Plain, doughy, and not too sweet, the Hi-Do king cake is for the traditionalist. It’s reminiscent of the McKenzie king cakes in its simplicity — no icing, just sugar on top. The bakery also offers various filled versions. Hi-Do cakes are usually sold at King Cake Hub for those who can’t make it out to Terrytown.

With locations in Gretna and Metairie, Antoine’s Famous Cakes is a locals favorite for king cakes, equally for the “queen cake,” which is stuffed and topped with all sorts of flavors and goodies. Choose from a host of versions and fillings for in-store pickup at either location or call to have them shipped.

Good luck getting a DP cake this year — the bakery’s famed king cakes, perhaps the most well-known and loved of all, are already on a waitlist for nationwide shipping during the kick-off to the 2023 season. Still, the bakery offers in-person pickup via preorder for its standard six flavors: cream cheese, pecan, cinnamon, strawberry, coconut, and almond creme, and there are a “limited” number of king cakes available every morning (except Tuesdays) for walk-in purchase — limit three per customer, and they are generally sold out by noon, says the bakery.

Manny Randazzo’s king cakes generate a cult following each year, with the Carnival season-only bakery (in operation since 1965) legend for its sweet, braided brioche topped with icing and colored sugar. You can have this definitive king cake shipped anywhere, with beads and doubloons as part of the package. There’s a “super” king cake for sale this year, boasting 40 to 48 two-inch slices.

Wishing Town has emerged as one of the most exciting bakeries in the area in the last few years, selling show-stopping desserts like green tea, durian, and taro crepe cakes; the playful Wishing Cake; and a gorgeous tiramisu, among other creations. The bakery does unique king cake flavors, offering an exciting break from the expected — made with Asian milk bread style dough; it’s topped with a glaze made from housemade cream cheese; and comes with coconut, pumpkin, or sweet red bean paste fillings. Preorder is required, call or visit the website.

Gambino’s is an old-school New Orleans bakery famous for its Doberge cake year-round. But come Carnival season the king cakes ship around the globe, with fillings aplenty (almond wedding cake, Bavarian cream, blueberry, chocolate cream cheese, pecan praline, and more). This year, the bakery is selling deals on 2 and 3-packs of cake flavors, your choice of variety.

A New Orleans childhood favorite from back in the day, Tastee has four greater New Orleans area locations and is well known for buttermilk drops, doughnuts, apple fritters, and maybe most of all, the old-school, McKenzie’s recipe king cakes in season.

The delightful Sweet Life bakery, now in its Metairie locations, has its delicate king cakes again in 2023 — one that enjoys a split identity between a classic French almond king cake and the brioche-based New Orleans king cake.

Cypress Cakes is one of the most charming new bake shops in New Orleans, opened in early 2022 by local baker Margo Robert. Like everything Robert makes, the king cakes are beautiful: full, light, rounded brioche pillows — no sad, sunken cakes here — with a thin shimmery glaze and fine sugar sprinkles. Preorder here for pickup, and keep an eye out on social about king cake by the slice for sale on upcoming weekends.

One of the city’s relatively newer favorites for king cake is Bywater Bakery, where chef/owner Chaya Conrad hits it out of the park with her Chantilly filled king cake — light, toothsome, and shot through with either blueberries or strawberries. Preorder king cakes with fillings like pecan praline, apple, azul dolce blueberry, and lemon cream, as well as special 2023 flavors, or stop by the bakery’s walk-up window to pick up.

Coffee Science is a sleeper hit for king cakes — but the Broad Street cafe makes some of the best in town. This year, it’s Venetian creme, chocolate espresso, and satsuma, all of which are topped with a thin, glaze-like icing, rather than globs of the white stuff. Order these seriously pretty cakes and pick them up during the week or drop by for first come first serve on weekends.

One of the city’s newest king cake purveyors is B Sweet, a fun N. Rampart storefront located directly across from Congo Square on the outskirts of the Quarter. Talented chef and baker Brittney Walker churns out rich, fluffy cakes in the traditional style much of the year, available for preorder online and generally available for walk-in pick up during Carnival season, especially if you’re just looking for a slice.

What did New Orleans do before King Cake Hub? It’s setting up shop at Zony Mash Beer Project on Broad Street again this year, selling some 70 varieties from the likes Bywater Bakery, Sugar Love, Zuppardo’s, Brennan’s Restaurant, and the ever-popular goat cheese and apple king cake from the now-closed Cake Cafe, perhaps one of its best-selling. Same-day pickup is available as well as local delivery throughout the New Orleans area via D’livery Nola.

You won’t miss anything with the king cakes from the all-vegan Breads on Oak — these cakes are delicious, even without eggs and milk. In addition to a traditional, the bakery nails Bavarian cream, almond cream, and strawberry cream cheese, all delicious. Order to pick up at the original location or downtown or to ship.

Beginning January 7 this year, French darling La Petite Sophie serves a gorgeous brioche king cake filled with cream cheese dotted with fresh strawberries, a traditional French galette with flaky layers and almond cream, and a special brioche galette — the three varieties will be sold on a rotating schedule, found here. The bakery is located in River Ridge, but it’s well worth the very short drive from New Orleans.

Bittersweet Confections has chocoholics in bliss with its much-lauded chocolate cream cheese-stuffed king cake. The brioche dough gets laced with cinnamon sugar, stuffed with chocolate cream cheese, and drizzled with more chocolate. Orders can be picked up at Magazine Street or for shipping 48 hours after orders are placed, depending on the selection — see options here.

Tartine flies under the radar for many, hidden near the river in the Black Pearl neighborhood, but it is an excellent choice for king cakes and a quiet lunch. King cakes are wonderful, brioche rolled with brown sugar and cream cheese, baked, and topped with the traditional icing and colorful sugar. It’s at the top of the list for many. Pickup, local delivery, and overnight or two-day shipping — with a hefty price tag — are offered.

Gracious hits it out of the park with its specialty king cakes every year, with decadent and unexpected flavors like bananas Foster and a gorgeous nectar cream that are sometimes only available for days at a time. Luckily the almond-filled queen’s cake, a galette de rois, and the traditional, versions are also noteworthy. Want to make your own? The bakery’s kit makes it easy.

Another bakery that flies under the radar, O’Delice is nestled next to a Jefferson Feed on Magazine Street. The spotless French bakery is known for perfectly executed buttercream cakes and chicken salad sandwiches. Its superior king cakes are traditionally nostalgic, laced with cinnamon, and topped with fine, crunchy granules of sugar.