Portland Food Heads

Ever since the day that I first stumbled upon The Bayou Kitchen a four or five years ago, I've always thought it seemed a bit out of place. Location wise, the place is far from being within walking distance from the peninsula. Tourists don't eat here; a fair amount of locals don't even know it exists.

The fact is that The Bayou Kitchen is somewhat of a diamond in the rough. In an area surrounded by pawn shops and fast-food chains, it stands out as being a solid little diner well worth the drive from downtown.


The space is small, buzzing with energy when crowded and perfectly comfortable when not. Although it gets a bit warm in the summer, it's a perfect place to escape the cold when frigid winter temps start to set in.

If I were a diner, I would be The Bayou Kitchen. The place perfectly embodies everything that I prefer in a good, hearty breakfast or lunch. The restaurant serves Cajun-inspired food - think a traditional bowl of gumbo or spicy egg dishes served with andouille sausage. In other words, this isn't exactly the place to come to if you like tiny links of breakfast sausage doused in maple syrup on top of pancakes.

On my most recent visit, I stopped in for lunch and ordered the chicken and andouille sausage jambalaya. I'd never ordered the dish in the past - I'm a big fan of the gumbo and it usually ends up taking precedent over anything else - yet I'd always wanted to try it. I underestimated the heat level on my first bite and paid for it. This stuff had a kick to it!

It turned out to be a delicious plate of food. Served with jalapeno cornbread, the spicy rice plate consisted of perfectly balanced, bright flavors. The best thing about The Bayou Kitchen's jambalaya is that it's authentic, or at least as authentic as you'll find in Maine.

If you've ever considered stopping by The Bayou Kitchen for a weekend breakfast or a quick lunch yet live on the other side of 295, I promise it's worth the drive.

The Bayou Kitchen is located at 543 Deering Ave. in Portland, ME.

~E~

Have you eaten at The Bayou Kitchen? Be sure to leave a comment about your experience!