10 of the best places to eat right now in New Orleans

23.08.2024 - 19:07 / lonelyplanet.com / James Beard

Aug 23, 2024 • 0 min read

New Orleans has one of the most recognizable food scenes in the USA, in no small part because this town organically did "organic", as it were. It’s now accepted wisdom that top food and flavors come from the intermingling of cultures, access to great ingredients, and an aversion to cutting corners. New Orleans kitchens have, by and large, subscribed to this ethos for three centuries. The result is a distinct, Creole-influenced cuisine that has been internationally renowned for more than a minute.

At the same time, these days New Orleans' food is enlivened by an increasingly international palette; yes, of course you can get great gumbo, but the rest of the world now gets to weigh in on the menu too. Read on, and take a gastronomic trip through both old line Creole classics and newer dishes representing the global influences that laid the foundation for this unique food milieu.

In a city with no shortage of great seafood, Peche somehow always manages to float (sorry) to the top of our recommendation list. The menu changes based off what folks are catching that particular day, although there are always excellent options for those who don’t love their food with fins. But we insist you try some seafood, preferably in the form of small plates so you can get a nice variety. In the past, we’ve gone ga ga for catfish in chili broth, or a whole grilled redfish that left us grinning and extremely sated. The buzzy dining room is crowded, and reservations are essential.

How to get it: Peche is casual fine dining; dress up and make reservations about a month in advance via the restaurant website or Resy.

Vietnamese food is as tightly woven into South Louisiana cuisine as po’boys. But in the 2020s, we’ve reached an inflection point, where Vietnamese food isn’t just an option in New Orleans; rather, Vietnamese American chefs are redefining local classics. Dough Nguyener’s, a bakery and restaurant located just outside of New Orleans proper on the West Bank, is a great example of this phenomenon. Run by Vietnamese Americans, these geniuses are spitting out crazy good fried chicken and banh mi, while the baked goods include a wonderful spin on the classic beignet. 

How to get it: This is a casual spot; no reservations and it fills fast on weekends. Located about 8 miles south of town, you’ll need wheels to get here. It gets busy during weekend brunch hours.

The brainchild of James Beard-award winner Alon Shaya, Saba’s lovely interior attracts a clientele as attractive and well-heeled as the Uptown neighborhood that surrounds it. And yet, for all that elegant atmosphere, the actual food feels like a polished iteration of a stick- to-your-ribs meal served by your grandparents – appropriate, given "Saba"