Bites Nearby: J Gumbo’s Cajun Joint

Overview: It’s always a nice surprise to find a restaurant that’s really unique, creating a niche in the fast food world no one else has thought of yet.  J. Gumbo’s is one of those restaurants. The food is Cajun inspired, is delicious, hearty, served in fast food time and cheap. The most expensive entrée on the menu is $7 and there are daily lunch specials. The decor is artsy and displays original artwork by Kennesaw artist Holly Jones.

The Food: J. Gumbo’s offers a variety of gumbos, creole, etouffee and Po’Boys that will excite, not overpower the taste buds. As a result, J. Gumbos is quickly becoming popular with Cajun and non-Cajun lovers alike. The menu is broken down by level of spiciness, allowing the diner to choose. Vegetarian and Gluten Free entrees are offered. One of J. Gumbo’s objectives is dispel stereotypical Cajun myths and prove it in their food. They even display a large sign titled 5 Most Popular Myths about Cajun food.

They are:

1. All Cajun food is spicy. False. Cajun and Creole cuisine is centered around great flavors and generous use of herbs and spices, but that does not mean that all of it is spicy. Most Cajun cookin’ is well seasoned and full of flavor, not spicy.

2. All Cajun food contains seafood. False. While gulf seafood is an important part of the Cajun diet, equally important are great ingredients like chicken, pork and beef. Likewise, fresh veggies are a vital part of Cajun cuisine.

3. Kids don’t like Cajun food. False. We grew up on these recipes in Grand Couteau, Louisiana. Kids love the Bourbon Street Chicken, Red Beans n’ Rice and Jambalaya.

4. J. Gumbo’s food contains no added artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. They cook with only fresh ingredients. The goal is to provide healthy, nutritious meals for everyone.

5. Cajun food is greasy. Not at all. While many of the stews use olive oil, they use it sparingly and mostly only to roast their garlic. The sauces are rich and hearty, not greasy.

Try These:

Nola Nachos - Tortilla chips smothered with Drunken Chicken, White Chili, Cheddar Cheese, Jalapenos  $6.50

Crawfish Cheese Dip - Crawfish Etouffee blended with dark red chili powder, cheddar cheese & served with tortilla chips $6.25

Voodoo Chicken – Slow cooked chicken in a spicy Cajun tomato sauce with garlic and crushed red pepper, sprinkle with Voodoo spice  $6.75

Bumblebee Stew – A blend of yellow corn, stewed tomatoes, onions and black beans in a creamy sweet and spicy butter sauce  $6.25

Creole Ratatouille – A Cajun stew loaded with eggplant, zucchini, squash, bell peppers ad stewed tomatoes.  $6.25

Dine-In, Take-Out, Catering and Delivery Options. Online menu at www.jgumbos.com.

2 Locations: 3000 Windy Hill Rd, Marietta (770) 612-1810 and 745 Chastain Rd NW, Kennesaw 30144 (770) 514-5130.

Hours:  Both Locations: Monday - Thursday: 11 a.m. – 9 p.m .  Friday - Saturday: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.