We love our food here in Louisiana, and we are always seeking out new places to visit and try the tasty local and regional cuisine. But did you know that Louisiana has some of the oldest restaurants in the country? And even more surprising, not all of them are in New Orleans.

Only in Louisiana has found some historic dining spots that are still serving up their signature dishes to hungry patrons decades, and sometimes over a century, after they opened. I've been to many of these, and trust me, they are well worth seeking out.  Happy eating, y'all.

  • Mohawk Tavern Seafood Restaurant, 704 Louisville Ave, Monroe. Established in 1952, this beloved hot spot serves up classic tavern fare with a Louisiana twist.
  • Strawn's Eat Shoppe, 125 Kings Hwy, Shreveport. Located across the street from Centenary College of Louisiana, this classic restaurant has been serving up their famous strawberry pie and hamburgers since 1944. They have several other locations, but this is the original
  • Louie’s Café, 3322 Lake St, Baton Rouge. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner to LSU Tiger students and fans 24/7 since 1941
  • Dooky Chase, 2301 Orleans Ave, New Orleans. One of the most famous restaurants in the United States. Before her death earlier this year, civil rights activist and chef Ms Leah Chase served her amazing creole cuisine to presidents and regular folks alike since 1941
  • Herby-K's, 1833 Pierre Ave, Shreveport. Known for their massive Shrimp Buster platter, this north Louisiana institution was opened in 1936.
  • Lea's Lunchroom, 1810 US-71, Lecompte. They've been serving their world famous pies and ham sandwiches since 1926.
  • Palace Cafe, 135 W Landry St, Opelousas. Their fried chicken salad is my favorite, and they've been dishing up cajun and creole classics since 1927.
  • Antler's, 555 Jefferson St, Lafayette. A downtown tradition since 1921. Serving delicious bar fare with a cajun twist since 1921.
  • Galatoire's, 209 Bourbon St, New Orleans. Upscale historic French Quarter restaurant, in business since 1905. Better bring a jacket if you want to dine here, gentlemen.
  • Tujagues, 823 Decatur St., New Orleans. Recently announced that they are moving down the street after being in the same French Quarter location for over a century. Opened in 1856
  • Antoine's. 713 St Louis St, New Orleans. This is where Oysters Rockefeller was invented, and they've been a fine dining institution in the French Quarter since 1840.

 

 

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