot Sauce but not too tart and not too hot. It was so perfect we asked where to get it. (Walmart). On the second visit (yes we came back) they had smoothered pork chops. . The chops were moist and tender, rice and gravy were finger lickin good. The "mac n cheese" (in quotes because it wasn't the regular elbows I'm used to but still good). And the potatoe salad (it dont look like it but it is, trust me, it is) its just as yummy. So if youre in the area and visiting, ya need to go here. Your appetite will thank you. I'm saying dont let this place fool you"

Willie's Chicken Shack

★★★★☆ 3.7 (99) • $$

"Hot, juicy and fast. Be careful super hot because it's fresh and delicious. If I'm ever here again, I'm eating there. Now the people next to us that bought a daiquiri, both day it's on the weak side."

Smoke bayou

★★★★★ 4.7 (52)

"This place is rocking and rolling with steady customers and a very pleasant experience. Great tasting and we all noticed that after we left we smelled like smoke which is a good sign of a great bbq place!"

Pra_LEES

★★★★☆ 4 (60) • $$

"I've waited a long time to try this place out and I finally got the chance and it is 5 star for sure! I ordered the fried salmon ( I was skeptical because I was worried it'd be dry.... It wasn't!!), Rasta pasta and double brussel sprouts (because Brussels are my fav!... and they didn't disappoint). My friend got the grilled lobster, Mac & crawfish, corn and broccoli. For dessert we got the praline loaf. We sampled off of each others plates The salmon was nothing short of amazing and it came with a sweet chili sauce that was a nice added flavor. I had some remoulade sauce at home and I tried it on the salmon and that was good as well. The brussel sprouts were just perfect! The Rasta pasta was different than what I expected it was made of spiral noodles, shrimp and Italian dressing. I was expecting a cream sauce with a jerk spicy seasoning. It was my least favorite but that's more so because I don't like Italian seasoning, if you like Italian you'll love it. The Mac & crawfish was good and creamy. On to the dessert the praline loaf was good. I'm not a sweets eater but I do love a praline. This was perfect it wasn't too sweet and was the perfect ending to the entrees we had. As far as customer service it was good. The cashier was very friendly and was able to answer all of our questions and make recommendations. We tried to call in our order before we arrived but no one ever answer the phone so we just showed up and the wait wasn't more than 15 mins. So not bad !The restaurant is so nicely decorated the murals painted on the walls are so NOLA. I can't wait to go back. And I definitely recommend this place to others. Next timeI'm trying the yellow rice and shrimp!"

8 Fresh Food Assassin Restaurant & Lounge

★★★★★ 4.5 (40)

"Always an awesome delight coming here. The fried ribs is a show stopper. Unexpectedly tender, not sure how a rib can be this tender but I'll take it. The Rum punch is a nice pairing for the ribs. Between the seafood baked potato loaded and the punch, I'm taking a nap for sure after this!"

Food Symphony Restaurant

★★★★★ 4.8 (35)

"Best staff ever! We got here thinking we had time to eat lunch and then go to our swamp tour at 2:00 that was about 20 min. away but we kind of miscalculated. When we explained our plight to the waitress who greeted us she told us exactly how long everything on the menu would take to cook and then they rushed to get our food packed up to eat to go! The food itself was so good! Like outstanding. Recommend the po-boys - and allowing yourself more time than we did."

Mr. Shrimp’s Kitchen

★★★★★ 4.6 (35)

"I stopped by on a whim for a quick lunch. This small spot packs a punch! For the freshest seafood plate, this is where you need to stop. They're affordable , fresh and delicious! These are the nicest guys and so hardworking! Highly recommend !"

Wing Snack Express

★★★★☆ 3.8 (45) • $$

"My favorite chicken spot. Always friendly and cool. Just make sure to place your order over the phone. The wait goes a bit quicker. How would I know? Well, I eat there about once a week, so that I limit my chicken intake. If it were up to me, I'd eat there 3x a week. Even though I live up the street from Popeyes, I mean literally 2 mins away, I'll drive that extra 5 mins to Wing Snack Express.They haven't failed me yet and I don't plan on it. I like support locally, black owned businesses. Keep it going!"

The Kitchen

★★★★☆ 4.2 (31) • $$

"This place was awesome home cooked food. The price was a bit more than usual for what seemed to be low end ingredients or just a basic supper plate. But definitely worth the try."

Jam's PO-Boys & Catering

★★★★☆ 3.7 (39) • $

"On our return to NOLA, I decided to hit up an old favorite... Jam's. Previously I had only ever had a takeout poboy for lunch, but decided to dine in with the family. The food is good, and service is good. Generally, the prices are good. However, they pulled some shady crap on this most recent visit, and I can't possibly give more than 3 stars with that behavior. The menu has fountain drinks at $2.20 and bottled water for $1.35. My husband and I have been trying to avoid drinking coke etc, so we each ordered a water. The server didn't ask whether we wanted tap or bottled, brought tap, and I assumed it was free (after all, it's just tap water). We enjoyed our meal, then received the bill, with $2.20 each for the water. Had that been advertised anywhere, we would have chosen the bottled water.So, warning to anyone going to Jam's and dining in - don't order water. Or specify that you want bottled water."

Pra_LEES

★★★★☆ 3.7 (38)

"I tried PraLees for the first time today and the food was really good! Both of the guys who were working were very friendly and sweet. He explained the menu items before I chose. They're operating off of a limited menu for now, but it's still a lot of choices! I got the fried salmon (!) so good - I had never had or seen that before, Brussels sprouts, crawfish macaroni and salad. The salmon is great with the crawfish sauce from the Mac and the sauce for the Brussels sprouts is good too. They hd some praline cupcakes on the counter that looked delicious, but i didn't try one. You have to wear a mask to go in and it's take out only, but you can wait inside while they prepare your food. *Make sure you're going to Frenchman St location because when I put the name in maps, it took me to its old, closed location."

Ray's Uptown

★★★★☆ 3.7 (35)

"Me and bae came to Rays for lunch today I had lunch special which was the fish only $12.50 bae had the 1/2 chicken which was seasoned so good customer service was good if you uptown area stop in n give them a try!"

RibMaster Soul Food & BBQ

★★★★★ 4.8 (16)

"A rule of thumb I like to live by is if ever there's a food truck... pullover! The food's delicious, the service was quick and friendly and if you choose to eat there their little outside set up is super cute! Perfect for a gathering of family and friends or even a cute early dinner date! Call ahead or do like I did and impulse buy too much food at the window! I regret nothing!! Also keep in mind the hours are close at 6 OR until they run out. Which is what contributed to me taking forever to try them. Can't wait to get back and try some other menu items! Maybe even this week.. #fatkidproblems"

Brown Skillet - Lafayette

★★★★★ 4.5 (17)

"The food is awesome here and the customer service is amazing. I enjoy going to this place on Fridays after a long week of work. The staff really caters to the customers need, food comes out fresh and hot. Please if you're a sweet addict like myself don't eat the cake. It's addictive .....omg"

Soul Haus Kitchen

★★★★☆ 3.9 (22)

"My brother and I went there several times on a visit back to Lafayette. I thought the food was absolutely amazing. Just like my maw-maw's home cooking. I had the smother chicken and pork chops. The staff was very kind and courteous. It was very clean with plenty of places to sit and visit. I cannot recommend this place enough. Can't wait to go back."

Suzie’s Soulhouse

★★★★☆ 4.2 (17)

"Good food. Great service. The greens could have a bit more flavor but the ribs are tensor and the sauce is different. Crawfish and shrimp pasta was good. Cool little place They serve wine, beer and seltzers."

M & J Soulfood Restaurant

★★★★★ 4.6 (14) • $$

"Excellent food! I got the stuffed (cat)fish and it was excellent. It was blacked and stuffed with crab and shrimp and so yummy. It was similar to blackened catfish with a crab-cake/seafood-cake on top. The Mac and cheese was homemade and delish. The seafood rice had crawfish and shrimp. The prices are amazing also. This is a great place to eat. Note: it's a solid 4.5."

Callihan’s Restaurant on Pinhook

★★★★☆ 3.6 (20)

"We heard about Callihan's from a friend, and decided to try for a lunch. The dining room inside looks great and good for a bigger group, our server was welcoming and very polite. Our appetizer was shrimp in a bourbon sauce, which was very good with the bed of lettuce, but the ranch dressing didn't work, blue cheese would have pulled this together, however still a decent appetizer. The fried ribs which we came for, was well prepared, just a touch more seasoning and this would be over the top. The chicken and waffles were great, the only feedback is with the waffles already being sweet, it would go better with steen's cane syrup, but if you like sweet this is perfect. Service is a little slow but good food. Ohh so get the bread pudding, one of the better I've had, all the sides were good especially the yams, and greens."

Brown Skillet UL

★★★★★ 4.8 (10)

"Great service every time we come! They serve for breakfast and lunch, I never had a thing I did not like here! Must try when you are near, yes, they are located in a gas station!Check @eatinglafayette on Instagram and Facebook for more Lafayette food things!"

Ma Momma’s House

★★★☆☆ 3 (21)

"Customer service was wonderful! Staff were very friendly. The wait time was 15 mins, which isn't bad at all considering the amount of space that they have to cook. They offer takeout, delivery, or you can eat inside. The food was very good and filling. The eggs weren't seasoned. However, they provided salt and pepper. The house punch is AMAZING!"

Nadiebs Taste Of Homeah

★★★★★ 4.6 (7)

"Went here when I was in town last time 2 days in a row lol. Food is GREAT and so is customer service. They are not skimpy with the portions either. So I'm back in town and on my way there again today lol. Small business and black owned is always a win for me"

Nola Soul Food and Sweets

★★★★★ 5 (2)

"Absolutely delicious food and such kind service! We had the chicken teriyaki with dirty rice and greens, the greens were so well seasoned and the chicken was absolutely fall off the bone! Will be back to try breakfast"

Quick N Karry

★★★☆☆ 3 (4) • $

"This place offers fresh hot food daily! There are over 20 items to choose from ranging from boiled items, crawfish, poboys, chinese food, and soul food! Any craving you have, they're sure to satisfy. Don't forget a huge selections of cold drinks, beer, and liquor so you can get your fix at any time! Perfect for a quick lunch stop or a dinner when you're too lazy to cook! I loveeee all of the food here and haven't found anything I don't like!"

Mambo's

★★★★☆ 4.2 • $$

"My daughter and I had an amazing experience at Mambo's on Bourbon Street--not once, but three times! We dined twice on 2/22/25 (lunch & dinner) and once on 2/23/25, and every visit was fantastic.From the moment we arrived, Irvin, the doorman, greeted us with great energy and warm hospitality, making us feel right at home.On 2/22/25, we had the pleasure of being served by Kyla for both lunch and dinner. She was so full of life, friendly, and provided excellent service. She introduced me to the famous garlic oysters, and WOW--I'm from San Diego, CA, and I've never had oysters this delicious before! They were easily a 10/10.We also ordered the shrimp platter, and if you get it, you must ask for the barbecue lemon pepper sauce--OMG! It's a total game-changer and enhances the fried shrimp perfectly.On 2/23/25, we were served by Joe, who was incredibly kind and gave great recommendations. We also had the pleasure of meeting Britney, the manager, who was so welcoming.Overall, Mambo's exceeded our expectations! The food, service, and atmosphere were all top-notch. If you're visiting New Orleans, make sure to stop by--you won't be disappointed!"

Olde Nola Cookery

★★★★☆ 4.1 • $$

"Excellent Creole cuisine. If you want find a harmony taste that not a too strong Cajun cuisine, this can be your restaurant.We got Jazzy Crab Cake Platter and Taste of New Orleans. I like both of the dishes. The crab cake has some lump crab meat. With make the crab cake desirable. They top with crawfish mushrooms cream sauce. You can spot many crawfish crumb meat. The dish also comes with two sides. It has the collard greens and mush potatoes. The taste of New Orleans has seafood gumbo, crawfish etouffee, and rice and bean with andouille sausage. I would suggest add the fried crawfish tail with small fees. I like all of them. Service is a bit slow in the beginning, but it pick up at the end. Foods are delicious."