Meals From the Heart Cafe

This is a market style place, but they have an amazing vegan menu and I only wish I was hungrier. Being in New Orleans I thought I better have the Okra Gumbo which was delicious. Not the sort of thing I’d normally order and I fought the urge to go one of the amazing looking Po-boys, but glad I did! It was delicious, and light, and the small was perfect as a snack, especially accompanied by the amazing Bloody Mary, which was LOADED with edible garnishes. Loved it and the atmosphere of the market was perfect for a quick pit stop in New Orleans.

honestly so delicious. not a single miss. got okra gumbo, shrimp and grits (amazing), and the vegan red beans. we had both the regular and vegan beignets and all the food hit the spot. bloody mary was perfectly savory and spicy.

This place saved me with amazing GF gumbo and herbed GF toast! I was struggling in New Orleans, where much of the food is fried or otherwise gluten contaminated. I walked into the outdoor French Market and found this stall; Meals From the Heart. I was saved! The gumbo was full of chicken and sausage and shrimp and made me so happy I almost wept. Thank you, sweet lady at the counter, for saving me from the prospect of my choking down another GF protein bar.

Once upon a time I had a severe shell/fish allergy. Fast forward to present day, that has passed, but the taste is just very off putting, so I avoid it like the plague. Ironically enough, New Orleans is my home away from home. So when I get to my home away from home I'm on the hunt for some chicken and sausage jambalaya. And boy oh boy did this place hit a home run for me. Quick and easy in a cup, and on the go is the best way for me to eat when Im walking about the Quarter, and you can taste every bit of heart and soul in every bite. Jambalaya perfection! Tip your servers, and tip them often!

We LOVED our food at Meals From The Heart Cafe! The vegan gumbo, beans, spicy sausage, crab cake po boy and beignets were excellent. So flavorful, delicious. The food tasted like love, and the service was kind. Bonus that it’s next to a cute flea market and park.

The vegan beignets were phenomenal! Thank you so much for having a dairy free option in New Orleans! Forever going to be craving them!

I'm so happy there's an authentic place with gluten free gumbo 🙂 they have vegan, too! The gf one even came with garlic bread, that's a real treat for us celíacas. It was delicious 😋 the staff was friendly and relaxed even with the chaos of the market! Thanks y'all ! I'll be back next time I'm in New Orleans

Vegan gumbo and vegan beignets!!! Not bad! They didn’t have alot of the options we were hoping for (no fruit, etc) but nice to have an authentic New Orleans meal veganized! Not eco-friendly (the use styrofoam). Located inside the French Quarter “farmer’s market” (use that term loosely). Fast service, nice staff.

I haven't had anything taste like this beautiful crab cake in so long! The French Market, out door eatery is definitely worth your walk in the heat to get to this. "Jay" was very helpful with my questions and helped me choose the perfect lunch, which actually became my dinner, too because the food is so filling!

Food: This being my favorite vegan breakfast spot, I have eaten here multiple times. The pancakes, beignets and vegan crab cakes are delicious and among my favorite menu items. This time I tried the vegan gumbo and I loved there being an option from traditional gumbo. The gumbo has mushrooms, yellow squash and zucchini in it. My only thing was the flavor wasn't rich enough for me. Service: I have always have a pleasant encounter with the staff at the cafe. They was polite and always answer any questions I've had Atmosphere: Located in the French Market, it is very busy with people in and out of the market. You can order online and pickup order to avoid being in the most of some of the food traffic.

Located in the French market offers vegan options. Had vegan beignets and they are very comparable to cafe du monde not as sweet and size differs but overall impressive. Mimosa was typical nothing special, it's not fresh squeezed. The place is a bit overpriced but it's a tourist attraction so not shocking. If you're not vegan u can def get a better deal at the staple 4 minute walk away. Worth a try tho

The food here was great quality. They recommended anything with crab and was so glad we tried their crab cakes and crab cake po' boy. The crab cakes were fresh and packed with fresh crab meat and super flavorful. My crab cakes came on a bed of spinach and arugula and potatoes. Combined with a fruit smoothie from a couple stalls down, my tummy was happy with my lunch. The people there were very nice and made great recommendations. I didn't have any but I saw many others ordering their tacos and it looked sooo good. I was a little worried I'd be eating a bunch of heavy fried "fair" food going to a market, but what a pleasant surprise Meals From The Heart was. Excellent quality food, friendly people.

The ONLY place to get vegan beignets in New Orleans. This place is pure chaos, especially on the weekend, so be prepared to maybe not find a seat. It's located in the French Market along with other eateries and vendors. Great stop for sure on your New Orleans travels. Anyway.. knowing so, I ordered some of the beignets online to go, so by the time I wandered my way over there, they'd be ready ! And they were ! A little pricer at $10, compared to the non-vegan Cafe Du Monde $4 version. But I wanted the experience of trying some vegan fried dough puffs while in New Orleans. So here we are. They were everything I expected, plus some. Four came in the box, coated with just the right amount of powder sugar. I wish there were more in a box ! Each bite was warm and fluffy. Perfectly sweet and paired well with my last two sips of morning coffee I was lugging around. Highly recommend because I mean.. what other options do you have unless you make em yourself !

I can't say enough about Meals From The Heart where I return every chance I get when I'm visiting Nola. Last year I sat at the counter and had engaged in conversations with two young customers who are also gluten intolerant. This is a Mecca as I was diagnosed 25 years ago with celiac disease, and when I found out in 2017 that Meals From The Heart served gluten-free gumbo as well as GF crab cakes and pancakes, I showed up at 10 AM ready to have gumbo morning noon and night. I will back in May to again have their delicious GF Gumbo. Whatever food and delightful family and staff that run this oasis in the French Market.

Visited Meals from the Heart for the first time. I chose this restaurant because of a great selection of vegan options of traditional New Orleans foods. My partner tried the red beans and rice, sausage poboy, and apple pie. The red beans and rice had the same texture and consistency of the meat version. Flavor was very similar and you wouldn't miss the meat. The apple pie had a good texture and flavor. The sausage poboy was way too spicy. My partner could only eat a few bites. My shrimp poboy had a good flavor but the shrimp were very small for the price. The bread was ok but not the traditional consistency of most poboy French bread. All in all, Meals from the Heart has potential but needs to upgrade a few things. I just expected a bit more for almost $65.

Food is amazing- Vegan gumbo and beignets were amazing! Service was excellent and very accommodating.

Food was good, tasty and nicely seasoned. The red beans were flavorful even without meat BUT were lukewarm at best. Not sure how this happened since beans can be on a low fire forever, there's no reason for them to be less the hot. So can only give 3 stars. The crab cake po'boy was very good. Service was very friendly. At the French Market the ambiance is what it is. That day it wasn't crowded, easy to find a table and quite pleasant. Hot food would have earned more stars.

I had carrot juice, pancakes and grits. Very good! Service was top notch and the vegan options were solid.

Went to New Orleans and this was one of the few vegan places I could find. It's in the midst of a bunch of other restaurants. I almost missed it but when I saw vegan beignets I had to stop. The beignets were tiny but really good. And I was super excited for the vegan crab Benedict. Which was also pretty good. If you're vegan in New Orleans this is a good place to stop.

This was the best meal I had in New Orleans. My vegetarian girlfriend and I were in search of a place she could enjoy some authentic New Orleans food, and she loved her plant-based meal. I love that we were able to get totally different things - my excellently seasoned shrimp and her plant-based crab - and both feel like we'd gotten a taste of New Orleans. I tried hers and was super impressed by how well it mimicked crab! Very friendly staff as well and such a nice location around other shops. This is a place you need to prioritize going in New Orleans whether you're vegetarian/vegan or gluten-free or not. Easiest 5-star review ever.

Tried the vegan crab cake po boy and it was just ok. Given the reviews i was anticipating more. It looked great but didn't have much taste to it. Also be prepared to wait a long time for the food.

The food is to die for ! I ordered the Po boy Crab cake, it was hot fresh with their special. You need to stop by if you are in the French Market.

Was really happy to find a vegan place serving local specialties within walking distance of our hotel. However, while Meals from the Heart has potential, there was much that was disappointing here. First of all, as some other have noted, the portions are super small, considering the price. I paid $14 for the large bowl of gumbo and got maybe a cup worth of food, along with half a cup of rice. The food was also way under-seasoned, tasting not at all like gumbo -- no amount of salt would save the dish. I might have been a bit happier with the price had this been a proper restaurant, but it's in a noisy open-air market, no air conditioning, sitting on public tables while sweltering the the heat. I'd love to see Meals from the Heart succeed, but they need to reconsider their strategy.

First time have having vegan food in the NOLA & it was DEFINITELY worth it! Great food; great service! 10/10 experience

My baby's first beignets!! She was able participate in this NOLA tradition safely despite multiple food allergies thanks to the amazing service at meals from the heart. She ate them then had round 2 The location is in a covered, open air market with lots of other vendors around. This cafe has a variety of food for different diets/preferences. Their coffee & pancakes were great as well. Thank you!!

So many choices for vegan AND gluten free. Unfortunately we didn't get to try the beignets but we did get: Sausage egg and cheese sandwich. Served with a super delicious sauce. Didn't love the sausage but the egg cheese and bread were great. Red beans and rice - so good. Beyond Philly sandwich - very good. 100% will return.

i was traveling with my family in new orleans and one of my family members is vegan. i didn't want her to miss out on new orleans classic foods due to her diet and i found this place with vegan po boys! it was sooo yummy! and very filling. the person at the stall was really nice, i remember they have a stall in a farmers market so it was bustling.

These tacos were BIG and filling! There's counter service and outdoor seating right in front of the business at the French Market. Service was quick. It's pretty chill area where you can eat and people watch and maybe socialize with people from all walks of life and all parts of the world.

This business is located at an outside flea/farmer's market area. There's lots of different food choices there. Its basically a counter area that you can order your food. There's general outdoor seating available. I specifically came here from Bourbon street to get some gluten free food. There's lots of choices for those that need to eat gluten free. I got the single gf- crab cake and gf grits and a bottle of water. The cost was over $26. There was a big up charge for the gluten free items. The side order of grits were $7.50. They were ok nothing special but if you are worried about eating a strict gluten free meal it seemed legit. The single crab cake was equally ok. I'm not sure I would come back. I ate at another gluten free restaurant called Carmos I would recommend please see the review.

I wish I would've had more time to try everything but the vegan beignets were incredible!!! I will dream of these.

Wow! Healthy, vegan, gluten free food in the heart of New Orleans?! Yes please! Meals From The Heart is a much-needed compassionate restaurant in the area. They can do most of the authentic local dishes vegan and gluten free, from gumbo to crab cakes. We enjoyed some red beans and rice and a mushroom poboy. Delicious! My son loved his vegan beignets. (I'd like to see these gf!) Service was a little slow and a few dishes were clearly microwaved. The place is very pricey too. But otherwise, this little restaurant was a joy to find in the French market. Thank you, from my heart!

Eating gluten free and dairy free is tough, esp. with a zest of NOLA flair. This was an absolute find! Food: GF crab cake po-boy was awesome. Basically 2 large crab cakes sandwiches. I threw in some creole potatoes as well. Too much food for 1, but I still cleaned my plate. My only warning is that there were pieces of crab shell in the Pattie's and I definitely crunched too hard; on the bright side, must mean the crab is fresh... Service: Fine. You order at the counter, wait 15-25 min, and come back to pick up your food. Ambiance: This was not at all what I was expecting. It's a stall in an outdoor market with lots of eateries and little shops. A little cold, but great for COVID safety precautions and front row people watching. This was great solo and could be fun with a date as well. My tummy is happy I came! I might come back once more before leaving.

Restaurant pricing for small servings of bland food in a food court. We both had the Vegan Okra Gumbo​ which as your might have figured by now, was really, really, disappointing. The gumbo had no taste, it was accompanied by two rather sad slivers of a roll and a dollop of rice. There are much better choices for vegetarian in New Orleans.

Diverse menu but NO FLAVOR! BREAKFAST: eggs were overscrambled and no flavor, sausage was likely feom frozen and nothing more than breakfast sausage at a Dennys, and the prices were outrageous! Considering all the other options in this market for food, I would NEVER choose here again for breakfast. LUNCH: the worst gumbo i have ever tried- ZERO TASTE! PO BOY was overcooked and under seasoned. It was $60 for the smallest portions of food i have ever been served even in a french inspired place! With all the options in the market and surrounding- DO NOT COME HERE

First of all let me say the vegan crab cakes are delicious ( I had those many times ) ok so today we decided to get there for a vegan breakfast plate , we were trying it for the first time . First issue was we ordered 2 plates they only made one .. got the order wrong ! Second issue I kid you not it was about enough for a toddler to eat ( not even a cup of grits , maybe 1 or 2 table spoons ) $23 for a plate worth about $8 bucks. They were so selfish with the food on the plate it was literally one slice of toast ( first time I'd ever seen that usually places give 2 slices cut in half .. 4 triangles) The grits was supposed to be vegan cheese grits ... no cheese no salt .. just a tablespoon of grits.. we travel and try vegan food all over so the price isn't the issue ... I just can't believe they felt okay selling that plate for $23 .. never ever ever again. Ohhhh and vegan sausage was good , lots of flavor But never again....

The staff was great and quick with our food. The gumbo is delicious and they have plenty of vegan options.

The food was okay. The gumbo soup was bland, spicy but not cohesively flavored, and the content of the soup not impressive, either. I was a bit disappointed given the good reviews.

This was a refreshing little cafe in the market. My wife is vegan, and this was a pleasant surprise while shopping. They had vegan beignets that were light and airy. I had the red beans and rice. They were well seasoned, and if you don't like spicy, you have been warned. Personally, I thought they were fine. It's a little spicy for my wife. The food came out hot of the stove, and the wait was not long. Brook was very helpful and pleasant. We even stopped by for lunch on the way back to our bus ride. Had to grab some more beignets! I also had the shrimp po-boy. It was light and refreshing on a hot summer day! Not too much bread to shrimp ratio. Perfect little spot.

A little location in the French Market. I was drawn to its menu despite all the other food stalls. They say they use whole ingredients and minimal sodium. I have to be real careful of my diet, which is difficult on the road. Finding places like this out here is like a pirate finding treasure. I ordered the Vegan Okra Gumbo to try, gluten free style. They have a traditional one as well, but I settled on the vegan. When I placed my order, the gentleman asked if I had adverse reactions to gluten. I suppose they can help make sure of cross contamination. The flavor of the gumbo is great. There were lots of veggies in my bowl. I feel it an amazing substitute for traditional gumbo minus the fishy-ness. As far as I can tell, the gumbo itself is already free of gluten. The extra gluten free option is to swap out the bread. It is pricey for the meal itself and then to make it gluten free is a few dollars more. So pricey, I couldn't get myself to order anything else, like the apple pie that looked so delicious. Nevertheless, I was really full after the gumbo. Even when little fingers stole my bread slices, it was plenty to make my tummy happy.

Went here with my family and we all loved the food! I got the vegan sausage, egg, and cheese and it was definitely one of the best vegan breakfast sandwiches I've had. The staff were really friendly and it's cool to explore the market nearby.

I was worried about coming to New Orleans and being able to eat traditional foods. I'm not a vegan or vegetarian, but not a big meat eater and cannot eat fish, which really rules out most restaurants here. But this place was AMAZING! I was able to eat gumbo and it was delicious and filling. The staff was courteous and accommodating. In the middle of the French market, which provided the perfect Nawlins ambience, it was a great spot to stop for a drink and a meal. Fabulous! Bon Appetit!!

This is a wonderful little spot for vegan lunch in the French Market. I had vegan gumbo and a vegan crab cake. My sister got vegan pancakes with vegan butter and apple sausage. I liked the vegan gumbo it was good. I didn't love it but it was tasty. Now the vegan crab cakes...those were out of this world. They were so delicious, tasty and then you add sauce...OMG. It's a must try even if your not vegan.

The French Market is always a great decision with tons of different food stalls to choose from. This particular stall has a lot of vegan options. The mushroom Philly was tasty, filling, and at least somewhat healthy. It's open air and thus fairly COVID safe.

Excellent food and good customer service. Very delicious food and more importantly it is extremely healthy. If traveling to NOLA and a vegan, this is the spot for you.

I always love to come here when I am visiting the Big Easy. The food is amazing and as a vegan, I am thrilled to know I can come to the French Market for a good breakfast! Lots of choices and friendly, helpful staff. I had a full breakfast here and can't wait to return!

The vegan crab cakes are delicious! So were the honey beignets. Definitely recommend.

Amazing vegan food in the French Market! Everything from vegan crab cakes to gumbo. Cannot say enough good things. I have never had a bad meal there and I go there a lot.

This place is great! It was my first time having a vegan/gf crab cake and I was more than impressed. I wouldn't have even guessed it was vegan if I wasn't aware. They have plenty of vegan and gluten free options for breakfast or lunch. My only complaint is wishing they were open a little earlier. Definitely check this place out for a quick bite if you're in New Orleans

Food and service were both okay, but not great. They have very good gluten free and vegan options. I had the gluten free chicken po boy, which was a good standard chicken sandwich with NOLA flair, but nothing to write home about. Gluten free beignet was more like cake than donut. My partner got the vegan gumbo, which he said was fine but a bit bland. It was fun to eat in the bustling market though, with lots of other shops to look at. Plenty of seating too.

French market browsing found an excellent spot for the Vegan and carnivore to enjoy! The establishment has an excellent menu for vegans. There was so much variety it was had to choose. But I finally decided on the blue berry pancakes, carrots and orange juice and vegan beignets. So far the first time you g to New Orleans I had a chance to eat a New Orleans tradition. Ok do it's not Cafe Du Monde However they don't offer that option so this is great for me The service was excellent and the food was on point The tacos my daughter ordered where huge and filling. Stuffed with lots of leafy greens avocado chicken and salsa We were both surprised when the meals came out the portions were huge. Tacos looked like burritos instead of tacos, food was extremely good!

Gluten free beignets were amazing! So if you're in town check them out, you won't be disappointed.

Service was extremely slow. Waited over 45 mins for a vegan beignet that I never got. I asked for a refund because I didn't want to wait any longer... so they gave me my money back. But they kept the tip for the meal I never got. Nice.

Amazing !!! Only got a crab cake but I loved it and everything on the menu looked great. I love how many vegan options they had. The cashier was also super nice and helpful. Def recommend !

Vegan crab cakes were tasty and spicy sausage po boy was good as well. It's great that the city finally has options for vegetarians!

We are just 2 beats away from hitting NOLA aNd I cannot contain my excitement to learn theses ladies are still doing their amazing thang here in the French Market!! I had to scroll alll the way back in time (circa 2014') on my hard drive to find this pic I took of them stealing my heart away the first time I ate at MFTH! Lord I hope tomorrow is my luck day and I get a chance to swing by say hi and get something yummy to eat. It's been soo many years since I've eaten here so I can't recall what I even got but obviously they cook with magic cuz they don't age one bit!!

*Disclaimer* I am not vegan, nor am I a vegetarian but I must say this place is delicious. Get the "crab cakes"!!! Legit good flavors and texture. Loved it!

Amazing service and delicious food! I am Gluten Free and there is a huge selection of Gluten Free, Vegan, Halal, and Dairy Free options. The owner got to talk to us and is very passionate about serving healthful foods in a safe environment to prevent cross contamination. The GF gumbo was incredible and my spouse got the crab tacos and was blown away.