I can get behind a plate lunch any day. The affordability and preset menu keep me knowing what to expect.
But will one grocery store set itself apart for its plate lunch?
Welcome to part two of my hunt to find the best grocery store hot food in Baton Rouge. This follows , where I explored six spots I’ve never been to before.
Here’s the drill if you haven’t heard it. To meet the requirements, each meal had to come hot from a grocery store. No “heat and eat” tins; no cold-prepared sandwiches or sushi trays. I’m looking for the meat and potatoes.
All meals in this article were recommended by readers (thank you!). My inbox was filled with suggestions across the city, so I put five of them to the test. If you think my journey shouldn't be over, email madison.scott@theadvocate.com with suggestions.
Carnitas and al pastor tacos from La Morenita
By Maddie Scott
La Morenita, 7981 Florida Blvd.
I can confidently say these are some of the best, if not the best, tacos I’ve had in Baton Rouge. I’ve been to La Morenita once before and loved it. It’s a tad out of the way for me, so I was happy to finally return.
I ordered two tacos, the carnitas and al pastor. The lady behind the counter asked if I wanted a jalapeño. Yes ma’am! She also added a little onion bulb. I wasn’t charged for these. I grabbed my tacos, loaded them up with diced onion, cilantro, lettuce, a couple of lime wedges and sauces on the side. I like a lot of toppings.
La Morenita has two locations in Texas and three in Louisiana.
By Maddie Scott
Let me tell you, I scarfed these down. I've noticed that La Morenita fills the tacos with tons of meat, cooked and seasoned to perfection. Also, the bite of onion bulb was crisp, juicy and refreshing. I didn’t expect to enjoy it so much. I grabbed a Coca-Cola on the way out and drank it in my hot car.
This hit the spot. Two tacos will run you $8.82 here.
Alexander’s Highland Market, 18111 Highland Market Drive
I hadn’t been to Alexander’s Highland Market before. The outdoor patio area with red umbrellas and string lights made me think this was probably nicer than the average grocery store. The inside confirmed that.
Fried catfish, vegetables and potatoes from Alexander’s Highland Market
By Maddie Scott
I walked in and spotted a dining area next to a pastry counter selling goodies from . Some ladies were playing cards, and other folks enjoying lunch. Neat! I kept walking, found the hot food bar and took a couple of minutes to decide. Catfish was $9.99 a pound, so I asked for two pieces and got a couple of sides: potato wedges and mixed vegetables (zucchini, squash, carrots and broccoli).
The cashier, a young woman who looked about my age, greeted me warmly and asked me to show off my outfit with a 360-degree spin. I was tickled! I spun around while laughing and told her she made my day.
I sat in the dining area and found baskets of condiments. I grabbed tartar sauce and Crystal Hot Sauce. The catfish was delicious, the potato wedges were satisfying, and the mixed veggies were refreshing.
Yum! This meal cost $7.45.
Catfish, crawfish etouffee and crawfish pasta from Oak Point Market
By Maddie Scott
Oak Point Fresh Market, 12732 Perkins Road
I had catfish twice in the span of a week. It’s amazing what it does for the soul.
Inside, I noticed the hot food bar was self-serve. A sign told me it was $9.99 a pound on Fridays. It was Friday. I grabbed a tray and loaded it up with three pieces of catfish. My sides were rice with crawfish étouffée on top and crawfish pasta.
Oak Point Market has three locations, and this one is at 12732 Perkins Road in Baton Rouge.
By Maddie Scott
I brought the tray back to the office and ate at my desk. It was a busy day with no time to waste, so I dove in. The catfish was delicious and salty, and I wish I had some sort of dipping sauce, but I forgot to grab some. The crawfish étouffée had a nice kick, but I wished for more flavor. The pasta made up for that, cheesy and creamy, and both sides used whole crawfish tails.
I saved the rest for leftovers. I enjoy catfish better cold after it’s been sitting in the fridge for a bit (is that just me?). In total, this meal cost $8.83.
Matherne’s Market, 440 N. Third St.
It was jambalaya day at Matherne’s, so I took myself to the downtown location. The women manning the hot food bar loaded my plate up quickly. I was in there for probably three minutes.
Chicken and sausage jambalaya, okra and tomatoes, a roll and bread pudding from Matherne’s
By Maddie Scott
My plate had chicken and sausage jambalaya and a choice of one side, so I chose okra and tomatoes. It also included a roll and a slice of bread pudding. The andouille sausage was particularly good and smoky. That and the chicken were my favorite bites on the plate (I wish there was more!).
A reader warned me that the bread pudding is sub-par; however, I think it’s the principle that matters here. Matherne’s includes a little sweet treat on the plate, making it the only grocery store meal I’ve reviewed to include a dessert. To me, that means something.
I enjoyed every part of this meal, costing $12.14.
Fried chicken, green beans and mac and cheese from Hi Nabor
By Maddie Scott
Hi Nabor, 5383 Jones Creek Road
I walked in and scoped my options. I was feeling chatty and struck up a light conversation with the woman behind the counter, who greeted me with warmth and said the daily offer was two pieces of fried chicken, a choice of two sides and a roll.
She also said the green beans are always good (there is bacon in them) and that I should try the candied yams next time I come. Yes ma’am.
Hi Nabor, 5383 Jones Creek Road, has three locations in Baton Rouge.
By Maddie Scott
I took my plate back to the office and got started. The fried chicken, tasty, included a breast and leg, and the green beans had a nice, mild kick but were a tad watery. The mac and cheese was very good and received my seal of approval. I feel obligated to note that I was missing a bread roll, but I wasn’t stressed about it.
Maybe I’ll be back for those yams the lady told me about. This meal was solid and cost $8.83.