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Food tours in New Orleans: what to eat and which tour to book
New Orleans has its own cooking, not a regional version of American food. Creole cooking grew in the city from French, Spanish, West African and Caribbean roots; Cajun cooking came from the rural Acadian parishes to the west. Both lean on a dark roux, the 'holy trinity' of onion, celery and green pepper, Gulf seafood and smoked pork sausage. Much of the best eating is casual: po'boys in corner shops, gumbo by the cup, boiled crawfish by the pound in spring, beignets at any hour.
Use this page to decide what to eat and where. The dishes and areas below explain what each place does well and when to go; seafood is seasonal, so the timing notes matter. The tours are real listings on GetYourGuide with prices as seen when we checked; prices and inclusions change, so confirm on the booking page before you pay. Prices are in US dollars with rough euro equivalents (about $1 = €0.85–0.90).
What to eat in New Orleans
| Dish | What it is | Where to eat it | Typical price* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gumbo | Thick stew built on a dark roux with the 'trinity', usually seafood (shrimp, crab, oysters) or chicken and andouille sausage, served over rice. Gumbo z'herbes is a greens version traditionally made in Lent. | Creole restaurants in the French Quarter and Tremé, and neighbourhood po'boy shops that sell it by the cup. | roughly $8–12 a cup, $14–20 a bowl (≈ €7–10 / €12–17) |
| Po'boy | Sandwich on light, crackly-crusted New Orleans French bread, filled with fried shrimp or oysters ('dressed' with lettuce, tomato, pickles and mayo) or roast beef in gravy ('debris'). | Corner shops and neighbourhood joints in Mid-City, Uptown and the Bywater; better value away from Bourbon Street. | about $13–20 for a full sandwich (≈ €11–17) |
| Beignets and café au lait beignets | Square fried-dough pastries buried in powdered sugar, served in threes with chicory coffee and hot milk. | Cafés by the French Market and Jackson Square; the same cafés often have branches with shorter queues outside the Quarter. | roughly $5–8 for an order of three (≈ €4–7) |
| Jambalaya | Rice cooked with sausage, chicken and/or shrimp. The Creole version is red with tomato; the Cajun version is brown and tomato-free. | Casual Creole and Cajun restaurants citywide, and at festivals. | roughly $12–20 a plate (≈ €10–17) |
| Red beans and rice | Kidney beans slow-cooked with ham hock or sausage until creamy, over rice; traditionally eaten on Mondays. | Neighbourhood restaurants and lunch counters, many of which run it as a Monday special. | about $10–16 (≈ €8.50–14) |
| Muffuletta | Large round sesame loaf filled with Italian cold cuts, provolone and chopped olive salad; a Sicilian-immigrant sandwich from the old French Market area. | Italian grocers on Decatur Street in the lower French Quarter, and delis around town. | roughly $15–20 for a half, $25–35 for a whole that feeds 2–4 (≈ €13–17 / €21–30) |
| Boiled crawfish crawfish boil | Freshwater crawfish boiled with heavy spice, corn and potatoes, sold by the pound and peeled by hand. | Seafood shops and casual 'boil' restaurants, especially in Mid-City and out towards Metairie. Season is roughly January to June, peak March–May. | roughly $8–14 per pound in season, varying with the harvest (≈ €7–12); 2–3 lb is a meal |
| Chargrilled or raw oysters oysters | Gulf oysters raw on the half shell, or chargrilled with butter, garlic and parmesan. | Oyster bars in the French Quarter and Uptown. | roughly $15–30 a dozen raw or chargrilled, depending on place and happy hour (≈ €13–26) |
Where to eat: markets and neighbourhoods
French Market
City-run market at the downriver end of the French Quarter: a food court with po'boys, oysters and pralines, a farmers' market area and a flea market. It is aimed at visitors, but useful for a quick taste and close to the beignet cafés.
French Quarter
The old Creole restaurants, oyster bars, muffuletta grocers on Decatur Street and the cocktail history (Sazerac, Ramos gin fizz). Bourbon Street itself is for drinking, not eating.
Tremé and the Seventh Ward
Historic Black neighbourhoods and the home of much Creole home cooking: fried chicken, gumbo, red beans and stuffed bell peppers in family-run restaurants.
Magazine Street and the Garden District
Six miles of shops, cafés, po'boy shops and restaurants running Uptown through the Garden District, reachable by the St. Charles streetcar a few blocks away.
St. Roch Market (Marigny/St. Claude)
Restored 19th-century market hall, now a food hall with a raw bar, Creole and international stalls and a bar; near the Frenchmen Street music clubs.
Crescent City Farmers Market
The city's main farmers' market with Gulf shrimp, Creole tomatoes, satsumas in winter, cane syrup and hot breakfast vendors.
Food tours in New Orleans compared
Every tour below is a real listing on GetYourGuide or Viator, checked on 2 Oct 2026. Prices move with season and group size, so treat them as a guide and confirm on the booking page.
| Tour | Length | Price* | Group | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans: French Quarter Food History Walking Tour | 3 hours | from about $85 per adult (≈ €74) | — | First-timers who want gumbo, jambalaya and Creole history in one walk; vegetarian option available, but no gluten-free, dairy-free or vegan version. | Check dates |
| New Orleans: Combo Cocktail and Food History Tour | 4 hours | about $140–160 per adult (≈ €120–140) | — | Adults who want the city's cocktail history as well as its food; vegetarian option on request, no gluten-free or vegan option. | Check dates |
| New Orleans: Food Walking Tour & Cooking Class Experience | 5.5 hours | about $127 per adult (≈ €110) | — | Visitors with one full day who want both a tasting walk and a demo; set menu with no vegetarian, vegan or gluten-free options. | Check dates |
| New Orleans: Garden District Food, Drinks & History Tour | 3 hours | about $98 per adult (≈ €85) | max 10 | Repeat visitors or anyone who wants to get out of the French Quarter; vegetarians and many allergies accommodated with notice. | Check dates |
| New Orleans: Beyond the French Quarter Food Tour | 3 hours | about $189 per adult (≈ €165) | max 9 | Adults (21+) who want a smaller, pricier tour on Magazine Street; not suitable for vegetarians, vegans or people with food allergies. Few reviews so far. | Check dates |
| New Orleans: Cajun and Creole Cooking Class | 2–2.5 hours | from about $43 per adult (≈ €37) | — | Budget travellers, families and rainy days; a single gumbo z'herbes substitute meal for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free or seafood-allergic guests. | Check dates |
New Orleans: French Quarter Food History Walking Tour
On GetYourGuide · run by Doctor Gumbo Tours
- Length
- 3 hours
- Price
- from about $85 per adult (≈ €74)
- Included
- Up to 8 food samples at 5 eateries in the French Quarter, plus water; drinks and tips not included.
- Suits
- First-timers who want gumbo, jambalaya and Creole history in one walk; vegetarian option available, but no gluten-free, dairy-free or vegan version.
- Starts
- 310 Chartres St, French Quarter (ends near Toulouse St)
New Orleans: Combo Cocktail and Food History Tour
On GetYourGuide · run by Doctor Gumbo Tours
- Length
- 4 hours
- Price
- about $140–160 per adult (≈ €120–140)
- Included
- 4 craft cocktails and around 6 food samples (search snippets have also listed 8), water at most stops and a bottle of Louisiana seasoning.
- Suits
- Adults who want the city's cocktail history as well as its food; vegetarian option on request, no gluten-free or vegan option.
- Starts
- 115 Bourbon St, French Quarter
New Orleans: Food Walking Tour & Cooking Class Experience
On GetYourGuide · run by Destination Kitchen Tours
- Length
- 5.5 hours
- Price
- about $127 per adult (≈ €110)
- Included
- A 3-hour French Quarter food walk with 6–7 food and drink tastings, followed by a 2-hour cooking demonstration; extra alcohol and gratuities not included.
- Suits
- Visitors with one full day who want both a tasting walk and a demo; set menu with no vegetarian, vegan or gluten-free options.
- Starts
- 600 Royal St, French Quarter
New Orleans: Garden District Food, Drinks & History Tour
On GetYourGuide · run by Bon Moment LLC
- Length
- 3 hours
- Price
- about $98 per adult (≈ €85)
- Group size
- max 10
- Included
- A full meal spread over 3 stops with an alcoholic or non-alcoholic drink at each; tax and tips for servers included, guide tip not included.
- Suits
- Repeat visitors or anyone who wants to get out of the French Quarter; vegetarians and many allergies accommodated with notice.
- Starts
- Washington Ave & Coliseum St, Garden District
New Orleans: Beyond the French Quarter Food Tour
On GetYourGuide · run by New Orleans Secrets tours
- Length
- 3 hours
- Price
- about $189 per adult (≈ €165)
- Group size
- max 9
- Included
- Tastings at three Uptown restaurants and one featured cocktail; restaurant and guide gratuities, taxes and fees included.
- Suits
- Adults (21+) who want a smaller, pricier tour on Magazine Street; not suitable for vegetarians, vegans or people with food allergies. Few reviews so far.
- Starts
- St. Joe's Bar, 5535 Magazine St
New Orleans: Cajun and Creole Cooking Class
On GetYourGuide · run by New Orleans School of Cooking
- Length
- 2–2.5 hours
- Price
- from about $43 per adult (≈ €37)
- Included
- Demonstration class (not hands-on) with a 3- or 4-course Cajun and Creole meal, local beer, iced tea or lemonade, and recipe copies.
- Suits
- Budget travellers, families and rainy days; a single gumbo z'herbes substitute meal for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free or seafood-allergic guests.
- Starts
- New Orleans School of Cooking general store, French Quarter
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Street food, sit-down or a cooking class?
Street food
New Orleans has few street carts; its 'street food' is counter food: po'boys, fried chicken, Lucky Dog-style hot dogs, beignets, pralines and boiled seafood sold by the pound. Festival food (Jazz Fest, French Quarter Fest and others) is a big part of local eating, and the city allows open containers of drink on the street in plastic cups.
Sit-down meals
The old Creole restaurants of the French Quarter (some over a century old) are formal and expensive at dinner but often run good-value lunch specials; some ask for jackets in the evening. Jazz brunch is a local institution at weekends. Book dinner on Fridays, Saturdays and during festivals and Mardi Gras.
Cooking classes
Most classes are demonstrations: you watch a cook make gumbo, jambalaya and pralines, then eat a full meal. They are cheap and good fun, but if you want to cook yourself, look for listings that say 'hands-on', which cost more and run with smaller groups.
How much to budget for food
| Style | Per person, per day* |
|---|---|
| Budget (street food, markets) | $40–55 (≈ €35–48): beignets, po'boy lunch, cup of gumbo or red beans for dinner |
| Mid-range (one sit-down meal a day) | $80–120 (≈ €70–105): one or two sit-down meals with a cocktail, tax and tip |
| Splurge (tasting menus, wine) | $200+ (≈ €175+): dinner at an old-line Creole restaurant with wine |
Vegetarian, halal and gluten-free
Vegetarian & vegan: Harder than in most US cities. Gumbo, red beans, greens and jambalaya are usually made with pork, sausage or seafood stock, even when they look meat-free. Ask about stock. Several tours offer a vegetarian option only if requested at booking, and some cannot cater for vegetarians at all.
Halal: Limited. There are some halal Middle Eastern restaurants, mostly in Mid-City and the suburbs, but pork (andouille, tasso, ham hock) runs through local Creole and Cajun cooking. Seafood dishes are an option, but check for sausage and pork stock.
Gluten-free: Difficult for traditional dishes: gumbo and étouffée start with a flour roux, po'boys are on wheat bread and frying is the norm. Raw oysters, boiled crawfish and grilled fish are safer choices. Several of the tours above state they cannot offer gluten-free options.
Food scams and tourist traps to avoid
- The 'I bet I can tell you where you got your shoes' hustle in the French Quarter: a stranger bets money, then says 'you got 'em on your feet' and demands payment. Do not take the bet; keep walking.
- Oversized frozen drinks and souvenir-cup cocktails on Bourbon Street at high prices with little alcohol, or very strong ones that ruin the evening. Drink at established bars on side streets or on Frenchmen Street, and check the price before ordering.
- Long queues at the most famous beignet café by Jackson Square in the middle of the day. Go early in the morning or late at night, use the takeaway window, or try one of the other beignet cafés in the city.
- Automatic gratuity added to bills (common for groups and in tourist areas) with space left to tip again. Check the bill for 'gratuity' or 'service charge' before adding a tip.
Top tours & activities in New Orleans
Rent a car in New Orleans
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Staying near the markets saves time and taxi money — most food tours start in the old centre.
Common questions
How much should I tip in New Orleans?
As elsewhere in the US, 18–20% at sit-down restaurants is standard, and $1–2 per drink at bars. Sales tax in the city is about 10%, added on top of menu prices. On food tours, plan on $10–20 per person for the guide unless the listing says the guide's gratuity is included; some tours include servers' tips but not the guide's.
When is crawfish season?
Roughly January to June, with the best size and prices usually from March to May. Outside the season, boiled crawfish is scarce or frozen, so order shrimp or crab instead. Prices are per pound and change weekly with the harvest; most boil shops post the day's price on a board. Plan on 2–3 lb per person as a meal.
Which food tour is best for a first visit?
A 2.5–3 hour French Quarter food history walk is the best start: you taste gumbo, jambalaya, pralines and po'boys and learn how Creole cooking developed, all within a few blocks of most hotels. If you also want cocktails, the combo tour covers both. Repeat visitors get more from a Garden District or Magazine Street tour, which visits neighbourhood restaurants.
How much should I budget for food per day?
A cheap day of beignets, a po'boy and a cup of gumbo costs about $40–55 with tax. With one or two sit-down meals and a cocktail, about $80–120 is typical. Dinner at a famous old Creole restaurant or a modern chef's place runs $80–150 a person with drinks. Lunch specials at the grand restaurants are the best-value splurge.
Do I need to book in advance?
For restaurants, yes on weekend evenings and essential during Mardi Gras, Jazz Fest (late April–early May) and big conventions. Food tours with groups of 9–12 can sell out several days ahead in spring and around festivals. Most GetYourGuide listings allow free cancellation up to 24 hours before, so booking early is low-risk.
Is it safe to walk to restaurants at night?
In the busy parts of the French Quarter, Frenchmen Street and the Garden District, walking in the evening is normal, but stick to lit, busy streets and take a taxi or rideshare for longer distances or late at night, especially through quiet blocks. The St. Charles streetcar is a pleasant way to reach Uptown restaurants.
* Prices are approximate, gathered on 2 Oct 2026 from menus, markets and the booking pages linked above. They change with season and exchange rates.