Are you looking for some top black-owned restaurants in New Orleans? If yes, we are here to help you. New Orleans is a place that is burst with history, music, and unforgettable food. It is now famous for its rich Creole, Cajun, and Southern blend. But beyond the unique tastes, what has made these flavors so special was the legacy of black-owned restaurants heart of New Orleans’ culinary story for a long. From traditional soul food to innovative fusions, these reflect the spirit of resilience, creativity, and community. Here’s the guide to 10 Black-owned places you must not miss in New Orleans.
Best Black Owned Restaurants In New Orleans
1. Dooky Chase Restaurant
- Address: 2301 Orleans Ave, Treme
- Cuisine: Creole
Founded in 1941, this legendary restaurant is a cornerstone of New Orleans history. Known as a gathering place during the Civil Rights Movement, Dooky Chase’s fried chicken and gumbo are as iconic as its history. On Holy Thursday, they serve gumbo herbs, a local tradition made with up to a dozen greens. With walls adorned with art from Black artists, this spot blends culture and cuisine perfectly.
- Must-Try: Fried chicken and shrimp Clemenceau.
- History: More than 80 years.
Also read: 10 Best Black-Owned Restaurants in Washington D.C.
2. Addis NOLA
- Address: 2514 Bayou Rd, 7th Ward
- Cuisine Ethiopian
Addis NOLA is an Ethiopian destination in New Orleans, serving authentic injera, well-flavored lamb tibs, and mar mitmita shrimp. With a new address at Bayou Road, visitors have the pleasure of being offered a treasure, namely the Ethiopian coffee ceremony experience.
- Must Try: Vegans, Adventurous foods.
- Fun Fact: Their tej (Ethiopian honey wine) is house-made and unforgettable.
3. Café Reconcile
- Address: 1631 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd, Central City
- Cuisine: Soul Food
This nonprofit restaurant not only serves delicious food but also changes lives. Café Reconcile provides culinary training to young adults in need, making every meal here meaningful. Try their turkey neck appetizer or their fried chicken plate, which locals swear by.
- Must try: Lunch here is lively, with big crowds supporting a great cause.
- Mission Impact: Over 2,000 young adults trained since opening.
4. Compère Lapin
- Address: 535 Tchoupitoulas St, Warehouse District
- Cuisine: French-Italian-Creole Fusion
Found within the Old 77 Hotel, Compère Lapin offers upmarket dining great for any celebration. Creole flavors from Nina Compton create dishes such as curried goat with sweet potato gnocchi. Its well-stocked wine list and hip atmosphere set it apart.
- Must Try: Blackened pig ears or curried goat.
- Awards: Winner of the James Beard Awarded chef Nina Compton.
5. Morrow Steak
- Address: 1003 Julia St, Warehouse District
- Cuisine: Steaks and Seafood
Steakhouse feels melt into clubbing energy at Morrow Steak with its gold decor and velvet booths. Though the steak is amazing, their shrimp tempura sushi rolls and ube cheesecake tower steal the show. Perfect for dates or special occasions.
- Must try: Smoking spicy margarita.
- Reservations are a must.
6. Dakar NOLA
- Address: 3814 Magazine St, Uptown
- Cuisine: Senegalese
Dakar NOLA is Senegalese flavors from Chef Serigne Mbaye. The tasting menu experience feels almost intimate as the chef describes what is behind the jollof rice or seafood stew. It’s intimate, educational, and delicious.
- Must try: Smoking spicy Gravy
- Awards: Many publications have named it one of the best new restaurants.
Also read: The Most Expensive Hotels and Resorts in the USA for 2025
7. The Munch Factory
- Address: 6514 Congress Dr, Pontchartrain Park
- Cuisine: Creole
Situated on the banks of a golf course, The Munch Factory is all about the view. However, what makes this restaurant popular are its buffalo oysters and crawfish cream sauce over blackened fish. There is a healthy dose of laid-back atmosphere that blends with truly outstanding cooking.
- Must Try: Do hangout at this spot for vibe and taste.
- Ambiance: Vibrant, roomy, and family-friendly.
8. Queen Trini Lisa
- Address: 4200 Dhemecourt St, Mid-City
- Cuisine: Caribbean
This small but lively place dishes up Trinidadian staples with large flavors. Consider the BBQ jerk chicken, doubles (flatbread filled with chickpea curry), and smoky stews. It is a delicious casual lunch spot next to the New Orleans Museum of Art.
- Must try: BBQ jerk chicken, doubles (flatbread filled with chickpea curry), and smoky stews
- Music Vibes: Soca plays in the background to set the mood.
9. Fritai
- Address: 1535 Basin St, Treme
- Cuisine: Haitian
HAITIAN CULTURE SHINES AT Fritai, which is all bright decor, kompa music, and dishes such as passion fruit wings and plantain sandwiches. It’s gone from being a market pop-up to the corner restaurant that everyone loves. The cocktails utilize spirits from Haiti, so just as unique as the food.
- Must Try: Goat dishes and cocktails like the Kremas coconut rum punch.
- Crowd Favorite: The plantain sandwich with pikliz (spicy pickled vegetables).
10. AJ’s Jazzy Grill
- Address: 1525 N Claiborne Ave, Treme
- Cuisine: Creole
Starting as a food truck, it is now a casual restaurant with barbecue-inspired Creole dishes. Local favorites at AJ’s include Hawaiian ribeye with mashed baked potatoes and parmesan broccoli. For drinks, the Jazzy Punch does justice to their offerings.
- Must Try: The chef’s mom’s sweet potato pies
Why It Matters
Black-owned restaurants in New Orleans are more than restaurants- they’re cultural monuments, economic catalysts, and purveyors of tradition. Many of them rode out Hurricane Katrina, the pandemic, and gentrification’s impact. The legacy of Black entrepreneurship will be kept alive by these establishments in a city where it remains unmatched.
New Orleans wouldn’t be the same without the flavors, stories, and resilience of its Black-owned restaurants. Whether you’re visiting for a weekend or a local looking for your next meal, these spots offer something unforgettable. So, bring your appetite and your curiosity—you’ll leave full in every sense of the word.
Conclusion
Black-owned restaurants in New Orleans are the representation of the black people in the region. It is the representation of the struggles. It is the celebration of the hard work that black people have put in, to make name for themselves. Black-owned restaurants bring their flavors and tastes to cheer the palate of the visitors. Hence, you must surely give this restaurant a try to try something good and something unique.
All in all, the above list of Top 10 Black Restaurants in New Orleans should be celebrated as it is bringing something new and creative to the people.
