When I first went to St. Roch Market, I knew I'd landed in foodie paradise. I had super high expectations, especially after having been to New York City's Eataly, Boston's Quincy Market in Faneuil Hall, D.C.'s Union Market, and Philly's Reading Terminal Market. Luckily, St. Roch lived up to all of them. But with their many incredible vendors, it can be nearly impossible to know what to order. Here's something extra special from each vendor that you can't leave without trying.
Bittersweet Confections: Birthday Cake Cupcake
The only word I could muster up after trying this cupcake was "wow." The frosting on this cupcake is extremely light and fluffy, while the cake is very moist and soft. The cupcake stays together really well and doesn't crumble apart. This birthday cupcake could turn any birthday into a celebration. Other highlights include their chocolate mousse cup, s'mores pyramid, and peanut butter bar. But really, you can't go wrong.
Coast Roast Coffee: Cold Drip Coffee
No joke, this is this best iced coffee I've ever had. I loved adding vanilla sweetener to my drink– it added the perfect amount of sweetness without detracting from the rich coffee flavor. They also have almond milk, making their menu very accommodating.
Juice Nola: Açaí Bowl
By the same owner as The Daily Beet, this juice joint is a crowd pleaser. All of their smoothies and other food items, including avocado toast, are definitely worth trying, but you really can't leave without this açaí bowl. With a blend of seasonal fruits, coconut flakes, granola, açaí, and a honey drizzle, I found myself scraping the bottom of the bowl to get every morsel.
La Mezcla: Tacos
With quesadillas, nachos, taco salads, and even egg burritos on their menu, La Mezcla is truly a "mix" of everything Mexican you can imagine. But their tacos, served with smoked brisket, pork carnitas, or fresh gulf shrimp, alongside onions, cilantro, tomato, cotija cheese, and serrano peppers, are truly something special. Not only will these tacos spice up your Instagram feed, but they're sure to spice up your tastebuds.
Elysian Seafood: Coconut Curry Gulf Shrimp
Served with jalapeño jasmine rice, roasted sweet potato, lime, and cilantro, this curry shrimp dish is one-of-a-kind. As soon as the heat from the jalapeño rice hits you, sweet potato comes to the rescue. The shrimp is so fresh and succulent, and I love the contrasting flavors in this– they all complement each other extremely well.
Elysian Oyster Bar: LA Shrimp Cocktail
A branch of Elysian Seafood, this Oyster Bar is such a great addition to St. Roch. I love that they serve shrimp cocktail here– it's the perfect appetizer or snack to brighten up your day. Even though Elysian Oyster Bar is located inside the market, this dish makes you feel as though you're at a fancy restaurant or by the beach. Their oysters also deserve an honorable mention, especially considering they're some of the best in the city.
Fritai: Fritai Sandwich
Have you ever wondered what plantains would taste like in bun form? Well, here's your chance– and it's delicious. With pork shoulder, avocado, mango sauce, pikliz (a popular Haitian condiment), and a side of plantain chips, this $9 dish is a unique gem. If you're feeling adventurous, this is the sandwich for you.
Good Bird: The Eagle Street Salad
Even though they specialize in chicken, they don't merely offer whole rotisserie chicken. Instead, they incorporate it into many of the dishes. This salad is a great example– rotisserie chicken, arugula, pecans, parmesan, and lemon vinaigrette. Also, you can add avocado for 50 cents, making for an incredibly refreshing salad that still highlights their juicy chicken.
Fete au Fete: Southern Fried Chicken Biscuit
First of all, this crispy biscuit is absolutely fabulous all on its own. It's the perfect combination of buttery and flakey, melting in your mouth. To top it off, the fried chicken is just the right amount of crispy yet savory. 10/10 would recommend. Want to add anything? They're happy to add a side of cheese grits, poached egg, homemade fresh sausage, cheese, and/or pecan praline bacon.
Empanola: Beef Bourguignon
Even though their menu is extremely straight-forward and seemingly basic, there's nothing basic about their empanadas. The beef bourguignon, or bœuf à la Bourguignonne, is a well-known, traditional French recipe. With a combination of this red wine soaked beef and crispy empanada exterior, I was ready to come back the second I finished.
T2 Streetfood: Vermicelli Bowl
Between vermicelli noodles, fresh mixed greens, cucumbers, pickled roots, and cilantro with fish sauce and choice of tofu, mushrooms, chicken, shrimp, or grilled pork, how could you go wrong? Vermicelli noodles, often known as glass or cellophane noodles, help round out the meal, filling me up more than typical pho.
When eating at St. Roch market, my taste buds took a trip around the world. The versatility of this market makes it easy to go back millions of times without getting bored. So, head on over to St. Roch and start ordering from these eleven vendors, because each dish promises not to disappoint.