For about a dozen years, one of the best fried chicken sandwiches in New Orleans was a street food find, first at a pop-up and later from a food truck. Now Bonafried (3101 Grand Route St. John, 504-777-6550) finally has its own restaurant.
It’s in a nearly-century-old building that had long been home to the Splish Splash Washateria just off Esplanade Avenue. After the laundry closed in 2024, Bonafried founders Stephen Maher and Rebecca Elizabeth Hollingsworth were offered a chance to lease the space.
They leapt at the opportunity, though the build-out to create a restaurant took much longer than expected. While the old laundry looks much the same from the street, the transformation is remarkable.
It has all the makings for a fun and easy new neighborhood spot for fast casual meals, a different addition for a quick bite in a stretch with a well-established cluster of full-service restaurants…