The spirit of New Orleans radiates inside Ma Harper’s Creole Kitchen, a long-running San Antonio restaurant with some of the best gumbo you’ll find around Texas.
Founder Alice “Ma” Harper, who was born and raised in New Orleans, continues to run her restaurant at 96 years old, using her time-honored, original recipes to whip up Cajun and Creole dishes like po’boys, red beans and rice, boudin, as well as her award-winning gumbo. Harper’s reputation precedes her, as the 35-year-old restaurant has received wide acclaim and a few TV appearances, including a spot on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives with Guy Fieri back in 2018.
“We get people now from Germany, Japan, Australia, Canada, all over the world just to eat the food,” said Bill Harper, husband to Ma Harper and one of the smiling faces you’ll see at the restaurant. Their daughters are also heavily involved in the business alongside a dedicated staff who make sure customers have everything they need to enjoy their meal.
The best gumbo in Texas might just be from San Antonio
Admittedly, I love gumbo so much that I’ve driven to New Orleans just to have it, so I can wholeheartedly say that Ma Harper’s Creole Kitchen is doing the Big Easy proud with its version of the dish. From the moment you enter the restaurant, you can smell something delicious stewing in the back with aromas of spices and flavors that inspire you to order a bowl of Ma’s famous gumbo…