Cheap Places to Eat in St. John the Baptist Parish

"UptownChinese and Japanese cuisine in a funky interiorTake a date to Luvi, and you’ll be guaranteed a topic of conversation over the colorful plating, fresh dishes, and bright decor. Chef Hao Gong’s inventive Shanghai cooking offers more than just adventurous dining. Dishes like pork and ginger dumplings or a raw bar selection of seared tuna and black caviar will give you something to discuss if your date night conversational skills fail you."

"A former donut shop, LUVI is a small, lovely restaurant with bespoke woodwork and pops of bold colors and patterns. The pan-Asian menu, not common in NOLA, includes Japanese dishes, plus some favorites from the chef's hometown of Shanghai. Try the Lion’s Head, a savory crab-and-pork meatball in bone broth; the Mala Holla, spicy slices of beef; and Chef Hao’s Mama’s Dumplings (his actual Mama’s recipe)."

"5236 Tchoupitoulas St., (504) 605-3340; www.luvirestaurant.com. Mala Holla is spicy beef with cilantro, peanuts and ghost chili oil. Reservations accepted."

"Freret Beer Room opened about three years ago on Freret Street, and back then, it was more of a restaurant that had beer on tap. Now it’s more like a taproom with a really abbreviated menu, and it’s perfect for sitting down for a pint. They work with a lot of local microbreweries, and the food is also fantastic."

"In a city that takes its libations seriously, Cure, a former firehouse, stands out with menus devoted not just to classic drinks, but to seasonal, “obscure” and even reserve cocktails. The “bonded” Sazerac relies on rye whiskey from E.H. Taylor and Nouvelle-Orleans absinthe for its greatness."

"You can’t go wrong with a date night at this swanky Freret Street spot with a critically-acclaimed bar program. Enjoy some good tunes and conversation by candlelight at Cure. Plus, if you get a little hungry, check the bar menu for light bites."

"617 Piety St Bywater Area, New Orleans, LA 70117-6221American, Pizza, ItalianLunch, DinnerDelivery, Takeout, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol+1 504-676-8482http://www.pizzadelicious.com"

"Every city worth its salt has at least one great pizza joint. So why go out of your way to visit this one?. Three reasons: (1) the pizza, (2) the neighborhood, and (3) the pizza."

"Say it out loud: “BBQ Shrimp.” It’s the most famous dish at this low-key restaurant near the Fairgrounds. Loads of peeled shrimp are swamped in a buttery sauce rife with pepper and loads of bright notes, then the lot is stuffed into a hollowed out roll. It acts like it’s food for one person but it’s sufficient for two."

"In a city that's po'boy proud, Liuzza's at the Track stands out from the crowd, thanks to the house specialty, a buttery, Worcestershire-fueled gi-normous portion of gulf shrimp slathered between a hot and crusty roll. It's called barbecue shrimp, but there's really nothing barbecued about it. Save room for the gumbo."

"Call Liuzza’s directly at to order the famous gumbo, barbecue shrimp po-boy, or garlic oyster po-boy, all stuffed to the brim with seafood. Curbside pickup or local delivery in Mid City."

"Slim Goodies Diner might be renowned for their hangover helpers called “Slammers,” which are made with scrambled eggs, hash browns, and bacon, but they also serve a fantastic breakfast for those looking for healthier options as well. All-day breakfast dishes include crawfish étouffée with potato latkes, vegan-friendly veggie chili with hash browns, eggs, and smoked tempeh, fluffy omelets with various fillings, egg scrambles with bacon, ham, and country fried steak, and griddle specials like French toast, Belgian waffles, and buttermilk pancakes with fresh fruit and sweet toppings. Slim Goodies Diner is open for breakfast and lunch seven days a week."

"What you're getting: The Creole Slammer If you haven’t had the Creole Slammer at Slim’s, you have yet to fully live. What could be better than a plate of hash browns and eggs than a plate of hash browns and eggs generously topped with crawfish étouffée and a buttermilk biscuit?. Fair warning: there’s a sizable wait on weekends if you don’t get there early enough."

"CBDWhat you’re getting: Meat piesThis grocery mart might not look like much, but it’s the place you want to hit if you’re Downtown, maybe a little fuzzy and hungry, and you want some delicious, cheap fried food. The chicken is great, but don’t miss out on the classic meat pies, based on a Natchitoches, LA, classic."

"We dare you not to have a fried chicken craving after leaving a Brother’s Food Mart. Feast on fried chicken for only a few bucks. Plus, the late-night hours and multiple locations make this spot even more of a convenience."

"Head to the back of the market to the steam table for unforgettable carne asada, yellow rice, roasted pork loin, crisp fried fish, grilled chicken, and chicken mole. Nothing is over $10. Whip up some sangria and have a party."

"Famous for its doberge cakes since 1949, Gambino’s Bakery ships cakes (and king cakes during Carnival season) all over the map. Order a half and half (lemon and chocolate) or opt for a chocolate peanut butter cake, or maybe a coconut cream. The designer cakes are swank."

"4821 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, (504) 885-7500; www.gambinos.com. Lemon and chocolate doberge cakes feature six layers of buttermilk cake, buttercream filling and fondant icing."

"The matcha-flavored beignet is a twist on the classic beignet which you can order from The Vintage. In fact, this bakery has a few variations on this popuar New Orleans pastry which you can sample on a ‘beignet flight’ for only $6.25."

"The contents of the sea inspire the art that covers this upmarket restaurant, from pillars of oyster shells to bright coral crab-claw diptychs and huge metallic fish sculptures. Oyster fans will be in heaven (try those dressed in horseradish), while the easily accessible menu romps through blackened-tuna sandwiches, shrimp’n’grits, fried catfish and crab chowder. Proximity to the Superdome means it’s often packed out with hyped-up football fans."

"Borgne is a casual seafood restaurant inspired by a lifetime of fishing Lake Borgne and the local waterways. The menu is built upon sustainable local seafood transformed into delectable classic New Orleans dishes with Isleño influences. This is the place to find rare Gulf delicacies alongside traditional New Orleans classics in a casual atmosphere."

"Address: 801 Royal StreetNew Orleans, LA 70116Phone: (504) 581-0801Website. Set in the heart of the French Quarter, the cafe features a vampire-themed atmosphere and gothic style decor, inspired by the mystique of New Orleans. Serving breakfast, lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch, the menu includes salads, seafood, steaks, and southern classics like shrimp and grits."

"The Beauregard-Keyes House is significant and worth a tour for its Greek Revival architecture, lovely quaint garden, and for once having been the residence of Confederate General Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard, a New Orleans native who ordered the first shots of the Civil War and remained a hero in the South long after the war was lost. Ursuline nuns used the property from the early 1700s until the 1820s when the new house was designed to combine elements of a Creole cottage with Greek Revival features, including a Palladian facade, curved twin staircases, Tuscan portico, and generous dining room. In 1945, author Frances Parkinson Keyes was looking for a place to write and live in New Orleans."

"The Beauregard -Keyes House museum includes past residents such as Confederate General Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard and American author Frances Parkinson Keyes. The house has elements of a Creole cottage with Greek Revival features, including a Palladian façade. It also has twin curved staircases leading to a Tuscan portico."

"Tours run twice every evening (5pm and 8pm) and include visits to the Lalaurie Mansion (where American Horror Story Coven was filmed), LaFitte’s Blacksmith Shop, and more. Our guide had plenty of creepy tales to share and clearly believed a lot of the ghost stories herself, which made it all the more fun. Our tour group was a little on the larger side, but otherwise, the experience was entertaining."

"Wander down to Governor Nicholls Street to see Lalaurie Mansion, once the home of actor Nicholas Cage, and one of the homes used for American Horror Story Coven. There are also other fancy homes like the New Orleans home of Angelina Jolie down this beautiful street."

"Located on the corner of North Rampart Street, the Our Lady of Guadalupe Church is the oldest house of worship in New Orleans. Originally named the Mortuary Chapel of St. Anthony of Padua, the place of worship was built in 1826 to serve as a burial church for the victims of yellow fever. The current name of the church was received in 1918."

"If you’re down in the CBD or headed toward the French Quarter, one small church lies hidden on Rampart Street. Peering through the doors, you see a rather simple sanctuary and some of the homeless asleep on the pews. The real beauty is to either side of the altar: the shrines to St. Jude and Our Lady of Guadalupe."