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    J. Gumbo's

    3.8 (90 reviews)
    InexpensiveCajun/Creole

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    J. GUMBO'S ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - J. Gumbo's

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    Reviews With Photos - J. Gumbo's

    Sausage-less. Sausage gumbo
    Jenifer M.

    I ordered the sausage gumbo because that's what they're known for... There was three tiny slivers of sausage and this big bowl of soup with rice. I'm not impressed which doesn't say much lol I just wish the meal would have been more satisfying. flavor is tasty! Just no protein.

    Voodoo bowl, bumble bee bowl, bourbon chicken and jambalaya. All comes with Texas toast.
    Michele R.

    Went there today with my WDRB Be Our Guest certificates. I ordered 4 different bowls. The staff offered samples. I purchased the Bourbon Chicken, Bubble Bee Bowl, VooDoo Chicken and jambalaya. Voodoo Chicken is spicey so take your heart medicine in advance. I mixed some of the bubble bee dish in it but the bumble bee bowl is good by itself. I love the bourbon chicken! It has a sweet taste but add some hot sauce to make it just right. Jambalaya was just okay. I can make better at home in my opinion. But it is a hearty bowl and will fill up your belly. My mother got the drinking chicken and the crawfish cheese dip. She liked both. My mother likes spice too so she had to add hot sauce. Staff has great. Polite, friendly and gave us many suggestions! Offered catering. Punched our rewards cards. Sign up online to get special offers emailed to you.

    Craving down home Louisiana Cajun food, J Gumbo's is the place. Nice employees, great food, great atmosphere! Going Cajun go to Gumbo's
    Joy G.

    J Gumbo's as the best Cajun food around craving Louisiana spice visit J Gumbo's to curb those cravings. Great food, pleasant attentive employees, and great environment. Keeping things super clean, and all employees wearing masks and gloves. So go ahead go Cajun go to Gumbo's

    White bean chili, bumblebee stew, and fresh crusty bread!
    Lisal F.

    Cajun food is traditionally not thought to be vegetarian-friendly. J. Gumbo's apparently has not heard of tradition, and I am so so glad. My husband and I are both life-long vegetarians, and so visited J. Gumbo's somewhat hesitantly. There was no need to worry. We were greeted enthusiastically upon entering, and provided samples of the no less than THREE vegetarian dishes they had prepared that day. Bumblebee Stew: a spicy/sweet stew of corn and black beans. My favorite. White Chili: delicious veggie chili made with white beans, onions, and tomatoes. Also magic. Creole Ratatouille: literally tastes like someone's grandma snuck into the kitchen and spent all night pouring veggies, spices, and love into a kettle. We had a lovely time, both because of the personality of the restaurant and the staff, and of course, the crazy-good food. (also, the bread is pretty fantastic)

    Drunken chicken
    Dave P.

    Sadly many of the locations have closed over the years, which is a shame bc the food is great and authentic Cajun, started by one of the jockeys at Churchill Downs, LA native Billy Fox. I went with my gf on a recent Wed and the service from Shy was spectacular! Sweets had never been B4 so she didn't know what to get and Shy kept making suggestions and handing out small samples to try. I knew I wanted my old standby the Drunken Chicken {spicy chicken basted in beer with rice, peppers and heat}. Sweets settled on a half and half combo {yes you can do that} of white bean chili and bumblebee stew. Both were delicious and the garlic bread is always great. We didn't realize the hours had changed to where we arrived ten minutes before closing but again Shy treated us so well and let us dine in {better when it's hot}. I used to go to the Lyndon location every Sunday but they closed. I'll have to make it a point to keep coming back and you should too, you won't be disappointed

    Vegan options
    Rebecca M.

    Satisfying, slighty spicy, affordable, and quick! Big portions. The employees are all really nice. They have a fairly large menu plus 3 or 4 vegan options. You cant find that at other Cajun spots. The white chili is my fav...it really hits the spot with its savory goodness. The spinach and mushroom etoufee is my personal runner-up. Great for catering...super affordable and still nice and warm. They did a nice setup with bowls, napkins, labeling items, etc. Its easy to miss this place but definetly worth a try!

    Honey Siracha Chicken.  It's that good!
    Heidi H.

    This was my first trip to a J. Gumbos but, it won't be my last! This place had always been on my bucket list of places to try but since I don't live close it's hard to make it happen. Wow! I've been missing out. I cannot speak to the authenticity of creole food but it sure was tasty. I had the Honey Siracha Chicken and my husband had the Red Beans and Rice. Both were excellent!

    Brennen C.

    A very cool style choice for the interior of this recently remodeled J Gumbo's. A contemporary and industrial design. A row of chandeliers adds a touch of chic. The old signs on the wall add a touch of nostalgia. Also you can't go wrong with dixieland jazz playing over the speakers. My meal was $9 all together, the drunken chicken and drink. It also came with a side of delicious toast. The chicken was over rice, a good amount of carbs and protein. The spices were just right not too weak and not too strong. It left a nice gentle heat in the back of my throat and also cleared my nose. Overall, I have nothing bad to say about this place. I enjoyed the food here very much and I will be back again.

    Left: Bubblebee stew Right: Drunken Chicken
    Ellyse L.

    What to get: Bubblebee stew, Drunken Chicken Service: Good Atmosphere: Casual Wait: 10 mins Parking: small parking lot The Experience: I was warned that the presentation from here had a lot to be desired, but the call of Cajun food trumps that any day. According to Yelp, I dabbled in the two favorites on the menu."Bubblebee stew," a sweetened, vegetarian entree I heard good things about. "Drunken Chicken" which may be my next comfort food (actually all Cajun food is my comfort food). It's not unbearably spicy, but it does have a slow burn that made my nose start running (not that hard to do since I can't handle spice, but I love the taste of it). This is 2 mins from my house, so this may be a dangerous discovery for me. I'll have to go back to try more things, but these were great!

    Drunken chicken nachos. Good but I wish it had been a little warmer so the cheese would've melted more.

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Went that for lunch today, had an amazing experience, Nikki, the lady who is there was amazing. If I could give more stars I would!

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    4 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Amazing food and service!!! Hadn't had it in years, did not disappoint! Kids loved it too

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    9 years ago

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    12 years ago

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    12 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Very good and reasonably priced. Have visited many times over the years. Love the combo bowl.

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    8 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Food was very bland and watery. I remember eating here in the past and was much better

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    6 years ago

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    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - J. Gumbo's

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    Lou Lou on Market

    Lou Lou on Market

    4.4
    (278 reviews)
    1.6 mi
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    Great patio ambiance and an excellent menu! I love Cajun food but my wife does not, so the variety…read morehere was perfect for both of us. The Boudin Balls are fantastic--easily better than most I've tried. I always order gumbo when it's on a menu, and theirs is a very solid choice, but the She Crab Bisque completely stole the show. It is excellent! We look forward to coming back!

    Lou Lou on Market absolutely delivered when it came to the food. From the moment my meal arrived, I…read morecould tell I was in for something special. I ordered the shrimp and grits, and without exaggeration, they were the best I've ever had. The shrimp were perfectly cooked, and the balance of textures throughout the dish was incredible. Every bite had the perfect amount of crunch, flavor, and toppings. Nothing felt overwhelming or out of place. It was one of those meals where you find yourself slowing down just to enjoy every bite. Even the water deserves a mention. It was clean, crisp, and refreshing. If it came straight from the tap, I would have never known. It's a small detail, but it speaks to the overall dining experience when even something as simple as water stands out. The service was great, and the atmosphere was lively and welcoming. It's easy to see why this restaurant has built such a strong reputation. The reason I'm giving 4 stars instead of 5 comes down to accessibility. As a person with a disability, parking can make or break a dining experience. Unfortunately, there was no handicap parking available, and there were no nearby parking spots open when I arrived. I ultimately had to park in a hotel lot about a block away, which cost $25 for just two hours. Not only was the cost frustrating, but the additional distance was challenging given my mobility needs. The food was phenomenal and absolutely worth trying, but I do hope accessibility becomes part of the conversation for future guests. For those without mobility concerns, this may not be an issue, but for disabled patrons, it's something important to consider before visiting.

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    Chicken Bayou Dip ($16)
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    Selena's at Willow Lake Tavern

    Selena's at Willow Lake Tavern

    4.1
    (585 reviews)
    8.5 mi
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    I'm so glad we found this place yesterday. We arrived early in Louisville for a networking event…read moreand wanted to hang out somewhere with a nice outside area. We definitely found the right place. The patio area with the Koi pond and waterfall was perfect. My wife and I had the Fried Green Tomatoes and Selena's Crab Caps. Their menu looks amazing as did the specials of the day. We didn't have time to eat a full meal, but did enjoy our time outside. Our server was great and one of the owners did come by to check on us also. I would definitely come back to try more of their food.

    We had originally gone because we saw the $2 bellini and mimosa special advertised, but when we got…read morethere they were actually $5. I'm not sure if the $2 version was a smaller size or only offered at certain times, but honestly... the drinks were still worth it. The flavor was amazing, and unlike a lot of brunch drinks that taste watered down, these were actually strong. Two glasses definitely had me feeling tipsy, so I can't complain too much there. The main reason I took off a star was the parking situation and accessibility concerns. The handicap parking is positioned perpendicular to the main road, which honestly feels unsafe when backing out. If someone already has mobility or visibility limitations, backing directly into a busy road can be stressful and dangerous. The rest of the parking area is also gravel, which can be difficult to navigate with mobility aids, wheelchairs, walkers, or even just for someone unsteady on their feet. It's one of those situations where it's great that handicap parking exists close to the entrance, but the actual setup still creates challenges. Outside of that, the drinks themselves were genuinely really good, the atmosphere was fun, and I'd probably still come back for another brunch date.

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    Atmosphere
    Atmosphere
    Selena's at Willow Lake Tavern
    $5 mimosa

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    $5 mimosa
    Doc Crow's Southern Smokehouse and Raw Bar

    Doc Crow's Southern Smokehouse and Raw Bar

    3.9
    (2.5k reviews)
    2.4 mi
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    Stopped at Doc Crow's since it seems to be a popular spot. Upon walking in, it doesn't seem big but…read morethere's an additional space after the first section. The restaurant includes a long row of bar seating that extends to the other end of the restaurant, so there was no problem for me to find a seat on a busy day. I ordered the Mac n cheese and braised greens, and the Mac n cheese was really good and creamy. The braised greens were just okay, it wasn't the best greens I've had and it could use extra flavor. I don't know if this is a thing they do at Doc Crow's, but in my opinion the bartender excessively kept asking me what I wanted even while I was still looking at the menu. This definitely frustrated me since it was clear that I wasn't ready yet. I think she should have done a better job reading my cues to figure out when I am ready to order.

    We were due for an underwhelming experience, and I'm at least partially to blame for not having a…read moredinner spot lined up beforehand. My top-tier chum who literally went to the school of hospitality and I spent most of the afternoon on a bourbon tour and a post-tour distillery so...food was needed. And quickly. In our mild defense, we didn't really know how the day was going to go or when we were actually going to have dinner, which made it a little tougher to pre-plan, but no research went into this at all and we paid for it. We wrapped up our bourbon adventures at the Angel's Envy distillery probably five or six blocks from here. Instead of being grownups and doing at least a quick/impromptu recon for spots, we literally just walked outside and down W Main St until we hit something. And we hit this, which was right on the edge of the main tourist area, pretty much Louisville's equivalent of the Times Square/MSG area. And as someone who works and used to live in NYC, you'd have to do a lot of convincing to get me to eat in that particular area - it's overpriced and the food/service just tends to not be very good, which makes you wonder what the appeal is for tourists beyond the convenience. But regardless, it's always struck me as an odd way for a tourism spot to put its best foot forward (or not). Doc Crow's is enormous, and when we were brought further into the restaurant to our table, I think we literally walked through three or four large rooms and navigated through multiple passageways. If you told me this place took up an entire city block or close to it, I'd believe you. Beyond the size/scope, there's nothing really distinctive that separates it from the myriad of other restaurants you'd expect to see catering to out-of-towners. It was the Friday evening of Memorial Day Weekend, so a place that I suspect is usually pretty busy was even busier and louder than that. Maybe not the greatest recipe after a bourbon tour, but who can say. On the app front, we got the Crispy Salmon Bites, which were fine. Not an item I typically see on a menu, even one with more of a seafood bent. I thought the cornmeal/panko breading was the right call; I'm a big catfish aficionado, so I'm of the opinion that cornmeal is underutilized, at least in the Northeast where I come from. Otherwise, nothing really mind-blowing there; probably would have made sense for it to be a different type of fish given the prep (I think salmon is best raw in a sushi roll or grilled), but it could have been worse. I don't think a ton of thought went into this on my end, but I went with the full rack BBQ ribs, along with a side of mac n' cheese. Again, okay, though not as flavorful as I would have hoped and I thought the ribs were on the dry side. Not their fault, but I always regret getting the full rack in hindsight because ribs have a deceptively significant amount of meat on the bones and a half rack is a very decent portion by itself; I am a work in progress just like everyone else. The mac n' cheese was also pretty dry, which I think you can see pretty obviously in the accompanying picture. Tasted and felt reheated at least once or twice. The service was pretty efficient given how busy it was, but our waiter was just on robotic autopilot. Not remotely personable and everything I said to him was responded to with, "For sure, for sure." Maybe he was having a rough night to start the holiday weekend, but it felt like he was just going through the motions and just checking off some boxes there. I went into this already predisposed to not like the generic tourist trap places, so grain of salt. But my recommendation if you have the time/bandwidth (now that I'm a cagey Louisville vet) is to bypass this area if you can and find something tastier and more interesting in the Highlands neighborhood. That's where the real ones are.

    Photos
    Beautiful Bar area
    Beautiful Bar area
    Heap N Chips
    Heap N Chips
    On a vibey street

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    On a vibey street

    J. Gumbo's - cajun - Updated July 2026

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