50 Best Southern Restaurants in New Orleans

“It’s dark, it’s cool, and they’ll play 60’s/70’s rock gems as the house music. The food is pretty good too. This is my favorite spot I’ve found after several years living in The Quarter. The vibe is perfect. Its the darkness and the music that really makes me not want to leave. It’s rock’n’roll without being a dive. Oh yeah, did I say the food is pretty good too?“

“Amazing food! Hip vibe! Avacado toast was the best!!“

“We were blown away on our first visit this morning!! Ryan is a talented mixologist in the bar creating beautiful, delicious and truly unique drinks. Our server Louis was incredibly charming and attentive, giving us excellent menu choices —as it was a hard decision. Every dish was a work of art—both in presentation and flavor. The whole experience was top-notch, and we can’t wait to come back!“

“I’ve been to Etoile twice now and I am impressed by the amazing food, the tasting menu concept, and the careful and intelligent wine pairings with each course. The wine is not “round up the usual suspects” (Casablanca, 1942). The service is polite, friendly, and discreet. Etoile is also sensitive to food allergies and with enough advance notice (48 hours) will do its best to be flexible. This would be a Michelin 1 or 2 star restaurant when New Orleans gets star ratings. It’s as good as any restaurant in Manhattan, London, or Paris that costs 2 to 3 times more.
The decor is beautiful and understated in a large Victorian/Edwardian house. There is nothing “cold” about it as one reviewer alleged. I can be harsh critic of restaurants but I am at a loss to find anything that is not worth a 5 star review.“

“Great atmosphere and food.“

“Excellent experience. Highly recommend. We tried almost half the menu, drinks and desserts included. Great all around.“

“This place really left a lasting impression. From the hostess, our server, the bathrooms, food, price point, time we spent. Everything was on point. We had oysters, gumbo, bisque, redfish, and house salad. Everything was divine!!! Keep up the good work! Also loved that it was so very clean.“

“I’m a local who has dined at many N.O. restaurants and Cafe Amelie is my favorite. Charming atmosphere and THE BEST food and drinks!“

“Wild South is the best place to enjoy a cozy, delicious meal focused on Southern cuisine.
We went on a Wednesday night the week before Christmas, so it was slower than normal, which allowed us to sit at the chef's table and get unfettered attention from the staff and chefs. We ordered the 5 course prefix menu, and everything came perfectly timed, and perfectly portioned, to the point where we left satisfied but not overly full. I paired this with their Sherry flight, which allowed me to experience a wide range of styles they have to offer.
The first course was an escabeche-esque snapper, eaten in a rice cracker. The second course was an ode to New England style chowder. Both items were not listed on the menu at the time.
We were interrupted by an intermezzo of uni and trout roe topped chicken schnitzel bites, followed by the vegetable course of broccolini, carrots and peppers, topped with a pumpkin XO sauce, and goat creme fraiche.
The main course was a brined and one-week dry-aged pork chop, with radicchio and sweet potatoes.
Pre-dessert was a refreshing scoop of strawberry sorbet, and dessert was a nod to chocolate mint ice cream, but with merengue and toasted sesame, along with Creole cream cheese custard with strawberries and poached carrots.
Overall we had an amazing time, enjoying our camaraderie with the chefs and staff, and would highly recommend going back and enjoying a meal with friends. We will definitely be back when we return to New Orleans.“

“Always one of my favorite meals when visiting, New Orleans. Staff is always great as well. Loved the carne asada hash during our last visit.“

“Food was outstanding as usual. Items very reasonable priced. Very loud, hard to have a conservation for two. Felt like my appetizer was rushed due to the main course coming out too soon. Waiter very attentive in the beginning but later was distracted serving a large table that ordered several bottles of wine. My husband said it was the best Old Fashioned he had ever had. Always on my list of places to eat when I visit NO.“

“Food was amazing. Service was top notch! Shaira was our server. She did an amazing job. Definitely would come back!“

“Cafe Sbisa is kind of a little hole in the wall on Decatur but has the absolutely best Sunday jazz brunch. It’s not super fancy and has great mimosa deals, great food and great music.“

“My son and I had the absolute pleasure of eating supper at the Mosquito supper Club last night. We drove from Pensacola Florida and it was so absolutely divine. I am originally from Mississippi and my entire life I have eaten gulf coast seafood. Best gumbo, ceviche was amazing, crabs claws yum. Tomato and cucumber salad with croutons. I cannot remember the names of everything. Potato salad with so good with a dash of hot sausage and in the gumbo I have never heard of doing it this way. We chose communal seating and enjoyed talking to everyone at our table. The ambiance of the mismatched vintage silver ware. The beautifully aged house with its milk glass lighting and copper ceiling medallions and aged plaster walls. It was such beautiful experience. The buttermilk ice cream with fig sorbet. Yum.“

“Great food, Great atmosphere, 10/10 would recommend!!!“

“Oysters and pita/crab dip were delicious! Service was a little rough. My husband got his oysters before I got my meal- he had that and his drink finished before I received my food. We tried to be patient because they were somewhat busy, but watched our server take off her apron and leave before ever coming back to our table after drop off. We had 2 other waiters and what looked like management walk by several times, and even though I tried to get their attention, never looked our way or stopped. Finally made eye contact with a gal working closer to the front who came over and was very sweet, apologizing as our waitress had just quit. She brought out my food that'd been sitting there for quite a while, so the muffalettas weren't great, coleslaw warm. She never came back or reassigned someone to us, no one checked on us for drink refills, etc. Had to flag her down to place another food and drink order, again because no one else was helping us. After that, zero service, no one stopped at our table to check on us, and nothing 'taken care of' for the mishap. We came at a time where we were able to see the end of one band and start of a new- both fantastic, so that was good. Would recommend based on food and music, maybe not so much service.“

“One of the best poboys I have ever tasted.“

“Spent my birthday here in May. What a way to celebrate! I felt like royalty. The food and service were equally matched 10/10. The portion size was perfect and the drinks were amazing. Valet was also great. I will be visiting again.“

“I experienced this restaurant for the first time when I came here from New York!It was very good!“

“Delish! Love the cornbread!“

“My favorite New Orleans restaurant. The food is always fresh, flavorful and delicious. Frank keeps the menu seasonal and world with what's fresh in the market. New Orleans is home to many fine dining restaurants but none dinner than Brigtsen's. it's friendly, distinguished, welcoming to all. I'm not a fancy person and I've never felt out of place here. You won't find a better place to dine.“

“Here for Mardi Gras, staff is phenomenal. True southern hospitality! & We love Sabrina the bartender!“

“Today was our first time having food from here. We ordered via Uber Eats. Everything was absolutely delicious! my kids and I were beyond satisfied. The portions were plentiful, allowing our family food for tomorrow as well.“

“I’ve gotten dinner here twice now and planning on more, fried chicken and stewed chicken are absolutely delicious. Love their dinner rolls, collard greens to die for. Got orders for three people and barely went over $40. If you love your friends or family take them here, and if you love yourself you must go, no life is complete without a visit ❤️❤️❤️“

“Absolutely Amazing! One of my favorite places“

“The staff at Lula were wonderful! Went to look at the accommodations for a rehearsal dinner. The staff showed us the Barrel Room and explained the setup for the amount of guest expected. They are very accommodating for your needs. Lunch was delicious! Shrimp and grits and Fried pickled mirlitons with a poblano dipping sauce were a hit. Our server, Jalen was the best! Definitely a place to visit in NOLA.“

“I visited the location on Ponchatrain in Nola last night _ I will NEVER dine in late at night - The host was outside playing with the managers dog in the parking lot - She walked in the side door and greeted me picked up the menu and NEVER sanitized or washed her hands. The server complained about it being slow- My food came out cold- The manager on duty last didn't care- They put my side dishes in the microwave They served me the same cold chicken I sent back and just put it on the grill for a few minutes. Horrible customer service experience and the quality of the food was worse.“

“Chicken sandwiches are phenomenal“

“Amazing dining experience at Annunciation. The staff is very welcoming and friendly. The food is delicious, will definitely be coming back.“

“Amazing gumbo! Best in the city. Scallops were cooked perfectly. Excellent service and nice atmosphere! Check it out!“

“Best Cochon De Lait poboy ever!!!“

“I had their smothered chicken, which was one of the specials of the day. It was good. My husband had the grilled shrimp, crayfish Mac and cheese with broccoli. OMG! It was so good. They definitely load up your plate because neither one of us finished our meal. Love their pineapple lemonade..It wasn't overly sweet, which I appreciated. I would definitely go back.“

“SO JUICY! Consensus is this is the best fried chicken this group of 6 has ever had. The McHardy’s Bourbon sauce can’t be missed, and the Mango Habanero and Jerk sauces are also a must try. The fried okra was excellent. The staff were kind, attentive, helpful, and fab! Can’t wait to come back!! 11/10“

“Recommendation and service from Mary were great!!! She kept us full & hydrated! If you haven’t been here in a while definitely come give them a try. Truly a great NOLA experience and hospitality.“

“Authentic New Orleans Comfort with Real Flavor and Heart

I stopped by Yakamein House while running errands, and I’m so glad I did. From the moment you walk in, the aroma tells you this place is serious about flavor. The menu proudly showcases authentic New Orleans cuisine, and you can feel the heritage behind every dish. I ordered the shrimp yakamein, and it was pure comfort in a bowl—rich, savory broth layered with depth, perfectly cooked noodles, tender shrimp, boiled egg, and fresh green onions sprinkled on top. The balance of spice and seasoning was spot-on, that Creole warmth that makes you pause between bites just to appreciate it.

The staff was friendly and patient as I took in the options, the interior was spotless, and the overall vibe was laid-back but full of soul. You can tell they take pride in keeping the place clean, organized, and true to its roots.

If you’re craving something that feels homemade but restaurant-ready, this is the spot. Whether you’re from New Orleans or just passing through, Yakamein House deserves a visit. I’ll definitely be back to try the oxtail yakamein next time—because this place? It’s the kind of comfort food that stays with you long after you leave.“

“I came all the way from Compton, Cali to try this offa a TikTok I seen and it was worth the flight. they got everything in this place too.“

“Ate here multiple times during our stay at the attached Royal Sonesta Hotel. Always excellent service and delicious food. The majority of the staff are grown ups who know how to provide above average service. Had breakfast and brunch. The kids they had at the front door check-in were usually sub-par but we still loved the place. Robert was the fav!“

“It’s in and out
Super clean
Super polite and amazing handsome gentlemen working behind a safe glass
The food
I have had
Fried Redfish, fried shrimp, fried Okra, Mediterranean salad and the French bread
DELICIOUS….
The proportions are adequate and also fresh
I can not express enough
This place is super RICO…Delicious
Not to mention the prices are beyond fair
I always went to
HEARD DAT KITCHEN
which is most expensive
Off The Hook
Blow’s them away with taste flavor portions service and $$$$$$$$
I highly recommend
Off The Hook
A gem in the neighborhood
That’s always 100%
Nirvair Kaur“

“Great food reasonably priced. Much better than some of the better known and prettier places we’ve eaten at in Nola. We had the super dome and Benson Boogie. We will be back!“

“Stopped in after church and was pleasantly surprised. Ate at the bar and was waited on immediately. Food was excellent. My husband said that I was judging him because he didn’t have a crumb left!??“

“Consistently delicious!! We make sure to always bring out of town guests here too!! It’s a definite New Orleans must eat!!! Love this place!“

“I can’t say enough good things about this place! They were delicious! The service was so nice and so friendly everything came out pretty quickly and I could not have asked for anything better in Louisiana! I’ve eaten at a lot of restaurants around here and this one is the best! There was literally nothing left after we got a half of a chicken! We got a large potato, we could have eaten double that because it was just so good! Please try this place because it is the best and it will not disappoint!“

“The second my husband and I walked in this past Sunday, we were greeted. Walking in to a welcoming environment is a feeling that makes you feel like family. They had great customer service, were friendly, and the food was amazing. They definitely had the package deal. Anybody can serve food, but being able to serve food, have good customer service, and have the food to taste great is hard to come across. I can see them going far. This restaurant future is very bright.“

“Food is very good, well seasoned, with chunks of ham and pork, sausage, plenty enough food to fill you up. I had the every monday southern meal, red beans and rice, with a smoothered porkchop, and a side of french bread. Taste was good, price was below 15 dollars with tax, and more than enough food on the plate to have it to go! The area is not great, but its close to alot of bussinesses and close to St Charles ave. Over all, i will be back to try other hot food plates they will have later on. Their AC might not work well, but hopefully they ll fix it soon, bc these dog days of summer is pretty brutal.“

“Amazing food and staff! love the atmosphere and laid back vibe. perfect place to stop in for a to go drink or sit and have a full meal! Definitely check it out if you are in NOLA! Pet friendly and kid friendly!“

“Friendly ppl great food I was in New Orleans and they treat u like you are from there just all around good ppl THANKS“

“Good choices for breakfast that are affordable.“

“The food was absolutely amazing! Everything was fresh, flavorful, and cooked to perfection. The portions were generous, and you can really tell they put love into every dish. From the first bite to the last, I was impressed. The seasoning was just right, and nothing felt rushed or underdone. I’ll definitely be coming back and recommending this spot to others. Great food, great experience“

“I loved the view at the hotel not to mention the classiness of the staff and hotel it's self, it was memorable for sure. The attention that put into the decorations made for great pictures as well as the ballrooms we rented out!!! Kick off to our book signing was amazing ?“