Classic Culinary Hot Spots: Shreveport Bossier City

Shreveport Bossier City, Louisiana is not a name that springs to mind when thinking of foodie cities. After gaining more than 5 pounds eating my way through the city, I can honestly say that Shreveport Bossier City offers some awesome eats. Allow me to introduce you to some classic culinary hot spots that you have been missing out on in Shreveport Bossier City.

Herby K’s

1833 Pierre Avenue, Shreveport, LA 71103

This eatery has been a family establishment providing seafood dishes for locals since 1936. What a milestone! It holds the title of Shreveport’s oldest restaurant. Herby K’s Shrimp Buster is the dish you must try; flattened and battered shrimp, deep fried crispy, piled on a bun with Herby K’s special Buster sauce. This recipe is so amazing that it has been featured in several southern magazines, including Garden & Gun. Not so hungry? Try the half portion with only 2 shrimp.

Other items worth mentioning are the Po’Boy sandwiches, Fried Catfish, Burgers, Frog Legs, and Soft Shell Crab Dinner. Herby K’s also has an impressive list of beer, wine, and mixed drinks. Dine inside at the classic eatery or outside on the covered patio.

Strawn’s Eat Shop

125 King’s Highway, Shreveport, LA 71104

Just when you thought you had tasted the best pie in the United States, the strawberry pie from Strawn’s changes your mind and moves to the top of the list. Strawn’s is a local diner-style restaurant where you will see friends, neighbors, and tourists snapping photos of the clever and fun murals on the wall.  Strawn’s Eat Shop’s pie recipes have been passed down since 1944 and are still pleasing the public’s palate. With icebox pie flavors such as coconut cream, chocolate, and butterscotch, it is easy to see why.

Strawn’s serves both food and sweets. Their breakfast comes out fast and piping hot. Friendly and super attentive servers made dining here a delight. Do not miss their enormous mounds of butter throughout the restaurant. They are so impressive that they have their own Instagram page.

Southern Maid Donuts

3505 Hearne Ave, Shreveport, LA 71103 (also other locations)

To my surprise, the morning crowds were not half as busy as the 4 o’clock hour (PM) near Interstate 20 when Southern Maid breaks out the hot glazed donuts. In fact, you can tell when the hot donuts are being served due to the jam-packed parking lot. A neon sign glows “hot, hot, hot” letting everyone know that they are ready for devouring. Cars park everywhere and people line up to take home their glazed hot yeast donuts straight from the fryer.

How good are these donuts? Well, The King of Rock & Roll himself recorded a jingle about them in 1954 and they are labeled the “Best donuts in the South”. Stop in and try these donuts for yourself. Not in the mood for a donut? Southern Maid also stocks goodies such as Eclairs, Bear Claws, and Apple Fritters.

Eddie’s Seafood & Soul Restaurant

1956 Hollywood Avenue, Shreveport, LA 71108

Stuffed Shrimp. Mmm. It is believed that this award-winning dish quite possibly originated in Shreveport. Shrimp are added to a stuffing style mixture, deep-fried to perfection, and served with homemade tartar sauce. Simple, yet very addicting and delicious. These babies are priced around $4 a piece and have been named one of the best soul food eats in the South by Southern Living Magazine.

Though creator and original owner of Eddie’s Seafood & Soul restaurant, Chef Eddie Hughes, has passed away, his entire family does a fantastic job of keeping up with the demand for this tasteful creation and a menu of local favorites. I had the pleasure of meeting this family and the pride they displayed in serving this iconic dish was moving. How proud their father, brother, and husband would be that they are still sharing this treat with us. FYI, Eddie created these yummy delights originally for the Freeman & Harris Cafe, one of the oldest black-owned restaurants in the United States. You can pick up Eddie’s frozen Stuffed Shrimp at many of Shreveport’s local grocers.

Lucky Palace

750 Isle of Capri Boulevard, Bossier City, LA 71111

This place will blow your mind! Inside a questionably dicey motel, situated near a strip mall, lies one of the best-hidden gems in Louisiana. Although Lucky Palace Restaurant offers delectable food and wonderful customer service, that is not even the half of it. Lucky Palace’s award-winning wine menu is in one word, incredible.

Thousands of impressive labels lie in this treasure trove. The most experienced wine connoisseurs come here to sip, taste, drink, and learn from the master himself, Kuan Lim. An introduction to French wines and champagne through 11 different bottles left me quizzically scratching my head while at the same time experiencing the biggest drinking tastebud extravaganza of my life. The food was fabulous, too. Be sure to include Duck Pancakes, Imperial Steak, and Thai Green Curry Prawns on your dinner table.

 A Darned Tasty Place to Visit

What did you think of the choices? Was there something on that list that you would like to try. I hope to visit Shreveport Bossier City again to learn even more about their tasty offerings.

Thanks to Shreveport-Bossier City Convention & Tourist Bureau for allowing me to eat my way through these classic culinary hot spots in Shreveport-Bossier City.

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