Hare Krishna Temple

Beautiful setting, beautiful people, peaceful setting. I have encountered Hare Krishna members at a couple of airports around the US giving out books for donations, seen various temples in several locations in the US, but this is my first experience eating at a temple. They are a peaceful and friendly people serving vegetarian food. They do not believe in mind altering substances, so don’t be afraid to drink the Kool-​Aid. This temple does their free dinner on Sunday evenings, which is a great way to end the weekend. Yes, there is a line. Donations are accepted. The crowd coming to eat might be a bit different in some ways (homeless, free-​thinkers, hippies), but usually non-​intrusive out of respect for the environment.
Don’t be a jerk by blocking the neighbors driveways, or being loud and/​or obnoxious. Once the line is down, you can fill your own container to go. They do provide styrofoam plates and plastic dining utensils, so if your more environmentally conscious, bring your own reusable dishes and utensils. Just don’t be a jerk and ruin the experience for everyone.
****UPDATE**** I have recently heard of a funny story about the Hare Krishna and here it is. Many years ago they roamed Bourbon Street and tried to sell flowers. If you declined they would pay you a backhanded compliment (Have a good evening with your daughter sir to the husband while walking with his wife). Too funny!

Stumbled upon this on after leaving the bayou boogalo festival, what a great find! There were bikes lining the gates and my boyfriend and I were curious, we stopped to try to figure it out and a kind gentlemen told us what it was and they they had free vegetarian meals on Sundays! So if course we checked it out. The food was delicious and everyone was so nice and interesting!

Free food! Free Indian food! Free Indian food served by extremely kind people! Free Indian food served by extremely kind people around 7:30pm! Free Indian food served by extremely kind people around 7:30pm on Sundays! Free Indian food served by extremely kind people around 7:30pm on Sundays with an eccentric crowd that partakes of their offer! Free Indian food served by extremely kind people around 7:30pm on Sundays with an eccentric crowd that partakes of their offer and all are jovial and open for conversation!
Cardinal rule: Don’t be a dick. (Sub-​rule: Don’t chain your bike to the neighbor’s fence. They will totally call the cops on the temple everytime because they are Scrooges and the people of the temple really don’t deserve the stress of dealing with the 5 – 0.)

I had to take a star back because someone told me they are getting just a tiny bit preachy. But that was a while ago so go see for yourself.

My Sunday night staple. Get here around 7:30pm, the line is not too bad then. The food is delicious and satiating. Eclectic crowd… a who’s who of New Orleans counterculture. The people who actually worship at the temple are kind and lovely. I have never gone to services, so I cannot speak about that, but friends who have have enjoyed that. Sit outside when it is warm enough and listen to the live music and eat delicious food while watching the moonlight. What can be better? Beware of termite season, though.

I cannot give this place enough stars! Every Sunday there is a love feast that I religiously attend. Not only is there delicious free vegetarian food cooked with love, but there is usually a band playing funky kirtan tunes. The vibe is tangible and the crowd is beautiful. Come with an open mind and you are bound to have a great time, probably meet some cool people too!

Totally free, what can I say? The krishnas weren’t super friendly and the food was average, but I’m not complaining. Apparently the nasty neighbor came out to yell at someone who parked in front of his driveway, except since it was Easter he was wearing a bunny suit… I missed it, but it sounded hilarious.

Tried this place out tonight. OMG! This food was amazing! The people are so nice. If you go for the singing and chanting before the meal, they give you a carnation necklace.

Lovely, genuinely friendly people cooking delicious, genuinely free Indian food every Sunday night. All of the food is vegetarian in accordance with their beliefs but don’t let that discourage you — it’s always amazing. There’s a donation box set up if you feel like throwing in a few bucks for dinner but they won’t look at you funny if you don’t.
For special Krishna-​related holidays they go all out with live music, dancing, dramatic performances and an even bigger spread of food than usual!
Dinner is usually served around 7:15 — 7:30 and goes until 9/​they run out of food but I’d advise getting there early so you don’t have to stand in line for too long. And to peoplewatch! There are always lively characters and interesting conversation to be found there.

Look, this place is awesome for the free Sunday vegetarian meal. When I was in AmeriCorps, this place was a special treat and I didn’t even have to use my food stamps.
The crowd size/​type changes with the seasons. During the hot months when many of the «travelling» kids AKA gutter punks are not around, the crowd is mostly just 20 – 30 something people who love Indian food.
Also, living on Esplanade myself, the aesthetic beauty of the Krishna temple is a joy to the neighborhood.
I have been there over a dozen times and am always amazed that they are giving away so much food and never prosthelytize.
Get there before the gutter punks cause them to shut their doors and revoke their generosity.

This. review is for the sunday dinner they do.
Be prepared for a line and don’t park your bicycle across the street. The uptight asshole neighbor hates it when you do that. Tonight he called the cops. What a douche.
Anyways. The food is really yummy. Tastes like indian food. It’s spicy for the weak but I loved it.
Tonight it was white rice, a plain salad, this sort of creamy carrot and corn thing and this really tasty cardamom number with these sort of seitan type meat balls.
(see photo)
They don’t cook meat and they don’t use onion and garlic (food of passion).
It seemed to start around 6:30 and we got there around 8:30 when the line dies down. But they ran out of one of the items.
The food costs what you feel like donating. We did $ 5 each. I suggest bringing your own containers with lids. They use styrofoam plates. And they don’t seem to recycle here in New Orleans.
Seating is outside or inside. And there all kinds of different walks of life. I’m definitely going again!
Very friendly people. Very good food.

They serve free Indian food every Sunday night around 7. It’s the best Indian food I’ve had in New Orleans. Too bad it’s all vegetarian :(
Bring a tupperware and you can take some more home for later!

We used to live a few blocks away from the Krishna temple, and loved going to their Sunday dinners. We would say it was the «mind control drugs» they put in the food that kept us coming back for more. (Obviously they don’t do that. I don’t think. Hopefully.)
There’s always a cool mix of people at the dinners — broke college students and gutterpunks and Krishna devotees and people from the neighborhood.
They don’t charge anyone for the food, but it’s nice if you can throw a few bucks in their donation box. It’s really yummy vegetarian Indian food. They serve everything on Styrofoam plates, so if possible, bring your own plate or Tupperware container. I recommend the kind with portion dividers so your yummy cream of wheat style dessert doesn’t mix in with your savory entrée portions.

Every Sunday the Hare Krishna Temple gives a free vegetarian Indian food dinner to the community. Arrive a little early and you can be a part of the chanting and singing while live music is played. The food is all delicious and is prepared right before the meal. A lot of people show up just for the food and the Hare Krishna people believe that they are doing good by feeding others (as they are!). You can donate a dollar or change or whatever you want, or nothing at all. It is also good to bring your own plate or something to eat on although they do provide styrofoam plates.

I feel a little apprehensive about reviewing the Hare Krishna Sunday meal, but it really needs to be done as it deserves 5 stars. I truly miss this cultural (and delicious) gem in such a beautiful part of the city.