Highest-rated restaurants in Lake Charles by diners
Humans are creatures of habit. We tend to stick to our morning routines, rewatch movies we've seen time and time again, and hit up the same tried-and-true restaurants when going out for a meal. In fact, 35% of Americans say they rarely or never try a new restaurant they haven't been to before, according to a from TouchBistro.
But those numbers look quite different when you focus on younger generations—67% of Gen Zers and 40% of millennials in the U.S. say they visit new restaurants once a month or more. When it comes to deciding which new restaurant to try, younger generations are also more likely to rely on social media or online restaurant reviews, through sites like Yelp or Google. The TouchBistro survey found that 52% of Gen Zers have opted to try a new restaurant due to positive feedback on social media, and 67% of millennials have gone to a new dining spot solely because of favorable reviews online.
New restaurants in particular tend to garner a lot of online attention. About 50,000 new restaurants open each year in the U.S., and that number continues to rise. An analysis by Yelp published in June 2024 found that from May 2023 to April 2024. But some of the best restaurants in your neck of the woods might be those established eateries that customers have been visiting for decades.
To help you determine which spots—both new and long-standing—to try out, compiled a list of the highest-rated restaurants in Lake Charles, according to reviews from diners as of January 2025. Only restaurants with at least 20 reviews and a 3.0 rating were considered. Read on to find some inspiration for the next time you dine out.
#30. Tia Juanitas Fish Camp
- Rating: 4.2/5 (220 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 723 Ryan St. Lake Charles, Louisiana
- Categories: Mexican, Cajun/Creole, Seafood
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#29. Big Daddy's Sports Grill
- Rating: 4.2/5 (63 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1737 West Sale Road Ste 101 Lake Charles, Louisiana
- Categories: American, Seafood, Breakfast & Brunch
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#28. Stellar Beans
- Rating: 4.2/5 (137 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 319 Broad St. Lake Charles, Louisiana
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Sandwiches, Breakfast & Brunch
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#27. Nogal Mexican Cuisine Bar
- Rating: 4.2/5 (54 reviews)
- Address: 1776 West Prien Lake Road Ste East Lake Charles, Louisiana
- Categories: Mexican, Seafood, Sports Bars
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#26. Famous Foods
- Rating: 4.2/5 (72 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1475 Gertsner Memorial Drive Lake Charles, Louisiana
- Categories: Barbecue, Chicken Wings, Sandwiches
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#25. Pizza Artista
- Rating: 4.3/5 (70 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 420 A West Prien Lake Road Lake Charles, Louisiana
- Categories: Pizza, Salad
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#24. Coffee:30
- Rating: 4.3/5 (66 reviews)
- Address: 127 West College St. Lake Charles, Louisiana
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Coffee & Tea, Sandwiches
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#23. Leonard's Food Quarters
- Rating: 4.3/5 (180 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1708 Gertsner Memorial Drive Lake Charles, Louisiana
- Categories: Seafood, Breakfast & Brunch, Cajun/Creole
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#22. Calla
- Rating: 4.3/5 (161 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1400 Market St. Lake Charles, Louisiana
- Categories: New American, Gastropubs
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#21. Darrell's
- Rating: 4.3/5 (671 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 119 West College St. Lake Charles, Louisiana
- Categories: Sandwiches, Bars, Barbecue
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#20. Cotten's Famous Hamburgers
- Rating: 4.3/5 (134 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2001 Oak Park Blvd. Lake Charles, Louisiana
- Categories: Burgers, Salad, Sandwiches
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#19. Shwarmas
- Rating: 4.3/5 (32 reviews)
- Address: 2401 Ryan St. Lake Charles, Louisiana
- Categories: Lebanese, Desserts, Sandwiches
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#18. Ember Grille & Wine Bar
- Rating: 4.4/5 (109 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 777 Avenue L'auberge Lake Charles, Louisiana
- Categories: Steakhouses, New American, Wine Bars
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#17. Bodega Wine Dive
- Rating: 4.4/5 (24 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3505 Country Club Road Lake Charles, Louisiana
- Categories: Pizza, Wine Bars
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#16. Victoria's Taqueria
- Rating: 4.4/5 (78 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1004 Broad St. Lake Charles, Louisiana
- Categories: Mexican, Breakfast & Brunch
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#15. UMAMI Japanese Restaurant Lake Charles
- Rating: 4.4/5 (46 reviews)
- Address: 915 East Prien Lake Road Lake Charles, Louisiana
- Categories: Japanese, Sushi Bars
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#14. Buffi's Peauxboys
- Rating: 4.4/5 (75 reviews)
- Address: 345 Broad St. Lake Charles, Louisiana
- Categories: Sandwiches, Salad, Cajun/Creole
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#13. The Kitchen
- Rating: 4.5/5 (51 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 417 Prewitt St. Lake Charles, Louisiana
- Categories: Southern
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#12. Blue Iguana Taco Bar & Cantina
- Rating: 4.5/5 (22 reviews)
- Address: 629 West Prien Lake Road Lake Charles, Louisiana
- Categories: Mexican
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#11. Prime Butcher & Brasserie
- Rating: 4.5/5 (58 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3505 Country Club Road Lake Charles, Louisiana
- Categories: Burgers, Meat Shops, Steakhouses
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#10. The Villa Harlequin
- Rating: 4.5/5 (78 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 324 Pujo St. Lake Charles, Louisiana
- Categories: Italian, Wine Bars
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#9. Crying Eagle Brewing
- Rating: 4.5/5 (119 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1165 East Mcneese St. Lake Charles, Louisiana
- Categories: Breweries, Pizza, Beer Tours
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#8. La Truffe Sauvage
- Rating: 4.7/5 (70 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 815 West Bayou Pines Drive Lake Charles, Louisiana
- Categories: French, Desserts, Seafood
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#7. Crawfish Boil-N-Go
- Rating: 4.7/5 (29 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 823 University Drive Lake Charles, Louisiana
- Categories: Cajun/Creole, Seafood
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#6. The Bekery
- Rating: 4.7/5 (194 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2040 East Walnut St. Lake Charles, Louisiana
- Categories: Cafes, Breakfast & Brunch, Bakeries
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#5. Great Harvest Bread
- Rating: 4.8/5 (66 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4112 Lake St. Ste 100 Lake Charles, Louisiana
- Categories: Bakeries, Sandwiches, Cafes
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#4. Thai Lake Charles
- Rating: 4.8/5 (29 reviews)
- Address: 806 East Prien Lake Road Lake Charles, Louisiana
- Categories: Thai, Noodles, Soup
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#3. Mama Reta's Kitchen
- Rating: 4.8/5 (279 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1916 Belden St. Lake Charles, Louisiana
- Categories: Soul Food
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#2. Biscuits & Jamz
- Rating: 4.9/5 (111 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1620 North Simmons St. Ste B Lake Charles, Louisiana
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch
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#1. Area 337
- Rating: 4.9/5 (52 reviews)
- Address: 710 Drive Michael Debakey Drive Lake Charles, Louisiana
- Categories: Puerto Rican, Colombian, Dominican
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This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jaimie Etkin, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 318 metros.
