Angeline’s Louisiana Kitchen

Visiting from Chicago, we stopped in to have a New Orleans style dinner in Berkeley. Everything was delicious! We had the jambalaya, gumbo and fried catfish with hush puppies and potato salad. Generous portions, tantalizing spices, quick and efficient service with a smile… this place is legit… I highly recommend it. We will definitely be coming back.

Made reservations for me and the husband in a Saturday night.
I ordered the shrimp creole, cup of red beans and rice, Mac n cheese with bacon, and a cup of gumbo — I know, I’m intense. My husband got the jambalaya.
Our food was okay, nothing made us go WOW or fall in love sadly. We have a lot of leftovers. The jambalaya is dry — not wet like most places — we plan to add some chicken stock to it at home.
Service was great; everyone is attentive and catering regardless of how busy it was.
Best part was dessert! I saw thy had beignets on the menu and because I’m a reality show junkie, I know Kim Kardashian is a huge beignet fan — like its a problem. So we ordered some and WOWOW we now have a beignet problem — thanks Kim. I would come back strictly for the beignets and sweet tea, not sure about anything else.

I’ve been to this place many a time and always forget to check in. Angeline’s is always consistently great in my book, and one of the few places near Berkeley classy enough for the archetypical date. I love their jambalaya and their buttermilk chicken dishes, and hushpuppies and beignets are def the go-​to for appetizers and desserts respectively. The staff is always willing to give recommendations to newcomers and explain anything the FAQ on the menu doesn’t already let us know.
The place is always loud during peak hours, and I wouldn’t bring groups larger than 10 even with a reservation just because of the noise levels and how crowded it would be. It’s hard to hear people on the far ends of the table, but the low light and warm atmosphere along with good food make for a great time.

Cajun is one of those cuisines that you just can’t make at home (I can’t anyway), so I understand why Angeline’s attracts a steady stream of loyalists all weekend long. Not only are those hush puppies and gumbo super comforting, but the vibe is unique & lively, like a dark NOLA jazz den. It’s got tons of character & it draws a diverse crowd — very refreshing amongst all the monotonous college hangs in Berkeley.
To eat, our favorites were the gumbo (rich & spicy broth), jambalaya (huge flavorful portion) and hush puppies with honey butter (dense, sweet & savory). The so-​so items were the fried cheese grits with crawfish étouffée (I just can’t get used to the taste of crawfish, try as I might). Next time we’ll save room for dessert, as I’ve got a hunch they’re as decadent as the main dishes. Portions were big, and prices were on point.
Also worth noting, the servers were some of the friendliest folks in town! It was a warm, charming experience from start to finish, with perfectly attentive service. Good vibes at Angeline’s!
Bonus: Angeline’s makes for some serious leftovers! Mmmm.

Always have been a H U G E fan of this place since day 1. It’s southern charm is undeniable, and it comes out strong in its food as well as its design. There’s a wonderful rustic quality to all the tables, chairs, tables, ceilings, and the waiting staff is so cheerful. Everything on the menu is absolutely delicious, but one of my favorites has to be the mushroom jambalaya. The flavors seep through every grain of rice, creating such a whirling concoction of Southern flavors which permeate throughout the whole dish. All the spices and herbs are perfectly balanced in this dish, and it’s not too spicy at all. The mushrooms are cooked to absolute bliss, with the perfect texture to nearly dissolve into the dish, yet still have so much bite to them. There’s also A LOT of mushrooms in the dish. If you like mushrooms even just a little bit, you have got to try this masterpiece of a dish.

This is one of the most rated restaurants in the area, so we had to try it out! Plus, it wasn’t so long that we were in New Orleans, and my husband still gets a hankering for po boys.
The breakdown:
Alligator Bites– Very likely the best I’ve had. The meat was moist and the coating was delicious and crunchy. I’ll give it a ¹⁰⁄₁₀ though I don’t normally opt for this type of stuff.
Hush Puppies– Ok, these were good, but did not warrant the luv that Unilocalers have for them. Just didn’t get it. ⁷⁄₁₀
Oyster Po’ Boy– Large portion! Always a plus in hubs’ book. He got it with a side salad, which I thought was cute. 7.5÷10
Crab Cakes– Delicious. It was crunchy on the outside and flaky on the inside. The salad it was served with was small, so I ordered the arugula salad to go with… and it really hit the spot! ⁸⁄₁₀
Brussel Sprouts– Not bad! There is really not much to say about this one. 6.5/10…bacon would be nice… or maybe sausage would be more appropriate here.
Abita strawberry beer– Don’t bother.
Service was good. We were seated in a timely manner, though they were busy. Water was always refilled. Everything was brought out promptly.
So I guess this is where my husband will go if he has a hankering for cajun food on the West Coast. Glad we tried it out.

So the food here is Southern so it is definitely more on the saltier/​heavier side. Keep that in mind before coming here. The portions here are also pretty big so make sure your belly is ready. The ambience here is great for dates since it is dimly lit with candles. The staff is very friendly and attentive as well.
When it comes to the food, I love getting the hush puppies as an appetizer. The corn bread is nicely fried on the outside and the butter goes with it really well. Moreover, it is perfect to share. As to entrees, I hear the fried chicken is really good and the jambalaya is really good as well although a bit saltier than I’d like it to be. The mac and cheese, although just a side dish, is quite large and yummy and could easily be an entrée. You could also just come here for dessert because I think the beignets are definitely the highlight of my meals here!

REVIEWER # 3137
FOOD ALERT… FOOD ALERT!
If you haven’t been here already, you seriously have to get here! Popular and lively Spot for authentic Cajun/​Creole eats! I finally was able to try Louisiana Kitchen and I was a satisfied foodie!
It’s easy to fall in love with Angeline’s Louisiana Kitchen. The service is great. The food is simple and satisfying. And the hushpuppies will make you forget any low-​carb resolution you’ve made. The seasoning is definitely NOLA, but the ingredients often scream CALIFORNIA, such as hush puppies with honey butter!
It is such a cute restaurant that transports you to New Orleans. The food smells amazing right when you walk in. The menu was so hard to choose from because everything that came out for other people looked DELICIOUS! We had the hush puppies as an appetizer, the fried chicken and the fried catfish and everything was enjoyable and satisfying!
This is a fun restaurant for a group meal or a date. Make a reservation in advance because this place is very popular. Be sure to order the jambalaya and the beignets! A dinner for two with dessert will set you back about $ 50.
Angeline’s brings the flavor and atmosphere of a New Orleans neighborhood restaurant to downtown Berkeley, with great music, libations and the *classic dishes invented in the Big Easy’s greatest kitchens.
The restaurant is conveniently located near the Downtown «University» BART station.
OMG! Stop reading. Go to this restaurant. If you’ve ever been to N’awlins, you’ll feel you’re back there. They have it all. Get there.
*Planning a special event? Let Angeline’s cater your next get together.
Review # ³⁴⁄₁₉₆

I had their jambalaya and was surprised at how spicy and rich the flavor was, but thought the chile flavor was too dominant. I had jambalaya somewhere else and thought they did a better job at balancing the flavors and adding more varied ingredients.
The hush puppies were amazing corn puff balls that melted in your mouth!

Really enjoyed my meal here. We got there on a Thursday night and there was a line, but the wait wasn’t too bad for two people. We got the jambalaya, which was really flavorful and delicious, and the mixed Cajun grill entrée, which came with an assortment of meats and potato salad. I thought the potato salad was great, as were the ribs and sausage, though the shrimp was lackluster. For dessert we shared the beignets, which tasted fresh and not terribly greasy or sweet as you might think. The service was also very good. Overall we had a nice experience at this restaurant.

Good food, but sometimes it lacks consistency.
On a busy Friday, or weekend, a table for 2 – 4 would be a wait of over 40 minutes during prime time hours (6 – 8 PM).
The first time I tried Angeline’s, I fell in love with the restaurant! Cute, quaint environment, great food, and friendly staff. I’ve been itching to come back, but because of the inconvenient parking and sometimes hostile environment of Berkeley, we haven’t paid a visit in about a year.
We ordered the fried oysters as appetizer and fried chicken and crawfish étouffée for entrees.
The fried oysters were so itty bitty… And for 16 $ it was not worth it!
The fried chicken wasn’t what I remembered it to be. Not much chicken, but lots of batter. The bed of sweet potato mash didn’t tantalize me like it did before. The green beans were straight disgusting. The beans were simply blanched, no flavor and was soggy. This was true for our side on our crawfish dish as well.
I must say that the étouffée was delicious, there was lots of flavor and an abundance of crawfish.
Unfortunately, due to the wait time and lack of convenience, I’d doubt we’ll be back.

Came here two days ago for a birthday lunch and it was really good.
Started off with a coffee. It was a basic coffee. Just added some cream and sugar and I was satisfied.
Next came our salad. The Arugula, I think that was the name. Anyways it was delicious. The salad had the right amount of ingredients and salad dressing. There wasn’t too much or too little. It was just perfect.
Next they gave me my vegetarian penne pasta. It was amazing. It was covered in parmasean cheese and full of amazingness. I was really enjoyed that dish. Also I decided to eat some of the other persons food, shrimp po boy. It was good. Maybe a little too tangy at times but was an over good experience.
Now to desert. There was a Benoit. They give you a bowl of four of them. Covered in powedered sugar. It was the best desert I have had in a while. It was soft but crispy at the same time. It was amazing!
Staff was curious and speedy. Wait time for the food was really good too. I wasn’t waiting for ever getting closer and closer to death.
I would love to come here again to try out the rest of the menu.

Good spot for classic louisiana style fare. A little on the pricey side, so expected a little bit higher quality than what we got. We got a variety of items to get a taste of everything, and while it was all good, for the prices i just expected it to be better.
Jambalaya– Good, but have had better from places nearby that don’t specialize in LA cuisine.
Shrimp Po’Boy — One of the better options on the menu and quite large. The accompanying potato salad was unique and delicious too!
BBQ Shrimp and Rice — great flavor and cooked perfectly
Fried Chicken — Highlight of the menu! The sweet po mash was a nice accompaniment to the perfectly fried chicken and gravy.
Brussel sprouts — crispy deep fried goodness, but a little on oily side
Mac and cheese — a classic version
Fried Gator — a little less chewy than I’ve had elsewhere and the portion was a little on the small side. I think we got 6 pieces in a little cup.
Service was good. Ther server was a little gruff in the beginning, but quickly figured out he was trying to be funny. He grew on us pretty quickly after that. Would come back to maybe try a beignet, but not highly motivated to do so anytime soon.

Decided on a whim to come here for dinner one night and it was definitely a great decision. I had never heard of Angeline’s but after lookin at the Unilocal reviews I knew I had to try it!
This place gets super busy, even on a Monday night, and Unfortunately they don’t take reservations. We waited about 30 – 45 mins, which wasn’t too bad since we were able to order a drink while we waited, and watch everyone’s delicious plates come out. Once we were seated we knew exactly what we wanted. We started off with the mac and cheese, which was so good! It was topped with bread crumbs and had a creamy but cheesy consistency, and is definitely a must try. We also got the Shrimp Creole, which I didn’r expect to love as much as I did. The sauce was amaaazing and the rice was cooked perfectly. I also tried the gumbo which was just as good, and came loaded with okra, andouille, ham, and shrimp! And of course when eating at any cajun/​creole restaurant, ending the meal with beignets is a must. You must save room for them if you come here!

Come hungry. Portions are large, and food is on the heavier/​saltier side, though never so salty that I don’t enjoy the food. Service is nothing spectacular, but consistently good.
Dishes I’ve tried that I’d recommend:
— Hush puppies: Great with the honey butter
— Fried cheese grits with crawfish étouffée: Best appetizer in my opinion. The sauce is amazing, and I always want to lick the plate clean!
— Buttermilk fried chicken: Always super crispy. It could be juicier on the inside, but I always mop up the gravy and sweet potato mash with it, so it’s not really a problem.
— Voo doo shrimp: Again, an amazing sauce that makes me want to lick the plate.
— Jambalaya: Super flavorful, and also probably the saltiest out of the dishes that I’ve listed, but still really good.
I’ve never been to the south, so I can’t speak for how authentic the food is here, but I’ve always enjoyed my meal!

I came here for dinner with my boyfriend, and we waited for about 45 minutes, in which the restaurant sends you a text to notify you that you’re table is ready, so that allows you to walk around Downtown Berkeley or visit the bar next to that restaurant.
The restaurant was very dim with loud music. The waiter came promptly and took our orders, in which I ordered the Shrimp Creole (~$ 18). We waited fairly a long time for our food to come out, and when the food came out, I thought, «The portion is pretty small considering the price,» so that’s an obvious downfall. The Shrimp Creole was flavorful to my delight, and it comes with a side of green beans which I believe was a space to occupy on the plate to make it look full; there really wasn’t anything special about the green beans as the green beans seem to have been steamed and topped with salt.
If we decided to stop ordering the food, I would have given this restaurant 3.5 stars. However, we ordered the Beignets ($ 5.99) for a to-​go order, and when we got home to eat it, it was devoured instantly! I wouldn’t say it was the «best beignets,» but they were addicting to eat as the four beignets were covered with powdered sugar.
Overall, if you get full quickly and are willing to spend a bit for a pricey dinner, then get the Shrimp Creole. If not, you can get something else. However, if you do make a trip to this restaurant, you must get the Beignets because it’s the reason why I would come back here.

My friend and I came here for dinner on a Friday night. It was half full around 5:00PM — the restaurant got a lot more crowded around 6:00PM, so best to come before then. We ordered the BUTTERMILK FRIED CHICKEN and JAMBALAYA.
Pros:
–My favorite part about the BUTTERMILK FRIED CHICKEN dish was probably the ham gravy that the chicken was bathed in — perfectly creamy, slightly salty, and you get actual slices of ham! The blue lake beans were alright, added a nice pop of color to the dish
–The JAMBALAYA was probably the star of the night. Forgot what was in it exactly, but I really liked the sausage and braised beef-​like meat mixed in with the rice. Scallions were a nice touch, as well
Cons:
–Maybe I’ve heard too much hype about the BUTTERMILK FRIED CHICKEN, but it was pretty average to me. I didn’t like the sweet potato mash very much, particularly because I found the ginger taste to be too overwhelming

We came here for dinner on New Year’s Eve. The wait time was 45 minutes. We parked in a structure off of Shattuck for a couple bucks. Tables were cramped and service wasn’t terribly efficient. We had to keep flagging our server down. They had forgotten about our drinks, but our server ended up comping them.
Food was a little slow, but they were incredibly busy so that was understandable. To combat that, we went ahead and ordered appetizers: fried oysters, hush puppies and brussels sprouts. The hush puppies were nothing special. They were crispy in texture and tasted fine. The honey butter was a nice touch, but we didn’t have enough for all the fritters. Fried oysters were huge and juicy and perfect. The brussels were so amazingly good. They were drenched in a flavorful brown butter, which I used to drizzle over everything.
Seeing a vegetarian jambalaya on the menu was nice, but I found my rice to be soft and a bit mushy. I’ve never had jambalaya before, so I may be missing the appeal, but I like my rice in individual grains. I imagine the traditional version of this dish is better than the veggie dish. The mushrooms were meaty and enjoyable. The boyfriend got the Voodoo Shrimp. This was the winner. Plump, juicy, barbecued shrimp atop perfectly cooked (and separated) rice. Portions were generous and I was thankful that our room had a fridge. It’s probably not fair of me to rate this place based off a holiday visit. Every place has an off-​night, but seeing as how we ordered everything we wanted to try off the menu I will likely not be back.

Our group was contemplating a place for a group dinner. Many of us had not tired Louisiana Cajun cuisine and I suggested that it would be a good place for our dinner. We were there for our 6:30pm reservations on Friday and after a brief wait, we were seated at a long table for 10. The restaurant was packed and there was a waiting line at the door. So reservations are recommended.
I got a Louisiana Blackened Voodoo Lager. A nice dark smooth tasting lager. With our drinks in hand, our group decided to order appetizers to share and our own entrees.
Appetizers /​starters we shared:
Hush Puppies — traditional cornmeal fritters w/​honey butter. The honey butter were perfect on these large and crispy fritters.
Grilled Boudin — traditional Cajun pork/​rice sausage w/​Creole mustard & arugula
Chef B’s Honey-​Braised Baby Back Ribs w/​house made Louisiana-​style bourbon BBQ sauce. Tasty ribs covered in a bbq sauce.
Baked Mac & Cheese w/​crunchy parmesan crust
Sautéed Brussels Sprouts w/​sage-​garlic brown butter
Oyster Po’Boy — Love oysters? You got them here with these tasty crispy oysters in a soft roll.
My entrée:
Crawfish Étouffée over rice w/​Blue Lake green beans w/​parmesan. Delicious and tasty with just the right amount of spice.
Beignets — how can you not finish off a Cajun meal without some pillowy beignets topped with powder sugar.
Who would have thought? Delicious Cajun cuisine with friendly and efficient service, all in downtown Berkeley. The waiting line speaks for itself.

Angeline’s brings a Southern flare to the heart of Downtown Berkeley.
Food: I ordered the Shrimp Creole dish during dinner. It contained large sautéed grilled shrimp over a fresh bed of white rice and a side of hearty green beans. The green beans were fresh, steamed & healthy. The parmesan that topped them added a good amount of flavor, they weren’t bland at all. The shrimp was spectacular, marinated in a spicy tomato sauce with a bit of a Cajun kick. Great quality/​fresh shrimp and a very healthy portion. I did have to ask for some black pepper and parmesan because I’m not the biggest fan of tomato sauce, so I need a bit more flavor. My friend however, tomato sauce lover, thought the dish was perfect the way it was made. Again, I’m not a big fan of tomato sauce.
Service: Our server was a bit standoffish with us. When asked for water, she took a very long time to get back to us, serving the parties around us various times before getting us our drinks. She was never rude to us, but she also didn’t acknowledge us as much as she did other groups. Service can improve.
Price: I paid about $ 18 for my dish and my friends paid similar amount. Most dishes range between $ 14-​$ 18. Quality and flavor are great, but prices are a bit steeper than I’d like.
Ambiance: Casual and relaxed with a very southern and cozy feel.
Overall: Deliciously hearty and authentic creole food with a bit of a healthier take. Majority of the time after consuming creole or southern food, I feel a bit sick due to the heavy amounts of fat and oil used to cook these types of dishes. However, I never feel that way after eating at Angeline’s! I highly recommend this place if you’re looking for tasty & authentic creole food.

Authentique, savoureux, hyper sympa.
Les quantités sont gargantuesques, et les beignets (desserts) sont incontournables, notamment à cause des 200g de sucre glacé sous lesquels ils sont cachés ! :)
Expérience à renouveler.