150 Best Restaurants in New Orleans, Louisiana

As the Bywater dining scene has largely shifted toward the new, trendy, and exploratory, this historical location on Poland Avenue has stood its ground, remaining one of the only classic New Orleans dinner joints in the area. Expect large portions of fried and boiled seafood favorites, like catfish, redfish, oysters, and shrimp, as well as po'boys, stuffed flounder, and surf-and-turf plates. It's a fun, casual spot, and you will not leave hungry.

Strangely enough, good po'boys are hard to find in the French Quarter, but Johnny's, established in 1950, compensates for that scarcity with a cornucopia of overstuffed options, even though quality can be inconsistent and the prices somewhat inflated for tourists. Inside the soft-crust French bread come the classic fillings, including lean boiled ham, well-done roast beef in garlicky gravy, and crisply fried oysters or shrimp. The chili may not cut it in San Antonio, but the red beans and rice are the real deal. Johnny's closes at 4:30 pm.

You can't miss this bright, yellow-striped building, but it's the smell of the meat—pork shoulder, pork ribs, beef brisket, and chicken—cooking in the custom-made smoker that will draw you in. In a town not generally known for barbecue, the Joint is an exception, which is why it draws hungry patrons from far and wide. The meat is the thing, but don't skip the side dishes, which go above and beyond in concept and execution, particularly the sweet-and-spicy baked beans and the crispy-on-the-outside mac 'n' cheese. Pecan, key lime, and peanut butter pies are fitting country desserts.

Celebrated local chef Justin Devillier (of Le Petite Grocery fame) brings an entirely new concept to the French Quarter with Justine. With a nightly DJ, boisterous brunches, and loads of neon and Instagrammable spaces, the emphasis here is more on a festive experience than the food itself (though the Parisian bistro menu has its strong points). Justine herself, a marble statue and the restaurant's patron saint, gazes over the zinc bar top imported from Paris, and Ellen Macomber's dual mural-collages of Paris and New Orleans make the back room dazzle. Expect classic French fare like moules frites, steak tartare, and plenty of Champagne.

The chefs at this no-frills sandwich stand showcase their creative, globally inspired talents within the traditional French loaf of a po'boy, where you're more likely to see pork belly and smoked salmon on the menu than the typical roast beef and fried seafood standards. What started as a small kitchen in the back of popular Erin Rose bar (where you can still order the sandwiches) is now one of the most reliable places to get a cheap, interesting meal in the Quarter. Vegetarian po'boys, featuring roasted vegetables like sweet potatoes and cauliflower, are a hearty, pleasant surprise. Wash it down with one of the many bottles of local microbrew available at the counter.

A coastal Mediterranean menu unfolds in a stylish, Instagram-worthy setting in this Kimpton Fontenot flagship restaurant. Expect modern, seafood-heavy takes on classics, like the sea urchin carbonara and crawfish risotto. There is a thoughtful selection of wines and beers to accompany your meal.

Named after former Louisiana Governor Huey P. Long, who went by the nickname "Kingfish," this stylish French Quarter restaurant pays homage to the Jazz Age, with its pressed-tin ceilings and suspendered bartenders (the excellent craft cocktail list was written by local legend Chris McMillian). Drinks do not disappoint, and as for food, expect southern-inspired comforts with local twists: po'boys with chipotle remoulade, Louisiana Blue Crab-stuffed grilled cheese, and duck breast glazed with sweet satsuma.

Need a break from the bounties of the sea prevalent in New Orleans restaurants? Book a table at chef Adolfo Garcia's classic Argentine steak house, where wine and meat are simple but satisfying priorities. While most steak houses are clubby, masculine, and hard on the wallet, this Warehouse District eatery feels more like a party. The kitchen coaxes flavor from less expensive cuts, like flank and hanger steaks. Sides include empanadas, thick rounds of provolone grilled and sprinkled with oregano, and homemade pasta, a nod to Argentina's large Italian population. After dinner at La Boca, you'll walk outside and be surprised to discover that you're not in Buenos Aires.

French chic for the budget-minded is the style at this welcoming neighborhood bistro, where during peak hours there might be a half-hour wait for a table. Woven café chairs on the sidewalk and awnings that resemble metro-station architecture evoke the Left Bank of Paris, and the Gallic focus is also evident in dishes like the filet mignon, served with a choice of several classic French sauces. Other good options are the seafood au gratin, the moules-frites, and the lavish dessert crepes.

The cheese plate is filled with fromage from beloved local cheese shop St. James Cheese Company.

Space is a little tight in the oddly configured dining areas, but the whimsical paintings and profuse greenery combine to create an inviting feel.

It doesn’t get more downhome than Li’l Dizzy’s, a generational soul food staple in the neighborhood that offers some of the best fried chicken in town. You can also find grilled catfish and eggs, shrimp and grits, and all kinds of po'boys on the menu.

Proprietor-chef John Harris uses French and Italian culinary traditions as springboards for Lilette's inspired dishes. Look for Italian wedding soup, roasted Muscovy duck breast, and crab claws with passion fruit butter. The wine list has been thoughtfully chosen. Framed mirrors hang along the maroon walls of the intimate front dining-room-cum-bar, and there are also a few tables filling out a second room and on a heated patio. Lilette's sister property, Bouligny Tavern, is next door and a great place to enjoy a cocktail or a more casual bite.

This bar, courtyard, and dining room is a dog- and family-friendly spot for a margarita, fried seafood, or a southwestern-style snack. The menu pays homage to surfing pioneers with bios and specialty dishes. On weekends, tables are cleared near the bar for impromptu dance parties.

This restaurant goes beyond the traditional Indian staples like butter chicken and chicken masala to mine India's regional specialties like pani puri (deep fried breaded shell with fillings) and chili gobi (spicy roasted cauliflower). The craft cocktail menu is innovative, with ingredients like mango lassi, garam masala, and curry leaves.

This lively French Creole brasserie is a popular go-to on game days, given its proximity to both the French Quarter and the Superdome. The Gulf-centric seafood lineup includes oysters, boiled shrimp, Peruvian scallops, and Maine lobster. The dark chocolate mousse with toffee is a treat.

What happens when a fine-dining chef opens a po'boy joint? You get delicious local shrimp and hand-cut French fries, alongside nontraditional sandwich options like chicken livers with coleslaw and vinaigrette, or fried shrimp and oysters covered in cheddar cheese and bacon. Despite the ambitions in the kitchen, this restaurant still feels like a low-key neighborhood hangout. The crowds are equal parts working class and professional, with a good number of families. The po'boy is New Orleans's own version of fast food, but here the waits can sometimes stretch to half an hour. It's wise to avoid peak meal times, or, if you're not in a hurry, order an Abita beer and settle into a seat on the patio. During brunch, they have bottomless drink options for a reasonable price.

Also known as "the pink house," Mandina's has been a neighborhood favorite for locals since 1932. Although this Canal Street fixture right on the streetcar line has expanded over the years, nothing has diminished the full flavors of shrimp rémoulade, crawfish cakes, turtle soup, or (on Monday) the iconic red beans and rice served with Italian sausage. Excellent étouffée, po'boys, fried seafood, and pastas are also on the menu. And if you're looking for the ideal bar and restaurant to spend a football Sunday in, complete with flat-screen TVs and the iciest beers in town, this is also your place.

This inviting pizzeria in the first floor of the owner's home offers an outstanding assortment of wood-fired pizzas with classic Italian toppings. The drink menu is surprisingly strong, with an ample wine list, specialty negronis, and refreshing spritzes.

At this neighborhood dive, owner, founder, and cook Chad Barlow puts out The Original Slap Burger---stacked, juicy, griddled burgers dressed with sauce on a toasted brioche bun. After a night of partying, the slap burger is just what the doctor ordered.

This sophisticated Southeast Asian, Cajun, and Italian-fusion restaurant offers house-made pasta, tender cured meats, and local seafood powered by flavors like ginger, turmeric, and coconut. On weekdays, there is a happy hour from 4 to 6 pm that features flavorful bar bites like roasted sweet potato. The dessert and drinks menus are compact but finely curated.

This carry-out-only spot closes early (5 pm, except Sunday when it closes at 2 pm), but it's a great place to pick up a large order of fried chicken and sides for a party or group. The chicken is some of the best in the area, and the mac and cheese is also excellent. On a nice day, pick up an order and walk to Bayou St. John for a picnic.

Along with po'boys, you can find just about every type of grilled, fried, and gravied specialty famous in New Orleans here, served with plenty of sides, 24 hours a day. Not everything is the best in town, but the food is cheap and fresh at any hour. Late night, you’ll be in good company among locals coming in for a hot plate.

James Beard Award--winning chef Alon Shaya's love letter to Louisiana and the local dishes of his adopted city has culminated in Miss River, an airy restaurant nestled in the Four Seasons Hotel. Split a buttermilk-fried chicken for the table, presented whole and hand-carved, with chef Shaya's wife Emily's award-winning red beans and rice as a side. When the weather is good, dine alfresco in the spacious garden patio.

In this second restaurant from Turkey and the Wolf chef Mason Hereford, attention is turned to the classics of breakfast food. Decorated with '80s and '90s pop culture memorabilia, Molly's Rise and Shine feels like a trip down memory lane, and so do its riffs on McMuffins and bagel bites. Though there is ample seating, be prepared to wait in line. Come early since the restaurant does sell out of its most popular dishes.

This flagship of the Morrow Restaurant Group, which now has restaurants in the French Quarter and Mid-City, draws a huge brunch crowd. Look for hearty southern specialties like shrimp and grits, crawfish pasta, and lobster mac-and-cheese from chef and co-owner Lenora Chong.

Tourists and locals line up for solid, if unspectacular, down-home eats at this island of blue-collar sincerity amid downtown's sea of glittery hotels. Mother's dispenses baked ham and roast beef po'boys (ask for "debris" on the beef sandwich and the bread will be slathered with meat juices and shreds of meat), home-style biscuits and jambalaya, and chicken and sausage gumbo in a couple of bare-bones yet charming dining rooms. Breakfast service is a bit slow, but that doesn't seem to repel the hordes fighting for seats at peak mealtimes. Service is cafeteria-style, with a counter or two augmenting the tables.

Those who wonder if there really is a New Orleans restaurant that can properly cater to both tourists and locals need look no farther than Mr. B's. Using as many Louisiana ingredients as possible, the chef offers a hearty braised Louisiana rabbit, an irresistible honey-ginger-glazed pork chop, and one of the best barbecue shrimp dishes in the city. First-timers must try the "Gumbo Ya-Ya," a rich chicken and sausage gumbo, and no meal here can end without the hot buttered pecan pie. Upscale yet accessible, Mr. B's is still on the map because of its just-right seasonings, its windows on the French Quarter world, and its dedication to service. Don't miss Sunday brunch, featuring a live jazz trio and "eye openers" (also known as brunch cocktails).

Among Jackson Square's many dining spots, Muriel's is easily the most ambitious, in both atmosphere and menu. In the large downstairs rooms, architectural knickknacks and artwork evoke the city's colorful past, while diners indulge in hearty updates of old Creole favorites. The upstairs balcony has views of the square, with the occasional sounds of street music wafting in. The menu is diverse, ranging from shrimp and goat cheese crepes to pecan-crusted drum (a popular local fish also known as "red drum") with Louisiana crawfish relish, and offers a three-course prix-fixe dinner or à la carte options. Sunday brunch is accompanied by live jazz.

Here the house specialty Pimm's Cup can be enjoyed in the lush courtyard or in the cool interior, along with bites like pulled-duck po'boys. The residence was built in 1797 and was purportedly chosen as Napoléon's would-be New World residence in an escape plan hatched for the exiled emperor.

This is a charming little stop on the way down St. Claude Avenue. The friendly owner can fix you a cappuccino (or a hot-pressed panini), while you decide which flavor of freshly made gelato to choose.

Martha Gilreath's story of overcoming homelessness and drug addiction has gained lots of local and national media attention, but it's the incredible quality of her baked goods that have kept neighborhood regulars coming back to her shop. Her king cakes are renowned during Mardi Gras, but all year long she has a mouthwatering line-up of savory and sweet pastries ranging from crawfish bread, Friday pizza, and boudin danishes to banana bread, cookie specials, and made-to-order cakes. A pet-friendly outdoor courtyard and a fully stocked reading nook for kids makes Nolita a great hang for the whole family.