Hidden in New Orleans’ historic Tremé neighborhood sits a legendary establishment that’s been serving up soul and sustenance since 1941 🍽️
Dooky Chase’s Restaurant began as a simple sandwich shop and lottery outlet, but fate had bigger plans for this corner spot on Orleans Avenue.
What started as a humble operation by Emily and Dooky Chase Sr. transformed into a beacon of hope, hospitality, and heavenly Creole cooking that would change American history one meal at a time.
How Dooky’s Won Local’s Hearts
The magic happened when Edgar “Dooky” Chase Jr. married Leah Lange Chase in 1946, bringing together a jazz musician and a determined young woman with a revolutionary vision 💫
Leah Chase didn’t just want to run a restaurant; she wanted to create the first upscale dining establishment where African Americans could experience fine dining during segregation.
Her bold defiance of Jim Crow laws turned Dooky’s into the most important meeting place in New Orleans, where civil rights legends like Martin Luther King Jr., Thurgood Marshall, and local activists gathered in the upstairs dining room to plan strategies that would reshape America.
The restaurant earned its legendary status not just through politics, but through Leah’s incredible cooking skills inherited from her father, a Creole chef who owned the first Black Creole restaurant in New Orleans.
As word spread about her spectacular gumbo, perfectly seasoned fried chicken, and warm hospitality, Dooky Chase’s became the go-to destination for musicians like Ray Charles and Duke Ellington who needed a place to grab a late-night meal after performances.
The combination of outstanding food, artistic atmosphere, and safe haven for the community created an unbreakable bond with locals that persists today 🎭
Food Highlights
- Gumbo: The signature dish featuring crab, shrimp, chicken, two kinds of sausage, ham, and veal – this is the legendary bowl that civil rights history was planned over and earned Leah Chase her “Queen of Creole Cuisine” title
- Fried Chicken: Universally praised as some of the best in New Orleans, featuring Leah’s original recipe with perfect seasoning that keeps customers coming back for decades
- Red Beans and Rice: A traditional Monday staple made with smoked ham, sausage, and Leah’s secret blend of spices that locals consider the gold standard for this classic dish
- Shrimp Creole: An iconic Louisiana dish served in rich tomato sauce flavored with classic Creole spices – perfect over rice or jambalaya and showcasing the restaurant’s authentic heritage
- Bread Pudding: Leah Chase’s famous dessert recipe featuring pineapple, raisins, and bourbon sauce that has been featured in national cooking publications and represents true New Orleans comfort food
- Gumbo Z’Herbes: A special Good Friday tradition combining beet tops, cabbage, romaine, watercress, mustard, turnip and collard greens with smoke sausage and ham – nearly impossible to get due to demand but considered perfection
Atmosphere
The restaurant radiates warmth and history with every corner telling a story 🎨 Bright, colorful walls showcase rotating exhibitions of African American artwork alongside photographs of famous guests including presidents, musicians, and civil rights leaders.
The dining room buzzes with lively conversation and the authentic New Orleans energy that makes strangers feel like family. Visitors can feel the weight of history while enjoying contemporary comfort, surrounded by Leah Chase’s carefully curated art collection that transforms the space into both restaurant and gallery.
The atmosphere strikes the perfect balance between reverence for the past and celebration of the present.
Bottom Line
Visit for the historically significant gumbo that changed America, stay for the legendary fried chicken that locals swear by, experience dining where presidents and legends have sat, and immerse yourself in authentic Creole culture with unmatched hospitality 👑
Address: 2301 Orleans Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70119
📞 (504) 821-0600
🕔 Open Tue-Fri 11 AM–3 PM, Fri-Sat 5:30 PM–9 PM (closed Sun-Mon)