Horrible attempt at Creole/Cajun food. I’m a Louisiana local, from New Orleans… stationed here at Kirtland AFB. Being homesick, I was quite excited when I discovered this “cajun” restaurant, and visited with high hopes. I was throughly disappointed.New Mexico locals… this is NOT cajun food. You’ll probably need to visit Texas at the very least to find something genuine, preferably actually Louisiana for real Cajun/creole cuisine because this is NOT it. Don’t let anyone gaslight you into thinking this is “cajun” its NOT.The cooks running this restaurant have NO idea what they’re doing, this is not genuine at ALL. It tastes like mexican food with “cajun” seasoning added to it. Most their dishes manage to be flavorless and bland.FAKE Cajun food.I’ll have to stick to my Louisiana cookbook and make things for myself if I want actual Louisiana cooking.There’s too many problems with this restaurant’s menu to list but let me give you a few:-Gumbo is a soup, the “gumbo” I had was a gravy with basmati rice…WE DON’T USE BASMATI RICE!! ❌GUMBO IS A SOUP NOT A GRAVY ❌WASN’T FLAVORFUL ENOUGH TO BE “CAJUN” ❌-Cornbread I received was a sweet corn cake, not made how Louisiananians make their cornBREAD (supposed to be dry, tall and large…. Not sweet and compact like a cake) ❌-Etouffe was lackluster and obviously not made by a Creole Chef… ❌-Lacking on brand Louisiana hot sauces in restaurant, such as Crystal. (Every Louisiana restaurant has bottles of crystal on the table, also tony chacheres) ❌-Jesus christ, what’s wrong with your po-boy selection, seriously, CHICKEN??? Thats like, the LEAST popular Po-boy… most places in Louisiana don’t even serve chicken po-boys… Po-boys are supposed to be roast beef & gravy, fried catfish, fried oysters, fried shrimp…!!! NOT CHICKEN! ❌❌If this restaurant were in South Louisiana, it would be review bombed beyond repair, and no one would visit it….but for someone who thinks they’re trying “cajun” food for this first time, it’s enough of a gimmick restaurant to stay afloat.
Elyse K Cook
Don't go there at night, unless you want to wait forever for your order.?
Nate B
Not the best Cajun food, but it will do when there is no competition. Value is pretty good. I am concerned about the nutritional side of things, but I don't eat it frequently.
Mia M.
Decent pre-made food. Very small menu and this location was out of a few items. There's absolutely nothing for kids or people who don't like spicy. No fried shrimp, etc. Weird hours (11-5). They won't accept any coupons, Groupon, etc. Cashier was apologetic but said they were closing down and not accepting.
cerease aragon
So delish!!! I love the crayfish Etouffee and the corn bread is to die for.
Tia Varnado
I'm from Louisiana and this isn't Cajun food. And for the person who said comparing it to New Orleans food is like apples and oranges, doesn't understand food. Comparing Cajun food to authentic Cajun food is adequate and J. Gumbo's doesn't add up. It's all celery and no flavor.
Dirk Heine
Drive Thru is awesome for low contact pick up. Don't always go but when I get the flavor for, I'm glad they are there for something different.
flowerfilled
In Louisiana, we had pastalaya for lunch in high school. Some sausage and cheap noodles. It's was not cajun cooking. It was not gourmet.... but it was still better than whatever the hell this food was. I am not a cajun food snob. I really wasn't expecting to have a New Orleans experience, that's not what this review is for.... but this was just bad food. We ordered three different meals from J Gumbo and they were all entirely foul. Though listed as "spicy" there was not any heat in all three dishes: red beans and rice with sausage, white bean chili, bumble bee whatever. I couldn't finish either of the two latter. My husband finished his but told me to never order it again. Just tasted like....expired canned soup? I wish I could describe the taste it all just tasted foul or rotten like something was really wrong with it.
Zoey Johnson
The staff were SO nice and fun to be around :) also the food was so yummy
I got takeout from here the other day. I was looking forward to it as other New Orleans favorites have long since closed. Well, this was about the saddest "meal" I've had in a VERY long time. I ordered online and went through the drive through. At first they couldn't find my order. I think they thought I ordered pizza. The building is both J Gumbo's and Pizza 9. Finally they found it and I headed home. Each item was a sad little portion, and I prefer smaller portions. Each were a sloppy mess. And only one sad slide of French bread was provided per entire meal. Then it didn't even taste very good. So what little there was half didn't even get eaten. I wish I had taken some pictures, but at the time I just wanted to get rid of it.
Ryan C.
I went to J. Gumbo's today for takeout dinner. It was during dinner hours and they were sold out of several menu items. No problem though, because they still had gumbo and that's what I came for. I purchased a large serving of gumbo and went to my car. I was hungry and dug in immediately. The food was BARELY warm. I don't understand why the food wasn't piping hot, as it had come from the restaurant's steam table just moments earlier. The flavor was good but the temperature of the food ruined it for me. :(
Laborum50
I consider myself a Louisiana native. The crawfish etoufee wasnt bad. It was good enough to make me want to return and try the shrimp gumbo, red beans, etc.My only regret is that they don't offer boudin. Nothing says "we are a Cajun kitchen" like boudin or homemade cracklins.
jim b.
I can't believe how many people fall for this being Cajun food!. My family is cajun an this is an insult...We were so excited to try this but what a horrible disappointment! First...how can you be a cajun place and not have the the shrimp and crawfish ettoufe !!! Service iffy at best and the flavors....definitely NOT CAJUN!!! Keep driving!
Erica Gamblin
Amazing food. My favorite is the crawfish Etoufee. The Drunken chicken is so yummy! I recommend this place if you’re craving Cajun food. The lady there is always so helpful and so nice!
Nice place
Horrible attempt at Creole/Cajun food. I’m a Louisiana local, from New Orleans… stationed here at Kirtland AFB. Being homesick, I was quite excited when I discovered this “cajun” restaurant, and visited with high hopes. I was throughly disappointed.New Mexico locals… this is NOT cajun food. You’ll probably need to visit Texas at the very least to find something genuine, preferably actually Louisiana for real Cajun/creole cuisine because this is NOT it. Don’t let anyone gaslight you into thinking this is “cajun” its NOT.The cooks running this restaurant have NO idea what they’re doing, this is not genuine at ALL. It tastes like mexican food with “cajun” seasoning added to it. Most their dishes manage to be flavorless and bland.FAKE Cajun food.I’ll have to stick to my Louisiana cookbook and make things for myself if I want actual Louisiana cooking.There’s too many problems with this restaurant’s menu to list but let me give you a few:-Gumbo is a soup, the “gumbo” I had was a gravy with basmati rice…WE DON’T USE BASMATI RICE!! ❌GUMBO IS A SOUP NOT A GRAVY ❌WASN’T FLAVORFUL ENOUGH TO BE “CAJUN” ❌-Cornbread I received was a sweet corn cake, not made how Louisiananians make their cornBREAD (supposed to be dry, tall and large…. Not sweet and compact like a cake) ❌-Etouffe was lackluster and obviously not made by a Creole Chef… ❌-Lacking on brand Louisiana hot sauces in restaurant, such as Crystal. (Every Louisiana restaurant has bottles of crystal on the table, also tony chacheres) ❌-Jesus christ, what’s wrong with your po-boy selection, seriously, CHICKEN??? Thats like, the LEAST popular Po-boy… most places in Louisiana don’t even serve chicken po-boys… Po-boys are supposed to be roast beef & gravy, fried catfish, fried oysters, fried shrimp…!!! NOT CHICKEN! ❌❌If this restaurant were in South Louisiana, it would be review bombed beyond repair, and no one would visit it….but for someone who thinks they’re trying “cajun” food for this first time, it’s enough of a gimmick restaurant to stay afloat.
Don't go there at night, unless you want to wait forever for your order.?
Not the best Cajun food, but it will do when there is no competition. Value is pretty good. I am concerned about the nutritional side of things, but I don't eat it frequently.
Decent pre-made food. Very small menu and this location was out of a few items. There's absolutely nothing for kids or people who don't like spicy. No fried shrimp, etc. Weird hours (11-5). They won't accept any coupons, Groupon, etc. Cashier was apologetic but said they were closing down and not accepting.
So delish!!! I love the crayfish Etouffee and the corn bread is to die for.
I'm from Louisiana and this isn't Cajun food. And for the person who said comparing it to New Orleans food is like apples and oranges, doesn't understand food. Comparing Cajun food to authentic Cajun food is adequate and J. Gumbo's doesn't add up. It's all celery and no flavor.
Drive Thru is awesome for low contact pick up. Don't always go but when I get the flavor for, I'm glad they are there for something different.
In Louisiana, we had pastalaya for lunch in high school. Some sausage and cheap noodles. It's was not cajun cooking. It was not gourmet.... but it was still better than whatever the hell this food was. I am not a cajun food snob. I really wasn't expecting to have a New Orleans experience, that's not what this review is for.... but this was just bad food. We ordered three different meals from J Gumbo and they were all entirely foul. Though listed as "spicy" there was not any heat in all three dishes: red beans and rice with sausage, white bean chili, bumble bee whatever. I couldn't finish either of the two latter. My husband finished his but told me to never order it again. Just tasted like....expired canned soup? I wish I could describe the taste it all just tasted foul or rotten like something was really wrong with it.
The staff were SO nice and fun to be around :) also the food was so yummy
Restaurantji Recommends
I got takeout from here the other day. I was looking forward to it as other New Orleans favorites have long since closed. Well, this was about the saddest "meal" I've had in a VERY long time. I ordered online and went through the drive through. At first they couldn't find my order. I think they thought I ordered pizza. The building is both J Gumbo's and Pizza 9. Finally they found it and I headed home. Each item was a sad little portion, and I prefer smaller portions. Each were a sloppy mess. And only one sad slide of French bread was provided per entire meal. Then it didn't even taste very good. So what little there was half didn't even get eaten. I wish I had taken some pictures, but at the time I just wanted to get rid of it.
I went to J. Gumbo's today for takeout dinner. It was during dinner hours and they were sold out of several menu items. No problem though, because they still had gumbo and that's what I came for. I purchased a large serving of gumbo and went to my car. I was hungry and dug in immediately. The food was BARELY warm. I don't understand why the food wasn't piping hot, as it had come from the restaurant's steam table just moments earlier. The flavor was good but the temperature of the food ruined it for me. :(
I consider myself a Louisiana native. The crawfish etoufee wasnt bad. It was good enough to make me want to return and try the shrimp gumbo, red beans, etc.My only regret is that they don't offer boudin. Nothing says "we are a Cajun kitchen" like boudin or homemade cracklins.
I can't believe how many people fall for this being Cajun food!. My family is cajun an this is an insult...We were so excited to try this but what a horrible disappointment! First...how can you be a cajun place and not have the the shrimp and crawfish ettoufe !!! Service iffy at best and the flavors....definitely NOT CAJUN!!! Keep driving!
Amazing food. My favorite is the crawfish Etoufee. The Drunken chicken is so yummy! I recommend this place if you’re craving Cajun food. The lady there is always so helpful and so nice!