Pop's Poboys
Pop's Poboys

Louisiana’s Top Vegetarian Dishes

One of the South’s greatest gastronomic pleasures is Louisiana’s diverse cuisine, which centers around vibrant vegetables as much as it does andouille or boudin.

Whether you’re in search of the ultimate “green gumbo” or plant-based po’boy, these dishes — and the restaurants that serve them — are at the forefront of vegetarian dining in the state.

Marilynn's Place

Find excellent beignets at Marilynn's Place.

Delta Biscuit Company

Delta Biscuit Company offers plenty of vegetarian breakfast items.

Bananas Foster

Classic Bananas Foster, made famous by New Orleans restaurant Brennan’s, melts in the mouth like creamy gelato. First softened in a skillet with scratch-made caramel sauce, sweet, cinnamon-studded bananas are flambéd until crisp and served hot with vanilla ice cream.

Delta Biscuit Company, Monroe

Fiercely loyal to the most important meal of the day? Swing by Delta Biscuit Company, who might do breakfast best. Order the Bananas Foster French Toast, where cinnamon, caramel and house-made banana-liqueur syrup decorate sky-high stacks of Texas toast. Other vegetarian options include buttermilk biscuits, a florentine omelet and a quinoa bowl topped with jammy poached egg and roasted red pepper.  

Menu2252 Tower Dr., Monroe

Beignets

A French method of steaming delicate pastry dough (a pâte à choux, to be exact) in a deep fryer creates the tender, airy texture folks love about beignets. These buttery, cloud-like bites of warm bread are coated in powdered sugar, best had with a chicory-spiced cafe au lait.

Marilynn’s Place, Shreveport 

Marilynn’s Place keeps hot coffee and beignets flowing all day long — both of which make a great snack break while exploring Shreveport. Stopping by at lunch? Check out The MK, a po’boy topped with roasted bell pepper, eggplant and hummus. If you’re a pescatarian, consider the Shrimp Creole, where tender Gulf shrimp are served in a tomato sauce made vivid by herbs like thyme, oregano and bay leaves.

Menu4041 Fern Ave., Shreveport

Dooky Chase's

Grab Gumbo z'Herbes from Dooky Chase's.

Chimes_BatonRouge_gumbo_shrimp_web.jpg

Savor pescatarian étouffe at The Chimes.

Étouffée

No one makes étouffé quite like Creoles. This dish begins with a butter-based roux  made blond slowly over low heat. This dimensional, nutty base is perfect for vegetables and herbs like celery, garlic, parsley and onion. Fresh-cracked black pepper and smoky paprika lend the dish bite. Typically, étouffé is scooped over a heap of steaming white rice and topped with briny Gulf shrimp or tender crawfish.

The Chimes, Baton Rouge

The Chimes serves up classic Louisiana fare like boudin balls, alligator sausage and maque choux. Pescetarians will love their crawfish étouffé, which features delicate, herb-studded crawfish tails. Be sure to soak up the last bits of this dish with the buttery, toasty French bread served on the side. Don’t eat fish? The fried cauliflower sandwich delights with its crispy, crunchy breading and tender bun.

Menu10870 Coursey Blvd.  #4019, Baton Rouge

Gumbo z'Herbes

Louisiana’s connection to Catholicism makes it easy to find meatless dishes during the Lenten season. Spot Gumbo z’Herbes (lovingly called green gumbo) around the state as a seasonal menu item in spring. 

Dooky Chase’s, New Orleans

There’s no better place to score green gumbo than at Dooky Chase’s, a longtime New Orleans staple with Civil Rights history. Visit Tremé, the oldest historically Black neighborhood in the United States, to find it. Leah Chase’s well-worn recipe highlights collard and mustard greens, beet tops, cabbage, watercress, romaine lettuce and spinach.

Menu2301 Orleans Ave., New Orleans

Spirits Food & Friends

Find great vegetarian dishes (and cocktails!) at Spirits Food & Friends.

Sugar LOVE Bakery

Sample a delicious praline king cake from Sugar LOVE Bakery in Slidell.

King Cake

King cake, served throughout Carnival, forsakes simpler pastry methods for the labyrinthine French tradition of braiding yeasted puff pastry, or a galette de rois. The result? A spongy, dense cake swirled in cinnamon, filled with almond cream, dotted with nuts or topped in cream cheese icing. The variations are endless, but one thing is certain: Head to your bakery of choice early in the morning — King Cakes sell out quickly.

Sugar LOVE Bakery, Slidell

From standard king cakes to king cake “bites,” you’ll find dozens of playful riffs on the classic at Slidell’s Sugar LOVE Bakery. Consider the Chantilly King Cake, where raspberry filling nests between layers of vanilla-streaked whipped cream. Love pecans? Order the Praline Pecan King Cake, where Louisiana’s favorite candy is dusted over a thick caramel glaze. 

Menu1329 Englewood Dr., Slidell

Muffaletta

This famous sandwich was invented by a New Orleans-based Italian chef. Classic vegetarian riffs typically feature provolone cheese and a briny, chopped olive dressing, which are stuffed between layers of sesame seed bread. 

Spirits Food & Friends, Alexandria 

Spirits Food & Friends embodies Central Louisiana’s cool, relaxed essence. These muffalettas highlight Louisiana’s own Gambino’s bread — just be sure to order the sandwich without ham or salami. Sample the Spirits Spinach salad, too, for candied pecans, feta cheese and mandarin oranges finished in a pepper jelly vinaigrette.

Menu1200 Texas Ave., Alexandria

Pop's Poboys

Bite into crunch red bean falafel at Pop's Poboys.

Po’Boy

po’boy (or po-boy, poboy) is a French bread-based sandwich stuffed with anything from fried shrimp to hot sausage or vegetables. What separates a po’boy from any other sandwich is the bread’s flaky, crunchy exterior and soft, cloudlike interior — the fillings are just for fun.

Pop’s Poboys, Lafayette

The eclectic Southern menu at Pop’s Poboys highlights regional favorites like buttermilk fried chicken and fish; spicy, boiled crawfish and Nashville-style hot chicken sandwiches. There’s plenty of room for plant-based people at the table though: Grab a plate of house-cut fries smothered in gravy and gouda before sinking your teeth into a Red Bean Falafel Poboy. This uniquely vegetable-forward spin on the classic shows off red bean fritters, cayenne-spiced tzatziki and earthy tahini.

Menu740 Jefferson St., Lafayette

Whether you're craving indulgent desserts or hearty, vegetable-packed entrées, Louisiana’s top vegetarian dishes are just as delicious as its classic iterations. Hungry for more? Explore Louisiana's vegan offerings here.