Here’s a list of must-try foods in The Crescent City.
New Orleans boasts culinary traditions that wonderfully differ from anywhere else in the U.S. If you want to taste plenty of quirk combined with multicultural history, then you’ve come to the right place.
Here’s a list of must-try foods in The Crescent City, and where you should go for the best chow.
1. King Cake
Green, gold, and purple cake that is associated with Mardi Gras season, which often contains a small plastic baby (said to represent baby Jesus) symbolizing luck and prosperity.
Where to go: District: Donuts. Sliders. Brew
2209 Magazine St., New Orleans, LA, 70130
2. Hurricane Cocktail
What trip to New Orleans would be complete without a drink on the famous Bourbon Street? The Hurricane cocktail – made of rum, fruit juice and syrup – is arguably the most well-known cocktail on the most famous street in NOLA. The best place to go for it is where it was first created, at Pat O’ Brien’s Tavern.
Where to go: Pat O’Brien’s Tavern
624 Bourbon Street, New Orleans, LA, 70130
3. Coffee with chicory
Due to coffee being scarce during the civil war, chicory (root of the endive plant, a type of lettuce) was added to soften the bitter edge of the dark roasted coffee. Now, it’s a staple in New Orlean’s coffee.
Where to go: Café Du Monde
800 Decatur Street, New Orleans, LA, 70116
4. Po’Boys
Po’Boys (aka “Poor Boys”) are large ‘sub’ type sandwiches served on French bread typically including: roast beef, fried shrimp, and/or alligator meat.
Where to go: Parkway Bakery and Tavern
538 Hagan Ave, New Orleans, LA, 70119
5. Beignets
Beignets, New Orleans’ signature pastry was first introduced by the French settlers, are commonly known as a breakfast food served with powdered sugar on top.
Where to eat: Café Du Monde
800 Decatur Street, New Orleans, LA, 70116
6. Charboiled Oysters
New Orleans is known for their seafood, oysters in particular. Charboiled oysters are cooked in their shells over a grill’s fire, and topped with some mixture of butter/margarine, garlic, seasoning and cheese.
Where to eat: Acme Oysters
724 Iberville Street, New Orleans, LA, 70130
7. Fried Chicken
Fried chicken and the south go hand in hand. The best place to try fried chicken is Willie Mae’s Scotch House. A little bit of a walk/short taxi ride from the French Quarter, the food is worth the trek. Be sure to arrive early, as lines are long here!
Where to eat: Willie Mae’s Scotch House
2401 Saint Ann Street, New Orleans, LA, 70119
8. Gumbo
Creole stew originating from southern Lousiana, often made with okra, rice, chicken and/or seafood. Gumbo is found almost in every restaurant in New Orleans, but one of the best places to go is in the French Quarter.
Where to go: Gumbo Shop
630 Saint Peter St, New Orleans, LA, 70116
9. Jambalaya
A dish that is synonymous with Lousiana Creole food. The Spanish and French-influenced dish contains meat and vegetables mixed with rice, in which the meat typically includes a sausage of some sort.
Where to go: Gumbo Shop
630 Saint Peter St, New Orleans, LA, 70116
10. Commander’s Palace
While not a specific “dish” or “drink’ recommendation, the Commander’s Palace is the most popular in New Orleans. Reservations are recommended well in advance.
Where to go: Commander’s Palace
1403 Washington Ave, New Orleans, 70130
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