Dong Phuong Bakery

Dong Phuong Bakery has been baking in New Orleans East since 1982, and it is one of the best places to understand the influence of the city's Vietnamese community on New Orleans food. In 2018 the James Beard Foundation named it an America's Classic. It is a long way from the French Quarter, but food-minded visitors regularly make the trip.

The bakery is known first for its banh mi, which it describes as Vietnamese po'boys, and for the bread they are made on. The counter also sells a wide range of pastries, including crawfish pie, steamed bao, pâté sô and puff pastry meat pies, and mooncakes. During Carnival season the bakery's king cakes are among the most sought after in the city, and they often sell out quickly.

Opening hours are not published on the bakery's homepage, so check the website or contact the bakery before making the journey, especially early in the week. The bakery closes for part of the Mardi Gras period each year. For king cakes, use the bakery's dedicated king cake ordering site to reserve a pick-up time, and arrive early if you do not have an order. Bakery orders can also be placed online for local collection, and banh mi can be shipped across the country through Goldbelly.

Dong Phuong suits food lovers, budget travellers and anyone wanting to see a part of New Orleans that most tourists miss. It is an inexpensive stop, and a few banh mi and pastries make an easy picnic.

Dong Phuong is a good stop on the way to or from a swamp tour or a drive east of the city. If you are visiting during Carnival season, remember that the bakery closes for part of the Mardi Gras period, and plan king cake orders well in advance through the ordering site.

The bakery is on Chef Menteur Highway in New Orleans East, which is best reached by car, taxi or ride-share; allow plenty of time for the drive from the city centre. If you are making the trip, consider buying extra pastries to take back to your hotel. The bakery also links to a restaurant menu on its website, but check that it is current before you rely on it, as the posted version dates from 2021.