New Orleans, Louisiana’s Best Soul Food Spots Everyone Is Talking About
You’ve planned your trip, booked your stay, and you’re ready to explore every corner of New Orleans. But let’s be honest, a huge part of the NOLA experience is the food – and when it comes to authentic, comforting, and deeply satisfying meals, soul food reigns supreme.
With so many incredible eateries, how do you know where to find those legendary fried chicken recipes, melt-in-your-mouth collard greens, or the mac and cheese that tastes like home?
Don’t worry, we’ve done the delicious legwork for you. Get ready to discover the iconic and beloved soul food establishments that are setting the standard in the Big Easy.
1. Dooky Chase’s Restaurant
Legendary doesn’t begin to describe this Treme institution that’s been serving New Orleans since 1941. The late Chef Leah Chase, known as the Queen of Creole Cuisine, transformed this place into a civil rights movement meeting spot where leaders planned over gumbo and fried chicken.
The walls showcase African American art while plates deliver history with every bite of perfectly seasoned red beans and rice. Presidents and celebrities have made pilgrimages here for the crispy fried chicken and hearty gumbo z’herbes.
What makes Dooky Chase’s special isn’t just the food. It’s the feeling that you’re dining in a living museum where recipes have remained unchanged for generations.
2. Willie Mae’s Scotch House
Hidden in the Treme neighborhood, Willie Mae’s boasts what many consider America’s best fried chicken-crispy, crackling skin giving way to impossibly juicy meat. The modest exterior belies the culinary treasure within, where locals and tourists alike form lines daily.
Founded in 1957 by Willie Mae Seaton, this James Beard Award winner survived Hurricane Katrina thanks to devoted chefs who helped rebuild it. The recipe remains a closely guarded secret, though rumors of a wet batter dip before frying persist.
Beyond the famous chicken, don’t overlook the butter beans, cornbread, and candied yams that round out a perfect soul food experience.
3. Li’l Dizzy’s Cafe
Family-owned Li’l Dizzy’s captures the essence of Creole soul in the Treme district. When I first visited, owner Wayne Baquet Sr. personally welcomed me, explaining how his father started the family restaurant tradition back in the 1940s.
Their buffet-style weekend brunch features crispy fried chicken, buttery grits, and gumbo that locals swear cures everything from heartbreak to hangovers. The walls display photos chronicling the Baquet family’s restaurant legacy across generations.
What keeps regulars coming back isn’t just the food. It’s the warm atmosphere where servers know your name and your order after just a couple of visits.
4. Neyow’s Creole Cafe
Located in Mid-City, Neyow’s serves soul food with a distinctive Creole twist. Their chargrilled oysters-buttery, garlicky, and kissed by flame-have created a following that keeps the restaurant packed most evenings.
The red beans and rice, traditionally a Monday special throughout New Orleans, appears daily here due to overwhelming demand. Generous portions arrive on plates heaped with sides like perfectly seasoned collard greens and mac and cheese that rivals any grandma’s recipe.
Their signature Bow Wow punch, a secret rum concoction served in a bowl the size of your head, has become as famous as the food itself.
5. Mother’s Restaurant
Since 1938, Mother’s has been serving what they proudly call the “World’s Best Baked Ham.” Located downtown on Poydras Street, this institution draws lines that often stretch around the block.
The Ferdi Special po’boy combines baked ham, roast beef, debris (the bits that fall into the gravy while carving), and gravy in a sandwich that requires both hands and multiple napkins. Their jambalaya delivers perfectly seasoned rice studded with chicken, sausage, and shrimp.
While tourists flock here, locals still claim it as their own, especially for breakfast when their grits and biscuits provide the perfect foundation for a day in the Big Easy.
6. Heard Dat Kitchen
Relatively new to the scene but already commanding respect, Heard Dat Kitchen in Central City serves soul food with creative twists that honor tradition while pushing boundaries. Their “Superdome” features a base of seasoned fries topped with crawfish étouffée, shrimp, and cheese-comfort food elevated to art form.
Chef Jeffrey Heard Sr. creates dishes that reflect his New Orleans upbringing while incorporating influences from across the South. The restaurant’s modest surroundings belie the sophistication of flavors coming from the kitchen.
Despite gaining national attention, prices remain reasonable, making this a spot where both locals and tourists can enjoy authentic New Orleans cooking without breaking the bank.
7. Sassafras Creole Kitchen
Tucked away in a renovated shotgun house in the Seventh Ward, Sassafras combines traditional recipes with modern presentation. Their smothered okra stew with gulf shrimp brings together indigenous ingredients with African cooking techniques that form the backbone of Creole cuisine.
The restaurant’s intimate setting features only twelve tables, making reservations essential, especially for their Friday seafood feast featuring whatever the local fishermen caught that morning. Drinks incorporate house-infused syrups made from seasonal fruits and herbs grown in their backyard garden.
Owner Lola Jenkins opened Sassafras after decades of cooking for her church community, where her food became so popular she finally gave in to requests to share it more widely.
8. Coop’s Place
While technically more Cajun than pure soul food, Coop’s Place in the French Quarter deserves mention for their rabbit jambalaya that blends soul food influences with Cajun traditions. This dive bar atmosphere belies serious culinary credentials.
The cramped quarters and occasionally gruff service are part of the charm at this locals’ hangout that’s managed to remain authentic despite its location in the tourist-heavy French Quarter. Their seafood gumbo delivers the perfect balance of spice and depth without overwhelming the delicate seafood flavors.
I once watched a visiting chef from New York taste their fried chicken and immediately ask for the recipe. Only to be met with knowing laughter from the bartender.
9. Gabrielle Restaurant
After a 13-year hiatus following Hurricane Katrina, Gabrielle reopened in 2017 to the joy of loyal patrons who had been craving Chef Greg Sonnier’s slow-roasted duck with orange-sherry sauce. This Mid-City gem blends soul food fundamentals with fine dining execution.
The peppery pork shoulder served over creamy grits exemplifies how soul food traditions can evolve while maintaining their essence. Vegetables come from local farms, many within an hour’s drive of the city.
Unlike many soul food spots that focus on lunch, Gabrielle shines brightest at dinner, when the dining room fills with multigenerational families celebrating special occasions over plates of food that honor New Orleans’ diverse culinary heritage.
10. Cafe Reconcile
More than just a restaurant, Cafe Reconcile operates as a nonprofit that trains at-risk youth for careers in the hospitality industry. The food-classic soul dishes like smothered chicken, candied yams, and macaroni and cheese-rivals any in the city.
Located in Central City, the bright, airy space fills daily with a diverse crowd of business people, tourists, and locals who come as much for the mission as for the consistently excellent food. Daily specials follow the traditional New Orleans schedule-red beans on Monday, fried chicken on Wednesday.
Eating here feels good in multiple ways. The food satisfies your hunger while your patronage helps create opportunities for young people working to build better futures.