What are your TOP THREE favorite local foods - and the best places to find them - in New Orleans?

The top of my list are the beignets at Cafe du Monde.

1. Beignets and chicory coffee at Cafe du Monde

2. Fried oysters at ACME

3. Eggs Hussarde at Brennan's

Enjoy!

1 - Beignets, Cafe du Monde.

2 - Corn and Crawfish soup, DejaVu.

3 - Cheeseburgers, Yo Mama's.

(All in the Quarter)

I second Gekko's choices although I would add Crawfish Eh Too Fay (!) at Deanies. Gumbo and a beer at Snug Harbor ...and of course a fried Oyster Poo Boy (can't remember the joint).

1. Muffulettas at the Central Grocery Store.

2. Bread Pudding at a number of restaurants. I think my favorite was with praline sauce at Irene's.

3. Sunday Brunch at Mr. B's.

So much delicious gumbo, jambalaya, wonderful fish. It's hard to go wrong in New Orleans!

My favorite crawfish etoufee is at Desire, corner of Bourbon & Bienville in the heart of the Quarter.

Sunday brunch at Commander's Palace.
Oysters on the half shell at Acme.
Abita Turbo Dog beer.

Don't forget an oyster loaf at Casamento's on Magazine St. at Napoleon!!

Fried Chicken (with fried pickles) at Fiorella's

Muffaletta at Luigi's (Pre-Katrina)

Lucky Dog anytime after midnight....

milemarker0: LUCKY DOGS - I can't believe I left that off the list!! Granted the "after midnight" statement is a bit limiting, but oh so true.

scdreamer: So many places to eat are wonderful in New Orleans and it looks like you have some really good places mentioned in many different price ranges.

We also like to eat at Petunia's for breakfast (their crepes are so large they can be split comfortably between two people).

If you're asking the original question because you're going to visit there, have a great time!

ccolor - Yes, I am going to be there next month -it will be my first visit to New Orleans - will have five days. I am very much looking forward to it ... especially the great food I have heard so much about!

Thanks to everyone who responded - I have a feeling I will have to go on a diet when I return home.

Charbroiled Oysters at Dragos in Metairie (also at the Hilton Riverside)

Gumbo Ya Ya at Mr B's Bistro

Muffaletta at Nor-Joe's in Old Metairie

I could actually list the Charbroiled Oysters as my 3 favorites, they're that good.

I've never had it but my boyfriend raves about the Creole Cream Cheese cheesecake at Commander's Palace.

Can't tell you anyplace specific in NOLA but I love crawfish etouffe.

1. Beignets - Cafe du Monde
2. Soft-shelled crabs -- many places when in season
3. Oysters Mosca - Mosca's in Avondale

BBQ Shrimp & Grits - NOLA
Sunday Brunch - Mr B's
BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich - Cochon
Ambita Amber Draft Beer - anywhere it's on draft(I know it's not a food to most - but who cares!)

Turtle Soup at Mothers
Crawfish ettouffee at K-Pauls
Bananas fosters at Brennans

Shrimp and oyster po-boys at Mother's.
Cafe Du Monde.

We're going to for the second weekend of JazzFest- my theory is I'll eat just wherever we can get a table that day and very likely be thrilled! Except for Friday, we have reservations at Commander's since we enjoyed dinner so much there in Vegas a couple of years ago.

Oysters, w/a bowl of red beans & rice w/a Dixie @ Acme (at the bar). Does that just count as one, or is that all 3 ? Po' boys & Muffalettas from a bunch of places.

Add BBQ shrimp at Pascale's Manale to the list. It's not the southwestern version, but pure NO.