We asked CNN readers to share their picks for New Orleans' best dishes. "Without fail, I go to New Orleans for two things: oysters and beignets," said Diana Nguyen, who lives in the Chicago suburbs.
Beignets, Café du Monde —
We asked CNN readers to share their picks for New Orleans' best dishes. "Without fail, I go to New Orleans for two things: oysters and beignets," said Diana Nguyen, who lives in the Chicago suburbs.
"Don't get me wrong," Nguyen said. "I love étouffée, gumbo, po' boys, muffuletta, but I gotta have my oysters and beignets."
Oysters —
"Don't get me wrong," Nguyen said. "I love étouffée, gumbo, po' boys, muffuletta, but I gotta have my oysters and beignets."
Lulis Leal is also a fan of oysters and the French-style doughnuts. "Felix's is my absolute favorite oyster bar," said Leal, who lives in New York. Whether raw, chargrilled or fried, "Felix's oysters are some of the best you'll ever have."
Oysters, Felix's Oyster Bar —
Lulis Leal is also a fan of oysters and the French-style doughnuts. "Felix's is my absolute favorite oyster bar," said Leal, who lives in New York. Whether raw, chargrilled or fried, "Felix's oysters are some of the best you'll ever have."
"Café du Monde is usually crowded and noisy and there's usually a wait, but their coffee and beignets are the best anywhere," Leal said. One tip: "Be careful not to put your elbows on the table as they are usually covered in powdered sugar."
Café du Monde —
"Café du Monde is usually crowded and noisy and there's usually a wait, but their coffee and beignets are the best anywhere," Leal said. One tip: "Be careful not to put your elbows on the table as they are usually covered in powdered sugar."
Marissa Turner, of Prairieville, Louisiana, recommends Val's Marina, which is about an hour from the New Orleans airport. "It's worth the drive to taste South Louisiana homestyle cooking -- without the pretension of the big city."
Shrimp and crab stew, Val's Marina —
Marissa Turner, of Prairieville, Louisiana, recommends Val's Marina, which is about an hour from the New Orleans airport. "It's worth the drive to taste South Louisiana homestyle cooking -- without the pretension of the big city."
During a recent trip to New Orleans, Dianne Vehlow ate her second meal at K-Paul's, where she took this photo of the chefs at work. She raves about the blackened beef tenders with debris sauce. "You may be wondering about the 'debris' sauce; yes they use the pan drippings in it."
K-Paul's —
During a recent trip to New Orleans, Dianne Vehlow ate her second meal at K-Paul's, where she took this photo of the chefs at work. She raves about the blackened beef tenders with debris sauce. "You may be wondering about the 'debris' sauce; yes they use the pan drippings in it."
"The jumbo sea scallops at Commander's Palace are to die for!" wrote iReporter Sonia Garza of Pasadena, Texas.
Sea scallops, Commander's Palace —
"The jumbo sea scallops at Commander's Palace are to die for!" wrote iReporter Sonia Garza of Pasadena, Texas.
"This is what I ate in lieu of a cake for my 35th birthday dinner, and it was one of the greatest desserts I've ever eaten -- and I'm a sweetsaholic," said Lynn Chen of Los Angeles. It's a sundae topped with bacon caramel sauce and Applewood bacon.
Bacon sundae, Green Goddess —
"This is what I ate in lieu of a cake for my 35th birthday dinner, and it was one of the greatest desserts I've ever eaten -- and I'm a sweetsaholic," said Lynn Chen of Los Angeles. It's a sundae topped with bacon caramel sauce and Applewood bacon.
Former New Orleans resident Diane Boyea misses the food, especially bananas Foster from Brennan's. "The bright yellow, sweet bananas are sautéed in butter and brown sugar then flambéed with rum."
Bananas Foster, Brennan's —
Former New Orleans resident Diane Boyea misses the food, especially bananas Foster from Brennan's. "The bright yellow, sweet bananas are sautéed in butter and brown sugar then flambéed with rum."
John Zoeckler and his wife enjoy eating at the Palace Cafe when they visit New Orleans from Diamond Bar, California. "Their bread pudding with white chocolate sauce is worth the entire trip in our opinion."
Palace Cafe —
John Zoeckler and his wife enjoy eating at the Palace Cafe when they visit New Orleans from Diamond Bar, California. "Their bread pudding with white chocolate sauce is worth the entire trip in our opinion."
"New Orleans pralines (praw-LEENS) are to the South what maple candy is to the North, a sweet to celebrate the local plenty," said Lulis Leal.
Pralines, Southern Candymakers —
"New Orleans pralines (praw-LEENS) are to the South what maple candy is to the North, a sweet to celebrate the local plenty," said Lulis Leal.
The Central Grocery is home to the famous muffuletta sandwich, a must according to several iReporters.
Central Grocery —
The Central Grocery is home to the famous muffuletta sandwich, a must according to several iReporters.
"It might sound funny, but the very best meal I had in New Orleans was a sandwich. A Cuban sandwich" from Cochon Butcher, said iReporter Melinda Green Harvey of Lubbock, Texas.
Cuban, Cochon Butcher —
"It might sound funny, but the very best meal I had in New Orleans was a sandwich. A Cuban sandwich" from Cochon Butcher, said iReporter Melinda Green Harvey of Lubbock, Texas.
"You're going to discover a VAST array of dishes in New Orleans and all of them are wonderful and MOST of them will either be for dinner or lunch. So, rather than dwell on the obvious, let's talk BREAKFAST for a minute," wrote Edward Slonaker of Corpus Christi, Texas. He heartily recommends the Breaux Bridge benedict at The Stanley on the corner of Jackson Square.
Breaux Bridge benedict, The Stanley —
"You're going to discover a VAST array of dishes in New Orleans and all of them are wonderful and MOST of them will either be for dinner or lunch. So, rather than dwell on the obvious, let's talk BREAKFAST for a minute," wrote Edward Slonaker of Corpus Christi, Texas. He heartily recommends the Breaux Bridge benedict at The Stanley on the corner of Jackson Square.