Mena's Palace

Absolutely loved brunch at Mena’s! The vibe is super chill and welcoming, perfect for a laid back weekend catch-up. The food is so good. I had the Cajun Pork Omelette and it was easily one of the best I’ve had crispy, juicy, and the cheese situation was next level. My friend got the shrimp and grits and didn’t stop raving about it. Also, shoutout to the staff everyone was super friendly and on point without hovering. Coffee was strong, mimosas were flowing, and we didn’t feel rushed at all. Definitely coming back. Solid five stars.

A wonderful dining experience, even though we walked in minutes before closing. (I know, I know. It wasn’t cool of us to do that, but we didn’t realize this until after we’d ordered.) We were hungry and stopped by Mena’s after looking at their menu posted outside their doors. Our server was friendly and attentive. We ordered the muffuletta and the rice and beans with sausage, the special of the day. My boyfriend doesn’t like olives, a component of the muffuletta, but even he loved my sandwich. The bread was warm but crusty and the Swiss cheese was melted over the meat with a bed of bright olives. My boyfriend’s rice and beans were hearty and warm. The large sausage made it a filling meal. Thank you to the wonderful people working there who let us in and take a seat, despite the late time of the day. We sincerely apologize for us overlooking the closing time when we went in, but we thank you for allowing us to the opportunity of having a great experience. 🙏🏽

Jade & Myra are fantastic! She knows the menu and is very kind. Great food. Kind of a "best kept secret" kind of place. Large portions. Incredible fried chicken. Best breasts in The Quarter! House dressing is made in-house and served in a shaker at your table. Cajun home fries and the tasso hot sausage are really great!

Great place! Ran into it our first day and it was amazing!!! Mira is the GOAT!! She was super kind and had awesome feedback on the menu, she was super sweet and very welcoming! Definitely a go-to place if you’re in the area! Also very amazing food!

SO GOOD! We visited 2 days back to back. The first day we did breakfast and the second day lunch. Do yourself a favor and upgrade to the cajun homefries with your breakfast or lunch, you can also order them as a side. So flavorful and perfectly cooked. The prices are very reasonable for how much food you get, however, adding flavor to iced coffee was a little steap (2 salted caramel iced coffees were $23). Try the fried chicken, even if there is a wait, trust me. It was flavorful, tender, and juicy. Jamyra was our server and she is the sweetest! The service was fast and everything was delicious.

This restaurant was recommend to my group & I by a gentleman named Michael that works at the Hotel Monteleone. I’m happy we trusted him because Mena’s was incredible! Great quality food, and service. One of the chefs even came to ask what we thought about the food! Great place! Highly recommend!

Great find for all kinds of breakfast dishes. All my plates were left clean. The home fries with cheese and Cajun Smoked Pork Tasso was delicious.

Needed to grab something quick before a tour. The food came out quick and was delicious. One of the best ham cheese and egg sandwiches I’ve had in a long time !

I always say if I ran a restaurant it would be a breakfast and lunch only place. Mena's is that kind of place and it's a formula that must be working for them. They've been doing it for over 70 years. We went with one of the daily specials. It's a lot of food for a very reasonable price. Our choice was the red beans and rice with fried chicken. It's two pieces of chicken, either breast and wing or thigh and drumstick. It also includes a side salad. More food than we could finish. It's a tight room and they use every bit of it to fit customers in. They take credit cards but like a lot of places in NOLA, cash is a little cheaper.

Our group of 4 stopped here for lunch on a weekday because it seemed to be busy, which is a good sign. And we were SO happy that we did! Our table ordered the fried chicken, pork chops, chicken parmigiana po'boy, and catfish po'boy. Everything was good, but the pork chops weren't the table favorite. The service was friendly, fast, and definitely added to the charm of mena's!

There is so many reasons to love Mena's as my family and I ate our way through the French Quarter in New Orleans. First, the warm and friendly staff! Every server knows the menu inside and out and they talk to their customers. And second, the full menu - pleases all and with a full bar on hand! The restaurant is casual and a nicely air conditioned space. Great menu options offering: breakfast till close (which is 3pm daily), sandwiches, soup and salads, as well as large entrees like pork chops and baked chicken with dirty rice. They serve many of the local staples - red beans and rice with smoked sausage, chicken fried steak, shrimp Creole and fried oysters to name a few. I had the best potato salad here and thoroughly enjoyed my muffeletta. It was served warm by request (cold is also an option). My family ordered the breakfast specialties: delicious poached eggs and ham (sliced thick), Cajun smoked pork tasso omelette - pork is rubbed and smoked with Mena's house made Tasso seasoning; comes with grits which you can order the classic style or fully loaded (Cajun style) with more pork and cheddar cheese. We did the fully loaded of course! It was so delicious. Best grits I've ever tried. This is a must try local stop. Just know they are open during the AM hours through 3pm. No dinner service. This is where the locals flock to, opened since the 1950's. Note: website looks dated but it's an updated space and menu when you're there. Located in the historic part of the French Quarter.

We stopped in for a quick po boy and had an awesome experience! My husband absolutely loved the catfish po boy (his first po boy!) and I got the cheese fries. They have a handful of cheeses you can pick from so you don't have to get stuff with American! All of the staff were so kind and full of infectious joy!!! The kind of folks you want to hug and have a drink with.

Mena's was exactly what we were looking for! We wanted just a chill breakfast spot that wasn't a tourist trap trying to over charge us for simple food. There were locals dining here and I asked them about the spot. They said they dine here all the time. Great sign right there. The Cajun style andouille sausage and cheddar omelette was ridiculously tasty! We got it with potatoes and they were so savory and delicious. The brioche French toast was not spectacular to look at but was just simple and tasty. Basically what I'd make at home. Also... we overheard people talk about the fried chicken... we don't get it but it looked amazing on the table next to us. Probably worth trying too. This place was great. Thanks Mena's Palace! Highly recommended

Being local and living close to the quarter, I don't know why we sometimes forget about this gem. I think maybe because it's a little bit off our personal beaten path, but still very easy to get to. We have never had bad service, it's always very welcoming and friendly. It's very casual and can get a bit loud and very busy with out of town visitors on the weekends, but it's still worth the visit. There is something special about their pionsetta I don't know if it's the brand of juice or the type of sparkling, but they are delicious! Bloody Mary's are good too. The omelettes are huge and full of cheese and stuffing, my favorite side is the potatoes that are grilled with onions- yum! Plates are large, so go hungry and enjoy.

Ate here as it was near the hotel where we were attending a convention. We chose an outside table as I was on a mobility scooter and I didn't see space for it inside. I had the shrimp remoulade on a salad and it was very good., although the freshly cooked shrimp wilted the greens. We also shared an order of beignets. Never made it to Cafe du Monde on this trip so I don't know how they compare, but I did enjoy them. Service was good.

It's tiny but mighty! This place serves up a delicious breakfast, with good hospitality. Whenever I'm in NOLA I eat breakfast here daily!

Location Just off Bourbon Street Parking It's New Orleans-we walked Atmosphere NOLA cafe Seating Small cafe tables Service Immediate and friendly Menu Brunch, lunch-we were there for beignets. The beignets here were so light and fluffy-very lightly dusted with 10x sugar and cinnamon- delish!! Iced tea was refreshing. The beignets base was croissanty fluffy. Summary What an AMAZING find-right on the cornet-huge menu-beignet's with cinnamon!! Loved it!!

I had breakfast here and really enjoyed it! The food was fresh and delicious, and the service was great from start to finish. Our server was super friendly and very accommodating -- they made sure everything was just how we wanted. The whole experience felt warm and welcoming. Definitely a place I'd come back to for another breakfast!

When the wait for the nearby Ruby Slipper was too long, my group of 5 decided to go to Mena's. It wasn't too busy so the staff allowed a partial group to be seated while we waited for two additional people to arrive. I ordered the veggie omelet with home fries which wasn't bad, but nothing mindblowing. My other friends also enjoyed their respective meals!

Very good breakfast and the owner Leo was a great guy to talk with. Very welcoming place.

Food was good as was the service. I appreciate the location (1/2 block from our hotel). Ambiance was nice and seemed like a place locals as well as travelers, like us, enjoy.

Really enjoyed this little restaurant. Our server was fantastic. The chicken fried steak was delicious - perfectly crispy on the outside and no gristle in the steak itself. Lots of good options with breakfast being served the whole time. Would definitely go back.

Overall adequate breakfast spot. Quick service and what you would expect from a French quarter dinette serving breakfast/brunch. However I was not enamored by the Tasso-flavored omelette finding it somewhat tasteless but satisfying given my hunger. Grits were standard and personally I could make better. Wouldn't necessarily take a pass here given charm and NOLA infused flavors, but don't go out of your way.

Mena's Palace has been one of my favorites for breakfast since my last visit to New Orleans. However, my recent trip (10/18/24) there left a little to be desired. The staff was friendly as always and we were promptly seated despite there being a wait. The restaurant and bar was busy with activity and I saw a lot of good-looking plates. It was me and four of my family members and we all got breakfast despite it being about noon. Orders ranged from breakfast plates, French toast, pancakes, spiked coffee and mimosas. Now to the food. The grits were undercooked, my eggs were under, toast was dark and my nephew's pancakes were big, thick and burnt. He sent them back. The drinks were enjoyable. I was so upset as I raved about how good of a breakfast spot they were. Most of the food was edible, but pales in comparison to my last few visits to Mena's. I still got love for Mena's, but it'll probably be a while before I call on her again.

We almost walked right past this place on a recent trip to New Orleans; I am so glad we didn't! Our waitress, Jamyra was so friendly and attentive, and she made excellent menu recommendations,too. I tried the Shrimp Creole omelette, my friend tried the French toast, and we shared an order of beignets. The French toast was so good that it didn't need syrup, the shrimp creole was savory, filling, and exceptionally satisfying, and the beignets were better than--dare I say?--Cafe Du Monde!! It was such an unexpectedly great meal that we actually came back again today and were equally impressed! Don't miss this restaurant next time you're in NOLA!!!!

First off thank you Jade for being the best waitress in New Orleans! Brunch was amazing! I went traditional and has eggs, bacon and home fries. My best friend got the muffuletta and her sister got the shrimp remoulade salad. Our drinks were bomb! And the beignets were even better ... We will definitely be back before we go!

We discovered a hidden gem where the locals enjoy eating while walking toward the French Quarter, and it turned out to be a wonderful surprise! The place is cute and cozy. The home-fried potatoes were excellent, and the French toast was perfectly portioned--not too much and not too little. We would definitely eat here again. The prices were fantastic, not to mention the service; our waitress was very attentive, friendly, and went above and beyond. Overall, we would definitely return to this charming spot.

Quality of gumbo was tasteless. Oysters PoBoy was boring. Oysters were not fresh 6 small oysters. $18! Boring gumbo : $8.95 cup This place is an institutions. Have been here many time. The worst experience. I would not return

What a great little hole in the wall. Glad we got there "early" because it started to fill up quick around 9:30. The menu was a little sparse based on what my friends described it, but totally enough selections for me. The food tasted great and was plentiful. The staff was friendly and helpful. I'll definitely be going back.

I'm strolling through the French Quarter with no plan in mind when I find Mena's Palace. It's cozy and pretty crowded on a Monday morning, so I wander inside. I pick a tiny table in the corner and begin perusing the menu. I'm not overly hungry, but French toast and grits sound too good too resist. I ordered both as sides and left no crumbs! Unbeknownst to me (I'm a tourist!), Mena's Palace does not take all credit cards. I only had one credit card with me, no cash. It happened to be one the restaurant did not take. However, the waitress kindly took my non-preferred credit card while I apologized profusely. I even offered to call my husband to come meet me. My bill was less than $15. I understand some credit card fees are higher than others, so I respect the restaurant's decision. I also appreciate so much its immediate accommodation for a free spirited tourist who wandered out with limited form of payment. Lesson learned and thank you for the food and hospitality, Mena's Palace!

Stopped in got a drink to go. Clean inside seemed like a relaxing place. Servers were all friendly

Phenomenal food, great service and the prices are fair. We hit it every time we are in Nola!

First time trying Tasso and I really enjoyed it. Reminded me of corn beef hash. Really nice staff and we got seated quickly even though it was busy. Would definitely go back again!

Oh Mena, how I miss thee. Definitely a must-go spot if you're in the Quarter, especially on days when you're trying to keep it chill. The perfect pre-flight meal, imo. My only knock is that the space if kinda tight but you get used to that in a bustling tourist area. Hands down the best grits I've ever had in my life. Literally perfect. Gumbo, fish, shrimp, salad, fried (red!) tomatoes... whatever you feel like, go ahead and order it. You will not be disappointed. Oh, and the service is warm, welcoming, and efficient. PS. The Irish coffee will get your day started in the best way!

Great experience. A classic New Orleans twist on the beloved shrimp po boy. Fried with fresh shrimp off the New Orleans coast accompanied by an enriched creamy mayonnaise and crisp lettuce. Service was also fantastic server was pleasantly friendly and swift. Overall great experience and conveniently placed on Chartres St.

Went to Mena's in October 2024, it was a last minute decision but was definitely worth it! We got pretty lucky, no line for breakfast/brunch and got seated quickly. The place was packed and filled with great aromas of southern delicacies. The restaurant is a tight squeeze, but guess that's to be expected in a busy town such as NOLA, but I have a thing about tight spaces and that was the only reason for 1-less star. Got the catfish po'boy which was delicious and their fries were amazing! The rest of my party seemed to enjoy their foods as well. Highly recommend visiting Mena's, if you're not too afraid of being up close & personal with others (;

Greek owned, well kept, very friendly. Best Bloody Mary (house made mix), I had the shrimp remoulade on fried green tomatoes appetizer. Great, fresh and hot. So much flavor in the remoulade, I lived it. I also had a side of red beans and rice, so good I am sending daughter here to try them in 2 weeks! Great place to eat out of a sea of options!!

Marvelous, A friendly atmosphere, our eggs, grits, potatoes were hot and fresh and flavorful, and we had splendid service from JADE, who doubles as a Marvel superheroine when she isn't carrying seventeen items at once. A gem. And five stars aren't enough.

Solid breakfast diner with good food, good service, and no glitz and glam. As you're walking down Chartres street, keep on walking past the polished diners with long lines out on the street. Minas had little to no wait. And the cheaper prices are a vetter value for really good diner food. We enjoyed their Cajun Tasso omelet (long smoked pork and cheddar), home fries with lots of lightly cooked onions, and a side of nice salty bacon. A hangover breakfast for sure. Top it off with some of the best coffee around and a mimosa, and we're ready to hit the street again.

I've had so many omelettes in New Orleans, but this was by far the best. My husband really enjoyed his omelette as well. The breakfast potatoes and toast were delicious. We definitely skipped lunch after this meal. The seating is first come first serve and they won't let you sit down until your entire party has arrived. No reservations. The food came out fast and hot

Great vibe. Loud crowd, but happy sounds. Breakfast for lunch - my favorite. Didn't realize breakfast was served all day. Wait staff moving quickly between the tables, quite the ballet. Tables move pretty quickly, so wait not long.

Hustling staff and quaint atmosphere. Solid food I got the brooch French toast and liked it. Line to get in was worth the wait.

Good solid food. Packed place actually. So much that for some it may make you feel a little claustrophobic. Our waitress worked very hard to handle her tables but service was a little slower than expected. Overall a great breakfast.

Small corner restaurant that serves breakfast and lunch. Like all food spots in the French Quarter, it gets pretty busy. Went on a Saturday morning, but the wait wasn't so bad. There's a small bar on the side if you want some alcohol, but most of the restaurant is taken up by the open seating area. No booths and no outside seating, unfortunately. It was crowded, but the waitstaff still managed to be attentive at all times and kept a friendly, pleasant demeanor. The breakfast menu has your traditional items, with some of your NOLA favorites. Nothing too fancy like some of the other more popular spots within walking distance. Ordered the Cajun Tasso omelet. Basically eggs mixed in with pork that's seasoned with Tasso. The pork had a smokey taste to it and wasn't salty at all. Very flavorful and delicious dish. Came with a side of home fries and bread. Not a bad price point either. If you like a no nonsense, solid breakfast spot without too much fanfare, definitely come here.

We went several years ago. My husband and I both loved it. I had roast beef poboy with cheese melted and it was delicious. Nice friendly folks in New Orleans

Delicious place to visit in the French quarter. Service was friendly & efficient. Loved the food. I've never had chicken fried steak with brown gravy & wow! It was great. The fish po boy was excellent. The side of pancake was just the right thing to finish off the meal

Great vibe, friendly service. I enjoyed some comfort breakfast food- 2 eggs, toast, and Cajun grits. It was the perfect thing after a long morning of travel.

Your typical French Quarter eatery. A good place, with solid food served by friendly waitstaff. The portion size is very good. As a vegetarian, there are fewer options buts Mena's didn't disappoint. I skipped the bread option and chose the potatoes over grits. Tomorrow I'll have grits ;) In a city known for Bloody Marys, this one was uninspired and a bit bare. In New Orleans, most Bloody Marys come with more toppings than your average ice cream shop. Mine was served without. A good option.

Wow!!! Fantastic service and delicious food! I had the BEST chicken salad I've ever eaten stuffed in a tomato and the best potato salad, the hubby had a muffuletta that he loved!! Everything was very fresh and it shows they care about the food they serve and their customers! Highly recommend Mena's!

More restaurants should be like Mena's. This is a small, unassuming place on the corner of Iberville and Chartres. We visited based on a recommendation, and we had one of the best breakfasts! We had pancakes, sausage patties, ham, and the two egg breakfast with hash browns and toast. I also had delicious drip coffee. What made this place extra special (other than the delicious, fluffy pancakes) was the excellent service. Our server was friendly and extra attentive to all of our needs. We didn't need to ask for refills, she had them there before we could even need to ask. We will definitely be back. The prices are right and the comfort food is good. Note that the restaurant doesn't take reservations and you may need to wait in line - but the line moves fairly fast. It is small and your entire party will need to be present before they seat you, which is understandable because they are busy.

The food and portions were great. The service was incredible. I highly recommend them whether it's breakfast or lunch you're going for you won't be disappointed.

Finding someplace to have brunch in the French Quarter on a Saturday is no small feat! We walked past multiple places with lines half a block long in the rain before turning the corner and stumbling upon Mena's Palace. Thankfully, we arrived when we did, because shortly after, they had a similar line. Like everything in the French Quarter, the space is fairly small. As such, they've had to get creative in the use of space. This leads to a pretty claustrophobic feel with tables backed right up to each other and the need to move your seat in and out for people to get by. Not a big deal and certainly not unique to Mena's. Our server was wonderful and very prompt. It seemed that there were only two servers on the floor, so they were pretty swamped. I ordered up a screwdriver along with the Creole shrimp omelet (asked to add feta) and a side of Cajun grits. My husband ordered the pancakes. Food came out fairly quickly, however, mine was missing the feta and the Cajun grits didn't come out. Our server quickly grabbed me the grits and I opted to just skip on the feta as I was pretty hungry. The shrimp omelet was absolutely phenomenal. The sauce totally made the whole thing. The grits were also tasty and had plenty of seasoning. My husband also enjoyed his pancakes. Overall, a good experience and we'd totally eat here again on future trips!

Every time my husband and I visit N.O,This is our everyday breakfast spot everything we've had thus far is delicious,THE FRESH FRIED CHICKEN taste's better than my Mom's and that is saying somethingIt is in the French Quarter,dine in or outside,and the great service is the sparkle of this gem

Super yummy breakfast. You got to try the grits. Great service good prices. Oh and if you like mimosa try the mango one! Go here

Came here and ordered the Cajun Tasso Omelet. The flavor was amazing thought the entire omelet. They had an adequate amount of ingredients for each bite. I chose the breakfast potatoes for the side and they were cooked to perfection. The owner of the restaurant was very nice. He came out snd spoke to us for some time while we were eating. He has owned the place for some time and you could tell he was very passionate about his work. Mother venue is small and relatively busy, but they do a good job getting the food out quickly.

Wonderful little place in the French Quarter! A great selection of dishes for breakfast and lunch. Service was excellent. Almost like a little hole in the wall restaurant, with small tables for seating. Can't wait to get back.

Wow! We met Ellie, the owner, and I felt like she welcomed us into her own home. This family owned restaurant is a gem. Ellie couldn't have been more accommodating for our party. The food was delish, really appreciate the local sourcing of food. The service top notch! Beans and rice with the fried chicken - yum!