The story
Dooky Chase’s Restaurant opened its doors in 1941, founded by Emily and Dooky Chase Sr. as a sandwich shop and lottery ticket outlet. Over the decades, it grew into a beloved family restaurant in the historic Faubourg Treme neighborhood, becoming a gathering place for music, civil rights discussions, and Creole food.
The restaurant’s soul is Leah Chase, known as the “Queen of Creole Cuisine.” She and her husband Edgar “Dooky” Chase Jr. transformed the barroom into one of the first African American fine dining establishments in the country. Leah’s cooking—rooted in Creole traditions—fed everyone from local activists to Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama. Her warmth and skill also inspired Princess Tiana in Disney’s The Princess and the Frog.
The lunch menu features staples like red beans and rice, gumbo, shrimp Creole, and po’boys. Dinner expands to fried chicken, shrimp Clemenceau, and oyster Norman. Every dish reflects the restaurant’s commitment to authentic Creole cuisine, made with time-honored recipes.
During the 1960s, Dooky Chase’s was one of the few places in New Orleans where people of different races could meet safely. Civil rights leaders including Thurgood Marshall and Martin Luther King Jr. gathered upstairs over bowls of gumbo to plan strategy. The restaurant remains a symbol of community and progress.
In 2026, Dooky Chase received a Michelin Bib Gourmand, an award that celebrates good quality, good value cooking. It’s a fitting honor for a restaurant that has always prioritized generous, well-crafted Creole dishes served with a sense of history.
Today, Dooky Chase continues to welcome regulars, tourists, and dignitaries alike. The walls are lined with African American art—Leah Chase was a passionate collector—and the dining rooms hum with conversation. It’s a place where New Orleans’ past and present meet over a plate of gumbo.
Recognition
Ambience
Details
Location
Facebook
Instagram