7 Great Places to Eat in New Orleans

New Orleans is well known for their jazz music and cajun food. I love both, but it was always tough picking a place to eat in New Orleans because I wanted to make sure I picked a spot that was highly recommended.

Following a couple of business trips to New Orleans over the past few years, I’ve put together my list of fabulous places to eat. In my compiled list below, I share my favorite appetizer, entree or dessert that would bring me back time and again.

If you’ve got a favorite spot in New Orleans for some great grub, share that in the comments below.

My Favorite: Red Fish Grill on Bourbon Street

I’ve enjoyed dinner at Red Fish Grill every time I’ve been in New Orleans. It’s right on Bourbon Street, just off of Canal Street. So it’s right where the night life is in the Big Easy.

My favorite dish is the Buffalo Oysters. It’s like a spicy buffalo wing, except it’s oysters. Boy are they delicious. As for entrees, I really enjoyed some red fish – after all, it’s the namesake of their restaurant.

If anyone asks me for a recommendation of food in New Orleans, Red Fish Grill is my first recommendation. Give it a try.

ADDRESS: 115 Bourbon St, New Orleans, LA 70130
HOURS: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
COST: $$
YELP SCORE: 4 Stars (1790+ reviews)

Mulate’s: The Original Cajun Restaurant

Have you ever tried eating alligator? The texture is like a greasy pork – and the taste is like… well, chicken. 😉

Work conferences are what bring me to New Orleans. That means I spend a lot of time at the conference center. But it’s nice to break away for lunch to enjoy some classic Cajun food. Mulate’s offers some great food – but with the number of people that stop by for lunch from the conference center, there can be a long wait. But the food is delicious.

ADDRESS: 201 Julia St, New Orleans, LA 70130
HOURS: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
COST: $$
YELP SCORE: 3 Stars (1130+ reviews)

Chartres House in the French Quarter

The oyster appetizers and entree were so good. But the piece of chocolate satin pie was so amazing, I would visit Chartres House again just for a slice of pie. It was THAT good!

Everyone in our group loved their meal. We didn’t have a reservation, but we were able to get a table with only a couple-minute wait. It’s in the French Quarter, meaning it’s a couple blocks south of Jackson Square and southeast of Bourbon Street.

ADDRESS: 540 Chartres St., New Orleans, LA 70130
HOURS: Sun-Thu 11 a.m. to midnight; Fri-Sat 11 a.m. to 1 a.m.
COST: $$
YELP SCORE: 3.5 Stars (615+ reviews)

Mother’s: Grab a Po’ Boys

Mother’s Restaurant has a full menu, offering breakfast, lunch and dinner. You’ll also find classic Cajun and Creole dishes, like:

• Red Beans and Rice
• Jambalaya
• Po’ Boys
• Seafood Gumbo
• Fried Chicken
• Break Pudding

Mother’s is a cafeteria-style restaurant, so you order your food in line and then pay at the end. But it’s delicious food, and a popular place to enjoy some classic New Orleans foods.

ADDRESS: 401 Poydras St., New Orleans, LA 70130
HOURS: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
COST: $$
YELP SCORE: 3.5 Stars (4671+ reviews)

Court of the Two Sisters

We had a large team dinner at Court of the Two Sisters. It’s definitely a more formal restaurant than many of the other places we ate at during our business trip. The waiters were nice and the food was good, too.

At the end, there were a few of us celebrating birthdays. So our group manager ordered some Bananas Foster for us. The waiter brought everything out and cooked them right in front of us.

The large flame was part of the show – and the dessert was pretty delicious, too. So if you’re looking for something more formal, consider dining at the Court of the Two Sisters.

ADDRESS: 613 Royal St., New Orleans, LA 70130
HOURS: Mon-Sun, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
COST: $$$
YELP SCORE: 3.5 Stars (1517+ reviews)

Cochon Butcher: Quick Bite for the Conference Goer

The conference center in New Orleans has a food court. But if you want something way more delicious than a food court, walk a few blocks to Cochon Butcher to grab a sandwich.

We ordered some sandwiches and headed back to the conference center to enjoy. Noting the 4.5 stars from Yelp! ratings, you can likely expect a line out the door to order the food. Give it time and enjoy a very delicious sandwich.

If you want to dine at the restaurant, you can grab a table and enjoy it there.

ADDRESS: 930 Tchoupitoulas St., New Orleans, LA 70130
HOURS: Mon-Thu, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Fri-Sat, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Sun 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
COST: $$
YELP SCORE: 4.5 stars (3480+ reviews)

Cafe Du Monde: Beignets All Day, Every Day

A trip to New Orleans isn’t complete unless you enjoy some beignets covered in powdered sugar at Cafe du Monde. The cafe is open 24 hours a day, so even if you’ve had a later dinner, go on a Haunted History Tour and then stop by Cafe du Monde before heading back to your hotel.

NOTE: Cafe du Monde doesn’t accept check or card – Cash only! That’s created a few challenges for our group, but luckily there were enough people with cash to cover the group’s order of beignets, hot chocolates or coffees. If each person has $5, that would be enough cash for a nice treat.

ADDRESS: 800 Decatur St., New Orleans, LA 70116
HOURS: Open 24 hours a day, every day
COST: $
YELP SCORE: 4 stars (15,300+ reviews)

A Few Places to Explore in New Orleans

Finding great food in New Orleans is a welcome treat, but there are lots of other things to explore in the Big Easy besides food. Here are some of my favorite places you should check out:

• National World War II Museum
• Fritzel’s European Jazz Club (Best jazz club around)
• Haunted History Tour of New Orleans
• Sculpture Garden at New Orleans Museum of Art
• New Orleans Botanical Garden
• New Orleans Jazz Museum

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