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Bud's Louisiana Cafe
Category: Restaurants Cajun/Creole Cajun/Creole [Edit]
4320 Viewridge AveSte A
(between Ridgehaven Ct & Balboa Ave)
San Diego, CA 92123
Neighborhood: Kearny Mesa
(858) 573-2837
- Hours:
Mon-Tue 11 am - 3 pm
Wed-Fri 11 am - 9 pm
Sat 12 pm - 9 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
414 reviews for Bud's Louisiana Cafe
Review Highlights
"Hands down the best red beans and rice I've ever had."
(in 95 reviews)
"finish up with some Bread Pudding- goodness."
(in 98 reviews)
"I had the spicy BBQ shrimp po boy and it was excellent."
(in 14 reviews)
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414 reviews in English
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Review from Rachel C.
San Diego, CA
2/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
I have to disagree with some of the yelpers below. Although the exterior of Bud's Louisiana Cafe does look a bit like a business modular building on the side, this place isn't hard to locate if you have a GPS.
My friends and I came at noon on a weekday, neither was it too crowded nor was it too empty. Most eaters were workers from the area. Environment was nice, not too quiet not too loud. The service was awesome. The servers were pretty good at refilling our cups ;)
For starters, we had the Red Beans and Rice and the Cajun Jambalaya both in a cup, then we had the Crawfish Etouffee and the Louisiana Chicken for the entrees. While everyone recommends the Red Beans and Rice, I found it quite ordinary. However the taste was descent for that I am not a big fan of beans. Entrees came with a fairly large plate of salad :) Even though the Crawfish Etouffee was just so-so, I highly recommend the Louisiana Chicken. The sauce was ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! It was so delicious that we wiped the plate clean with the white rice from another dish haha.We finished off our lunch with the famous Bread pudding. Oh my goodness gracious, BEST BREAD PUDDING EVER! Really, the best best pudding I've ever had. You heard me right? You've got to try it out!
I'm definitely going back for their Louisiana Chicken and the Bread Pudding!!! -
Review from Michael T.
Sacramento, CA
1/29/2012
I'm a sucker for Cajun food, stemming from my time in Florida and the Southeast, so my interest was piqued when my girlfriend took me here. Surprisingly, I wasn't as satisfied as I had hoped to be when I finally got to experience this establishment. It pains me to give this place 3 stars, but when it comes down to it, you go to a restaurant for the food and it has a great impact on my opinion.
Bud's is located in what I would describe as a business park area. It's a little hard to find if you don't have GPS or a map, so be prepared before you head out.
The restaurant is nice and very pleasant. It's a nice restaurant to take a date or a small group. There's patio seating with some heating torches, though we chose to sit inside. In regards to the service, our waiter was polite and thoroughly attentive. I couldn't be happier with service here.
The hitch to such an entirely pleasant experience was the food. Before I continue, I want to express that this is merely my experience and my opinion on dining at Bud's. Everyone's experience will vary. in fact, my girlfriend thought the food was "pretty good."
We ordered the soft-shelled crab, a cup of gumbo, and the "Creole" caviar as starters. The soft-shelled crab was interesting, but it was soggy. I don't know if that's how it's supposed to be, but I've personally had a better experience with crab. The gumbo was the delight of the night, with rich flavor (not tangy) and nice serving of various ingredients. I probably should have had this dish as my main course of the evening, but sadly I did not. And then there was the "Creole" caviar, which I think consisted of mashed soft-shelled crab. It was definitely salty as caviar, maybe saltier, but it didn't have the briny taste and it was a little bit too oily. The pieces of toasted bread served with the dish were also very hard.
For the main course, we split the crawfish etouffee, which was pleasant and enjoyable. There was plenty of crawfish and the dish overall was very traditional, just not worth getting excited over.
Maybe it was just me and I was having a weird taste experience, but I'll definitely have to come back here again. I'd definitely like to have more of the gumbo and try the fried catfish next time. Maybe even grab a fried shrimp po-boy sandwich. -
Review from Fred C.
San Diego, CA
1/27/2012
Bomb . com
Super nice staff; always great service.
If you like popeyes you will LOVE Bud's.
I can personally cosign for the dankness of these:
Seafood Bisque-
Shrimp, crab, crawfish, and corn in a light tomato cream based soup with a splash of sherry.
Red Beans and Rice-
A New Orleans classic of creamy beans slow cooked with ham hocks, served with a ring of spicy Andouille pork sausage.
Fried Shrimp Po Boy -
Fried shrimp in a cornmeal batter served with lettuce, tomatoes, pickles and Remoulade sauce. -
Review from Nelson V.
2/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
Good,,, but a bit pricey for what you get. . Staff is nice and service was prompt, but can't wrap my head around the prices. Don't get me wrong I understand you get what you pay for,,, I was just hoping it would've been justified both ways. Please, please try this place out. I can say without reservation that this place is good.
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Review from Tyler L.
San Diego, CA
1/25/2012
Buds is the best! Never been let down here. I'm a southern guy and I know my creole food, so does Bud!! A lot of places claim to serve creole and authentic Louisiana food but nothing can compare to the originality of Buds. My favorite dish is the crawfish étouffée. They make it just like I do at home; a piece of crawfish in every bite. Mmmm. I've been here over 20 times and plan to return hundreds more.
PS- Rob is a really nice guy, always seems to remember me and say hello. It's nice when the owners interact with their patrons. -
Review from Bill C.
Encino, CA
Once you walk in you forget you are in an office park. Bud's would fit in nicely in Old Town, La Jolla, the Gaslamp district or any place the finer casual dining places like to hang out with each other. Who knows once the economy recovers, Bud's could be the focal point fo a new neighborhood called Little Shreveport.
It's that good. I ordered the Shrimp Creola. it was 10 shrimp in a circle around a mound of rice, covered in creole sauce. The shrimp were fresh and cooked perfectly, but while it was pretty good, i wish the sauce had a bit more zoom to it.
My buddy ordered the fried catfish, and he was pleased with his meal too. Our waitress was outstanding, and my iced tea was always filled. I would have preferred Diet Coke though, but they only serve it by the can. Given the quantities I drink, I feel they need a fountain. -
Review from Janice M.
San Diego, CA
1/2/2012
I'm reluctant to write a review about this wonderful place because then everyone will know about it and once you go here - you will return. Tucked away in a business park off highway 15 lies the most amazing cajun food you will find in San Diego. Keep in mind I am a pescatarian so I don't get to sample everything; however, I was born in Louisiana and my family is from the south so I know a little about how this should taste and be made. Y-U-M.
Logistics - Like I said, in a business park, not especially picturesque, but stop being high maintenance and focus on your food. On a weekday for lunch you better have a reservation because the place and its parking lot fills up fast. Meals are reasonably priced - lunch may set you back $10-15 - but you get good stuff for what you pay for. Check the hours, they have breakfast some days, only lunch other days, etc. Weekly specials provide an ever changing variety while regular favorites have never failed to disappoint. Go try it all! -
Review from Melissa B.
San Diego, CA
Ordered the sampler with red beans & rice, jambalaya and gumbo. My date ordered the po boy but wanted catfish with the oysters and shrimp. It was my first time having Cajun food aside from making it from the box. My salad was just okay. The lettuce tasted a little old. The red beans & rice was nothing special and my jambalaya lacked protein. It was mainly rice! The gumbo on the other hand was filling and had plenty of crawfish, shrimp and sausage. I tasted my dates food and it was good. The fried shrimp, catfish and oyster were nicely seasoned and didn't taste oily at all. I would go back....
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Review from Shane D.
12/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
With as much time as I have spent in the south, and in particular Louisiana, I was not too optimistic to find authentic cajun food in a industrial park in San Diego. But I left reasonably happy with the results.
The food is solid. Not mind blowing, but very good and pretty darn authentic compared to most similar places you'll find in the bayou.
The most unauthentic thing about this place was the decor. The outside looks suspect. It's in a ugly strip mall style building in a industrial park. You could drive right past it if you aren't paying attention because it doesn't look like much of a restaurant from outside.
The inside is much nicer, but still not really a 'cajun' feel. I guess I was expecting more of the deep south diner feel, but it's more San Diego style with a artsy vibe. Still nice though.
The food is the most important part though, and I think it stacks up nicely. I had the shrimp etouffee, and although I would have liked more shrimp in the dish for $10, the rice was spot on. The jalapeno cornbread was also very good, although jalapeno is not really a cajun spice. They use more cayenne and pimento typically, but whatever. It was still tasty.
What I really wanted most was cajun crawfish, but they didn't have it on the menu. The waitress wasn't sure if it was just out of season, or they never offer it. So I guess I'll have to try back again next May or June when crawfish is in season to check. -
Review from Dana W.
San Diego, CA
Updated - 12/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
I hadn't been to Bud's in a while. They moved a while back to kind of an odd location -- it's in a business park area, definitely off the beaten path. I've eaten at the new location a few times, and it's always ... fine. Nice. But not particularly remarkable. My husband and I LOVE southern food and are kind of picky, and Bud's has always been good ... but not remarkable.
Today we met there for lunch and it was FANTASTIC. YUMMY. Absolutely delicious. The service was really good; the food was really good; it pretty much blew away all my past experiences and while I liked it before, I'm totally a fan now.
Knowing that I wanted dessert, and that I had to go back to work and FOCUS... I ordered small: an oyster shooter with cocktail sauce (it was lunch and a workday, for god's sake) and a cup of their seafood gumbo. They also brought out some slices of french baguette and butter . My husband ordered sweet tea, which he loves; I just got the plain iced tea. The oyster shooter was delish -- fresh, flavorful. Same with the seafood gumbo -- perfectly filling and satisfying in that comfort food kinda way. My husband ordered their fried oyster plate. Bud's does up the fried oysters very nicely, with a cornmeal breading -- it's very light, not greasy, and tasty. I sampled a bit off his plate, as well.
Then we shared a bread pudding. BEST bread pudding in San Diego, people. I want to swim in their vanilla sauce The serving was a bit on the small side, but you know what?! That's okay, I'm always complaining about portion sizes being way too large. In the case of Bud's bread pudding, I think I just want a larger serving because I like it so much, not because I need it or because they're being chintzy.
And in the end, a totally reasonable bill. Very happy with Bud's, today, thank you!Listed in: Top Restaurants, The Places I Go Out
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/27/2010
I haven't been to Bud's since they moved over to Kearny Mesa, but had been to their tiny restaurant… Read more »
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Review from Lilia M.
San Francisco, CA
1/18/2012
Bud's Louisiana Cafe.
When I came here, I kept giving my friend the side-eye. Where was she taking me? Could my best friend of 10 years be secretly plotting to off me in a secluded business park? Surely no restaurant could be way the fuck out here. But there it was. And there were plenty of cars in the parking lot, I thought to myself, so at least there might be witnesses to my demise. She is small, but deceptively strong. As I envisioned various fight scenarios, she escorted me inside the restaurant. Finally I let go of my paranoid fantasies as I sat down and was presented with the menu. The host promptly fixed the shaky table, though I didn't even really have a chance to notice its shakiness before he swooped down and adjusted it. I made a note of it in my head, because how many times have you sat down in a restaurant and the table shook like it was in detox? Too many times!
The ridiculously handsome waiter came by then and took our orders. I ordered a Jalapeno Corn Muffin, Oyster Shooter, Blackened Catfish Po' Boy, and a sweet tea. I don't remember what my friend ordered, save for one item: beans. Oh yeah, I see you scoffing already, ye who is browsing Yelp on their smartphone for nearby restaurants. "Everyone's jizzing themselves over the fucking beans. I get it." No, you don't get it. You really don't understand the beans until you've had them, and then you are only haunted by memories of them if you live 500 miles away from this restaurant, like I do. Jamila M. and I, my aforementioned dining companion, believe it is akin to that scene in Pixar's Ratatouille when he is describing the various flavors found in great food and little fireworks pop up on the screen. Fireworks. Wonderment. Joy. I truly believe I will be chasing the high of tasting these beans for many restaurant outings to come, only to be let down.
"That's enough, Lilia." A harsh glint had unexpectedly traveled across Jamila M.'s eyes. That harsh glint, so unexpected from such a usually sweet girl. Yet this was the same girl who grew up on the unforgiving streets of National City, who had seen too much, who had known too much. I felt the unease in my stomach I had felt earlier. I put my fork down.
She smiled. All was as it was before.
Sometimes I think it didn't really happen. The super hot, super courteous waiter, every delicious and perfect course, all in that strange location. But I know it did happen. I have a magnet on my fridge that proves it did happen. It's innocent looking enough, all it does is state that Bud's Louisiana Cafe is located at 4320 Viewridge Avenue in San Diego. But that magnet that reminds me that whatever I may be reaching for will never be as mysteriously wonderful as the meal I consumed that night. It is that magnet that haunts my dreams. -
Review from Karen C.
La Jolla, CA
12/26/2011
Food 4*
Service 3*
Ambiance 4*
Price 3*
Parking 5* (not during weekday lunch)
Authentic, heavenly, and one-of-a-kind in San Diego. But inconsistent service and not-so-friendly host when a a few of our party members showed up late. (There were available tables even though one couple showed up over 1/2 hour late.)
Highly recommend the crawfish etoufee and gumbo, but you really can't go wrong with anything on the menu. However, one friend is allergic to shrimp and had a very difficult time finding anything on the menu. DEFINITELY save room for the bread pudding dessert!! -
Review from Kimberly B.
Downey, CA
11/29/2011 2 photos
The BEST Cajun food I have ever had.
When you first arrive to this place, you'll be surprised to see that it's located in a business park. But don't let that fool you, this place is great and the ambiance inside truly shines. This place makes me want to go to New Orleans.
The service is great and everyone here is very nice and extremely attentive.
I came here twice within one week. Yes, it's really that good.
My favorite dish here is the fried shrimp plate. The dipping sauce and the batter on the shrimp is tasty and it comes out perfect every time.
Dishes range from about $8 - $14. Not bad because the portions are a good side.
Must try foods: the jambalaya, catfish, po boy, and the jalapeno cornbread muffins.
I still haven't tried dessert here because I'm always so full after finishing my entree.
Useful tip: CLOSED on Sundays.
You will NOT be disappointed here!Listed in: san diego eats
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Review from Bryan D.
Bakersfield, CA
I was in San Diego on business. I was ready for lunch and had no idea where to go. I pulled out my phone and looked for some nearby places on Yelp. It was my lucky day because Bud's Louisiana Cafe happened to be in the area where I was. Thanks Yelp!! I made the short drive over. It was weird how the restaurant is in a commercial area and sits on the end of a commercial strip building. I guess it works for them though because the place was pretty busy. This was on a Thursday, right around noon. I noticed there were people ouside that seemed to be waiting for a table. I walked in and found out the wait was about 20 minutes. No big deal, so I waited. It ended up being only about 10 minutes. Lots of good stuff on the menu. Since I don't live in San Diego, I wanted to try as much as I could. The prices were reasonable. Sandwiches were about $9-13. Main dishes were $10-17. This is what I had:
Jalapeno corn muffin- .75
Cup seafood gumbo- 5.00
A Taste of New Orleans- 17.00
Iced Tea- 2.25
Like I said, I really wanted to try a lot of stuff so my lunch was a little pricey. There were more things on the menu that I wanted to try but I had to end it somewhere. The seafood gumbo was good but I liked the Taste of New Orleans better. The Taste of New Orleans includes Crawfish Etoufee and your choice of a flash fried soft shell crab, fried catfish, or blackened catfish. I got it with the flash fried soft shell crab. It was really good. The Taste of New Orleans also came with a small caesar salad that had great flavor. The restaraunt appearance is nice inside and they have a nice patio. The waitress could use some more personality but she was still good. The receipt says her name is Samantha, she was not wearing a name tag so I'm not sure. I would definitely recommend this place if you are in the mood for some creole/ New Orleans food. -
Review from Denise T.
12/26/2011 2 photos
"mmm!" pretty much describes my experience here. I had never had Creole/New Orleans food and my curiosity was running wild. Bud's is located in the middle of a business district with a small parking lot and street parking available. My friend and I went for lunch at around 1pm on a Saturday and it wasn't crowded at all. Service was very VERY friendly. Our waiter answered all of our questions being the Creole noobs that we were. He even showed me how to correctly pronounce "etouffee" = eh too fay.
My friend was recommended the Creole Jambalaya when he told our waiter that he was looking for some really good jambalaya. This choice was on their "secret menu" and only available when the chef decides to make a pot of it so ask for it if you want! It's filled with crawfish, sausage, spices, veggies, shrimp and a heaping scoop of their seasoned rice. I tried a small spoon full and I definitely tasted the spices. Good thing our waiter was so quick at refilling our drinks. I opted for the Crawfish Etouffee and was astounded at how amazing it was. The presentation was so charming with a scoop of soft rice in the middle surrounded by the perfectly cooked pieces of crawfish (tasted fresh!) and the thick mixture of what seemed reminiscent of a spicy curry. Prior to the main course we were each given a plate of salad with slices of fresh parmesan. I usually don't care for salad all that much but this salad was worth noting. The dressing with not overwhelming to the lettuce but was tasty enough to keep me wanting more. With the parmesan slices added to the mix of greens and delicious dressing, I would have to say this is one of the best salads I've had.
I would love to come back and have a round number 2! Just not too often as Bud's can be a bit expensive for just a lunch. -
Review from Shawnte B.
San Diego, CA
1/22/2012
Best Gumbo ever!!! Favorite restaurant since moving to California.
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Review from Carrie c.
11/28/2011
Oh.my.goodness! Bud's just made it onto my list of favorite restaurants to take out of town guests to...it's really that good!
The shrimp etoufee, the red beans & rice, the bread pudding...be sure to try them all!
I felt like I was back in New Orleans! -
Review from Dan N.
11/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place is pretty legit.
After visiting New Orleans earlier this year I was craving some cajun food. Surprisingly it's hard to find a good spot in SD. Especially if you want some of the classics like fried oysters. Luckily Bud's is just like being back in NO. Food is authentic, full of the unique bold flavors of cajun food and they have almost all the classics minus rabbit and gator.
My first impression walking into this place was that it was a low key spot tucked away among businesses.
The mood is intimate and inviting, good for dates or small groups.
The staff is very nice and helpful.
Service is super quick and attentive. I always had my drink filled and my food came out in no time.
I had the fried oyster plate. It came with a fresh salad and cajun fries. THe fries were tasty and the oysters were plentiful and delicious. The perfect bite size portions. 5 out of 5 sporks!
Then I had the jambalya which was also delicious very authentic. 5 out of 5 sporks!
My only complaint is that for the price you pay I think they should give you larger portions. You don't get as much food as you would like.
Overall, I love this place. If you want cajun style food then this is the place to go. The only reason I don't give it 5 stars is because I reserve that rating for when I'm in NO. -
Review from Colleen C.
San Diego, CA
11/29/2011 7 Check-ins Here
Such an authentic place...I was super happy with my crawfish etouffee...I had been craving some good cajun food for a while after having lived in Louisiana for a time. I have to say that the food was spot on. Customer service was excellent. Super easy location. Loved it.
I'll be going back for sure! -
Review from Marvin S.
12/20/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Love this place! Over 370 reviews here and they all say how great it is. This place truly deserves it's high rating! I've been here at least 3 times and each time this place delivers. Jalapeno corn muffins, seafood bisque, bbq shrimp po boy, YUM! Customer service is top notch and the quality of their food is unparalleled. I love how quaint this restaurant is and you'd never really find it because it's located in a business district. Now try it and you won't be sorry!
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Review from Rand A.
San Diego, CA
11/30/2011
Delicious! Can't wait to go back. Almost like eating my Aunt Elaine's crawfish Étouffée. Seafood bisque was good too. I wished I had two stomachs. I wanted to taste everything. I'll be back!
OK, so it could have had more heat but hey, this is San Diego not NOLA. At least the hot sauce is the right kind...Crystal! -
Review from Dianne J.
Los Angeles, CA
12/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place is not easy to find. We made reservation several hours prior to our arrival and I was excited to try a Cajun joint outside of Los Angeles.
The locals rave about this place but I was not sold. I have eaten at better Cajun places in LA. The customer service was very good. The ambiance was great. The bread offered as appetizers before our entree was great. I had the jalapeno corn muffin and a small gumbo. This was my first experience with a jalapeno muffin and loved it but the gumbo was a bit of a let down. -
Review from Joy G.
San Diego, CA
1/11/2012
Love this place. Everything I've tried has been absolutely yum...
-Jalapeno muffins are awesome-warm and fresh.
-Jambalaya, red beans and rice, and gumbo are ALL very flavorful.
-Fried catfish is deliciousssssssssss!!!!
-Po' boys are great!
-Top off your lunch/dinner with the bread pudding. Not your typical bread pudding-almost a flan consistency....served warm! Delish.
Like them on FB so you can see what specials they have: beignets, alligator burgers, shrimp and grits, etc. -
Review from Tyson Y.
San Diego, CA
10/17/2011
I'm from New Orleans and I have to say I am very glad a place like this exists in SD. I am actually a vegetarian so I don't get to experience or comment on 99% of the menu... but I will say that the Veggie version of their French-uletta has got the good ole Italian Olive salad to do its work.
Having Abita is a super plus.. and the jalapeno corn muffins are very tasty and extremely affordable. The Cajun Velvet Pie I had was pretty good- but it was served a little close to room temperature (I prefer it cold).
My wife especially loved the Seafood Bisque.
I only wish they had French-Fry Po-boys or other vegetarian options for people like me. I will be back regardless -
Review from Virginia H.
San Diego, CA
1/9/2012
So good! This is the best New Orleans food in SD. Love the gumbo, red beans and rice, st. charles catfish...I could go on. The only fault is the lack of beignets. The caesar salad dressing also rocks; good anchovy flavor. Love the food. The location is a little weird but it's worth it. Diamond in the rough.
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Review from Jen S.
10/30/2011
Where did the taste in my food go?
So I am a Creole/Cajun food snob. I have gone to new Orleans simply to eat. I was rather let down with my food, but am willing to go back and try it again. We used Google Maps but it took us to the old location. When we phoned the restaurant for directions the owner answered the phone (I think his name is Rob but I could be wrong) and he was very friendly and personable over the phone. Now, this place has moved to a more obscure location that can be tricky to find if you don't have a GPS, so be warned.
The interior is nothing fancy, or unique, or interesting. It really needs some help. I think the owner is an artist because there were some paintings in the bathroom signed by a guy with the same name (they are for sale).
I was a bit annoyed because a couple who arrived after us was waited on first. Oh well...
So getting to the main point, the food. We both got a cup of seafood gumbo and a jalapeno corn muffin for our starters. The seafood in our gumbo was scarce. I found one shrimp in mine, and 2 pieces of crawfish. Boo! Also, the taste was rather bland. The corn muffin was tasty, but i am almost positive they used a Jiffy corn muffin mix and added a few ingredients to it to spruce it up.
We then shared an order of pasta jambalaya, simply because it had house-smoked duck in it. I was hesitant in ordering this, as pasta does not belong in such cuisine, but the idea of duck peaked my interest. Sadly, there was hardly any duck in our food. In fact my friend didn't even get to taste the duck. There was only one piece of it, and I ate it. The rest of the meat was chicken. This dish was a huge let-down.
Their menu looks awesome, and the customer service was really good, so I am willing to go back again and give them one more shot. I have decided that I will try the crawfish etouffee next time, and will update my review after visiting, and I hope to give them a much better rating.Comment from Bud D. of Bud's Louisiana Cafe 11/1/2011
Always frustrating and disappointing when guests are… More » -
Review from Robb A.
San Diego, CA
12/20/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Best Louisiana Cafe in San Diego. Cant go wrong with any dish. Red beans and rice are amazing but then again I'm sure that you could't go wrong with anything on the menu. My wife wasn't a fan of Cajun until I took her there and she's hooked now. In kind of a weird location but that's what makes Bud's so awesome. Most defiantly one of my favorite restaurants in San Diego. Its what I've been looking for when I get that Louisiana cajun itch. It's really as good as it gets. I cant wait to go back
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Review from Ro N.
San Diego, CA
11/16/2011
Its Birthday lunch time for mom let me take her to a spot we both haven't been to so we got to Buds and I was hoping the yelpers were right. You were my mom my wife and i enjoyed it tremendously it was delicious and the service couldn't be any better. We order PO boys all around my mom the andoulle my wife the grilled chicken and me the oyster had to try it and it was great all of it and you would have thought it couldn't get any better. Oh it got better when that pecan pie came out blew my world and my socks off I couldn't believe it the prices were 2 dollars above what i would think would be norm but i'm not complaining.
Go there get some spice in ya life and then go for the pecan pie. Your day will go smooth from there ha ha. -
Review from Soo H.
San Diego, CA
10/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
The fish and chips here are great! I had the fried catfish for $11.99 at lunch. You get half a catfish that is breaded in cornmeal and fried. It is pretty much the same dish as they serve at Felix's BBQ. The price is a bit better at Felix's. You can get the same size serving as a lunch special for $7.95 or get the whole catfish for $16.95 anytime. The fries were the standard size fries you find around town. They did have a delicious seasoning dusted on top a bit like what you get on Red Robbin fries.
This place is nice but small. I came by around 2pm and it was about 80% full. I can see there would probably be a line at meal time.
If I was rating just on the food I'd give this place 4 stars but the food is just as good at Felix's BBQ which I gave 4 stars but you can save some money by getting the lunch special at Felix's. -
Review from Jennifer B.
Chula Vista, CA
10/6/2011
Was here for dinner and here is my breakdown.
Their seafood gumbo was very good. The broth was spiced perfectly and I didn't even want to add any hot sauce. Not due to the fact that it was spicy with heat but just because it tasted so delicious that I didn't want the Crystal hot sauce to mask any of the yumminess the gumbo had going on.
Also had this crawfish spread stuff for another appetizer and they gave you little toasted buttered slices of bread to spread it on. The crawfish spread was tasty but I think it would have been better served with fresh bread as opposed to buttered toasty things as the spread was rich and then the butter on the bread was too much for me.
I also managed to shove down a jalapeno cornbread. Yummy.
Entrees both came with a Caesar salad. Nothing to write home about on the salad as it tasted like everyone else's Caesar who uses bottled sauce. Greens were very fresh though.
Entrees. I had the red beans & rice with the smoked chicken thigh. Normally I dive into the red bean & rice with the andouille sausage but since I have been gorging myself like a disgusting human this week, I opted for the chicken thigh. It was very tasty. Beans were nice and creamy as they should be and I was heavy on the Crystal hot sauce as I do like to sweat when I eat. Didn't get to that extreme heat but was nice and tasty. My friend had the catfish St. Charles. YUM! Hello mild jalapeno cream sauce, welcome to my belly. So yummy!!!
Finally, for dessert my friend had the bread pudding. Not the best I have ever tasted but pretty darn good. Their coffee was good to. It wasn't chicory coffee but it was really good.
I will be baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!!! -
Review from Carol N.
Diamond Bar, CA
10/29/2011
My first time trying a Cajun cuisine type of place and it was pretty good for a first experience.This is a cute spot for lunch and is located around all these office buildings so I'm assuming it's a pretty hot lunch spot. Their main dishes all come with a small Caesar salad so it is a pretty good deal for the price. Overall a cafe with very flavorful food and good portions.
Seafood Gumbo-I've never actually tried Gumbo before so this was my first time and it was interesting. The seafood especially the shrimp in the gumbo was fresh and delicious. The flavor of the soup was also perfectly spiced and perfectly salted. The Andouille sausage was also very good.
Seafood Bisque-I definitely liked the Gumbo more than the seafood bisque although I am usually a fan of these types of soups like Lobster Bisque. In my opinion, this soup was too creamy and the flavor of the soup was sickening after a couple of spoonfuls.
Jalapeno Cornbread Muffin-I don't usually like jalapenos in my food, but this cornbread was quite delicious. The jalapenos weren't too spicy and gave the cornbread a little kick. I also liked the actual corn pieces in the cornbread and it was hot and fluffy when it arrived at the table. This cornbread muffin compliments the gumbo very well so definitely order this, especially if you are a fan of cornbread or jalapenos.
Pasta Jambalaya-This dish didn't seem as special to me even though it was marked as one of their Bud Favorites. The flavor was kind of bland and it was just normal pasta with Jambalaya sauce but I'm guessing they just cooked the pasta then poured the sauce and seafood on top since the flavor wasn't really cooked into the pasta so I suggest skipping this dish.
Catfish-Their catfish with the Creole seasoning is very flavorful and the fish is very tender and cooked well. My order was one of their lunch specials that came with their rice and seasoned fries which were also very delicious. Their creole seasoning and spices are to die for and I think it is what really makes the food amazing. -
Review from Marlina S.
San Diego, CA
9/30/2011
I have fallen in love with this little place hidden away in the middle of a business park.
The food is so good I could close my eyes and almost feel myself enjoying it in Louisiana.
Must try the oyster shooters! They are delicious. I thought it was a little odd that they were served in a shot glass at first but as soon as I tossed it back, I was ready for seconds. I had the red beans and rice with andouille sausage. The rice was perfectly cooked, everything was delicious.
The staff is warm, friendly, and attentive. The decor is simple and nice. I love this place and can't wait for the next time I'm here again. -
Review from Karen C.
La Jolla, CA
10/22/2011
Decent food, decent prices, but I wasn't really wow-ed by anything.
Had the gumbo and the soft shell crab plate. The gumbo was good taste wise, but a little thin for my taste. I like my roux a little thicker. Soft shell crab had a good texture and tasted fresh. Fries were the right amount of crispy. I think everything was okay, but just okay. I tend to prefer my cajun food to be a little more bold in flavor and texture. I might not have ordered the right things, but nothing really stood out to me in the way that I had hoped. -
Review from Liwei C.
San Diego, CA
11/13/2011
I belong to a drinking group of Gulf Coast expats relocated here thanks to the Navy (Texas, Mississippi, Bama and Louisiana) and we've been searching for legitimate Cajun cuisine for a couple years now. After a couple misses in Old Town and Indigo Cafe (what Creole place serves tortillas?) we met up to try Bud's at the recommendation of Zagat's.
The sign on the door says reservations are recommended, and they should be required. Driving through the Balboa business park off the 15 I thought to myself, "There's no way a New Orleans cafe is hidden in here," but there is one and it's packed. The wait was quick and definetely aided by the friendly waitstaff feeding us all sorts of Abita's best (Amber, Purple Haze, Turbodog, Jockamo etc).
Between the three of us, we decided on a good spread to sample Bud's talents, the oyster platter, crawdaddy etoufee and shrimp creola. I'm always a little hesitant to try "Gulf Coast" seafood this far west, but there were repeated assurances that the shellfish are shipped fresh and served quickly. I warmed up with a delicious oyster shooter while my friend munched on Ceasar salads (with real carved mozz and crumbled croutons) and the gumbo (excellent, no softshell crab though). The etouffee and creola came out fresh and hot with soft white rice and the oysters were beautifully flash fried with soft breading. The portions were a bit small for Southern sizes, but were reasonable given Southern California tastes. The food lacked a little bit in hotness, but that was easily rectified by the bottles of Crystal on the table.
I will definetely be back here again, excellent and high quality food, followed up with local Louisiana beers makes for an excellent night. The atmosphere is intimate, but with room available for parties up to ten and has bumping jas music playing throughout the cafe. -
Review from Don Z.
San Diego, CA
12/30/2011
I was really surprised at how good my lunch was. It felt sort of like a business park so I had low expectations. All of the food at the table looked great, service great. Good stuff, thanks. I'll be back.
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Review from Todd K.
San Diego, CA
11/10/2011
My first time here today and I am giving Bud's Louisiana 5 stars !! The Seafood gumbo was amazing. Smokey and great consistency, deep rich color and flavor. All Main Dishes come with a caesar salad. Delicious dressing, amazing bread crumbs and thin sliced parmesan cheese.
I cannot tell You how I struggled with what to order, the friendly and helpful waiter was full of suggestions, but ultimately I had to order the Crawfish Etouffee. Absolutely Amazing ! Thick and rich, smokey with a little heat and a whole lot of heart & soul !! Plenty of crawfish and vegis swimming around in that delicious tomato roux. I am glad I made my choice for the Etouffee, but I am looking forward to my next trip to Bud's for my next main dish.
They had a BBQ style short ribs on special and not on the menu was the Bananas Foster Creme Brulee. The BFCB was mind blowing. I tend to be a big fan of creme brulee and this was phenomenal. Sliced Bananas on top of the creme brulee with a delicate rum sauce on top. So save yourself just a lil bit for dessert.
One of the Owner's Rob, greeted us coming in and made sure everything was good as we left. I called ahead for reservations and they had our table ready when we arrived 15 mins early. I think this would be an amazing spot for first dates and that "100th date" and any in between. It's actually pretty quiet inside because everyone was eating delicious Creole / Cajun food.
Enjoy !!
(Please Google map the location so you know where you're going. Don't assume !!) -
Review from Cindy D.
El Monte, CA
10/21/2011
My boyfriend and I love this place!!! We visited San Diego as a spontaneous trip before the new semester started. Well, we came here for lunch as recommended by my cousin, and I'm ABSOLUTELY glad we did. Food here is DELICIOUS. It's ORGASMIC. It's FLAVORFUL and it's HEARTY!!!!
My boyfriend got the gumbo and I ordered the Crawfish Etouffee, as recommended by the waiter. The gumbo was nice and rich, but the portion was pretty small, so I ended up sharing my meal with my boyfriend. My crawfish etouffee on the other hand, looked small but left me and my boyfriend full. This place also has good Jumbalaya and sweet tea. MMMM, can this place get any better?
This place really hits the spot! =) -
Review from Kristen S.
San Diego, CA
10/1/2011
I love finding good food in unexpected places!
The lobster bisque and/or gumbo with the jalapeno cornbread are the only things I've tried there and they're enough to keep me coming back. -
Review from Krystle S.
San Diego, CA
12/21/2011 3 Check-ins Here
So my friend Ashley had been ranting and raving about this place she has really good taste in food so I tried it and now it's one of my favorite places to eat in San deigo. There BBQ po boy is out of this world!!! There Cajun fries are good too. They have the best tarter sauce. I also love there seafood bisque. The staff is friendly and this place is pretty quiet. I've heard the shrimp and grits is really good that is the next thing I will be trying. I've been here about 5 times and I have only been disappointed once here. The reason is the food wasn't that good that day must of been a off day!
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Review from Howard K.
San Diego, CA
11/5/2011
Try the gumbo! Its smoky, savory and amazing. My wife and I tried a bowl of the gumbo, the shrimp creola and the pasta jambalaya. The main dishes were accompanied by little side salads that were also good. The shrimp creola was a bit mild, which concurred with the menu description, and the shrimp itself was perfectly cooked; not too raw, but not overcooked and rubbery either. My wife enjoyed the pasta jambalaya. It was too smoky for my tastes, but it had tons of flavor.
Overall the food was enjoyable. The price is a tad higher than most lunches, but the food is worth it.
