Award-winning chef with innovative Mexican cuisine
Born in Texas and raised in Mexico City, Ana Castro grew up in her grandmother’s kitchen. Her culinary curiosity led her to study at Le Cordon Bleu, where she trained in classic French cuisine. The early stages of Castro’s career took her to India, Europe, and New York before she settled in New Orleans.
@bradleone
Sisters Build Top Mexican Cuisine Restaurant in New Orleans! ACAMAYA
Together with her sister Lydia Castro, Chef Ana brings her culinary artistry to the Bywater with this sophisticated love letter to Mexico City and coastal Mexican cuisine: ACAMAYA (meaning crawfish in Spanish). After captivating diners with her innovative tasting menus at Lengua Madre, Chef Ana (Food & Wine's Best New Chef of 2022 and a James Beard Award finalist for Best Chef: South in 2023) offers a more casual yet equally enchanting à la carte experience at ACAMAYA. The sleek, thoughtfully designed space channels the contemporary elegance of Mexico's capital while maintaining an inviting neighborhood vibe that fits perfectly into the Bywater's artistic fabric.
At ACAMAYA, Castro's refined techniques and deep understanding of Mexican cuisine shine through in every dish, creating a dining experience that feels both elevated and accessible. Here, the vibrant flavors of Mexico are reimagined through a lens that's both respectful of tradition and excitingly modern. The octopus, chochoyotes, and crab claws are all mandatory, as is a selfie at the Instagram-worthy bathroom sink.
