A TASTE OF NEW ORLEANS
Hoppen Hierarchy:★★★
District: Benson
Authentic New Orleans Cuisine
Perfect For: Casual Dining; Takeout; Lunch
Standout Dishes: Blackened Shrimp Po Boy; Soft Shell Crab Basket; Combo Basket
It’s an odd sensation to walk into an ice cream bar and find your nostrils assaulted with the unmistakable scents of fried food and Southern cooking. And yet, as you’ll discover upon your first visit to A Taste of New Orleans, it’s a welcome experience.
Chef/owner Lee Franklin Jr., who moved to Omaha from his hometown New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, has operated a food truck under the same name since 2013, introducing Omaha to the New Orleans cooking he learned from his mother and grandmother. Then in 2020, he took over some of the space in the Benson location of Ted & Wally’s, giving his restaurant a brick-and-mortar location and forming one of the more unexpected restaurant pairings Omaha has seen.
Originally, ice cream seekers were surprised to find a place serving legit Cajun cuisine in their favorite ice cream shop. But once word got out about the flavors coming out of A Taste of New Orleans’ kitchen, it became a destination of its own.
A Taste of New Orleans succeeds by executing simple concepts exceedingly well. You can find dozens of restaurants in Omaha that serve fried fish, but few achieve the crispy yet pliable exterior that A Taste of New Orleans does. Like the fish or shrimp inside, the exterior is delicate, adding a nice texture to the supple seafood within. It brings the familiar delights of fried food without feeling greasy or heavy. This trick works well with catfish, oysters, and chicken, but it really sings with the Fried Shrimp, which you’ll find even the most disciplined dieter devouring in large quantities.
If you’re not feeling fried food, A Taste of New Orleans also has some of the best blackened seasoning in the city. This peppery combination of herbs and spices has a subtle heat, but doesn’t overwhelm the tongue with flames. Rather, it tickles your taste buds with cayenne, which is mellowed out by garlic powder, salt, oregano, and other spices.
And here’s the best part: whichever Cajun cooking staple you’re feeling—fried or blackened—A Taste of New Orleans can apply it to multiple proteins in a basket, po boy, or tacos. The menu is highly customizable, allowing diner a choose-your-own-adventure of New Orleans flavors.
Each Po Boy is served in a large hoagie bun with lettuce, pickles, and an addictive Who Dat sauce (a version of spicy mayo). Though the bun could be more toasted, it’s generously stuffed with shrimp, catfish, chicken, or oysters (your choice of blackened or fried).
The tacos, similarly packed with your choice of protein, are simple as can be: a humble flour tortilla with a scant application of shredded lettuce and shredded cheddar. But the tortillas are delightfully chewy, and the simplicity allows the excellent filling to be the star.
Whatever you order, make sure you include some Cajun Fries. With a crispy exterior, a light, fluffy interior, and a savory Cajun seasoning (paprika, pepper, onion power, garlic powder, etc.), these are among the finest fries in Omaha.
The everyday menu items are more than enough to make you a regular, but A Taste of New Orleans also offers daily specials. From Chicken & Sausage Jambalaya to Seafood Gumbo to Crawfish Pasta, this restaurant always has a new indulgent Southern dish to introduce your palate to.
The true can’t-miss special is the Soft Shell Crabs, which can be ordered in a basket or a po boy. These tender crustaceans have a light, sweet flavor that melds perfectly with the savory, fatty deep fry. It’s difficult to find soft shell crabs in Omaha, and even more rare to find a restaurant that does them well. A Taste of New Orleans passes that test and then some.
When Chef Franklin arrived in Omaha, he struggled to find a Cajun restaurant delivering the flavors he knew from home. So he came up with one himself, and Omaha’s food scene is better for it. His restaurant offers flavors you won’t find quite anywhere else in the city; still simple, but executed extremely well.
After all, who says a po boy doesn’t pair well with an ice cream cone?