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Home • ESSENCE Eats

15 New Orleans Restaurants to Visit Before You Leave the City

Whether you’re a NOLA native or just visiting, we’ve rounded up 15 local restaurants you asbolutely have to try.
By Amber McKynzie · Updated October 27, 2020
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01
Dooky Chase’s Restaurant

Since 1941, Dooky Chase’s Restaurant has served nothing but the best music, culture and entertainment. Oh, and the food is pretty good too. Just ask President Obama!

15 New Orleans Restaurants to Visit Before You Leave the City
02
Coco Caribbean Hut

Authentic Caribbean food isn’t hard to find in the city of New Orleans, if you know where to look! The 7th Ward’s Coco Caribbean Hut knows is a must-eat if you’re looking for a restaurant that knows how to whip up some unforgettable Cane Juice and jerk fish.

15 New Orleans Restaurants to Visit Before You Leave the City
03
Bullet’s Sports Bar

Remember the post-Hurricane Katrina HBO series <em>Treme</em>? Well Kermit Ruffins and his band bring the NO to life and give patrons a true NOLA experience at Bullet’s Sports Bar, just like you’ve seen him on TV. And if you haven’t seen him on the show before, you have a reason to now!

15 New Orleans Restaurants to Visit Before You Leave the City
04
Bar B Q Kings

Although this NOLA staple is stashed away on a small road behind a mechanic shop, Bar B Q Kings is one of New Orleans’ go-to restaurants for the best barbeque in town.

15 New Orleans Restaurants to Visit Before You Leave the City
05
Dreamy Weenies

New Orleans may not be your usual hot dog stop, but Dreamy Weenies may have you rethink where to purchase your next frankfurter. Specializing in gourmet “street meat,” this French Quarter venue is changing America’s definition of good hot dog.

15 New Orleans Restaurants to Visit Before You Leave the City
06
Ma Momma’s House of Cornbread, Chicken & Waffles

If you’re looking for a home-cooked meal without dirtying up your kitchen then Ma Momma’s House of Cornbread, Chicken & Waffles is the place to be.

15 New Orleans Restaurants to Visit Before You Leave the City
07
Rollin Fatties

Food trucks are all the rage, and Rollin Fatties offers New Orleans’ natives and tourists the best Latin American they have in town.

15 New Orleans Restaurants to Visit Before You Leave the City
08
Neyow’s Creole Café

Not to be confused with any food establishment Ne-Yo might have his hands in, Neyow’s Creole Café fills New Orlean’s Mid-City district with oysters and jambalaya that will keep you coming back for more.

15 New Orleans Restaurants to Visit Before You Leave the City
09
Sassafras

With stuffed catfish on the menu everyday, the only thing you’ll be saying when you leave this NOLA restaurant is, “Oh yeah, it’s Sassafras season!”

15 New Orleans Restaurants to Visit Before You Leave the City
10
Bennachin Restaurant

With so many places to choose from, Bennachin Restaurant offers NO the best in African, soul food and vegetarian cuisine in the city’s French Quarter!

15 New Orleans Restaurants to Visit Before You Leave the City
11
Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro

Snug Harbor is more than just another NOLA bistro. It’s creole and regional cooking mixed with a whole lot of live jazz music that plays well into the night.

15 New Orleans Restaurants to Visit Before You Leave the City
12
Lil Dizzy’s Café

Lil Dizzy’s Café is a 7th Ward namesake that prides itself on producing an untouchable fried chicken family recipe.

 

 

15 New Orleans Restaurants to Visit Before You Leave the City
13
Willy Mae’s Scotch House

If you’re looking for some home-style fried chicken that’s finger-licking good, then Willy Mae’s Scotch House is the place to go. For more than 30 years, this venue has been a local and internationally acclaimed restaurant has been a Southern necessity.

15 New Orleans Restaurants to Visit Before You Leave the City
14
The Juju Bag Café

The Juju Bag Café offers food lovers the best of all things delicious. From traditional American grub to Caribbean dishes and filling sandwiches, the Milneburg restaurant has you covered.

15 New Orleans Restaurants to Visit Before You Leave the City
15
Tee-Eva’s Pies and Pralines

New Orleans isn’t just known for its creole cuisine and homemade Southern delicacies, it’s also known for its mouth-watering desserts. And Tee-Eva’s Pies and Pralines is the perfect place to indulge in old-fashioned pies with a pecan and praline twist.

15 New Orleans Restaurants to Visit Before You Leave the City