DOES ANYONE KNOW WHERE TO FIND THE BEST CREOLE FOOD in L.A. ?

[Scraps McGhee]

I've recently moved to Los Angeles. I have good friends from New Orleans and am curious to find a good, for real creole restaurant in L.A.

If someone could post any menu, or photo images ..* and directions I'd greatly appreciate it - THANKS !!

Erick
new angelino

[Normal Garciaparra]

I also forgot to mention La Louisianne on Slauson and Overhill. The gumbo is pretty good and they're not as expensive as H&B. Plus they got live music at night.

[Normal Garciaparra]

I Second (Third?) Harold & Belle's. Yes it's pricey but unlike most upscale-priced restaurants, the portion sizes are proportionate to the price. I went there for my birthday last year with some friends, everyone was impressed (and full). My only complaint was after ordering the "Jambalaya and Catfish," - which came in two separate plates - the Jambalaya plate was about 60% beans and 40% actual jambalaya. There was a huge amount of catfish though! Aside from the jambalaya-to-beans ratio, augh, it was good.

I've heard horror stories about the table service and waiting for your order but we didn't have a problem that time. The staff was real friendly and cool. And my "birthday cake" was bread pudding (with rum in it)!

The only reason I haven't come back since is that I need to have a valid reason to thoroughly stuff myself!

P.S. Ditto to the Cajun/Creole confusion explanation above. I learned alot after visiting Louisiana in Spring of '05.

[bodie]

1) Creole does NOT = Cajun.

Creole and Cajun cuisines are the product of two separate and distinct French-speaking groups who live in southern Louisiana.

Creole cuisine is city cuisine, specifically New Orleans cuisine.
It is big-city melting-pot food - based strongly in French cooking - and there are the sauces to prove it.

As any Cajun will be glad to tell you, New Orleans ain't in Cajun country. Cajun food is country food - evolved from the descendents of Acadian exiles - who were banished from Nova Scotia in the 1700s. They live and cook in south Louisiana, mostly near Lafayette.

Creole food is generally more expensive, Cajun food is generally less expensive.

2) Gumbo can indeed be expensive to produce, especially if you don't have fresh (also abundant and cheap) , Louisiana seafood with which to make it. Like so many peasant foods - its ingredients have become expensive and the dish itself is moderately labor intensive.

Sorry to sound like a pedantic a**hole but some of y'all need to come correct.

[slacker]

I finally went to Harold & Belle's and had the gumbo. Mmmmmmm what flavor! Small is $12, large is $18. The large doesn't look that big when they bring it to the table but it is very very filling. They have an extensive menu.
2920 W. Jefferson Blvd, L.A. 323-735-9023.

I also looove the gumbo at Bayou Grille. (Harold & Belle's is richer) They have great po boy's too. File gumbo, small is $7.99, large $12.99.
1400 N. La Brea, Inglewood, 310-673-0824.

I have copies of the menus, I can post them if someone tells me how.

Also, I hear that Stevie's Creole Cafe in Encino is excellent--this according to someone who is Creole.
16911 Ventura Bvld., Encino.

[blackbookali]

Creole chef for cheap, Harold and Belle's if you want to spend some money.

[BillyHollywood]

Um, I guess if your into expensive Creole (OXYMORON IN MY BOOK) than Harold and Belle's would suffice.

[blackbookali]

Im sorry but the gumbo is oh so worth the hefty price tag. Makes Darrows look like it came out of a can . . .

[BillyHollywood]

Gumbo and hefty price tag? Wow, I smell another OXYMORON....whatev's.

[blackbookali]

It is not that outrageous to try high end versions of ethnic foods. It works with Indian and it certainly works with Creole food to . . . IMO. Try Harold and Belle's, if you really love Creole/Cajun food you won't be dissapointed. Unless of course you are allergic to table service.

[BillyHollywood]

Table service I can stomach, overpriced rice and shrimp I can't....oh well, I guess we agree to disagree.

[kevin]

new orleans grille in bixby knolls section of long beach is good too.

[Dommy]

I've tried several of those mentioned here and nothing beats Creole Chef... here's my review and with pictures! :)

http://www.chowhound.com/topics/show/...

--Dommy!

[young_chower]

Here's a cut and paste about NO food from the LA Times, which asked NO refugees looking for a slice of home in LA:

Creole Chef, 3715 Santa Rosalia, Los Angeles, [phone]

*Harold & Belle's, 2920 W. Jefferson Blvd., Los Angeles, [phone]

*New Orleans Fish Market, 2212 W. Vernon Ave., Los Angeles, [phone]

Uncle Darrow's, 2560 S. Lincoln Blvd., Marina del Rey, [phone]

[Carrie 218]

I would head to Hermosa Beach - with no less than three Cajun restaurants in that tiny hamlet, one of them should do the trick! I'd start with Rajun Cajun or Cafe Boogaloo. Sorry the third one's name escapes my memory.

[JBC]

Is this the 3rd one?

New Orleans
140 Pier Ave. (At Manhattan Ave)
Hermosa Beach
[phone]

[Carrie 218]

Yes, thank you! I remember having alligator there...

[glutton]

I doubt it would compare that favorably to what you found in NO, but people say nice things about Uncle Darrows, which is on Lincoln Blvd and Washington Blvd in Marina del Rey/Venice. The Sunday brunch is pretty popular. I've always been a bit suspicious of strip mall restaurants, but I have the utmost confidence in the praise from fellow chowhounds.