11 December 2025
A family-owned staple of New Orleans’ Treme neighborhood since 2005, Li’l Dizzy’s Cafe has become an icon for food the city is known for: generously stuffed po’ boys, fried seafood, dirty rice, and more.
What to order
- Daily specials are the move here: Mondays bring red beans and rice; Thursday is jambalaya day (one of the best versions in town).
- Add fried chicken to any special. Go for one piece of white and one piece of dark; both are well-brined and juicy, with shatteringly crisp skin and a hint of spice.
- Start your meal off with a cup of the dark-as-midnight gumbo.
The vibe
Show up just as the restaurant opens, and find a group of knowing locals waiting at the outdoor picnic tables, many there to place carryout orders. “Welcome to Dizzy’s!” chirps an engaging hostess who oozes a combo of friendliness and efficiency. She happily explains the process to any newcomers: she’ll assign you a table at a bar seat, but you’ll order and pay at the counter. Appealing food, much of it on steam trays, beckons at the front, while diners sit surrounded by painted portraits and photos of the owners and community members.
The crowd
The restaurant was featured on several episodes of Treme as a hangout for local cops, lawyers, and politicians, which feels apt; on a recent Thursday, there was a healthy mix of neighborhood regulars, local contractors discussing business, solo diners minding their own business at the counter, and a couple of tourists looking slightly out of place.
Insider tip
If you have some time, walk a couple of blocks down the street to visit the city’s tiny but underrated Backstreet Cultural Museum, a celebration of the Mardi Gras Indians of New Orleans, jazz funerals, and other local traditions.