Best Restaurants in New Orleans: Local Favorites, Non-Touristy & Casual (Vegan Options + New Openings)

The Best Restaurants in New Orleans

There’s no country on earth as diverse as the United States, so it isn’t surprising with 340 million people there are restaurants serving every imaginable type of food. Immigrants have come from near and far, and thankfully they have brought their home country’s best dishes with them.

While there is incredible food to be found in every major city from coast-to-coast, and from Mexico to Canada, certain cities in the U.S. are held in the highest regard for their restaurant scene. Not surprisingly, New Orleans is always in the top ten, and often in the top five American cities when it comes to restaurant ratings from people in the know.

It isn’t necessary to travel to New York, Miami, Chicago, San Francisco, or Las Vegas to find some of the best food you’ve even experienced. New Orleans has a vast array of superb restaurants that are raved about by international food critics, so consider some of these unique spots for a special meal while you’re here. IMPORTANT: Reservations are a must at the most popular restaurants, so plan ahead and lock in your date and time as early as possible.

About New Orleans Cuisine

The wide range of food options available here reflects the immigrants who came to Louisiana from France, the French Caribbean, and French territories in Africa. With more than 1,000 restaurants to choose from, you are assured of nothing short of amazing dining experiences throughout the city. Cajun, Creole, classical French food, and incredible patisseries are abundant here, as well as Southern staples such as blackened fish, smoked pork, and of course, gumbo and beignets that are the best in the world.

The list below highlights some of NOLA’s historic dining rooms that date back well over a century, but we’ve also included a few restaurants that are popular locally for those who aren’t looking for a touristy dining experience. Ethnic cuisine is alive and well here, with Indian, Vietnamese, and Hispanic restaurants being the latest rage. The diverse dining scene in New Orleans reflects the history and culture that makes this such a great international city.

Galatoire’s

Galatoire’s - Established in 1905 by French immigrant Jean Galatoire, this French Quarter/Bourbon Street mainstay continues to serve French Creole recipes brought to the U.S. more than a century ago. Fifth generation Galatoire family descendants continue to be intricately involved with the restaurant. You will find this famed dining spot on virtually every list of the best places to dine in New Orleans, whether it be for a power lunch or special vacation experience. Galatoire’s was honored in 2004 by the James Beard Foundation as the Best Restaurant in America.

There is a special Friday Lunch menu, which is a NOLA tradition that endures in some of the city’s most esteemed dining establishments. The extensive daily menu includes egg dishes, shellfish, fresh fish, poultry, steaks with a myriad of garnishes, veal-pork-lamb chops, turtle soup, and gumbo. Don’t fill up on the amazing appetizers, though it may be tempting with oysters, sweet breads, foie gras, souffle potatoes, and duck crepes on the menu. If you still have room, the bread pudding, French silk pie, and Key Lime cheesecake desserts are to die for.

Reservations are required in the dining rooms. Walk-ins are permitted at Galatoire’s Bar 33 next door, which has a more relaxed dress code than the main restaurant.

Prices: $$$$.

Arnaud’s

Arnaud’s - Since 1918, Arnaud’s has served extravagant meals in 14 distinct and elaborately decorated dining rooms featuring chandeliers, antiques, and plush floor-to-ceiling drapes. In the French Quarter with Bourbon Street just steps away, this famous NOLA restaurant seats as many as 220 diners. The classic Louisiana Creole menu includes fresh fish, oysters, shrimp creole, veal, fowl, gumbo, and souffle potatoes are on the menu, plus Arnaud’s offers special Friday Lunch & Sunday Jazz Brunch menus. Be sure to allow time before your meal to tour the on-site Mardi Gras Museum. There is a dress code that varies by dining area. Reservations are highly recommended.

Prices: $$$$.

Brennan’s

Brennan’s – Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Brennan’s has been a New Orleans French Quarter institution since 1946. The dining experience here is all about opulence, with eight elegant dining rooms, each individually designed with an ambiance that celebrates New Orleans history and architecture.

The Creole menu is influenced by French and Spanish roots and has been updated for today’s diner. Beyond the attentive service that strives to pamper guests is a menu that stands out from other historic NOLA restaurants. Brennan’s has received numerous awards over the years from the James Beard Foundation, the New York Times, and the Grand Award from Wine Spectator Magazine for five years running recognizing its distinctive wine list.

While not inexpensive, the combined breakfast/lunch menu is a terrific way to experience Brennan’s without the higher dinner price tag. The seafood gumbo, crème brulee French toast, and avocado and crab toast are some of the favorites with the breakfast crowd. If you prefer lunch, offerings include fresh fish, duck confit, elaborate egg dishes, and New Orleans shrimp and grits.

Reservations open 60 days in advance, so be sure to book early. The dinner menu offering oysters, fresh fish, shellfish, steaks, and duck will set you back a bit but is so worth it. As with most of the historic restaurants, there is a dress code.

Prices: $$$$.

Dooky Chase’s

Dooky Chase’s – If you’re seeking authentic Creole cuisine without all of the touristy accompaniments, then Dooky Chase’s is the place to go. Opened in 1941 by Emily and Dooky Chase, Sr., this fabulous spot is still family-owned, with the current chef being none other than Edgar “Dook” Chase IV. The restaurant serves lunch Tues.-Fri. and dinner only on Friday and Saturday evenings. Located in the Treme neighborhood, a historically African American area of New Orleans just two miles from downtown and the French Quarter, Dooky Chase’s is an institution renowned far beyond Louisiana. The attractive dining room is adorned with beautiful art created by up and coming African American artists.

The popular lunch menu includes NOLA staples ranging from red bean with rice and chicken to po boys, shrimp creole, and gumbo. The more expansive dinner menu features Dooky’s amazing fried chicken, shrimp Clemenceau, Chicken Creole, oysters Norman, and many more delicious options.

Dooky Chase’s, like many of New Orleans famous restaurants, has a dress code that seeks to make for a comfortable family atmosphere.

With its limited days of operation, reservations are an absolute necessity and should be made as far in advance as possible.

Prices: $$.

Antoine’s

Antoine’s - Another historic New Orleans restaurant worth considering in the French Quarter, this is the oldest family run restaurant in the U.S. (since 1840), offering a wide assortment of New Orleans-style dishes for brunch and lunch, a Friday Soiree French lunch, a prix fixe $58 dinner, as well as a la carte dinners. And yes, as you might expect, there is a dress code at Antoine’s.

Prices: $$$-$$$$.

Commander’s Palace

Commander’s Palace - Serving New Haute Creole cuisine in the Garden District of NOLA, a short ten minute drive south of downtown New Orleans and the French Quarter. Commander’s Palace opened in 1880. It has been owned by the Brennan family since 1974. The restaurant’s culinary stars have won seven James Beard Foundation awards. The kitchen’s goal is to source 90 percent of their ingredients from within 100 miles of New Orleans. The menu features new adaptations of local seafood, shellfish, poultry, and beef specialties that draw raves from diners. Lunch Wed.-Fri., and dinner served nightly. A business attire dress code is required.

Prices: $$$

Casual Non-Touristy Dining in New Orleans

Being a foodie’s heaven, there are dozens of superb restaurants for those times when you want to escape from the French Quarter’s touristy venues. We highly recommend exploring downtown and other neighborhoods where you will find colorful streets, fabulous architecture, eclectic shopping, and no shortage of restaurants serving dishes made famous in New Orleans, as well as ethnic cuisine from around the world. You will also find a more relaxed atmosphere here sans the dress codes. Here are a few of our current favorites:

Peche Seafood Grill

Peche Seafood Grill – A short walk from the National World War II Museum in downtown New Orleans, Peche offers a Gulf Coast-focused menu of fresh, sustainable seafood that has been caught by local anglers. With a rustic atmosphere that can be described as energetic and vibrant, the excitement of being here adds a lot to the dining experience. While the food is amazing and pricey, the casual vibe invites diners who just want a great meal while wearing jeans instead of a sport coat to dinner. The chef’s cooking styles stretch all the way to South America and Spain, assuring guests that this James Beard Award-winning restaurant won’t disappoint. Seafood and shellfish lovers will feel at home with the raw bar, Gulf shrimp, shrimp toast with sesame and pickles, small plates as simple as hushpuppies, or creative as fried oysters with cabbage, pickled corn, and kimchi.

The kitchen at Peche features an open fire concept where diners can observe the chef’s working their magic. Popular entrees such as grilled tuna or drum, as well as chicken and steak options, are on the menu, as are seasonally available seafood options. A limited number of reservations are available nightly, with walk-ins always welcome.

Prices: $$$-$$$$

Lilette

Lilette – Located just over three miles downriver from the Central Business District (CBD) in the Uptown area of NOLA, Lilette has been wowing diners since 2001 with its menu of French and Italian inspired dishes. The atmosphere has been described as cozy, upscale, romantic, and casual (more-so during the day), with the true emphasis being on the food and service. Lilette occupies a late 1800s vintage drug store storefront in a neighborhood known for unique clothing and antique shops. Kitchen specialties range from a seared Kobe Burger or Hawaiian hearts of palm salad at lunch to escargot, roasted chicken or duck breast, fish, and lamb shoulder for dinner. Everything is fresh, perfectly prepared, and indescribably delicious. Reservations are recommended.

Prices: $$$-$$$$

Atchafalaya

Atchafalaya – With a name like Atchafalaya, how can you go wrong? A restaurant that is known for creative takes on culinary traditions in New Orleans, guests will find this local favorite to turn out incredible Cajun, Creole, and American dishes that you won’t soon forget. Originally a grocery, then a bar, followed by a few restaurants, since 2008 Atchafalaya has been loved in the Garden District by locals and the lucky tourists who happen to find out about it. Whether you are here for lunch, a weekend brunch with live jazz bands, or a softly lit special dinner, your experience here will be first-rate. Given its smaller size, reservations are highly recommended. From specialty cocktails with names such as Sailor’s Delight and Smoke & Cinder, a beautiful bar, and a fine-tuned wine list, your meal will be accompanied by excellent libations. The Southern Creole Brunch features Low Country Shrimp and Grits, and Crab Bakes Benedict, or try the Mississippi Blueberry Waffle. At dinnertime, the menu and vibe changes, with Fried Green Tomatoes with Shrimp for starters, to be followed by Chili-Rubbed Pork Chops, Pan-seared Gulf Fish, or the half-pound Wagyu Steak. Everything on the menu is prepared with special touches that only a place called Atchafalaya, which means “Long River” in the Native American Choctaw language, can provide.

Prices: $$$

Saffron Nola

Saffron Nola – Sure, this is New Orleans where seafood, gumbo, Creole, and Cajun reign supreme, but that doesn’t mean you have to eat locally famous dishes during your entire visit. Enter Saffron Nola to the mix, where you will find an incredible array of what can only be described as Indian-Creole food. That’s surely a combo you’ve never heard of before. Known for top-notch service in a comfortable, modern setting, this is another Uptown restaurant just a short drive or Uber ride from the French Quarter or the CBD. Magazine Street, the heart of the area, is home to several notable restaurants, and Saffron Nola fits right in. By creating innovative Indian dishes with Creole influences, this will be a dining experience to remember. Unique dishes include curried seafood gumbo, Bombay Shrimp, Tandoori Squash, and Nariyal Gulf Fish in a korma sauce. Saffron Nola is an excellent choice for vegetarians and vegans, with several just as creative non-meat options on the menu.

Prices: $$$-$$$$

Luizza’s by the Track

Luizza’s by the Track – So what’s the plan when you just want some great food without all of the fanfare of dressing up, perusing a lengthy wine list, and don’t need or want elaborate surroundings? Check out what they themselves call a “neighborhood joint”, Luizza’s by the Track, home of the signature BBZ Shrimp Po Boy, as well as one of the most authentic bowls of gumbo you will find anywhere. A short three miles northwest of the French Quarter and downtown in the mid-city district just off the Esplanade, this treasured establishment is favored locally by NOPD officers, construction workers, delivery drivers, and of course, locals often stroll over for some duck tenders, fried eggplant or okra, enormous po’boys or a plate filled with fried oysters, shrimp, and catfish. This is the real thing if you’re craving true New Orleans food with a Cajun or Creole zip to it.

Prices: $-$$.

St. Pizza

St. Pizza – Sure, you didn’t come to New Orleans for pizza, but how many fried oysters and bowls of gumbo can you eat? And besides, you don’t have to be in New York to find incredible pizza. St. Pizza is proof of that. While it just opened in the spring of 2024, the nationally acclaimed pizzeria which is attached to the Patron Saint wine shop and bar, is already revered for its signature sourdough crusts and nothing short of stupendous red sauce. St. Pizza is casual and easily walkable from the French Quarter or downtown to its Upper Garden District location just outside of the CBD. Comfortable for solo diners, couples, and families, the restaurant was included in a recent New York Times listing of the 22 best pizza places in the U.S. Pizza is available by the slice or pie, with walkaway, dine-in at the cozy Tavern in the rear, or drive-by pickup available. There are menu items beyond pizza such as chicken or eggplant parmesan, salads, wings, and meatballs if you’ve not craving pizza.

Prices: $$

If you’re short on time, love food, and want to try as many different New Orleans foods as possible, consider taking a food tour with Tastebud Tours or Destination-Kitchen, two companies that offer fun and informative walking tours of New Orleans dining spots.

Finding the Right New Orleans Hotel is Easy With Travelated

Now that you know about some special dining spots in New Orleans, where should you stay? The restaurants highlighted in this article are all within 10 to 15 minutes of any hotel you choose in downtown or the French Quarter. With the extensive selection of more than 175 centrally located hotels and B&Bs available in all price ranges on the Travelated website, finding your way to a memorable meal will be easy as pie.

Whether you prefer a clean and comfortable property with a nice range of amenities or an upscale luxury hotel that caters to your every whim, Travelated is the best place to begin your search. We’re confident you will find what you are looking for, and at the best available price, too.

“The Big Easy” Has Just the Vacation You Are Looking For

Without a doubt, New Orleans is the most famous American city offering true Southern hospitality. It’s no wonder that visitors come from around the world to see what NOLA is all about, and especially during Mardi Gras, the city is alive 24/7 with parades, jazz music, incredible food, and an energy that is unmatchable. Come hungry and thirsty and check it out for yourself!