If you're wondering where to eat in Lake Charles, Louisiana, Gerald Gruenig has a few ideas. The Louisiana social media personality ate his way through Lake Charles and Southwest Louisiana, stopping for everything from boudin, cracklins and loaded po'boys to Latin American cuisine, soul food, giant cookies and over-the-top snow cones. Whether you're looking for classic Louisiana food or something unexpected, use Gerald's food tour as inspiration for your own Lake Charles dining itinerary. Special thanks to Mr. Weatherall for creating the videos documenting Gerald's Lake Charles food adventures.
1. Wang Sistas
Wang Sistas has built its menu around its signature “Wangs,” with flavors ranging from Ms. Garlic Parmesan and Ms. Honey Wang to the crawfish boil-inspired Ms. Craw Wang. Beyond wings, the menu includes Southern comfort foods and rotating favorites such as red beans and rice, fish plates and sandwiches.
Why go: Wings and Southern comfort food
Location: 1222 Oak Park Blvd., Lake Charles
2. Area 337
Area 337 brings Latin American and Caribbean influences to the Lake Charles dining scene. Its menu features dishes such as empanadas, mofongo, stewed meats, red snapper and tres leches, with recipes and flavors inspired by cuisines from across Latin America. For travelers looking beyond traditional Louisiana fare, Area 337 shows another side of the city's increasingly diverse food culture.
Why go: Latin American and Caribbean-inspired cuisine
Location: 710 Dr. Michael DeBakey Dr., Lake Charles
3. In-Laws Cajun Specialties
For a taste of Southwest Louisiana's Cajun food traditions, In-Laws Cajun Specialties serves boudin, cracklins, barbecue plate lunches and specialty meats. Visitors can pick up something hot and ready to eat or shop packaged meats and other Cajun specialties to take home. In-Laws has two locations in Southwest Louisiana:
Iowa: 1121 Lowe-Grout Road, Iowa
Moss Bluff: 258 US-171, Moss Bluff
Why go: Boudin, cracklins, Cajun specialties and plate lunches
4. Luna Bar & Grill
Chef Dave Evans' Luna Bar & Grill has become a familiar name in Lake Charles dining, combining Louisiana influences with an eclectic menu. Expect seafood, steaks, sandwiches and creative dishes alongside some of Luna's longtime favorites, including its crab cakes. There are two Lake Charles locations:
Downtown: 719 Ryan St.
South Lake Charles: 5656 Nelson Road, Suite B2
Why go: Local flavors, seafood, cocktails and live music
5. Twanie's Terrific Treats
Bring your sweet tooth. Founded by Antwan Pettis II, Twanie's Terrific Treats serves an ever-changing assortment of oversized and creative desserts, including colossal cookies, cinnamon rolls, cheesecakes, bread pudding and seasonal creations. Twanie's has grown since Gerald's original visit and now operates from its Nelson Road location.
Why go: Cookies, cheesecake, cinnamon rolls and decadent desserts
Location: 3625 Nelson Road, Suite C, Lake Charles
6. Darrell's
When someone asks where to get a po'boy in Lake Charles, Darrell's is one of the names you're likely to hear. A Lake Charles tradition since 1985, Darrell's is known for overstuffed po'boys layered with house-made sauces, gravies and Louisiana flavor. Gerald ordered the Surf & Turf with jalapeño mayonnaise, while other signatures include the Darrell's Special and BBQ Beef. Don't expect a neat sandwich. That's part of the experience.
Gerald tried: Surf & Turf with jalapeño mayonnaise
Why go: Famous Lake Charles po'boys
Location: 119 W. College St., Lake Charles
7. Lulu's Specialty Snocones and More
A snow cone at Lulu's can become an entire dessert. Known for photo-worthy creations, Lulu's offers dozens of flavors and toppings that can include cotton candy, ice cream, candy, cheesecake, cereal and even pickles. Gerald went straight for two of its more memorable creations: the pickle snow cone and Do It for the Gram. In addition to specialty snow cones, Lulu's serves other treats and casual food items.
Gerald tried: Pickle snow cone and Do It for the Gram
Why go: Specialty snow cones and over-the-top desserts
Location: 2735 Country Club Road, Lake Charles
8. Mama Reta's Kitchen
Mama Reta's Kitchen has earned a loyal local following for home-style Southern cooking. The to-go restaurant serves dishes such as fried chicken, smothered meats and rotating plate lunches with the kind of sides that complete a proper Southern meal. Gerald doubled down with the Smothered Pork Steak Plate Lunch and Fried Chicken Plate Lunch.
Gerald tried: Smothered pork steak and fried chicken plate lunches
Why go: Soul food, Southern cooking and plate lunches
Location: 1916 Belden St., Lake Charles
9. Famous Foods
If you're searching for cracklins or boudin in Lake Charles, Famous Foods belongs on the itinerary. This no-frills local restaurant specializes in Creole and barbecue favorites, with cracklins and boudin among the foods that have made it a longtime Lake Charles stop. Gerald ordered the Soft and Spicy Cracklins. Famous Foods is also a go-to stop for visitors exploring Southwest Louisiana's Boudin Trail.
Gerald tried: Soft and Spicy Cracklins
Why go: Cracklins, boudin, barbecue and Creole food
Location: 1475 Gerstner Memorial Dr., Lake Charles
10. Creole Hidden Garden - Food Truck
Louisiana food doesn't have to revolve around meat. Creole Hidden Garden puts a plant-based spin on familiar flavors with a vegan menu that can include burgers, tacos, egg rolls, fries and other Creole-inspired dishes. Gerald ordered the vegan beef tacos. Because food-truck schedules can change, check Creole Hidden Garden's current schedule before visiting.
Gerald tried: Vegan beef tacos
Why go: Vegan and plant-based Creole food
11. Ju'Elles Café - Food Truck
Ju'Elles Café serves Southern comfort and soul food from its mobile kitchen. Menu favorites include country-fried ribs, wings, fried shrimp and fish baskets, burgers and plate lunches, with specials changing regularly. Gerald made his way through the quesadillas, fried ribs and a burger. Because food-truck schedules can change, check Ju'Elles' current schedule before visiting.
Gerald tried: Quesadillas, fried ribs and a burger
Why go: Soul food, fried ribs, seafood and plate lunches
12. Shuga Mama’s
Shuga Mama's specializes in the kind of dessert that deserves its own photo before the first bite. The menu includes specialty snow cones, funnel cakes, pineapple bowls and other colorful creations piled with fruit, candy and toppings. Gerald ordered the praline funnel cake and a pineapple bowl snow cone loaded with strawberries, pineapple, a lollipop, cotton candy, peach rings and gummy worms. Since Gerald's original visit, Shuga Mama's has opened its brick-and-mortar Lake Charles location.
Gerald tried: Praline funnel cake and loaded pineapple bowl snow cone
Why go: Snow cones, funnel cakes and extravagant sweets
Location: 3117 Enterprise Blvd., Lake Charles
13. Danny’s Place
Danny's Place serves hearty Creole and soul food, with dishes that can include smothered ribs, fried pork chops, sauce piquant, oxtails, turkey legs and traditional sides. Gerald ordered the smothered ribs over rice with green beans and mac and cheese. It's exactly the type of plate lunch travelers should look for if they want to experience everyday Southwest Louisiana comfort food.
Gerald tried: Smothered ribs over rice, green beans and mac and cheese
Why go: Creole and soul food plate lunches
Location: 2502 Broad St., Lake Charles
14. Buffi's Peauxboys
Buffi's Peaux Boys puts its own spin on the Louisiana po'boy. The downtown Lake Charles restaurant offers gourmet Peauxboys, loaded potatoes, wraps, salads, soups and desserts. Gerald ordered the Boiled Crawfish Peauxboy, combining crawfish, corn and potatoes with seafood sauce for a sandwich inspired by a Louisiana crawfish boil.
Gerald tried: Boiled Crawfish Peauxboy
Why go: Gourmet po'boys and loaded potatoes
Location: 345 Broad St., Lake Charles
Build Your Own Lake Charles Food Tour
Gerald managed to cover everything from boudin and cracklins to vegan tacos and pickle snow cones, but this list only scratches the surface of Southwest Louisiana's food scene.
If it's your first visit, start with a few Louisiana staples like boudin, cracklins, a po'boy, a plate lunch and something sweet. Then make room for the restaurants, food trucks and international flavors that show how Lake Charles' culinary scene continues to evolve.
Explore more Cajun and Creole restaurants, follow the Southwest Louisiana Boudin Trail, discover Lake Charles food trucks, or find more restaurants in downtown Lake Charles as you plan your trip.
