Renowned, James Beard-nominated restaurant Chicken’s Kitchen is closing its original location in Gretna and moving to the Central Business District in New Orleans, first reported by Nola.com. The new location will open on 1029 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd.
Owner Marlon “Chicken” Chukumerije opened Chicken’s Kitchen in September 2020. The restaurant serves its soul food cafeteria-style. Slide down the lunch line and watch the staff load up a take-out box with all the food your soul desperately craves. Chukumerije quickly gained recognition; he was a semifinalist for the James Beard Award Best Chef: South in 2024.
The new space will allow customers to dine in. “We’ll have real plates and utensils and stuff like that for you to sit down and enjoy your meal on the spot,” Chukumerije told Nola.com.
While the original location is moving, Chicken’s Kitchen still has another location in Gretna called The Coop, which currently operates as a ghost kitchen, taking care of online lunch deliveries and pickup. However, the location will start taking in-person orders on April 27.
The original Chicken’s Kitchen is set to close on April 10 and reopen in the CBD on May 1.
