"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
"Luvi is located on a busy Tchoupitoulas Street corner, so you might be surprised to see such a calm-looking cottage and even calmer restaurant beyond the blue door. Bring somebody who you’re fairly comfortable with so you can happily lose count of what you order without feeling too deranged. Then, get ready for plate after plate of Shanghainese and Japanese dishes, many of which are small but easily shared. Try anything from their raw bar, like cuts of seared tuna and salmon, but don’t skip the spicy dan dan noodles, which come swimming in housemade bone broth and get their heat from a touch of ghost pepper chili oil." - megan braden perry, carlo mantuano
"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 Chinese chili crisp and sunflower seeds, as well as Shanghai comfort food like dumplings, dan dan noodles, and crispy panko chicken with sweet chili sauce. Get the chef’s $60 Feed Me menu for an ethereal treat." - Beth D’Addono
"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
"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