The story of the Castro sisters is one of heritage, perseverance, and the belief that food has the power to bring people together.
Born in Texas and raised in Mexico City, sisters Ana and Lydia Castro spent countless hours in their grandmother’s kitchen, where meals were never just about nourishment. Their grandmother taught them that food carries memory, culture, and love, and that even the simplest meal can heal the soul. Those early lessons would eventually shape not only their careers, but also New Orleans’s dining landscape.
Though the sisters arrived in New Orleans separately in their twenties, they each fell in love with the city’s people, culture, and cuisine. Over time, New Orleans became home. Today, they live in the Bywater neighborhood, within walking distance of the two restaurants they built together.
Chef Ana Castro’s journey to becoming one of the South’s most celebrated culinary voices has been remarkable. Driven by curiosity and a passion for learning, she traveled from Mexico City to kitchens around the world, training at acclaimed restaurants including Biko in Mexico City, Relæ in Denmark, and celebrated establishments in New York City. In New Orleans, she sharpened her craft at Coquette, earning recognition as a finalist for the James Beard Foundation’s Rising Star Award.
Her restaurant Lengua Madre redefined contemporary Mexican cuisine and garnered national acclaim, including being named one of Food & Wine’s “Best New Chefs” of 2022. Despite its success, Ana realized she wanted something more: ownership, creative freedom, and the opportunity to build a future alongside her sister.
That dream became reality in 2024 with the opening of Acamaya, the sisters’ first restaurant project. Named after a freshwater crawfish native to Mexico, Acamaya blends the flavors of Mexico City with Gulf seafood and the spirit of New Orleans. The restaurant quickly captured national attention, earning two starts from The New York Times, Esquire’s and Bon Appetit’s Best New Restaurants, receiving a Michelin Bib Gourmand distinction, and placing number 30 on North America’s 50 Best Restaurants 2026.
For Ana, the accolades are meaningful because they recognize a collective effort.
That collaborative spirit extends beyond Acamaya. In late April 2026, the Castro sisters opened Casimiro, a breakfast and lunch restaurant named after their father’s childhood nickname. Located in a sunlit corner space on Louisa Street, Casimiro offers the flavors of their upbringing: chilaquiles, tortas de milanesa, machaca with eggs, and family recipes passed down through generations. Their grandfather’s favorite breakfast lives on as the Don Manuelito, a plate of red rice, fried egg, and banana.
While Acamaya reflects modern Mexican cuisine, Casimiro embraces tradition. The sisters
built these restaurants not only to share their culture but also to create opportunities for their team.
This fall, Ana Castro will receive the Young Professional Excelencia Award from the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Louisiana, honoring her leadership, entrepreneurship, and extraordinary contributions to the culinary world. At just 37years old, she has become a nationally recognized chef, mentor, and business owner whose work bridges cultures and communities.
“On the surface, these accolades are important, as they’re great for business and our longevity as small business restaurant owners,” Ana Castro says. “However, these recognitions should be seen as what they truly are, a team achievement. Whether I’m being honored or it’s our team (being honored), it all goes back to the work we accomplish together. It’s important for our team to have their dedication to the restaurant, to each other, and to our guests honored in these various ways. It’s a different type of respect and sense of community that we do not take for granted.”
For Ana and Lydia Castro, success is measured not only in awards or accolades, but in gathering people around a table, just as their grandmother once did—and reminding them that food, at its best, brings us home.
ACAMAYA
3070 Dauphine St,
New Orleans, LA 70117
(504) 299-3477
acamayanola.com
