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New Orleans is a foodie town. Many people come here just to eat – and that is ok!
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There are so many restaurants in New Orleans that you could eat somewhere different for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and still not try all of the restaurants in New Orleans.
Bad restaurants do not last in New Orleans – the food scene is just too saturated for anyone to serve mediocre food.
Every year, as a New Orleans Native, I plan on trying the best restaurants this city has to offer. I always try to not eat at the same place twice – but sometimes I fail on that goal. I’ve asked fellow foodie Nicole Caridad Ralston to share some of her favorite restaurants by neighborhood!
Nicole is the foodie behind Off the Eaten Path NOLA, @eatenpathnola on Instagram – so give her some love and follow her food journey!
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New Orleans is dope. Period. We have the greatest food in the country (not convinced? Follow Nicole’s foodie Instagram @eatenpathnola).
New Orleans has the most accessible music scene — you can literally walk down any street and hear music pouring out of shotgun houses and watch bands playing on the corners.
We have a rich, cultural, food history that began with the indigenous people who thrived in the Crescent City before Bienville even stumbled upon us. New Orleans is bound to sink into your soul and belly, which is precisely what I’m here to talk about!
In this blog post, I’ll be sharing my favorite eateries in each of NOLA’s gorgeous and unique neighborhoods.
Now, I want to be upfront and say I have not eaten in every single one of the restaurants in this town so I very well may have missed your favorite!
Additionally, this is my SUPER DUPER condensed list of places to eat.
You can view everything I’ve loved and tried on my Instagram! If that’s the case, message me on Instagram, because I would love to hear your top picks. Ok, let’s begin on this delectable journey, Off the Eaten Path in NOLA:
Lower Garden District
The lower garden district is known for shopping, local cuisine, and one of the prettiest neighborhoods in New Orleans. The Lower Garden District runs from Jackson Avenue to Calliope Street and is bounded by Magazine Street. This area of town is very walkable and you can spend your day eating from Brunch to Dinner while shopping on Magazine Street.
Cavan3607 Magazine St
Cavan is located in a gorgeous Garden District mansion. The food and drinks are amazing, make sure you try the corn fritters and General Lu’s chicken.
Steins Market and Deli & District Donuts2207-2209 Magazine St
Ok, so technically these are separate entities, but they’re next-door neighbors, and if I go to one I always go to the other at the same time, so… yea.
Stein’s is a deli with amazing bagels and sandwiches (order the egg bagel with oven-dried tomato cream cheese, bacon, lettuce, and tomato).
District Donuts is a donut spot with massive, specialty donuts (flavors rotate daily). They also have an AMAZING hot chicken biscuit that you must try.
Mais Arepas1200 Carondelet St
This delicious Colombian eatery serves up massive arepas stuffed with plantains, chorizo, pork, and more.
My favorite is the Cerda: pulled pork, ripe plantains, cotija, and pickled onions.
You also have to order the Maiz de la Rueda, topped with spicy butter, aioli, and cotija cheese.
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Central City
Central City is a little silver of New Orleans that contains some of the best food on this list. Central City has many things to do such as the Southern Food and Beverage Museum where you can learn all about the evolution of Food and Beverages in the south.
Casa Borrega1719 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd
This artsy Mexican spot has some of the best Mexican flavors in town. I personally love their pozole and mole enchiladas.
They also have a gorgeous outdoor patio and a fantastic beverage menu!
Toups South (permanently closed)1504 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd
Pork chop stacks. Cracklins. Biscuits with Crab Fat Butter.
You cannot go wrong with the Cajun eats doled out at Toups South.
Its located in the Southern Food and Beverage Museum, which means you can also get in some culture before or after dining!
Uptown and Carrolton
The Uptown and Carrolton area of New Orleans is a laid-back residential neighborhood that houses both Tulane and Loyola. Uptown is known for the start of most Mardi Gras Parades, Audubon Zoo, and Park.
Bearcat2521 Jena St
Bearcat Cafe has a good cat, and a bad cat menu, as in are you going to select their gluten-free, vegan options, or their fried softshell crab and biscuit options?
Honestly, I love both sides of their menu.
Lilly’s Cafe1813 Magazine St
New Orleans has one of the largest Vietnamese populations in the country, which means we get to feast on Vietnamese goodness 365 days out of the year.
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Lilly’s has my favorite vegetable pho, and a spicy tofu appetizer covered in olive oil, scallions, ginger, and a super-spicy sauce!
Coquette2800 Magazine St
Oh Coquette, how I love thee! This pretty Magazine Street eatery never disappoints!
I advise you to be adventurous and do the chef tasting menu. This is definitely a great spot for a special occasion or a fancy night out with the homies.
Central Business District and Warehouse District
The Central Business District and Warehouse District is where many who work downtown – work. Stretching from the Superdome to the Convention Center you will find plenty of good food filled with local New Orleanians grabbing a leisurely lunch or catching up for a drink for happy hour.
Compere Lapin535 Tchoupitoulas St
Nina Compton of Top Chef fame heads up this Central Business District eatery!
She cooks up Caribbean, Creole, and Southern fusion dishes.
Call ahead and ask for the copper bunny cocktail (they only serve a few at a time!), and order the crispy pig ears as soon as you sit down!
Tsunami Sushi601 Poydras St Suite B
This is my favorite sushi spot for creative rolls and amazing happy hour deals.
They somehow found a way to fuse Cajun flavors and sushi, and thank goodness they did because their rolls are delicious.
My favorite is their Ragin Cajun Roll filled with panko alligator, avocado, masago, & Tsunami sauce!!!
Herbsaint701 St Charles Ave
If you are looking for french cuisine, Herbsaint is the restaurant for you. It took me years to finally try this Chef Donald Link establishment, and I’m low key still upset about this, haha.
Everything is divine at Herbsaint.
You have to order the Housemade Spaghetti with Guanciale and Fried-Poached Farm Egg, like for real, for real.
I also loved the Lamb and Mushroom Lasagna and the Crispy Goat with Beluga Lentils, Cucumber, and Tomato.
French Quarter
The French Quarter is one of New Orleans’ most famous – and toured – neighborhoods. If you find yourself stumbling on Bourbon street looking for a place to eat make sure to check out one of these places to eat. If you do not want to sit down you can always stumble into the French Market and grab something to go.
Dat Dog601 Frenchmen St
Dat Dog has several locations, but I love the Frenchmen Street location because it the perfect place to stumble into on Mardi Gras Day.
My favorite dog is the Duck Special: duck sausage, blackberry sauce, bbq sauce, yellow mustard, and bacon.
I order it every time with a side of cheddar, bacon ranch fries!!
Coop’s Place1109 Decatur St
Coop’s serves up some of the best classic NOLA eats in a no-frills, divey, French Quarter vibe.
Try the spicy rabbit & sausage jambalaya, fried chicken, gumbo and seafood pasta-you won’t be disappointed.
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Avila Grill268 Front St
This Venezuelan counter is tucked away in The Starlight Lounge, and they have some of the best arepas in town.
The ooey cheese they stuff their arepas with is out of this world!!
No joke, the first time I went, I had a dream that night that I was eating a platter of their arepas, and I was so happy, haha.
Marigny/Bywater
The Marigny and Bywater neighborhoods is the second most traveled neighborhood for tourists due to the colorful houses, beautiful creole cottages, delicious dining places – and of course Frenchmen Street.
Bacchanal600 Poland Ave
Bacchanal is a wine shop, cocktail bar, and wine garden all rolled into one in the eclectic Bywater neighborhood.
The cheese plates are what dreams are made of, and their menu is always on point.
Start with the bacon-wrapped dates, and you won’t be disappointed!
Paloma Cafe800 Louisa St
Paloma cooks up Caribbean Latinx specialties in a gorgeous, hip, Bywater spot.
New Orleans is known as the northernmost point in the Caribbean, after all. Order the frozen Paloma, cod fritters, and garlic shrimp!
Fritai NOLA2381 St Claude Ave
Fritai is the black-owned Haitian food stall inside St. Roch Market (a local food hall). I love Fritai and their friendly chef, Charly Pierre.
He serves up Haitian deliciousness like fried plantain sandwiches (fritais) and the Eva salad bowl (crispy pork, plantains, greens, avocado, and coconut lime dressing)!
Mid-City
When you think of the Mid-City you will immediately think of City Park and walkable neighborhoods. Mid-City is home to everything from Beignets to Snowballs, Microbrewery to some of the best poorboys around. Mid-City is a great neighborhood to find a few places to eat.
Parkway Bakery & Tavern538 Hagan Ave
Parkway calls them poorboys (not poboys), so don’t get it twisted, but this is the quintessential NOLA poboy spot.
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You can never go wrong with the shrimp or roast beef with gravy!
El Rinconcito216 N Carrollton Ave
This Honduran & Mexican owned corner bar serves up strong drinks and bomb baleadas, tacos, pozole, and more.
Plus, it’s near City Park so you can walk off your calories after, or take a nap in the grass.
Either is acceptable.
Kin4600 Washington Ave
Ok, so I’m a self-proclaimed soup addict which means me and ramen are besties.
Kin has the best ramen in town.
All of their bowls have a rich, deep, flavor that makes you come back for more! My favorite ramen at Kin?
The Technically Tonk: pork shoulder roast, sauteed mushrooms, braised greens, soft-boiled eggs.
I also highly recommend ordering their dumplings (this menu changes regularly). ENJOY!
Riverbend
A small little sliver of a neighborhood outside of the Uptown neighborhood – Riverbend is filled with cool coffeeshops, delicious daiquiris and wonderful places to eat and shop!
DTB (permanently closed)8201 Oak St #1
DTB stands for Down the Bayou, and it is absolutely incredible! I love their dinner service and happy hour.
For happy hour try the fried chicken sandwich and mushroom boudin balls.
For dinner, you literally cannot go wrong with any of their duck or pork belly creations (and order their desserts, OMG)!
Catalino’s7724 Maple St
This Guatemalan spot is so tasty, and it’s BYOB so you can imbibe on your libation of choice!
I suggest their Garnachas (fried corn dough, ground beef, salsa, and cotija cheese) and their Caldo de Res (beef rib and veggie soup).
Pro-tip: ask for their housemade hot sauce!!
Also, the art in this place is gorgeous, so make sure to look around in between eating yumminess.
Ba Chi Canteen7900 Maple St
Ever heard of a Vietnamese baco? It’s the blend between bao and tacos, stuffed with tasty fillings!
You can’t go wrong with any of their bacos, but I like the pork belly one the best.
Their Lemongrass Tofu Pho is also deliciously spicy, and one of my favorite soups in all of NOLA, so order that, too.
Brigtsen723 Dante St
James Beard Foundation award winner Brigtsen is a delicious addition to this list of the best places to eat as told by locals. Brigtsen is a favorite restaurant that serves creole, cajun and just wonderful local food. Opt to get the Paneed Eggplant Parmesan or the Grilled Beef Filet – both will leave you wanting more.
Where New Orleans Locals Eat Frequently asked questions
When searching for where New Orleans Locals eat, many visitors want to avoid the tourist traps and visit the famous restaurants of South Louisiana. by following the different recommendations suggested by Nicole – you are able to try some of her favorite places to eat and delicious foods while you visit.
When It comes to eating (and drinking) In New Orleans there are a few frequently asked questions that need to be addressed when trying to find delicious food in local restaurants.
What food is NOLA famous for?
New Orleans is famous for a number of dishes that you will need to just come down here and try them all! You can find cajun cuisines in almost any restaurant. While visiting there are a number of foods that you need to try red beans, a po boy, bananas foster. chicory coffee and creole turtle soup are just some of the food New Orleans is famous for.
What is the signature drink of New Orleans?
A local favorite signature New Orleans drink is the Sazerac. The Sazerac is rumored to be the world’s first cocktail and a well-made Sazerac can put any craft cocktails to shame.
What sandwich is New Orleans known for?
There are two sandwiches New Orleans is known for the muffuletta sandwich and the po boy. Both sandwiches are a must to try while you are visiting! Muffulettas are a famous sandwich originally made by Central Grocery on Decatur Street. The Po Boy is a large sandwich filled with meat and toppings on a loaf of french bread. There is a lot of history that goes into a po boy but if you are looking for a quick late night bite make sure to stop by Verti Marte and get yourself a poboy
Is food Expensive in New Orleans?
You can expect to spend around $10-14 per meal in New Orleans, depending on your eating habits. There are plenty of restaurants where you are able to find cheap eats and other fine dining restaurants where the food is more expensive. Portions are large in New Orleans Restaurants so many travelers can split a meal so they can try more delicious New Orleans Food.
What dessert is New Orleans known for?
New Orleans has many popular desserts but the two most famous are Beignets from Cafe Du Monde and King Cake – a seasonal dessert that coincides with Carnival Season.
Need a place to stay in New Orleans?
There are so many great places to stay while visiting New Orleans. Here are some of our favorites:
Omni Royal Orleans – In the heart of the French Quarter, you barely have to think twice about transportation because everything is within walking distance.
The Eliza Jane – If you are looking for modern suites and an easy way to be in the middle of downtown, the Eliza Jane is my favorite hotel.
The Pontchartrain Hotel – Right on St Charles, the Pontchartrain Hotel keeps you out of downtown but still close to all of the action. With beautiful rooms, delicious dining, and a rooftop bar, you may never want to leave.
Looking for more places to eat in Louisiana? Check out these related posts
- 11 Places to Eat in Shreveport and Bossier City, La
- Saving Money with Temperature Lunch at Palace Cafe in New Orleans
- Why is Mother’s Restaurant so Famous in New Orleans
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