Bud's Louisiana Cafe Reviews

I'm from Louisiana so I was skeptical at first BUT once I looked at the menu I started to gain a little confidence (items were spelled correctly). I got the fried fish poboy and it tasted like home! A friend got the jambalaya and said it was spot on! Come to find out the owner is from Metairie Louisiana! I highly recommend!

Food was awesome! San Diego isn’t the warmest city, so in April it was chillier than expected. This place requires reservations for inside dining for the most part. Patio was pretty flexible for walk-ins. They did have patio heaters for outside diners as well. Any how food was bomb! Absolutely delicious! Service was also great! They did forget to bring our card back & after retrieving it from the front there was a draw full; so clearly it happens often. It hadn’t been compromised but just be mindful. All in all great place! We went back twice during our weekend visit! 😋

We celebrated my daughter's birthday at Bud's Louisiana Café last night, and it was so enjoyable and delicious!!! Bud's brings New Orleans to San Diego. I had the Mardi Gras Pasta and I can't say enough about it! It was delicious all the way through. I also had the red beans and rice for an appetizer, and that was also delicious. We tried the alligator sausage and was real quite nervous trying it, but it was also good. A little different, but good. The service is great, and prices are reasonable. To top it off, they gave us some beignets and strawberry dipping sauce to celebrate my daughter's birthday, and they are to die for. They were not greasy as I thought they would be, I ate two. Go visit Bud's, you too will love it!!!

We were in New Orleans last year, and loved the food - so we were thrilled to find this restaurant tucked away in a business center after a full day of trainings. A great way to delay travel back north through the LA traffic - the sausage, chicken and rice was delicious - with the option of a much spicier sauce (which my husband loved, along with his crawfish etuffe). Clearly a popular venue with indoor and outdoor seating and good sized portions.

what a cool little place! really off the beaten path but what a find! its craw fish season so we shared a bucket, along with our main dishes. i got the jambalaya (delicious) with the shrimp poor boy (just ok) my husband got the Louisiana chicken (to die for!!!) small little place so make reservations! we will definitely be back!!!

When I first arrived, I couldn't help but feel apprehensive. But once inside the friendliness of the staff and then the great Louisiana style dishes made me imagine I was back in my favorite food town New Orleans. I had fried oysters wrapped in bacon with a roumalade sauce. They were tender and not greasy, and the sauce oh so tasty. We also tried the fish Po boy which had seasoned fish on a delicious roll with an excellent sauce. I can't wait to go back and try more of their menu items, last but not least, they have the most attentive waiters for such a casual place

Enjoyed a great Frenchuletta sandwich for lunch! It’s Bud’s version of the classic Mufeletta sandwich… ham, cheese, olive aoli… get it hot. Bud’s is a great Kearny Mesa lunch spot.

Would have liked to eat here but was told they couldn't accommodate a table for 1...be aware, do not drive over to this restaurant expecting to eat without a reservation

Over the past year... this has quickly become one of our favorite restaurants ever. It is 35 miles from our home... so not conveniently close... but always worth the trip. I found it originally in my never ending search for great Catfish. And Bud's does have the best Catfish in San Diego County. My wife simply loves the Louisiana Chicken... and doesn't stray from that often. We always have an appetizer cup of their Red Beans and Rice. It is the best Red Beans and Rice either one of us has ever had.... and we've tried all the players in New Orleans. Last Saturday night we took our friends here for Dinner to repay them for taking care of our cat Sophie while we were on vacation. It was their first visit and they raved on and on... and can't wait to return again. I took a chance and ordered something other than the catfish. I was so worried about the spices in the evening special... their "Crawfish Monica"... but the waiter brought us a small sample before we ordered... and I made the leap. I'm sure glad I did. The Crawfish Monica (and I'm loading a picture of it) was wonderful. I loved it... did not regret for an instant not sticking to my Bud's favorite... the Catfish. The cream sauce... crawfish meat... noodles... OMG... well here it is directly from their menu: "One of the most popular New Orleans Jazz Fest Classics... crawfish sautéed in an Etouffee style sauce to which we add garlic, mushrooms, and finish with a splash of cream and cognac, tossed with Fettuccine - $18.85 " We had two drinks each, or eight drinks, four wonderful entrees, three appetizers, two deserts and the bill was $155 before tip. We spent $400+ at the Marine Room in La Jolla last month for a meal that was not even special... except for the view and price. No Wonder Forbes Magazine has this place in the top 20 for dining value in the US. Atmosphere is casual ... even cozy... always comfortable... and the service is excellent. This has to be the best fine dining value in San Diego. I just hope it doesn't get too crowded :-)

This is a restaurant for locals because it is far away from the downtown area and sits in the middle of a business park. Once you walk in you are greeted warmly and sincerely, and you feel you are among friends. The menu is perfect in its size but if you get in late, you risk not having all selections available. I had a traditional gumbo and jambalaya, and both were good but not as spicy as I am used to in NOLA. Yes, i could have asked for more spiciness, and perhaps I should have. One word of caution. NO HARD LIQUOR and their wine selection is rather limited. You can bring your own bottle but I was not aware of that before getting there.

California cuisine with New Orleans flair and flavors. The service was fast & friendly and when a meal finishes with bananas foster creme brûlée it's hard to go wrong. Great value! The only drawback is the location...I only wish I had a restaurant that good in an light manufacturing area near me.

Poor boys are excellent. Had two different poor boys; one shrimp and the other crab. Both had great bread and we throughly enjoyed them.

Authentic menu of Louisiana food. A great restaurant , good food & good service . A little out of the way but worth the drive. It is off the 15 & Balboa Ave, on Viewridge Drive. Reservations are recommended or you could have a very long wait. If you haven't tried Buds put Buds on your list .

My only negative is what took me so long to find this place! Hands down the best shrimp and grits ever! The sauce was unbelievably delicious. My husband had the shrimp etouffee, it was really good too, but the grits were better! We finished dinner with the bananas foster creme brulee. Wow! Word of advice, do not skip dessert...I will dream about the creme brulee! We are already planning our next visit!! Service was great, food came out timely, restaurant was clean.

Business travel has taken me to New Orleans several times but my wife had never eaten good, authentic New Orleans French Quarter style food. Research led me to Bud's Louisiana Cafe on the north side of San Diego. Reviews were good and it was close to our home, so I took her there for her birthday. Based on the comments she made during and after dinner, I couldn't have chosen a better place! She loves Soft Shell Crab, so she ordered a combination Soft Shell Crab and Crawfish Etouffee dish. She thought it was superb! For dessert, our waiter brought her a complimentary dish scrumptious of Bread Pudding, topped with a birthday candle, of course. We truly enjoyed our dinner and our waiter, who was very attentive. My only disappointment was that Bud's doesn't serve French Quarter Chicory Coffee, which I love. It was a minor flaw in what was an excellent and authentic New Orleans dining experience.

I had the Louisiana chicken, seafood bisque and finished with beignets. Everything was outstanding, flavors perfect, great service and not too expensive for quality of food.

We found our gumbo fix in a lively, busy friendly restaurant right in our back yard. Everything is authentic, lots of things flown in from Louisiana. We'll return often.

I had a very disappointing lunch there today. I ordered the shrimp Po'boy with a small bowl of red beans and rice. The red beans and rice were great. Too bad I can't say that of the Po'boy. I thought I was getting a Po'boy like the ones I've had in New Orleans. You know the type, full of shrimp, fully dressed, covered with remoulade sauce, all on a bun that is fresh and unique in flavor. What I got were four shrimp, one slice of tasteless tomato, some lettuce, something they called remoulade sauce, on a toasted French roll. It came with "seasoned French fries". Putting some seasoning on limp, oily French fries in an insult to seasoning and French fries. Calling this sandwich Cajun, Creole, Louisianan, or New Orleans is like calling Taco Bell authentic Mexican food.

Another surprise and very worthwhile because the flavors and offerings were just like New Orleans fare. We all enjoyed a very authentic meal at this small, out of the way restaurant. Everything about the place was first class and the food delicious. I'm very picky when eating blackened catfish but the spices used here were exactly like down south. It was delicious. We had to wait a while but that was OK based upon what we got in return. We topped the night off with steaming hot beignets and dark coffee. What a treat.

Don't like to give bad rating, especially for a restaurant we had been looking forward to visiting, but our lunch experience was just "Meh.". The restaurant is situated in a middle of a business complex area of Kearny Mesa off of Balboa Avenue and the 15 Freeway. Hostess was pleasant upon arrival. The restaurant was pretty busy. Inside (ac) and outdoor dining with partially covered patio and umbrellas. Nice atmosphere. Good stuff ends there. Service was slow and inattentive. Took forever to get drink orders or at minimum a "I'll be right with you" acknowledgment. Menu was pricier than we had expected for a casual lunch spot. For dinner I can see those prices, but for lunch would have expected a bit less or maybe some lunch specials?? Ordered the crayfish etouffee (taste of New Orleans) and choose to add the soft shell crab. Now I love soft shell crab, but this was just mushy and mealy and icky - didn't eat it all. Crayfish was just OK - the sauce was good as was the rice, but the crayfish just meh. Overall I would not order this dish again. Also tried the gumbo - not too much in terms of protein in it - it really needed a kick from the hot sauce. Probably won't be returning.

This restaurant is close to my home in Tierrasanta and I have eaten there many times. I'm a big fan. The food is delicious, the service is excellent, and the atmosphere is charming. I can't recommend it highly enough. My only hesitation is that when it gets very busy, as it does at lunchtime, the conversation at the table is hard to hear unless you're on the patio.

Make reservations so that you are sure to get in - they really appreciate your calls. They have great Cajun dishes: jambalaya, red beans and rice, crawfish etoufee, and many other great dishes. Their specials are always excellent. Desserts - yum. They recently started serving beignets, but only a couple of days a week.

We were heading back from the SD Botanical Gardens and we were looking for a late lunch. Bud's came up as close by on my TA app. The regular lunch crowd had already thinned out and we were seated is a small area at the back of the restaurant. Our waiter was one of the best I've ever had - great with making recommendations. We both ordered the special of shrimp and grits which came with a nice side salad. We also ordered a soft shell crab for an appetizer. Both dishes were sooo good! The shrimp was tender and the grits were so flavorful - we loved it. My mom had never had softshell crab and it was the best softshell crab ever. It was my mom's bday and they gave her a slice of lemon cheesecake on the house. The waiter knew we were there for another 4 days and gave us several other local recommendations which was tremendously helpful. I would go back in a heartbeat!

Although I know very little about southern food, I know what tastes good and I like this place. My fiance and I decided to try this place out since it was close to where we used to live. I ordered the gumbo and Catfish St. Charles. The gumbo was absolutely delicious and the portion was perfect. The catfish dish was very good as well. Although it was a bit oily for my taste, I think that's how it was meant to be prepared, the taste was all there. My fiance order the the shrimp Po Boy sandwich, but unfortunately I think he was a bit disappointed. He was much happier with his dessert. He order the pecan pie, which he loved; and I ordered the bread pudding. My dessert was served hot and creamy and was just delicious. Although my fiance was a bit disappointed with his main course, we both found my food and the desserts to be delicious. I can't recommend this food to people from Louisiana, but for those of us who haven't been, this was a pretty satisfying meal.

I got a fried shrimp po boy ($11 or $12) - it was very good. Remoulade sauce tasty, shrimp was yummy & quite a bit of it on the sandwich. Hubby got the Jambalaya ($15) & really, really liked it a lot (one of his favorite menu items & this place measured up!). Ate on the outside patio.

Buds was actually better than we expected. You have to look for it because it’s in a business park. Nice patio and good service. All the traditional Louisiana dishes- etouffe, po boys, shrimp, red beans and rice. I didn’t feel like I was in New Orleans but the food brought back some good memories.

I had dinner here with my wife and our meal and drinks were excellent. I had a bottle of Abita beer from Louisiana which I usually try here. They did not have the oyster shooters that I love, but our server was very apologetic. The Seafood Bisque was over the top delicious and my Crawfish Étouffée was very good. My wife had the Ribs Dinner that is often on their menu as a special.

Sorry to say….what a disappointment from the years before. We’ve been coming here for years. Even after we moved out of state. This restaurant was always a must while in San Diego. The food quality has changed. Back in the day.. the best bread pudding, oyster poor boys, soft shell crab to die for. Today no oysters on the menu, half the crab was covered with the sauce from the etoufee which made it mushy, the bread pudding was not even close to the quality from the past. My order was delivered with something I didn’t order. Don’t think we’ll be back, the quality is not the same.

Love this hidden gem in San Diego. Had dinner with friends make sure u make reservations on weekends. Gumbo was great I had special shrimp and grits great sauce severed with grits and cheese toast points. Oh yes don't forget to try the abita beers and I love the John daly cocktail, yum sweet tea lemonade and vodka. The service is so friendly kudos to our waiter Wesley . Now serving beignets on we'd and thursday after 500 pm can't wait to go back and try them I am sure they will be just as good as cafe dumont in new Orleans.

Bud's serves geat New Orleans' style food and the service is excellent. We longed for Cajun food (found Bud's at Trip Advisor) and dorve 35 min from Encinitas to eat lunch at Bud's. When your 12 yearold son tell you: "It has worth the trip" you know you can highly recommend the restaurant :-) We sat outside. For appetizer we had Creole "Caviar" and Alligator Sausage, for main Pasta Jambalaya, Cajun Jambalaya, Shrimp & Grits and Pulled Pork Po Boy - great food. The dessert are great. Thanks Bud for a great lunch! The restaurant is located in a business park and the staff is friendly. If I lived in San Diego instead of Stockholm, Sweden, I would use catering from Bud's for parties.

Bud's is tucked away in a business complex in San Diego. Unless you work nearby, you heard about this restaurant gem via word of mouth. We loved our lunch selections so much that we came back for dinner a few days later. Both times we sat on the patio and had wait staff who were charming, efficient, and helped to make our dining experience fun and memorable. As great as the staff was, it was the fabulous food that made a lasting impression on all of us: Appetizers, entres, desserts - wow. Some of our favorite appetizers/main dishes/desserts were: Alligator Sausage with Fried Pickles Seafood Gumbo Blackened Catfish Po'Boy Jambalaya Crawfish Etouffe Bread Pudding Pecan Parfait Creme Brule We heard that they are also open for breakfast on weekdays; sorry we didn't have a chance to try that!

The service here is hard to beat. Very nice people. The drawback is the tight space (smaller tables). I’m sure the rest of the menu is lovely, however for a New Orleans themed restaurant, the jambalaya was really not that good- stewed tomatoes, hard rice, sausages in big pieces (not providing a knife), and generally flavorless. Other than that, good experience.

We arrived pretty early for dinner (before 5pm) and the restaurant was already crowded. At first, because we did not have a reservation, we thought we were out of luck, but one of the wait staff squeezed us in. We were very pleased with all aspects of our dining experience and asked about reservations for the next day. Ack! Closed on Sundays. I wish I lived remotely close, but 3000 miles is a little far to drive for any restaurant.

Food was good we were hoping for boiled crawfish but portions were too small. More of an appetizer. The oysters were awesome. Service was good too

First time visit, lunch with friends. Large menu with authentic Louisiana dishes. Two of us had the traditional PO Boy; one with catfish; the second pulled pork. Both very good and messy as a PO Boy should be. The third member of our party had the gumbo which was tasty. A cup of the red beans and rice added to the savory lunch. Of course we could not pass up the beignets! Just delicious, hot out of the fryer, the right amount enough sugar and a little strawberry dipping sauce. They tasted exactly as those that I have enjoyed at the Cafe du Monde in New Orleans. The restaurant is small so reservations are a must, especially during the lunch hours. Parking is available. Prices are reasonable. Service was good. Servings are a good size and hot foods are served hot. Adult beverages are available for those who enjoy them. Will be going back. There are so many menu items to try.

Had quick lunch here last month. Food was great (New Orleans style, of course). Not much in the way of ambiance, it's just a good lunch restaurant located in a strip mall near a number of light manufacturing facilities. Good though.

I lived in New Orleans for 10 years, and can vouch for the fact that it is totally authentic and wonderful food from "N'awlins". I went with 2 friends, we had red beans and rice and shrimp etoufee. The servings were very generous. The place is small so you need reservations.

A very affordable and very authentic cajun cuisine. (I lived in New Orleans for 10 years. We had shrimp étouffée and red beans and rice. Afterwards rice pudding. OMG, it was delish!

Crawfish Étouffée, shrimp and grits, soft-shelled crabs were excellent, as were the red beans and rice. Good, affordable wines, excellent Louisiana beers, nice patio ambience. Finished the meal with superb beignets--nearly equal to those at the Cafe du Monde in NO. Wonderful meal--will definitely be back!

So glad we stumbled across the bustling little cafe. Such good food, plenty of options, my husband had the soft shell crab po boy thought it was awesome we both had the house salad the creole mustard vinaigrette was so tasty I had the Cajun jambalaya and a heavenly jalapeño corn bread muffin definitely a place we will return too.

I love gumbo so I am always looking for places that serve it. Bud's popped up and I was around the corner from where I was located so decided to give it a try. Gumbo was good but I wish the broth was a little thicker. French Fries with gravy was awesome and the bread pudding was different but still very good. They also have outside patio seating which I always like.

The alligator sausage and fried pickles were really good but the Mardi Gras pasta rocked! Service was good. I'd recommend reservations as the place is small - but has both indoor and outdoor seating.

Excellent service and the quality of the food is outstanding. Not much on ambience inside, nice outside dining area. Enthusiastic hostess no waiting to be seated at 11:30 but completely full by noon. Fast service and pleasant waitress. Highly recommended.

Bud's is a great lunch spot in Kearney Mesa. I have eaten there many times and never disappointed. They offer the best Cajun food in San Diego by far!

We love Bud's and make it a regular restaurant destination. It is tucked away in a business district with plenty of parking. The staff is always friendly and the food spot on. Go during crawfish season and grab a pound of peel-and-eat boiled crawfish. It is "hands down" divine. We went during Mardi Gras and called in a reservation that day. It was busy, but they had a few open tables on the patio.

Never had a bad meal at Bud's! It's reliably good, with very fast service, and a nice change of pace from all the "normal" lunch options in the area (and keep in mind; they serve dinner too!). Indoor & outdoor seating. Frequent specials give the already-great menu some additional variety. Try it, and you'll be back!

Buds Louisiana café flies in their crawfish from New Orleans most weeks on Wednesday afternoon and sells them until they run out. This fun little restaurant is located in a nondescript business park. If Atmosphere is what you're looking for this might not be the place but, if solid Cajun food is why you desire then stop here. There's very little local about this place unless you're locality is New Orleans. It is all about the food here. Even the beers are from New Orleans except for one local San Diego beer that I found on the menu. They just added been yeas to the menu during the week. They serve breakfast plates and bowls and all kinds of breakfast materials fitting a restaurant located in the business park. The transition to lunch includes more Po Boy sandwiches then SanDiego will know what to do with. They all look yummy. Dinner is traditional Cajun fare.

Louisiana native living in San Diego the food was great and authentic. I tried the Jambalaya, Red Beans, Shrimp and Grits as well as the Etouffee. They all passed. The beignets were great too speaking as a former Cafe Du Monde employee. Mike was our server and he was exceptional. Thanks!

I have not been to the new location but the food at the old location was very good - especially the seafood bisque. Service was a little slow but the place was crowded.

Cozy place with great Lousiana Cuisine... I ordered the 'Shrimp Gumbo' and Shrimp Po-boy. Both were great food!

Bud’s was recommended by a friend so I thought I’d try it. Very good service, Cafe Moto coffee but no chicory coffee. The coffee is ground fresh every morning and is also good. The restaurant is located in a neighborhood of commercial buildings but easily visible from the street. Give this cook 5 stars.

Went in for a quick lunch before heading to LA. Service was fast and friendly. Jambalaya and Andouille Pork sausage was extremely tasty. Additional spicy sauce on the side so I could spice it up to my liking. My companions Red beans were plentiful and tasty. Wish I had more time in town as the Biegnets looked just like Cafe du Monde in NOLA. Hey everything here could have been directly from NOLA!!!

Walking in alone, I was seated by the owner by a door in the back of the restaurant where staff were going in and out every few minutes. There were plenty of empty tables. So I got up and moved toward the window. I had been to their restaurant in their prior location and found it to be a hit and miss situation. Because it was in my neighborhood I wanted to support a small businessperson so I would go back. Not once did I walk out of there feeling I had just tasted great food. Tried them when they moved to their current location in anIndustrial Park with a group of friends after some activity and because we all were tired and one beer was enough we did not complain. We were starving and it was food. My last trip was it! I give up giving them an opportunity. Even the owner has become curt with time. Perhaps that is because they received from some group a rating of #1 in ethnic foods or whatever. I ordered the daily special which was disgusting to look at. Only thing that was tasty was the beans. See the photo. Your decision, your choice. If I worked in the area I might go there out of desperation but I certainly will not make it a destination.

This was my first time there and there were 8 of us in our party, even on a very busy day, they had our table available and sat us within 5 minutes of arriving. The service was great, the food was excellent. Thanks

I've dined here a few times before, everytime I go service is awesome, food great an entertaining atmosphere with good people, easy to find good parking every time I go. I must say I never go during peak hours to know what parking is like.

Ok... So this past weekend I was feeling a little nostalgic missing home (New Orleans). I've had cravings the past couple of weekends for a great bowl of gumbo, so the hunt was on to find an authentic Cajun restaurant in San Diego. After scouring the internet (TripAdvisor, Yelp, ChowHound, etc.), I found Bud's Louisiana Cafe. The reviews looked favorable, so I cleared my calendar Saturday for lunch. I thought that it was odd that they didn't open for lunch until 12noon, but that wasn't going to stop me from getting that bowl of gumbo! I arrived about ten minutes early prior to their opening time of 12noon, and realized why they opened so late... Their in an industrial complex. I was the first person in the door, greeted nicely and sat down. The atmosphere inside the restaurant was good (Clean and well lit). The server came over and gave me a menu, reviewed the specials of the day, and took my drink order (Abita of course!) I ordered the following: - Seafood Gumbo (Cup) - Jambalaya (Cup) - Bacon wrapped Oysters - Bottle of Tabasco The Seafood Gumbo and Jambalaya came out first. Three things were wrong with the gumbo... The gumbo had more andouille and tasso than seafood. The roux tasted like a canned version, not from scratch. They must not have been in the kitchen early because the temperature was still lukewarm. Ugh! But wait... then there was the jambalaya. This was supposed to have chicken in it, but again had so much andouille in it that if there was any chicken it was discernible. I had two small bights of it... On the upside there was the bacon wrapped oysters... The oysters were HUGE! Almost too huge (if that's possible), especially considering that they were wrapped in bacon, dusted with breading and flash fried. These massive pieces were almost sushi-like in that sometimes a piece is too big to jam in your mouth and try to chew. There were only four to the order ($9), but because of the bacon this was the second best thing I had at Bud's (I said I had an Abita earlier!) Here's what I don't understand... and I never will. So I took two bights of the jambalaya. The server comes over and asks "How is everything? Are you done with these?" and points to the empty cup of gumbo and barely eaten jambalaya. I say "Yes, I sure am" and he asks "You didn't care for the jambalaya?" I tell him that I didn't and that it just had too much andouille in it for me. He kind of shrugs his shoulders and says "Ok" then proceeds to pick up the cups and leaves. Now this waiter was really attentive and there weren't that many people (2 other tables) in the restaurant for him not to pay attention here, but he totally overlooked the fact that I didn't like something. When I finished the oysters the waiter came over and asked if I'd like dessert... because "They're really good!" I laughed and said no thanks. He handed me the check, I paid and finished my beer before departing. All said, I was in and out of Bud's in 22 minutes flat. The jambalaya was still on my check and not removed, even though I mentioned that I didn't care for it! I tipped 20% and my total bill was still under $30, but I guarantee that this will be my last visit to Bud's. Looks like I'll have to breakdown and make my own gumbo (sans the andouille and tasso!) Emeril... Where have you gone?

We try to go here every time we visit San Diego. Chili corn muffins are particularly wonderful. Everything we have ever eaten here is great.

My husband had the soft shell po boy, I had the seafood bisque. Both were very good. The jalepeno corn bread muffins are great. We will be back.

We visited San Diego and found this place and decided to give it a try since we are from Mississippi and eat Cajun food often. It did not disappoint and was great food with a great atmosphere!

Food was fantastic!! Probably the best restaurant we have been to in San Diego over the past 4 yrs. Whole heartedly recommend this restaurant!!

Great food. Make reservation if going on the weekend. Been over two years and the food and service are still great. Lots of parking, easy to get to location. Highly recommended.

5 STARS! The staff are BEYOND EXCEPTIONAL. Simone is the most gracious, kind, and lovely human; we were so impressed with her personability. The food is authentic, delicious, and came out SO quickly. This place is such a gem, we can't wait to come back!

Try the gumbo! Its smoky, savory and amazing. My wife and I tried a bowl of the gumbo, the shrimp creola and the pasta jambalaya. The main dishes were accompanied by little side salads that were also good. The shrimp creola was a bit mild, which concurred with the menu description, and the shrimp itself was perfectly cooked; not too raw, but not overcooked and rubbery either. My wife enjoyed the pasta jambalaya. It was too smoky for my tastes, but it had tons of flavor. Overall the food was enjoyable. The price is a tad higher than most lunches, but the food is worth it.

Great restaurant if you're looking for a authentic Cajun food! This place is kind of small, so it's best to have a reservation. Food and service are great, just love their red beans and rice, the Po Boy sandwich's are all great too! Parking is a little tight!

Bud’s is a very good spot for lunch in the Kearny Mesa area. They make an excellent Fried Catfish Po-Boy. It’s best to make a reservation particularly if you’re party is larger than two.

Really good food and service, love getting these tips from Uber drivers, get the Shrimp and Grits, Soft Shell Crab Po Boy or the Taste of New Orleans loaded with Crawfish Etouffee, rice and you pick your choice of a fried Soft Shell crab, fried catfish, or blackened catfish. Also has good breakfast

Wonderful quaint cafe with very good New Orleans style meals and excellent service. Nice selections of wines. Friendly staff and warm atmosphere located in a business park.

This is a real hidden gem of a place...Excellent food and great service! Our meal started with some sweet oyster shooters! Full of flavor and very tender! I had the soft shell crab and crawfish etoufee entree, while my husband tried the pasta jumbalaya! One of the best cajun style dishes he's ever had! Mine was mouthwatering!! For dessert, I tried the creme brulee topped with carmelized bananas, just like the bananas foster on Bourbon Street!! ... amazing!! It brought back such great memories of our trips to New Orleans, we can't wait to go back!! If you're ever in the mood for some great cajun food, this is the place to try! We loved it and will be back soon!!

I had heard of Bud’s for a while and never tried because I have never found good Louisiana style food in San Diego. Well my wait is over. Although hidden in an off the main path office park the food was outstanding and the portions just right. The Gumbo, Jambalaya, Crawfish Etouffee, Red Beans and Rice were all good and enjoyed by the group. They also have several styles of traditional poor boys. What we all commented on was the right amount of spice to kick up the food (not bland like most places try to pass off as Cajun food). The service was quick and attentive. The décor inside is nice but pretty basic but they do have outside seating area which is always nice with San Diego’s great weather. What was a welcome find was the selection of Abita brand beers which are hard to find in San Diego. Unfortunately they only have a beer and wine license, so no hurricanes to be seen. I noticed they have a small breakfast menu and are open for dinner on Wednesday through Saturday. I can see why they have a high Zagat rating. I will be back and next time I’m going to try the bread pudding.

Has anyone who wrote a positive review of this place ever actually been to Louisiana or, more importantly, been to New Orleans? I had lunch there today and first of all the service was awful. Waiter did not bring the appetizers until reminded when he served the entrees. We were never asked if anything was OK after the plates were dropped. We had to flag down other waiters to even get a glass of water. When we finally got the check, it was incorrect - 4 items charged that were not ordered. Now for the food. My guest had the crawfish etouffee which was bland and the crawfish tails tasted muddy. We had to ask for the "complimentary" french bread twice. I ordered a combo oyster/shrimp po-boy. Even if the po-boy had been served on genuine New Orleans French bread it wouldn't have helped. The oysters were muddy and cold. The shrimp simply bland and cold. The highlight of the meal was the spicy French fries. If anyone in the kitchen had thought to put some spice on the seafood it might have helped. In case any reader might be considering a trip to southern Louisiana, please don't expect this kind of food. As a New Orleans native I am sorry when a restaurant presents a mediocre food as genuine Louisiana cuisine.

We enjoy Cajun cooking and it's hard to find a good restaurant in the San Diego area. So when we looked online and saw that Bud's Louisiana Cafe came highly recommended, we decided to give it a try. We were not disappointed!!! Since we both like seafood (especially shrimp) we selected the Fried Shrimp Po Boy (fried shrimp in a cornmeal batter served with lettuce, tomatoes, pickles and Remoulade sauce) and the New Orleans BBQ Shrimp Po Boy (sauteed shrimp in a spicy BBQ blend with garlic, Worcestershire, and butter served with shredded cabbage and house-made tartar sauce) with a side of fries. To wash it down, we both had Abita Amber Lager.

I have always loved Cajun/creole food, so I was happy to try a new venue for this specialty. This is an unassuming little place with plenty of parking. No frills, not fancy. They have most of the standard things you would expect to find in Louisiana cooking --- red beans, gumbo, crawfish, etc. Unfortunately, nothing was spectacular. Nothing bad, either. Just not a place I would drive more than 10 minutes to try again. Service was fine.

A friend told me about this place, and my boyfriend likes trying new restaurants, so we went for dinner on a Sunday night. He ordered the jambalaya and I tasted it. It had a rich, smoky flavor and was delicious. I had the red beans and rice with andouille sausage and it was so flavorful I couldn't believe I was enjoying it so much. I'm not a fan of beans in general, but these were out of this world. I wish I could make beans like that! For dessert we had bread pudding. It was fantastic, and it was hard to pick the dessert because they had a peanut butter pie and a pecan pie and I could have tasted them all. The people who worked there were super friendly and you can tell they love what they do. Bud's is hard to find, sort of. It's in an office park, mixed in with businesses and no other restaurants around. On the weekends the office park is empty, but there is Bud's, all lit up, welcoming customers. I'd go back. They have Po Boy sandwiches and other things on the menu that looked really good. Lots of seafood dishes, and oysters too.

When I eat at Bud's I think I've been transported to New Orleans! Bud's food is great and will save you the trip to Louisiana if you're in the mood for traditional southern cuisine, which for me, is always! ha...

Really tasty food in an unpretentious restaurant tucked away in a predominantly light industrial area. Very pleasant and attentive service. Would enjoy the opportunity to return.

Gee, I don't understand what some people are upset about. I have lived in Louisana and I find this restaurant's food delightful. Yes, it may not be the best of New Orleans but I wouldn't expect that in San Diego. Every time I have eaten here, I have found the service excellent and that's for lunch and dinner as the staff has always been willing to provide the service that is needed. Remember, this is not a 4 star restaurant but one hidden away on a side street in an industrial area. Besides, where else in San Diego can you get Louisiana food at reasonable prices. Anyone else that we have brought to dine here have liked it. The biegnets are good and a welcome change from many other heavy deserts that are found at most restaurants.

Very nice and clean restaurant with friendly staff and great menu. If you plan on eating dinner your best bet is to make reservations because it fills up fast. Prices are mid range and food is well prepared. Enjoyed the experience.

Best catfish Po-boy in San Diego and only place I know with alligator bites. The restaurant is small and intimate. Great for lunch but I'd make reservations when a Cajun dinner is desired.

Bud's is a good find - wide variety of Cajun dishes, fairly reasonably priced. Service a little slow. The peanut butter cake is so very delicious.

the food and service was excellent. the poor boys were almost as good as those in nola especially the soft shell crab.

Being a Louisiana native, I have learned the hard way not to eat Louisiana food when it is prepared outside of my home state because they just don't know how it's done. Well, in the case of Bud's Louisiana Cafe, they proved me wrong...and I have to thank other tripadvisor reviews for convincing me to go there for lunch today. Bud's does a real good job of producing - and in some cases, actually upgrading - the cooking of the New Orleans area. With so many classic and innovative menu choices, it was tough for me to decide what to order so I went with a combo of some the most classic dishes to ever represent the rich culinary heritage of New Orleans. Called a "cupa-cupa-cupa", it consists of three "cups of" different menu choices, and my three choices were gumbo, red beans and rice, and jambalaya. The jambalaya was very good, and had it not been just the slightest bit gooey it may have won a jambalaya cooking contest back home. Other than that, it was spectacular with flavor. The red beans and rice were rich and creamy and even better than when I cook them at home, and that's a difficult admission to make. The gumbo, unfortunately, had a slightly pasty texture in the roux that - while many might still consider it very good - it was nowhere near as good as my own gumbo. Also served with this $12 lunch combo was a delicious Caesar salad, very good indeed, especially the shaved Parmesan it was topped with. My lunch partners and I started our meal by sharing an order of the "Creole Caviar", which is actually a very tasty seafood and vegetable spread that is served with thin crisp baguette slices. For entrees, they absolutely devoured the pulled pork po-boy and the andouille po-boy, which by their reports are both recommended. Based on what I tasted and what I saw on the menu and on other diners' plates, the bottom line is that this is the real deal for Cajun food on the west coast. TIP #1 - Try the cupa-cupa-cupa with the red beans, the jambalaya, and take a chance on the seafood bisque or some other choice they might offer for your third cup. TIP #2 - During peak crawfish season (February to May) they fly the crawfish in "at least once a week". Check to see how long they've been in town before ordering.

Have dined at Bud's several times, food is consistently excellent. Portion size is good, prices are reasonable, staff is always efficient. Can't wait for my next visit.

There is only 2 places worth their salt for New Orleans food in San Diego and this is one of them. Small, inside or outside eating. It's in a funky industrial area so outside you don’t get the flavor as much as inside. It has all your classics, crawfish, shrimp and alligator sausages, Jambalaya, po boy, I had the best blackened catfish ever, it melted in my mouth, and Gumbo is great. Order off menu, ask for the 3 sampler and you get 3 cups of different gumbo's, again won't find this on the menu. Staff is great. I've had bread pudding all over this country and this one is the outstanding. Big enough to feed 2-4. If you crave little Orleans this place will not disappoint. Tip" They have cool Bud cafe T-shirts for $10. Great to wear for the Cajun festivals that roll into San Diego. Only downside, serve wine and beer, no bar.

First time in San Diego and first time having creole food. We ordered alligator sausage appetizer and there were 3 pieces of alligator sausage and fried pickles. I wished there were 4 pieces. Entrees were Jambalaya and taste of New Orleans with blackened catfish. Overall, food were delicious and will return again when we visit San Diego.

In the middle of an inconspicuous business area, I would never have dreamed of finding a great restaurant, much less a great Cajun restaurant. But that's what I found. I have been to Bud's perhaps four times, always for lunch. And it always packed. I tried the Shrimp and Grits the first time and, well, that's now my meal of choice. The shrimp is terrific and somewhat amazingly, they serve the best grits I have ever tasted. Not too heavy. Not too light. Just right. You will be pleasantly surprised by the restaurant and the location.

My standard scrumptuous Crawfish Étouffée was eclipsed by a Blackened Catfish "Acadia" dinner special. This is Catfish blackened with a mild spiciness over their home-made seafood stuffing of shrimp, crawfish, laced with mild garlic butter sauce served with garlic green beans. I started with a house salad which had a tasty light dressing and had a Porter Dark Beer which was recommended and went perfectly with the entree. Of course the Beignets covered in powdered sugar and served with a strawberry coulis fit the bill for dessert perfectly. I have had Beignets in New Orleans at the Cafe Du Monde and these are superior. Beignets are available most times but check their web-site for availability.

Have eaten at Bud's many times. First Review. Authentic Cajun food, not the best atmosphere, but the food certainly makes up for it. Try the Alligator appetizer, catfish, Oysters, Short Ribs, to top it all off the BREAD PUDDING.

Bud's is one of our favorite restaurants. The food is always excellent, and the service impeccable! We love the seafood bisque, and Louisiana chicken.

I visited this place a while back and was so excited to go back....only to be disappointed. We went about 11:30am, so it wasn't packed. No wait, chose a seat outside and was immediately seated. Took longer than it should to get drinks. Ordered food for 3 adults and waited.....and waited.....and waited. Took 30-40 minutes to get our meals. I was very patient because the food was so good the previous visit. When it arrived, a lady at my table had requested no mayo on her po'boy. It had mayo. And after waiting 30-40 minutes, we didn't have time to request another plate. I ordered the shrimp and grits, which would've been great but the hair in my food made things quite unappetizing, especially when I didn't find it until the last few minutes of my meal. Was very keen on this place and was so excited to take my friends on this visit and came away very disappointed. They did comp us the sandwich that came with mayo, but between that and the hair in my food, I can't give this visit a good review. Don't know it anything changed, if this was an anomaly, or what. But I wasn't happy regardless.

Bud's is a great place to catch a New Orleans style lunch. I usually choose the shrimp Po Boy that reminds me a lot of the French Quarter hoagies. You can ask them to spice it up a little if you want. My other favorite here is the red beans and rice. The rice is cooked perfectly and the with a dash or two of hot sauce it is a good light meal. Although it is usually served as a cup, if you ask they will bring you a big bowl. My only negative about Bud's for lunch is you bets come early as seating is limited as well as the parking. Try the food and you will understand why the crowd.

This is one of my favorite restaurants in San Diego. Of course, you have to like Cajun food. I ate there again yesterday and my guest and I had Cajun grilled salmon over a delicious salad. It was mouth-watering. The service was excellent. We sat on the patio, and even though it was a warm day, we had a nice gentle breeze. It was a thoroughly delightful experience.

We stumbled upon this place through online reviews. It is such a great restaurant. Phenomenal and friendly service. However, their food is to die for. Having been to New Orleans I know what authentic tastes like. Try Rob's cheesecake. Will definitely return for sure.

Loved our meal! Red beans and rice and gumbo were our favorites! Beignets to complete the meal was a great way to end.

Excellent cajun/creole food. I lived in NO for 17 years, so I know what good cajun food is and this place fits the bill. We had Jambalaya that was wonderful. Also tried the Catfish St. Charles-Marvelous! Reasonable prices also. Try it-you won't be sorry!!

We've been here 5 times. This time I was introducing a friend to Bud's. We had the Pasta Jumbalaya & the Cajun Jumbalaya with grilled chicken. The duck based sauce on the pasta is incredible. Everything is cooked to perfection. Just enough spice. As usual Bud's passed expectations. I recommend the red beans & rice, shrimp & grits & the Mardis Gras pasta. Absolutely wonderful. Service is right on time, not over bearing. The atmosphere is what it should be easy & comfortable. Love the patio!

6:30 dinner on Saturday night Not a problem getting a table for 6. Great wait staff. Shrimp Po boys sandwiches were awesome.

We tried Bud's when we were in the area looking for a nice place to celebrate our wedding anniversary. Made reservations quite easily and was promptly seated when we arrived. The waiter serving us was friendly knowledgeable, and professional. He could tell us accurately the kind of spice level of heat on the dishes. We shared a beans and rice cup with the honey biscuits. Wife had the jambalaya pasta and I had the Cajun jambalaya over rice. The pasta dish was outstanding with just the right amount of spice and really succulent sauce that fit the penne pasta perfectly. Prices were very reasonable for the quality of the food and service. Ample parking in the industrial lot. If we were ever in the Kearny Mesa area again and wanted a sit down dining experience, we'd certainly consider Bud's again.

Seriously, if you love Louisiana food, you have to go there! The food was fantastic, the service was really good, the ambience was nice, it was all perfect! My husband and I shared a cup of gumbo for appetizer that was to die for, I had Pasta Jambalaya, he had Louisiana Chicken, and we shared beignets for dessert that were hot, super fresh and delicious. We would go back there the following day for dinner, so we could try other plates, but they close on Sundays.

Seabreeze brings the shade to your table, as the sunlit palms across the street wave gently, peeking through the plate glass and venetian blinds. This crew is hunting the big one, and they are going to need a bigger boat. If you don't know what is wrong with you, this food will figure it out and fix it. Think of it as a chiropractic adjustment for the soul. It's a feeling you can't describe, but you get it in every bite. Eat slowly, because you can't buy a moment.

Have been here 20x or so over past 10 years (I’m an out-of-towner), and it’s always good. Great staff, fine food. Jambalaya!

Nice little spot for lunch. So glad I stopped in. The service was impeccable. I had the fried oyster po-boy and the waiter recommend the bacon wrapped version. I was very pleased with the recommendation. I will definitely come again when I am in the neighborhood.

A friend of mine suggested we go here as part of a San Diego trip. We took his advise and met him for what was a surprisingly good meal. When you pull up, the place looks non-descript like any other Industrial park. Once you step inside, you see they have a patio and ample seating. As busy as the place was, it never got loud. The service was excellent as they anticipated every need we had. The Red Beans and Rice is amazing and tastes authentic. I went for a fall off the bone Short Rib dish while my friend ordered up a catfish dish. He loved his as much as I loved mine. The cornbread muffins were tasty as well. For dessert we went for the Beignets which were mind blowingly good. This is worth the trip to find it. I'll be back for sure.

I make it a point to visit Bud's as often as possible. Great atmosphere, great employees, great food. Never been disappointed!

I loved the food. Specially alligator sausage :) I thought they could do a better job with the chairs / tables. Chairs aren’t comfortable.

my husband and i used to go to this restaurant when it was downtown san diego…it took us awhile to find it again! thank goodness we did : ) everything is delicious and tastes homemade - we are sad that it doesn't have the ambiance as before (in random business park) but its easy for us to get to and they do take out! call for reservations! depending on night you might need them!

Tucked away, down an office park sort of area, Buds is a destination worth seeking out. When I worked in the area, it was my choice spot for lunch dates with my husband. The staff is amazing, friendly, and always ready to accommodate my tight lunch hour special. The place was decorated by someone with a modern eye for Louisiana art. It feels clean and airy. The gumbo and jambalaya are mouth watering. The shrimp po boys are good. The alligator is the best I've ever had. The food is so good that it is difficult, because there desserts are decadent and I never have room. If you want Louisiana food in Southern California, this is a place you have to try. My mouth is watering just thinking about the flavors!!!

Great food and a great place for a business lunch. Close your eyes and you'll think you're in a nice little restaurant in New Orleans. We had a party of 8 so reservations were necessary. Everyone raved about their meal!

Years ago when this was a tiny place in the downtown area we used to eat at Bud's, then 5 years ago or so they moved to larger digs in an office park far from the downtown area. We finally made it back and couldn't think why it took so long because the food is even better and the offerings more diverse. If you're visiting from out of town you'll need to take a long taxi ride or drive to Bud's, but it would be worth it. We started with an appetizer of alligator and pork sausage accompanied by sliced fried pickles. Excellent. Salads came next; I had mine dressed with a piquant remoulade sauce -- outstanding. For our entrees we ordered the cajun jambalaya -- a spicy rice dish studded with smoked chicken, andouille sausage, tasso carmelized onions, celery, green peppers and creole seasoning. Excellent! Also ordered the shrimp creola -- sauteed shrimp with peas & mushrooms in a mild creole sauce over rice. We both cleaned our plates to the point that you couldn't tell what we ordered. We finished the meal with bananas foster topped rum creme brulee. We've had creme brulee and we've had bananas foster but never as a combo. It was OMG good and rich. We split it and that was enough for both. We saw others devouring the powdered sugar dusted beignets and the pecan pie made of layering traditional pecan pie ingredients over a layer of cheesecake. I suspect that the other desserts are equally good.

A friend suggested this place for authentic Cajun food. .It did not disappoint. Try the Louisiana Chicken with pasta..awesome. Our waiter Matt was very attentive and had great suggestions

Catfish and bourbon shrimp was delicious. Bring cash , we had a large group and we were only able to split the bill 6 ways for a 290.00 tab and then the one person who paid 30 dollars in cash .That money wasn’t applied to the tab . They pocketed the cash

If you like Southern/Cajun food, this restaurant tucked away in an office park in Kearney Mesa is probably the best you will find in San Diego. Everything is fresh and well-prepared, and the staff are friendly. The gumbo and the catfish are the best things I've had there. My only gripes are that some of the dishes are underseasoned, and the prices are a little high. Weather permitting, I suggest sitting on the patio, as the indoor space is noisy. Overall, a place worth knowing about and visiting occasionally.

This was my second time here, both times with two friends. We started with an oyster shooter each in a shot glass with cocktail sauce, really nice start to a lunch. I had the special blackened catfish with rice and potato salad that included chunks of andouille sausage. It came with an excellent house salad. My friends had the gumbo with lots of seafood and a sausage burger with fries. We washed it all down with Abita beer from Louisiana. We cleaned our plates as it was all excellent. There are good wine and cocktail choices on the menu, which features some of the usual New Orleans dishes. The prices are very reasonable for such good food.

My boyfriend took me here for dinner when I said I wanted to try some cajun food. He has been before and has a mom from the south. He liked it so it must be okay I thought. When we pulled up, it was in an industrial park. This kind of threw me off and I was thinking how nice of a place could possibly be in an industrail park? As we walked up, I saw inside there was nice soft lighting, candles on each table, small intimate tables and very classy modern look. It was very different from what I had in my head thinking of aligator heads on the wall, with peanuts on the floor. We had a reservation, which I definetly recommend since it is a small restaurant. I really friendly lady sat us right away. Our waiter, I think his name was Cory, took great care of us. He timed everything perfectly so we didn't have a bunch of dirty plates on the table. He was even able to keep up with the sweet tea refills for my boyfriend which is nearly impossible for any server. We had great oyster shooters, jalepeno cornbread, fried catfish, red beans and rice with andouille sausage, bread pudding and fresh hot benyas. It was okay food. This is the kind of food, where every bite makes you salivate for the next bite. I was so full and did not want to stop. The flavor was off the chart. Nothing was mediocre. Service was great from both staff and mgmt, food was great and the atmosphere was perfect for a date night. I really cannot say enough great things about this place.

I really love southern style food and was looking forward to eating here. I want to make sure I get the point across that the food here is really good! However, I was told I would be seated, there was barely anyone there so it wasn't like there was a wait time because of no tables. I waited about 10 minutes and the staff seemed to forget about me. Then after I asked someone if we can go sit down yet, the let us pick to sit outside. Then the waitress forgot about us as two other tables got taken care of before we did. After having our order taken, we were not served any water which was served complementary to every table but we were left sitting there without it. Like I said, delicious food but service defiantly needs to improve.

Bud's delivers consistently good cajun cuisine for lunch or dinner. Friendly professional service, too. You often will need a reservation if you want to go for lunch. Not sure about dinner.

I love places like this...off the beaten path in a quasi-industrial area with unique food. Tiny and lively...a tad on the loud side. The food I had was 4-star...service was 5-star with a family feel.

This place was open ages ago in Little Italy and then left. We thought it was gone for good and then discovered the new location. Not the easiest place to find and not really near anything. But if you want solid LA comfort food, make the trip. Great food and a nice staff. Takeout is available too.

Called ahead for seating, and was told to come in for no wait on a Wednesday evening. Fast & courteous service. Food was great, and substituted bisque for the fries with my fried shrimp dinner. Big portion (half of the shrimp will be my lunch tomorrow) and lightly crusted & fried. Tasty & light vs heavy batter. Remoulade was great with shrimp. Bisque was full of seafood. Even the starter salad was tasty with the house mustard dressing. Wish I was in the area more often.. I'd return to Bud's often!

BUD's is awesome. Who would ever think of find super Cajun food in San Diego! I highly recommend the cornbread, and the Taste of New Orleans, which was a generous portion of fried (lightly battered) catfish and crawfish étouffée! I had to top off dinner with a couple of beignets. I'm in a wonderfully pleasant food coma!

I am somewhat unfamiliar with Cajun Cuisine and therefore can't say it is my favorite but after this visit I need to reconsider. Went with my daughter for lunch - she had "Fried soft shell Crab Plate" and I had "Crawfish Étouffée" which were both delicious at a reasonable price point. I had the House Salad with a house-made creole mustard vinaigrette dressing and don't confuse this with the standard house salad as it had house made garlic bread crumbs and crumbled-hard boiled egg. My daughter upgraded to the "Bayou Salad" ($1 extra) but I will stay with the house salad until I want variety. We were going to share entrees but both liked them so well that we were very stingy with sharing. I had sufficient that I brought some of the Étouffée home for left over which I am anxious to eat. They have Beignets certain days. The whole menu looks delicious and they will cook entrees with various spiciness depending on your taste. You probably wouldn't come here without a recommendation but I can whole heartedly recommend it. If you check my reviews you will see that I seldom give the 5 star rating but this place deserves it. Wesley was our server and in spite of the restaurant being busy was prompt, attentive and friendly I understand they also serve a delicious breakfast and also serve the same entrees for dinner.

My husband and I have since moved out of California but as I search for good Cajun food in Texas, I feel compelled to give Bud's its due review! Eric and I have been dining at Bud's for the better part of 11 years (their prior downtown location) and service and food are outstanding. Louisiana Chicken is a favorite but Im always torn because i am also a huge fan of the Roast beef po boy. The bread is amazing and the way they "dress" the sandwich is perfect! Just messy enough to be outstanding but you can still eat it. Red beans and rice for an appetizer and don't forget the bread budding for dessert. Hubby is from NOLA so he knows good southern food and this is the best in San Diego! Im not a fish eater but Im certain it just as authentic and excellent. Rob is always welcoming and friendly! You will not be disappointed! We will be definitely be eating there when we are back in San Diego in June!

Not that many Cajun restaurants in San Diego but this is a good one. Whether it's soft shell crab, jambalaya, Andouille pork sausage, or a Po Boy, even alligator sausage....top it off with a beignet....all good.

Found this restaurant online by accident so we tried it and we were not disappointed. The food was well prepared and quite delicious in the Cajun/Creole style. The portions are small and a little pricey but still all in all very good. This restaurant is located in a industrial area and can be a little hard to find, but it's well worth the effort. We will definitely return and try some different items on the menu.

A confession, I went back twice in as many days...first trip was my first time, second trip was w/my family and I told them I'd never been there...they didn't need to know I have a potential problem brewing. Having had a fabulous vacation in NOLA last July, I'd almost given up finding anything similar in San Diego. This will be the first of many visitations and we were all happy. The service is friendly but not overly so, competent and fast. The owners were also friendly, more so with what I thought were the regular customers but still nice. The restuarant is clean, beautifully decorated and has a lovely patio. Onto the food, the joint is in a business park but makes sense in the way that it serves a loyal crowd during the day but is off the beaten path for evening diners. The food is very, very good, not like NOLA, but still decent. We had bacon wrapped oysters (4 for $8) tried the Oyster Po'Boy, their version of a Muffletta, catfish and soft shelled crabs in an entree form and in a Po'Boy form. I wasn't a fan of their tartar sauce but tartar sauces are all very personal. Their remoulade sauce was outstanding and had I had that in my softshell crab po'boy instead of their tartar sauce, it would've been killer. I forgot...we also had a plate of gravy french fries which were truly yummy. The fries were crispy, covered in some kind of crack salt and layered with with a thin serving of a delicious brown grav For dessert we tried both the Bananas Foster Creme Brulee and the flourless chocolate cake, both very, very good. The only misstep were the dry, crumbly jalapeno cornbread muffins which at .75 each wasn't a great loss but it was disappointing. Overall, it was a lovely place for lunch and we look forward to returning again, especially during the happy hour when all the appietizers are half price.

Great dinner at and reasonable prices. I had the shrimp and grits and it was delicious. I'm from the south and take my Cajun food seriously and this was very well prepared. We were asked if we had a reservation when we arrived at about 5:30 on a Friday and were told it would be a 45 minute wait to sit indoors. Luckily they have 6 or 7 outdoor tables we got a seat at and they have 3 propane space heaters to help. Would recommend calling ahead if you plan to go but overall I had a great experience.

Louisiana in San Diego? Nice change of pace. Met my son for lunch and this place is off the mainstream in a business park. Everything on menu looked good.

My family and I visited Bud's during a vacation in San Diego. The food was just okay. Nothing to write home about. My husband is a Louisiana native so we know true Cajun/Creole food. The beignets were delicious though. Some of the best I've ever eaten.

We arrived at the end of the lunch rush. We didn’t have to wait long for a table. They didn’t have enough service staff so it was quite difficult to get refills and service. The food was very good... almost great but not quite. Jambalaya was very good. Everyone was very friendly but also very rushed. With a few more staff, Bud’s could really elevate this place. We came here because of the yelp rating but don’t believe it deserves the rating it has.

Lost in an industrial park, but worth looking for it. Family owned, authentic Cajun food at reasonable prices. Great wait staff and owner, always friendly and quick.

Wow! This place comes pretty darn close to food from NOLA. Since NOLA makes you come back for the food, I loved the Soft Shell Crab there that I had to try it here too. I must say when the food was set down in front of me I was a little disappointed because the crab looked small. But man when I took a bite out of it took me back to NOLA. Crab was food perfectly and they have their special sauce which were great with the fries. I'm kind of sad this place is the closest to me for some southern comfort food. Oh well, it's only a few hours of a drive away ahhaha. Btw, it's located in the industrial area, so don't be weirded out when you turn into businesses.

Had been to the French Quarter a couple of weeks prior and the food was just as good as we had there...the red beans and rice among the top 3 ever had, Worth finding.

The food at Bud's is really good. They are more than happy to adjust the "Cajun" spices to your liking. They also mark their menu letting you know what's hot and what's not, Service is good as well. However, Bud's is small place so you either have to arrive early or make a reservation. I suggest reservations otherwise you may be standing in line for up to 45 minutes. It is well worth your time to go there.

I always enjoy this cute, reasonably priced restaurant tucked away in a business park. Make a reservation if you want to eat between 6:30 and 8:00. I had the catfish poboy and it was delicious!

The Café is a small place. Not overly decorated inside, but efficient. It's in a small shopping area off Balboa Street. The Café isn't terribly decorated - just tables scattered around in several rooms. So don't go there for the atmosphere. But the food's good. My wife and I shared a side salad and etouffee. It was all quite good. The etouffee quite tasty. Our son had Mardi Gras Pasta It was excellent! So good that I’m going to try to make it at home. My wife ordered beignets to finish the meal off. They provided five so we could each have one. There was also a strawberry syrup to dip them into. Yummy. Service was congenial. Not overly attentive. But fine.

Authentic Louisiana cooking can be found at this local favorite in the Kearny Mesa region of San Diego. Bud's, open for lunch and dinner offers excellent cajun fare. Close your eyes and sample the Jambalaya, Red fish, Po Boys, Gumbo and some red beans and rice and you can almost hear jazz from the quarter.

After a business meeting nearby, my coworker suggested Bud's for lunch and I'm sure glad he did! I love shrimp and grits and although normally I associate it with low country, their Cajun twist on it was truly outstanding! The house salad was great too! Only downside is too far to come from Texas, but you can be sure, next time I'm in San Diego, I will be back!

I thought it all was delicious. Have never been much of a Cajun fan, but the food here was quite good. The gumbo was very good and thick. They also have Beignets. Now those are really good as well. Will definitely take a trip back to Bud's!

My wife and I had lunch here and really enjoyed the food. We have had a lot of meals in New Orleans over many years. I attribute my first quadruple by-pass to cajun food. I had some seafood gumbo and it was delicious. I also had crawfish etouffe and soft shelled crab, also delicious. My wife had the fried shrimp. This is by far the closest to good cajun/creole food I've found in San Diego. We'll be back.

This restaurant serves really good Cajun style food and the service is excellent. We have gotten to know the manager and some of the wait staff and they are friendly and fun to talk to. I highly recommend them to friends and coworkers.

What a surprise to find this gem of a restaurant located off I-15 at Balboa right here in San Diego! It's not a large place in fact it has a cozy yet contemporary vibe offering intimate tables and space for larger groups both inside and out. Heaters make outdoor dining pleasant year-round. The menu offers all the right stuff from po'boys to etouffee, red beans and rice and other traditional creole dishes. You'll even find alligator, BBQ, crawfish, catfish, jambalaya, gumbo and andouille sausage that's real good. Yu can't eat here just once. You have to go again and again! I can't wait to go back. M-F they offer breakfast from 7-10am. How about starting your day with a jambalaya burrito?

Bud's Louisiana Seafood serves good, tasty food. The problem I have is what they say they serve isn't what you get. Let me preface this review with my "credentials". I was born and raised in Louisiana. I fished, frogged, hunted and swam in the bayous, rivers and Gulf coast of Louisiana. I've trawled for shrimp and crabs and eaten catfish from all these sources including farm raised catfish. I visit family at least twice a year to satisfy my Cajun seafood Jones. Several days ago I ate at Bud's, ordering the St. Charles Blackened Catfish. It was tasty. But I have a problem when the fish that's served isn't what is advertised. The filet was wide, short and not the texture of catfish. My guess is it was tilapia. Catfish filets are not wide,but are narrow and long and the meat texture is soft and moist. I've had tilapia many times. It's a pretty much a flavor neutral fish and that is probably why it's served. My guess is most people in S.D. would no like the taste of catfish, although it is good. So that is one reason they may be substituting with tilapia. The other reason and this is one I would have the most problem with...it's quite a bit cheaper than catfish. If Bud is cutting corners and being deliberately deceitful, then this store doesn't belong in business. So although I like some of Bud's food, I feel betrayed that they are selling tilapia and labeling it as catfish. Call it what it is and let your food stand on it own. Don't deceive people into thinking they are eating something they aren't because if they ever go to Louisiana and order catfish they will be surprised and I hope realize that now they are eating the REAL thing.

Love to go to this place with my daughter. It's one of our two favorite San Diego restaurants. The food is always good and the service is also. This time I had an Red Beans appetizer, crayfish etouffee and my daughter had a Blackend Catfish Po Boy. My son in law had a shrimp Po Boy. All were good. We finished off our meal with Beignets with strawberry sauce! Mmmm!! Hate telling everyone about this place. It's a bit of a San Diego secret but man is it good!!

We're visiting from out of town, so friends took us to this outstanding spot for some real Louisiana food. It was everything they promised. First, the service is outstanding; they treat you like family. They know the menu and can answer any questions you might have. Second, the food was even better. Appetizers included perfectly sized portions of gumbo, red beans and rice, etc. I have good recipes for these and it's hard to find something as good as homemade, but these may have been better. For the entrees and between the four of us, we each had separate dishes. We ended up eating family style, passing the plates, because we couldn't choose which was the best. The Shrimp Arcadia was my choice and it hit the sweet spot between light and decadent. We had just a little room for dessert but the bread pudding may have been the star of the evening. Lastly, the atmosphere was great; it was crowded and lively but we were able to talk without any problem. I can see why it was such a popular spot (reservations recommended!) and why people go back over and over. We'll certainly be back next time we're in SD.

What a great restaurant. Food is delicious and wonderful Service. We enjoyed soft shell crab appetizer and a fresh perfectly dressed Caesar Salad. Blackened Catfish and crawfish etouffee perfect paring with just the perfect amount of spice and heat. Save room for dessert. Beignets are awesome, they come out hot, lightly dusted with powder sugar and strawberry sauce. The bread pudding is creamy delicious.

Stopped here for lunch with my son. 20-30 min wait ended up 5-10. Because we waited 5-10 for server they offered us 15% discount. Had the BBQ shrimp Po Boy and my son had the pulled pork po boy. Both were excellent. Will return.

I've been to this restaurant quite a few times now. Besides some quirky hours (closed Sundays and early Monday/Tuesday) and the unique locatin, the food is always consistently good. Actually, amazing! This has become a favorite of mine and my daughter for a treat. Poor Boys are fantastic, blackened fish is awesome and of course, the crawfish etouffee is my regular and fantastic. After an always amazing dinner, order the beignets. They are just like downtown New Orleans. I highly recommend

I can't fault the service, prices or portions because all three greatly exceeded my expectations. My criteria is-would I return or would I recommend? No and no. I get there's a large -no pun intended-- population of people who really go for volume and value above all else. My benchmark for BBQ NOLA shrimp is Commanders Palace which might be a lot to expect. I've had similar maybe not as explosively delicious riffs on their standard that were still wonderful but the BBQ Shrimp at Buds was so blah. Unfortunately small bland pre cleaned shrimp will never get you there. As for the rest-we Gumboed (good), Red Beaned (good), Muffined (average), Chickened (average), Crabbed (nice prep but not memorable), Catfished (average or below), Salads (definitely below average), Shrimped (average or below), Ditto on the Bisque which tasted oddly of sugar and the desserts (Beignets and Bread Pudding) which should have caused a riot at our table were left uneaten (both below average) especially the soggy wet bread pudding that resembled a sad panade. Despite the fact everything looked nice and was cooked to order nothing we ate was a wow or even a mmmmmm. I had really hoped for more. Buds is a well run restaurant for sure and much of what they do from a service and organizational standpoint is really good. Staff is delightful, the food fires fast, atmosphere is pleasant but for me it's all about the food.

BIg disappointment!!! Used to be good...Gumbo with floating cold potatoe salad in the center, really? Order the catfish St. Charles if you like plain grilled fish atop plain white rice flanked by tasteless green beans.