LA 31 AWARDS CAN’T-MISS BITES
1 MI TIERRA
TAMALES
Alexandria
Since 2004, hungry diners in central Louisiana have sought out Irma Rodriguez’s Mexican tamales. Even before opening her first restaurant, Mi Tierra Restaurante Mexicano in Forest Hill, she sold them by word of mouth. Folks in nearby Alexandria can get those tamales and more dishes at Mi Tierra’s larger sister restaurant. That location’s menu also includes Poblano Soup, Chicken Tortilla Soup, and occasionally birria tacos (tacos filled with cheese and slow-cooked shredded beef). facebook.com/MiTierraAlexandria
2 TCHEFUNCTE’S
PANEED VEAL CHOP
Madisonville
The small town of Madisonville, located across Lake Pontchartrain from New Orleans, scored a major culinary win when Chef Michael Gottlieb opened Tchefuncte’s in 2020. The menu is French-influenced but worldly and touches on Louisiana themes without being boxed in (New Orleans-style barbecue shrimp and turtle soup often make appearances). Luxury is the order of the day, and the Paneed Veal Chop is an excellent example, with its crispy breading, rich tomato butter, and ricotta tortelloni. tchefunctes.com
3 NEYOW’S CREOLE CAFE
CHAR-GRILLED OYSTERS
New Orleans
Since 2010, Neyow’s has been an off-the-beaten-path local favorite in Mid-City New Orleans, run by Tanya Dubuclet and her family. Diners could choose any of the classic items on the menu, from the Crawfish Balls and sautéed crab claws to the Shrimp Creole or Roast Beef Po’ Boy, but the garlicky Char-Grilled Oysters are hard to beat. These briny beauties got an upgrade when the business moved into its current location in 2016 with a prominent oyster grill at the head of the dining room. neyows.com
4 CREOLE LUNCH HOUSE
PLATE LUNCHES
Lafayette
Plate lunch joints, often called a meat-and-three in other parts of the South, aren’t often associated with Louisiana’s culinary landscape, but they do, in fact, have quite a large presence throughout much of the Bayou State. Lafayette’s Creole Lunch House, owned by Merline Herbert, has a menu that’s anchored with classic smothered rice-and-gravy dishes, but it’s probably best known for its stuffed breads (which are a sought-after treat at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage
