Les Sisters’ Southern Kitchen

A Los Angeles Southern Gem

Les Sisters’ Southern Kitchen proves that delicious and varied cuisine can be found in every corner of the city of Los Angeles. Situated at the northwest corner of the San Fernando Valley, this tiny restaurant is unobtrusively sandwiched between a tattoo parlor and a yarn shop. Inside, a one- or two-member waitstaff carries wide-mouthed Mason jars filled with iced tea and lemonade to hungry patrons seated at a handful of red-checkered tables. The décor is simple—Mardi Gras beads hang from the walls while a collection of hot sauces adorn the tables—but ambience is not what draws customers to this end of Devonshire Street. Rather, it is the authentic down-home cooking surprisingly found nearly 2,000 miles from the Bayou State.

What should I eat at Les Sisters Southern Kitchen?

Although Les Sisters’ boasts a diverse menu of barbecue, Creole/Cajun, and Southern foods, our favorite is the Southern fried chicken. This dinner consists of a half chicken, your choice of two side dishes, and a piece of cornbread. Sides range from the traditional fries and cole slaw to the more decidedly Southern black-eyed peas and hush puppies. We are fans of the sugary-sweet candied yams, balanced out by a bowl of vinegar-soaked collard greens. Regardless of whether you prefer your chicken ‘regular’ or with Cajun spices, each order is individually pan-fried until golden brown and crispy on the outside without sacrificing the tenderness of the meat. This is not fast food since each meal is made to order; as a result, you may need to wait a well-worth-it-while before your meal arrives.

If it is a taste of New Orleans that you are after, you will not be disappointed by the Creole (chicken or shrimp) or jambalaya (chicken, shrimp, or crawfish) dishes, which stretch to meet every edge of the plate. And, although we have never tried them, it seems that Les Sisters aims to satisfy even the meekest of palates by offering several differently dressed cheeseburgers (including the Cajun Spicy Hot burger!) in addition to the standard Southern fare.

Don’t forget the dessert!

Although portions are large and filling, it is important to plan your meal strategically in order to leave enough room for dessert. The sweet potato pie and bourbon bread pudding are certainly worth a try, but our taste buds consistently crave a piece of the buttermilk pie (if there is any left—unfortunately it is so good that it sometimes sells out halfway through dinner!). This creamy pie has just enough sweetness to satisfy any after-meal craving without overwhelming one’s tastebuds.

A trick to avoiding the lines

Les Sisters’ is open for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Friday, but is only open for dinner on Saturday and Sunday. Timing is everything at this small haven, because with about 30 seats in total, you’re likely to be asked to wait outside until a table is free if you hit a rush.

*Original Contribution by ayersian*