This is my second time going to Dong Phuong. The first time was for a King Cake during Mardi Gras…read moreseason. Hands down it's the absolute BEST king cake I've ever tasted and trust me, I've tasted dozens. So, when I found out they were going to have mini king cakes for 4th of July, I had to get one. Made it there about 7:30 am, line was wrapped. By the time they opened at 8, they had already given out all available tickets. These are high demand. This time, the crawfish pies were just coming out so I tried one of those. The dough was a bit sweet but flaky. Inside.. was interesting. There was crawfish of course and there was a vegetable, I can't make out which one. The pie was a different flavor than I'm used to. Sweet and Savory and I tasted like there was a bit of Italian dressing or something in it. I'll try a meat one next time.

Located off a main road. There's a large parking lot to park. I saw a lot of reviews and thought…read moreto swing by to try out as I was in the area. The moment we stepped inside the bakery, we were greeted right away. Staff were fast and friendly. Staff help assorted us with any questions we had. Bought some foods to try. I tried the cold cut banh mi. It was good. Bread was crispy and lots of filling. Bought some taro, white bean, black bean, corn desserts (Che) and jelly to try. All were delicious especially on a hot day. Bought some pastries which were limited at the end of the day. Got some chaud pork with onion, crawfish pie, meat pie, baked bao which all had great pastry taste, but the filling wasn't the greatest for me I guess. So, I did come back another day and got some pate chaud with bbq pork. Now that was delicious to my taste buds! I tried the green combo bánh bao and that was delicious as well!

Food was outstanding. Exceeded my expectations. Service was spot on. The restaurant is a…read morewonderful quant neighborhood establishment. Locals dine here in the neighborhood. Is a peaceful laidback restaurant.

Lilly's Café is that girl…read more This was my first time visiting (even though they've clearly been THAT place forever), and now I'm mad I waited so long. From the moment you walk in, it's cozy, welcoming, and full of character. There's literally a wall of awards, Gambit's Best Of, Yelp awards, and even "WHEREY'AT" recognition. They've earned every one of them, because Lilly's lives up to the hype! I ordered: * Matcha Milk Tea - 10/10. Creamy, flavorful, and now has a chokehold on me. I'm coming back just for this! * Grilled Chicken Rolls (appetizer) - 10/10. Fresh, tasty, and perfectly wrapped. * Spicy Tofu with Rice & Veggies - 7/10. The flavor great, but was a little salty and wasn't hot at all. * My friend had the Spicy Shrimp Pho - 10/10 After our meal, we stepped outside to take a few pics and Lilly came out to greet us. She was so sweet and just genuinely grateful. She shared how blessed she feels to run Lilly's and that energy made the experience even better. Fast service, flavorful food, and unmatched hospitality. I'll absolutely be back.

I love the pork spring rolls here. They are quick and consistent with pick up orders. Very kind…read morestaff and nice to sit inside

When Good Catch decided to close abruptly; we opted to go to Viet Orleans Bistro…read more They have a mix of Vietnamese and Japanese food which is confusing. We ordered the bun thit nuong and com thit nuong. Both pork and beef were very dry and didn't have much seasonings. It needed more char and flavor. They have potential; but just need a few tweaks here and there.

I had been to New Orleans since 1987 to attend JazzFest until my near death and rebirth in 1999…read morewith Celiac disease about 6-7 times. After I was diagnosed with Gluten Intolerance as a foodie I thought my culinary life was over and one of the many, but not only joys, of going to Nola is the food. I was reluctant to go and then a bit later 20 years ago Katrina hit this great city. When I did return my reluctance of going due to my food restrictions was born out, but the fact that the people in New Orleans fry everything, including water. Besides jambalaya and some fresh fish, I couldn't eat anything. However, due to a friend who was born in New Orleans, grew up in New Orleans and lives half of the year there with her family involved in the restaurant business, Pat introduced me for a number of chefs and one in particular, Michael Gulotta, who modified dishes or even made me specially dishes that were gluten free. Every time I went to New Orleans, I tried to go to his two Vietnamese Cajun restaurants, MoPho and Maypop. Michael Gulotta, chef-owner at Mopho and Maypop was born and raised in New Orleans. Michael began cooking in local restaurants at a young age. After graduating from the Chef John Folse Culinary Institute, he joined the newly opened Restaurant August. Gulotta then took leave to train in the Italian Riviera and Germany's Black Forest. When Hurricane Katrina hit, Michael returned home to help rebuild and assist with August's re-opening. He was named chef de cuisine in 2007 and led the award-winning kitchen for six years, while establishing relationships with local farmers and purveyors. He opened his first restaurant, MOPHO, in January of 2014 with his brother, Jeffrey Gulotta, and high-school friend, Jeffrey Bybee. Located in New Orleans' Mid City, MOPHO was a true neighborhood restaurant and a destination for Southeast Asian inspired cuisine utilizing the Louisiana pantry. In its first year MOPHO was nominated for America's Best New Restaurant by Bon Appétit magazine and named Restaurant of the Year by New Orleans Magazine. In 2016 Michael was named one of Top 30 Chefs to Watch in the nation by Plate Magazine, A New Orleans Rising Star by Starchefs, a Best New Chef by Food & Wine magazine, and Chef of the Year by New Orleans Magazine. In 2017, his team opened its second full-service restaurant, Maypop, in the Central Business District of New Orleans. Maypop was named a Top 5 Best New Restaurant by The Times Picayune, A Best New Restaurant by New Orleans Magazine, a New Orleans Top 20 Restaurants by Condé Nast Traveler, and a New Orleans' Top Ten Restaurants for 2019, by Brett Anderson. Michael has also been a semifinalist for The James Beard Awards Best Chef South for the past four years. Most recently, his team opened a second MOPHO location in the new Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport. On my trip to New Orleans this past May, I was saddened to learn that Michael was closing MoPho and Maypop, casualties of the so difficult business of owning a restaurant I know all too well. After JazzFest one evening on MoPho's second to last day, Pat and I went to pay our respects and I got to thank Michael for his kindness showing me there was culinary life after my diagnosis not only at his restaurant but when he catered the main stage at JazzFest, but he also introduced me to more fusion possibilities which I have incorporated in some of the food I make. On the last day of Maypop, my brother Jeff and I dined at Maypop, Michael's more upscale joint which served delicious food and not to be undone, after both closed on that Sunday in May, I saw the MoPho at the airport right in front of my terminal to fly home and I got the greatest wings on the planet to fly home with: CRISPY CHICKEN WINGS WITH NUOC MAM CARAMEL. I have no idea what exactly that is except Cajun chicken spices with a Vietnamese caramel sauce that is unparalleled in it's flavor, bite and marriage of cultures that was so good Pat would always ask for more on the side. I'm sure Michael will get back in the game at some point but I write this with gratitude to Pat for introducing me to this great Chef and to Chef Gulotta for taking the time to show me what I could eat and what modifications he could make to his food for me.

Mopho is where New Orleans and Vietnam decided to party -- and it works…read more The hot sausage buns are so good they made me want to propose marriage to a piece of bread. The OG nuoc mam caramel wings are sticky, funky, sweet chaos -- like getting mugged by deliciousness. I left covered in sauce and without a shred of dignity. 10/10, no regrets.

What a surprise find in the FQ…read more Everything was delicious. We tried so many things our table was overflowing. The staff were great and made excellent recommendations. This is a cute and cozy spot. We will definitely be back.

We decided to visit Dian Xin on Decatur Street in the French Quarter, in part to support businesses…read morein the area that have been impacted by the ongoing road construction and reduced customer traffic. We were seated immediately, and our server welcomed us right away. To start, we ordered the steamed pork dumplings and the shrimp and pork shu mai. Both arrived piping hot, so we had to let them cool for a bit before digging in. While they were enjoyable, we were surprised that the two dishes tasted very similar. We also tried the chive cakes, hoping they would resemble traditional scallion pancakes. Unfortunately, they didn't quite meet that expectation. For our entrée, we shared the shrimp with garlic sauce, and it was outstanding. The shrimp were perfectly cooked, the sauce was flavorful, and it was easily the highlight of the meal. I would definitely order it again. Overall, the service was excellent, the prices were very reasonable.

I was glad to find some non-fried dinner options here! I stopped by after a workout, starving but…read morelooking for something with a good balance of protein and carbs. I ordered the egg noodle soup (pho like) and it definitely hit the spot. It came with a generous portion of noodles, plus a whole egg, two large shrimp, and pork, which made it feel really satisfying. Overall, it was a great post-workout meal--filling without being too heavy, and exactly what I needed after being on my feet for a while. Good service-really fast. The music was not too loud and lots of seating.

What a hidden gem this is. The pho dac biet was flavorful and the bun thit nuong was out of this…read moreworld. Definitely a stop in to feel the vibes

Really nice meal before the show with my vegetarian friends…read more Recently a couple of friends and I needed to grab a quick bite. I thought we were going to another place when one of my guests suggested Thaihey across the street from the fire station on Decatur. Yes, sure. It's a typical Quarter restaurant with its long gallery seating. We were seated right away. The menu appeared to be heavily vegetarian which was great for my two friends. Many will understand the limited menu options for vegetarians at most places. Wes ordered Tom Kai, Becky the Massaman Jackfruit option and I the one with short rib. It was delicious. It was warm and comforting, full of flavor and the chef made it less spicy for me. What a delight to choose a menu option that I have never had and restaurant that I have never been to. You believe that I'll return for certain. Especially for that gorgeous Mai Tai!

Great food great service a nice variety. We got the catfish and it was amazing just a little bit…read morespicy and I got the less than mild. The mild is grease spicy they said. We got the Mule cocktail and the. Finished the meal with the Thai old fashion, which was a clever twist on the classic old fashion. The place has a nice feel and decorated modestly with a definite Thai influence from a city the owner may have been from. Our Takeaway was it's Thai with a twist, which was nice. Try Thaihey you should be pleasantly surprised.

Not the same What happened things are so different…read more Food is not as good as it once was

Decent banh mi, a more modernized take on the Vietnamese classic. Fresh veggies in each of our…read moresandwiches. Tried the chicken katsu, grilled chicken and pork banh mi. Was a bit disappointed in the pork banh mi mainly due to the pork being quite charred/burnt on all the edges. Otherwise the other sandwiches had great flavor and katsu was really crisp. Tried the house fries as well which were served fresh and hot. Crispy fries with the option to add cheese too! Service was friendly and quick. Plenty of seating indoors.

I had the Gulf Tuna appetizer and my bro had the P&B oysters. He had the Pulled Pork that was not…read moreGF and he raved about it. I had the catfish and gnocchi in a smokey slightly spicy sauce and the catfish was so light and flaky. The food was incredible and we loved everything, from the lagniappe that was different for me, to our appetizers and entrees. The flavors were out of this world. Goodbye Maypop and Michael.

What an incredible culinary experience. Fusion done right with many flavors. I had the octopus and…read morethe ribeye and both were so well cooked. My ribeye had mushrooms on top that were so crispy and delicious paired with sauce. Wait staff cater to allergies incredibly well and they even give you complimentary small bites as appetizers and dessert.

NOLA has a strong Vietnamese community and I was excited to try one of the more popular spots. My…read moreexpectations were probably unfairly high (at least on par with NYC was my hope). Self order counter / fast casual style. No problem. I always say, we don't eat Vietnamese for the service. I had a spring roll, summer roll and a pho. Summer roll was tightly wrapped and the peanut sauce was warm and delicious. 5/5 Spring roll was also very flavorful. 5/5 Pho was surprisingly disappointing. Broth lacked depth and the noodles were overcooked in the hot broth so broke frequently. Meat was on the lighter portion side and didn't have tripe nor tendon (for a dac biet to boot!). 2/5. NYC still the best.

I was really excited to try Pho Tau Bay for a couple reasons. I know it's a very historic…read moreVietnamese restaurant in the area, and it got shouted out on a recent Bon Appetit video by the chef at Emeril's. Both reasons for hype! Coming to the restaurant, you do have to time it right, as it closes at 7 which makes it not an option if you want a later dinner. Lunch or early dinner it is. The system here is counter service, then take a number and a tray and seat yourself. Food comes out pretty quickly, there were few other customers there at the time when I went in the early evening, and my appetizer came out within a few minutes, and my pho came out within ten minutes. I had a half order of the spring rolls with shrimp and pork, and a beef combo pho. The spring rolls were wrapped very well, with great structural integrity that made them easy to eat and dip. However, the pork was really dry and tough, and the only reason it didn't ruin the texture of the whole thing is because the pork slices were quite thin. The shrimp was fresh but also sliced quite thin to the point where it was almost not even noticeable. The wrapper was quite thick and felt like it had been left out for a while, so it was quite dry. The pho was good, but the meats were overall quite chewy and tough, and there was significantly less meat than I would expect for an extra large order. They also were pretty stingy with the herbs. I am used to there being a fair amount of onion, scallion, and cilantro in pho, and here it was like they finger-pinched the herbs in rather than grabbing a handful. Overall, it was not bad, but it was underwhelming, and I have had many better Vietnamese meals elsewhere.