Inside Westwego Seafood Market: New Orleans' Best Kept Secret

Situated on the West Bank of the Mississippi River—fifteen minutes from downtown New Orleans—a row of brightly colored, open-front shacks sit off an unsuspecting road. The buildings, bubblegum pink and fire engine red in color, seem unsuspecting. But inside, visitors find a treasure trove of Louisiana’s lifeblood: fresh seafood right off the boat.

From Alligator meat, to froglegs, fresh shrimp, catfish, and oysters (plus, nearly anything else you can catch with a net or a rod), there’s no shortage of fresh seafood at the Westwego Seafood market in Westwego, Louisiana. Split between different vendors that specialize in a certain fare, fishermen bring their daily catch to sell to locals and tourists who make the short journey to the market. Packed on ice in iconic red and blue American coolers, the voyage just to view the seafood at this iconic marketplace is worth the trip to Westwego alone.

New Orleans boasts a long and storied relationship with food, and is home to some of America’s most iconic dishes. Though at its root, seafood is one of the city’s most important elements. In its 300-year history, the folks of the Crescent City mastered seafood gumbo, oysters rockefeller, and etouffee—but, those dishes were elevated since Westwego opened to the public in 1977. Today, over 40 years later, New Orleanians still rely on the market’s affordable prices and friendly faces to keep their food traditions alive.

Below, we’ve captured the essence of Westwego—the beauty of its casualness, it’s Americanness, and its cajun authenticity—to showcase a true New Orleans landmark.