Langenstein's: Uptown's Grocery Store Since the 1920s

Uptown's Grocery Store

Langenstein's is not just a grocery store — it's an Uptown institution that has been supplying the neighborhood's kitchens since the early 1920s, when Michael Langenstein and his sons George and Richard opened a market with one simple mission: carry the best meat and seafood in New Orleans. A century later, the mission hasn't changed, and neither has the devotion of the customers who wouldn't dream of buying their shrimp, their roasts, or their holiday turkeys anywhere else.

The original store focused on what New Orleanians care about most — the protein. The meat counter was legendary, staffed by butchers who knew their customers by name and could cut a roast to any specification. The seafood case was stocked with whatever the Gulf and the lake had offered up that morning. Over time, the store expanded to carry a full line of groceries, but the meat and seafood departments remain the heart of the operation.

Homemade New Orleans Fare

What transformed Langenstein's from a fine grocery into a neighborhood landmark was the prepared foods. The store's kitchen turns out homemade New Orleans fare that rivals the best home cooks in the city — crawfish etouffee, crawfish bisque, seafood gumbo, grillades, red beans and rice, and countless other dishes that busy Uptown families rely on for weeknight dinners and Sunday suppers alike.

The store moved to its Arabella Street location in 1954 and eventually expanded across the city, but the Uptown location remains the flagship — a community gathering point where you run into your neighbors in the produce aisle and the checkout line moves slowly because everyone is catching up.

Frequently Asked Questions About Langenstein's

When was Langenstein's founded?

Langenstein's was founded in the early 1920s by Michael Langenstein and his sons George and Richard.

What is Langenstein's known for?

Langenstein's is famous for its meat and seafood departments, as well as its homemade prepared New Orleans dishes including crawfish etouffee, bisque, seafood gumbo, grillades, and red beans and rice.

Where is Langenstein's?

The flagship Langenstein's is located on Arabella Street in the Uptown neighborhood, where it moved in 1954. The store has expanded to additional locations across the city.

Is Langenstein's a chain?

Langenstein's has multiple locations but remains a locally owned New Orleans grocery. It is not a national chain and maintains its focus on local products and homemade New Orleans-style prepared foods.