I’ve always known the food in New Orleans was culturally specific to the region, but I never realized how much that would affect me until I moved out of the south. The lack of grits and beignets on breakfast menus up north was a sudden indication that I definitely wasn’t in the south anymore! It may sound crazy, but a lot of times I felt like a foreigner when I would compare the southern culture I was so used to in New Orleans to the culture I was trying to adapt to in New England. Like they say, you can take the girl out the south, but you can’t take the south out the girl. That saying couldn’t be more true, and boy did I miss my southern food when I lived up north for two years!
If you’ve visited New Orleans, I’m sure you too would agree that some of the best food you’ll ever taste can be found there. There’s so much good food that it may be hard to decide where to begin if it’s your first time visiting, so today I’ve rounded up what I like to call the New Orleans breakfast bucket list. This post could easily go on forever with hundreds of recommendations from all the best restaurants throughout the city, but I’ll do you a favor and keep it short and simple. If you don’t try anything else, make sure you at least have these New Orleans breakfast foods on your bucket list. Lucky for you, you don’t even have to travel all the way to New Orleans to get some of these, as some are popular in the south in general, but in my biased opinion, Nola is home of the best!
NEW ORLEANS BREAKFAST BUCKET LIST:
Beignets
New Orleans is famous for their beignets and they’re a must try regardless if you have them for breakfast or mid-day or late-night snack. This is our take on donuts but certainly aren’t similar. The best way to describe a beignet is a deep fried square shape of dough served warm and coated in powdered sugar. It’s not the real thing unless you get it from here!
Grits
There are original grits, shrimp and grits, cheese grits, boudin grits, crawfish grits, and the list goes on. Grits are a staple in the south and you shouldn’t judge them until you try them!
Cafe Au Lait
There’s coffee and then there’s cafe au lait. If you’re a coffee lover, you’ll definitely want to add this to your Nola breakfast bucket list. Plus it pairs perfectly with a fresh order of beignets.
Cajun Omelet
Everyone’s had an omelet before, but not everyone’s had a cajun omelet! This could be anything from a crawfish omelet, to an alligator, boudin, or shrimp omelet. Pair this with a side of grits and you’ll fit right in!
For a short and simple New Orleans breakfast bucket list, this about sums it up! Certainly there are far more options out there, but for starters I think everyone needs to cover these basic food groups first!
If all else fails, you can’t go wrong with coffee! After all, it is ranked the most popular breakfast item in Louisiana based on a recent infographic by RaceTrac, which I think sounds about right! Other popular items to note are southern chicken biscuits. There’s no wrong way to start the day, especially when it comes to food!
Thank you RaceTrac for sponsoring this New Orleans breakfast bucket list post!
Leslie says
I want to visit New Orleans so bad! It has been on my to travel list for awhile now. I think i may make that happen soon. I love beignets and i can only imagine how amazing they are in New Orleans!
candy says
New Orleans has been someplace I have always wanted to visit and explore. Plus the food is always on my list.
Robyn Proctor says
I’ve never had a beignet, but they sound amazing. A Cajun omelette sounds pretty good too.
Jessica Sheppard says
Omg…my grandparents live in New Orleans, love the food there. Breakfast is my fave meal. Beignets, grits and Cajun omelettes, yes please! Nothing like a fab breakfast but the beignets are like dessert, so yummy!
Katherine Betts says
I’m a bit of an omelette addict and I have never had a cajun one! Going to be rushing something up for lunch 😉
Jenny says
Beignets are so good. I havent had one in forever and I’m craving one.
xoxo, Jenny
Meghan says
I have never been to NOLO but I heard the breakfast there is amazing. Those beignets look DELISH.
Kelly says
You know, I didn’t have any plans to go to New Orleans… but I think I do now!! I’ll need to go on a foodie trip ASAP!
Kimberly @ Berly's Kitchen says
Yum!! Beignets from Cafe du Monde are THE BEST!! There are so many great places to eat in the French Quarter, but I have to say breakfast at Cafe du Monde was my favorite.
chelsea jacobs says
Ahhh I want to go immediately!
Shannon Mahaney says
I am going to pin this! We have friends in New Orleans and I’ve been dying to visit. Now I have to go thanks to this list!
Rachel says
Love this roundup! I’m overdue for a trip to NOLA!
Ruthie Ridley says
OMG!! All of this food looks amazing!! I want to visit these places!!
Tatjana says
Oh wow! That looks so yummy!
Makes me feel super hungry XD
Tatjana xx
http://www.fashionartista.com
Rachel says
I could spend weeks eating my way through NOLA and still never feel like I’d tried everything! There are so many delicious places to eat there!
Bobbi | Bobbi's Kozy Kitchen says
I am keeping notes so I can try these places out when I got to NOLA
Melanie @ Nutritious Eats says
I love NO! I am so sad we just moved from Louisiana and didn’t get a chance to take the kids. I haven’t been since college!
Carly Delski says
I love New Orleans! This post makes me want to go back soon!!
Angie says
All of this looks so amazing! I really want to go to New Orleans, and now I really want to eat all of this.