5 Restaurants in Lake Charles, LA, Where International Flavors Shine
Southwest Louisiana is home to some of the country’s most beloved cuisine: gumbo, jambalaya, étouffée and more. But amid the Cajun and Creole classics, eateries across the region also serve up diverse international dishes, meaning you don’t need to buy a plane ticket to taste food from other countries – you’ll find them right here at local restaurants in Lake Charles, LA.
Ahead, local food expert Brady Renard, the director of content/video marketing for Visit Lake Charles, shares recommendations for five area restaurants serving delicious, diverse eats. Each place packs a flavorful punch and a wide variety of menu options.
“We have a really great variety of cuisine,” Renard says of the region.
In This Article
La Truffe Sauvage
Indulge in one of Lake Charles’ premier upscale dining experiences at La Truffe Sauvage. Classically trained chef Mohamed Chettouh and chef Arthur Durham opened the restaurant in 1998, transforming the former Chez Oca into a delicious destination for refined French cuisine. The custom-built kitchen reflects their commitment to quality and precision. Seasonal menus highlight fresh, local ingredients.
Start with the steak tartare with truffle potato chips, a dish sure to become one of your favorites. Signature entrees include fresh gulf red snapper, melt-in-your-mouth beef filet and the exquisite Crabmeat Mary Louise, presented in a puff pastry shell with asparagus and Champagne cream sauce. For dessert, it’s hard to resist a decadent crème brûlée or a cloudlike soufflé.
La Truffe Sauvage also boasts an exceptional wine program featuring selections from France, Italy and California, making it a popular choice for special occasions and celebrations.
Thai Lake Charles
Choose your spice adventure at Thai Lake Charles. Its menu features Asian favorites and Thai specialties, ranging from stir fries and fried rice to pho and curries. Renard recommends the cucumber soup, pad thai and hefty, flavorful curries.
Order your dish at your desired spice level: mild, medium, hot and Thai hot. With its robust menu and varying spice levels, Renard says, “I could eat there every day for a month and get something different each time.”
Area 337
Tradition and culture meet warm Southern hospitality at Area 337 in Lake Charles. From flavors and ingredients to textures and presentation, owner and chef Gus Garden brings an array of classic Latin American dishes to guests exactly how they’re served in their home countries.
Though Garden hails from the Dominican Republic, his menu highlights dishes from the Caribbean as well as South America and Central America. Start your meal with Caribbean nachos, golden-fried empanadas or yucca balls.
Locals rave about the Puerto Rican carne frita with mofongo. Renard favors the smothered chicken with its warm spices and “grandma style” rice and beans. A visit here is hardly complete without sweet fried plantains, tres leches cake or what Renard calls “the best mojito I’ve ever had.”
Villa Harlequin
Whisk your tastebuds to Italy at Villa Harlequin, a fusion of two legacy Lake Charles institutions. Located in a historic building in downtown Lake Charles, Villa Harlequin brings an Italian flair to casual fine dining.
It sources many ingredients locally, like fresh pasta from the Pasta Lab and seafood fresh from the Gulf. Villa’s menu combines steakhouse fare and Italian favorites, like seafood-filled arancini, surf and turf, veal piccata and hearty pasta dishes. Renard recommends the seafood gnocchi and Creole tomato and lump crab soup.
On Sundays, come for brunch specialties, like a waffle flight, chicken and waffles, three-cheese polenta and its signature savory bread pudding.
Raja’s Curry Kitchen
Raja’s Curry Kitchen is a vibrant fusion of Indian cuisine with a Mediterranean twist. Chef Raja honed his skills abroad, bringing some Mediterranean influence back to Lake Charles.
The restaurant is famous for its signature Raja gyros, blending Indian spices with the traditional, meaty wrap. The lamb gyro is a standout recommendation, and the rich, comforting butter chicken is a local favorite.
Try your dish with a drizzle (or deluge) of the housemade garlic sauce and hot sauce for a bold kick. Alongside these dishes, you’ll find other Indian staples, like roti, sweet and savory naan, paneer masala and tandoori chicken.
Renard praises the generous portions and ensures that most meals can easily feed you twice.