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A waitress puts powdered suger on plates of Beignets at the famous tourist spot Cafe Du Monde August 24, 2006 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Beignets from Cafe Du Monde.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Where to Eat the Best Beignets in New Orleans

From sweet versions doused in powdered sugar to savory pillows filled with blue crab

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Beignets from Cafe Du Monde.
| Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Fried dough, both sweet and savory, is popular in almost every culture. In Mexico, they’re called buñuelos, dusted with cinnamon and sugar. In Italy, it’s zeppole, sweet with powdered sugar or savory with anchovy. In Nigeria, rounds of sweetened deep-fried dough are street snacks called puff puffs. In New Orleans, beignets are a calling card, craved by all and usually dusted with powdered sugar. But creative makers stuff and flavor them with all kinds of goodness. In this town, beignets are the gold standard. Below are 15 cafes, restaurants, and bakeries serving some of the best versions of this staple, from sugar-coated and stuffed with strawberry or sweet pralines to savory and filled with blue crab and cheesy crawfish.

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Cafe Du Monde - City Park

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In truth, there’s a strong argument to be made for the City Park destination of Cafe du Monde, only two years old, being a preferable stop over the original in the Quarter. Where else can you enjoy one of New Orleans’s most treasured, beautiful settings with piping hot beignets and a just-made cafe au lait in hand? Not to mention the line, if there is one at all, can’t rival the usual line at CDM downtown.

The red, green, and white Cafe Du Mondesign at City Park in New Orleans on March 10, 2022.
Cafe du Monde at City Park.
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Morning Call Coffee Stand

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Morning Call beignet fans are legion, impressed by the fried to order tender beignets offered in a paper bag, letting a person choose how much sugar to shake over the treat. Now located at 5101 Canal Street, Morning Call offers more than just breakfast, with daily specials and even Irish coffee featured.

Morning Call beignets.
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Katie's

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A family-friendly, quintessential neighborhood restaurant, Katie’s is known for straightforward Southern and Louisiana favorites, as well as brunch, a great Cuban, and the crawfish beignets: crawfish, shrimp, cheddar, mozzarella, jalapenos, and caramelized onion served with a bright dipping sauce. Winner of the 2018 Beignet Fest.

Loretta's Authentic Pralines

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When legendary chef and candy maker Loretta Harrison died in February 2022, it was a big loss for the city. Harrison ran Loretta’s Authentic Pralines, the first praline shop owned by an African American woman, pioneering praline beignets along with savory options like crabmeat or burger beignets. Loretta’s recipes live on at locations in the French Market and on Rampart Street, the latter of which is only open Thursday through Saturday (the French Market is open Wednesday through Monday).

Outside Loretta’s Authentic Pralines on N. Rampart Street. Josh Brasted/Eater NOLA

Stuph'D Beignets & Burgers

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Stuph’D Beignets & Burgers, a delightful Gentilly-turned-St. Claude Avenue restaurant, specializes in fried-to-order beignets bursting with savory or sweet fillings, from Creole crawfish, shrimp, and crabmeat; Philly cheesesteak; and BBQ beef on the savory side; and sweets including traditional, cheesecake with strawberries, and a customer favorite, the sweet potato beignet. The cheese-stuffed burgers here are great.

Cafe Du Monde French Market

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The first Cafe Du Monde opened in 1862 in a stand in the French Market, and ever since, beignets have been the cafe’s calling card. Open seven days a week, Cafe Du Monde’s menu is succinct: beignets, three to an order, doused in confectioners’ sugar; orange juice, and cafe au lait made with chicory.

Restaurant R'evolution

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Restaurant R’evolution is not a budget option, but when it’s time for a deep dive into chefs John Folse’s and Rick Tramonto’s modern take on classic Cajun and Creole cuisine, RR never disappoints. The blue crab beignets are delectable, served with a quartet of remoulades for dipping.

Cafe Beignet on Royal Street

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This is where visitors frequent if they want their beignets along with a hot breakfast in the French Quarter. Cafe Beignet has three locations, including one on Bourbon Street, and a menu of eggs, grits, waffles, and New Orleans staples including red beans and rice and etouffee.

Criollo Restaurant

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Criollo is a sleeper in the Monteleone, a spirited Creole spot with an inventive menu and solid service. The blue crab and corn beignets during jazz brunch are a super savory option, served with Cajun brown butter and remoulade. But there’s also a sweet option, served during breakfast or for dessert, of French Market-style beignets with praline sauce and strawberries.

Sam Hanna/Criollo

Copper Vine

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A massive selection of tapped wine and a changing menu of sprightly American cuisine distinguishes this Poydras Street bistro from its downtown counterparts. Copper Vine’s crawfish beignets, which are their own specialty, really, are served on a bed of pickled chow-chow with a Meyer lemon aioli. The crunchy, savory delights are served at brunch and dinner.

Beignets & More

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Adore this delightful Chalmette Vietnamese cafe that serves an extensive menu of pho, banh mi, and vermicelli. In a true New Orleans-style mash-up, it also serves excellent beignets, in orders of three regular-sized squares or the option of bite-sized, which come nine to an order. Everything is made fresh to order at this friendly strip-mall spot, including the beignets — unlike some spots in the Quarter, they don’t sit out in anticipation of orders.

Mr. B's Bakery

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Mr. B’s Bakery — not to be confused with Mr. B’s Bistro — is a West Bank staple, beloved for two things, primarily — affordable, classic breakfasts, and piping hot glazed beignets. These bad boys are fried and glazed to order, causing many to name them the best glazed beignet in town (Antoine’s is another favorite for the specialty, but doesn’t always have them). During Carnival season, beignets get the Mardi Gras treatment and Mr. B’s turns into a king cake destination.

The Vintage

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Love this French cafe on Magazine, which asks the question, “A hot beignet is a pillow of goodness, and who doesn’t love their pillow?” The menu offers plain, cinnamon, and “fancy,” filled beignets, as well as beignet bites and a savory beignet dish, but the Vintage also offers beignet specials — like a king cake beignet during Carnival. Beignets and pastries are served all day, with savory bites like boudin balls and flavored flatbreads beginning at lunch. Good cocktails here as well.

Basin Seafood and Spirits

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Basin continues to be a great neighborhood gem, reinventing and innovating in some ways but maintaining the elements that gained it a longtime base of regulars, particularly menu items. One of those is the blue crab beignet appetizer, good enough to rival any of the fine-dining versions, super light and fluffy. Don’t miss the soft-shell crab when it’s on the menu.

La Petite Grocery

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Justin Devillier was one of the first to put a savory version of the dessert staple on a fine-dining restaurant menu — La Petite’s blue crab beignets have been mimicked and recreated for years since they debuted along with the restaurant in 2007. They are light, sweet, and tender, served with a tangy, mayo-based sauce.

Cafe Du Monde - City Park

In truth, there’s a strong argument to be made for the City Park destination of Cafe du Monde, only two years old, being a preferable stop over the original in the Quarter. Where else can you enjoy one of New Orleans’s most treasured, beautiful settings with piping hot beignets and a just-made cafe au lait in hand? Not to mention the line, if there is one at all, can’t rival the usual line at CDM downtown.

The red, green, and white Cafe Du Mondesign at City Park in New Orleans on March 10, 2022.
Cafe du Monde at City Park.
Shutterstock

Morning Call Coffee Stand

Morning Call beignet fans are legion, impressed by the fried to order tender beignets offered in a paper bag, letting a person choose how much sugar to shake over the treat. Now located at 5101 Canal Street, Morning Call offers more than just breakfast, with daily specials and even Irish coffee featured.

Morning Call beignets.
Shutterstock

Katie's

A family-friendly, quintessential neighborhood restaurant, Katie’s is known for straightforward Southern and Louisiana favorites, as well as brunch, a great Cuban, and the crawfish beignets: crawfish, shrimp, cheddar, mozzarella, jalapenos, and caramelized onion served with a bright dipping sauce. Winner of the 2018 Beignet Fest.

Loretta's Authentic Pralines

When legendary chef and candy maker Loretta Harrison died in February 2022, it was a big loss for the city. Harrison ran Loretta’s Authentic Pralines, the first praline shop owned by an African American woman, pioneering praline beignets along with savory options like crabmeat or burger beignets. Loretta’s recipes live on at locations in the French Market and on Rampart Street, the latter of which is only open Thursday through Saturday (the French Market is open Wednesday through Monday).

Outside Loretta’s Authentic Pralines on N. Rampart Street. Josh Brasted/Eater NOLA

Stuph'D Beignets & Burgers

Stuph’D Beignets & Burgers, a delightful Gentilly-turned-St. Claude Avenue restaurant, specializes in fried-to-order beignets bursting with savory or sweet fillings, from Creole crawfish, shrimp, and crabmeat; Philly cheesesteak; and BBQ beef on the savory side; and sweets including traditional, cheesecake with strawberries, and a customer favorite, the sweet potato beignet. The cheese-stuffed burgers here are great.

Cafe Du Monde French Market

The first Cafe Du Monde opened in 1862 in a stand in the French Market, and ever since, beignets have been the cafe’s calling card. Open seven days a week, Cafe Du Monde’s menu is succinct: beignets, three to an order, doused in confectioners’ sugar; orange juice, and cafe au lait made with chicory.

Restaurant R'evolution

Restaurant R’evolution is not a budget option, but when it’s time for a deep dive into chefs John Folse’s and Rick Tramonto’s modern take on classic Cajun and Creole cuisine, RR never disappoints. The blue crab beignets are delectable, served with a quartet of remoulades for dipping.

Cafe Beignet on Royal Street

This is where visitors frequent if they want their beignets along with a hot breakfast in the French Quarter. Cafe Beignet has three locations, including one on Bourbon Street, and a menu of eggs, grits, waffles, and New Orleans staples including red beans and rice and etouffee.

Criollo Restaurant

Criollo is a sleeper in the Monteleone, a spirited Creole spot with an inventive menu and solid service. The blue crab and corn beignets during jazz brunch are a super savory option, served with Cajun brown butter and remoulade. But there’s also a sweet option, served during breakfast or for dessert, of French Market-style beignets with praline sauce and strawberries.

Sam Hanna/Criollo

Copper Vine

A massive selection of tapped wine and a changing menu of sprightly American cuisine distinguishes this Poydras Street bistro from its downtown counterparts. Copper Vine’s crawfish beignets, which are their own specialty, really, are served on a bed of pickled chow-chow with a Meyer lemon aioli. The crunchy, savory delights are served at brunch and dinner.

Beignets & More

Adore this delightful Chalmette Vietnamese cafe that serves an extensive menu of pho, banh mi, and vermicelli. In a true New Orleans-style mash-up, it also serves excellent beignets, in orders of three regular-sized squares or the option of bite-sized, which come nine to an order. Everything is made fresh to order at this friendly strip-mall spot, including the beignets — unlike some spots in the Quarter, they don’t sit out in anticipation of orders.

Mr. B's Bakery

Mr. B’s Bakery — not to be confused with Mr. B’s Bistro — is a West Bank staple, beloved for two things, primarily — affordable, classic breakfasts, and piping hot glazed beignets. These bad boys are fried and glazed to order, causing many to name them the best glazed beignet in town (Antoine’s is another favorite for the specialty, but doesn’t always have them). During Carnival season, beignets get the Mardi Gras treatment and Mr. B’s turns into a king cake destination.

The Vintage

Love this French cafe on Magazine, which asks the question, “A hot beignet is a pillow of goodness, and who doesn’t love their pillow?” The menu offers plain, cinnamon, and “fancy,” filled beignets, as well as beignet bites and a savory beignet dish, but the Vintage also offers beignet specials — like a king cake beignet during Carnival. Beignets and pastries are served all day, with savory bites like boudin balls and flavored flatbreads beginning at lunch. Good cocktails here as well.

Basin Seafood and Spirits

Basin continues to be a great neighborhood gem, reinventing and innovating in some ways but maintaining the elements that gained it a longtime base of regulars, particularly menu items. One of those is the blue crab beignet appetizer, good enough to rival any of the fine-dining versions, super light and fluffy. Don’t miss the soft-shell crab when it’s on the menu.

La Petite Grocery

Justin Devillier was one of the first to put a savory version of the dessert staple on a fine-dining restaurant menu — La Petite’s blue crab beignets have been mimicked and recreated for years since they debuted along with the restaurant in 2007. They are light, sweet, and tender, served with a tangy, mayo-based sauce.

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