8 Stops for As-Good-As-It-Gets Gumbo

to get to any Southerner’s heart. Many folks reminisce on the times spent watching their parents or grandparents stirring up a roux in a cast-iron pan, the craving for a bowl building as the soul-soothing aroma wafts through the house. Like many regional delicacies, family recipes are held close to the heart in Baton Rouge. Their roasted chicken and andouille Gumbo Ya Ya packs big flavor into each serving and can be treated as either a starter or the main event. in New Orleans is up next with their “always hot and served straight from the pot” famous recipe that hasn’t changed since they opened their doors in 2005. Taking things over to the Magnolia State, in Long Beach, Mississippi, dishes out completely from-scratch seafood gumbo nightly. You can even order it by the gallon to dish out for family and friends at home without any of the hassle. Then, there’s in Biloxi, Mississippi. It’s the perfect stop for a delicious side of gumbo paired with your choice of po’boy or any of their other mouthwatering entrées. brings us to the Intracoastal Waterway in Orange Beach, Alabama, with their Gulf Shrimp & Okra Gumbo, studded with locally sourced catches. Then, it’s on to Florida where the welcoming crew at treats you like family while offering up scratch-made chicken-and-sausage gumbo from the comfort of their unassuming roadside shack in Dunedin. We wrap up our list with our friends in Galveston, Texas. cooks up a selection of savory gumbos (and other Cajun fare) in specially designed steam kettles while sticks to the basics with their rich pork-and-seafood gumbo. All are worthy options and master classes in Southern fare, but there are certain to be several we missed. What about your favorites? We want to see where you get your gumbo fix. Show us on social media by tagging #TasteoftheSouth.