Located at 4807 Johnston St., Ste L, Priya’s J&J Indian Foods is a local, family-owned restaurant that specializes in South Indian cuisine. The restaurant offers a variety of dishes that feature homemade spices, fresh ingredients and traditional recipes. This restaurant has become a community staple, winning Best Indian Restaurant under Acadiana’s Choice for four consecutive years, from 2023-2026. Their menu offers a variety of classic Indian dishes, including samosas, soups, salads, meat entrees, vegan entrees, biryanis and naan, along with homemade lemonades.
Samosas are a traditional Indian appetizer: a crispy pastry filled with fresh vegetables, herbs and special seasonings. Biryanis are a traditional, slow-simmered basmati rice prepared with special seasonings. Naan is a traditional Indian bread, often soft and buttery. The meat dishes include a variety of chicken and lamb options, while the vegan dishes include a variety of fresh vegetables and spices.
Priya’s opened their first restaurant in 2021, after being in the Lafayette food scene since 2016. The owner, Priya Joseph, had built a following by being the first Indian woman to sell her homemade food at the Lafayette Farmers and Artisan Market. Joseph’s passion for cooking began long before opening her restaurant. Growing up in India, she learned traditional recipes and cooking techniques from her grandmother that she eventually brought with her to Louisiana.
Her primary goal starting out in the food scene was to serve the community with meals that she would make for her family and to share her culture. The atmosphere of Priya’s was comforting and intimate. The restaurant had only a few tables and was so small that it felt homey and welcoming. Artwork lined the walls, along with pictures of her family. My colleague and I had the pleasure of visiting this restaurant on Friday, Nov. 6. As we walked in, the owner greeted and seated us.
For our appetizer, we chose the chicken samosa. While we waited, we were given complimentary lentil soup. I have never tried lentil soup, but it was the most flavorful soup I have had. The mixture of spices gave it a rich and savory flavor. The chicken samosa was equally savory with the spices. For our entrees, we each ordered a chicken dish and naan. I ordered the chicken tikka masala, while my colleague ordered the butter chicken. When the meals arrived, I noticed they came piping hot and looked like they were made to order. Each dish also came with a side of rice and salad.
After we finished our meals, we spoke with Joseph, who said “I started in 2016 selling one variety of samosas at the [Lafayette] farmers market. Our most favorite ingredient is love. We serve with love, and we cook with love too.” She recounted moving to Louisiana and starting a family while working as a vendor at the farmers market, “I used to go when my baby was like six months old… holding him with one hand and serving with the other, everyone loved it… that’s when I fell in love with the community… that’s where I got like so much love from the people. I have always had a love for cooking and God brought me here for this purpose.”
Overall, I enjoyed my experience at Priya’s. The food was absolutely amazing and it was a pleasure talking to the owner and getting to learn more about her.
If you would like to visit, Priya’s is open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., on Saturdays from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and closed on Sundays.