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Spread of gumbo, po’boys, and other Cajun dishes from Gumbo Boys in Downtown LA.
Spread of gumbo, po’ boys, and other Cajun dishes from Gumbo Boys in Downtown LA.
Taylor Bescoby

11 Savory Spots to Find LA’s Best Creole and Cajun Dishes

Jambalaya, po’ boys, gumbo, fried chicken, and more make for a mighty Mardi Gras on the West Coast

by Mona Holmes Updated
8 comments / new
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Spread of gumbo, po’ boys, and other Cajun dishes from Gumbo Boys in Downtown LA.
| Taylor Bescoby
by Mona Holmes Updated
8 comments / new

LA’s Cajun and Creole cuisines hardly need help in the popularity department. Whether a butter-filled gooey mac and cheese, flavorful steam from a seafood boil, or signature jambalayas, gumbos, fried chicken, and smothered meats stewed to deliciousness — these dishes aim to please any time of year.

That said, Fat Tuesday is the official kickoff for Mardi Gras, so it feels extra special ordering from a local Cajun or Creole spot this time of year. There’s dishes for everyone, too, from lobster mac and cheese to plant-based options from one of LA’s oldest restaurants, here are 11 places to catch the Mardi Gras spirit throughout Southern California. These restaurants are listed from north to south.

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Les Sisters' Southern Kitchen & BBQ

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Deep in the San Fernando Valley is Les Sisters Southern Kitchen. The family-run operation opened in 1986 and staff there still prepare heart-shaped beignets, hush puppies, ribs, and gumbo, and a fried seafood platter with yams. Every February and March, there’s a special Mardi Gras menu. And as of 2022, there are two locations, both in Chatsworth.

21818 Devonshire St, Chatsworth, CA 91311
(818) 998-0755
(818) 998-0755

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The Gumbo Pot

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Open for almost 40 years, the Gumbo Pot’s got a few things working in their favor. First, it’s centrally stationed in the historic Original Farmers Market. And two, there’s tasty bowls of jambalaya or gumbo ya-ya filled with shrimp, andouille sausage, and spicy chicken available.

Parking lot, 6333 W 3rd St #312, Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 933-0358
(323) 933-0358

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Stevie's Creole Café

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The late Jonathan Gold shared good words about Stevie’s, labeling it the “best gumbo this side of New Orleans.” The locations moved since opening in 1986, but recipes endured —especially the peach cobbler.

5545 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90019
(323) 413-2494
(323) 413-2494

Also featured in:

Gumbo Boys

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After first making its mark in Downtown LA in 2018, Gumbo Boys has returned to the neighborhood after spending the past few years doing pop-ups, events, and even running a food truck to reach its fans. Now with a small standalone restaurant focusing on takeout and delivery, this plucky Cajun restaurant from three brothers and a sister who hail from Baton Rouge cook up soulful, well-seasoned bowls of gumbo. The menu extends to other Cajun fare, from dense chicken liver-and-pork boudin balls and well-dusted beignets pulled fresh out of the fryer.

646 S Main St, Los Angeles, CA 90014
(213) 910-2980
(213) 910-2980
Sweep the kitchen sink gumbo from Gumbo Boys in Downtown LA.
Sweep the kitchen sink gumbo from Gumbo Boys in Downtown LA.
Taylor Bescoby

Harold & Belle's

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This year, Harold & Belle’s will celebrate 54 years in Jefferson Park. There’s always a festive atmosphere when sitting down to order the the popular Louisiana-style catfish nuggets, and keep expanding their plant-based menu with jambalaya, gumbo, and savory po’ boys.

2920 W Jefferson Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90018
(323) 735-9023
(323) 735-9023
A bowl full of vegan gumbo at Harold & Belle’s in Los Angeles, California.
Harold & Belle’s plant-based gumbo.
Harold & Belle’s

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Orleans & York Deli

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Over the last decade, Orleans & York Deli executed an LA takeover. Owner Sami Othman opened six locations throughout the Southland (and a stand at SoFi Stadium), so there’s more than one spot to order po’ boys, gumbo, fried oyster platter, or muffulettas.

400 E Florence Ave, Inglewood, CA 90301
(310) 671-6200
(310) 671-6200

Also featured in:

Crystals Soul Cafe

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Those avoiding animal products might feel left out during Mardi Gras, but LA has plenty of options including Crystals Soul Cafe. The menu showcases vegan and jerk shrimp po’ boys, along with a smoked and marinated vegan chicken with mango barbecue sauce, corn cake, collard greens, and black-eyed peas.

12823 S Avalon Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90061
(424) 292-3378
(424) 292-3378

Also featured in:

Chef C's Smhokin Pot

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Chef Calvin Alexander opened his Carson-based restaurant in early 2021 after operating a food truck for years. His niece took over operations after Alexander died that same year, but the menu remains the same quality, with savory dishes like the gumbo accompanying the lobster mac and cheese, Cajun chicken rice bowls, and plant-based jambalaya.

17944 S Avalon Blvd, Carson, CA 90746
(310) 283-2029
(310) 283-2029
Garlic chicken from Chef C’s Smhokin Pot in Carson, California.
Chef C’s Smhokin Pot’s garlic chicken
Courtesy of Chef C’s Smhokin Pot

Also featured in:

The Boujie Crab

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Owner and New Orleans native Nickey McKnight opened the Boujie Crab in early 2020. Traditional Creole favorites are throughout the menu, but McKnight twisted things up a bit by offering a mostly seafood-based menu. Her bowls are generous with Cajun beef sausage and corn that can be topped with a protein of choice including snow crab, shrimp, and salmon.

1002 E South St, Long Beach, CA 90805
(562) 612-3311
(562) 612-3311
Seafood gumbo from Boujie Crab in Los Angeles, California
Seafood gumbo from Boujie Crab
Courtesy of Boujie Crab

Also featured in:

Georgia’s

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Georgia’s Anaheim and Long Beach channel Mardi Gras every year with a massive $15 hurricane for two filled with rum, pineapple juice, orange juice, and grenadine. Have one before trying “Nana” Gretchen’s jambalaya served over pasta or rice.

440 S Anaheim Blvd #209a, Anaheim, CA 92805
(714) 906-1900
(714) 906-1900

Darrow's New Orleans Grill

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Open Thursday through Sunday, Darrow’s is offering Mardi Gras specials for Fat Tuesday and potentially beyond. Beignets, fried catfish, shrimp and grits, or chicken and waffles are always best when freshly made, so sit down and enjoy these dishes in Uncle Darrow’s comfy dining room.

21720 S Avalon Blvd #102, Carson, CA 90745
(424) 570-0531
(424) 570-0531

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Les Sisters' Southern Kitchen & BBQ

21818 Devonshire St, Chatsworth, CA 91311

Deep in the San Fernando Valley is Les Sisters Southern Kitchen. The family-run operation opened in 1986 and staff there still prepare heart-shaped beignets, hush puppies, ribs, and gumbo, and a fried seafood platter with yams. Every February and March, there’s a special Mardi Gras menu. And as of 2022, there are two locations, both in Chatsworth.

21818 Devonshire St, Chatsworth, CA 91311
(818) 998-0755
(818) 998-0755

The Gumbo Pot

Parking lot, 6333 W 3rd St #312, Los Angeles, CA 90036

Open for almost 40 years, the Gumbo Pot’s got a few things working in their favor. First, it’s centrally stationed in the historic Original Farmers Market. And two, there’s tasty bowls of jambalaya or gumbo ya-ya filled with shrimp, andouille sausage, and spicy chicken available.

Parking lot, 6333 W 3rd St #312, Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 933-0358
(323) 933-0358

Stevie's Creole Café

5545 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90019

The late Jonathan Gold shared good words about Stevie’s, labeling it the “best gumbo this side of New Orleans.” The locations moved since opening in 1986, but recipes endured —especially the peach cobbler.

5545 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90019
(323) 413-2494
(323) 413-2494

Gumbo Boys

646 S Main St, Los Angeles, CA 90014

After first making its mark in Downtown LA in 2018, Gumbo Boys has returned to the neighborhood after spending the past few years doing pop-ups, events, and even running a food truck to reach its fans. Now with a small standalone restaurant focusing on takeout and delivery, this plucky Cajun restaurant from three brothers and a sister who hail from Baton Rouge cook up soulful, well-seasoned bowls of gumbo. The menu extends to other Cajun fare, from dense chicken liver-and-pork boudin balls and well-dusted beignets pulled fresh out of the fryer.

646 S Main St, Los Angeles, CA 90014
(213) 910-2980
(213) 910-2980
Sweep the kitchen sink gumbo from Gumbo Boys in Downtown LA.
Sweep the kitchen sink gumbo from Gumbo Boys in Downtown LA.
Taylor Bescoby

Harold & Belle's

2920 W Jefferson Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90018

This year, Harold & Belle’s will celebrate 54 years in Jefferson Park. There’s always a festive atmosphere when sitting down to order the the popular Louisiana-style catfish nuggets, and keep expanding their plant-based menu with jambalaya, gumbo, and savory po’ boys.

2920 W Jefferson Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90018
(323) 735-9023
(323) 735-9023
A bowl full of vegan gumbo at Harold & Belle’s in Los Angeles, California.
Harold & Belle’s plant-based gumbo.
Harold & Belle’s

Orleans & York Deli

400 E Florence Ave, Inglewood, CA 90301

Over the last decade, Orleans & York Deli executed an LA takeover. Owner Sami Othman opened six locations throughout the Southland (and a stand at SoFi Stadium), so there’s more than one spot to order po’ boys, gumbo, fried oyster platter, or muffulettas.

400 E Florence Ave, Inglewood, CA 90301
(310) 671-6200
(310) 671-6200

Crystals Soul Cafe

12823 S Avalon Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90061

Those avoiding animal products might feel left out during Mardi Gras, but LA has plenty of options including Crystals Soul Cafe. The menu showcases vegan and jerk shrimp po’ boys, along with a smoked and marinated vegan chicken with mango barbecue sauce, corn cake, collard greens, and black-eyed peas.

12823 S Avalon Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90061
(424) 292-3378
(424) 292-3378

Chef C's Smhokin Pot

17944 S Avalon Blvd, Carson, CA 90746

Chef Calvin Alexander opened his Carson-based restaurant in early 2021 after operating a food truck for years. His niece took over operations after Alexander died that same year, but the menu remains the same quality, with savory dishes like the gumbo accompanying the lobster mac and cheese, Cajun chicken rice bowls, and plant-based jambalaya.

17944 S Avalon Blvd, Carson, CA 90746
(310) 283-2029
(310) 283-2029
Garlic chicken from Chef C’s Smhokin Pot in Carson, California.
Chef C’s Smhokin Pot’s garlic chicken
Courtesy of Chef C’s Smhokin Pot

The Boujie Crab

1002 E South St, Long Beach, CA 90805

Owner and New Orleans native Nickey McKnight opened the Boujie Crab in early 2020. Traditional Creole favorites are throughout the menu, but McKnight twisted things up a bit by offering a mostly seafood-based menu. Her bowls are generous with Cajun beef sausage and corn that can be topped with a protein of choice including snow crab, shrimp, and salmon.

1002 E South St, Long Beach, CA 90805
(562) 612-3311
(562) 612-3311
Seafood gumbo from Boujie Crab in Los Angeles, California
Seafood gumbo from Boujie Crab
Courtesy of Boujie Crab

Georgia’s

440 S Anaheim Blvd #209a, Anaheim, CA 92805

Georgia’s Anaheim and Long Beach channel Mardi Gras every year with a massive $15 hurricane for two filled with rum, pineapple juice, orange juice, and grenadine. Have one before trying “Nana” Gretchen’s jambalaya served over pasta or rice.

440 S Anaheim Blvd #209a, Anaheim, CA 92805
(714) 906-1900
(714) 906-1900

Darrow's New Orleans Grill

21720 S Avalon Blvd #102, Carson, CA 90745

Open Thursday through Sunday, Darrow’s is offering Mardi Gras specials for Fat Tuesday and potentially beyond. Beignets, fried catfish, shrimp and grits, or chicken and waffles are always best when freshly made, so sit down and enjoy these dishes in Uncle Darrow’s comfy dining room.

21720 S Avalon Blvd #102, Carson, CA 90745
(424) 570-0531
(424) 570-0531

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