The Best Food Spots to Eat Your Way Through New Orleans

Exploring the Best Food New Orleans Has to Offer

New Orleans is a city that's synonymous with amazing food. From po' boys to beignets, the cuisine here reflects the city's rich culinary history and heritage. As a foodie and New Orleans native, I'm often asked about my recommendations for the best places to eat in the city. After trying countless restaurants over the years, I've narrowed down my list to highlight some must-visit spots for both locals and visitors alike.

Classic Creole Restaurants

You can't talk about New Orleans cuisine without mentioning Creole food. For authentic Creole dishes like jambalaya, gumbo, and etouffee, head to these long-standing favorites:

• Commander's Palace - This Garden District restaurant has been open since 1880 and offers impeccable service and refined Creole specialties like turtle soup, shrimp and tasso henican, and bread pudding soufflé.
• Galatoire's - With its old-school tuxedo-clad waiters and lively atmosphere, Galatoire's is a French Quarter institution famous for their shrimp remoulade, trout amandine, and foie gras.
• Dooky Chase's Restaurant - This historic Tremé spot has been run by the same family for generations and is known for its fried chicken, gumbo z'herbes, and other Creole soul food.

Classic Po' Boy Shops

The po' boy sandwich is a cheap, filling, and utterly delicious local specialty. Try some of the best versions around at these casual po' boy shops:

• Domilise's Po-Boys - This Uptown spot is revered for their fully dressed roast beef po' boy overflowing with gravy.
• Parkway Bakery & Tavern - Located in Mid-City, Parkway has been serving their famous surf n' turf po' boy (half roast beef, half fried shrimp) since 1911.
• Mahony's Po-Boy Shop - With two locations in Mid-City and the French Quarter, Mahony's offers po' boys fully dressed with olives, pickles, mayo, and lettuce.

Classic Dessert Shops

Satisfying your sweet tooth is a must in New Orleans. Indulge in decadent local desserts like beignets, king cake, and bread pudding at these beloved spots:

• Cafe Du Monde - The original location in the French Quarter is open 24/7 and serves their signature beignets hot and fresh with heaps of powdered sugar.
• Angelo Brocato's Ice Cream & Confectionery - This old-fashioned parlor in Mid-City has been scooping gelato and Italian ices since 1905.
• Sucre - Stop by this patisserie for stunning cakes, French macarons, chocolates, and their signature King Cakes.

Classic Creole Brunch

Brunch is a big deal in New Orleans. For mouthwatering Creole brunch fare like shrimp and grits, eggs sardou, and pain perdu, visit:

• Brennan's - This iconic French Quarter restaurant does a stellar jazz brunch with regional classics like turtle soup and bananas foster.
• Commander's Palace - Their jazz brunch menu features elevated Creole dishes like roasted garlic stone ground grits and Creole bread pudding soufflé.
• Atchafalaya - Tucked away in the Lower Garden District, Atchafalaya serves weekend brunch with dishes like fried catfish with scrambled eggs.

Classic Seafood Boils

For the ultimate seafood feast, head to one of the city's famed seafood boil spots. Dig into mounds of seasoned crawfish, shrimp, crabs, and more at:

• Seaworthy - This hip seafood boil joint in the Lower Garden District does incredible boils with head-on shrimp, Dungeness crab, andouille sausage, corn, and potatoes.
• Big Fisherman Seafood - A local favorite near City Park for boiled crawfish by the pound and infectious Cajun energy.
• Crabby Jack's - Grab a seat on the patio and soak up the French Quarter vibe while feasting on seasoned seafood dumps.

Innovative Restaurants

Beyond the classics, New Orleans also boasts some standout modern spots pushing boundaries and blending influences. Check out these innovative restaurants:

• Peche - This Warehouse District spot focuses on bold Gulf seafood dishes like smoked tuna dip and whole roasted fish.
• Compère Lapin - Located in a historic Old 77 Hotel, Compère Lapin wows with Caribbean-inflected Creole dishes and top-notch cocktails.
• Herbsaint - Chef Donald Link puts a contemporary spin on classic Louisiana fare at this rustic-chic restaurant in the Central Business District.

Classic Neighborhood Joints

Like any great food city, some of New Orleans' best meals are served in no-frills neighborhood spots loved by locals. Here are a few crowd-pleasers:

• Jacques-Imo's Cafe - Expect reliably great Creole soul food and a raucous neighborhood vibe at this quintessential New Orleans restaurant.
• Liuzza's By The Track - A legendary Mid-City neighborhood bar dishing out amazing po' boys and "real-deal" New Orleans food.
• Domilise's Po-Boys - This Uptown spot is revered for their fully dressed roast beef po' boy overflowing with gravy.

Wherever You Go - Enjoy!

From po' boys to gumbo, New Orleans offers no shortage of incredible dining options steeped in tradition. But the city also continues to push culinary boundaries with modern spots focused on high-quality ingredients and multicultural influences. Whether you're looking for tried-and-true staples or innovative new flavors, you truly can't go wrong when eating your way through NOLA. Just be sure to bring your appetite - and some stretchy pants!

FAQs

Where can I find the best beignets in New Orleans?

Cafe Du Monde in the French Quarter is THE iconic place to get beignets in New Orleans. Their booth is open 24/7 and they're constantly frying up fresh, hot beignets covered in piles of powdered sugar.

What are the must-try classic New Orleans dishes?

Some quintessential New Orleans dishes to try include po' boys, muffulettas, gumbo, jambalaya, étouffée, red beans and rice, and beignets for dessert.

Where can I find good New Orleans food outside the French Quarter?

Head to neighborhoods like Mid-City, Tremé and the Garden District for spots like Parkway Bakery, Dooky Chase's, Commander's Palace and more serving authentic local cuisine.