New Orleans is the only American city where the local cuisine is its own distinct tradition, not a regional variant of something else. 20 bookable food tours below — plus the neighbourhoods and dishes the city is built around.
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The guide
New Orleans is the only American city where the local cuisine is its own distinct tradition, not a regional variant of something else. Creole and Cajun cooking emerged from a four-century mix of French, West African, Spanish, German, Italian, and Choctaw kitchens, and the result is a vocabulary of dishes that exists nowhere else: gumbo, jambalaya, étouffée, the muffuletta, the po-boy, beignets at 3am. The city eats at restaurants more than American cities its size, partly because there's a deep tradition of it and partly because Sunday brunch with a brass band is genuinely worth dressing for. The high end is haute Creole at Commander's Palace; the low end is the corner shop where the man behind the counter knows exactly how much hot sauce you take. Both are equally serious.
Where to focus
Four neighbourhoods to anchor a few days of eating
French Quarter
The original colonial grid. Café du Monde at the river end for beignets at any hour, antique oyster bars on Bourbon's edges, Creole institutions that have been there since the 1840s. Tourist-dense but the food survives.
Garden District & Uptown
St. Charles Avenue and the streetcar that runs along it. Commander's Palace anchors the centre; smaller bistros and corner po-boy shops fill in. The neighbourhood Sunday brunch is a New Orleans institution.
Marigny & Bywater
Downriver from the Quarter, less polished, more local. Small-plate restaurants, vinyl bars, the city's best new openings of the last decade. Frenchmen Street for jazz with a plate.
Tremé & Mid-City
Historically Black neighbourhoods with the city's deepest soul-food and gumbo traditions. The old Creole counters, the boulevards lined with snowball stands in summer, the brass bands rehearsing in the park.
What to eat
The dishes the city is known for
- 01
Gumbo
· A roux-based stew of seafood or chicken-and-andouille with okra or filé powder, served over rice. The single most important dish in the city. Every restaurant's version is judged against everyone's grandmother's. - 02
Po-boy
· Fried shrimp, oysters, or roast beef on a soft New Orleans baguette. 'Dressed' means lettuce, tomato, pickles, mayo. The lunch sandwich of the city; six dollars at the corner shop. - 03
Jambalaya
· Rice cooked with stock, the trinity (onion, celery, bell pepper), and any combination of shrimp, sausage, chicken, ham. The Creole version is red with tomato; the Cajun version isn't. - 04
Beignets
· Square fried dough dusted with a powdered-sugar avalanche. Eaten with chicory coffee, traditionally at Café du Monde in the French Quarter, open since 1862 and still running with the same menu. - 05
Muffuletta
· A round Sicilian-American sandwich with mortadella, salami, ham, provolone, and olive salad, on a sesame loaf. Invented in the Quarter at the start of the 1900s. Order a quarter unless you're starving. - 06
Crawfish boil
· Spring tradition. Crawfish, corn, potatoes, sausage, all boiled in a heavily-spiced pot, dumped on newspaper, eaten with hands and beer. Season is roughly January through June.
Practical notes
Meal timing, tipping, payment
Lunch noon to 2:30, dinner 6:00 to 10:00. Reservations through Resy or OpenTable for Commander's Palace and the other haute spots, weeks ahead for Saturday-night seatings. Sunday brunch is the brunch; book it. Tipping in the US is 18–20%, more for the brunch jazz brass band. Mardi Gras (late winter) and Jazz Fest (late April) raise prices and queues citywide; book lodging and tables months ahead.
All 20 food tours
Updated 2026-07-01The full list · sponsored partner links
- 01
Pirate Pub Crawl in New Orleans
A salty Pirate will lead you through some of the more questionable bars of the French Quarter. You’ll hear about the Pirates, prostitutes, sword fights, torture and just plain filthy things from New Orleans darker side o
1.5h - 02
New Orleans Street Food Tour With A Local Guide
Immerse yourself in the vibrant food culture of New Orleans with a street food tour through the iconic French Quarter. Led by a guide, explore a curated selection of eateries and hidden culinary gems, gaining insight int
3h - 03
True Crime Pub Crawl in New Orleans
This tour provides an in depth look at some of the most unnerving crimes in New Orleans history. Visit local watering holes frequented by some of New Orleans’ most notorious murderers and serial killers, all while a lice
2h - 04
Oak Alley Private Tour
This is a private tour with up to 12 passengers. You will have the chance to spend an afternoon exploring some of the most visited plantations in America, and be enlightened by a host of other attractions along the way.
5h - 05
Flavors of the French Quarter: Private New Orleans Food Tour
Step into the soulful heart of New Orleans on this 3.5-hour private culinary adventure through the French Quarter. Guided by a local food expert, you'll explore the rich history and flavors that have made this city a glo
- 06
French Quarter Shrimp Boil & Live Music
Experience the real French Quarter at Shrimp Boil Cabaret Step away from the tourist crowds and join us for a private dinner party celebrating the flavors and sounds of the Quarter. The Shrimp is sourced from local shrim
1.5h - 07
New Orleans VIP Bar and Club Crawl
Drinks and Drink Specials Our guides will get you set up with the best drink specials and VIP entry at every club! Imagine yourself walking by every person waiting to get in the club and then you get a free shot when yo
3h - 08
Crawl New Orleans: Haunted Pub Crawl & Ghost Tour
Uncover the Ghostly Secrets of the French Quarter on the New Orleans Haunted Crawl Step into the eerie history of New Orleans with this Haunted Crawl, where the past comes alive through spine-tingling tales of ghosts, h
1.5h - 09
New Orleans Delicious Donuts & Beignets: A Sweet Walking Tour
Recently voted one of TripAdvisor's top food tours in the US. Most people are familiar with Bourbon Street and the French Quarter, but many people don’t know Magazine Street, where our tour takes place and has a rich h
2h - 10
French Quarter walking Food Tour: Signature Tastes of New Orleans
Experience the oldest food tour in New Orleans with over 5000 5-star reviews! We are a family and veteran owned business. We have your table reserved, unlike other companies that serve you standing up on the side walk. W
3h - 11
New Orleans Original Seafood Tour of the French Quarter
New Orleans is the #1 food destination in the USA. The question is, are you hungry for it’s delicious seafood?! If your answer is yes then it’s time to book Tastebud Tour’s Original New Orleans Seafood and History Food T
3h - 12
French Quarter walking Food Tour Famous Flavors of New Orleans
Best in the French Quarter! Celebrating 15 Years! Most economical, Family and Veteran Owned. The oldest Food Tour in New Orleans, 5000 plus 5 star reviews ! Simply the Best Food Tour in New Orleans! We have your table re
3h - 13
NOLA Carte Food Tour: 300 Years of Flavor in the French Quarter
NOLA Carte Food Tours are the creation of Chef Keith Abel, Food Stylist for NCIS New Orleans for all 7 seasons of the hit CBS Television show. You will learn 300 plus years of culinary history. Learn about the "rock star
3h - 14
New Orleans Seafood Bar Crawl
New Orleans is most known for its unique culture, art, and seafood, and I’m excited to take you on a tour of the most popular seafood spots in the city, capturing the true essence of NOLA’s art and history. Behind every
1.3h - 15
Nola Party Bus Tour
NOLA Party Bus Tour is our unique blend of authentic culture, local history, and non-stop fun! You won’t just see New Orleans—you’ll experience it! Our tour takes you beyond the typical tourist spots and immerses you in
1.5h - 16
New Orleans Private Food Tour
Experience the best of New Orleans on this 3-hour private walking food and history tour of the French Quarter. Learn colorful history from an expert guide while stopping for bites at famous eateries. Try new foods in a s
3h - 17
Private Cultural Food Walk in New Orleans
This private culinary walking tour reveals the rich cultural heritage of New Orleans through three distinctive cuisines. Historic streets and classical architecture create an inspiring setting for a journey shaped by Fre
2h - 18
Mardi Gras Mambo Tours: Sip, Savor SecondLine
Mardi Gras Mambo Tours (MGMT) has captured the essence of what makes Nola enchanted... it's mystic art, cuisine, and of course spirits. MGMT brings brands together by creating exclusive experiences. We specialize in bran
4h - 19
New Orleans Food Walking Tour
• 2-hour food tour in the French Quarter • Learn the difference between Cajun and Creole cooking • Visit some of the most historic restaurants in the French Quarter • Enjoy tasting authentic New Orleans cuisine
2h - 20
French Quarter Tour With Breakfast Included
FRENCH QUARTER TOUR (BREAKFAST INCLUDED) Join us at Taste of Nawlin’s breakfast tour in the French Quarter where we will start the tour with a full breakfast at one of New Orleans’ most popular restaurants. We will then
2h