We absolutely love celebrating Mardi Gras! And who wouldn’t when you get to experience one of the best Louisiana desserts: king cakes! During Mardi Gras, you’ll start seeing king cakes pop up just about everywhere, and we’ve found some of the most amazing hidden gems that are baking up the best king cakes in Louisiana.

1. The Ambrosia Bakery

The Ambrosia Bakery, 8546 Siegen Ln, Baton Rouge, LA 70810, USA
Management/Trip Advisor
The Ambrosia Bakery/Facebook
If you find yourself in the Baton Rouge area, you need to pop into Ambrosia and get yourself one of its amazing king cakes. They offer many different flavors, but a great option to go with is their Zulu king cake, which has coconut, cream cheese, and chocolate chips. It has some of the best king cakes in Louisiana!

Address: 8546 Siegen Ln., Baton Rouge, LA 70810

2. Atwood’s Bakery

Atwood's Bakery, 1125 MacArthur Dr, Alexandria, LA 71303, USA
HotelCalifornians/Trip Advisor
Atwood’s Bakery/Facebook
Tucked away in central Louisiana, Atwood’s has been a local favorite since 1977. Its king cakes are some of the best in Alexandria, so be sure to get one this season. If you’re in central Louisiana, these are the best king cakes near me!

Address: 1125 MacArthur Dr., Alexandria, LA 71303

3. Julie Anne’s Bakery

Julie Anne's Bakery & Cafe, 825 Kings Hwy, Shreveport, LA 71104, USA
MDNIed/Trip Advisor
Julie Anne's Bakery & Cafe/Facebook
Serving the Shreveport community since 1992, you simply have to get a king cake from Julie Anne’s Bakery this carnival season. They have dozens of different flavors, which means you’ll have to keep coming back to try them all! This is one of the best restaurants in Louisiana.

Address: 825 Kings Hwy., Shreveport, LA 70114

4. Lilah’s Bakery

Lilah's Bakery, 1718 Centenary Blvd, Shreveport, LA 71101, USA
Google Maps
Lilah’s Bakery/Facebook
When it comes to king cakes, Lilah’s knows best. They’ve been baking up some of the best king cakes in Shreveport since 2006, and you simply haven’t lived until you’ve tried one. They’ll open their doors on January 5th and stay open until Mardi Gras Day, so be sure to grab one while the seasonal treats are available. We think this is one of the best places to get king cake.

Address: 1718 Centenary Blvd., Shreveport, LA 71101

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5. Meche’s Donut King

Rickey Meche's Donut King, 402 Guilbeau Rd, Lafayette, LA 70506, USA
Google Maps
Rickey Meche's Donut King on Guilbeau Rd/Facebook
They may be known for their donuts, but the king cakes at Meche’s are quite a tasty surprise. Always fresh and delicious, you’ll find yourself back here week after week for more. These are the best king cakes in Louisiana.

Address: 402 Guilbeau Rd., Lafayette, LA 70506

6. Navarre’s Pastries

Navarre's Pastries Llc, 31545 LA-22, Springfield, LA 70462, USA
Google Maps
Navarre’s Famous King Cakes/Facebook
With a name like Navarre’s Famous King Cakes, you know they’ve got to be good. It’s been open since 2005, but owner Ernest Navarre Jr. has been perfecting his own king cake recipe for years - and you’ll be hooked after one bite because this is one of the best places to get king cake!

Address: 31545 Hwy. 22, Springfield, LA 70462

7. Poupart Bakery

Poupart Bakery Inc, 1902 W Pinhook Rd, Lafayette, LA 70508, USA
Timzorrr/Trip Advisor
Poupart Bakery, Inc./Facebook
Established in 1964, Poupart’s is the only authentic French bakery in Acadiana and it’s worth your while to take a road trip to Lafayette to give it a try. Poupart offers both traditional French king cake and Mardi Gras king cake, and you should get one of each so you can taste the difference. We think this is one of the best places to get king cake.

Address: 1902 W Pinhook Rd., Lafayette, LA 70508

8. Proina’s Deli and Bakery

Pronia's Deli and Bakery, 3021 Kirkman St, Lake Charles, LA 70601, USA
CrazyAustin/Trip Advisor
Pronia's Deli and Bakery/Facebook
This charming little family-owned and operated deli and bakery has been around since 1989, serving some of the most delicious baked goods in the area. Their king cakes are truly divine, and you’ll fall in love after just one bite. This is one of our favorite restaurants in Louisiana.

Address: 3101 Kirkman St., Lake Charles, LA 70601

Where are your favorite places to get the best king cakes in Louisiana? Let us know in the comments below! If you’re looking for more great desserts, we love these traditional Louisiana desserts.

And if you’re looking for someone to deliver king cakes, you may just find it on GrubHub!

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

More to Explore

Best King Cakes In Louisiana

Megan McDonald | January 26, 2024

What is a king cake?

King cakes are a traditional pastry associated with the celebration of Mardi Gras, particularly in New Orleans and other parts of the southern United States, as well as in various countries with Catholic heritage, like France and Mexico. The cake is named for the Biblical three kings and is tied to the holiday of Epiphany, which marks the day the three wise men visited the baby Jesus.

The king cake is usually a circular or oval-shaped sweet bread-like pastry, often braided and adorned with icing and colored sugars in the traditional Mardi Gras colors of purple, green, and gold. These colors symbolize justice (purple), faith (green), and power (gold). The texture and specific style of the cake can vary, with some resembling a more bread-like consistency and others being more similar to a cinnamon roll or a French pastry.

One of the unique features of a king cake is the small trinket, often a tiny plastic baby, hidden inside the cake. The person who finds the trinket in their slice is traditionally responsible for hosting the next Mardi Gras party or providing the king cake the following year.

Where are the best places to get king cakes in Louisiana?

Here are some of the top places in Louisiana known for their delicious king cakes:

  • Manny Randazzo King Cakes (Metairie) - Famous for their traditional cinnamon-flavored king cakes and a local favorite.
  • Dong Phuong Bakery (New Orleans) - Known for their unique and flavorful Vietnamese-style king cakes.
  • Haydel's Bakery (New Orleans) - Offers a variety of king cakes, including traditional and filled options, and they are renowned for their quality.
  • Gambino's Bakery (Multiple Locations) - A well-known bakery across Louisiana, offering a range of king cakes, including classic and filled varieties.
  • Caluda's King Cake (Harahan) - Popular for their handcrafted king cakes and a wide variety of flavors.
  • Brennan's Restaurant (New Orleans) - While primarily a restaurant, they offer a gourmet take on the traditional king cake.
  • Sucre (New Orleans) - Known for their artisanal and beautifully decorated king cakes, blending tradition with a modern twist.

These bakeries and restaurants are celebrated for their king cakes during Mardi Gras season, each offering their unique spin on this traditional pastry.

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