20 best affordable restaurants in New Orleans

Eating out is self-care - don't have to cook. don't have to clean, just eat. But, if eating out drains your pocket, is it self-care? This list is curated from online reviews and blogs to help you choose restaurants in New Orleans that serve quality food without draining your pockets.

20. Melba's Poboys - Elysian Fields Ave

A 24/7 restaurant that specializes in Po Boy's, their other popular dishes include baked chicken, mac and cheese, etc. According to Jo Affo on Google reviews, "Great place for local foods from seafood to beans, greens and a piece of meat." Almost all of their menu is below $12, except their platters.

Yelp Rating: 3.5

Google Rating: 4.1

19. La Boulangerie - Magazine St

This is a French-style Bakery that is described as charming. It mainly serves pastries and other small items like bread, sandwiches, etc. Their bestselling product is the La Parisian sandwich, which is more than just butcher ham in a baguette.

Yelp Rating: 3.8

Google Rating: 4.1

18. Val’s - Freret St

Serving everything from Lunch and dinner to Brunch and a variety of drinks, Val's is an Instagrammable place with a beautiful interior and exterior setting. But that is not the reason to visit VAL's - their popular foods include cochinita pibil, cauliflower tacos, and breakfast burritos.

Yelp Rating: 3.8

Google Rating: 4.3

17. MoPho - City Park Ave

From the name itself, one can guess that this restaurant specializes in Vietnamese food. The uniqueness of this restaurant comes from the chef's idea to blend South Asian and Louisiana cuisine. Their popular foods include Coconut queso, Beef Pho, etc.

Yelp Rating: 3.9

Google Rating: 4.3

16. Galaxie Tacos - St Claude Ave

This relatively new place serves authentic Mexican dishes like tacos and drinks ranging from Margaritas to the good old beer. Their most popular items include Oaxacan-style Barbacoa Tacos, Margaritas, and Quesadillas. According to reviews, the new chef, Pablo Rayes, even made previous haters into fans of the place.

Yelp Rating: 3.9

Google Rating: 4.5

15. Napoleon House - Chartres St

This very rustic place with old walls and "haunted rooms," holds more than just a restaurant/bar but memories of the past. You can come here to take photos and eat their popular Muffaletta while sipping on your cocktails and listening to classical music.

Yelp Rating: 4.1

Google Rating: 4.6

14. The Joint BBQ - Mazant St

According to John Khosravi's Google review, this place is "THE pride of New Orleans." The popular dishes among customers of The Joint BBQ include Pork Ribs, 3 Meat Platter, Mac & Cheesecoleslaw, and key lime pie.

Yelp Rating: 4.4

Google Rating: 4.6

13. Dian Xin - Decatur Street

This tiny restaurant that serves authentic Chinese foods is known to serve really good soup dumplings, shrimp Hargow, and other meat dishes. Their most recommended dishes include Dim Sum, Xiao Long Bao, and Crabmeat & Crawfish Bao.

Yelp Rating: 4.4

Google Rating: 4.6

12. Café Reconcile - Oretha Castle Haley Blvd

Café Reconcile is more than a cafe other than serving good quality soul food, the establishment also "runs as a non-profit workforce training program" for risk youth. So when you dine here, you are not just eating food but also funding a good cause. Their most recommended food are Fried Green Tomato Sandwich, Crispy Turkey Necks, etc.

Yelp Rating: 4.4

Google Rating: 4.7

11. Croissant d’Or Patisserie - Ursulines Ave

With a very impressive interior design, including stained glass and decorative moldings, this French bakery serves a "European vibe" along with a great menu. Their menu features a not-so-ordinary array of dishes like Ratatouille Omelet, quiche, pastries, and sandwiches. They will also sell you FROGS and MICE, except they are not real frogs and mice but dishes named MICE and FROG.

Yelp Rating: 4.0

Google Rating: 4.5

10. Camellia Grill - S Carrollton Ave

If you get late-night cravings on weekends, you can choose Camellia Grill, a restaurant that has stood the test of time since its opening in 1946. They offer a vast menu, from various types of eggs to burgers and even desserts. On Fridays and Saturdays, they are open till 11 pm.

Yelp Rating: 4.1

Google Rating: 4.6

9. Domilise’s Po-Boys - Annunciation St

Staying true to its name, the popular dish from Domilise's is Po-Boy's, especially their fried shrimp Po-Boys, fried shrimp topped with mayo and lettuce served on Leidenheimer French bread. They are also one of the long-standing popular restaurants in New Orleans that survived Hurricane Katherine.

Yelp Rating: 4.2

Google Rating: 4.6

8. Bub’s NOLA - Banks St

If you want to grab a quick burger, then you might want to try Bub's Nola. Their homemade pickles and fries are also a hit among many customers, along with their burger, which comes with a good amount of cheese and their secret sauce. Their Omelets and Onion rings are also a must-try for some.

Yelp Rating: 4.4

Google Rating: 4.7

7. Turkey & the Wolf - Jackson Ave

A counter-service food establishment known to serve really good and multiple varieties of sandwiches, where you wait in a quick-moving line to get the food. Their popular dishes include Fried Bologna sandwiches, ham sandwiches, Cabbage salads, etc.

Yelp Rating: 4.4

Google Rating: 4.7

6. Parkway Tavern- Hagan Ave

Another old bakery and tavern from New Orleans is famous for its shrimp Po Boys. If you are confused about what to get from here, then fret not because satisfied customers have recommended Roast Beef, Fried Shrimp PO Boy, and Banana Pudding. They also have interesting seating arrangements.

Yelp Rating: 4.5

Google Rating: 4.7

5. Budsi's Authentic Thai- Rampart St

This restaurant sells homestyle Thai cuisine alongside the famous street-style Thai cuisine. Their popular dishes are According to Alex Gonzales's Google review, Budsi's Royal Pad Thai, Pad See Ew, Pumpkin Curry, etc. "Best Thai food in New Orleans. Possibly the world? One of my favorite restaurants/places on the planet. I’m just a better person after I’ve eaten a bowl of Khao Soi from Budsi’s."

Yelp Rating: 4.5

Google Rating: 4.7

4. Le’s Baguette - Dryades

A small cafe with a cozy vibe that sells Vietnamese dishes like Pho, Banh mi, Bao Buns, and more. Their must-try items include a Lemongrass Grilled Pork Banh Mi sandwich, but all Banh mi variations from Le's Baguette are popular among customers.

Yelp Rating: 4.6

Google Rating: 4.7

3. Ayu Bakehouse - Frenchmen St

The price per person in this restaurant is estimated at $10 -$20. As the name suggests, they mainly serve baked items like bread, pastries, sandwiches, etc, though you can also find items like salads, oats, etc. on their menu alongside hot and cold beverages. Their best sellers include Boudin Boy, egg sandwiches, Muffuletta Breadsticks, etc.

Yelp Rating: 4.6

Google Rating: 4.8

2. Singleton's Mini Mart- Garfield St

One specialty of this corner store is that, on Saturdays, they have a special service of big, refillable pho for a cheap price. Other than that, they also sell Vietnamese cuisine and many varieties of po boys. All the food items in this place are very affordable, and also a go-to place for many when it comes to Vietnamese cuisine.

Yelp Rating: 4.6

Google Rating: 4.8

1. Frady’s One Stop - Dauphine St

With impressive ratings on both Google and Yelp, Frady's One-Stop is one of the best spots to get quality food at a reasonable price. Their Po Boys, particularly the Shrimp and Roast Beef Po Boys, are popular among customers. It is recommended to carry cash.

Yelp Rating: 4.7

Google Rating: 4.9