Came here for the free dinner a couple weeks back, and was very impressed. Best Indian food I've had in Louisiana. Only thing missing was the naan (though the little frybreads they serve made a decent substitute). The line wasn't terrible when we arrived, a few minutes before they opened the doors. The way it works is you take a plate and are served a smallish portion of each dish... and they were all excellent and fully vegetarian. There was yellow dal, rice, salad, vegetable stew, some kind of gram flour dumplings, and an amazing pudding, the ingredients of which I couldn't quite place. And the lemonade provided the perfect palate cleanser. By the front door, they sell extras like dessert and samosas. I tried the latter, and they were as good as any I'd buy in a restaurant. The main eating area is outdoors near a screen where they were showing an animated film. Seconds are allowed, and I got another half plate. I will most definitely return. read more

Hare Krishna Temple - Freeeee Indian dinner. - Hindu Temples Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

This.review is for the sunday dinner they do. Be prepared for a line and don't park your bicycle across the street. The uptight asshole neighbor hates it when you do that. Tonight he called the cops. What a douche. Anyways. The food is really yummy. Tastes like indian food. It's spicy for the weak but I loved it. Tonight it was white rice, a plain salad, this sort of creamy carrot and corn thing and this really tasty cardamom number with these sort of seitan type meat balls. (see photo) They don't cook meat and they don't use onion and garlic (food of passion). It seemed to start around 6:30 and we got there around 8:30 when the line dies down. But they ran out of one of the items. The food costs what you feel like donating. We did $5 each. I suggest bringing your own containers with lids. They use styrofoam plates. And they don't seem to recycle here in New Orleans. Seating is outside or inside. And there all kinds of different walks of life. I'm definitely going again!! Very friendly people. Very good food. read more

Hare Krishna Temple - OMG! I love this place. It's very similar to Indian food. They don't cook with meat, garlic and onions. - Hindu Temples Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

This place is famous for their Sunday free Indian food meal. The free food seems to start around 7:15pm but if you arrive around 6pm you can have the full temple experience. They have around 2 hours of chanting, music, dancing and various ceremonies that take place before a teaching lecture. You can definitely have an interesting cultural experience before the feast and just come prepared to sit on a carpet for quite a large part of it. Very friendly and happy folks that are welcoming and highly encourage you to participate even if you have no clue about what is happening. The food is Vegan and free so it is hard to beat the price and mine was served with a nice lemonade. There were actually far fewer folks that arrived for the food line than I would have thought and the line moved really fast. Overall an interesting cultural experience to learn about how other folks do things and the great diversity that exists in NOLA. read more

Hare Krishna Temple - The famous Hare Krishna vegetarian feast - Hindu Temples Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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This temple is a blessing to the area. I have not been in a while, but I LOVE going to the temple to eat! Although I am not sure if they are still active with the pandemic, but they offer a FREE absolutely delicious meal every Sunday to ANYONE that wants one! Whether you are a devout follower of Krishna, a poor college student, someone struggling financially, or you are just in the mood to eat some amazing Indian food, everyone is welcomed every week. It's an outstandingly generous thing to do consistently. The food is always all vegetarian and super delicious every time. They offer full well-balanced meals with vegetables, protein, carbs, and even sweet desserts. It's always perfectly seasoned/cooked authentic Indian cuisine. The temple has a religious service prior to the meal if anyone wants to join in, but they never push religion on the tons of people coming to just eat. Sometimes, they have performances you can watch while you enjoy the meal too. I've seen a few and they're interesting and fun to see! They do such a great service to the community, and all of the people there are so kind. If you bring your own container, they will even pack you food to take with you. I believe the food is cooked and served by volunteers/members of the temple. I think all the supplies are purchased through funds obtained from donations. If you can afford it, make sure to contribute to their donation box! It helps feed a lot of people who may need it! I have so much respect for the followers of this temple and the way they choose to serve. read more

We used to live a few blocks away from the Krishna temple, and loved going to their Sunday dinners. We would say it was the "mind control drugs" they put in the food that kept us coming back for more. (Obviously they don't do that. I don't think. Hopefully.) There's always a cool mix of people at the dinners - broke college students and gutterpunks and Krishna devotees and people from the neighborhood. They don't charge anyone for the food, but it's nice if you can throw a few bucks in their donation box. It's really yummy vegetarian Indian food. They serve everything on Styrofoam plates, so if possible, bring your own plate or Tupperware container. I recommend the kind with portion dividers so your yummy cream of wheat style dessert doesn't mix in with your savory entree portions. read more

Free food! Free Indian food! Free Indian food served by extremely kind people! Free Indian food served by extremely kind people around 7:30pm! Free Indian food served by extremely kind people around 7:30pm on Sundays! Free Indian food served by extremely kind people around 7:30pm on Sundays with an eccentric crowd that partakes of their offer! Free Indian food served by extremely kind people around 7:30pm on Sundays with an eccentric crowd that partakes of their offer and all are jovial and open for conversation! Cardinal rule: Don't be a dick. (Sub-rule: Don't chain your bike to the neighbor's fence. They will totally call the cops on the temple everytime because they are Scrooges and the people of the temple really don't deserve the stress of dealing with the 5-0.) read more

Look, this place is awesome for the free Sunday vegetarian meal. When I was in AmeriCorps, this place was a special treat and I didn't even have to use my food stamps. The crowd size/type changes with the seasons. During the hot months when many of the "travelling" kids AKA gutter punks are not around, the crowd is mostly just 20-30 something people who love Indian food. Also, living on Esplanade myself, the aesthetic beauty of the Krishna temple is a joy to the neighborhood. I have been there over a dozen times and am always amazed that they are giving away so much food and never prosthelytize. Get there before the gutter punks cause them to shut their doors and revoke their generosity. read more

Lovely, genuinely friendly people cooking delicious, genuinely free Indian food every Sunday night. All of the food is vegetarian in accordance with their beliefs but don't let that discourage you - it's always amazing. There's a donation box set up if you feel like throwing in a few bucks for dinner but they won't look at you funny if you don't. For special Krishna-related holidays they go all out with live music, dancing, dramatic performances and an even bigger spread of food than usual! Dinner is usually served around 7:15-7:30 and goes until 9/they run out of food but I'd advise getting there early so you don't have to stand in line for too long. And to peoplewatch! There are always lively characters and interesting conversation to be found there. read more

Every Sunday the Hare Krishna Temple gives a free vegetarian Indian food dinner to the community. Arrive a little early and you can be a part of the chanting and singing while live music is played. The food is all delicious and is prepared right before the meal. A lot of people show up just for the food and the Hare Krishna people believe that they are doing good by feeding others (as they are!). You can donate a dollar or change or whatever you want, or nothing at all. It is also good to bring your own plate or something to eat on although they do provide styrofoam plates. read more

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food is healthy and vegetarian and very tasty. and the price is hard to beat. been going here for decades and it's a sunday tradition for me. read more

I feel a little apprehensive about reviewing the Hare Krishna Sunday meal, but it really needs to be done as it deserves 5 stars. I truly miss this cultural(and delicious) gem in such a beautiful part of the city. read more

My Sunday night staple. Get here around 7:30pm, the line is not too bad then. The food is delicious and satiating. Eclectic crowd...a who's who of New Orleans counterculture. The people who actually worship at the temple are kind and lovely. I have never gone to services, so I cannot speak about that, but friends who have have enjoyed that. Sit outside when it is warm enough and listen to the live music and eat delicious food while watching the moonlight. What can be better? Beware of termite season, though. read more

Stumbled upon this on after leaving the bayou boogalo festival, what a great find! There were bikes lining the gates and my boyfriend and I were curious, we stopped to try to figure it out and a kind gentlemen told us what it was and they they had free vegetarian meals on Sundays! So if course we checked it out. The food was delicious and everyone was so nice and interesting! read more

Tried this place out tonight. OMG! This food was amazing! The people are so nice. If you go for the singing and chanting before the meal, they give you a carnation necklace. read more

I cannot give this place enough stars! Every Sunday there is a love feast that I religiously attend. Not only is there delicious free vegetarian food cooked with love, but there is usually a band playing funky kirtan tunes. The vibe is tangible and the crowd is beautiful. Come with an open mind and you are bound to have a great time, probably meet some cool people too! read more

I had to take a star back because someone told me they are getting just a tiny bit preachy. But that was a while ago so go see for yourself.

I would call that as real good and nutritious food, rather than just highlight it as Free Food. I actually attended the prayer meeting just before having the food, which started at 6:00 PM. It was simple and good with real devotion on the face of everybody present there. I would strongly suggest everybody to visit the place for FUN, spiritual well being and what strikes the most is the LOVE with which we are appreciated as being a visitor to their small meeting and even the LOVE with which they give the food, without absolutely asking for anything in return. This is called selfless service and I wish to join them to assist them in managing the crowd and offering the free( Good Nutritious ) food and take the untold blessings and admiration by all those who have a hearty meal. This one takes a 5 star from me in all respect of being a travel destination, food place and all this for FREE. read more

The food's only ok, and sometimes there's a long wait, but the value for the price (free) can't be beat. Every so often one of the Hare Krishnas will get angry at someone in line, which is entertaining. I don't go often; over the years I've seen the crowd shift from a mix of the visibly needy to being overwhelmingly white undergrad-looking kids with late-model iPhones, and the lines have gotten longer, but I do think the food has improved on average. If you're in mid-city on a Sunday night, it's worth stopping by. Great for an unconventional (and cheap!) date. read more

These very humble and caring souls offer spiritual life in THE highest order. Krishna prasadam is theONLY food i partake of ,it is that good! Your life will be touched if you just come and visit..... read more

Delicious Indian food. It's free or whatever you feel like donating. I went here weekly while living in NO

It's because of this place that I love Indian food. It is the best--I make a point to come here every time I'm in New Orleans. Never had a problem. read more

My son took me here recently during a visit to New Orleans. It was a wonderful experience for me and my husband. Yes the food is free, but if you can, drop a couple bucks in the donation box. We are fortunate and did donate. I noticed that others who could have, didn't . Those people were also quite rude and obnoxious and this saddened me. As for the food, it was fantastic. We enjoyed every morsel. Please, always help those who are less fortunate than you. You never know when you might be in need. Thank you. read more

The thought of people paying/"donating" for this food is sickening. God knows who cooks it and under what conditions. I know for a fact that people in Baton Rouge cook some of it. If you're dumb enough to eat it, you deserve the gastrointestinal disease you get afterward. read more