Harold & Belle’s

The best Louisiana place in Los Angeles, with third Generation ownership.

It’s hard to imagine affection for a place you’ve only been to once or twice, but affection is what I have to Harold and Belle’s. One of the reasons I have such affection for it, is that the Restaurant’s origins and the origins of this blog are so similar. I started Is It Any Good to have permanent online repository of places and information for out of town guests to use. Apparently in 1969, Harold Legaux Sr. and with his wife Belle opened their place so that old friends from Louisiana could have a place to congregate and socialize.

Who knew that their place would become one of the standards for the Black Community of Los Angeles.

Stepping into Harold and Belle’s is like stepping back into a Los Angeles of old. Three generations of ownership, the latest descendant of Harold Legaux Sr. just died in 2011 (as of March of that year), and the place is still in family hands, serving up massive (and I mean massive) plates of fried Seafood goodness, Louisiana style.

You want to know how big the plates are here? A side-dish (a side-dish!) of red-beans and rice (prepared excellently, might I add) came on a plate the size of a hubcap. Whether you get the Fried Chicken or the Red Snapper, expect gargantuan plates bigger than your head. The family apparently believes in giving their customers value for their dollar.

Oh, don’t get me wrong, those plates are full of delicious stuff, but they are HUGE.

WHAT SHOULD I GET?: Well, their Red Beans and Rice as a part of anything.  Then again, when you lay your eyeballs on the size of the plate, that may be all you need to eat. But still, if you put the Harold and Belle’s menu against the wall, and throw a dart to pick your meal, you’re in good hands.  I’ve also have had their signature Fried Chicken twice now. (Still think Stevie’s does it a little better, but I plan to be back for more…)

(Really) IMPORTANT SAFETY TIP, PEOPLE: I did mention how big the plates are, right?

PARKING: Harold and Belle’s has its own (small) lot, powered by Valets. That’s your best best. Street parking is available. Just depends on how far you want to walk.

MAP DIRECTIONS:
Harold & Belle’s
2920 W. Jefferson Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA
90018

For Reservations
(323) 735-9023
(323) 735-9918

Hours
Mon.-Thur. 11:30am – 9:00pm
Fri.-Sat. 11:30am – 10:00pm
Sunday 11:30am – 9:00pm