Top 10 Lake Charles Restaurants and Culinary Experiences
The Lake Charles culinary scene is known for its fresh seafood, boudin, hand-crafted beers and more.
Lake Charles promises incredible Gulf Coast seafood, sure, you'll also find delicious local beers and liquors, down-home Southern cooking and a few Cajun surprises. If you're looking for authentic Louisiana cuisine, peruse our roundup of some of Lake Charles' best restaurants and culinary experiences.
Fine Dining in Lake Charles
1. LeBleu’s Landing
If you’re looking for a more hands-on approach to Louisiana food, you will be in for a treat at LeBleu’s Landing. The venue offers not only a wide variety of Cajun meats, sausages and seasoning, but also something few other places could boast: a view area where patrons can watch LeBleu’s boudin in the making! Grab a couple of links while you’re there!
2. Pat’s of Henderson
Pat’s of Henderson had received multiple awards and accolades chosen by the readers and editors of magazines throughout Louisiana – including Best Gumbo, Best Seafood Platter, and Best Cajun Dish in Southwest Louisiana: Stuffed Broiled Snapper. So if you ever make your way over to Pat’s, you know what to order!
Casual Dining in Lake Charles
3. Steamboat Bill’s
Much like its name suggests, Steamboat Bill’s in Lake Charles delivers seafood delicacies as though you were enjoying a fresh catch from a boat. This is a must-visit spot during crawfish season, when you can enjoy the unique Louisiana treat at its finest, with plump and juicy crawfish that are seasoned just right with the restaurant’s signature spice mix.
4. Darrell's
When we think about our favorite meal in Lake Charles, two words come to mind—Darrell's Special. Darrell’s is a Lake Charles institution that has been serving po'boys and libations since 1985. Everyone knows that you can get good po'boys in every town in Louisiana, so you might be wondering why just a mention of Darrell's makes us drool. They make all of their bread, gravies, sauces and mayonnaise fresh in-house daily, making their sandwiches next-level great. The Darrell's Special combines ham, turkey, roast beef and roast beef gravy for an unforgettable experience. You'll also find BBQ brisket and plenty of fresh Louisiana seafood on the menu. Take note, they're closed on Sundays, so plan accordingly.
5. Luna Bar & Grill
Luna Bar & Grill has been serving a diverse menu in the area since 2004. They’ve got an array of sandwiches, each paired with a unique astrological name, that are perfect for lunch. For dinner, try the steak Nanette – complete with Louisiana crawfish, Apollo cream sauce and red wine sauce. This spot also hosts Sunday Jazz brunches and offers cool outdoor dining.
Breweries in Lake Charles
6. Rikenjaks Brewing Company
Originally founded in 1992, Rikenjaks offers patrons “Louisiana comfort food,” live entertainment, outdoor patio dining, a full bar and a great tasting selection of Louisiana craft beers.
7. Crying Eagle Brewing Co.
The outstanding Crying Eagle Brewing Company features a 15,000-square-foot facility producing Louisiana craft beer. With indoor and outdoor stages, a private events space and a landscaped outdoor beer garden, you'll definitely want to raise a toast here. Crying Eagle serves seasonal hand-crafted beers and features a two-story taproom. The brewery also offers tours and has live band performances.
Culinary Experiences in Lake Charles
8. Cash & Carry Farmers’ Market
Shop for the best fresh, local produce and delicious homemade treats while you enjoy live local music at Cash & Carry Farmers’ Market. This unique shopping and dining experience is located in the beautifully restored historic Cash & Carry Building in downtown Lake Charles. Follow them on Facebook to learn more about special events and pop-up markets.
9. Boombox Frozen Pops and Ice Cream
If you prefer your confections cold, go immediately to Boombox! Located in downtown Lake Charles, they serve hand-made gourmet pops and ice cream named after ’80s songs and bands. Step into the “pop lab” and you'll feel like you turned the clock back to the '80s. Test your skills at Pac-Man, Frogger and other classic arcade games while listening to epic ’80s tunes.
10. Southwest Louisiana
The best way to find your favorite boudin (Cajun spiced sausage with rice) is to sample it. In southwest Louisiana, that means traveling along U.S. Interstate 10 and visiting any mom-and-pop food establishment, specialty meat shop or grocery store that has boudin fresh or packaged. We have compiled a convenient list of more than 30 stops that provide boudin. You may pick up a brochure at the Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana Convention & Visitors Bureau’s visitors’ center.
Learn more about offerings, culinary experience and restaurants in the Louisiana Culinary site.