Vietnamese families who settled in New Orleans after the war reshaped how the city eats, from its bread to its crawfish boils. These four restaurants show how deep that influence runs.
1. Dong Phuong Bakery, New Orleans East
De and Huong Tran opened Dong Phuong in the early 1980s to feed the Vietnamese community in New Orleans East, and the family still runs it. The James Beard Foundation named it an American Classic in 2018. Its French loaves come out with a crackling crust and a soft interior, and they anchor 17 kinds of banh mi built with house-made meats and pickled vegetables. Restaurants across the city buy that bread, so plenty of po-boys start here.
The king cake has become just as famous, with brioche, cinnamon, and cream cheese icing and more than 60,000 sold a year during Carnival. The bakery sits at 14207 Chef Menteur Highway, opens 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and closes Tuesdays. Call (504) 254-0296.
2. Tan Dinh, Gretna
Across the river on the Westbank, Tan Dinh has built a loyal following with a long menu that goes well past pho. Regulars order the bun bo hue, a spicy beef noodle soup from central Vietnam, and banh xeo, a crisp crepe filled with pork, shrimp, and bean sprouts. Quail, green curry shrimp, and anything with spicy lemongrass also draw praise, and portions run large.
The restaurant now sits at 1705 Lafayette Street in Gretna. It serves lunch and dinner Tuesday through Thursday with a midafternoon break, stays open straight through on Friday and Saturday, and closes Sunday and Monday. Call (504) 361-8008.
3. Banh Mi Boys, Metairie
Banh Mi Boys started small, reportedly inside a gas station, and grew into one of the area’s busiest sandwich counters. Each banh mi comes on a warm, crisp French baguette with pickled vegetables, cilantro, cucumber, and house sauces. Lemongrass chicken thigh, sliced steamed pork roll, and fried tofu are favorites, and a portabella version covers vegetarians. Oyster fries and fresh spring rolls fill out the order.
The main shop sits at 5001 Airline Drive in Metairie and opens Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. The group has added a Mandeville location and announced plans for Modesto, California. Call (504) 336-1101.
4. Magasin Vietnamese Café, Uptown
New Orleans native Kim Nguyen opened Magasin on Magazine Street in 2012, and food writers credit it with kicking off the city’s wave of modern Vietnamese restaurants. After the original location closed in 2022, she reopened in 2024 just across the street, with her mother coming out of retirement to help run the kitchen.
The menu covers pho with brisket, chicken, or filet mignon, vermicelli plates with lemongrass beef or panko shrimp, and char siu pork. During crawfish season, the kitchen serves Viet-Cajun boils. Magasin sits at 4226 Magazine Street, opens Tuesday through Saturday for lunch and dinner, and closes Sunday and Monday. Call (504) 381-4533.
