10 New Orleans meals we can't stop thinking about
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We had standout meals at Commander's Palace, Emeril's and Dong Phuong. Photos: Carlie Kollath Wells and Chelsea Brasted
New Orleans restaurants fed us well this year — with meals that surprised us, comforted us and reminded us why this city remains our favorite place to eat.
Why it matters: Dining here is about joy and connection, whether you're splurging or keeping it simple.
The big picture: There's a lot that can make a meal memorable, from the food to the people you share it with to the experience.
- These are our 10 favorite meals — in no particular order — that we ate in New Orleans metro in 2025.
Of note: Menus change and some of our favorite dishes may no longer be available. We encourage you to go to these places regardless.
Emeril's
Emeril's was our priciest meal, with lunch coming in around $400 for two people — and that was before it earned two Michelin stars.
- But it was an experience. The food was beautiful and the staff made us feel like VIPs. Case in point: a private tour of the kitchen.
Carlie's favorite: The cornbread with a mound of butter.
Chelsea's favorite: The banana cream pie, which I can't wait to try reimagined as a king cake in January.
Between the lines: We're taking some artistic liberty because we ate at Emeril's late last year after we'd already written about our favorite meals of 2024.
- But we're still thinking about this one, so we're including it now.
- More photos from our meal
Dong Phuong
Dong Phuong represents a beautiful success story that began when the city became a safe haven for Vietnamese immigrants during and after the Vietnam War.
- It's known for king cakes, but our lunch here reminded us that this James Beard Award winner is a worthwhile stop any time of year.
Zoom out: Here's hoping the Dong Phuong king cake flights will be back at Urban South next year.
Chelsea's favorite: Garlickly grilled tofu on a generous pile of vermicelli noodles.
Carlie's favorite: Spring rolls!
Ideal Market
Why Carlie loved it: I get the baleada (a Honduran breakfast burrito) a few times a month at the Clearview location.
- I love the hearty $5 meal and the opportunity to practice my Spanish.
- Ideal also has the viral mango ice cream.
Saint Claire
Why Chelsea loved it: When chef Melissa Martin told me about her vision for this gorgeous, unexpected West Bank restaurant that feels more like a retreat, she says it feels "like somewhere I've never been but have always been."
- She and business partner Cassi Dymond totally nailed it.
Chelsea's favorite: The beets, which came with a pile of fresh dill and trout roe.
Popeyes
Why Carlie loved it: The pickle menu was my weirdest meal of the year and also one of the most fun.
- My friend and I ordered one of everything and had a very serious tasting in the dining room of the Metairie location. It's not a meal I would eat often, but it sure was fun. Photos
Runners-up for wild food experiences: Judging Hogs for the Cause and the New Orleans Food & Wine Experience.
Turkey and the Wolf
Why Chelsea loved it: This Irish Channel sandwich shop is in the lucky but challenging space of being so well-known and well-loved that there are some menu items they kind of always have to have.
- Hello, collard greens sandwich!
- But that's also what makes the specials so delightfully special.
What we ordered: A Creole tomato sandwich at their season peak. Heaven.
Commander's Palace
Why Carlie loved it: Commander's is one of my favorite fancy restaurants in town because they make every meal feel like a celebration.
- They hosted me for a Crystal Hot Sauce collab during Tales of the Cocktail, and I'm still thinking about the food, drinks and festivities.
- See the Crystal Hot Sauce martini
Willie Mae's NOLA
Why Chelsea loved it: Like many, I was gutted to hear about the fire at the Seaton family's historic Tremé restaurant, but the bright, modern restaurant they've added to the CBD is an excellent place to wait for its revival.
What we ordered: Fried chicken, of course, and it's as perfect as ever.
Budsi's Thai
Why Chelsea loved it: I spent a decent part of the summer making excuses to get to Budsi's.
- Truly, though, no one needs an excuse to visit.
What we ordered: Drunken noodles (or pad kee mao), a Thai street food dish aimed at staving off hangovers but feels like a comfort no matter what ails you.
Dooky Chase's
Why Carlie loved it: Dooky Chase's is an icon for a reason — excellent food and even better service.
- It also won an America's Classic award from the James Beard Foundation this year.
- Disney invited me to an Essence brunch here that turned into a dance party. Uh-maz-ing.