Cheap Places to Eat in Jean Lafitte

"Delicately prepared sashimi does not usually come to mind when discussing New Orleans cuisine, but this tiny Uptown restaurant has created buzz and received accolades since its 2018 opening. Chef Hao Gong worked for years at the popular Sake Cafe, and he’s translated his skills into an innovative pan-Asian menu that displays Japanese and Chinese influences. Raw dishes—salmon with Asian pear, soy and basil seeds; tuna with dragon fruit and spicy soy—are super fresh and innovative, while hot dishes—tofu with shiitakes, wood ear mushrooms and lily flower; Gong’s mother’s pork and ginger dumplings—are creative and satisfying."

"A former donut shop, LUVI is a small, lovely restaurant with bespoke woodwork and pops of bold colors and patterns. The pan-Asian menu, not common in NOLA, includes Japanese dishes, plus some favorites from the chef's hometown of Shanghai. Try the Lion’s Head, a savory crab-and-pork meatball in bone broth; the Mala Holla, spicy slices of beef; and Chef Hao’s Mama’s Dumplings (his actual Mama’s recipe)."

"Nestled along Tchoupitoulas Street in Uptown New Orleans is Luvi - a light and refreshing Japanese + Chinese fusion restaurant. Its menu is packed with a handcrafted selection of raw bites, Shanghai comfort foods and Asian-inspired cocktails. With housemade sauces, fresh ingredients and carefully prepared creations, Luvi pushes boundaries and sets new standards for fusion cuisine."

"This upscale cocktail bar is housed in a former fire station that dates back to 1903. The long, narrow room has striking arched windows at one end, casting light onto the bar, which frames a truly awe-inspiring wall of spirits and liqueurs. Most people come here for the ever-evolving menu of house cocktails."

"Known for their craft cocktails and upscale scene, Cure is a popular Freret Street spot. The little courtyard outside has guests surrounded by lush greenery and candlelight. On a nice night, ending with a nightcap sazerac here will have you wanting to stick around New Orleans foreva-eva."

"BywaterThis NYC-style pizzeria in the Bywater offers vegan cheese for all its pizzas, and always has margherita pies and at least one vegetarian/vegan special available every day. Vegetarians can also find pasta options and market salads for even more variety."

"Every city worth its salt has at least one great pizza joint. So why go out of your way to visit this one?. Three reasons: (1) the pizza, (2) the neighborhood, and (3) the pizza."

"Liuzza’s by the Track is more than ‘just’ a Po Boy shop located near the Fairgrounds Race Course. With a full bar as well as a menu that features burgers, salads and a full range of seafood plates, it’s more of a neighborhood restaurant. However, despite its varied menu, Liuzza’s signature dish is its BBQ Shrimp Po Boy Po Boy."

"Call Liuzza’s directly at to order the famous gumbo, barbecue shrimp po-boy, or garlic oyster po-boy, all stuffed to the brim with seafood. Curbside pickup or local delivery in Mid City."

"Slim Goodies Diner might be renowned for their hangover helpers called “Slammers,” which are made with scrambled eggs, hash browns, and bacon, but they also serve a fantastic breakfast for those looking for healthier options as well. All-day breakfast dishes include crawfish étouffée with potato latkes, vegan-friendly veggie chili with hash browns, eggs, and smoked tempeh, fluffy omelets with various fillings, egg scrambles with bacon, ham, and country fried steak, and griddle specials like French toast, Belgian waffles, and buttermilk pancakes with fresh fruit and sweet toppings. Slim Goodies Diner is open for breakfast and lunch seven days a week."

"This breakfast and lunch spot is a local favorite on Magazine Street. Slim Goodies serves classic comfort food with bold twists, all made with fresh ingredients (and lots of love). Everyone loves the slammers: hash browns slathered in something delicious – think crawfish étouffée or chili with bacon and cheddar cheese – but the sweet potato pancakes are not to be missed."

"Slim Goodies Diner is a dive-y diner located in the Garden District/Irish Channel portion of Magazine Street in New Orleans. The venue has a retro feel with the old Coke signs, red leather booths and counter stools. Breakfast/brunch is the specialty here, and waits can be long if you come at peak times, say around 10 am."

"1313 Hickory Ave., Harahan, (504) 737-0033; www.hickorycafe.com. A focaccia burger is an 8-ounce beef patty topped with pepper Jack cheese, bacon, spinach, roasted red pepper and basil mayonnaise on focaccia."

"When this Mexican spot from the team at CureCo (which also operates nearby Cure and French Quarter favorite Cane and Table) opened last summer, it brought the Freret neighborhood a welcome open-air dining option. The former gas station has been reimagined as a sprawling, casual gathering spot serving up tacos, ceviche, queso fundido and specials like the birria torta. The CureCo bar pedigree is evident in the cocktail and spirits list, which includes not only praiseworthy margaritas but also creative twists on classics like the mezcal negroni or Oaxacan old fashioned."

"The gist: The team behind Cure Co. headed down Freret Street to open Vals, a taco stand with pitch-perfect mezcal margaritas and a big, gorgeous patio, making it a great pick for those who aren’t yet ready to dine indoors.The food: You’ve got “not tacos” (elotes, a beautiful tuna tostada, chips, various salsas) and tacos (crispy beef belly, sweet potato, chicken in green mole, fried fish, and pork shoulder). The cost: Starters and side $5 - $10, tacos $3, beer are $4 - $5, frozen margaritas $10 - $70.How to book: Stop by for counter service or order take-out online."

"Neal Bodenheimer and his partners pushed through the pandemic to open Vals, a former garage on Freret they’d been eying for more than five years. The space is warm and inviting, chef Fredo kills it with his charred tomato salsa, green mole chicken tacos, and ceviche of the day — and no surprise, the drink menu is amazing. Scan the QR code to dive deep into the tequila and mezcal list."

"Very likely the last thing you were probably looking for in New Orleans, this iconic American-Chinese classic way up on Carrollton Avenue is a neighborhood essential, at it since forever and wholly uninterested in impressing outsiders, though if you can successfully tune into the vibe here—one of their oversized tiki cocktails might do the trick—this could just end up one of your favorite restaurants in the city. Once you try their gargantuan egg rolls, overstuffed with cabbage, housemade roast pork and whole shrimp, the rest pale in comparison. The ribs, covered in hoisin, are a sticky must."

"Three blocks from the mighty Mississippi is Preservation Hall, a haven for well-rounded jazz musicians to play the soundtrack of New Orleans to sold-out crowds.[Learn more]"

"A tiny wooden box with a few benches or cushions on the floor. No booze, and you can bring your kids. Praise to Dixieland."

"This is also where you can have a famous Café du Monde beignet covered in powdered sugar, have your tarot cards read at Hex, get a taste of voodoo culture at Voodoo Authentica, and shop for jewelry, clothing, and antiques all throughout the neighborhood. The Pharmacy Museum has quite an interesting tour – don’t let the name fool you!. It’s all about old school remedies and how they evolved through history, with a local twist."

"The oldest and most storied of New Orleans’ many cemeteries, St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 is a Roman Catholic burial place a block west of the French Quarter. It opened in 1789 during the city’s redesign following the Great Fire of 1788. In a city partially below water level, cemeteries need to be above ground using decorative vaults."

"Now, this might sound pretty macabre but give me a moment to explore. The New Orleans cemeteries have become something of a place to see whilst in the city, especially as they house some voodoo remnants from the people that rest there. You see, since New Orleans is actually built on a swamp."

"I recommend Saint Louis Cemetery No. 1 to see the tomb of Marie Laveau, a famous mixed race Voodoo priestess. Though other cemeteries are free to explore, to see this one you’ll need to take a walking tour offered Monday through Saturday at 10am, 11:30am and 1pm, and Sunday at 10am."

"The Beauregard-Keyes House is significant and worth a tour for its Greek Revival architecture, lovely quaint garden, and for once having been the residence of Confederate General Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard, a New Orleans native who ordered the first shots of the Civil War and remained a hero in the South long after the war was lost. Ursuline nuns used the property from the early 1700s until the 1820s when the new house was designed to combine elements of a Creole cottage with Greek Revival features, including a Palladian facade, curved twin staircases, Tuscan portico, and generous dining room. In 1945, author Frances Parkinson Keyes was looking for a place to write and live in New Orleans."