9 Restaurant Chains That Serve the Best Jambalaya
Of all the delicious foods to come out of Louisiana, jambalaya is near the top of the list. The savory rice dish is crafted from a combination of meats, such as pork, chicken, or sometimes rabbit, along with seafood options like shrimp, crab, or crawfish. Often, it's a blend of both meat and seafood, with the addition of andouille sausage for extra flavor.
Prepared with a medley of vegetables, stock, rice, and a diverse array of seasonings, jambalaya embodies Louisiana's rich culinary heritage. While the meat brings a deep flavor, the veggie medley of onions, celery, and bell peppers is the cornerstone of the dish's distinct profile.
While jambalaya is a one-pot dish, it takes a fair amount of time and ingredients to make at home and do it right. If you've never tried the dish and are curious, here are nine chain restaurants where you can enjoy this hearty meal right now.
1. Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville
Per meal: 990 calories, 60 g fat (15 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat), 2,350 mg sodium, 70 g carbs (5 g fiber, 5 g sugar), 45 g protein
Singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett left behind a legacy that went beyond music—it became a lifestyle. The Parrot Head way of life can be celebrated at Buffet's sprawling hospitality empire, including his Margaritaville restaurants and resorts serving Jimmy's Jammin' Jambalaya. This dish is loaded with shrimp, chicken, and Andouille sausage, simmered in a spicy broth, and tossed with white rice.
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2. Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.
Per Order: 790 calories
With 22 locations around the country, from New York City to San Francisco, Bubba Gump is a favorite when you're craving southern-style comfort food, and that includes the jambalaya, which is packed with shrimp, chicken, tasso ham, and, of course, andouille sausage with rice, peppers, onions, and tomatoes for that savory southern flavor.
3. Acme Oyster House
Nutrition information unavailable.
Born in New Orleans in 1910 as Acme Cafe, this micro chain with three locations in Louisiana and two in Florida is a bayou tradition. The restaurant's menu is heavy on seafood and New Orleans specialties, and the jambalaya is top-notch. The Acme Oyster House's version of the seasoned rice dish features shredded chicken and flavorful sausage. It's a perfect shareable side with a seafood platter or as a main dish.
RELATED: Low-Calorie, Healthy Cajun Sausage and Apple Skillet Recipe
4. Copeland's of New Orleans
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Started in 1983 by New Orleans native Al Copeland—who also founded the multinational chain Popeyes—Copeland's serves Louisiana-style cuisine in 10 locations across the South. The restaurant chain does things a little differently, including serving jambalaya with pasta instead of rice. The dish, which includes Gulf shrimp, chicken, andouille sausage, spicy jambalaya sauce, mushrooms, peppers, and bow-tie pasta, has been on the menu since 1983.
5. Emeril's New Orleans Fish House
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Award-winning chef, restaurateur, and television personality Emeril Lagasse is responsible for many Americans' knowledge of Cajun-Creole cooking. He runs a national restaurant empire with two locations in Louisiana, but it's at Emeril's New Orleans Fish House in Las Vegas, where you'll find his jambalaya. Lagasse's Carolina Gold jambalaya features indulgent jumbo gulf shrimp and andouille sausage made in-house. The recipe is so popular that he's posted it on his website.
RELATED: 11 Restaurant Chains That Serve the Best Shrimp Dishes
6. The Jambalaya Shoppe
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With 15 locations across Louisiana, this casual, family-friendly restaurant makes jambalaya its specialty. Their original "secret in the pot" recipe is cooked fresh daily in a cast-iron pot over a fire. You can make a nice meal of the jambalaya with beans and a fresh roll for around $8. The Jambalaya Shoppe also offers pastalaya, which is jambalaya made with pasta instead of rice.
7. J. Gumbo's
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Another excellent medium-size chain offering hearty homestyle Southern cooking, the fast-casual Cajun and Creole restaurant has locations in Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, and Tennessee where you can feed your jambalaya cravings. The restaurant serves a hearty bowl of Creole-style jambalaya with smoked sausage and shredded chicken. It tastes even better with a side of cornbread.
RELATED: 6 Restaurant Chains That Serve the Best Gumbo
8. The Lost Cajun
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As the name suggests, this chain is about as far from Cajun country as you can get. Founded in Colorado in 2010, the chain has expanded to California, South Carolina, and Texas. The jambalaya is slow-cooked daily, with seasoned rice, chicken, and spicy Cajun sausage. Get there early because once the kitchen runs out for the day, the jambalaya is 86'ed.
9. Pot&Paddle Jambalaya Kitchen
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This five-location micro chain in Louisiana specializes in jambalaya. Prepare for your high expectations to be met by the house-made chicken or pork versions. The meat is alway juicy, and the rice is well-spiced. Pot&Paddle also offers pastalaya, substituting rice for the traditional pasta, and both are well paired with the restaurant's white bean side.
