The traditional New Orleans confection, the king cake, is supposed to be eaten only during Carnival season from Twelfth Night to Mardi Gras Day, but that still doesn't stop some people from enjoying it all year long. The king cake wars are real, and it's hard to choose a favorite with all of the options available.
These bakeries tend to be the top of the list when it comes to talking about who makes the best king cake. If you'd like to get a super fresh king cake straight from the bakery, these are the most popular spots in town to find one.
Best King Cakes NOLA Has To Offer
1. Dong Phuong Bakery
14207 Chef Menteur Hwy., (504) 254-0214
dpbakery.com

Dong Phuong Bakery, a gem in New Orleans East, has become a local legend for its exceptional king cakes. Their unique Vietnamese-French fusion approach to this Mardi Gras staple has created a cult following, with customers willing to brave long lines and early mornings to secure their prized pastry.
While the original cinnamon flavor remains the crowd-pleaser, adventurous palates can explore a variety of enticing options including cream cheese, pecan, strawberry, almond, and coconut. To manage the overwhelming demand, Dong Phuong has implemented a smart distribution system, partnering with other locations for cake pick-ups. However, with daily sell-outs common before noon and purchase limits in place, securing your Dong Phuong king cake requires strategy and early rising.
2. Manny Randazzo King Cakes
3515 N. Hullen St., Metairie, (504) 456-1476
randazzokingcake.com

Manny Randazzo's King Cakes has become a true New Orleans institution, transforming from a traditional bakery into a king cake powerhouse. The bakery's popularity extends beyond the carnival season, with their Christmas king cakes becoming a coveted treat for holiday gatherings. However, it's on January 3 each year when the real magic begins, as Manny Randazzo's unveils its eagerly anticipated Mardi Gras king cakes to throngs of devoted customers.
While Manny Randazzo's offers classic flavors, their Royal King Cake is the true star. This unique creation features strawberry, lemon, and apple flavors in one cake, offering a variety of tastes that embody king cake tradition. The bakery's popularity often leads to long lines of eager customers. A Manny Randazzo's king cake isn't just dessert; it's a taste of New Orleans culture in every bite.
3. Haydel's Bakery
4037 Jefferson Hwy., (800) 442-1342
haydelsbakery.com

Haydel's Bakery, a beloved institution in Old Jefferson, has earned its reputation as the go-to destination for traditional king cakes during Carnival season. Their attention to detail has cemented Haydel's status as the "ultimate traditional king cake" in the eyes of many loyal customers. The bakery has surprised and delighted patrons in the past by infusing some of their king cakes with unexpected flavors like Jameson Whiskey and Kahlua, showcasing their ability to blend classic techniques with modern twists.
Their menu boasts an impressive array of filled king cakes, including praline pecan, cream cheese, strawberry cream cheese, German chocolate, and brownie chocolate chip. For those who prefer a unique texture, the "Da Parish King Cake" offers a delightful crunch with its sugar-topped crust, which is baked to crispy perfection.
4. Sucre
Multiple Locations
shopsucre.com

Sucre is a quaint confectionary located at four different locations in New Orleans, and they specialize in everything that can be made with sugar and edible glitter. For the Carnival season, Sucre releases king cakes that have a slightly more cake-like bread topped with beautiful white icing and glittering colored sugar. It's one of the prettiest king cakes you will ever see, and they're always bakery-fresh.
Sucre is happy to share their king cakes
and other confections with the entire country. They offer nationwide shipping
so that you can send some Mardi Gras joy to your loved ones.
5. Caluda's King Cakes
1536 River Oaks Rd. W., Harahan, (504) 218-5655
kingcakeshop.com

Caluda's is happy to feed your king cake fix year-round (even though some say you shouldn't eat king cake outside of Carnival season). They can also ship king cakes across the country through their online ordering system. This Harahan-based bakery is headed by Chef John Caluda, who is also known for the Crawfish Strudel dish found at area festivals. Clearly he's open to making non-traditional food that people can't get anywhere else.
In addition to the traditional king cake,
with or without icing, you can opt for a cream cheese-filled king cake or a
delicious praline cream cheese-filled king cake. Have you ever had a
strawberry-filled king cake? This might be the year!
6. Gambino's Bakery
4821 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, (504) 885-7500
gambinos.com

Gambino's Bakery is the go-to luxury bakery for people wanting a classic doberge cake, especially the half-lemon/half-chocolate kind. However, their king cakes also bring customers in when it's the right time of year. Gambino's happily serves king cake year round, however traditionalists always wait for Carnival season.
Gambino's has a basic king cake, but you
can choose to have no filling, one filling, or two fillings. Praline, strawberry,
or chocolate goes great with cream cheese. The fig filling and almond wedding cake
filling are show-stoppers!
7. Gracious Bakery
Multiple Locations
graciousbakery.com

There are two locations of Gracious Bakery ready to serve you something truly unique: Uptown (4930 Prytania St.) and the Garden District (2854 St. Charles Ave.). The locals love Gracious Bakery's king cakes, or rather galette des rois, because these cakes are made in a very old style. A flakey puff pastry is filled with smooth almond cream. This special king cake comes with porcelain feve instead of a plastic baby.
If you want to reserve your king cake in
advance (which is advised because they can sell out), you need to have your
order in 48 hours before your pick up time.
8. Antoine's Famous Cakes & Pastries
1300 Stumpf Blvd., Gretna, (504) 368-6222
antoinesfamouscakes.com

Antoine's Famous Cakes, located in Gretna, is always packed during Carnival, though the bakery can make their cakes year-round and ship them throughout the U.S. Antoine's didn't just get famous for their king cakes. They're well known for their queen cakes, which are fit for royalty!
The signature Queen Cake has five flavors
in one cake; each flavor has its own section. You can take a bite of apple,
cream cheese, lemon, pineapple, or strawberry filling. Adventurous eaters like
to stack the flavors for one very interesting mouthful.
9. Bittersweet Confections
725 Magazine St., (504) 523-2626
bittersweetconfections.com

Bittersweet Confections is more than a
bakery. They've got a full breakfast menu, a great lunch menu, and custom cakes
for all occasions. When Mardi Gras rolls around, the king cakes are the most
popular item. Bittersweet Confections is particularly proud of their chocolate
king cake that has chocolate on the inside and chocolate icing on the outside.
If you don't like regular king cake, you can still enjoy the season with a typical cake that has been beautifully decorated with Mardi Gras colors. It will be so tasty that no one will lodge a complaint about it not being traditional.
10. Hi-Do Bakery
439 Terry Pkwy., Terrytown, (504) 366-6555
facebook.com/hidobakery

New Orleans natives will often say that Hi-Do Bakery's traditional king cake is reminiscent of McKenzie's king cakes. It's simple and sweet, and that's all you really need. Hi-Do Bakery has also been known to make single-serving croissant versions of their popular king cake. Those would be great for an office gift so that you can skip cutting one large cake into slices.
Maybe what makes Hi-Do's king cakes so good
is that the founder, Mr. Ha Do, immigrated to the U.S. and eventually settled in
New Orleans. He asked his customers exactly what they wanted, and he made his
confections and pastries to their liking.
The Most Popular King Cake Bakeries in Greater New Orleans
If you can't find your favorite king cake at one of these
bakeries, then you may not be a big fan of king cake. There's a reason that
these places are always packed during Mardi Gras; they love making king cakes,
and they put their own spin on this local treat so that they can stand out
among the crowd. They are all a part of the amazing history of king cakes and will be for years to come!
Did we miss the best king cake bakery in town? Let us know what
it is and what's so good about their king cake.