New Orleans Ultimate Tourist Dining Guide — 0 Bombs, All Hits 🍽️📸

A long-overdue New Orleans food guide — word count limits mean I’ll only highlight one favorite dish per spot here, but you can always order by the pics! Featuring a World’s Top 50 Bar, Southern classics, a President Biden-approved spot, and even a Taylor Swift-visited restaurant! ✨ 1. Jewel of the South – 2024 World’s 50 Best Bars 🍸🏆 The menu is adventurous, the vibe is cool. Great for those who love trying unique flavors — though some drinks are definitely niche. I tried a banana-curry colada (I found it dark, my friend loved it 😅). Another cocktail came with pickled olives and a preserved quail egg! 🚻 The bathroom mirror is super atmospheric — perfect for photos. 2. GW Fins – President Biden’s Choice for Seafood 🐟🇺🇸 If you can only eat at one restaurant in New Orleans — choose this one. Must-order: Scalibut (halibut + scallop) 🍴✨ The moment it arrived, I knew it was special — crispy skin, tender inside, clean and refined texture. Paired with slightly salty red shrimp risotto for a perfect bite. 📌 Book ahead + dress a bit formal. 3. Lilette – Taylor Swift’s Pick 🎤🌸 Best dish: Passion Fruit Crab Claws 🦀💛 Fruity sweetness blended with buttery richness coating every claw — so addictive! The duck confit is also worth trying. 4. Drago’s at Hilton NOLA – Lobby Dining with Southern Vibes 🏨🍤 Our first meal after landing — felt like a Chinese banquet, warm and hearty. Tried fried alligator for the first time — texture between chicken and frog, surprisingly tasty! 5. Mother’s Restaurant – “World’s Best Baked Ham” 🍖🏆 A classic breakfast spot loved by locals. The walls are covered with celebrity autographs. Southerners really love their “mush” — I had rice grits with smoked ham omelet and it tasted like savory porridge with salted meat. Worth a visit if nearby, but not a must-trip. 6. Hot Bennys – NOLA-Style Fried Dough 🍩 Beignets… basically fancy donuts with powdered sugar, right? Probably similar everywhere — this one happened to be near the DoubleTree. 7. Big EZ Seafood and Oyster 🦞🔥 So good, you won’t have time to talk. Makes Captain’s Boil look weak in comparison. #NewOrleans #NewOrleansEats #SouthernFood #TravelNOLA #FoodieGuide 🎷🍤📸