The "Mardi Gras" pasta at Bud Louisiana cafes is a true delight! The combination of shrimp and crawfish sautéed in a sherry tomato cream sauce with capers and mushrooms creates a burst of flavors that will leave you craving for more. The pasta is perfectly cooked and topped with a generous amount of Parmesan cheese, adding a delightful touch to every bite. The dish is so delicious that it transported me into a ratatouille dream-like state, and before I knew it, my plate was empty! If you're looking for a mouthwatering and satisfying meal, I highly recommend trying the "Mardi Gras" pasta at Bud Louisiana cafes. As I am not a true food critic, there was no thought of taking a picture of the dish. But I will include the carnage
Nikki P.
service 100000000/5 this was my first time here so i didn't have any expectations but they exceeded anything i could've imagined. we received the most amazing service here, even better than ALL of the fanciest restaurants we have been to. our server rigo was so friendly & kind, he checked on us very often and always made sure he was clearing our dirty plates and utensils & brought our napkins and moist towelettes frequently. he also refilled my bf's arnold palmer like 3 times????? give this man a raise. WOULD DEF COME BACK TO TRY MORE DISHES & GET THE SAME APPS & BEIGNETS AGAIN! jalapeno cornbread muffin (5/5) so good with the butter and comes out steaming o hot and fresh. they give you the good butter and lots of it seafood gumbo (5/5) not the biggest gumbo fan but really good! bf loved it and ate most of it soft shell crab appetizer (5/5) so good! not fishy and super crispy. the tomato and tartar sauce was really good w/ it crawfish (3.5/5) a lot of them were overcooked unfortunately so the tails wouldn't pull out perfectly & i was expecting them to have more of a cajun flavor, personally would not get again- their other dishes seem to be a lot better and more worth trying, but glad i tried :) beignets 1000/5 buss. they usually come with 5 but our server brought out 6 because it was me and my bf, so nice of him!!!
Ami J.
Arrived here around 1pm on a weekday. Amazing service, the food was incredible, and I most certainly will be coming back here again! Ordered the beignets to go and my only regret was not getting a second order. Tried the jambalaya, gumbo, and étouffé. Étouffé was my favorite, followed by the jambalaya and gumbo.
Jack Reyes
Indulge in the best and most delicious Creole cuisine in town, offering a wide variety of choices at seasonal prices compared to other Creole restaurants in San Diego. Located in a safe area with plenty of parking space, the service has been consistently attentive during all three of our visits, even during peak times. It's the perfect spot to enjoy an exceptional meal with friends after a long workweek.Don't miss their 'caviar'—it's a satisfying meal on its own. Their creamy and flavorful crayfish étouffée never disappoints, and the blackened catfish is fresh and perfectly balanced in flavor, making it a highly recommended option for a healthier yet comforting meal. The pasta jambalaya offers a unique twist on the classic dish. Overall, it's a truly great place to savor the mouthwatering flavors of Creole cuisine.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Paul Johnson
Likely best beignets in San Diego. Food is wonderful, I've been here several times. Quiet little hole-in-the-wall venue in a business park.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Breakfast Beignets
Jesus Martinez
0 for the service just had to walk out and leave
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Benjamin Serrano
BLUF: service wasn't bad but food is very bland. You've been warned, eat at your own risk.I have been trying different cajun restaurants around sd and decided to give this a try due to their good reviews and somewhat inexpensive plates. I ordered the gumbo and jambalaya. The gumbo tasted so bland with no flavor and the jambalaya was also bland. The rice was served like it was scooped by ice cream scoopers which didnt seem freshly made or appealing. (Think L&L rice) The sauce tasted like tomato from a can. I will say the beignets were pretty good and at a great price. I would possibly come back just for beignets. I will say the inside of the beignets were a bit empty, but for the price I didn't mind much. Also, it is served over some type of strawberry jelly substance, which is fine if it would have said that on the menu, but there is NO reference at all. I'm somewhat shocked how this place has won soo many awards and positive reviews. I felt like maybe it was just me who felt this way, but after extensively digging though the reviews, I realized there were countless other reviews who said this food was bland. This made me feel alot better about my negative review. I really wanted this place to be amazing. Maybe just add more authentic flavor to the meals, and they can turn it around?
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 4
Christina De La Pena
The food was delicious and very authentic to Cajun cooking. I had the shrimp and grits, it was delicious but spicy! The price is a little high for the portion but the quality is good. The staff are great. Inside and patio seating. Parking is free.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Christy Martin
A little loud on the patio for conversation but otherwise a great place.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Monique Nguyen
Heard from others IT'S GOOD, so me & a friend tried it ---> Between us, we had for Apps: cup of gumbo, caviar, & alligator. Entree: pasta jambalaya & taste of New Orleans. Dessert: Beignets ---> All was Delicious. Tasty. Amazing. Service was quick, attentive, & very friendly. Will definitely come back!
The warm welcoming was the start. The service and ambiance was absolutely amazing great. The food and service go together absolutely great thank you for the hospitality will be coming back !
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
PApril Kim
Best delicious creole food in town with varieties of choices and still seasonal prices compared to other creole restaurants in San Diego. Safe area and plenty of parking space. Services were attentive all 3 times we were there even when they were very busy. Perfect to have an exceptional meal with friends after a long working day/week.Must try their 'caviar' -- it could be a small satisfied meal on its own. Perfect creamy full of flavor crayfish etufee every time. The blacken catfish was fresh, and balance flavor, highly recommended for healthier and still in a comfort meal zone. Pasta jambalaya was a good twist from a regular jumbalaya one. Truly great place to enjoy the mouthful flavor of Creole meals.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Soft Shell Crab PO Boy, Creole Caviar, Crawfish Etouffee EH-Too-Fay, Blackened Catfish PO Boy, Seafood Bisque, Pasta Jambalaya, Mardi Gras Pasta, Seafood Gumbo, Crawfish Etouffee
Adrian Wright
Very good 1st time
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Mark Ames
I guess I had high expectations. I had the jambalaya with pasta, which is my go to Louisiana favorite when eating this genre, and was somewhat disappointed.Kind of oily, pretty bland and scrimped on the proteins, especially the sausage, which were cut pretty thin for a Cajun joint. Lots of shrimp tho, which were cooked perfectly, which made up for a lot of missing expectations.This place reminded me of the times I tried Mexican food in Australia and Canada; the food was always anglicized to match a 'sensitive' palette. This seemed similar to that.The service was nice, atmosphere was homey, and the portions were generous, but if they missed on this basic Louisiana dish, It'll be hard to want to come back, especially with the prices they want for this level of food.And yes, I finished it. It was tasty, just underwhelming. And the photo shows how much oil was left behind.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Linda Ridge Johnson
I found this place by accident this week and learned that they've been at this location for 10 years! Who knew?!?Everything reminds me of my trip to New Orleans, Louisiana! I can't say enough about the food, service, atmosphere, and location ( just off Balboa & I-15)! It's a great date-night venue, perfect for a special celebration or occasion, or even just an after-work drop-in for drinks, appetizers, or dessert! Bon Appétit!I visited for the 2nd time tonight, Friday, 11-3-23! The catfish was excellent with a cup of jambalaya instead of the French fries. I had bread pudding, but my friend had beignets. Good eating!I returned on 12-18-23 with 4 friends for lunch and we had the best waiter EVER! He even stood while we prayed for our food and said, "Amen"! The food was fabulous as always. One of my friends grew up in New Orleans and says the food here is done right! We plan to come back for Mardi Gras in 2024! Thank you to Bud's. You ROCK!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Jalapeno Cornbread Muffin, Creole Caviar, Bread Pudding, Breakfast Beignets, Blackened Catfish PO Boy, Mardi Gras Pasta, PO Boy, Red Beans & Rice with Sausage, Pasta Jambalaya, Seafood Gumbo, Cajun Jambalaya
The "Mardi Gras" pasta at Bud Louisiana cafes is a true delight! The combination of shrimp and crawfish sautéed in a sherry tomato cream sauce with capers and mushrooms creates a burst of flavors that will leave you craving for more. The pasta is perfectly cooked and topped with a generous amount of Parmesan cheese, adding a delightful touch to every bite. The dish is so delicious that it transported me into a ratatouille dream-like state, and before I knew it, my plate was empty! If you're looking for a mouthwatering and satisfying meal, I highly recommend trying the "Mardi Gras" pasta at Bud Louisiana cafes. As I am not a true food critic, there was no thought of taking a picture of the dish. But I will include the carnage
service 100000000/5 this was my first time here so i didn't have any expectations but they exceeded anything i could've imagined. we received the most amazing service here, even better than ALL of the fanciest restaurants we have been to. our server rigo was so friendly & kind, he checked on us very often and always made sure he was clearing our dirty plates and utensils & brought our napkins and moist towelettes frequently. he also refilled my bf's arnold palmer like 3 times????? give this man a raise. WOULD DEF COME BACK TO TRY MORE DISHES & GET THE SAME APPS & BEIGNETS AGAIN! jalapeno cornbread muffin (5/5) so good with the butter and comes out steaming o hot and fresh. they give you the good butter and lots of it seafood gumbo (5/5) not the biggest gumbo fan but really good! bf loved it and ate most of it soft shell crab appetizer (5/5) so good! not fishy and super crispy. the tomato and tartar sauce was really good w/ it crawfish (3.5/5) a lot of them were overcooked unfortunately so the tails wouldn't pull out perfectly & i was expecting them to have more of a cajun flavor, personally would not get again- their other dishes seem to be a lot better and more worth trying, but glad i tried :) beignets 1000/5 buss. they usually come with 5 but our server brought out 6 because it was me and my bf, so nice of him!!!
Arrived here around 1pm on a weekday. Amazing service, the food was incredible, and I most certainly will be coming back here again! Ordered the beignets to go and my only regret was not getting a second order. Tried the jambalaya, gumbo, and étouffé. Étouffé was my favorite, followed by the jambalaya and gumbo.
Indulge in the best and most delicious Creole cuisine in town, offering a wide variety of choices at seasonal prices compared to other Creole restaurants in San Diego. Located in a safe area with plenty of parking space, the service has been consistently attentive during all three of our visits, even during peak times. It's the perfect spot to enjoy an exceptional meal with friends after a long workweek.Don't miss their 'caviar'—it's a satisfying meal on its own. Their creamy and flavorful crayfish étouffée never disappoints, and the blackened catfish is fresh and perfectly balanced in flavor, making it a highly recommended option for a healthier yet comforting meal. The pasta jambalaya offers a unique twist on the classic dish. Overall, it's a truly great place to savor the mouthwatering flavors of Creole cuisine.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Likely best beignets in San Diego. Food is wonderful, I've been here several times. Quiet little hole-in-the-wall venue in a business park.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Breakfast Beignets
0 for the service just had to walk out and leave
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
BLUF: service wasn't bad but food is very bland. You've been warned, eat at your own risk.I have been trying different cajun restaurants around sd and decided to give this a try due to their good reviews and somewhat inexpensive plates. I ordered the gumbo and jambalaya. The gumbo tasted so bland with no flavor and the jambalaya was also bland. The rice was served like it was scooped by ice cream scoopers which didnt seem freshly made or appealing. (Think L&L rice) The sauce tasted like tomato from a can. I will say the beignets were pretty good and at a great price. I would possibly come back just for beignets. I will say the inside of the beignets were a bit empty, but for the price I didn't mind much. Also, it is served over some type of strawberry jelly substance, which is fine if it would have said that on the menu, but there is NO reference at all. I'm somewhat shocked how this place has won soo many awards and positive reviews. I felt like maybe it was just me who felt this way, but after extensively digging though the reviews, I realized there were countless other reviews who said this food was bland. This made me feel alot better about my negative review. I really wanted this place to be amazing. Maybe just add more authentic flavor to the meals, and they can turn it around?
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 4
The food was delicious and very authentic to Cajun cooking. I had the shrimp and grits, it was delicious but spicy! The price is a little high for the portion but the quality is good. The staff are great. Inside and patio seating. Parking is free.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
A little loud on the patio for conversation but otherwise a great place.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Heard from others IT'S GOOD, so me & a friend tried it ---> Between us, we had for Apps: cup of gumbo, caviar, & alligator. Entree: pasta jambalaya & taste of New Orleans. Dessert: Beignets ---> All was Delicious. Tasty. Amazing. Service was quick, attentive, & very friendly. Will definitely come back!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
The warm welcoming was the start. The service and ambiance was absolutely amazing great. The food and service go together absolutely great thank you for the hospitality will be coming back !
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Best delicious creole food in town with varieties of choices and still seasonal prices compared to other creole restaurants in San Diego. Safe area and plenty of parking space. Services were attentive all 3 times we were there even when they were very busy. Perfect to have an exceptional meal with friends after a long working day/week.Must try their 'caviar' -- it could be a small satisfied meal on its own. Perfect creamy full of flavor crayfish etufee every time. The blacken catfish was fresh, and balance flavor, highly recommended for healthier and still in a comfort meal zone. Pasta jambalaya was a good twist from a regular jumbalaya one. Truly great place to enjoy the mouthful flavor of Creole meals.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Soft Shell Crab PO Boy, Creole Caviar, Crawfish Etouffee EH-Too-Fay, Blackened Catfish PO Boy, Seafood Bisque, Pasta Jambalaya, Mardi Gras Pasta, Seafood Gumbo, Crawfish Etouffee
Very good 1st time
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I guess I had high expectations. I had the jambalaya with pasta, which is my go to Louisiana favorite when eating this genre, and was somewhat disappointed.Kind of oily, pretty bland and scrimped on the proteins, especially the sausage, which were cut pretty thin for a Cajun joint. Lots of shrimp tho, which were cooked perfectly, which made up for a lot of missing expectations.This place reminded me of the times I tried Mexican food in Australia and Canada; the food was always anglicized to match a 'sensitive' palette. This seemed similar to that.The service was nice, atmosphere was homey, and the portions were generous, but if they missed on this basic Louisiana dish, It'll be hard to want to come back, especially with the prices they want for this level of food.And yes, I finished it. It was tasty, just underwhelming. And the photo shows how much oil was left behind.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
I found this place by accident this week and learned that they've been at this location for 10 years! Who knew?!?Everything reminds me of my trip to New Orleans, Louisiana! I can't say enough about the food, service, atmosphere, and location ( just off Balboa & I-15)! It's a great date-night venue, perfect for a special celebration or occasion, or even just an after-work drop-in for drinks, appetizers, or dessert! Bon Appétit!I visited for the 2nd time tonight, Friday, 11-3-23! The catfish was excellent with a cup of jambalaya instead of the French fries. I had bread pudding, but my friend had beignets. Good eating!I returned on 12-18-23 with 4 friends for lunch and we had the best waiter EVER! He even stood while we prayed for our food and said, "Amen"! The food was fabulous as always. One of my friends grew up in New Orleans and says the food here is done right! We plan to come back for Mardi Gras in 2024! Thank you to Bud's. You ROCK!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Jalapeno Cornbread Muffin, Creole Caviar, Bread Pudding, Breakfast Beignets, Blackened Catfish PO Boy, Mardi Gras Pasta, PO Boy, Red Beans & Rice with Sausage, Pasta Jambalaya, Seafood Gumbo, Cajun Jambalaya