Chef Marlon “Chicken” William has lines out the door Monday through Friday, from 10:30 a.m. until the Gretna hot spot sells out. A James Beard Award semifinalist and perhaps the best hot plate restaurant in the area, Chicken’s Kitchen offers daily specials with a main, a large side (like five-star mac or red beans), and two small sides, which can include sweet peas, cornbread, and potato salad. Fried chicken is the house special, but there’s lasagna, roast chicken, and braised beef too.

A rotating array of hot plates sparks the menu at High Hat, a classic Southern cafe along the Freret dining corridor. Daily specials are posted on Instagram, platters piled with the likes of fried chicken, red beans, and shrimp Creole. The sides are extra special, like pimento cheese grits and braised greens.

Don’t miss the chance to taste one of Cafe Reconcile chef Martha Wiggins’ daily specials. Served with Leidenheimer French bread and one side, her elevated take on shrimp and white beans is a wonder, with the shrimp cooked to order at the last second, which is not usually the case. And that’s just on Thursday. Get the onion rings, maybe the collards — oh, or the jalapeno cornbread. Just be sure to get an extra side.

When Mother’s restaurant opened its doors on Poydras in 1938, the conventioneers who now wind lines out the door weren’t a thing. In fact, the whole CBD was a hive of local businesses and abodes. Times have changed, but Mother’s is still dishing a solid array of breakfast plates, po’ boys, and meat and threes at reasonable prices. Shrimp Creole, fried chicken, jambalaya, it’s all here.

Although best known as the home of the grumpy old man breakfast, this cash-only corner breakfast and lunch spot in Bywater offers a blue plate lunch special every day but Sunday, when it’s closed. Frady’s meatloaf is wildly popular, with sides from mashed potatoes to muffuletta salad to broccoli rice. There’s always a cast of characters hanging outside, part of its charm.

Although not exactly a meat and three, the elevated Neyow’s Creole Cafe does offer killer daily specials. Beyond red beans, there are white beans and fried chicken on Tuesdays, smothered cabbage and pork chops on Thursdays, and so on — special platters every day of the week. Interesting sides too, like carrot souffle and sweet potato tots.

Chef Manny January kills it, every time. The culinary force behind 8 Fresh Food Assassin on Claiborne Avenue spent 17 years at Galatoire’s, working his way up from dishwasher to sous chef. He opened his own place in 2022, upping the neighborhood ante with mains like deep-fried ribs, lamb chops, and salmon, served with two sides or a seafood-loaded potato. Red beans with chicken or fish are on the menu Tuesday and Wednesday.

Beyond the po’ boys that fly out the door 24/7 at this locally-owned restaurant, Melba’s offers daily hot plates served at all hours. Technically meat and ones, because they include one side, options might be stuffed bell peppers, barbecue ribs, or smothered cabbage. Traditional sides run the gamut from baked macaroni to jambalaya and cornbread.

Follow the work vans, taxis, and delivery trucks to Sammy’s during the busy lunch hour for the kind of rib-sticking specials that keep a body working. Served with two sides — there are 19 to choose from — there are always a few po’ boys, along with platters like barbecued brisket and seafood stuffed catfish, most under $15.

Warm hospitality, huge portions, homestyle cooking. That’s the vibe at this welcoming cafe in the East, with specials like turkey necks with smothered okra, smothered pork chops, fried catfish, stewed oxtails, and gumbo — all the good things. It’s country-style soul food at its best.

The daily specials at the family-owned Russell’s Marina Grill come not only with a choice of seafood gumbo or a Caesar salad (get the gumbo, it’s so good), but also with a homemade dessert. Of course, there are red beans on Monday, but Wednesday is grilled salmon and Thursday is chicken fried steak, portioned for the famished. The specials run every day of the week, not just weekdays.

This winner in New Orleans East is wonderfully down home in a setting where everyone is treated like kin. Owned by the family’s third generation, Vucinovich’s keeps grandma’s recipes in rotation. Recent specials include the popular fried double chicken breast with spaghetti meat sauce and hamburger steaks with mashed potatoes and peas. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., come hungry.