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New Orleans, Orleans Parish / Food and drink

Dooky Chase’s Restaurant

A legendary Treme institution and Civil Rights landmark, Dooky Chase’s Restaurant serves authentic Creole and soul food in a historic corner brick building that once hosted presidents and activists.

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Dooky Chase’s Restaurant
dookychaserestaurants.com, og_image_dookychaserestaurants.com

What is Dooky Chase’s Restaurant known for?

It is a respected family restaurant in the Treme neighborhood known for serving Cajun/Creole and soul food. It is historically significant as a meeting place for music, entertainment, culture, and as a strategic headquarters during the Civil Rights Movement.

What kind of food does it serve?

The restaurant serves soul food and Cajun/Creole cuisine. Menu highlights include New Orleans staples like Gumbo, Red Beans and Rice, Poor Boys, and Shrimp Creole, as well as favorites like Fried Chicken and Chicken Creole.

What is the history of the restaurant?

Founded by Emily and Dooky Chase, Sr., the business began in 1939 as a sandwich shop and lottery ticket outlet before becoming a bar and eventually a family restaurant, which opened its doors in 1941. It remains family owned and operated, though it closed for two years to rebuild following Hurricane Katrina.

Who has visited Dooky Chase's?

The restaurant is a stopping place for musicians, visual artists, literary figures, and politicians. Notable guests have included Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush, as well as Quincy Jones and Hank Aaron.

Where is it located?

Dooky Chase's Restaurant is located at 2301 Orleans Ave., New Orleans, LA 70119.

What should I check before going?

Use Gyde for context, then check official sources for current hours, tickets, construction, and closures.

What to know

Dooky Chase’s Restaurant is a cornerstone of New Orleans culture located at 2301 Orleans Avenue. The business first emerged in 1939 as a modest sandwich shop and lottery ticket outlet before evolving into a bar and eventually the respected family restaurant known today. In 1941, founders Emily and Dooky Chase, Sr. moved the establishment to its current site at the corner of Orleans Avenue and North Miro Street. Beyond its culinary reputation, the restaurant served as a strategic headquarters for key strategizing during the Civil Rights Movement. This significance transformed the venue into a vital meeting place for music, entertainment, and culture. Its walls have hosted an elite roster of guests, including Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush, as well as legendary figures like Hank Aaron and Quincy Jones. The architecture of the site is a distinct corner brick building featuring two attached double shotgun houses. Despite a two-year closure to rebuild following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, the establishment remains family owned and operated. It continues to be a touchstone for five generations of New Orleanians and has received recognition through the Backing Historic Small Restaurants program. Visitors can experience authentic Cajun, Creole, and soul food. The lunch menu features New Orleans staples such as Gumbo, Shrimp Creole, and Red Beans and Rice. For those seeking expanded options, the kitchen prepares specialized dishes including Shrimp Clemenceau, Oyster Norman, and Stuffed Shrimp.

Visitor tips

  • Make reservations via the official website to ensure a table.
  • Try the Red Beans and Rice or Gumbo for a classic New Orleans lunch experience.
  • Allow extra time to admire the unique double shotgun house architecture attached to the main building.

Nearby context

Located in the historic Treme neighborhood, Dooky Chase's stands as a cultural anchor at the intersection of Orleans Avenue and North Miro Street, embodying the spirit of one of the oldest African American neighborhoods in the United States.

Sources

Evidence and links