Global Cream Puff Sensation Beard Papa’s Opens in New Orleans

A Japanese-founded bakery chain with more than 500 locations across the globe has opened in New Orleans, after the two now-franchisees tried its world-famous cream puffs in Texas. Thu Le and her husband Hung Cao opened Beard Papa’s at 4712 Magazine Street on Saturday, June 26, as first reported by Gambit.

Beard Papa’s is known for its light and flakey cream puff, where the choux pastry shell is covered in a pie crust and filled with a mixture of whipped cream and custard. Customers can create their own by choosing their shell and custard filling, which comes in flavors like vanilla, green tea, and chocolate, as well as seasonal specials like pumpkin spice and mint chocolate. The New Orleans shop will also offer two unique flavors: king cake and bananas Foster. The topping choices get even more exciting: the puffs can be frosted with chocolate, strawberry, or green tea icing, as well as honey butter, crumbled cookies and cream, or sugary-crunchy almonds. Other Beard Papa’s desserts include the molten chocolate cake, cheesecakes, and creme brulees.

The now-enormous global chain was founded in 1999 in Japan by owner Yuji Hirota — the name and logo are inspired by his beard. The company has since expanded with over 500 locations across 15 countries, most recently in Austin. The New Orleans shop took over a former barre exercise studio, and the couple, who are local, commissioned a wall mural by local artist Ashlee Arceneaux Jones (also known as Small Chalk).

Beard’s Papa is open daily, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and until 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

• New Orleans’ first Beard Papa’s cream puff bakery is now open on Magazine Street [GAMBIT]