NEW ORLEANS – Open this week, Chef Ashwin Vilkhu introduces The Kingsway. The team behind the restaurant says The Kingsway is a contemporary Asian fine dining restaurant located in Uptown New Orleans. Named for the Vilkhu family’s first American home on Kingsway Drive in the New Orleans suburb of Gretna, Vilkhu says it is both tribute and transformation – a restaurant that honors heritage, migration, and memory, weaving together a colorful tapestry of foodways from across the Asian diaspora.
“It was in that modest home that Ashwin absorbed a kaleidoscope of influences, laying the foundation for his culinary perspective. In 2025, he and his father, Arvinder, were co-nominated for a James Beard Foundation Award for “Best Chef: South” in recognition of their work at Saffron. The Kingsway is Ashwin’s first solo endeavor.
Food
Chef Ashwin Vilkhu’s menu at The Kingsway is said to be an imaginative retelling of his third-culture upbringing, celebrating Asia’s rich culinary diversity with seasonal ingredients and refined technique. Inspired by the vibrant cultural tapestry of Singapore—where diverse Asian influences converge—the four-course prix-fixe menu bridges family tradition with modern expression. Signature dishes include Salt-Baked Gulf Shrimp with cabbage and onions; Tuna Solera, pounded thin and served with Ashwin’s five-year chili sauce and sticky rice; and Peking-style Duck Breast à l’Orange with honey and pineapple. Refrigerator Noodles, featuring Hong Kong-style preparation, shrimp, and black garlic, and Crab, Brie & Champagne Soup with lime, red chili, and curry leaf hearken back to formative flavors from his youth. For more casual dining, the bar offers à la carte options including Hamachi sashimi with pickled ginger and aged chili sauce and Buta-Kim featuring pork belly, kimchee, and poached egg.
“Growing up, I was exposed to so many flavors—the ones my parents brought from New Delhi to America, the bounty they were always serving when they entertained, the global cuisine from my dad’s career as a hotelier, the fresh Vietnamese and Chinese foods across New Orleans,” said Vilkhu. “At The Kingsway, I want to honor all these memories, bringing them together once again as they were at my family table.”
Beverage
The Kingsway’s beverage program seamlessly integrates Asian ingredients and culinary techniques, led by Bar Manager (and trained chef) Colin Williams. Drinks like the Golden Hour—featuring scotch, wok-roasted scallion, honey, ginger, lemon, egg white, and salt—showcase his bold approach, while the Special Delivery reimagines the Ramos gin fizz with Thai tea cream and tequila. Sommelier and General Manager Taylor Adams curated the wine list with a focus on selections that unexpectedly complement and uplift the layered, umami-rich elements of Asian cuisine. An emphasis on Old World wines is coupled with bottles from lesser-known regions with their own storied history, such as Georgia, Slovenia, and Hungary. Rounding out the beverages is an à la carte tableside tea service featuring a curated selection of Chinese and Taiwanese teas.
Design
Interiors by FAROUKI FAROUKI are guided by a refined 1980’s aesthetic. The restaurant’s design recreates the feeling of that first family home on Kingsway Drive without literally reproducing the era, instead achieving a sophisticated interpretation through organic minimalism and thoughtful details. The floor plan honors the communal feeling of gathering around a kitchen table by creating distinct, intimate seating areas, while the warm, subdued palette of golden hour light comes to life with natural materials and patinaed finishes. Soft, curved surfaces throughout—from the full bullnose detailing in the millwork to the curved banquettes—evoke lived-in comfort while hand-blown and cast glass light fixtures add organic texture. In lieu of art on the walls, framed family photographs allow the food to take center stage.
Reservations & Hours
The Kingsway is open Tuesday through Thursday from 5 – 9:30 p.m. and Friday + Saturday from 5 – 9:45 p.m. Reservations are available on OpenTable.
4201 Magazine Street, New Orleans, LA 70115 | kingswaynola.com | @thekingswaynola