New Orleans Foodie Bucket List: 21 Dishes To Try Before You Die

New Orleans Food is one of America’s most diverse cuisines, with a huge variety of tasty things to eat.

The southern Louisiana city has always been a melting pot of cultures, and cuisines brought from around the globe have fused with local traditions to create some spellbinding dishes.

We wanted to round up the best of the best and create the ultimate NOLA foodie bucket list; from unique dishes to classics that you’d expect to see in all cities when visiting. All you have to do now is eat your way around the city.

You might just find yourself drooling at these pictures…

New Orleans Foodie Bucket List: 21 Dishes To Try Before You Die, How do these rankings work?

1. Steak – Doris Metropolitan

A bone in rib eye to be precise, served with bone marrow on the side and cooked to absolute perfection. This classic steak house will leave you feeling seriously contented with life.

2. Jambalaya – Napoleon House

At the corner of St. Louis and Chartres, the people-watching opportunity here is prime, as you enjoy traditional New Orleans dishes in one of the city’s most historic structures. Everybody will have their own favourite Jambalaya spot in the city but you will instantly fall in love with the whole experience of eating it here.

3. Gumbo – Madina’s 

Sebastian Mandina came from Palermo, Italy in 1898, to open the building at 3800 Canal Street as a grocery store. It has evolved since then to serve amazing Italian food (some of the best in the city) but the real winner is their Gumbo which is deep in texture and flavour.

4. Beignets – Cafe Beignet

When the whole store is dedicated to beignets and they’ve been making them for close to 30 years you know they are doing something special. An absolute melt in your mouth treat not to be missed when visiting this city and the good news is they have three locations where you can get the sweet goodness from.

5. Ice Cream – Creole Creamery

Super popular local ice cream shop with three locations around the city. Their portions are huge, the flavours big and bold and the ice cream itself wonderfully creamy and the ultimate treat.

6. Po Boys – Averys On Tulane

Great selection of this wonderful sandwich including “The Pearl River po-boy” which consists of fried Gulf oysters topped with roast beef gravy and chopped bacon. Big flavour and an absolute treat when on the menu. Superb New Orleans food.

7. Catfish – Commander’s Palace

Consistently voted as one of the best restaurants in the city and always have some wonderful catfish dishes. An example is this crispy des allemands catfish! Crispy corn fried catfish filets over blistered corn and black-beans with spicy peppers, avocado, sweet corn tartar sauce and charred pepper mayonnaise. Inventive, tasty and super fresh cooking.

8. Muffuletta – Central Grocery & Deli

Located on Decatur Street in the middle of New Orleans’ French Quarter, they are a third generation, old-fashioned grocery store founded in 1906 by Salvatore Lupo, a Sicilian immigrant who is famous for creating the muffuletta. Where better to eat this local dish than in the very spot it was invented?

9. Burger – The Company Burger

These droolworthy burgers are absolutely incredible. They make their own buns, pickles and mayo. Not only all of that, they handcut their own fries and make their own onion rings. Delicious.

10. Afternoon Tea – The English Tea Room & Eatery

100s of teas to choose from in this very English-themed old school building. The red phone boxes outside make for an ideal photo opportunity and the sweets, sandwiches and treats are the perfect bedfellow for your tea.

11. Pralines – Loretta’s Authentic Pralines

Loretta’s Authentic Pralines has been in business for over 35 years. Loretta was the first African American woman to successfully own and operate her own praline company in New Orleans. Today, Loretta’s Authentic Pralines is a thriving business with two locations. They have to be tried to be believed.

12. Tomato Sandwiches – Turkey and the Wolf

If sandwiches were art they’d be hanging these up galleries. So many to choose from when you visit and you should keep an eye on the specials but the tomato sandwich is a thing of such utter beauty and such talented simplicity that it is hard to fathom.

13. Seafood Platter – Pêche Seafood Grill

Inspired by the cooking of South America, Spain, and the Gulf Coast, Chefs Donald Link, Stephen Stryjewski and Ryan Prewitt designed Pêche Seafood Grill. With the whole gulf to source seafood from, NOLA is known for great seafood dishes but their platters in here are as good as anything in town. The best bet is a mixture of seafood and shellfish. A real treat.

14. Chargrilled Oysters – Royal House

In 2005, this historic landmark survived Hurricane Katrina when it hit New Orleans. In 2008, it was restored under new ownership, to become the new Royal House Oyster Bar and Seafood Restaurant. They serve up all sorts of tasty seafood and shellfish but the grilled oysters are out of this world in terms of taste.

15. Doughnuts – District

There’s all sorts of amazing sweet treats here, but the doughnuts are quite simply at a completely different level to anything you’ll ever have tasted before. Take these as an example of what you can expect: cheesecake filling, caramel glaze, graham cracker pie crust topping, toasted pecans, and a hot fudge drizzle!

16. Breakfast – Brennan’s

One of the plushest and most comfortable dinging rooms you will ever sit in. You could come and eat at any sitting but their breakfast is a little bit special and well worth the treat. For example, their take on the classic Avo toast: Creole Spiced Avocado, Brennan Bakery Multigrain Bread, Satsuma Vinaigrette, Pomegranate.

17. Chicken Wings – Blue Oak BBQ

Some of the best BBQ in the whole state. They cook everything low and slow and there are so many great dishes you could choose from including sandwiches and brisket. The wings though, are in a whole class of their own.

18. Red Beans and Rice – Napolean House

Owned and operated by the Impastato family since 1914 and Ralph Brennan since May of 2015 this is the one place to come and enjoy this truly unique dish. Sounds so simple when described to you but once you get a taste of it you’ll be hooked for life.

19. Snowballs – Hansen’s Sno-Bliz

When that summer heat kicks in you need a way to cool down and there is nothing that will do it for you quicker than a Snowball. Huge portions, great flavours and super friendly staff make this a must visit.

20. Blackened Catfish – Superior Seafood & Oyster Bar

A world class venue who cook this as well as anybody in the city. Wonderfully charred with a kick on the outside with big plump thick white fish on the inside. Once you’ve tried it here you’ll never want to eat it anywhere else again.

21. Shrimp And Grits – Atchafalaya

In 2008 Rachael Jaffe and Tony Tocco took the helm and shortened the name to “Atchafalaya.” The introduction of live music, signature cocktails developped what had originally been a grocery, then a bar, and finally found its stride in New Orleans’ rich culinary landscape. Their modern take on this classic is quite simply outstanding.

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