Mardi Gras is tomorrow, and that means it’s time to eat. Trying to make it feel like New Orleans in Chicago? Here are some of the best spots around the city to enjoy traditional dishes 🦞 🍩 🥪
King Cake
This treat is a staple of Mardi Gras tradition, featuring a small plastic baby hidden inside the pastry — the person who finds it is said to have good luck for the next year.
Scafuri Bakery | 1337 W. Taylor St. (Little Italy)
This bakery has it all, including king cakes for your Mardi Gras celebration. They’re even running extended hours today from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Chicago Pastry | 142 N. Bloomingdale Rd (Bloomingdale)
This patisserie is open on Fat Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. They serve 14 different types of paczki and king cakes. You can choose almond, cinnamon cheese, or plain king cake in two sizes: a 12” one for $9.99 and a 16” one for $30.99.
Gumbo, Jambalaya, & Po’boys
Unfortunately, we can’t live on cake alone. Here’s where to get your fill of the classic soup, sandwiches, and rice dishes.
Big Jones | 5347 N. Clark St. (Andersonville)
Serving up classic Southern dishes, Big Jones also offers a Mardi Gras lunch and dinner menu with po’boy sandwiches, jambalaya, and gumbo. Why not try them all?
Luella’s Southern Kitchen | 4609 N. Lincoln Ave (Lincoln Square)
This Southern restaurant has been serving Chicago since 2015. Try the chicken and sausage gumbo, the catfish po’boy, or the shrimp and grits. And if you’re hankering for a sweet treat, they also have beignets.
Ina Mae Tavern | 1415 N. Wood St. (Wicker Park)
There’s still time to join in on the fun at this restaurant. Today, they’ll host a Mardi Gras pop-up featuring $5-off hot plates and $12 po’ boys. On Fat Tuesday, there will be live music, a shrimp boil, and more.
Daisy’s Po-Boy & Tavern | 5215 S. Harper Ave (Hyde Park)
This spot has nine different po’boys you can try. I’m personally going for the spicy sausage with lettuce, tomato, mayo, and pickles. To wash it all down, try the Mardi Gras Punch made with coconut rum, peach schnapps, pineapple, and orange juice.
Seafood Boil
If you’ve got a crowd to feed, it’s time to bring in the seafood boil. Customize your boil at these spots.
Crab King | 3443 N. Broadway (Lakeview)
The Crab King offers a variety of different seafood boils, including shrimp, mussels, crawfish, clams, and more. Once you select the type of seafood you want, you can choose your preferred flavor and heat level.
The Angry Crab | 1308 N. Milwaukee Ave (Wicker Park)
This restaurant offers a build-your-own seafood boil. First, you pick the seafood, then your add-ons, then the flavor, and lastly the spice level. They also offer po’boy sandwiches.
Beignets
You knew we’d get back to desserts eventually. A beignet is made with yeast dough, cut into squares, and covered in powdered sugar, making it a delicious, fluffy treat.
Junebug Cafe | 4042 N. Milwaukee Ave (Portage Park)
This cafe is inspired by Louisiana home cooking, and they’re best known for their fresh beignets. You can also get them “a la mode” if you want them extra sweet.
La Fournette | 1547 N. Wells St. (Old Town)
Travel to France at La Fournette bakery. The Berliner Beignets are traditional French doughnuts with cinnamon sugar that can also be filled with homemade jam or hazelnut spread.
Paczki
Speaking of doughnut-like foods, many Chicagoans also know Mardi Gras as Paczki Day. These Polish, brioche-style doughnuts are often filled with custards or fruit preserves. Check out the best spots to grab this sweet.
