Location: Ruston
Top Restaurants in Ruston
Ruston Food Guide: 10 Must-Eat Restaurants & Street Food Stalls in Ruston
Ruston is a small city and the parish seat of Lincoln Parish, Louisiana, United States. it is the largest city in the Eastern Ark-La-Tex region. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 21,859, reflecting an increase of 6.4 percent from the count of 20,546 counted in the 2000 Census. Ruston is near the eastern border of the Ark-La-Tex region and is the home of Louisiana Tech University. Its economy is therefore based on its college population. Ruston hosts the annual Peach Festival.
Things to do in Ruston
1. Ponchatoulas
Overall Ratings
4 based on 186 reviews
Ponchatoulas was founded in February 1996, by original owner Johnny Gaudet, who then partnered with Chris Garriga in 2004. With a passion for good food and fun, Gaudet opened the restaurant on the bustling Park Avenue in downtown Ruston. The building housed a fire station in the early 1900's, complete with the big red fire truck and even horse-drawn carriages lining the downtown streets. Some years later, the location became a landmark for one of history's music legends, Elvis Presley. Presley recorded in an upstairs studio of the then KRUS radio station. It wasn't until the late 1980's that the building was converted to a restaurant, not much different from the current site. The full-service restaurant offers patrons a wide variety menu that includes appetizers of seafood gumbo, fried mushrooms and boudin balls, as well as from the fryer servings of fried crawfish tails, shrimp, oyster and catfish. Ponchatoulas is famous for their crawfish étouffée, red beans and rice, crab cakes, poboys, and white chocolate bread pudding. Open for lunch and dinner, patrons often come for the free live entertainment and happy hour drink specials. The restaurant's Cajun ambiance will make you feel as though you are sitting in the French Quarter of New Orleans. If you'd rather take that New Orleans feeling home to your dining table, Ponchatoulas makes it easy with heat and serve to go orders.
Reviewed By K9sniffer - Gun Barrel City, Texas
Great location. Staff real nice and professional.
Food real good
The red beans and rice is outstanding
I always try to stop here when in the area
Nice place.
Food is real good. I’m not sure what else to write to make up the minimum word amount.
Just go and enjoy the food you will not be disappointed
2. Parish Press
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 10 reviews
Reviewed By KLegaux - Ruston, Louisiana
This place changed ownership over the past year and was recently renovated. The atmosphere is great...just not the best coffee. I would contribute this to inexperienced baristas. I ordered a blended ice coffee and got a hot coffee instead. If the baristas were more experienced, this place would get more than 2 stars.
3. Eskamoe's Frozen Custard & More
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 13 reviews
Reviewed By Joseph N - Minden, Louisiana
My family and I dropped by one Saturday in March for dessert. They have a crazy amount of flavors. My wife had a pina colada twister, my older son had a bubble gum twister, my younger son had the trash can sundae, and i had the polar crunch concrete. We all loved our choices and are looking forward to going back. They do have a drive-thru window. Also Teriyaki grill is next door and smelled great, and there is a very nice park with a playground just across the street.
4. Daylight Donuts
Overall Ratings
5 based on 6 reviews
Reviewed By MattieuB - Ruston, Louisiana
Best donuts in northeast Louisiana. I take my daughter there once a week. Be sure to ask for hot ones they are awesome. I am partial to the jalapeño cheese roll. Very reasonable prices. Service is pleasant but not the fastest, but well worth the wait.
5. Log Cabin Grill & Market
Overall Ratings
4 based on 168 reviews
This Ruston favorite offers everything from a hand cut 22oz Ribeye to Tex-Mex, BBQ, specialty sandwiches and some of the area's best fajita dinners! NOW SERVING BREAKFAST!! Our Market is also packed full of our favorite Cabin and Ponchatoulas' dishes prepared to take and bake as well as cracklins and pork rinds made FRESH daily! So, dine in, carry out or pick-up prepared sides and meats ready to heat and serve. There's something for everyone in the family with daily kids’ specials, as well as a special family night where the kids can get free balloon animals and see table-side entertainment from our very own balloon man on Thursday nights! Log Cabin is more than the regular family dining spot. We take great pride in providing to those in our community who have supported us over the years. Be a part of our fundraiser program and help us give back!
Reviewed By teeville51 - New Orleans, Louisiana
When you get there, the parking lot will be full. Good sign. Nice steaks. I loved the tamales. Looking forward to another visit.Thank you for the review! Our steaks are hand-cut and grilled over an open wood fire! Our tamales are definitely a favorite among our customers! Great choice of menu items. We are glad you enjoyed dining with us! We hope to see you again soon!
6. Roma Italian Bistro
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 109 reviews
Reviewed By SmurfySmurfette80 - Maryville, Tennessee
We went here based on reviews and we really don’t like fast food but honestly I would have preferred Pizza Hut to this.
The cheese sticks tasted like frozen ones and the pizza is definitely not New York Style. If this is the best pizza in the area, I am sorry you are better off getting take out or making your own.
Service was not great either.
7. Dawg House Sports Grill
Overall Ratings
4 based on 78 reviews
Reviewed By AxeMJax - Texas
I've been there 2 times. The food is very good. It can be a little loud. (It's a college town) but that didn't bother us, the HB are awesome.
8. Raw Restaurant
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 42 reviews
Reviewed By Sharon C - Ruston, Louisiana
There can be a long wait to get in here. It's a small place with limited seating. The lights here are low and bright....I have migraines and they bother me. The sushi is very good, and they have some great appetizers. Be prepared to pay a bit more here than across town at their competitor. Service is okay.
9. Brister's Smokehouse BBQ
Overall Ratings
4 based on 50 reviews
Reviewed By Katie Q - Fort Worth, United States
I went on a Saturday @ 2PM and it was packed. The restaurant appears to be severally understaffed. For a packed restaurant, I saw 1 waitress running around trying to do everything. I felt bad for her. Our food took forever to come out but...MoreThanks for stopping in. Saturday at 2 was without question one of the busiest times we will have, as it was a Louisiana Tech home football game. With the drivethrough and catering orders, we had a full staff working at max capacity.
10. Hot Rod Bar B Que
Overall Ratings
4 based on 50 reviews
Reviewed By drcody775 - El Dorado, Arkansas
We used to visit this restaurant when we lived in the area a few years ago....We had some business to take care of in Ruston so we decided to give the Hot Rod BBQ restaurant another visit.....Pulled pork, ribs & Brisket were much too dry for our tastes...The sides of beans and cole slaw were average at best.....The TX toast was just Okay.....Peach cobbler is out of season
