New Orleans Restaurants
From po’boys to white-tablecloth classics,
here’s where to eat right now.
Food in New Orleans isn’t just about recipes. It’s about history, culture, and a little bit of friendly competition.
The result? A food culture that includes things like:
• Gumbo – that simmers for hours
• Po-boys – stuffed with fried seafood
• Jambalaya – that could feed a small village
• Red beans and rice – that somehow tastes better on Monday (that’s when we traditionally cook it)
• Chargrilled oysters – Fresh Gulf oysters grilled in garlic butter and Parmesan cheese. Warning: these may ruin regular oysters for you forever.
• Shrimp Creole – Shrimp in a delicious tomato sauce spiced just right
• Grillades and grits – Tender veal in a rich dark sauce served with out-of-this-world grits (you do know what grits are, don’t you?)
• Bread pudding – Commander’s Palace makes the best, in my humble opinion
And that’s before we even get to beignets, oysters, crawfish, and bananas foster, bread pudding, coffee and chicory.
In other words, the best New Orleans restaurants don’t do boring.
Not sure where to start?
These are can’t-go-wrong New Orleans classics:
Classic New Orleans fine dining in the Garden District. Famous for turtle soup and a jazz brunch that’s hard to beat.
One of the oldest restaurants in the country. Old-school French-Creole dining with serious history.
A Bourbon Street institution—jackets, traditions, and one of the liveliest dining rooms in the city.
Home of the Hurricane and one of the most iconic bar courtyards in New Orleans.
Explore More New Orleans Dining
Looking for something different?
Check Out Some Great New Orleans Tours ➜
