The Tastiest Cafes in New Orleans

Cafe Beignet, Decatur Street

★★★★☆ 3.7 (807) • $$

"These have to be the biggest and freshest beignets that I've had. I like these better than Cafe Du Monde. They come in orders of 3 but I shared with a neighbor as I wasn't going to be able to eat all of them.Delicious and priced right."

Breads on Oak Cafe & Bakery

★★★★★ 4.6 (473) • $$

"The muffa-nadda was terrific! Best vegan one I have had so far! Super nice guy at counter since it was our first time, ever got some bread to go! We sat outside since it's been so beautiful lately! Sipped on a chai cold latte and matcha. Cannot wait to go back to try something else!"

Cafe Degas

★★★★☆ 4 (467) • $$$

"Arrived on a Sunday around noon and sat outside in the heat of summer because it was going to be a 40 minute wait for inside. Despite the heat and dripping sweat, I still enjoy the food so much. Hands-down, I will go back for the pate any day anytime. The portion was amazing so amazing. In fact that we had to order more bread like five times. It is enough to feed a family. I am still dreaming of it to this day.Otherwise, all the food was great, but still, the pate was my favorite. Service was friendly I would recommend sitting indoors if you're in the heat of summerIt is close to NOMA, just a few blocks downI would definitely come back!"

Simple Joe Cafe

★★★★★ 4.5 (355) • $$

"Glad we found this place! It's very open and welcoming. You walk up and grab a menu then order at the counter.Plenty of seating area. I had the #6 and my husband had the Salmon Bagel. Service was great, the food was done in a timely manner. I love that you can serve yourself water and coffee. Definitely recommend this place when in Baton Rouge!"

Backatown Coffee Parlour

★★★★☆ 4.4 (328) • $

"We took a stroll here for coffee and ended up ordering the crawfish melt and quiche as well. It was amazing! Highly recommend this place to break away from the canal st and French quarter tourist crowd. The place has plenty of sitting area to hang out."

Cafe Abyssinia

★★★★☆ 4.3 (336) • $$

"Very good Ethiopian food at modest prices. Pleasant covered outdoor patio gets hotvin the sun tho. Inside is cool dark and spare - feels authentic. Both the fish and beef were great. And the injera was tart, soft, and delicious. The server was very friendly and competent. We had a great inexpensive lunch and took home leftovers Which by the way reheat beautifully. What's not to love?"

HiVolt Coffee

★★★★☆ 4.2 (336) • $$

"Good Morning Vietnam breakfast sandwich was insane. Jalepenos, carrots, cucumber, sriracha mayo, egg and sausage, cilantro. Spicy and fresh and savory all at once."

Pagoda Cafe

★★★★☆ 4.2 (226) • $

"Great food! Love the outdoor seating Service was quick Ambiance was quiet and calm"

Cafe Du Monde

★★★★☆ 4.1 (235) • $

"I stopped by on my way home just for a small chat, colossal mugs, a coffee cup and 3 beignets. It was pouring out so this is the best pick me up for me! I've always liked any of the locations because the service is always great. No matter who helps you, you're for sure get some sort of special story.The next day my car was full of powered sugar!!"

Frenchmen All Day

★★★★☆ 4.2 (192) • $$

"The food was perfectly prepared and seasoned. Four of us ordered different items and they were all superb. The group handout was the Shrimp and Grits. It made your eyes roll back and made you moan. The atmosphere cozy and eccentric. It server was attentive but not intrusive. When asked. He made perfect recommendations. Oh yeah, get an Irish coffee."

Breads on Oak Cafe & Bakery

★★★★★ 4.5 (164) • $$

"Wonderful food. Wonderful staff. Visiting from Chicago and found Breads on Oak.Had a breakfast sandwich and a pastry. Both were great."

Cafe Dauphine

★★★★☆ 4.4 (159) • $$

"I had the honor of picking Cafe Dauphine for my Birthday Lunch. It was one of the last black owned restaurants in the city that I had to try. I was truly amazed by this place. The service and the food were exceptional! The location is tucked away in a neighborhood in the Lower Ninth ward, which I find very cool. Peaceful and quiet area. Upon entering Cafe Dauphine, you are greeted with welcoming smiles! The waitress was wonderful, friendly and knowledgeable. She helped everyone in our party make decisions on our meal! Now to the food... Most people at my table started with a crab and crawfish bisque.... Listen.... it was truly a meal within itself, I could have ordered 5. The flavor was phenomenal and it had all the seafood in it! Not just one little thing but enough to make it super filling! I truly enjoyed it. For my lunch, I went with a Fish and Shrimp plate. The seafood was fried to perfection and with just the right spices to give it a kick! Along with it, I had the loaded mash potatoes, which was truly loaded and almost a meal it self! I really enjoyed the food and vibe here. This is a great place for group outings.Wonderful Lunch PlacePlace for seafood lovers*FYI No alcoholStreet parking is available, but you definitely shouldn't have any issues finding parking in the area."

Maple Street Cafe

★★★★☆ 4.1 (156) • $$

"Charming little space with excellent service and food. I ordered fried oysters on a bed of grilled romaine. Could take or leave the romaine but oysters and Caesar dressing delish. Friend had a very nice salmon salad. They bring warm bread to table in a brown paper bag. Iced tea attractively served with lemon and mint sprig and frequently refreshed."

Coffee Rani

★★★★☆ 4.3 (131) • $$

"I've been coming here forever, and every single time, it's been incredible - even if Coffee Rani is packed. My most-recent visit was for lunch today, and despite it being quite busy, my mom, one of her best friends, and I did not have any issues with our order, and service was excellent (per usual). I would advise getting here between 11 and 11:30 to beat the lunch crowd. It can get noisy, but it's not unbearable. (Plus, it's a fun spot to meet friends for lunch.)Some of my favorites (before I had to cut gluten for medical reasons) are: crawfish Monica, chicken quesadillas, or the croissant club. Their soups were also my favorite, especially any of their crawfish or crab bisques. I do appreciate them having gluten-free bread and other options for those who are intolerant/celiac. They also have gluten-free goodies at this location and Mandeville."

Sunrise Cafe

★★★★★ 4.7 (94) • $

"My husband and I met some friends here for breakfast a couple of weeks ago, and we had a really great experience. The restaurant is small, simply decorated and bustling. The entrance is bright and welcoming. The service was fast, accurate, and friendly. I got the corned beef hash with 2 eggs and toast. My husband got the Biscuits and gravy with a pancake. The hash was perfectly crispy and hot, the eggs were fluffy and the toast was toasty. I'm usually not a fan of Biscuits and gravy, but their version of it was good. The gravy was well seasoned and not just plain. Rating from F to A +++ it gets an A+++."

Caffe Caffe - Clearview

★★★★☆ 3.9 (128) • $$

"I just can't find anything wrong with this with this place! Worst I have is that their Club Sandwich isn't actually a true club sandwich, but it's very good. That's it! That's the worst I can say. It's a winner! The food is always freshly prepared and great! And oh the bakery goods!! My, my, my!! Amazing!! The coffee is great and the atmosphere is good. The End! Go check it out! And by all means: Try the Turtles!! But leave a couple for me!!"

Que Rico Cuban Cafe

★★★★★ 4.8 (64) • $$

"My second time visiting. Service was great! The watermelon mojito was excellent! I got the pork and my son got the sea bass. Both so flavorful and excellent! Do yourself a favor and try it!"

Pepperoni Ray's Cafe

★★★★★ 4.5 (70)

"I waited to post this review because I needed to see how the pizza help up during a reheat the next day and boy was I satisfied. I enjoyed the hot sausage pizza (hot sausage, green peppers, red onions) which was highly recommended by a neighbor friend. Now don't be surprised at their pricing. This isn't dominos or pizza corporate chain where you can get a $10 or less pizza. I spent $27 including tip for the large pizza. However it lasted me 3 days (one dinner and two lunches). The service was great. They answered all my questions and made sure I had everything I needed before leaving. The inside is diner styled but there's plenty of booths if you want to eat inside. Next time I will try the wings which also come highly recommended. And I may throw some shredded lettuce, pickles, tomatoes, and a bit of Japanese Mayo atop my pizza and remix it into a hot sausage "poboy" pizza."

531 Liberty Cafe

★★★★★ 4.7 (63) • $$

"If you haven't been here, then you are missing out! If you are on a diet or ready to splurge a little, 531 Liberty has got you covered! Love their Bacon Jam Burger and a side of Brussel sprouts made like the appetizer! They have nice spiked seltzer types of drinks and daily lunch specials. Great service. Very cool seating area. Head over there ASAP!"

Starlite Espresso Cafe

★★★★★ 4.5 (64) • $$

"Still my #1 spot for lunch! Just wish it was closer to BR but worth the 30 minute drive and always a must to stop in when I'm seeing patients in the Gonzales area. I've tried the breakfast items and many of the lunch items and not once have I been disappointed. I told my husband today that we need to franchise a Starlite in BR, but it wouldn't be the same without the owner and chef, Richard! Always 5 stars for the ambiance and service too. Keep up the perfection, Starlite!"

Rachael's Cafe

★★★★☆ 4.4 (62) • $$

"Awesome seafood gumbo! We stopped in on a Thursday afternoon and even though it is super hot outside, I had to order a cup of seafood gumbo now I'm a gumbo snob who doesn't like okra. I wasn't that hungry so I only wanted a cup of. They brought a huge cup! It was dark and full of shrimp with some lumps of crab. Very good! I also ordered the crab cake appetizer. Big portion but a little too much bread in them so why I didn't give 5 stars. Hubby got the catfish and it was excellent."

KK's Cafe & Cakery

★★★★☆ 4.3 (63)

"KK's is located on the Southwest side of Youngsville in the Cypress strip mall. They have indoor and outdoor seating and the food has always been great. Isometric my favorites are the bacon cheeseburger, the biscuit and gravy which is a large fluffy biscuit, chicken fried steak and the pancakes are delish. They have an extensive menu that has full list for breakfast, a lunch menu with a dozen sandwiches, burgers and hot dogs and then an entree list of items like shrimp, chicken, fish, hamburger steak and a whole list of salads. Lastly, don't leave without taking home a dessert. They have around 10 different cheesecakes plus cookies, brownies and other desserts to choose from. The service and food have always been excellent with the only drawback being there is often a wait to be seated. By 9am this place is full and on the weekend you can plan on waiting 30 minutes or more. They do call you when your table is ready, so you can always wait in the car if you have small kids. Enjoy!"

Café NOMA

★★★★☆ 3.9 (76) • $$

"We came to the NOMA to see the prohibition exhibit. We were happily surprised to find a cafe. We were there on a Saturday in December around Noon and it was busy, but there was still plenty of seating. We had just done a Cemetery tour and were looking for somewhere to get off our feet before seeing the exhibit. This was the perfect place to sit awhile and get some nourishment before heading to Cafe Du Monde for some dessert. Prices are reasonable. Especially for a museum cafe. Much cheaper than our museum cafe. They had a special going for $15 you could get a cup of tomato soup and a grilled cheese sandwich. The soup was hot and delicious and perfect for dipping the cold grilled cheese sandwich in it. The sandwich was sub par. It was dry and cold. I wouldn't reccomend it or order it again. I was happy to have a meal. I would come to the cafe again. Next time I'd order the veggie quiche. My husband had the veggie quiche and I tried it and it was delicious. The crust was so light and flackery. He also got the tomato soup. The fries also looked good, but we didn't try them.You don't have to buy a ticket to visit the cafe. It's open to the public and has a separate entrance in addition to the entrance from the museum.I am so thankful for the cafe. The park is huge and I am not aware of another place to eat in the park besides Cafe Du Monde. It's a bit of a hike to one of the restaurants across the street from the park. We entered through the main entrance and there was no restaurants by that entrance. All there is, is a gas station and the Cemetery NOMA Cafe for a win."

Acorn

★★★★☆ 4.3 (62) • $$

"We were in the city park, looking for Mac and Cheese for the kid. Acorn fit the bill. It should be noted that it is in the Children's Museum building but does have an external entrance. The food was good, and the view was excellent. For a children's museum restaurant, the menu has a large selection. This is an order-at-the-counter kind of place. It also looked like there was free parking outside. If you are in the area, it is a great option. We walked over there from the art gallery. So, if your kids don't want pizza at the art gallery, this is a great option and an easy walk."

Cajun Daiquiri's & Cafe

★★★★☆ 4.1 (68) • $$

"This was delicious!!!! The Alligator was some of the best I have had! The "crawfish egg rolls" we surprisingly really good. Started with the Fried Pickles which I was truly not mad at.Our server was really busy but she attentive and took care of us! They had me at $3 beers!!!!!"

Wishing Town Bakery Cafe

★★★★☆ 3.9 (73) • $$

"We came here for dim sum on a Sunday's morning as it was recommended and kids friendly. It was rather quiet so we found parking quickly. Restaurant looked like it was a house which fit into the decor of the neighborhood. Huge patio outside; we sat inside. We got the soup dumpling, friend pork dumpling roll, spicy dumpling soup, jelly and cucumber salad, sticky rice in lotus leaf, rainbow Mille crepes, Japanese cheesecake and a matcha tea mill crepes. Portion was good and expected of what a dim sum would be. Everything was fresh delicious and tasty. Food came out promptly after we ordered. The kids are picky about their sticky rice and ate all of it. It was the one thing I didn't try. The cakes were got were delicious and beautifully presentation. Everything came to less than $90 with tips. I would recommend and will come back if/when in the area."

Athena Cafe

★★★★★ 4.5 (51)

"Very new restaurant in a strip mall on veterans. There is a cool blend of what I would describe as Lebanese and true Greek food (Greek cuisine isn't very prevalent here). The salads are good and the pastatio dish was AWESOME! Like a beef macaroni and cheese with béchamel. Try it! They have a very attractive juicing smoothie bar inside as well. Not my thing, but looked good."

Cafetomas Kenner

★★★★★ 4.9 (42)

"I had the chicken arepas and the beef ones. Both were great but I think I like the chicken better overall. The Elotes Loco was great and my cappuccino is gonna keep me going!"

Perks Coffee Shop & Cafe

★★★★☆ 3.7 (64)

"Cruise into Fall lattes are now available for you to stop by and try one out. Open 7 days a week"

C'est Bon Cafe

★★★★☆ 4 (41)

"Good place to go if you want to get some fairly tasty local food items. Upon last visit food was not very hot. Ordered the softshell crabs and they definitely weren't fresh or had been sitting on the counter for a while. Food was tasty enough, but slightly over, salted to me and others at our table. The service was good, our waitress was fairly attentive. Wouldn't choose to go again, just for me, but will recommend for others looking for local favorites."

Joe's Cafe

★★★★☆ 3.5 (49) • $

"This replaced the Tasty's donuts joint that I grew up with most of my life. Joes is okay, but doesn't compare to them honestly. I do like some of the stuff here. The glazed beignets are probably my favorite thing here. I find that they always have a line and hardly have anything prepared when I come here so I have to park my car and wait, which I HATE. I am not a fan of the traditional donuts here, as I grew up with Tastys and like them a bit more. The icing on the donuts here is a bit on the heavy end. Not a horrible place and will probably come back for more glazed Beignets."

la Madeleine

★★★☆☆ 2.8 (62) • $$

"The food is so very freshly made and delicious. The service is amazing. The atmosphere is great and inviting."

Root2Rise

★★★★★ 4.9 (16) • $$

"This yoga/juice cafe is such a great little spot and has been a wonderful addition to Houma's quaint scene. The calm, clean ambiance and friendly staff provide a perfect place to escape from a busy work day. I haven't attended any of the yoga classes yet, but I love to visit for lunch. The juices are made of freshly squeezed fruits and veggies. Every flavor is a gem. The sandwiches, wraps, and salads are fresh, crisp, and overall lovely. R2R even offers produce boxes that are curated using items from the Hollygrove Market in New Orleans. And the yoga space is available for rent with (I believe) some catering options!I really have nothing but good vibes for Root2Rise!"

Bay Cafe

★★★★☆ 3.6 (28) • $

"Ah, The Bay. My roommates and I have an unhealthy obsession with this hole in the wall bar. We are here almost weekly. Steak night M/W/F. This means a 16oz steak with a side for $12.99. Beer is a little overpriced and I've never ordered a mix drink but I'm sure the are jacked a bit too. Daiquiris are great though! Bartenders are somewhat friendly but they are overworked and under staffed most the time. Sometimes grown men fight in the bar, but honestly I find it super entertaining to watch someone over the age of 30 not know how to act in public."

Griffin Cafe

★★★★☆ 4.4 (15) • $

"Griffin Cafe is a perfect example of an amazing hole in the wall place! I had never had it before until a friend of mine brought me a plate lunch from here and after that I was hooked. They even catered my families Thanksgiving last year! The spaghetti is my go to!! It is out of this world. The Mac & cheese and corn bread are really good too. It's also pretty inexpensive in my opinion! Highly recommend if you're looking for a great home cooked feel to your lunch plate!"