Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Photos: Chinatown's New Orleans-Style Deli And Market Now Whipping Up Po' Boys
Chinatown's got a new gem of a New Orleans-style deli and market that's cooking up fried oyster po' boys, fried catfish and house-made sausages.
The Little Jewel of New Orleans opened up its market last month and just recently started serving food—and it has pretty extensive menu. Inside, you can find a cozy and casual market that sells things that feel very much from the Bayou: Zapp's chips, seasonings for crawfish boils, and chicory coffee (and Community Coffee). But they also have the feel of a neighborhood market where you can get the little things in life that you might find at a 7-Eleven.
There are dining tables around the store, atop of a black-and-white checkered floor. Vintage movie posters hang on the wall such as Elvis Presley's King Creole, and oldies music plays in the background.
They don't skimp on the the fillings of their gigantic 10-inch po'boys, and if you get their Irish Channel Roast Beef Po'Boy, just know that you'll need some extra napkins—maybe even a bib. Save room for dessert: when we got there we got to try their delicious and dense New Orleans Style Bread Pudding With Whiskey Sauce.
However, expect items on their menu to change around from time to time. Chef Marcus Christiana-Beniger, who co-owns Little Jewel with his partner Eunah Kang, tells LAist that when he first planned for this venture, he wrote down a list of all the things he could easily make at his deli and lost count after he got to 150 items.
Christiana-Beniger was born and raised in New Orleans, and spent much of his time there working in restaurants and bars in and around the French Quarter. He learned much of his cooking from his Italian grandmother, and after switching gears and working in visual arts and production for years in Los Angeles, he later went to L.A. Trade Tech to hone in on his cooking skills—with a particular interest in food science and sausage making.
He teamed up with one of his L.A. Trade Tech teachers, Jerry Vachon, and they started making sausage recipes together that they felt represented New Orleans—from the Andouille to Boudin links and Tasso (the seasoning used in the southern Louisiana-style ham). All their sausages are made in-house and smoked over pecan wood, just like in New Orleans.
Christiana-Beniger wanted to bring New Orleans into this food, and that included using Blue Plate mayo, which he says has a denser texture than what you'd normally find in other brands. He also imports his french bread for the po'boys from his home state because he says you can taste the difference.
And in keeping with the Bayou tradition, he's serving red beans and rice every Monday. Eventually, he hopes to serve jambalaya on Thursdays and chicken and Andouille gumbo on Fridays.
He's taking his time on those until he perfects the recipes. "I think the good thing about having this rich milieu to explore is that we have a big menu of things here to grow out and try and see what L.A. likes, what they don't like," Christiana-Beniger says. "Kind of grow it organically. I'm not in a hurry. I know a lot of people all want me to do a hundred things at once, but I'm a Southern person and I'm going to go my own speed."
Little Jewel of New Orleans is located at 207 Ord St. in Chinatown, (213) 620-0461. The market opens at 7 a.m., the deli opens at 10:30 a.m., and they close at 9 p.m. The hours may change, so check with the store.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.

-
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity.
-
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
-
With California voters facing a decision on redistricting this November, Surf City is poised to join the brewing battle over Congressional voting districts.
-
The drug dealer, the last of five defendants to plead guilty to federal charges linked to the 'Friends' actor’s death, will face a maximum sentence of 65 years in prison.
-
The weather’s been a little different lately, with humidity, isolated rain and wind gusts throughout much of Southern California. What’s causing the late-summer bout of gray?
-
Hexavalent chromium is the same carcinogen Erin Brockovich warned about in the 1990s, but researchers say more study is needed on the potential health effects of nanoparticles detected earlier this year. Experts will answer questions at a webinar this evening.