If you love chasing the best daily plate specials, Louisiana is your playground. Neighborhood spots post hand written boards, and by the time you arrive, half the menu is already crossed out.
You get there early, you chat in line, and you leave with a to go box that smells like home. Ready to track down the plates that locals follow like a ritual?
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Parkway Bakery & Tavern – New Orleans, Louisiana
Parkway’s plate lunches feel like a midday tradition you accidentally stumble into, then plan your week around. One day it is slow cooked roast beef with gravy that drips into the rice, the next day it is fried catfish with tangy slaw and hushpuppies.
Get there early because plates sell fast once the lunch rush hits.
You will watch regulars scan the chalkboard and call their orders by nickname. Portions are generous, sauces are balanced, and sides taste like someone’s grandmother did the seasoning.
Grab a po boy as backup, but the daily plate is the move.
Eat inside under the old photos, or take it to the bayou breeze outside. Either way, you leave happy.
Domilise’s Po-Boy & Bar – New Orleans, Louisiana
Domilise’s keeps it simple, friendly, and delicious, the kind of spot where lunch plates vanish before you finish deciding. Expect rotating comfort picks like shrimp creole, red beans with hot sausage, or trout meuniere when you are lucky.
The flavors are straightforward and soulful, built for hungry people who appreciate tradition.
There is a rhythm here: order at the counter, trade stories, and watch plates parade out steaming. Sides matter, from buttery French bread to crisp dressed salads that cut through richness.
You will probably add a po boy half because everything smells too good.
Bring cash, patience, and appetite. When the board says gone, it means gone.
Arrive early and you will eat like a local.
Neyow’s Creole Café – New Orleans, Louisiana
Neyow’s serves the kind of Creole comfort that makes a weekday lunch feel like a celebration. The daily plate might feature smothered turkey wings, buttery grits with shrimp, or rich jambalaya that hugs every bite.
You will taste smoke, spice, and patience in each slow cooked component.
Everything moves fast once those doors open, so check the board, decide, and claim your seat. Sides are not afterthoughts: mustard greens, candied yams, and cornbread that soaks up every drop.
Service feels like family, efficient and warm.
Plates sell out early because regulars know the schedule. Go before noon if you can.
Leave room for bread pudding, because you will want dessert.
Mandina’s Restaurant – New Orleans, Louisiana
Mandina’s is old school in the best way, with hearty plates that rotate just enough to keep locals guessing. One day you might find turtle soup followed by paneed veal, another day stuffed bell peppers with gravy rich rice.
The cooking is balanced and comforting, never fussy, always satisfying.
You will want to arrive early because the lunchtime crowd forms quickly. Bread arrives warm, salads are crisp, and the gravy tastes like it simmered since morning.
Portions are generous without being overwhelming.
Mandina’s daily plates sell out because they are consistent and honest. Watch the board, order with confidence, and enjoy the clatter of dishes and laughter around you.
It feels timeless, because it is.
Liuzza’s by the Track – New Orleans, Louisiana
Liuzza’s by the Track blends neighborhood bar comfort with Creole Italian heart, and the daily plates reflect that mix. Expect fried chicken with peppery gravy, spaghetti and meatballs, or BBQ shrimp over rice when the board says so.
Everything tastes hand made and a little rowdy in the best way.
The room fills fast around noon, and plates start disappearing. Sides like garlic bread, creamy slaw, and buttery green beans round things out nicely.
You will want a cold beer or iced tea to keep pace.
Service is quick, friendly, and no nonsense. Grab a seat by the window, people watch, and dive in.
When it is gone, it is truly gone.
Olde Tyme Grocery – Lafayette, Louisiana
Olde Tyme Grocery is famous for po boys, but the daily plate scene is serious and swift. Cajun classics rotate through: crawfish étouffée, fried catfish with rice dressing, or smothered steak with gravy that begs for bread.
The line moves quickly, and plates sell out before the afternoon lull.
You will hear accents and laughter bouncing off the walls. Sides feel like home cooking, from creamy maque choux to mustard potato salad.
Everything lands hot, seasoned right, and portioned for a real workday appetite.
Arrive hungry and decisive. The chalkboard tells you what is left, and hesitation means someone else gets it.
You leave full, smiling, and maybe planning tomorrow.
Johnson’s Boucanière – Lafayette, Louisiana
Johnson’s Boucanière smells like smoke and spice before you hit the door, and the daily plates showcase both. Think boudin with cracklins, smoked sausage over rice dressing, or pulled pork with tangy sauce and sweet beans.
Everything sells quickly because the pit speaks for itself.
Order at the counter, grab a seat, and watch platters appear with proud speed. Sides range from creamy potato salad to pickled peppers that cut through the richness.
You will want extra bread to swipe the plate clean.
Go early on Fridays and festival weeks, because locals know the rhythm. The board changes, but quality does not.
This is Cajun comfort with smoke kissed soul.
Dooky Chase Restaurant – New Orleans, Louisiana
Dooky Chase feels like a living archive of Creole flavor, and the lunch plates honor that legacy. depending on the day, you might catch fried chicken, gumbo, or shrimp Clemenceau, paired with greens and buttery rice. Portions are generous, seasoned confidently, and served with grace.
Arrive near opening if you want first pick, because regulars do not wait. The staff moves smoothly, refilling iced tea and checking on sides.
Every bite tells a story of tradition and community.
Plates can sell out before you think about dessert. Listen for specials, trust the recommendations, and savor the moment.
You will leave inspired and satisfied.
Verti Marte – New Orleans, Louisiana
Verti Marte might be small, but the daily plate game is mighty and fast selling. One day features shrimp and okra stew, another offers roast pork with gravy and buttery mash.
You order, blink, and a steaming box lands in your hands.
It is the kind of no frills spot where flavor does the talking. Sides are simple and satisfying, with macaroni, salad, or spicy corn.
Portions are generous, priced right, and perfect for a quick break.
Because it is beloved by locals and night owls, plates disappear early. Check the board, decide fast, and enjoy in Jackson Square or at home.
You will be back soon.
Frankie & Johnny’s – New Orleans, Louisiana
Frankie & Johnny’s serves plates that taste like neighborhood history, and the board changes with the catch. Expect fried shrimp, stuffed bell peppers, or red gravy meatballs with spaghetti on rotation.
Every plate arrives hot, hearty, and ready to disappear.
The lunch rush builds quickly because regulars know the drill. Sides like potato salad, greens, and garlic bread round out the spread.
You will want extra napkins and maybe a to go box.
Arrive early and ask about the day’s sleeper hit. Service is friendly, timing is quick, and conversation flows.
When it sells out, there is no second batch.
Short Stop Poboys – Metairie, Louisiana
Short Stop Poboys keeps lunch simple, fast, and comforting, with daily plates that fly out the door. Roast turkey with gravy, hamburger steak, or fried fish with slaw often headline the rotating board.
You get hearty portions that feel like a hug.
Order at the counter, grab your number, and listen for the call. Sides include rice, mashed potatoes, and green beans cooked just right.
You will probably add a small po boy because temptation wins.
The crowd shows up early, especially on Mondays and Fridays. When the board turns to sold out, that is it.
Plan ahead, eat happily, and get back to your day.
R & O Restaurant and Catering – Metairie, Louisiana
R & O blends Italian roots with Gulf seafood, and the plate lunches mirror that comfort. One day might bring lasagna with garlic bread, another offers fried catfish with creamy slaw and fries.
Portions are big, flavors familiar, and prices friendly.
Regulars watch the board and order decisively because items vanish fast. Sides are straightforward, from crisp salads to red gravy drenched pasta.
You will not leave hungry, and you will not wait long either.
Grab a corner table, share bites, and savor the neighborhood energy. The turnover is brisk, the staff upbeat, and plates keep moving.
When it is gone, it is gone.
Parasol’s – New Orleans, Louisiana
Parasol’s is beloved for po boys, but the daily plate board draws a loyal lunch crowd too. Expect comforting choices like corned beef and cabbage, roast beef with debris gravy, or fried fish on Fridays.
The flavors feel honest and satisfying, built for real appetites.
Order at the counter, grab a drink, and settle into the Irish Channel chatter. Sides hit the spot, from creamy slaw to buttered potatoes.
You will wipe the plate clean without trying.
Plates do not linger once noon hits. Check the board early, choose quickly, and enjoy the lively scene.
It is the kind of lunch you daydream about later.
Clesi’s Seafood Restaurant – New Orleans, Louisiana
Clesi’s feels like a friend’s backyard boil but with a reliable kitchen and a quick lunch rhythm. Daily plates swing from crawfish étouffée to fried catfish with remoulade and crisp salad.
Everything tastes bright, peppery, and dialed to Gulf cravings.
Arrive before the rush if you want the full selection, because plates vanish as the clock moves. Sides like dirty rice, corn maque choux, and garlic bread round things out beautifully.
You will enjoy every bite without fuss.
Service is neighborly and fast, perfect for a lunch hour escape. Watch the chalkboard, trust your gut, and grab extra napkins.
When it sells out, the vibe says come earlier tomorrow.
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