Maybe you’ve been eyeing that new downtown loft, or perhaps you’re just trying to save for your next getaway to the Gulf. Either way, your wallet feels a bit light. But the craving for a proper meal out with friends won’t quit. Good news: Shreveport’s dining scene delivers flavor without the financial fright. Here are 19 spots where you can savor every bite and still afford dessert.
The Crabby Crawfish
$ | (318) 540-6161 | WEBSITE
This cozy, family-friendly seafood joint (featured on the 2025 list of Shreveport’s best) specializes in fried catfish, but anything from their kitchen is delicious – gumbo, boudin balls, some incredible crawfish – and most platters are under $15. You get to enjoy their perfectly seasoned seafood (with options like shrimp, catfish, or crawfish) and their welcoming atmosphere (smiles and warm greetings), and there’s really no wrong choice.
While eating here might leave you completely satisfied, the truth is we’d still come here even if we had enough money to arrive by yacht and order one of everything before heading to our beach house for the weekend.
Louisiana Smokehouse
$ | (318) 550-8469 | WEBSITE
Louisiana Smokehouse is a popular spot for BBQ enthusiasts in Shreveport. Their food specialty is smoked brisket and ribs, and you can get a two-meat plate with brisket and ribs for $24. The rest of the menu is excellent as well – with almost everything (from brisket quesadillas to the Sweep the Smokehouse special) costing between $12 and $45. Make the limited parking your go-to challenge for a quality meal.
Larry Flynt’s Hustler Club – Shreveport Strip Club
$$ | (318) 524-8664 | WEBSITE
When it comes to entertainment-to-dollars ratio, it’s hard to argue with the value of a night out at a strip club. But a lot of clubs are something to be endured rather than sought out. Thankfully, this isn’t the case at Larry Flynt’s Hustler Club in Shreveport. This spot focuses on hospitality, and has a great drink menu with affordable prices. You’ll find a rotating series of beautiful dancers, excellent bartenders, and a classy atmosphere.
The experience doesn’t include food, but that’s OK – you can use your savings to grab a bite at a nearby spot afterwards.
Sumo Buffet
$ | (318) 797-6678 | WEBSITE
If you’ve hit your limit with the same old takeout options, head to Sumo Buffet in Shreveport. This place specializes in a sprawling buffet with dishes that range in price from $8-$12 for lunch. Go for the wontons and broccoli, or try some of the fresh sushi like the gyoza or stuffed hot peppers. It’s good for a quick solo meal, but you could also bring the family – they’re tired of your basic stir-fry, too.
Podnuh’s Bar-B-Q
$ | (318) 869-3371 | WEBSITE
Hosting visitors can be tricky when you’re trying to avoid expensive restaurant bills. But they’ll likely be thrilled if you bring them to a local favorite like Podnuh’s. And honestly, you should welcome any reason to enjoy the food here yourself. Make sure to order the moist turkey sandwich, get a side of that acclaimed mac and cheese for the table, and since everything is reasonably priced (think $8-$14), go ahead and add the potato salad and baked beans, too.
Marilynn’s Place
$ | (318) 868-3004 | WEBSITE
Marilynn’s Place serves excellent Louisiana-style cuisine, and our favorite order here is the fried crawfish and crawfish etouffee. Whatever dish you choose, you can get a hearty shrimp po boy or a satisfying catfish po boy for around $12. If you’d rather eat something sweet, they have delicious beignets and NOLA bread and butter pudding for about $6.
This place tends to be busy no matter when you come, but it’s a laid-back spot with friendly staff, and if you’re patient during the wait, you’ll have a wonderful dining experience in the unique old gas station setting.
Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux – Shreveport Restaurant
$ | (318) 220-4256 | WEBSITE
There’s a lot to like about Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux in Shreveport. Not only is it reasonably priced and family-friendly, but everything on the extensive menu is absolutely wonderful. That being said, we really love the Ragin’ Redfish with lemon butter sauce (which is around $22) and the consistently delicious appetizers (most are under $15). You can come here on a weeknight for a casual dinner, or on the weekend with a group of friends to watch the game.
Basically, you should come here even when you’re not looking for a sports bar experience.
Hartz Chicken Buffet
$ | (318) 309-5023 | WEBSITE
Hartz Chicken Buffet is the kind of restaurant you’ll want to bring the whole family to. The space is simple and straightforward, with plenty of seating (which, unlike the chairs at home, are actually comfortable). Booths and large tables make it great for groups, and the homestyle dishes on the buffet are easy to enjoy. Get a plate of the fried chicken, and the mac and cheese – it’s good enough to make you go back for seconds.
Le Chicken And Seafood
$ | (804) 724-0770 | WEBSITE
It might seem really practical to catch your own seafood and cook it at home. But when you factor in the time spent cleaning and the inevitable disappointment of overcooking it, you’re better off just going to Le Chicken And Seafood for their fresh offerings instead. You can get the 3 fish, 3 shrimp, and 12 oysters plate, and it’s all priced by the platter.
Whichever one(s) you choose will be flavorful and satisfying, and your order will come with some fantastic shrimp Hawaiian bread and egg rolls. This place is great for families, gatherings, or just dinner with a few friends when you all want to eat as much seafood as humanly possible. Don’t leave without trying the shrimp Hawaiian bread.
Cassandra’s on the River
$$ | (318) 626-7159 | WEBSITE
Cassandra’s on the River is a downtown spot serving comforting Southern classics for lunch and dinner. You’ll find dishes like smothered catfish, gumbo, and hamburger steak with rice and gravy – all ranging from $12-$22. It’s the kind of soulful food that will make you feel like you’re visiting family, even if you’re just treating yourself after a long week. They have a prime riverfront location, but we prefer the main dining room for its warm atmosphere and 90s R&B soundtrack.
First Watch
$ | (318) 216-5881 | WEBSITE
First Watch is a family-friendly restaurant in a shopping center in Shreveport, so it’s understandable if you haven’t discovered this spot during your weekend errands or morning commute. They have a creative menu of breakfast and lunch options, including fresh juices (like the seasonal blends) and healthy bowls (get the Quinoa bowl), all priced around $9-15.
But our favorite things are the signature items – for example, the million-dollar bacon and fresh fruit plates, which both have a great amount of flavor.
LongHorn Steakhouse
$$ | (318) 797-0679 | WEBSITE
If steak dinners with all the trimmings are still too heavy for you, go to LongHorn Steakhouse. LongHorn serves classic American steakhouse fare – meaning hearty, satisfying meals with generous sides like baked potatoes and large salads with homemade croutons. Come for the basics, like perfectly cooked lamb chops and comforting vegetarian choices such as creamy macaroni. The fried chicken sandwiches are a popular pick, and the French Onion soup makes for a rich starter.
The welcoming staff gives you plenty of time to enjoy your meal, and while the place gets busy, you can check in online or grab a seat at the bar to avoid a long wait. Overall, it’s a great spot for a delicious, no-fuss meal in a relaxed, bustling atmosphere.
El Patio Mexican Restaurant
$ | (318) 626-5849 | WEBSITE
This Mexican restaurant in Shreveport is one of our favorite spots in all of Louisiana. One reason why is that for around $12, you can get the best thing on the menu – the chili relleno dinner. It’s a perfectly fried poblano pepper stuffed with cheese, served with rice and beans. And while that’s really what you should order, the other dishes (like the puff tacos and the birria tacos) are as reasonably priced and almost as good.
As for drinks, you can enjoy the fantastic margaritas, including the creative blueberry version. Or just savor the chili relleno sauce.
Papa & Company
$ | (318) 869-2635 | WEBSITE
This burger joint in Shreveport has great cheeseburgers, chicken strips, shrimp, and oysters, and almost everything on the menu costs less than $12. But what you really want to order here is the Philly sandwich. It’s made with perfectly seasoned shaved ribeye on soft but crusty bread, along with grilled onions and peppers. It’s $8.50, absolutely huge, and qualifies as a complete meal in itself.
And it’s a lot more satisfying than eating an entire bag of fast-food burgers for roughly the same price.
Smalls Sliders
$ | (318) 300-3890 | WEBSITE
This casual spot in Shreveport specializes in delicious sliders, which start around $4, depending on what you get. But narrowing down your order might require some Good Will Hunting-level equations: the juicy, cheesy sliders come in singles or doubles, they’re available with various tasty sauces, and you can choose from combos with waffle fries and amazing shakes. So basically, the only danger here is panicking with indecision, ordering everything, and being late on rent as a result.
Which might be the kind of behavior that got you into this trying-to-not-spend-money situation in the first place.
SUBWAY
$ | (318) 364-8889 | WEBSITE
Another spot that excels at quick, customizable sandwiches is SUBWAY in Shreveport. The sandwiches in question are subs, made fresh to order with your choice of ingredients. There are plenty of options here, including vegan choices, kid-friendly pizza and small subs, and the popular Chicken Bacon Ranch. They’re all satisfying, and most combos run around $8-$12.
Extra points awarded to SUBWAY for having a peaceful, clean atmosphere and a drive-thru for those in a hurry, though the wait can be a bit unpredictable.
Casa Cantina
$ | (318) 828-2441 | WEBSITE
Casa Cantina is a Mexican restaurant in Shreveport. Order one of their fantastic dishes (our favorite is the Chicken Enchiladas with sour cream sauce) or an entree like the steak nachos or fish tacos. Almost everything on the menu is between $12-22, and the portions are so generous you can plan on enjoying the leftovers for at least two days – the food is so delicious that it will stay satisfying several meals in a row.
Just avoid reheating any fish taco leftovers in the office microwave, unless you want your coworkers to envy you.
Another Broken Egg Cafe
$ | (318) 865-1124 | WEBSITE
Another Broken Egg Cafe is a welcoming breakfast spot in Shreveport whose menu features a variety of morning options, including great omelettes and gluten-free bread. But these aren’t just breakfast items – they’re carefully crafted dishes that make you want to linger. The Lemon Blueberry Goat Cheese Pancakes come with fresh fruit, and the omelettes are consistently described as amazing.
The best part is that they’re served by friendly servers like Kelly and Jenny who provide excellent care, keeping glasses filled and attending to every need. The second best part is that you’ll spend around $15 for a meal that feels special, even during busy times when the wait is well worth it.
St. Laurent Pizza
$ | (318) 562-3190 | WEBSITE
St. Laurent Pizza is a Shreveport location of the Line Ave. Pie & Brew Co. chain, and even though Louisiana has strong opinions regarding pizza, we’re really happy this place is here. They’re all made in-house and served with homemade ranch dressing, and they cost around $18 each (for a very large pie). The specialty pizzas in particular are pretty great – like the Carnivore, which has multiple meats, or the classic cheese.
They even have creative sustainability solutions like reusing materials for a thematic pizza stand, but you should seriously consider trying the chicken wings too.