These New Orleans Restaurants Have The Best Gumbo

It’s no secret that gumbo is the unofficial dish of New Orleans, but where can you get a bowl or cup of it in the city?

This article is going to show you some of the best places to get good gumbo in the city.

As you can imagine, there are plenty of places to get gumbo in the city, and a lot of them aren’t restaurants. Many gas stations, bars and other establishments serve New Orleans’ most popular dish.

What New Orleans Restaurants Have Great Gumbo?

When it comes to an origin story, gumbo has a good one. The word “gumbo,” originates from the term “gombo,” which is a West African word which roughly translates to “okra” in English.

The dish comes from several different international cultures although it is documented that in the mid 1700s, Africans cooked an okra and rice dish eerily similar to what we’d consider gumbo today.

Gabrielle

2441 Orleans Ave, New Orleans, LA 70119 | (504) 603-2344

Here’s what one reviewer says about Gabrielle’s: “It’s a family-owned and run so it provides great welcoming atmosphere. A loaf of fresh warm bread welcomes you as you await for your entre. We ordered the fish on a crab cake and served with corn and snap peas – it was really tasty and fresh. Then we also ordered the duck per the server’s recommendation, this was also great.”

Ray’s On The Ave

2005 N Broad St, New Orleans, LA 70119 | (504) 766-6404

Here’s what one customer says about Ray’s on the Ave. “OMG…. Hands down THE best gumbo anywhere!!! Everything was awesome! Fried chicken, shrimp & catfish were so fresh, light & seasoned superbly! People & staff were awesome too, so welcoming! Will def be back on next trip to NOLA!!”

Gumbo Shop

630 St Peter, New Orleans, LA 70116 | (504) 525-1486

Here’s what one customer says about Gumbo Shop: “I enjoyed my red beans and rice. The waitstaff were friendly and helpful but appeared overwhelmed at times. The dining room is very cozy – tables are right next to each other. On the plus side, we had a good conversation with the table next to ours! I was a big fan of their greens – the kale and collard greens were delicious. Also on the plus side, the wait was shorter than some other places in the Quarter and not as noisy.”

GW Fins

808 Bienville St, New Orleans, LA 70112 | (504) 581-3467

Here’s what one reviewer says about GW Fins: “Fantastic experience. Great service and even better food. The biscuits are delicious and they just keep em coming. Everything we had at the table was delicious. Nice atmosphere too. Will definitely be coming back to try more items of their menu.”

Grand Isle Restaurant

575 Convention Center Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70130 | (504) 520-8530

Here’s what one customer says about Grand Isle Restaurant: “Amazing seafood! Restaurant was nice, service was great! Definitely 5 stars, and will return!! I had the Blackened Gulf fish, hot Crab dip.”

Gumbo Ya-Ya

600 Decatur St, New Orleans, LA 70130 | (504) 291-8600

Here’s what one customer says about Gumbo Ya-Ya: “We stopped by this gumbo place as we were walking toward the French Quarter. It was supposed to be a 30 minute wait but we were seated in about 10 mins. We ordered a seven steaks gumbo with jambalaya rice topping and a seafood and okra gumbo also with jambalaya rice topping for $6.50 each. It was a good portion, tasty, and filling. The view was very romantic and beautiful! And the service was fast and awesome – Kori was our server!”

Oceana Grill

739 Conti St, New Orleans, LA 70130 | (504) 525-6002

Here’s what one customer says about Oceana Grill. “mazing, authentic, fast… We never had Gumbo before… I originally ordered a small bowl of chicken and sausage gumbo. But my kids begged me to taste it because I had ordered something more traditional for them on the menu. Well after we All tasted the gumbo, we ended up ordering two more bowls: one chicken and sausage and one seafood. It was sooo good…
When I visit New Orleans again I will definitely go there.”

Olde Nola Cookery

205 Bourbon St, New Orleans, LA 70130 | (504) 525-4577

Here’s what one customer says about Olde Nola Cookery: “The wait staff was very friendly. I loved the atmosphere of this place. As for the food, my shrimp was greasy and had too much breading. My husband got the fried oyster la and said the same thing. Also the collard greens were good but a tad too salty. I would visit again and maybe try the crab cakes.”

Mr. B’s Bistro

201 Royal St, New Orleans, LA 70130 | (504) 523-2078

Here’s what one customer says about Mr. B’s Bistro. “The BBQ shrimp is everything! Takes some work to eat it but it’s all worth it. The shrimp bbq sauce with the soft bread just melt in your mouth. The wood fired fish and the oysters were ok. The service is super nice!”

Liuzza’s by the Track

1518 N Lopez St, New Orleans, LA 70119 | (504) 218-7888

Here’s what one customer says about Liuzza’s by the Track. “We came here August 4th, 2021. It was by random, and the reviews were super good too. First, the team here was very kind. Second, we ordered the turtle soup, and it was delicious — tasted like a beef stew. We also ordered the seafood platter , catfish platter, duck tenders, and the gumbo. The duck tenders were breaded, and the meat inside was so flavourful. The breaded oysters, shrimp, and catfish are the bomb. So good! This was my favorite fish fry place I’ve ever been to.”

Station 6

105 Metairie-Hammond Hwy, Metairie, LA 70005 | (504) 345-2936

Here’s what one customer says about Station 6: “I finally made it here and what a beautiful early evening it was. The temperature wasn’t too muggy, you know how our NOLA summers are… a soft wind cascading off the water… and we were nestled beneath the outdoor patio… it was the beginning of a nice night. That sounded like the start of a novel huh??? Lol… duh, I am a writer you know.”

Final Word

It goes without saying that the best places to enjoy some authentic gumbo are in New Orleans, Louisiana.

No matter where you go to get your gumbo in New Orleans, it’s going to be a treat. You can get so many varieties of it to suit your taste.

The good gumbo generally has a dark roux stocked with chicken, sausage, shellfish or chicken. Of course, your gumbo could use all of those ingredients. In fact, the more stuff you put in there, the better.

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James Johnson

James Johnson is a writer originally from New York City. She has lived in the South for the last 15 years and enjoys Creole cooking and shrimp and grits.