Louisiana is well known for delicious Cajun and Creole cuisine such as gumbo, jambalaya, and red beans and rice. These popular dishes can be found all over the state, with regional variations to the recipe. Find these staples served daily throughout Southwest Louisiana, as well as several lesser-known delicacies that are just as delicious.
Plate Lunch from Leonard's Food Quarters in Lake Charles, La
Plate Lunches
Plate lunches consist of one meat and three side dishes served on a disposable plate. They are usually served at legendary hole-in-the-wall joints and on food trucks. Plate lunches are loaded with Southern soul foods like smothered pork chops and fried fish, macaroni and cheese, red beans and rice, cornbread, and more.
Often confused with pork rinds and fatback, cracklins are similar to bacon but served in a thicker, nugget form. It's a crunchy piece of fried skin, soft rendered fat, and a bit of chewy meat in each bite. This savory treat is seasoned with Cajun spices and is served by the pound in a Ziploc bag.
A Po'boy is a sandwich that typically contains lettuce, tomato, roast beef, or fried seafood such as shrimp, crawfish, fish, oysters, or alligator. The ingredients are served on fresh, buttered French bread with a condiment of your choice. It's often served with chips or French fries.
Sauce piquant flies under the radar in restaurants around Lake Charles. It's a spicy, tomato-based stew with various meats, spices, and vegetables cooked down to a soft texture and served over a bed of rice.
Sweet Potato Pie from Mrs. Johnnie's Gingerbread House in Lake Charles, La
Sweet Dough Pies
Sweet dough pies are unique to most pie creations. These delicacies are thicker, softer, and sweeter than traditional pies and are often served as a morning treat with coffee.
You’ll most likely catch the Louisiana blue crab when crabbing in our region. These crustaceans are blue while alive, but their shells turn bright red when boiled, steamed, or deep-fried.
Usually served during Mardi Gras, grits and grillades are pieces of beef or veal swimming in a roux-based gravy with red wine, seasonings, and spices and then layered on a bed of Southern-style grits.
Treat your tastebuds to the delectable dish at Pujo St. Café.
Indulge in these mouthwatering delicacies at Cajun and Creole restaurants throughout Southwest Louisiana. Check out the Cajun and Creole page for a full list of restaurants, recipes, and podcast episodes dedicated to the delicious cuisine. For a full list of restaurants in Louisiana's Playground and foodie-related content visit our Food and Drink page.
