Cousins Lebanese Cuisine

March 2026 - shrimp & fish special was DELICIOUS! Table of 9 all had a good time visiting. Good food & service. Pictures are over 2025 year.

We’ve heard so many great things about Cousins we had to try it! The atmosphere was great, soft lighting, full bar, great service. The menu, however, left a lot to be desired. There was an extremely limited menu with only 4-5 entrees, served with green beans and no starch. There were more items on the appetizer menu that you could mix & match to create a meal, but still no potatoes, no rice, no pasta…only fries (à la carte only). Here’s what our group ordered: lamb chops: absolutely delicious! Except for the super tart balsamic sauce which was way too overpowering. Parmesan shrimp: too salty, but with a nice kick at the end. Grilled shrimp: still a little salted but very ok. Fried shrimp: seasoned well, cooked well, but the breading was a bit much. Wedge salad: great presentation, but served with the same sauce as the lamb chops, so it was stil overpowering. Usually if we don’t have a great experience somewhere, we try to go back to give it a second chance. We will not be going back to Cousin’s unless the menu has a lot of changes. Again, our server was AMAZING! I’m so sorry I don’t remember his name though.

Celebrated my son's birthday here and the food was delicious and the service was fantastic!!! Can't wait to eat here again.

This place is usually good.. I've come here for several parties. But this time I came to dine individually and it was not good at all! Service was SUPER slow we got there at 7pm didn't get food till damn near 930pm. Server was overwhelmed and was unapologetic for poor service. But was quick to want to charge and say no to any substitute sides. Even when another table bought us drinks because everyone else had eaten around us. He runs back to the table to make sure we are charged for it. Which he was told it was paid for. Food got to table and it was EXTREMELY COLD. And to be honest nasty... Nothing was season it tasted like nothing... By this time we had a few drinks so we ate some of it the rest of our party just got it to go because we had been waiting for almost 2hrs. I really wanted to tell them keep my food I'll go to Taco Bell up the street.... I paid 120 bucks for trash service and lack luster food... Do better...

Absolutely amazing food! We started off with the hummus and pita,10/10. Then had the beef kebab plate and shrimp kebab plate, 10/10. We ended with the bacon wrapped dates, 10/10. Every single thing was spectacular! And great service on top of the wonderful food quality.

Food was eh, could have been better. The service was decent. Can’t remember my servers name but he was kind of short with some kind of pony tail or maybe what’s the guys are calling it nowadays. Seemed like they were rushing me out of the door so that they could close. I didn’t feel appreciated at all nor wanted in this establishment. I would give this place an overall score of 3 out of. Do better Lakeu Charles……

Excellent dishes. Tried the Bacon wrapped dates, Grilled Tuna, Spinach Dip, Grape Leaves and all were very tasteful. Cousins is a must try. Also visit Homsi's for your boudin, sausage and alligator selection

Excellent food and service. Had dinner here. Had lollipop lamb that was almost as good as Jack binions

While in Lake Charles, Louisiana recently my grandson and I visited a restaurant that was recommended to me by a friend. The name of the restaurant is Cousin's Lebanese Cuisine and the owner is Sam Homsi, (if you ever get the pleasure of meeting him) he will make your visit feel like you're visiting relatives. Usually, the recommended spots in Lake Charles are typically Cajun and Creole places, but this one was Lebanese. If you have never had Lebanese food before you are in for a treat. I feel to open an eatery like this in the midst of Cajun Country you have to be good. Lebanese food is a whole new denomination, at least for me. This was my first time and it is a lot like Greek food (IMO). The difference, I believe, is in the spices used. It is the most delectable and incredible cuisine in the world. From its unique, earthy aroma of cumin and tahini, to the refreshing pop of pomegranate and lemon. Lebanese food takes you on a journey where you never want to return. The cuisine covers a wide spectrum of ingredients and involves the use of beef, lamb, fish, and poultry. They use premium quality olive oil to help enlighten the flavor of their dishes like in hummus. There is so much delicious goodness to learn about this cuisine I will leave the rest to you to research this culinary pleasure. Mr. Sam, the owner, assisted us in ordering and made our selection a lot easier. We started with humus served with pita bread. Since I prefer no bread they accommodate me with cucumber slices and my grandson enjoyed the pita alone. The best part of the appetizers was the Bacon Wrapped Dates. These were Mediterranean dates and homemade sausage, wrapped with bacon and then lightly fried. This appetizer is incredible and comes highly recommended. A mixed flavor of sweet and salty. My grandson didn't want to try it at first because he said dates are "old people" food, but once he did... BABYYYYY. He would have eaten the whole plate, but I wouldn't let him. Next was a platter of grilled shrimp for me and fried shrimp for Kellen. It was served with a sauce that was a little sweet and a little spicy and accommodated the seafood very well. Last was a platter of lamb lollipops, cubed and marinated filet mignon, grilled cubes of chicken breast, marinated in garlic, tomatoes, and a blend of spices. This meat was marinated to its maximum tenderness and flavor and then served with a sauce that consisted of teriyaki and other spices. Cousins is a definite "W" for me. It is near McNeese University. The address and number are listed below. Check them out on Facebook and if you're ever in the Lake Charles area. Also, ask for Kaylin, she was our waitress and super accommodating. Tell them that #bestbites sent you. On the road once again with #bestbites. Cousin's Lebanese Cuisine Located: 2612 Kirkman St., Lake Charles, LA. (337) 437-1144 Open: Tues- Thursday 11-9, Thurs - Saturday 11-10.

Cocktails are top notch and a great selection of wines. Delicious well prepared menu options. The owner greets you with a friendly smile. The ambiance is very pleasant and inviting. You will find yourself returning because of the welcoming atmosphere!

My oh my oh my! Stopped in for the first time last night and the parking lot was loaded with cars. Asked someone what was going on and there was a huge event out in the back. Regardless of the busyness, we were able to get in right away. The vibe was very lively and light hearted. Our server, Kaitlyn, was one of the best servers I've ever had. Ask for her. The portions were gigantic. The spinach dip could definitely feed six people. Not overloaded with cheese. Very good! Everything taste so fresh here. I ordered the fried fish and shrimp dinner, which happened to be their evening special, and it was phenomenal. Even the homemade fried potatoes. And one of the owners, Sam, came over and talk to us. We had such a great conversation. He treated us like he had known us forever. I will definitely be going back and telling everyone about this place.

came in with a large party for a birthday dinner. Service was slow, food was unsatisfactory, and delivered in an untimely manner. This was my second time here and still not impressed.

This is one of the few Lebanese restaurants in the Lake Charles area, so I didn't expect it to be so massive with so much seating space inside. There are two bars inside, and even an outdoor patio. When we went for dinner around 5pm, there was almost no one inside which suprised us considering how big the restaurant is. We initially wanted to leave because of that reason, but ultimately ended up staying because we were so hungry. I tried their catfish and jumbo shrimp which came with a side of green beans and rice and a special dip for the shrimp. The plate was around $25 but it was definitely filling enough to share between two people. In the end though I was underwhelmed by the meal. It was my first time trying catfish, so maybe they are supposed to taste bland and so soft, almost without any texture. The shrimp was grilled well though and the dip tasted good. My favourite meal has to be the Loaded Potatoes (around $20 but also enough to share between two poeple). It's a greasy, hearty meal with meat, potatoes, shrimp and a delicious sauce drizzled all over it. It tasted great but was definitely unhealthy! I think our waiter also could've been much warmer. He acted a bit cold, no smiles or anything, which made our experience less enjoyable than it otherwise could've been.

I recently came here for a wedding reception, and the place was perfect for hosting a large party. We had a private dining room, separate bar, access to the back patio, and the service was fantastic. Loved the food as well, especially the shrimp dish! I don't know what the dipping sauce was that went with it, but I could have taken shots of it I loved it so much. Highly recommend this place!

Fabulous rehearsal dinner for 40. Fried butterflied shrimp were huge , fresh , & amazing-perfect! Beef tenderloin was very delicious. Chicken dish was tender & juicy. Very nice dinner. Loved it!

It's like a bar where everyone knows your name!! Friendly bar regulars, staff and owner made for a fun night. Food was amazing, best lamb chops I've had. Drink specials were a pleasant surprise.

Love Cousins! Been here many time always received the best service and food. Breanna the bartender is awesome, any drink she makes it delicious!

At the recommendation of a friend who suggested the fried fish and shrimp from this restaurant and with advertisement on the company's website (cousins-lebanese.com) advertising "The Best Fried Shrimp in Town". With a little doubt about ordering seafood from a restaurant specializing in Lebanese Cuisine, I decided to try it. The service and the atmosphere were great. I sat at the bar and the bartender was extremely friendly and attentive. This place is pricey. I ordered the Jumbo Shrimp & Catfish Combo (Jumbo shrimp (12 pieces.) and catfish filets (2 pieces.), beer battered then lightly fried with rice pilaf and green beans). It was the WORST fried shrimp and fish I have ever tasted. I ate two shrimps and a small piece of the fish and threw the rest in the trash. My stomach could not tolerate the texture and taste. First, the shrimps are not jumbo as advertised. The batter on the shrimp is so thick, it gives the impression that it is jumbo, but the shrimps are small at best. Again, with the thick batter and the cut of the fish, I could not tell if it was really catfish. Both the shrimp and fish were extremely greasy and lacked flavor. Both the rice pilaf and the green beans were also very greasy and bland. The website photos show some lightly breaded beautifully fried shrimp, not this over breaded crap that I was served. I do not mind paying for good quality seafood, but for $24.00, I feel that I was cheated. The food taste and quality were so bad, I could NEVER recommend the seafood. I have never eaten Lamb, but I was looking forward to trying Lamb and other Lebanese menu options for the first time on my next visit, but I am so disappointed with this dining experience, I do not think I patronize this restaurant again.

There is nothing more disconcerting than someone who has no confidence in their personal identity. Would you eat the clam chowder from an AutoZone? Would you buy the Mac n cheese from a Home Depot? No? I was asking myself similar questions during my last visit to Cousins. We all expect price to measure up to the quality of goods and services provided. Cousins is either unaware of or far over estimating the value/quality of their goods and services. I would pay dollars for a beer, but not ones that's flat. I would pay 30 dollars for a delicious fish and shrimp dinner, but it was anything but that. Why does stepping into their restroom, feel like stepping onto the set of a mad max film. Garbage whipped around me like a land fill tornado. Side note: I hope you like gnats! Because they sure loved our table. At night when I crank up my peterbilt, the last thing I want to think about if my struggles at cousins. I have more important things to think about, like my wife Debra leaving me. All in all, I had to recover my password to leave this review. I was able to provide an honest review even in the face of adversity. When cousins had been faced with adversity, all they've done is crumble before the challenge, leaving their customers extremely dissatisfied.

Just placed a catering order here and couldn't be more pleased! Everything was super reasonably priced and the chicken kabobs were a huge hit. Great service and great food.

Walked in wasn't greeted, asked what was good on the menu , no response, & my food was overpriced and very small portions.Won't be back

Word of mouth got me here and knowing nothing about this place and the location made me skeptical but boy was I impressed, Brie our waitress/bar tender/ server worked her tail off and we never went without a cold beer and it was quit busy. We had the loaded potatoes, and lamb lollipops and they were outstanding, highly recommend!!!

Really gem. Our luncheon party ordered sazerac old fashioned (shout out to bar tender Bre) grilled tuna app, stuffed grape leaves, jumbo shrimp/catfish combo platter and the potatoes app were all outstanding. Server Kaitlyn was awesome. Attentive service without being obtrusive. Great value for the money! Go there. You won't be disappointed.

Allegedly open til 10. Walked in ~815. Saw a mostly empty restaurant, minus two older dudes at the bar. Asked the bartender if they were still open. She said yes. Thirty seconds later she apologized and told me they were actually closed. Maybe it was because they didn't love the shade of my khakis? ‍

My family has been raving about this place for years but I'd always try to go and find it closed. Finally got my chance and boy they weren't kidding. Not only was it good food, there was a ton of it. We should have split entrees, we had so many leftovers! Everything was great. The grape leaves were tasty and warm, the filet kabob was excellent, my kids split the lamb lollipops and loved them. Shrimp were grilled perfectly, drinks were well done. The owner swung by the table and was a delight. Great experience all around.

I went here before and the food was ok, but I've been hearing great things about it lately. Today we went and were seated immediately. After not being greeted after sitting for 20 minutes we left. I went back in and told a manger. They apologized.

Absolutely a must stop to eat here!!! We had the boudin egg rolls and cousins platter. Everything was amazing! Service was good and helpful as well with the menu. The atmosphere was very chill and elegant. We will definitely come back in our journeys through Louisiana!

I'm not from Lake Charles so but I work here at Golden Corral, I'm not an eat out kind of Girl but my friend Shelly brought me there an it was amazing. The Staff was awesome the atmosphere was cheery and relaxing but more of all the food was surprisingly Delicious! Looking forward to visiting It again

I've visited a couple of times. Service is always good...even when I was with a large party. The place is bigger on the inside than or looks on the outside. It has two bars...with the second one being open mainly on the weekends. I've always been well pleased with each dish that I've eaten here. I'm in love with the bacon wrapped dates tho ...there's sausage inside! (mmmm yummmm!) Great place for date night or just to meet up work friends and coworkers.

They have a great tabouli salad courteous service amazing tea and most everything else on the menu was great ! Meat pies are good to but I haven't had a chance to try everything else I will in future visits well worth going back!

Great food. We have been several times. The lamb is amazing and the pomegranate molasses makes it better. They hummus is homemade and the pita bread is amazing.

I don't write reviews often, but this place is a hidden Jem! Yes the location isn't the best and the price is expensive, but it's absolutely worth with the amount of food that you get. The portions are very generous. We got the spinach and artichoke dip, 1/2 and 1/2 shrimp and catfish, and seared tuna. There was so much food we couldn't finish half of our plate. We have delicious leftovers for later. Our server was Kennedy and she was very attentive and super sweet! Don't let the location scare you. It's worth it!!

The steak was one of the best steaks I've ever had. The place is nice, there were numerous people sitting at the bar area for dinner. The bar is very big and the restaurant was very clean. I had planned on traditional Lebanese food but saw people with the steak special and I had to try it. I would definitely go back.

We stopped by for dinner. Service was alright but only because it was busy and they only had about three waitresses serving all the tables. Appetizers took about 30 minutes to come out, hummus was definitely packaged, it was not fresh. The pita bread they served isn't even real pita bread it's also packaged. Our entrees took an hour to come out and the food came out cold. Don't recommend coming to this place if you're really craving Mediterranean food. Plus it's over priced, definitely better restaurants out there than this one. People just go there for the liquor.

Everything I have tasted here is amazing. The bacon wrapped dates are off the chart. The fried shrimp is the best I ever had. The lamb was cooked perfectly, and the tuna was very flavorful. The restaurant is very nice and upscale with a nice covered patio area in the back. Samir and his brother are wonderful people that care about the people in the community and take pride in serving quality food that will put a smile on your face. If you are ever in Lake Charles, this place should definitely be on top of your dining list.

Cousin's is always our go to spot. The drinks are always consistent and the food hasn't even disappointed us. It gets crowded at times but the atmosphere is fun.

Great bar and wine/beer/ liquor list. The best lists in town...and how can it not be, it's connected to one of the better liquor stores in town. Solid lebanese food, good prices. Their lamb kabob and rice was outstanding, but I must say that the tabouli didn't have any wheat, which was odd to us. The place is affordable too. Ugh- they've stopped baking that great bread.... HUGE bummer.

Not impressed. Liked the atmosphere and the lighting and our service was good, but the food wasn't. Grape leaves were served with a side of mayo, gag. I started to take an interest in ordering the grilled tuna until I saw it was grilled with teriyaki sauce, why? I thought this was a Lebanese restaurant? For the people who really enjoy fried food and Cajun food, this would be your kind of place, but for us, we like going to Mediterranean restaurants for healthier selections, and we found little to no actual Mediterranean food here.

Hands down the BEST Food you'll ever have! Excellent seafood, steaks, and drinks! If you've never experienced Cousins, you'll understand the name once you do. Everyone leaves here feeling like family and is always welcome...Hence the name "Cousins".

The food is amazing. It has always been amazing, but it seems every time I go there is a new change that makes it not worth going. I totally understand going to a 5 star restaurant and not modifying a CHEF's masterpiece- but I have been going to this place for years and I can order the same thing every time and it will look different every time - so this is not that. Today I asked for a sauce to be on the side of my Cousin's Loaded Lebanese Potatoes. I asked this because In the past there has been hardly any sauce on it- and other times the potatoes were swimming in the sauce. Personally I like the crispy potatoes that Cousins is known for & I didn't want them swimming in sauce. I was told that I could not change that because, according to the waiter, "the owner doesn't like it and says it confuses the kitchen." What if I was allergic to something? Should I no longer visit your restaurant because you choose to not hire or train competent kitchen staff? I just don't get it. I have worked in restaurants for years- it is part of the business. Hell, if I can have it my way at Burger King why can't I do it when I am paying $25-30 for an entree? Add to that the prices continue to rise and the quality isn't there - I have better options.

Best food, service and atmosphere. Not the usual restaurant, Very nice inside with two huge bars. Outside patio is perfect to smoke a stogie after a tasty meal.

Went to cousins for the first time today and it was pretty good, they made a great first impression... I'm giving it 4 Stars instead of 5 because the server was nice enough but didn't give the the service I expected, never asked to refill our glasses or if we wanted more to eat or dessert, which greedily I was hoping she would... The menu is full of interesting food, both Lebanese and American... The place is very nice and clean and a great place to have a dinner party... I can't wait to go back

Great atmosphere. I got the bacon wrapped dates and they were amazing. The Parmesan cousins special Pinot was delicious. Enjoyed my experience here.

Great spot! Believe it or not - they actually have the best fried shrimp in Lake Charles. Great drink and wine selection and the food is always very consistent

We had the Kibbie and Lamb Lollipops. Both were very good. Especially the chops. The Pita Bread was also quite good. It comes out wonderfully hot and very vey tasty. (It would make a great Falafel Sandwich if they carried them). The restaurant is obviously very popular because there were 2 very large private parties going on whdn we were there. Service was a bit slow but completely understandable given the circumstances. Will definitely go again.

Fantastic food at this Lebanese restaurant that offers much more than hummus and grape leaves although the hummus is the best I have ever tasted. Ditto the baba ghanoush. My favorites from the appetizer section are the bacon wrapped dates, fried oysters and shrimp, and the boudin eggrolls. Cousin's also does an excellent job on its beef and chicken dishes. I haven't tried any of the burgers but that will change the next time I'm there. Cousin's also has an excellent wine list that is well priced. Last but not least, the service and hospitality are the best in town. If you haven't been to Cousin's, you're missing out on a great culinary experience.

I wasn't expecting this. The neighborhood is sorry of shanny and it is next to a convenience store, talk about don't judge a book by its cover. Clean and upscale once you enter the menu is extensive and the food is freshly prepared, beautifully presented. It's sort of pricey but the ingredients are very high quality do I certainly got what o paid for. Dates wrapped in bacon will forever be a favorite. They also have generous portion sizes so come hungry.

This place shouldn't be called Cousin's "Lebanese" Cuisine.... only a few items on the menu were authentic... the rest was just normal food. Really disappointed because I was looking forward to having Mediterranean food. I got the grilled chicken kabobs with a side of tahini sauce. The chicken was okay but instead of tahini sauce I got some kind of weird chunky paste or hummus? No idea what it was but definitely wasn't tahini sauce. Prices are really expensive also for what you get. If you love Lebanese food and you're from a big city and you know what the menu should look like, don't go here. I guess the people from Lake Charles don't know? So confused.

I was a disappointed with the place, really over price for regular food. There is a big menu but noting special. We got grape leaves and lamb lollipop for appetizer, they were just ok. For the main entree We got fried seafood plate and ribeye steak. Stake was chewy and flavorless and the seafood plate omg a lot of fried fish not good at all.

Total disappointment. I ordered the Parmesan cousins special and it was flavorless and definitely not worth $15, I ordered the small one too. The shrimp were small and had a total of 5 on the whole sandwich. For such high raves of this place I really expected better quality.

I so enjoyed my experience at Cousins. I was by myself and ate at the bar, and the owner, George, was kind enough to talk to me since I was eating alone. The food was excellent. I will definitely be making this place a regular stop when I am in town.

Great food! Atmosphere is incredible and one of the best bars in SWLA! Service is outstanding! Our waiter Blane was incredible. Very personable and offered great advice! Do yourself a favor and get the fried shrimp!!! They are huge! Their Lenten special, two dozen fried shrimp for $20, is well worth the money!

This local place was recommended by the hotel staff. I had the Ahi Tuna- it was delicious. The seasoning is mouth watering. The bar is a nice place to sit if dining alone, and the staff and owner make you feel at home. Thanks for a great experience!

Omg food is amazing. Service is great. In the cut kind of spot but the food is worth it. I had tuna steak with Lebanese potatoes.

Came here based on reviews and we were not disappointed with the food. Party of 3 seated when we arrived around 6:45 on a Tuesday night. It was $3 draft and martini night so the bar was very busy. Menu was a wide variety of Mediterranean, Greek and Lebanese fare. Hummus was great with homemade pita. Kabobs in both beef and chicken were very good and the rice that came with them was outstanding. Fried falafel with homemade sauce was good as well. Service was friendly and accommodating. I would have given this restaurant 5 stars but it was so noisy it was difficult to carry on a conversation at our table. The music behind the bar was blaring and everyone was yelling to talk over it. A few acoustic panels, rugs or sound absorbing wall hangings would make a big difference. Until they get the noise down, even though the food was great I would recommend passing on this restaurant.

We've gone there many times over the past few years. Food had always been good, but the last few times we went quality has gone down. Pita bread is dry and tasteless. They used to serve wonderful fried potatoes. Now they serve frozen French fries. We got grape leaves and had to send them back because they tasted sWhen we told our waitress, her response was, "I thought they smelled weird."

Enjoy going to Cousin's. It's pricey but something different and enjoy taking out of town guests there. The bacon wrapped dates are AWESOME but what isn't when it's wrapped in bacon. Watch what you order if you don't like spicy food. They also have a dessert that is to kill for that they give to you free of charge. Go have dinner with them. You won't regret it!

The food and atmosphere are excellent. The hours on here are not correct. They arw not open at 5pm on Mondays.