Walk down Magazine Street in New Orleans and you’ll hit a corner that smells like fried seafood and old-school garlic. That’s Joey K’s. Honestly, if you’re looking at Joey K's restaurant & bar photos online, you’re probably trying to figure out if it’s worth the trek to the Garden District or if it’s just another tourist trap.
It isn't.
Most people see the pictures of the "Sorry We're Open" sign and think it’s just a quirky dive. But those photos actually hide a lot of the soul that’s kept this place running since Sam and Cindy Farnet took it over. It’s a century-old building. It feels like a pharmacy because, well, it used to be one. You’ve got local art on the walls, 18-ounce schooners of beer that are literally frosted over, and a vibe that says, "Sit down, eat your beans, and stop worrying about your phone."
Why Joey K's Restaurant & Bar Photos Often Miss the Point
A photo can show you a plate of Red Beans and Rice, but it can’t show you the texture of the "debris" on a roast beef po-boy. At Joey K's, the photos usually highlight the big hitters. You’ve seen the Eggplant Napoleon. It’s a stack of fried eggplant and fried shrimp smothered in crawfish cream sauce. It looks like a mountain of calories because it is. But what the Joey K's restaurant & bar photos don't always capture is the "neighborhood" part of "neighborhood restaurant."
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You’ll see John Goodman sitting at the bar sometimes. No joke. The locals treat this place like their secondary dining room.
The Real Stars of the Menu (That Look Better in Person)
If you're scrolling through shots of the food, look for the daily specials. They change on a chalkboard, so a static photo from three years ago won't help you much.
- Monday: It's white beans and fried pork chops. Or the braised beef brisket.
- Tuesday: Chicken Cordon Bleu with that brown gravy that looks humble but tastes like home.
- The Beer: Those 18oz schooners. In photos, they look like regular glass. In person, they are thick, heavy, and freezing cold.
I’ve seen people complain that the food isn’t "fancy" enough for their Instagram feed. Joey K's isn't trying to be fancy. It’s Creole pot cooking. It’s messy. The shrimp in the Shrimp Magazine—sauteed with artichoke hearts, ham, and garlic—doesn't always plate like a Michelin-star dish. It’s beige. It’s oily. And it’s one of the best things you’ll ever put in your mouth.
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That Guy Fieri Connection
You might have found Joey K's restaurant & bar photos because you saw the "Regional Classics" episode of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. Guy Fieri went crazy for the Shrimp Magazine and the brisket. Since that aired back in 2009, the restaurant has definitely seen more out-of-towners. But they haven't "Disney-fied" the place.
The interior still has that slightly chaotic, eclectic New Orleans charm. There’s a private event space upstairs with a wrap-around balcony. If you can get a photo from up there looking down at Magazine Street, you’ve hit the jackpot. It’s one of the few places where you can actually see the rhythm of the Garden District without a crowd of people blocking your view.
Don't Skip the Sides
Basically, everyone zooms in on the po-boys. Don't do that. The real magic is in the stuff that looks "boring" in photos:
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- The Cornbread: It's only available Monday through Thursday. It’s warm, sweet-ish, and basically a dessert masquerading as a side.
- Fried Green Tomatoes: Topped with grilled shrimp and remoulade. It’s a texture game that a camera can’t really explain.
- The Catfish: They do an all-you-can-eat catfish deal. It’s thin-cut, salty, and crispy.
How to Get the Best Shot (and the Best Meal)
If you’re actually going there to take your own Joey K's restaurant & bar photos, go during the "off" hours. They’re open 11 AM to 9 PM, but they’re closed on Sundays. If you show up at 12:30 PM on a Friday, you’re going to be fighting for space. The lighting inside is warm and a bit dim, which makes for great "moody" shots but terrible food photography if you don't know what you're doing.
Sit at the bar. The bartenders are usually the ones who know the history of the building. Ask them about the "Sorry We're Open" sign. It’s a classic bit of New Orleans humor—acknowledging that being open in this city is sometimes a feat of strength.
Honestly, the best way to experience Joey K's isn't through a screen. It’s by getting a half-roast beef debris po-boy, a cup of gumbo, and a beer so cold it hurts your teeth.
Next Steps for Your Visit:
- Check the daily specials on their chalkboard before you order; the "off-menu" stuff is often the best.
- If you’re traveling with kids, this is one of the few spots on Magazine Street that won't give you side-eye for bringing a stroller.
- Look for the local art for sale on the walls—it’s usually by neighborhood artists and makes for a better souvenir than a t-shirt.
- Try the Trout Tchoupitoulas if you want something that feels "NOLA" but isn't fried into oblivion.
By the time you leave, you'll realized that the best Joey K's restaurant & bar photos are the ones you didn't take because you were too busy eating.