LUVI Restaurant

"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. Look for perfectly shaped dumplings stuffed with beef and caramelized onion, or bok choy and mushrooms. And prioritize the popular spicy dan dan noodles—they arrive swimming in housemade bone broth and get their heat from a touch of ghost pepper chili oil." - chelsea brasted, zella palmer, carlo mantuano, megan braden perry

"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. Look for perfectly shaped dumplings stuffed with beef and caramelized onion, or bok choy and mushrooms. And prioritize the popular spicy dan dan noodles—they arrive swimming in housemade bone broth and get their heat from a touch of ghost pepper chili oil." - Chelsea Brasted

"Remaining one of the most exciting restaurants in New Orleans since opening in 2018, Luvi is a petite Uptown cottage where chef Hao Gong wows with his mastery of Japanese and Chinese cuisines. Gong, who worked for years at Sake Cafe, nails dishes of 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 crispy panko chicken with sweet chili sauce." - Clair Lorell

"Housed in a small Uptown cottage on Tchoupitoulas Street, everything about Luvi feels intimate. Colorful and buzzing with excitement, this might be particularly good for a charming, low-pressure first date. Even the food encourages romance — crudo in the shape of a rose, for instance, and other similar high-touch, gorgeous details in every dish. Go for the Feed Me option, a selection of dishes by chef Hao for just $50, and to really impress, opt for the sake pairing." - Clair Lorell, Beth D'Addono

"Chef Hao Gong elevates everything he touches to another level. While his mastery with sashimi is Luvi’s calling card, his Chinese dishes, both hot and cold, are fantastic. The menu changes often but usually features heavenly curried favor dumplings — beef and caramelized onions wrapped in the featherweight dough and swimming in a lightly curried broth — as well as bang bang chicken and spicy dan dan noodles." - Beth D'Addono, Clair Lorell