The 10 best meals we ate in New Orleans this year
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The restaurant scene in New Orleans continues to impress, and when part of your job is giving people suggestions about where to eat, it's safe to say life is going pretty darn great.
Why it matters: Narrowing down a list of favorite meals gets harder every year.
The intrigue: We've covered restaurants opening and closing in the metro all year, which can make it hard to return to the places we love as often as we'd like.
- But there are some meals we're still dreaming about.
How it works: There's a lot that can make a meal memorable, from the food to the people you share it with and how the experience made you feel.
In no particular order, these are our 10 favorite meals we had in New Orleans restaurants in 2024.
GW Fins
Why Chelsea loved it: An overdue date night here with my husband was so outstanding that the restaurant instantly rocketed to the top of our list of favorite restaurants in the city. The service was friendly and attentive, and each dish was interesting and well-executed. And who can hate the constant rotation of biscuits delivered to your plate from a hot pan? Not us.
What we ordered: The restaurant's signature "scalibut," a swordfish chop and the salty malty ice cream pie.
- GW Fins is on our list of the best French Quarter restaurants.
Lola's
Why Carlie loved it: This paella restaurant in Mid-City hit the spot on a cold night when I wanted a big bowl of carbs and several soup options. I went with a friend, and we were obsessed with eavesdropping on a couple having what seemed like an awkward first date at the table next to us.
What we ordered: Spanish seafood paella, garlic soup and house-made sangria.
Acamaya
Why Chelsea loved it: Chef Ana Castro is a treasure, and the way she talks about her food is bound to get you pumped, too. It's just a bonus that her kitchen is producing some exciting dishes that are introducing New Orleanians to another side of Mexican cooking.
What we ordered: The chochoyotes, crab claws and the arroz negro with huitlacoche.
- More on Castro's vision for the restaurant.
Yummy House
Why Carlie loved it: This relaxed dim sum restaurant in a Kenner strip mall excels at stacking your table with food and leaving you to enjoy a chill meal. My teenage niece and nephew enjoyed ordering plate after plate of dumplings.
What we ordered: Dumplings, radish cakes and shrimp stuffed in eggplant, with several pots of hot tea.
Nobu
Why Chelsea loved it: Sure, this was my most outrageous meal of the year, but it was also just a lot of fun to go in, eyes wide open, and enjoy the ride. Everyone has that friend who they bring along when they want a little encouragement to make bad decisions, and for me, that person is my brother. We went together and had one of the best experiences.
What we ordered: Softshell crawfish on a watermelon salad and Nobu classics like yellowtail jalapeño and black cod with miso.
- What it's like to eat at New Orleans' most expensive restaurant.
TukTuk Thai Street Food
Why Carlie loved it: This casual spot in Metairie is a regular on my family's takeout rotation, mainly because I'm addicted to their tom kha soup with its coconut broth.
What we ordered: Tom kha, pad Thai, pineapple fried rice and mango sticky rice.
St. Pizza
Why Chelsea loved it: It's still fairly new, but I've already lost count of how often I've popped over to the window at this Magazine Street pizzeria to grab a slice. I think that means I'm doing it right.
What we ordered: The tomato pie — a bright red slice good enough to convince you that cheese can be a distraction.
Tatlo
Why Carlie loved it: Chef Cristina Quackenbush won me over years ago with her now-closed Milkfish restaurant. Her new Filipino witch bar in the French Quarter features her feel-good food, and I love that she interacts with diners to make it more of an experience.
What we ordered: I was hosted for a special meal during Tales of the Cocktail and enjoyed the potato noodles and Filipino tuna crudo.
Lagniappe Bakehouse
Why Chelsea loved it: I'm a fan of pastry chef Kaitlin Guerin, and I'm an even bigger fan of the space she's built in Central City. It's cozy and homey and turns out perfect pastries. I'm just hoping they expand their hours in 2025.
What we ordered: A grains of paradise Swedish bun. The king cake is a must-get, too.
Blue Crab
Why Carlie loved it: You'll find me upstairs for oyster happy hour with a martini and a view of the marina. The lakefront restaurant has a great kid's menu too.
What we ordered: Raw oysters, chargrilled oysters, calamari, plus chicken tenders for the kiddo.