Harold & Bell's Restaurant

(323) 735-9023

2920 W Jefferson Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90018 34.0255 -118.3275

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Neighborhoods: Leimert Park, South LA

haroldandbellesrestaurant.com

Years in business

Established in 1969

Price:

$$

Last updated 6.04.11

Category:

Restaurants, Catering

Payment Methods:

American Express, Visa, MasterCard

Restaurant Special Features:

Live Music, Bar Scene

Cuisine:

Southern, Cajun & Creole

What People Are Saying About Harold & Bell's Restaurant

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

In Short – What started as a pool hall serving only rice and beans has matured into rooms of well-dressed diners figuratively headed to Bourbon Street. The mostly Creole, slightly Southern menu features fried food in massive portions, such as po'boys, catfish strips and platters of chicken and mixed seafood. Spicy gumbo, jambalaya and grilled meat and fish dishes are also popular orders. For dessert, diners rave about the warm bread pudding with whiskey sauce.

Editor's Tips

When to Go:
There's live music on the weekends, and a Big Easy-style party scene every night.
The Extras:
Po'boy sandwiches include classic fillings like fried oysters or soft-shell crab with butter and pickles, as well as a less-traditional selection of meats and cheeses with lettuce, tomato and mustard.
ambiance
75.0% positive
  1. The fish is unbelievably fresh and the the warm, cozy and inviting ambience makes coming to this establishment all worth the trouble of driving through the traffic to get there.
  2. But the atmosphere is great and comfortable, I would think it is great for groups as well.
  3. And the parking is absolutely the WORST.
  4. Great atmosphere
dessert
100.0% positive
  1. The portions sizes are HUGE, so although it is pretty pricy, at least you are getting your bang for the buck (LOL) The food is delish AND you MUST try a dessert, although you may be STUFFED you have to try a dessert even if you take it to-go.
  2. We didn't try any desserts because the portions are very huge and we were stuffed so if you have a sweet tooth, pace yourselves.
  3. had the peach cobbler for dessert and the ice cream was good; but, i thought the cobbler was a little bit over average.
drinks
100.0% positive
  1. Top your meal off with a nice glass of wine and you're set.
  2. The food was spectacular, the server was extremely helpful and kept my water and drink glass full the entire time I was there.
  3. had no complaints about the service, our waitress was friendly and attentive and refilled our soft drinks when empty.
  4. love the bar with locals hanging out and having a drink, watching a college or professional game of some sort and everyone cheering.
food quality
93.8599967956543% positive
  1. thought the chops were done nicely and the beans were really, really yummy!
  2. The corn batter was perfectly crisp and tasty and the corn on the cob was also very good.
  3. Large portions, great food!
  4. I'm not a big bread pudding fan, but have made an exception here.
  5. The fish is unbelievably fresh and the the warm, cozy and inviting ambience makes coming to this establishment all worth the trouble of driving through the traffic to get there.
  6. This creole restaurant has some real good southern food.
  7. great food, poor service
  8. love to eat and I have no problem with spending good money on good food.
  9. The prices are very reasonable for the amount of food you get and for the quality of food.
  10. liked my chicken and red & rice.
  11. This excellent 'comfort' food is just plain fabulous and consistent.
  12. Although it was certainly authentic cajun/creole food, it was very salty, which maybe goes with the territory, I'm not exactly sure.
  13. love food.
  14. My Daughter took me to Harold & Bell on Saturday May 1st and I thought the food was great.
  15. grew up eating cajun food, and have been searching for an excellent restaurant to enjoy my perrenial favorites at, and I recently gave Harold and Belle's a try.
  16. This experience along with the fact that the food was not so great this time has made me decide never to patronize this restaurant again.
  17. The portions sizes are HUGE, so although it is pretty pricy, at least you are getting your bang for the buck (LOL) The food is delish AND you MUST try a dessert, although you may be STUFFED you have to try a dessert even if you take it to-go.
  18. I've never been able to finish the big dish of jambalaya each time we've gone.
  19. Mashed potatoes were very rich and the red beans and rice even more so which is overwhelming for me, but may suit some.
  20. Good Food, Good Service Waiter but bad food service.
  21. If you can look past that, the food is wonderful.
  22. Every time I go with friends or family I feel like I've stepped into a New Orleans restaurant with the best food in town.
  23. loved the food.
  24. The food was spectacular, the server was extremely helpful and kept my water and drink glass full the entire time I was there.
  25. Great food, great service
  26. The food was delicious and in large portions.
  27. We especially enjoy the seafood combo.
  28. My wife and I stopped in for lunch and she had the jambalaya, served with red beans and sausage, which consisted of a scoop of jambalaya over a big plate of red beans and two large sausages - twenty-two dollars.
  29. The food is great.
  30. love the food at Harold & Belle's, it's the best cajun food in Los Angeles.
  31. The food is delicious, served hot, and there's always plenty of it.
  32. The food was very authentic but our server was slower than molasses.
  33. We joke that they must have live fish swimming in tanks in the kitchen because that's just how fresh the seafood tastes.
  34. Because I like the food, we made reservations for my book club which consisted of 20 women to go there and celebrate.
  35. This has to be the best NOLA food that comes closest to the real deal.
  36. Interesting experience, good food
  37. have been here several times and usually love the food.
  38. Aside from the price though, the food was tasty and the portions are large.
  39. Good food; Slow service
  40. had the meatloaf sandwich -- also quite salty, but still decadent and tasty, which came with some very good fries; I devoured it.
  41. They serve up delicious creole foods.
  42. The Pork chops with Red Beans and Rice was delicious!
  43. Top your meal off with a nice glass of wine and you're set.
  44. I'm from the South, and this is the most authentic Southern food I've had in L.A. I had the shrimp and crawfish etouffee, and it was pretty awesome.
  45. The food is very tasty and don't even bother to avoid the fried stuff.
  46. This is the best Creole/Cajun food we have found in the Los Angeles area.
  47. He like the chicken wing dinner but not the corn on the cob or the mashed potatoes, The other party found nothing special about the cajun spices.
  48. Okay I love the shrimp and I am from NOLA and it is okay.
  49. The food was good and plentiful.
  50. They have a pretty good menu with anything from sandwiches-frog legs.
  51. pretty much could have fried fish at home though and opened up a box of Zatarin's for more flavorful Jambalaya.
  52. The bread pudding is not like my grandma's but, if you don't know what good pudding is then it is okay.
  53. The Southern fried chicken is the very best I've ever had--a half bird with thick, flavorful breading and juicy meat.
  54. make really good red beans and rice.
  55. The bread is outstanding and the portions are huge.
  56. great food
  57. Meals are served with a green salad (or clam chowder), cole slaw, french fries (or another choice), corn on the cob, and warm buttery garlic bread.
menu variety
100.0% positive
  1. They have a pretty good menu with anything from sandwiches-frog legs.
overall
62.5% positive
  1. This is a great restaurant!
  2. It's a nice place to go, but it might not be a great value.
  3. It's just about the best restaurant around!
  4. This experience along with the fact that the food was not so great this time has made me decide never to patronize this restaurant again.
return potential
0.0% positive
  1. will definitely return when I go back to Vegas this year but hopefully some staff changes have been made and I don't experience the same type of slow service that I have in the past.
service
79.40999984741211% positive
  1. The service was great and we had a wonderful time.
  2. We have been to Harold and Belle's twice and both times the service was amazing!
  3. love the service and the servers (all of whom have been there forever) and the light and friendly attitude is contagious.
  4. had no complaints about the service, our waitress was friendly and attentive and refilled our soft drinks when empty.
  5. will definitely return when I go back to Vegas this year but hopefully some staff changes have been made and I don't experience the same type of slow service that I have in the past.
  6. Great food, great service
  7. Staff is friendly and quick and the host was also very nice and warm.
  8. great food, poor service
  9. our server was also very nice, friendly, fast, helpful with questions and pleasant -- someone who has manners -- it makes me want to send all servers in los angeles to her for a crash course on what service should be.
  10. On the upside, our waiter was friendly and fast even though it was busy.
  11. The food was very authentic but our server was slower than molasses.
  12. And while the service can be slow at times, the waitstaff are so friendly.
  13. The servers were friendly, but rarely came by our table.
  14. Good food; Slow service
  15. Good Food, Good Service Waiter but bad food service.
  16. The service can be slow sometimes, but is consistently friendly.
  17. The food was spectacular, the server was extremely helpful and kept my water and drink glass full the entire time I was there.
value
92.11000442504883% positive
  1. The portions were so big, we weren't able to eat much of our entrees.
  2. The bread is outstanding and the portions are huge.
  3. first off, the portions are HUGE!
  4. The food was delicious and in large portions.
  5. love to eat and I have no problem with spending good money on good food.
  6. The portions sizes are HUGE, so although it is pretty pricy, at least you are getting your bang for the buck (LOL) The food is delish AND you MUST try a dessert, although you may be STUFFED you have to try a dessert even if you take it to-go.
  7. would not recommend this place at these prices.
  8. The portions are huge.
  9. Large portions, great food!
  10. But be warned, the portions are huge.
  11. The fish is unbelievably fresh and the the warm, cozy and inviting ambience makes coming to this establishment all worth the trouble of driving through the traffic to get there.
  12. Aside from the price though, the food was tasty and the portions are large.
  13. My wife and I stopped in for lunch and she had the jambalaya, served with red beans and sausage, which consisted of a scoop of jambalaya over a big plate of red beans and two large sausages - twenty-two dollars.
  14. The prices are very reasonable for the amount of food you get and for the quality of food.
  15. It's a nice place to go, but it might not be a great value.
  16. Everyone talks about the huge servings which is great.
  17. We didn't try any desserts because the portions are very huge and we were stuffed so if you have a sweet tooth, pace yourselves.
  18. The portions are definitely huge and impossible to finish.
  19. It was a little on the pricey side, but the portions are huge.
wait time
50.0% positive
  1. And while the service can be slow at times, the waitstaff are so friendly.
  2. Staff is friendly and quick and the host was also very nice and warm.
  3. will definitely return when I go back to Vegas this year but hopefully some staff changes have been made and I don't experience the same type of slow service that I have in the past.
  4. The service can be slow sometimes, but is consistently friendly.
4 Star Rating: Recommended

04/27/11

its good

by rbrwn42

wanting some cajun food this evening we stumbled on Harold and Bell's i must say it surprised us totally. The area didn't seem so good and was a bit aprehensive but as soon as we walked in the layout of the place was welcoming....we tried the fried chicken and hot louisiana sausage and they were delicious!!!

3 Star Rating: Average

01/09/11

Good Food, Ok Service

by aihutch

I have been to Harold &Belles 3 times and on this last trip left with a bad taste in my mouth and not from the food. While waiting in the lobby for the rest of our party I noticed the popcorn ceiling that looked like it had not been cleaned in years along with the carpet. The staff is friendly, but very slow. After our orders were placed we had been sitting there for about 20 minutes when the waiter came over and realized we didn't have our salads. No big deal, but then one of our orders came out wrong. I can let this all go, because their food is the best Creole I have found so far in California, that is almost close to what I get in Baton Rouge/New Orleans. What bothered me so much was we have to wait because of slow service, but as soon as they had our money (after the check had to be updated because the waiter had printed it before we ordered dessert), the hostess asked our party to move to the lounge or bar. Basically they did not want us taking a table and maybe this is normal, but it's the first time it happened to me. Definitely rushed us out after the bill was paid. I don't know if this means they pay their wait staff minimum so they have to turn over tables fast for tips, but it's a bit on the rude side.

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

09/04/10

Love This Place

by GaGa2012

This has been a family favorite for a long time. This place has THEE BEST seafood for the Leimert park area.

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

02/08/10

AUTHENTIC CREOLE/CAJUN NEW ORLEANS FOOD!!!

by ABlues4Nina

This has to be the best NOLA food that comes closest to the real deal. I am from NOLA and I havent experienced this type of food since I lived there! The food was spectacular, the server was extremely helpful and kept my water and drink glass full the entire time I was there. Be careful with the breadsticks and soup, it will get you FULL!! The portions sizes are HUGE, so although it is pretty pricy, at least you are getting your bang for the buck (LOL) The food is delish AND you MUST try a dessert, although you may be STUFFED you have to try a dessert even if you take it to-go. I had the peach cobbler "to die for" awesome!!! The partking situation is not exactly a pro because there is a cost and the parking lot is very small. I had a great time and the overall experience was awesome!!!!

  • Pros: Portion size, intimate setting, authentic NOLA food
  • Cons: parking, cost
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

06/13/09

best in town

by hkrr

BEST FOOD IN LA AND WOULD BE TOP 5 IN NEW ORLEANS. WHEN I WAS IN NO I GAINED 200 POUNDS SO I'M A EXPERT ON NO/SOUL FOOD. BEST IN LA SOME PLACES YOU GO FOR BS SERVICE BUT THIS PLACES YOU GO FOR THE GREAT FOOD LIKE SOME GRAND MA THAT CAN SERIOSLY COOK THATS HNB NOTSOME NO COOKING PLAYBOY BUNNY.

  • Pros: best in CA
  • Cons: NO WINDOWS

The Details on Harold & Bell's Restaurant

Place Categories:

  • great cajuncreole food
  • huge portions
  • favorite restaurant
  • slow food service
  • great service
  • very nice server
  • love place
  • huge servings
  • good overall experience
  • great atmosphere
  • fast waiter
  • memorable complete dining experience
  • quick staff
  • attentive waitress
  • love shrimp
  • crispy fried catfish
  • really good red beans
  • authentic southern food
  • good bread pudding
  • outstanding garlic bread
  • more flavorful jambalaya
  • very best southern fried chicken
  • very nice host
  • good sitdown restaurants
  • excellent chowder

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