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Lilly's Cafe

4.3 (985 reviews)
ModerateVietnamese
Closed Closed
Updated 2 months ago

Order Lilly's Cafe Takeout or Delivery

Lilly's Cafe Photos

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LILLY'S CAFE ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Casual
Good for groups
Good for kids

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Recommended Reviews - Lilly's Cafe

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Reviews With Photos

Lemongrass chicken with Jasmine rice
Kim H.

I had a hankering for lemon grass chicken today and the aroma of jasmine rice. The rice was so nice. But the lemongrass chicken was so dry. I added the sauce to it to try to liven it up but to no avail. It was just dry. So....... I will order the amazing pho next time. The pho is always spot on.

Ahra J.

Let me say I was not my best when visiting Lily's cafe but just what I needed after my wedding night! Cured the hangover right away with their delicious pho!! The broth was soothing and not overly salty and well balanced! The noodles were perfect and the meat ratio was generous! The bahn mi was also delicious with just the right amount of crunch and softness. The summer roll was also perfect, and again the ratio of filling was generous!! The restaurant got packed fast as this was around lunchtime but there were a fair number of customers getting carry out too! I would highly recommend getting there earlier if you can. Lily herself even came by to check on everybody and greeted everyone despite how busy it was!

Derian D.

Fresh ingredients and a solid broth. Meat portion a bit smaller than you may typically see but still left satisfied. Small cafe but constantly busy so be ready to potentially share a table with others and wait a bit.

Beef rice dish
R. H.

Best viet food I've had in a while. Service was good. However, we were initially charged for four extra shrimp roll. Lily apologized saying it was busy. I like the ambiance. The shrimp rolls were good, as were shrimp and pork vermicelli. Dad-in-law had rice dish. Liked the place won about 30 awards.

Menu
Crystal P.

This place was recommended to me by a friend, and I loved everything about it. Quick service, friendly environment, and great food. The perfect trio. Would eat here anytime!

Ken W.

Small and homey spot with welcoming staff and a cute decor. The chicken pho had a rich multi-layer broth, both fragrant and nourishing. The strawberry in the Lilly roll was a refreshing twist; the accompanying sauce was excellently sweet and nutty.

Bun with spicy shrimp
Amber W.

This was my second visit and I enjoyed it as much as the first. I tried the bun spicy shrimp this time and I think this will be my regular. Service is quick and friendly. You seat yourself but are helped right away. Great for lunch. Good portion but not overly filling.

Helen N.

After eating so many Cajun food in NOLA, this was a nice palate to switch up on! Food was solid and just what I needed! Service was great! Luckily there was no wait but it did get busy quickly!

James J.

With the cold temps, I was needing some warm soup and have been wanting to try Lilly's since I first heard about it 10 years ago. The hot pho tai hit and warmed me right up. The rolls which are filled with grilled pork, shrimp, jalapeños and lettuce, were good but they came out of the kitchen a little too quick for me to believe that they were just made. Maybe I'm wrong but just made me wonder. Ambiance is nice for a casual date night but also family friendly as the owner was engaging with the toddler at a nearby table. Prices are reasonable. All that being said, I would go back.

Rainbow Roll

Great place . food is excellent. , service is great , prices are reasonable Spicy shrimp pho and Rainbow roll soo good

Spicy Tofu Salad
Matt J.

I'm a sucker for a dedicated vegetarian menu, so the extensive offerings at Lilly's were a strong start that was only exceeded by the food itself. The Spicy Tofu Salad was an outright winner with tofu actually seasoned (unlike the bland raw tofu included in similar dishes at other restaurants). It was the star of the show but the dressing included on the side (some kind of soy vinaigrette) took it to the next level. While I won't take a star off, the dish would be even better if the salad under the tofu was more of a dark leafy green combo which would even better complement the protein. That said, it couldn't take away from the excellent flavor of the tofu and dressing. The salad was spicy but not to the extent that it detracted from the flavor. The dining room is a touch chaotic but only in that it is a popular place that is turning over quickly with enthusiastic patrons. It is more energetic than frenzied. Similarly the service is brisk but the efficiency and quality justify the no-nonsense approach. We'll certainly be back whenever we return to New Orleans.

Gabrielle W.

every. single. item. was TASTY! No lie, this is the best chicken pho that I have ever had. The broth was extremely flavorful, the noodles cooked to perfection, the chicken was tender and jalapeños added that extra spice! Yum! I only added a dab of siracha & hoisin cause it was so good as is. The crispy shrimp egg rolls were very tasty, crunchy & flaky! Additionally, the dipping sauce was so perfectly sweet. My partner also really enjoyed her rice chicken dish with a fried egg. The staff was very friendly, attentive, and quick! We were in & out on a Saturday at lunch time within 30 minutes. Prices are great for the value. Great spot, I'll be back-- especially for the chicken pho. Phewww :)))

Tofu & veg bun (vermicelli bowl)

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Ask the Community - Lilly's Cafe

Are there gluten free options or can dishes be made gluten free?

Yes there are rice dishes. You should confirm this with your waiter.

Is there outdoor dining available?

No, only indoor dining

Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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4.4(586 reviews)
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Located off a main road. There's a large parking lot to park. I saw a lot of reviews and thought…read moreto swing by to try out as I was in the area. The moment we stepped inside the bakery, we were greeted right away. Staff were fast and friendly. Staff help assorted us with any questions we had. Bought some foods to try. I tried the cold cut banh mi. It was good. Bread was crispy and lots of filling. Bought some taro, white bean, black bean, corn desserts (Che) and jelly to try. All were delicious especially on a hot day. Bought some pastries which were limited at the end of the day. Got some chaud pork with onion, crawfish pie, meat pie, baked bao which all had great pastry taste, but the filling wasn't the greatest for me I guess. So, I did come back another day and got some pate chaud with bbq pork. Now that was delicious to my taste buds! I tried the green combo bánh bao and that was delicious as well!

This king cake generates the most buzz, and people wait early in long lines at Zuppardo's to get…read moreone. For me, it's way too sweet, although that can be said of many other popular king cakes....so to each their own. I do appreciate the strong cinnamon flavor and tender crumb. But I wouldn't wait in line for it. Still, Dong Phuong is one of the truly iconic king cakes of New Orleans as it looks different than anything else on the market. I was very happy to try it and thankful for the family friend who stood in line to get one.

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Mopho - Beef pho

Mopho

3.9(921 reviews)
4.0 miMid-City
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I had been to New Orleans since 1987 to attend JazzFest until my near death and rebirth in 1999…read morewith Celiac disease about 6-7 times. After I was diagnosed with Gluten Intolerance as a foodie I thought my culinary life was over and one of the many, but not only joys, of going to Nola is the food. I was reluctant to go and then a bit later 20 years ago Katrina hit this great city. When I did return my reluctance of going due to my food restrictions was born out, but the fact that the people in New Orleans fry everything, including water. Besides jambalaya and some fresh fish, I couldn't eat anything. However, due to a friend who was born in New Orleans, grew up in New Orleans and lives half of the year there with her family involved in the restaurant business, Pat introduced me for a number of chefs and one in particular, Michael Gulotta, who modified dishes or even made me specially dishes that were gluten free. Every time I went to New Orleans, I tried to go to his two Vietnamese Cajun restaurants, MoPho and Maypop. Michael Gulotta, chef-owner at Mopho and Maypop was born and raised in New Orleans. Michael began cooking in local restaurants at a young age. After graduating from the Chef John Folse Culinary Institute, he joined the newly opened Restaurant August. Gulotta then took leave to train in the Italian Riviera and Germany's Black Forest. When Hurricane Katrina hit, Michael returned home to help rebuild and assist with August's re-opening. He was named chef de cuisine in 2007 and led the award-winning kitchen for six years, while establishing relationships with local farmers and purveyors. He opened his first restaurant, MOPHO, in January of 2014 with his brother, Jeffrey Gulotta, and high-school friend, Jeffrey Bybee. Located in New Orleans' Mid City, MOPHO was a true neighborhood restaurant and a destination for Southeast Asian inspired cuisine utilizing the Louisiana pantry. In its first year MOPHO was nominated for America's Best New Restaurant by Bon Appétit magazine and named Restaurant of the Year by New Orleans Magazine. In 2016 Michael was named one of Top 30 Chefs to Watch in the nation by Plate Magazine, A New Orleans Rising Star by Starchefs, a Best New Chef by Food & Wine magazine, and Chef of the Year by New Orleans Magazine. In 2017, his team opened its second full-service restaurant, Maypop, in the Central Business District of New Orleans. Maypop was named a Top 5 Best New Restaurant by The Times Picayune, A Best New Restaurant by New Orleans Magazine, a New Orleans Top 20 Restaurants by Condé Nast Traveler, and a New Orleans' Top Ten Restaurants for 2019, by Brett Anderson. Michael has also been a semifinalist for The James Beard Awards Best Chef South for the past four years. Most recently, his team opened a second MOPHO location in the new Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport. On my trip to New Orleans this past May, I was saddened to learn that Michael was closing MoPho and Maypop, casualties of the so difficult business of owning a restaurant I know all too well. After JazzFest one evening on MoPho's second to last day, Pat and I went to pay our respects and I got to thank Michael for his kindness showing me there was culinary life after my diagnosis not only at his restaurant but when he catered the main stage at JazzFest, but he also introduced me to more fusion possibilities which I have incorporated in some of the food I make. On the last day of Maypop, my brother Jeff and I dined at Maypop, Michael's more upscale joint which served delicious food and not to be undone, after both closed on that Sunday in May, I saw the MoPho at the airport right in front of my terminal to fly home and I got the greatest wings on the planet to fly home with: CRISPY CHICKEN WINGS WITH NUOC MAM CARAMEL. I have no idea what exactly that is except Cajun chicken spices with a Vietnamese caramel sauce that is unparalleled in it's flavor, bite and marriage of cultures that was so good Pat would always ask for more on the side. I'm sure Michael will get back in the game at some point but I write this with gratitude to Pat for introducing me to this great Chef and to Chef Gulotta for taking the time to show me what I could eat and what modifications he could make to his food for me.

Mopho is where New Orleans and Vietnam decided to party -- and it works…read more The hot sausage buns are so good they made me want to propose marriage to a piece of bread. The OG nuoc mam caramel wings are sticky, funky, sweet chaos -- like getting mugged by deliciousness. I left covered in sauce and without a shred of dignity. 10/10, no regrets.

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Mopho - Shaken beef

Shaken beef

Mopho - Fried oysters

Fried oysters

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Pho Tran - Brisket and rare beef pho

Pho Tran

4.6(118 reviews)
0.1 miLower Garden District

I created a Yelp account just to leave a review. I've had a…read moreton of Pho Ga all over the country but this is hands down the best I've ever had, generous portion of the chicken - also super tender. But the broth?! The broth, was pure delicious. How they impart that much flavour into a chicken pho I want to know the secret of. I'd happily buy a couple gallons and take it him to Boston. Service was quick and friendly as well, but with a broth like that, it didn't even register.

This was a random dinner for us in NOLA. We were originally supposed to go to Antoine's but given…read morethe cold weather and the fact that we were lethargic after some day drinking, we opted for pho and found this location in the Garden District. It's a no-frills operation and the food is a solid four stars. No fireworks here, but if it's a decent bowl of pho you're looking for, then you will find it here. FYI there is no booze. We started with a few fried pork rolls that were The Usual but fine. One of us got the beef broth with veggies, and she appreciated that there was some bok choy and mushrooms thrown in there in addition to the typical carrots and broccoli. The broth is definitely flavorful. The rare steak pho was thinly sliced and seemed OK, and our daughter was happy with her wonton pho. Service is speedy albeit not necessarily warm. But the soup is hot, and on a cold day, nothing really beats that. Four satisfied stars.

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Pho Tran - Seating area- too many people, so I took a ceiling pic hee

Seating area- too many people, so I took a ceiling pic hee

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Banh Mi Boys

Banh Mi Boys

4.2(159 reviews)
1.0 miIrish Channel
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I'm back in New Orleans from Miami area and I haven't stopped talking about this place for 6…read moremonths. I had scouted this place out over yelp a while back and always meant to write this review and let me say it exceeded my expectations. I was one of the first few people after opening that day and was greeted by the nicest guy named Thomas(if you remember their name, you know they made an impression) He recommended a chicken katsu and was nice enough to bring it out to my car once it was ready. I intend to eat it at my sisters house but wanted to take a fresh nibble and OH MY GAWD the flavors were so insane, possibly the best pickled daikon and carrots on the best bread I've ever had with a bahn mi and the freshest piece of chicken, I proceeded to eat the entire think in the front seat of my car and proceeded to look at the beautifully done picture menu and debate if I wanted to go full "big back" and go for another selection, (mind you I eat off the kids menu most days and still don't finish my food). Safe to say I went back in and complimented Thomas' recommendation and locked in an order for another one! I called my sister immediately after ordering and GUSHED about how amazing my food was and that I've basically just been sitting in my car eating food for the last hour which caused me to go back in for her bahn mi! I made a point to go last thing before I left town last time and can't wait to crack through more of the menu!

I ordered a subway sandwich that was just delicious. The staff was very kind and helpful suggesting…read moresomething new. The sitting area was relaxing with window front view to sidewalk for "people watching". I enjoyed my visit and returned twice more during my 8 day stay in the neighborhood. It was recommended to me by a family member that lives close by & I Highly recommend, Also.

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Pho Tau Bay Restaurant

4.0(416 reviews)
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We walked in, grabbed a menu and walked up to the counter to order. It was only a few minutes later…read morewhen our first dish came out. Then the second and so on, each one just as fresh and hot as the last. The atmosphere was very nice and the restaurant was well kept.

I was really excited to try Pho Tau Bay for a couple reasons. I know it's a very historic…read moreVietnamese restaurant in the area, and it got shouted out on a recent Bon Appetit video by the chef at Emeril's. Both reasons for hype! Coming to the restaurant, you do have to time it right, as it closes at 7 which makes it not an option if you want a later dinner. Lunch or early dinner it is. The system here is counter service, then take a number and a tray and seat yourself. Food comes out pretty quickly, there were few other customers there at the time when I went in the early evening, and my appetizer came out within a few minutes, and my pho came out within ten minutes. I had a half order of the spring rolls with shrimp and pork, and a beef combo pho. The spring rolls were wrapped very well, with great structural integrity that made them easy to eat and dip. However, the pork was really dry and tough, and the only reason it didn't ruin the texture of the whole thing is because the pork slices were quite thin. The shrimp was fresh but also sliced quite thin to the point where it was almost not even noticeable. The wrapper was quite thick and felt like it had been left out for a while, so it was quite dry. The pho was good, but the meats were overall quite chewy and tough, and there was significantly less meat than I would expect for an extra large order. They also were pretty stingy with the herbs. I am used to there being a fair amount of onion, scallion, and cilantro in pho, and here it was like they finger-pinched the herbs in rather than grabbing a handful. Overall, it was not bad, but it was underwhelming, and I have had many better Vietnamese meals elsewhere.

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Pho Tau Bay Restaurant - Bun Thit.

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Lilly's Cafe - vietnamese - Updated May 2026

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