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Touchdown Tastes: A Black-Owned Food Guide To New Orleans

Want to taste the true soul of New Orleans? The city's Black-owned restaurants tell a story that spans generations. Each kitchen adds its own chapter to a rich culinary legacy.

By Eat Okra Inc

Updated On Jan 23, 2025

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  • Nice Guys Nola

    You need to experience these chargrilled oysters. They set the tone for everything that follows! The Louisiana Seafood Potato will have you planning the next visit before you finish the first bite. Sunday brunch is a favorite here, even with the DJ fee—the vibe is worth every penny. Just remember to make reservations and bring cash for that 20% service charge if you're with six people or more.

  • Vaucresson’s Creole Cafe & Deli

    The Vaucresson family has been New Orleans' sausage royalty since 1899, and their new café proves why. Their hot Creole sausage po'boy is a Jazz Fest legend, but don't sleep on the crawfish sausage that blends Gulf seafood with Creole spice. The sample platter lets you try their full range—from traditional hot Chaurice to jerk chicken sausage that'll make you rethink what sausage can be. Beyond the legendary sausages, Chef Julie's expanded menu now includes soul-warming corn, crab and crawfish bisque that shows why this spot is more than just a deli.

  • We Dat's Chicken & Shrimp (Pecanland Mall)

    Listen, there's a reason Curren$y shouts this spot out! That Wuzzam sauce and Sweet Heat on the wings is pure magic—crispy, saucy, perfect. The loaded fries with ranch, jalapeños, and bacon will disappear so fast. Don’t forget to grab the pralines for later. Perfect after Saints games, just order online to skip the wait.

  • Peewee's Crabcakes

    These might be the best crab cakes in New Orleans, no cap! All lump meat, perfectly crispy edges—they're doing it right in Old Gentilly. That fried lobster with seafood rice will have you speechless. The signature cakes come loaded with lump meat and crispy edges that'll make you forget other versions exist. When Leroy's working the floor, it feels like Sunday dinner at your favorite auntie's house. Make sure to try those seafood-stuffed potatoes, too.

  • Mr. Shrimp's Kitchen

    The Shrimp Rich Boy puts a creative spin on the classic po'boy. Larry Thompson Jr. took his fine dining experience and made something special at the Riverwalk Outlets. The seafood boils hit different here—pure New Orleans soul. The shrimp Alfredo with fried catfish combo? Heaven on a plate! Everything’s made to order, and trust me, you can taste the love in dishes like the jambalaya pasta.

  • Boswell’s Jamaican Grill

    This Mid-City spot brings pure Jamaica to New Orleans with dishes that'll transport you straight to the islands. The oxtail with broad beans fall right off the bone. The curry goat sells out fast, so get there early! And don’t skip the callaloo—it’s the kind of side dish that shows why Jamaican greens hit different. There are also plenty of vegetarian options; The Ital plate loads up callaloo, rice and peas, and steamed veggies with so much flavor that you won’t miss the meat. Grab a few beef patties for later—at $2.25 each, they're a great cheap-eat option.

  • Willie Mae's Scotch House

    The legacy of "America's Best Fried Chicken" lives on at Willie Mae's new Baronne Street location while their St. Ann spot rebuilds. That wet-battered chicken still comes with soul-warming sides like stewed okra and tomatoes that'll make you close your eyes and smile. Kerry Seaton Stewart keeps her great-grandmother's spirit alive while adding her own touches, with dishes like fish étouffée and red snapper with orzo jambalaya. But let's be real, you're probably here for that legendary chicken that put them on every food lover's map.

  • Dee's Xquisite Seafood

    Y'all, this chargrilled Dungeness crab might just change your life! And the Xquisite Sauce is everything, not to mention the WHODAT platter with the garlic butter sauce you won’t be able to stop thinking about. Make sure to get those chargrilled oysters too, and try the green rum punch—it hits different here. Just make sure you call ahead for reservations, especially during events.

  • Monday Restaurant + Bar

    Listen, those BBQ blue crab claws aren't just TikTok famous for show—they're the real deal! The whole snapper with that citrus sauce even makes the truffle fries taste better. Start with the boudin egg rolls and chicken cracklins, then hit happy hour on Monday when everything's half-off. And that bananas foster bread pudding? Worth every calorie and then some.

  • Sun Chong

    Larry Morrow really did something special here. The gumbo dumplings might have you questioning everything you thought you knew about “fusion” food. The crawfish fried rice and lobster kimchi pasta just make sense, and don't get us started on those Brussels sprouts—they’ll convert the sprouts skeptics! And the "I Love You" cocktail lives up to its name.

  • Morrow's

    In the Marigny, Chef Lenora Chong has created something entirely new for New Orleans. Her gumbo ramen brings together two comfort food traditions in the most delicious way possible, while the Korean BBQ shrimp shows off a talent for combining Korean and Creole flavors seamlessly. The 140-seat space fills up fast during happy hour. Grab a seat at the bar and order whatever seasonal cocktail they're featuring that day.

  • Morrow Steak

    This spot is doing steakhouse different! The filets are perfect, but it’s touches like the Fat Boy sushi roll and seafood mac and cheese that set it apart, proving this isn't your typical steakhouse. Save room for the Ube cheesecake and praline beignets. And remember to dress up and book ahead.

  • Up & Adam Eatz

    This place is what happens when coffee lovers dream big! The Tchoupitoulas omelet with crab meat, shrimp, and crawfish cream sauce sets the bar really high for breakfast spots. The catfish and grits? Pure New Orleans magic. Start with the firecracker shrimp, and definitely try one of their coffee cocktails. Get there early for those buttermilk biscuits with honey butter—trust us on this one.