14 Louisiana Breakfast Spots Everyone’s Talking About (And They’re Every Bit As Good As You’ve Heard)
Louisiana mornings taste different. Maybe it’s the beignets dusted thick with powdered sugar, or the way grits get dressed up with crab and butter, or how a plate of eggs can come with a side of boudin that changes your whole day.
People line up before dawn at certain spots, and they’re not just chasing caffeine. They’re after something that sticks to your ribs and your memory. I’ve eaten in plenty of these places, sometimes with a crowd, sometimes solo with a newspaper, and I can tell you the buzz is real.
These fourteen spots have earned their reputations one scrambled egg, one biscuit, one perfectly crispy hash brown at a time. Now, you will see that they are truly worth it.
1. Brennan’s — New Orleans
Pink-stucco mornings on Royal Street start with bananas Foster whispers and tableside flair.
Brennan’s has been the signature breakfast ritual in New Orleans since the 1940s, and the full breakfast menu served daily still draws crowds who want that classic, polished French Quarter experience.
Eggs Hussarde, turtle soup, and drinks that arrive with ceremony make this more than a meal. It’s a theater.
I once watched a waiter ignite bananas Foster three tables in a row without missing a beat, and every diner looked like they’d just witnessed magic.
Reservations are smart here, especially on weekends when tourists and locals both stake their claim to a table.
2. Café du Monde (French Market) — New Orleans
Powdered-sugar snowstorms, café au lait, and an all-day rhythm define this place.
The original French Market stand remains the beignet benchmark, and no trip to New Orleans feels complete without a plate of three puffy, hot squares and a mug of chicory coffee.
You will wear powdered sugar. Accept it. The line moves fast, the seating is open-air, and the people-watching rivals the pastries.
I’ve sat here at 3 a.m. after a concert and at 8 a.m. with my grandparents, and both times felt exactly right.
Cash moves faster, but they take cards now, too.
3. Camellia Grill — New Orleans
A marble-topped counter, bow-tied charm, and omelets flipped with a grin on Carrollton Avenue make this spot legendary.
Breakfast runs daily with long hours that stretch deep into the evening, so you can get your pecan waffle fix well past noon.
The counter seating puts you front row to the griddle action, and the servers banter like they’ve known you for years.
Chili-cheese omelets, crispy hash browns, and pie for dessert are non-negotiable. I always order the pecan waffle and regret nothing, even when I’m too full to move.
Expect a wait on weekends, but it’s worth every minute.
4. Molly’s Rise & Shine — New Orleans
Sun-splashed plates on Magazine Street bring creative scrambles, biscuit magic, and playful specials that change with the chef’s mood.
Served from morning until mid-afternoon, closed Tuesdays, this spot has become a neighborhood favorite for people who want breakfast that feels both familiar and inventive.
The biscuits are fluffy enough to make you weep, and the scrambles come loaded with ingredients that actually taste like something. I tried the crab and avocado scramble once and spent the next week telling everyone I knew about it.
Get there early on weekends or prepare to wait outside with the rest of the Magazine Street crowd.
5. Bearcat Café (Uptown) — New Orleans
Good Cat or Bad Cat, your breakfast finds its mood at this Uptown nook. Crab scramble, shrimp and grits, and vegan-friendly options fill the menu, and the place hums with a laid-back energy that makes you want to linger over a second cup of coffee.
Open mornings to mid-afternoon, Bearcat balances indulgence with thoughtful ingredients, so you can feel good about what you’re eating even when you order the biscuit plate.
The vegan biscuits and gravy surprised me in the best way, rich and satisfying without any compromise.
Parking can be tricky, so plan ahead or bike if you can.
6. Willa Jean — New Orleans
Warm biscuits, glossy pastries, and Southern comfort with polish define this CBD favorite. Doors open at 7 a.m., and the biscuit-and-grits set never leaves hungry, thanks to a menu that balances tradition with chef-driven creativity.
The pastry case alone could derail your morning plans, but the savory breakfast plates deserve equal attention.
Shrimp and grits here taste like someone took the classic and turned up the volume just enough. I once ordered a cinnamon roll to go and ate it before I made it back to my car.
Weekday mornings are calmer if you want to avoid the weekend brunch rush.
7. Louie’s Café — Baton Rouge
An LSU-era rite of passage unfolds at this diner every morning.
Hash browns on the griddle, omelets the size of notebooks, and a space that’s been feeding early birds and late risers since 1941 make Louie’s a Baton Rouge institution, now open 6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily.
Students cram for exams over pancakes, alumni return for nostalgia, and everyone orders more than they can finish. The portions are generous, the prices are fair, and the vibe is pure college-town comfort.
I ate here before every big test in school, convinced the hash browns brought me luck. Those were the times!
8. Frank’s Restaurant & Smokehouse — Baton Rouge (plus Prairieville)
Boudin-biscuit mornings and country-plate comfort arrive from a family spot serving breakfast for generations.
Yes, breakfast all day, which means you can order eggs and grits at 3 p.m. without judgment, and the menu leans into Louisiana flavors that feel like home even if you’ve never been here before.
The boudin is house-made, the biscuits are fluffy, and the portions are sized for people who work hard and eat heartily. I’ve brought out-of-town friends here just to watch their faces when the plates arrive, and it never gets old.
Two locations mean you can find Frank’s whether you’re in Baton Rouge or Prairieville.
9. Coffee Call — Baton Rouge
Beignets puffing hot and airy, café au lait steaming, and a campus-favorite habit since the 1970s make Coffee Call a Baton Rouge breakfast icon.
This is where LSU students go when they want a taste of New Orleans without leaving town, and the beignets hold their own against any French Quarter competition.
The café au lait is strong, the beignets are fresh, and the vibe is no-frills in the best way. I used to stop here after late-night study sessions, and somehow a plate of beignets at 2 a.m. always felt like the right decision.
Drive-through available if you’re in a rush, but sitting inside is part of the experience.
10. T-Coon’s Restaurant — Lafayette
Local-leaning breakfasts from 6 a.m. to early afternoon bring eggs, biscuits, and Cajun plates that taste like someone’s Maw-Maw is still in the kitchen.
T-Coon’s keeps it simple and satisfying, with a menu that honors Lafayette’s Cajun roots without trying too hard to impress.
The biscuits are buttery, the boudin is real, and the coffee refills keep coming. This is the kind of place where regulars have their own tables and the staff knows how you take your eggs.
I stopped here on a road trip once and ended up staying for an extra hour just because it felt so welcoming.
Cash and cards both work, and parking is easy.
11. Strawn’s Eat Shop / Strawn’s Too — Shreveport
Sunrise pancakes and ice box pie for breakfast energy fuel this Shreveport staple, opening at 6 or 7 a.m., depending on the day.
Strawn’s has been around long enough to become part of the city’s identity, and the pies are so famous they deserve their own fan club.
The breakfast menu is straightforward: eggs, bacon, pancakes, toast, but everything tastes better when you know pie is waiting at the end.
I ordered a strawberry pie with my eggs once and regretted nothing. The staff is friendly, the booths are cozy, and the whole place feels like stepping back to a simpler time.
Two locations mean more chances to snag a table.
12. Liz’s Where Y’at Diner — Mandeville
Northshore smiles and all-day breakfast bring Benedicts with Louisiana flair in a bright, friendly room.
Weekday and weekend morning hours keep this Mandeville spot busy with locals who know good food when they see it, and Liz’s delivers with a menu that balances classic breakfast with creative twists.
The Benedicts come with Cajun-spiced hollandaise, the hash browns are crispy, and the atmosphere is as warm as the grits.
I’ve brought family here for birthday breakfasts, and it always feels like a celebration even when it’s just Tuesday.
Kid-friendly and generous portions make this a great spot for groups or solo diners alike.
13. KD’s Diner — Lake Charles
Hash browns crisp on the flat-top and coffee refills that don’t quit define this local favorite serving breakfast daily, with extended hours most days.
KD’s keeps things simple and satisfying, with a menu that covers all the breakfast basics and a staff that treats you like family.
The hash browns are the star here, golden and crunchy on the edges, soft in the middle. Omelets come loaded, pancakes arrive in stacks, and the coffee pot never seems to run dry.
I once counted five refills before I even finished my eggs, and the server just smiled and kept pouring.
Locals pack the place on weekends, so weekday mornings offer shorter waits.
14. Lasyone’s Meat Pie Restaurant — Natchitoches
Yes, you can breakfast on a legendary meat pie at this downtown landmark.
Opening at 7 a.m. most days, Lasyone’s keeps a simple, hearty morning menu that puts the famous meat pie front and center, and once you try it, you’ll understand why people drive hours for this.
The meat pie is savory, flaky, and deeply satisfying, filled with seasoned ground beef that tastes like generations of recipes perfected.
Pair it with a side of grits or eggs, and you’ve got a breakfast that sticks with you all day. Natchitoches is worth the trip, and Lasyone’s is worth the pilgrimage.