New Orleans is trademarked as being one of the food capitals of America. From po-boys to gumbo or fried chicken, food is undoubtedly central to the city’s heart and soul. Studying at Loyola on an exchange year from the UK, I came with an eagerness to try and experience a whole range of food that the city offers, understanding the true roots of Creole and Cajun food and flavors dating back a few hundred years. 

Here is an unofficial, opinionated list of some seriously good spots to hit up in The Big Easy.

Camellia Grill 

This old-style Southern diner just on the hook of South Carrollton Ave is a pillar of NOLA’s culinary soul. Authenticity is at the center of this establishment, Camellia Grill is over 75 years old and has kept true to its roots with the same style since its opening.

Diners old and young sit next to one another in a ‘W shaped’ stool-seating arrangement around the bar and kitchen all strung into one. Orders are taken down on a sheet you hold onto as your receipt to pay at the end and your order is yelled down the line by bow-tied servers to the chefs by the griddles making anything from burgers with grits to omelettes and hashes or pancakes. I’m a fan of The Doc Special, a double cheeseburger in a wholemeal bread sandwich served with fries and red beans.

626 S Carrollton Ave

Guys Po-Boy’s

Guy’s is your local po-boy spot on Magazine St to grab a quick, always reliable po-boy. A personal favorite is the gravy-loaded roast beef po-boy, and the shrimp po-boy is a classic staple too.

5259 Magazine St

Hot Stuff 

This Southern-style meat and three spot, located on the corner of Maple and Cherokee, recently opened its doors Uptown and has instantly become a local lunchtime stop of mine. The menu changes daily, with a lunchtime cafeteria style; you walk in, grab a tray, and get served a meat or other main, a roll, and as many sides as you want. It stays true to Southern dishes such as fried chicken, smoked pork ribs, stewed tomatoes and okra, collard greens, and cornbread.

7507 Maple St

Creole Creamery

The Creole Creamery is an ice cream spot that’s perfect for any sweet tooth. With a huge variety of flavors to pick from, it’s a pretty perfect spot to hit up with friends for some of the neighborhood’s best ice cream. You’ve got to try a scoop of the ‘Lavender Honey’ or the Saints-inspired ‘Black and Gold Crunch’.

4924 Prytania St 

Dat Dog (Freret St) 

As far as dogs go, Dat Dog hits it pretty clean on the head for a classic or eccentric hot dog. The restaurant also hosts trivia nights in their eclectic multicolored painted patio weekly on Tuesdays.

5030 Freret St

Pizza Delicious

Awarded a spot at 38 in the US 50 top pizza joints of 2024, best believe Pizza Delicious lives up to its name. Pizza Delicious (located in the Bywater) is serving New York-style pizza by the slice in a whole handful of topping choices and rotating specials. Test a slice of their $3 cheese pizza then go more adventurous with one of the special slices on offer.

617 Piety St

Honourable mentions for non-food spots – 

NOLA Mix Records

Local record store on Magazine, small but has a huge selection of records old and new.

1522 Magazine St

Low Timers 

Located over in the Bywater Neighbourhood past the French Quarter, hit up Low Timers for vintage Americana, with a specially curated collection of one-of-one 70s era pieces. 

3207 Burgundy St