Garden District $$One of the more colorful additions to the local dining scene in recent years, Mister Mao provides an eclectic brunch option on Sundays from 10 am to 2 pm. With a tropical roadhouse setup just around the corner from Tipitina’s, chef Sophina Uong takes brunchers on a sensory adventure with dishes such as Red Chile Pork Chilaquiles, Kashmiri Chile Fried Chicken, and Jelly Doughnuts with cranberry-miso filling. Boozy additions range from the light (the Walk of Shame with vodka, passionfruit, rose water, and lemon) to the fiery (the Hellfire Mary combines Tabasco mash-infused vodka, tomato juice, and sport pepper).How to book: Resy

The smoke licks off the firing pans at Mister Mao, and you can watch it do so with a seat at the bar, which makes for excellent dinner theater. Grab a cocktail and travel through the contemporary takes on cuisine from across China and Southeast Asia, including ginger salad and avocado chaat. Make sure to order a round of pani puri: these little balls of airy goodness – filled to the brim with potato masala, chutney, and pickled blueberries – are like an international party in your mouth.

Brunch at Mister Mao—served Saturday and Sunday—is just as eclectic as dinner, with a frequently changing menu that reflects the mashup of global flavors this spot is known for. Start with a wild cocktail or bottomless mimosas, then choose from an assortment of small plates like Kashmiri chile fried chicken, Fairy Bread with condensed milk and fruity pebbles, coffee-smothered chickpeas, San Francisco garlic noodles and more.

Self-taught Cambodian-American chef Sophina Uong’s new Uptown restaurant, which she runs with husband and partner William Greenwell, is described as a tropical roadhouse offering globally inspired takes on the Southern larder. With a menu that changes nightly, Uong’s creativity shines in dishes such as Kashmiri chile fried chicken; wagyu steak with turmeric smothered okra; pork chorizo maque choux; chilled octopus aguachile with cerveza jelly; and Gulf shrimp with Sri Lankan coconut milk rice. Eclectic and “unapologetically inauthentic,” Mister Mao invites foodies to dine at this quirky charmer with an open mind.

It’s safe to say that Chef Sophina Uong and her husband and partner William “Wildcat” Greenwell are not the only people who had such a thought in the throes of the pandemic. In their case, though, the moment of existential weirdness and uncertainty is what led them to open Mister Mao, the “unapologetically inauthentic” “fun, spunky, tropical roadhouse” that opened on Tchoupitoulas Street in July 2021. Diners who come into Mister Mao—which is not a Chinese restaurant, despite the name’s implications (actually, it’s named for the couple’s cat)—are asked to approach the experience with an open mind.

For a taste of the exotic, venture to Mister Mao, a stylish Asian-fusion restaurant located in the Lower Garden District. Inspired by the flavors of Southeast Asia, Mister Mao offers a diverse menu of small plates, noodles, and shared dishes that are perfect for sampling and sharing with friends. Start your meal with dim sum favorites like pork dumplings or steamed buns before moving on to mains like Vietnamese pho, Thai green curry, or Korean bibimbap.

While we can't imagine that ever happening, Mister Mao is the perfect antidote for those who are tired of the classic brunch menu. This eclectic Sunday brunch spot is set in a tropical roadhouse, with the colorful, vibrant surroundings matched by a quirky, exciting menu that's never afraid to experiment. This is the place to come for mashup dishes, with brunch served on Sundays from 11 a.m.

This Asian fusion spot brings tropical vibes, glorious dinner settings, artistry, and eclecticism to Tchoupitoulas Street. The interior is pink, feminine, colorful, and maximalist, making patrons feel as though they have entered a tropical (spiked) tea party. Beyond the impressive and unique interior, the cuisine of Mister Mao is daring, served on small plates, and always yummy.

Meet Mister Mao, the tropical roadhouse that embodies quirkiness and eclecticism. Nestled in a vibrant corner of town near Tipitina’s, this enchanting spot is a haven for couples with big personalities. With its romantic small plates for sharing, Mister Mao provides the perfect setting for a unique dining experience.

If you’re looking for a quirky brunch experience, Mister Mao is the place to go. This eclectic spot serves a wide array of unique dishes with a mix of flavors. This is a good spot to try a bunch of items on the menu to share with the table (think tapas style) and whatever you order comes out on a wagon as it’s ready.

What’s cooking: The menu here changes often, but it’s always whimsical and globally-inspired. Think chile-fried chicken, jelly doughnuts stuffed with cranberry miso filling and a steak and eggs dish served with harissa. Where to find it: 4501 Tchoupitoulas St.

Other stellar, globe-trotting restaurants include Dakar Nola’s modern fine-dining Senegalese served in a communal table setting, Fritai’s Haitian favorites and Mister Mao’s delicious mishmash of global flavors and Southern influences.

This tropical bistro boasts an eclectic, rotating menu with global influences. The royal falooda is a dessert with blood orange sherbet, strawberries, pink peppercorn, almonds, rose jellies and vanilla milk. Reservations recommended.

This Fall 2021, we’re highlighting newly opened restaurants & bars such as Bijou, Commons Club, Lengua Madre, Mister Mao, and more, and reopened post-COVID restaurant Otra Vez.