Turtle soup is the dark, rich Creole soup of slow-simmered turtle meat, holy trinity, herbs and a sherry finish poured tableside. Mahogany broth, gentle clove, lemon at the edge.
Turtle soup arrived in New Orleans via French Creole cookery and the city's plentiful Louisiana snapping turtles in the 19th century. Antoine's listed it on the 1840 menu; Commander's Palace has served it since opening in 1893 and it remains the Brennan family flagship dish. The dish became scarce in the 1980s when the snapping turtle was federally restricted; today's restaurants source farmed alligator-snapping turtle from Louisiana suppliers or use a turtle-and-veal blend. The tableside sherry pour from a small carafe is now a Creole-dining-room ritual; Arnaud's and Brigtsen's both keep it as a signature soup.
3 editor picks for Turtle soup in New Orleans, ranked by editorial score. All New Orleans signature dishes · Turtle soup across every city.
Commander's Palace ★ 4.8
garden-district · 1403 Washington Ave, New Orleans, LA 70130
Commander's Palace in New Orleans is the 1893 Garden District grande dame on Washington Avenue, the Brennan family flag with turtle soup, jacket-required.
Brigtsen's ★ 4.4
carrollton-riverbend · 723 Dante St, New Orleans, LA 70118
Brigtsen's in New Orleans is Frank and Marna Brigtsen's 1986 Victorian-cottage Creole Acadian room near the streetcar terminus, a Paul Prudhomme alumnus.
Arnaud's ★ 4.0
french-quarter · 813 Bienville St, New Orleans, LA 70112
Arnaud's in New Orleans is the 1918 French Creole room on Bienville Street from Arnaud Cazenave, with mosaic-tile floors, the French 75 Bar next door.