Mama’s Fried Chicken is a third-generation-owned restaurant in Opelousas that is planning to establish its first location outside the city, in New Iberia. The restaurant has been open since 1977 and currently has two locations in Opelousas. In addition to its crunchy fried chicken, Mama’s is also known for its fried seafood and poboys, along with friendly customer service.
Co-owner Ryan LaGrange recently told What Now New Orleans that the size and culture of New Iberia were key to deciding on a location, which is expected to open in January.
“We found that it resembled Opelousas in many ways, except it was twice the size,” he said. “Other towns and nearby are maybe half the size of Opelousas.”
In addition to being a successful restaurant, Mama’s Fried Chicken prides itself on charity donations and holding community events in Opelousas. LaGrange said he plans to expand those efforts to the New Iberia location at 101 E. Admiral Doyle Dr.
“We’re glad that we can help out, and we love to see how many people we can help within our community,” LaGrange said. “We’re excited to become part of the New Iberia community, just like we have become in Opelousas.”
He added that future expansion plans beyond Opelousas and New Iberia aren’t out of the question.
“If this one goes well, I don’t see why we would stop, you know?” LaGrange said. “Then, we would be looking to see where our next move may be, which, at this point, we have no idea. We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.”
