Food Fight 2025: Celebrating the Best Dishes and Cocktails from New Orleans Restaurants!

Food Fight NOLA, a vibrant culinary and cocktail competition held annually, recently announced its winners after a lively event featuring 43 local restaurants that showcased their talents in various categories. This three-year-old festival took place at Lafreniere Park, where restaurants from diverse culinary backgrounds—from American to Jamaican—competed.

The event included multiple categories, with both fans and critics casting votes on their favorite dishes and cocktails.

Critics Vote

• Top Traditional Dish:

  1. Willie Mae’s NOLA
  2. OOPA Korean Fried Chicken
  3. Casita Jasmyn
  4. Como Arepas

• Top Creative Dish:

  1. Ralph’s on the Park
  2. Atti NOLA
  3. Tito’s Ceviche & Pisco
  4. Jacquel’s Catering

• Top Vegetarian Dish:

  1. Namaste NOLA
  2. Bayona
  3. Soule Cafe
  4. Aroma

• Top Classic Cocktail:

  1. Soule Cafe with St. Roch Vodka
  2. Los Jefes with Corralejo Silver
  3. Tito’s Ceviche & Pisco with Pisco 100
  4. Willie Mae’s NOLA with Hardhide Peach Whisky

Fans’ Vote

• Top Traditional Dish:

  1. 14 Parishes
  2. Brightside Oysters Co.
  3. Como Arepas
  4. Bayou Joe Stuffed & Grilled

• Top Creative Dish:

  1. Desi Vegas
  2. Tito’s Ceviche & Pisco
  3. Jamaican Jerk House
  4. Atti NOLA

• Top Vegetarian Dish:

  1. Nori Guys
  2. Bayona
  3. Soule Cafe
  4. Namaste NOLA

• Top Classic Cocktail:

  1. Los Jefes with Corralejo Silver
  2. Soule Cafe with St. Roche Vodka
  3. Tito’s Ceviche & Pisco with Pisco 100
  4. Namaste NOLA with Old Monk Rum

• Top Creative Cocktail:

  1. Maze Cocktail Lounge with Dulce Vida
  2. Desi Vegas with Gray Whale Gin
  3. The Will and The Way with Mijenta Tequila
  4. Bayona with Whistle Pig Rye

This engaging event not only celebrates culinary excellence but also supports the PLEASE Foundation, a nonprofit that offers mentorship and scholarships to at-risk youth in the community. For a full list of participating restaurants, check the complete lineup here.