Rude management. Could probably see past the overpriced food if you were at least nice to your paying customers. Sadly not what it used to be. read more

I think it's really good if you really like gumbo. I chose the voodoo chicken with white rice and it was pretty good. I just wished there was more chicken for the price. My dad ordered red beans and rice- it was good, he said, but was overloaded with beans. Overall, I still think it was good but I wouldn't probably buy it again due to the quantity of food. read more

This place has absolutely no seasoning! And the rice was soggy. They had the wrong type of people working there

Sorry but don't believe the hype. This food is not that good. Tastes like cafeteria food. (Did not taste Cajun/Creole seasoning). Also, if you HAVE had real Cajun and Creole food (especially from Louisiana), you will be upset that they categorized this food as such. The only thing good was the bread. What we got: jambalaya, bourbon chicken, gumbo read more

J. Gumbo's - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Have been wanting to try this for ages and recently did one afternoon and was amazed. The prices are insanely affordable for what you get, really good deals all around. The service was friendly and quick. And the food is AWESOME. Drunken chicken was the bomb, voodoo chicken lit me up and the crawfish etoufee is so good. My girlfriend loves the Bumble Bee Stew for a non-meat option. The side of garlic bread is great too. We came back a week later and will be making this a frequent staple. read more

I ordered from Uber Eats after an awful and loooong day. I opened up my food and mistakenly thought it wasn't the half and half I had ordered. I gave a thumbs-down on UE until ...... I ATE THE FOOD. It WAS correct and it WAS delicious. I felt so guilty that I literally just downloaded the Yelp app solely to write this damn review. Everything on my order was correct and great. I appreciate the portion size and the speedy delivery. It was hot. It was perfectly seasoned. I typically have bad luck with delivery food, and after this day, I may have had an actual breakdown had my food been shit. So, THANK YOU J. Gumbos. Thank you for letting me maintain my sanity and for filling my belly. You're superb! read more

3 stars because the hours on the internet don't match when they're open. Closed at 9 on a Monday

Never having been to a J. Gumbo's, I was surprised by the wonderful tastes in my big bowl of Cajun food. The experience was high quality, except for the chain atmosphere. Even mardi gras beads couldn't lift the drab I've-seen-this-restaurant-design-before surroundings. My red beans & rice were great, except for missing sausage. I loved the etouffee with shrimp and the voodoo chicken. What can I say, they were giving free samples. It's definitely worth a visit and it's nice to have a new place in Clifton. But I won't be eating here every month, due to slightly overpriced food and a boring, chain environment. read more

I have tried this place three times and disappointed every time. The first time I ordered the bummblebee or whatever it is called to go. They put the rice and the stew together making it extremely messing. Was cool and not warm at all as well. The only reason I am rating it 2 stars because I wrote to the company and now they put the stew in one container and the rice in another! Thank You! Their staff is decent as well so that is another star. I recently just went there and ordered the gumbo. I received 1 sausage pieces and 3 chicken pieces. Pretty much thin liquid, so very gross. I took two bites and wasted 10 bucks there. All three times I have been very grossed out and disappointed. They leave their gumbo stews out and just on a warmer the whole day, sounds like a buffet but without the refills . Pictures look amazing it just never turns out that way. BLAH read more

Well here we go, a good gumbo place to eat in Clifton! The upside to this eatery is the location, great food and really helpful staff. If you eat there, the restaurant is very clean, organized and pleasant. The take out portions are generous and the price is right. On top of all that, the food is really good as well. With some good choices for the gumbo lovers and poor boy sandwiches, you will find something to enjoy here. Great place to eat and looking forward to going again. read more

Carry out or dine in, J. Gumbos is one of the best places to get your fix, late night, for dinner or lunch. They are open until 4 am during weekends so this little corner of Clifton has the 2 best late-night spots in Cincinnati as far as I am concerned (the other being the skyline). There are a number of great dishes here but i will highlight a few of my favorites. First off the voodoo chicken is perfect for anyone who enjoys a big kick in their gumbos. It is big hunks of shredded chicken with a super spicy red sauce, with rice under it. You will not regret getting this if spiciness is your thang. The Drunken Chicken is very good as well. It has a very small amount of kick but has great flavor. Bumblebee stew is one of my favorites - it has corn, chicken and a great spice blend. You can get any of your bowls mixed together (Bumblebee and voodoo is a great combo) and it always comes with garlic bread which I recommend ordering an extra serving of because it goes so well with it. Now on to the service - I can speak highly enough about the staff at J. Gumbos. They are always great and they get your food out quickly and with a smile. Also, check in with the "Spot On" service at checkout and every 5 visits you can get a free drink, or every 10 you can get a free entree. I have done this about 3-4 times now. I love J. Gumbo's! read more

Its good solid Cajun food. I got the Jean lafitte and my dining partner, the voodoo chicken. Realistically, I think it's probably more in line, price wise, if it were about a buck fifty cheaper but if I were in the area, hungry and on foot, it'd definitely be on my short list. i'd probably give it a 3.5 (definitely a 4.5 if i were a lil inebriated - it's notably open until 3 am; but then again they have to take on skyline next door which also caters to 'that' crowd, haha) read more

Fine dining it is not. It's good, solid comfort food, though. The drunken chicken is the best of the meat dishes. I generally combine it with white chili and add cheese, green onions, and jalapeños. There's a pleasant garlic flavor that rounds out the buttery Cajun spices. I'd say the place succeeds in being exactly what it attempts to be. read more

J. Gumbo's - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

So I came here to try the gumbo. Ive been learning how to cook gumbo but I had never actually had gumbo before so i felt like i needed to know what it is supposed to taste like first. I wasn't too impressed with it. Why do I taste A1 steak sauce in it?? Like seriously it has a faint flavor of A1 steak sauce. The sausage had a weird texture like rubbery. The garlic bread and corn bread were very good. The corn bread was soft and moist. Second time I came I tried bourbon chicken which was very good but the only thing is I only like white meat chicken and they use a combination of white and dark meat. My friend who likes really spicy food really likes the voodoo chicken which is the spiciest dish they have. They do have a vegetarian dish I might try if I come here again. read more

I love j gumbos! My favorite is the bumblebee stew, drunken chicken! Voodoo is good but spicy! I have a decent spice tolerance too. The étouffée is okay. It needs more crawfish. read more

J. Gumbo's - Bumblebee voodoo Chicken - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Since when does chain restaurants mean bad restaurants? I think Deweys is a good example of a good chain restaurant -- and so is J. Gumbo's. It is not for everyone. If you're actually from New Orleans, you may be offended by the food here as not being "authentic." If you're not into spicy food, while they have non spicy options, you may find yourself a bit limited. But, the food here is great. Authentic or not, spicy or not. Everything is good. The service is great here and the staff is very friendly. The food, yes...comes from a steam table behind the registers. Of course, when one realizes that these dishes are slow-cooked meals (as evidenced by the tenderness of the chicken and harmony of flavors in the bowl)...then of course it's going to be in a steam table! It's like essentially having a bunch of crockpots in the back slow-cooking your food to perfection. Little known is that J. Gumbo's is open late. Very late. Better yet, the price of the bowls goes to $5 after 10PM. Skip late night Skyline - the food here is better (tasting and for you) and it is now cheaper. The servings are plentiful. You shouldn't leave hungry. The atmosphere is a little cheesy, but all in all, it doesn't matter to much. The food here is too damn good. If you haven't been, you must go. Also, don't forget to ask for a punch card -- which by the way, the late night bowls still count towards the punch card limit! read more

j. Gumbo's is like a up scale fast food place. You order at a counter and they bring you your food. But that is the only way it is like fast food. Excellent staff - informative and helpful. Flavorful and well seasoned gumbos - a creole stew/chill. My only complaint is you can only get Gumbo. What they call Po' Boys is just gumbo on bread not the fried seafood on french bread like in New Orleans. With all that being said with J. Gumbo's being clean, friendly, and flavorful I'd go back . read more

J. Gumbo's - Menu - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Good, quick Cajun food. I had the jambalaya, which was good, not great, but good. Not very spicy, which was fine for me (I am a spice wimp), and a bit dry, but okay. The bread was also pretty good. But the cornbread - that was the standout of my meal. The cornbread bumps up a three star meal to a four star. It was so soft and creamy and crumbly and moist and just SO GOOD. I crumbled it up into the jambalaya and it made the meal. Go here for the cornbread!!!! read more

J. Gumbo's - Jambalaya - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

This place definitely has a chain like atmosphere as previously reviewed. I've only had the drunken chicken but it was delicious. Yes it might seem to be priced rather high at first but you get much more flavor with each bite than you would from a subway sandwich. Service is really friendly and speedy. Its nice that the kitchen is open as well. Long story short, good fast simple food with friendly servicr. Definitely a great addition to the Ludlow eating scene. read more

This place is delicous, bottom line. I discovered this gem one late night out and about in Mr. Cliftonville (Gaslight Clifton's fancy name). Anyways: the outside is a bit cheeky, but I promise the inside has some of the most delicious pulled chicken I've ever had. You can pick any bowl up on the wall that they gladly can add to or take away from. I suppose you'd call me a traditionalist when I go here because I always get the Bourbon Chicken but I swear to you it's heavenly. Order a side of sour cream and you have a simple dish that is spoken for from the aromatic flavors within. I also highly recommend you get either the garlic bread or the cornbread, or both BECAUSE they Sat-is-FY. My mouth is legit watering right now, it's becoming a problem. Go here, find something that fits your fancy for spice and flavor and come thank me later. read more

It's good they are open late. They have great staff and are friendly. Food is fine no regrets. It's not world class but you get a good deal!

We went to J Gumbo's one night for $5 bowls and the guy we held the door for ordered all the rice!!!! We left and got something else... Called next time before we went to make sure they had rice and spoke with Leah, the manager.. She was shocked that people came to eat and they were out of rice!!! She made sure that me and 4 other friends had excellent customer service and went above and beyond expectations. We are getting ready to go get J Gumbo's tonight, and I really hope Leah is there!!! She is wonderful.... And totally deserves a raise... And a paid vacation. :))) Thanks for the yummy food!!!! read more

I really don't understand some of the bad reviews on this place. Since when is being a chain a bad thing? It just means there are more than one. Wouldn't you assume if they were able to open more than one they're doing something right? People order something boring like beans and rice and complain that their food is boring. Or they complain that it's not good enough at $7.50, when you can't even order Wendy's for less than $6 without using the dollar menu. /facepalm A real Cajun might have a day nit-picking the authenticity of J. Gumbos, but regardless, my Voodoo Chicken Po Boy was delicious. While it is rated as one of their spiciest dishes, the Voodoo chicken had a mildly sweet, slow burn that left me savoring each bite. I am, however, that guy who dumps buckets of hot sauce on his food when I'm craving something spicy, so you can take my definition of "mild" with a grain of salt. My girlfriend ordered the Jean Lafitte Po Boy, also one of their spiciest dishes and was very happy. From the samples of her meal, I can tell that there are many things in this place I want to try. We have definitely found a new place to get that spicy fix. While I didn't want to start adding sauces I did notice that each table was set up with 3 different kinds of hot sauce, something any spicy food fan will be happy to hear. And even better news is they were two of my favorites hot sauces ever, Franks Red Hot and the green Tabasco. The 3rd bottle was a J. Gumbo's brand which I did not try. Personally I didn't feel it was necessary, while I love spicy food I think there is a balance that must be maintained between heat and flavor and J. Gumbo's hits that balance very well. I will definitely be utilizing these sauces when I return to try new, milder dishes. Speaking of which, they offer an option where you can split 2 or 3 entrees up in a bowl if you want to try new things, something I look forward to upon returning. At first, the service wasn't much to write home about, however they will let you try samples if you're a first timer and curious about the food/spice levels. About halfway through our meal it appeared that a couple people came back from break and one of them looked to be some sort of manager. She was very friendly in helping me find stuff and getting to-go boxes, plus, asking "how was everything?" after the meal always scores bonus points in my book. She seemed genuinely interested in getting feedback, I just wish I had something more constructive to say than "awesome!" If we were on a 10 star scale I'd give it a 9. read more

My favorite dish at J. Gumbo's is the Bumblebee Stew. My little vegetarian heart craves that stuff! It's sweet and spicy, and very delicious. I went here a few times before I went vegetarian (almost a year ago), and the other things I tried were fantastic as well, though in glancing at the menu, I don't even remember what I had back then- something with chicken in it that was also very delicious. I have both eaten in and done carry-out, and either is a pleasant and speedy experience. Every time I've gone to this location, the staff has been friendly and courteous as well. Also, they have a very clean bathroom. read more

I went here on a whim with some of my workmates. I tried a couple different dishes, and they were both delicious and had very different profiles. I tried the Voodoo Chicken and the standard gumbo. The chicken was slow cooked and melted in my mouth. The gumbo was smokey and rich. I'll definitely be back for more. read more

I live a block away from this place and I've only ever been there while drunk but the drunken chicken is amazing! (Are you surprised that is what I got?) The meals come in a big bowl, over rice, with a slice of buttered french bread. Man-o-man. The staff has been very nice to me while ordering drunk and corralling drunks. I thank them a lot. I have only had the drunken chicken which is spicy so beware. This place is right next to the Clifton Skyline Chili so when making your next meal time decision, pick this place. Do it. This week. read more

This place isn't going to stand up to New Orleans. It's also not even close to a similar restaurant in Indianapolis, Yats. I give it four stars because it's solid for what it is. Here's what it is: cheap fast large portions spicy and easily some of the most decent cajun food you will come by in Ohio. It's true. They don't have much competition. I ate there tonight. Being hit with allergies, I've found myself hungry and less than willing to cook. I'm sick of fast food and delivery, but the bonus here is that it is essentially fast food. Except, it's got to be somewhat healthier (maybe) and it's a great spicy change of pace from burgers and fries. And there's tons of hot sauce to dump on. Also realized they are open until 3am! Edit: Wanted to add that they mark all gluten free dishes on the menu and had pamphlets on gluten free on the tables. So it seems like a pretty legit place on that scale. read more

Great food and service. Clean and friendly staff. Spice was perfect and portions too. Will be back for sure. Thank you so much! read more

J. Gumbo's - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

My boyfriend and I found this gem of a restaurant one night when we were actually on our way to the Skyline right next to it. The sign on the door that said, "$5 bowls after 10 PM" caught my attention because, hey, I love a good deal. We decided to go in and take a look at the menu, which is written on a big chalkboard on the wall by the counter. Everything sounded so amazing that we knew we would be eating there. I wasn't very familiar with Creole food but thankfully they let you sample as much as you want! The people behind the counter were so patient with me as I tried 3 different items. I told them what I was in the mood for and took their recommendation: The Jean LaFitte Burrito Bowl. My boyfriend got the Drunken Chicken and we shared a starter, the Crawfish Etoufee Dip. First of all, that was way too much food for 2 people. The bowls are so big and filling that we definitely did not need an appetizer too. Secondly, oh my god! The food was amazing! The Jean LaFitte Burrito Bowl is a combination of their vegetarian Bumblebee Stew, which is a spicy-sweet combination of corn, tomatoes, and black beans. It's mixed with their very spicy VooDoo Chicken and then put into a bowl that is lined with a warm flour tortilla, rice, the Bumblebee Stew/VooDoo Chicken, topped with melted cheese and a dollop of sour cream. At first I was thinking the tortilla was a little superfluous, but then I realized it just added to the rest of the dish. I ate this with a fork, because it's too much food to roll up in the tortilla. We couldn't stop saying "Mmmm" and "Oh my god, this is sooo good" in between bites. For the 2 bowls with the after 10PM special, the crawfish etoufee dip, and 2 drinks, we got out of there for just about $20 altogether. We will definitely be going back, perhaps to one of their other locations in the Cincinnati area. read more

This place is Amazing. I didn't know what to expect since I am a vegan and gumbo isn't usually vegan, but they have a vegan gumbo bowl that has white beans and is 3 bottle hot (which is pretty spicy). It is definitely one of my favorites, especially After a night out. read more

I learned of this restaurant from a friend who tried the Blue Ash location. She enjoyed the regular gumbo. They had vegetarian options, a huge plus for me, so I decided to try the Clifton location. I ordered the food at the counter and carried it back to work just a few miles away. I immediately opened it and ate it. It was very lukewarm, temperature wise. I prefer my food hot, especially soup. I have traveled much further distances with soups from other restaurants that remained serving hot during transport. I was additionally surprised to open the bowl, that appeared to be a generous serving size, only to find that the bowl was only a quarter filled in depth with the white chili and a lump of rice in the middle. When I stood the spoon straight up in the chili, it only covered the tip of the spoon and didn't completely reach to the sides of the bowl. I took a picture and sent it to my friend. The portion was sparse, as though they scraped the bottom of the pot and ran out of chili, but served it anyway. I enjoyed the taste overall, and would normally revisit and add it to my list to frequent; but when I spend almost $8 on a bowl of soup, I expect a complete bowl. I don't typically eat large portions of food and frequently enjoy vegetarian soups at other restaurants. The portion size for what I received at J. Gumbos did not justify the price point. When I have a chance to make it to another part of town, although it will be a while as they are closest to me, I will try a different location, because these are franchises. Hopefully, I will have a different experience before I permanently scrap them from my restaurant list. read more

This place is great! It's got a cool atmosphere and they are quick with great service. I couldn't decide what I wanted and the employee suggested the half Drunken Chicken with half bumblebee stew, I was not disappointed ! This has to be my favorite combo thus far. I also went with the Crawfish cheese dip which was also amazing ! My favorite part of the meal was the bread pudding, it was out of this world ! read more

J. Gumbo's - Crawfish cheese dip with half bumblebee stew and half Drunken chicken. - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Burrito lines the bowl with a mix of bumblebee stew and voodoo chicken. Topped with cheese sour cream and an little extra spices. Sooo sweet and spicy they you can't stop eating it!!! HIGHLY recommend this dish. Jean Lafitte bowl read more

J. Gumbo's - Burrito lines the bowl with a mix of bumblebee stew and voodoo chicken. - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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This place is awesome! I was a first time customer, and had no idea what to order. The menu is a little difficult to decipher...the associate behind the counter obviously could see my hesitation and let me know I could taste test anything before buying. I went for the voo-doo chicken which is EXTREMELY spicy and delicious...which was just what I was looking for! The menu basically consists of a bunch of different sauces. You pick your sauce and they pour it over a large steaming pile of rice. Don't short yourself, make sure you get a piece of the cornbread, it's amazing! After 10 PM, the bowls are only $5, which is basically a steal! read more

My first time there and it was a great experience! I had no idea what to get considering the mild tomatoes at Chipotle are spicy to me, so looking at the menu I was lost. Luckily the staff was friendly and knowledgeable, plus you get to try anything you want! I landed on the Drunken Chicken and thought I would mixed it up a bit by having the queso dip blended in. Awesome choice! My cousin had the Bumble Bee Stew and as much as I loved the Drunken Chicken I loved the Bumble Bee Stew more! We stayed for almost two hours talking and was helped as needed as wasn't hurried out. I had a great first experience and will definitely be back! read more

The Bourbon Po' Boy was awesome ! The chicken was sweet and juicy... Delicious! Also saw there are some pretty good vegan and vegetarian options available. read more

Absolutely love this place. The gumbo is not your traditional gumbo, but just as good with it's own twist. None of their locations are less than 40 min away from me, and I happily make the drive everytime. Keep up the good work guys. read more

A regular to the place. Open literally anytime of the day and night. Consistent quality across dishes. Quick service since they have the gumbo prepared already. Good to dine in or take away. Special call out to Burrito bowl, vegan chili and drunken chicken. read more

This place is amazing! It was my husbands and my first time here and they gave us tasters of everything we wanted to try and every single one of them is good we also got he bread pudding for dessert!!! read more

J. Gumbo's - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Incredible food. Incredible service. Really homey vibe! They give you really good portions also. I will for sure be coming back! Love it!