Where to Slurp the Best Oysters in New Orleans

19 essential stops for oysters — whether raw, fried, chargrilled, or Rockefeller

Oysters are as much a part of New Orleans as bowls of gumbo and red beans and rice. But unlike gumbo and red beans, New Orleanians are more likely to seek them out at restaurants than to enjoy them at home, making them a staple on menus. Expect to pay $2 per on the low side and up to $3 and $4 an oyster at fancier spots like Fives and Pigeon and Whale (budget-conscious eaters can hit one of these oyster happy hours around town). Beyond raw, New Orleanians love their oysters chargrilled, invented at Drago’s, or baked with toppings, like in oysters Rockefeller or Bienville, invented at Antoine’s. Here are our favorite places for oysters in New Orleans.