Uptown Chinese and Japanese cuisine in a funky interiorTake a date to Luvi, and you’ll be guaranteed a topic of conversation over the colorful plating, fresh dishes, and bright decor. Chef Hao Gong’s inventive Shanghai cooking offers more than just adventurous dining. Dishes like pork and ginger dumplings or a raw bar selection of seared tuna and black caviar will give you something to discuss if your date night conversational skills fail you.

A former donut shop, LUVI is a small, lovely restaurant with bespoke woodwork and pops of bold colors and patterns. The pan-Asian menu, not common in NOLA, includes Japanese dishes, plus some favorites from the chef’s hometown of Shanghai. Try the Lion’s Head, a savory crab-and-pork meatball in bone broth; the Mala Holla, spicy slices of beef; and Chef Hao’s Mama’s Dumplings (his actual mama’s recipe).

Walking off busy Tchoupitoulas Street and into the colorful calm of Luvi is like stepping into another world. But this world is lush with Japanese and Shaiganese dishes, which the restaurant quietly introduced to the city years ago, and have thankfully become more common since. Order a bunch of things and you’ll soon happily lose count as plate after plate arrives.

Luvi is one of the best restaurants to open in New Orleans in the last few years, a petite and colorful Uptown cottage where chef Hao Gong wows with his mastery of Japanese and Chinese cuisines. Gong, who worked for years at Sake Cafe, delivers raw and nearly raw fish paired with the likes of cucumber and yuzu vinegar and pink dragon fruit, as well as Shanghai comfort food like dumplings, dan dan noodles, and bam bam chicken. The menu changes often, but can always be counted on for a range of hot and cold delights.

Located in a former donut shop in a small and colorful cottage in Uptown, LUVI features food from the chef's hometown of Shanghai and other Chinese and Japanese-inspired fare. While the menu changes often, expect staples like dumplings and dan-dan noodles and raw bar items like ceviche and sashimi. Try the dragon boat, with fresh seared tuna, black caviar, and smoked soy sauce, or one of several vegan-friendly dishes, like spicy stir-fry bean curd with jalapēno, red onion, and black bean chili.

Named one of the best Chinese restaurants in New Orleans by wanderlog.com, this intimate eatery dishes up a winning menu of creative Chinese & Japanese dishes with a spin. Chef Hao Gong’s sushi might be the restaurant’s main claim to fame, but his Chinese creations are equally sensational, particularly the Shanghai baby back ribs and the featherlight, beef and caramelized onion dumplings served in a lightly curried broth. Choose between dining in, delivery or curbside pickup.

5236 Tchoupitoulas St | Garden District/Uptown | luvirestaurant.com. This restaurant is not exclusively for vegan and vegetarian dishes, but LUVI does a phenomenal job making their menu vegetarian- and vegan-friendly with a tantalizing selection of Chinese and Japanese fare. Homestyle Shanghai cooking combines effortlessly with modern Japanese cuisine in order to create the perfect fusion of staple East Asian flavors, all of which is enjoyed in an intimate space.

Designed by Jennifer Wade, the wife of chef Hao Gong, the design is loud-in-a-good-way—turquoise walls, floral-printed chairs, and abundant use of print and texture. All of it hints at the deeply complex, fun-to-eat food coming out of the kitchen. The restaurant is named for chef Gong’s two kids Lulu (Lu) and Violet (Vi), and the menu fuses both the chef’s heritage (Gong was raised in Hong Kong) and his Japanese culinary training.

Though not exclusively a vegetarian restaurant, LUVI caters to vegans and vegetarians with a lovely selection of Chinese and Japanese dishes. Start with an appetizer, like the smashed cucumbers or five scented edamame, before diving into the vegan lover dumplings with pan fried bok choy, mushrooms and green bean noodles, or the spicy stir-fried bean curd with jalapeño, red onion and black bean chili.

Another industry favorite, chef Gong has built a reputation for both creative flare and meticulous quality with Luvi. On top of a slew of Asian-themed vegetable and meat dishes, Gong has some of the most compelling seafood in the city. Try the fried tuna meatballs, any of his various fish-collar specials (including the hamachi), or his rotating raw bar specials.

LUVI serves an interesting mix of Japanese/American fusion dishes during dinner hours out of a cute former house on Tchoupitoulas Street. From raw bites to fried favorites, this menuhas items that you've definitely never heard of. There are even a few vegan options like the pan-fried vegan lover dumplings with bok choy, mushrooms, and green bean noodles.

Luvi is a modest, energetic Uptown cottage where Chef Hao Gong wows customers with his expertise in both Chinese and Japanese cuisine. The Shanghai comfort dishes like bam chicken, dan dan noodles, and dumplings are among Gong’s specialties as she spent many years working at Sake Cafe. She also excels at cooking meals that contain raw or nearly raw seafood.

While LUVI’S chef’s choice tasting menu may be the star of this beautiful little spot on Tchoupitoulas Street, I’d surely be scolded for leaving out mama’s dumplings. No surprise, chef Hao Gong’s dumplings get their name from his mother’s secret recipe. These one bite wonders are stuffed with crabmeat, pork, and crunchy water chestnuts.

- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (20 reviews)- Detailed ratings: Food (5.0/5), Service (5.0/5), Value (5.0/5)- Type of cuisine: Japanese, Asian- Price: $$ - $$$- Address: 5236 Tchoupitoulas St, New Orleans, LA 70115-1812- Read more on Tripadvisor

– Rating: 4.5 / 5 (20 reviews)– Detailed ratings: Food (5.0/5), Service (5.0/5), Value (5.0/5)– Type of cuisine: Japanese, Asian– Price: $$ – $$$– Address: 5236 Tchoupitoulas St, New Orleans, LA 70115-1812– Read more on Tripadvisor

5236 Tchoupitoulas StNew Orleans, LA 70115 +1 504 605 3340 Visit Website See Menu Open in Google Maps. The Luvi Restaurant, established in May 2018, is a modern Asian eatery specializing in Chinese and Japanese cuisine.

5236 Tchoupitoulas St, New Orleans, LA 70115Phone: 504-605-3340 Visit Website. View this post on Instagram. A post shared by Pass The Everything (@passtheeverything)