The Yummiest Soul Food in New Orleans

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."

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!"

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."

Willie's Chicken Shack

★★★★☆ 3.5 (312) • $$

"Great Cajun chicken tenders with a tangy BBQ sauce! Their honey biscuits are good fresh but they are hit or miss depending on when they were made. Great staff- friendly and honest. We were regulars while visiting."

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."

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!"

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"

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!"

Willies Chicken Shack

★★★★☆ 3.7 (140) • $$

"Super good chiken definitely coming back to this spot try it guys better than Popeyes"

J Rucker's House of Soul

★★★★☆ 3.8 (21) • $$

"I've been craving some good fried chicken. This hit the spot. The Mac & Cheese was cheesy and good a little cold but the crispy fresh hot fried chicken made up for it. The waiter was attentive and on point. Thursday nights is steak night but my party decided on some other things. The candied yams melt in your mouth delicious. I will definitely be back to my home town just to eat here again!"

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!"

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"

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 !"

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 ."

Smoke & Honey

★★★★☆ 4.3 (38) • $$

"I've been for breakfast and I loved it so I was dying to try their dinner. I went with a friend and we split a few options. We started with a tomatotini and green goddess cocktail, the green goddess cocktail was so refreshing! We split the olives & Dolmades, the spread eagle, marouli salad, and keftedes. Mediterranean food is my favorite and they did not miss! The flavors were 10/10 and I'll be coming back for the Pastitsio and lamb!! We sat inside in a corner booth. All of the servers were so nice and they even offered everyone a free shot of Ouzo at the end of dinner and we all cheersed together! I had a great experience and I'll definitely be back."

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."

Triangle Deli

★★★★☆ 3.9 (102) • $$

"The breakfast is top tier for a reasonable price. Get anything from the Fish, shrimp or liver and grits."

Chicken’s Kitchen

★★★★★ 4.6 (138) • $$

"I loved everything about this place. This place is worth the queue I waited in to get in this place. We order the hen, dressing, cabbage, Mac and cheese, fried chicken, fried fish, okra stew, black eye peas and dirty rice. The portion size was plenty and we had leftovers. Everyone who worked there was kind and seemed like they enjoyed their job. I will make sure to visit this place the next time I return to NOLA. ALS, there were a few seats to eat your meal, but most people do take out."

NOLA Munchies

★★★★★ 4.6 (14)

"Stopped by on a whim and loved it. People inside were friendly and the food was delicious. Will be back."

Mama's Kitchen

★★★★☆ 4.2 (13)

"I've eaten here a few times and what stands out the most is their amazing customer service! Their service is super quick and super friendly. I can always count on this place for a good meal and for consistency that so many other places lack.My favorite things to eat? -The eggrolls are delicious!!! They're homemade from scratch!!!-Eggdrop soup-hamburgers-onion petals-the entire menu!!! *Yummm"

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"

Willie's Chicken Shack

★★★★☆ 3.6 (479) • $

"Okay this place is bomb. Chicken comes out super hot and crispy, fries were great, and that biscuit!!! Mmm. Loved the selection of frozen drinks - super refreshing. Had a few issues with people coming up to us asking for our credit cards / money while eating inside of the restaurant? Not necessarily a representation of the place, but just with caution. Can't wait to go back!"

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."

Zeeland Street

★★★★☆ 4.1 (104) • $$

"Cool place to go for lunch. Lots of tasty sandwiches on the menu and other southern style specialty items. They used to do breakfast as well, not sure if they still do. The specials were red beans and rice, mama's pot roast or brisket. It was Monday so I got the red beans and rice. The meal came with a side of mustard greens, cornbread, and sweet potatoes. The price was $15 and some change which is really good considering that's how much McDonald's charges you for a burger these days and it was really a lot of food. My only issue with this dish was that rice must've been undercooked. It was very hard and crunchy. Almost messed up my dental work because I wasn't expecting it and it wasn't just one or two bites. It was the whole dish. I'm guessing this is a fluke because I can't imagine this would happen on a regular basis for as long as this place has been here so I'd probably try red beans and rice there again but from this experience, I would say it's not the best place to get red beans and rice and Baton Rouge. I'm still looking forward to my next visit since there's not many places around this area to get homestyle type cooking and such."

Fam Bizz

★★★★★ 4.7 (37) • $$

"I stopped into Fam Bizz on a Monday after hearing raves about their red beans and rice special. It didn't disappoint. The special come with a hearty helping of red beans and rice, fried chicken, potato salad and toast.The beans were delicious and flavorful and the fried chicken was perfect- tender and juicy. The food here is made to order, so you're going to have a wait if you didn't order ahead, but it's worth it.I wrote more about this spot for Big Easy Magazine. Check it out here: https://www.bigeasymagazine.com/2021/07/22/1brothers-johnny-and-ronneil-williams-find-a-home-for-the-wildly-popular-food-with-new-brick-and-mortar-fam-bizz/"

Pot & Paddle Jambalaya Kitchen

★★★★☆ 4.1 (66) • $

"Can you find more gourmet Cajun cuisine at a dozen other places in Baton Rouge? Maybe so. But when you want a tasty and reasonably priced meal served up fast, Pot & Paddle is your place.It's a casual, self-service restaurant in the Jefferson Pointe Shopping Center. Customers order at the counter or run in to pick up takeout. Either way the service is lightning fast. I ordered a Meal Deal with a fountain drink; before I even filled my cup, my food had arrived.MEAL DEALThe value was almost unbelievable. For one Hamilton, I got a combo platter piled with jambalaya, pastalaya, chicken & sausage gumbo, two sides (white beans and salad) and a roll. Technically, I was supposed to choose between jambalaya and pastalaya but the guy behind the counter suggested half portions so I could try them both.Everything was piping hot and flavorful. The pasta was several notches beyond al dente but was saved by a generous dose of chicken and sausage. To my surprise it wasn't spicy at all. Tabasco and Crystal Hot Sauce were on every table so customers could make any necessary adjustments.Since Pot & Paddle finds the sweet spot of convenient, cheap and delicious, it's A-OK in my book."

Westwego Seafood

★★★★☆ 3.7 (25) • $$

"I give Westwego Seafood all five stars because they make delicious local seafood favorites at amazing pricing. I tried calling in to place a takeout order but no one picked up. Lucky for me, I was staying down the street so I popped in and placed my order in person. The order would be ready in 25 minutes so I left and ran errands. I came back and the food was ready.Get the full 12" poboys! My favorites are the shrimp and oyster poboys. The bread is fresh while the proteins are fried to perfection. Don't forget to add fries to your poboy."

Anointed Soul Food

★★★★★ 4.8 (4)

"This is a small town mom and pop restaurant. It's a hot line set up. Walk in and order from whatever choices you see or offered. I'd prefer something written down. Even if it's a chalkboard. Maybe there was one and I missed it. After you get your food you proceed to the register to pay and then you sit and eat.Onto the food... it's phenomenal! Such good home cooking. You will clean your plate. It's all so delicious. I had smothered ribs. I'd never had such a thing but it looked so good I tried it. Didn't disappoint. If you're in the area do stop by. You won't regret it"

Anointed Soul Food

★★★★★ 4.7 (13)

"Came here on a Sunday to try their bbq plate lunch, and it was delicious! The establishment is full of friendly people!"

John & Mary's Food Store

★★★★★ 4.5 (23) • $

"John and Mary's is only a few blocks from the VRBO we're staying at in New Orleans. I noticed it before the trip when I looked at nearby restaurants. I had stopped by once after eating at Parkway to grab a few things, but as good as I hear the bahn mi and other dishes are, I was satiated by having just polished off a Parkway fried oyster poor boy. When I stopped by again yesterday, I noticed their menu includes gumbo, so I ordered a cup as an afterthought. We already had dinner plans, but I went and decided to steal a bite. Oh my, oh my. I'm tempted to say it's the best gumbo I've had this trip, but that doesn't do it justice. I'll just say it's the best gumbo I can recall ever having. For a time, there was a Cajun restaurant that popped up in an old Long John Silver's in Midwest City, Okla. Word was the family had a restaurant near the Superdome until Katrina. Their gumbo and etouffee - and, well, everything - was awesome. The place was always busy, but closed after a few years. My hope is the family was able to return to New Orleans. That was some great gumbo, but this was just as good. So give John and Mary's gumbo a shot. It's chocked full of flavor. My son sampled it, then promptly stole it away to polish off before I could get a picture. The roux was a milk chocolate brown, with ham, andouille and more. It's good, ya'll."

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."

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!"

Nola Smokehouse

★★★★★ 4.7 (3)

"Was in town to shoot a race and wanted some BBQ. Went to this place and ordered sliced brisket plate, two ribs, collards and red beans and rice. Ended up getting a huge homemade brownie. Everything was absolutely delicious. They are newly opened, go in and support, because you will get some great BBQ"

Willie's Chicken Shack

★★★★☆ 3.7 (56) • $$

"Ten out of ten, no notes!Listen, if you want it hot, fresh, and seasoned, this is the place to be. I've never seen so many people chewing away happily in blissful silence in one place. The food is cooked to order so there's a bit of a wait but it's definitely worth it. While you're waiting, grab an adult slushy and have yourself a good night! I love it here and will definitely be back."

3 Southern Girls

★★★★★ 4.6 (45)

"I absolutely love this place. As someone who grew up in southern Louisiana this food makes me feel at home. The service is so sweet and kind and welcoming. Definitely recommend trying this place !"