49 Best Places to Eat in New Orleans » A NOLA Food Bucket List (2024)

My, oh my, crawfish pie. New Orleans is a city that beats to its own mighty drum. This list of best places to eat in New Orleans celebrates that get down music. Did I just hear a ‘who dat?

N’awlins is a land of lagniappe, and you will find it first and foremost in the food. Poboys, rum, oysters, beignets, crawfish, the Sazerac, chicory coffee, pralines, creole cream cheese, chochon de lait.

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Last Updated: July 24, 2023

Bywater

1. Bacchanal Wine (Bywater, Beer/Wine Bars, 💰💰) Eat Crispy Pork Shoulder and Patatas Bravas in the perfect backyard with live music and an entire room of choice wine by the bottle or classic co*cktails.
2. The Joint (Bywater, BBQ/Southern, 💰) Delicious BBQ.
3. Elizabeth’s Restaurant (Bywater, Southern, 💰💰)

See More: 101 Things to do in New Orleans Bucket List

Central Business District

4. Domenica (CBD, Italian/Pizza, 💰💰) Inside the Roosevelt Hotel, the pies here are thin, blistered, and full of flavor. My favorites? The clam and prosciutto pies. For your veggies, order the roasted cauliflower with whipped feta.
5. Lüke (CBD, French/German/Cajun/Creole, 💰💰) Open wide as you can for the burger here, piled with Benton’s bacon, caramelized onions, and Emmenthaler cheese.

French Quarter

6. Bayona (French Quarter, New American/Mediterranean, 💰💰💰) Grilled Shrimp and Smoked Duck PB&J sandwich. Also, sweetbreads that will change your life or at least my brothers.
7. Cafe Du Monde (French Quarter, Donuts/Coffee/Tea, 💰) A cornerstone of the Quarter, cafe’ au lait, beignets and excellent people watching not to be missed.
8. Cane and Table (French Quarter, co*cktail Bars, 💰💰) Beautiful bar and interior, co*cktails.
9. Doris Metropolitan (French Quarter, New American/Steakhouses, 💰💰) Amazing steaks.
10. GW Fins (Seafood, 💰💰💰) Wonderful spot for a fancy dinner out! We enjoyed all the dishes we had and saw others celebrating special occasions.
11. Killer Poboys (French Quarter, Sandwiches, 💰💰) A small storefront with a big appetite. The shrimp bahn mi with a cold beer alongside it hit the spot.
12. Bourbon House (French Quarter + Multiple Locations, Desserts/Chocolatiers, 💰💰) On Eater’s Essential French Quarter Dining Guide. Known for its seafood tower.
13. Sylvain (French Quarter, American (New)/ Gastropubs, 💰💰) Chilled shrimp salad that was PERFECT! Unfortunately, our bartender/waitress woke up that morning and served us with an attitude enough to ruin our experience.

See More: 25 Free Things to do in New Orleans

Garden District

14. Casamento’s (Garden District, Seafood, 💰💰) There are raw oysters and an oyster loaf amidst gleaming white floor to ceiling white tile. Make sure you walk thru the kitchen on your way to the bathroom; the ladies cooking are not to be missed.
15. Joey K’s (Garden District, Southern, 💰💰) This is the place for homestyle Creole eats, big ol’ po’boys, and fried green tomatoes. Be sure to try their fried chicken, too! Locals love it for being a lively hot spot with a homey feel.
16. Commander’s Palace (Garden District, Cajun/Creole/American, 💰💰💰) I have memories of the turtle soup from when I was a kid, finished tableside with sherry. For lunch, .25 cent martini’s (limit 3). Who dat?
17. Coquette (Garden District, New American, 💰💰) Try the fried chicken and duck.
18. Parasol’s Bar and Restaurant (Garden District, Bars/Southern, 💰) Step up to the takeout window and order a roast beef Po’ Boy made to drip down to your elbows.
19. Stein’s Market and Deli (Garden District, Deli/Sandwiches, 💰💰) Walk in, stand in line, and order a Rachel. You will be handed an overstuffed sandwich and a bad attitude, but you will somehow walk out smiling and loving life.
20. Turkey and the Wolf (Lower Garden District, Sandwiches/co*cktails, 💰💰) Bon Appetit’s #1 Best New Restaurant in 2017
21. The Delachaise (Garden District/Touro, New American, 💰) Wine plus tapas. Yes please.

Marigny

22. Paladar 511 (Marigny, Pizza/New American, 💰) Pizza, sautéed artichokes, best crudo we had in town, along with some of the friendliest service in the city.
23. St. Roch Market (Marigny, New American/Salad/Seafood, 💰💰) It was built in 1838 as an open-air market, but you can still camp out here for hours and choose from a dozen different purveyors of food and libation. Don’t miss the simple and addictive avocado toast, and wash it down with a Mr. Pickle’s Old Fashioned.
24. Willie Mae’s Scotch House (Marigny (Treme) + Multiple Locations, Southern/Comfort Food, 💰💰) Think you’ve already tried the best fried chicken of your life? Think again. (temporarily closed)

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Mid-City

25. Oceana Grill (Mid-City, Seafood/Cajun, 💰💰)
26. Marjie’s Grill (Mid-City, Southern/Asian Fusion, 💰💰) One of Bon Appetit’s Best New Restaurants in 2017
27. MoPho (Mid-City, Vietnamese/Asian Fusion/co*cktails, 💰💰) Som Tam salad and crispy chicken wings.
28. Parkway Bakery & Tavern (Mid City, Seafood/Bakery/Dessert, 💰💰) Skip breakfast and then order the side by side fried shrimp and catfish po’boy.

See More: How to Spend the Perfect Weekend in New Orleans (Free Itinerary)

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Riverbend

29. Brigtsen’s (Riverbend, Cajun/Creole/Southern, 💰💰) Broiled Gulf Fish
30. Camelia Grill (Riverbend, American (Traditional)/Burger, 💰) Get the cheeseburger late-night.
31. Maple Street Cafe (New American, Cafe, 💰💰) Don’t sleep on their bread pudding!
32. Jacques-Imo’s Cafe (Riverbend, Cajun/Creole, 💰💰) Snag the 2 top in the back of the run-down truck parked on the curb covered in street art and order the Eggplant Jacques-Imo.

Uptown

33. Baru Bistro and Tapas (Uptown, Latin American/Small Plates, 💰💰) Ceviche and Pescado Frito (whole fried fish), this spot is like walking into a house party on the weekends.
34. Creole Creamery (Uptown, Ice Cream/Frozen Yogurt, 💰) Try a big ole scoop of creole cream cheese ice cream and salty smoky chocolate almond.
35. Clancy’s (Uptown, Seafood/Cajun/Creole, 💰💰💰) On Eater’s list of 38 places to eat in the US in 2016.
36. Boucherie (Uptown, BBQ, Southern, 💰💰) Try the wagyu hanger steak.
37. Hansen’s Sno-Bliz (Uptown, Ice Cream/Frozen Yogurt/Shaved Ice, 💰) New Orleans’ and world famous snowballs. My favorite? The tart satsuma. If you visit and it’s hot out, expect a line!
38. La Crepe Nanou (Uptown, French/Creperie/Seafood, 💰💰) Adorable from first sight, the building looks like an old train depot, feels like Paris inside. The mussels and frites, whole fish, and avocado vinaigrette are stand-outs.
39. La Petite Grocery (Uptown, French/Southern/Brunch, 💰💰💰) One of Eater America’s Top 38 Essential Restaurants in 2017. Blue crab beignets and fried gulf oysters.
40. Lilette (Uptown, French, 💰💰💰) Hanger steak was on point, Manhattan and Old Fashioned were perfect, and our waitress/bartender was friendly and genuinely answered our questions.
41. Restaurant Patois (Uptown, Seafood/Brunch/French, 💰💰💰) Try the fried rabbit on a biscuit.
42. Shaya (Uptown, Middle Eastern/Mediterranean/Desserts, 💰💰) Spectacular outdoor patio, baba ganoush, falafel, and wood-fired pita. Go spend a perfect afternoon here.
43. Superior Seafood & Oyster Bar (Uptown, Seafood, 💰💰) Fresh oysters and delicious seafood.

Warehouse District

44. Cochon Butcher (Warehouse District, Sandwiches/Butcher, 💰💰) On the Yelp 100 List in 2016. Get the BBQ Pork ‘Carolina Style’ sandwich.
45. Compère Lapin (Warehouse District, Caribbean/American, 💰💰💰) One of Eater America’s Top 38 Essential Restaurants in 2017.
46. Herbsaint (Warehouse District, French, 💰💰💰) Banana brown butter tart with fleur de sel caramel.
47. Peche Seafood Grill (Warehouse District, Seafood, 💰💰💰💰) Smoked tuna dip, raw oysters, and skirt steak. Eat at one of the 2 bars and you will not be disappointed.
48. Seaworthy (Warehouse District, co*cktail Bars/Seafood, 💰💰) – For happy hour, oysters on the half and a glass of rose’.
49. Willa Jean (Warehouse District, Bakery/American (New)/Breakfast/Brunch, 💰💰) Biscuits with strawberry jam, charcuterie plate with homemade crackers and pickles, avocado toast.

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• Get comprehensive insurance for your trip.
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• Find a great deal on New Orleans hotels.
• Arrange a rental car for your trip.
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• Get airport lounge access.

• Buy a travel charger to keep your devices charged.
• Get a new backpack for your trip.
• Buy a New Orleans travel guide.
• Pack the appropriate shoes for your trip.
• Don’t forget your in-flight essentials.

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