Willie Mae’s NOLA

Willie Mae's is one of the names most associated with fried chicken in New Orleans. The story began in 1957, when Willie Mae's Scotch House opened in the historic Tremé neighbourhood, and the restaurant's legacy now continues at Willie Mae's NOLA on Baronne Street, on the edge of the Warehouse District and the Central Business District. The business lists a James Beard Award among its honours, appears in the 2025 Michelin Guide for the American South and has been voted America's Best Fried Chicken.

Fried chicken is the reason to come. It is the restaurant's signature, served with Southern sides. Look at the menu on the website before you go for the current sides and specials, and leave room to share if you are with a group. The weekend brunch adds a morning menu at the weekend.

The restaurant is open from 11am to 9pm on Monday and from Wednesday to Friday, and from 10am to 9pm on Saturday and Sunday, with brunch served from 10am to 3pm at weekends. It is closed on Tuesday. Reservations can be made through the website, and online ordering is available if you would rather take your meal back to your hotel. The restaurant also does catering and events.

Willie Mae's suits families, groups of friends and budget-conscious travellers who want a classic New Orleans meal without the formality of the old Creole dining rooms. It is a casual place, so there is no need to dress up. It can be busy at popular times, so book or arrive early if you can.

Weekend brunch from 10am is a good way to try the restaurant on a lazy morning, and online ordering suits travellers who would rather eat in their hotel after a long day. The restaurant also handles catering and events through its website. Groups should book ahead, and families will find the menu straightforward and easy to share between adults and children.

The Baronne Street location is within walking distance of many Central Business District hotels and of the Warehouse District museums, and it is in the same part of town as Herbsaint and Cochon. It makes a good lunch stop before or after The National WWII Museum or a visit to Mardi Gras World, or a filling first meal on arrival in the city.