Zion, welcome to New Orleans!
The next year is going to be crazy, and you’re going to experience all kinds of things you’ve never seen before. Beignets (don’t wear black to Cafe Du Monde), king cake (no, it’s not a cinnamon roll), and Mardi Gras (it’s not just one day — it’s like two weeks) are all going to be amazing experiences, and the people here are so ready to introduce you to them.
We heard during your predraft visit to New Orleans, you ordered fried shrimp and mashed potatoes, which honestly isn’t a bad choice. But during your time here, you’re going to be eating a lot of good food.
Don’t know who to ask where to get the best gumbo? We’ve got you covered. Fried seafood plates? Let’s dance.
Here are some suggestions from a few humble locals who can’t wait to see what you’re going to do in our beloved city.
All-around New Orleans cuisine
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Neyow’s Creole Cafe – This Mid-City staple has some of the best red beans and fried chicken, and their food is consistently good. If you go here, be prepared for a wait, but it’s definitely worth it.
Morrow’s – This spot is where you can always catch some of the who’s who in the city. It’s a popular date night spot where everyone is dressed to impress. Good places to start on the menu are the BBQ shrimp, and the Pasta Lenora, named after owner Larry Morrow’s mother.
Gumbo
Munch Factory – Following a visit by Beyoncé and Jay-Z, Chef Jordan Ruiz switched his gumbo from seafood, pork, beef and chicken to just seafood. Somehow, it’s even better than before, which is truly a feat because it was pretty perfect the first time around. There’s still a rich, dark roux and all that holiday gumbo flavor, it’s just all Louisiana surf without the turf.
Fried Chicken
Dooky Chase – It’s chicken fit for a president, literally. Several presidents have passed through the doors of this Treme institution and civil rights cornerstone since it opened in 1941, and for good reason. According to Genius Kitchen, one of chef Leah Chase’s secrets was to use Pet brand evaporated milk and letting it sit for a few minutes before putting it into the fryer.
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Willie Mae’s Scotch House – If you like it spicy, this is for you. Crispy, spicy batter surrounds juicy chicken at this Treme spot, which has been around since 1957.
Seafood
Deanie’s – Do not, we repeat, DO NOT, go to the location in the French Quarter. Not because the food isn’t good, but because the one a little further out, in Bucktown, is just a better overall experience. Parking, a seafood market if you want to bring something home, you get the gist. The Bucktown location specializes in crabmeat au gratin, BBQ shrimp and stuffed flounder.
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Drago’s – One word: Oysters. Whether you like them raw, chargrilled or fried, Drago’s has you covered.
New Orleans Food & Spirits – This restaurant started 21 years ago, with their Harvey location. They have a standout cajun pizza bar, with picks like shrimp and andouille pizza, crawfish voodoo pizza, cajun alligator pizza or oyster pizza.
Po-Boys
Parkway Poor Boys – These po-boys are worth standing in line for. Since 1911, they’ve been serving up awesome sandwiches, and have ample seating on the patio if it’s too full or busy inside. The shrimp po-boy always hits.
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Domilise’s Po-Boys and Bar – This beloved neighborhood po-boy spot is a hole in the wall, but the food is worth it. The roast beef po-boy has gravy dripping from the sandwich onto the plate. Be prepared.
Late Night
Hoshun – On St. Charles Avenue, this sushi spot it usually open until 2 a.m. on weekend. If you’re not into sushi, the mongolian beef or teriyaki chicken is good too.
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Dat Dog on Frenchmen Street – This spot is open till 3 a.m., and unique choices include crawfish sausage, alligator sausage and duck sausage.
Yakamein
Mrs. Linda’s Yakamein – look, there really only needs to be one listing here for Yakamein. Wake up sick? Under the weather? Find Mrs. Linda. The broth is a perfect mix of spices and the noodles, green onions and a hard-boiled egg tie it all together. She doesn’t have a brick and mortar store, so you’ll have to keep with with her on social media to see where she is.
