Connecticut is such a great place if you are a foodie. Today I’m recapping a New Haven food tour I went on with some friends. We will check out some of the best foods New Haven has to offer. New Haven is home to Yale University, which means there are tons of great food options for hungry students.

Food Truck Paradise at Long Wharf

Our first stop on this New Haven food tour is the food trucks located at Long Wharf. This area is on the coast and borders Long Island Sound. Food trucks with foods from so many different countries line this area. You can find Greek food, Mexican food…there are so many trucks to choose from.

During this trip we stopped at the IXTAPA Mexican Tacos truck. In the picture below you’ll see the different tacos we got. We chose a mix including asada (beef), chorizo (pork sausage) and pastor (pork). The tacos came with sauce as well.

They were seasoned well, but they were a little cold. We visited close to sunset, which was close to the time when the trucks were leaving. Get there earlier in the afternoon if you want fresher food. Address: 351 Long Wharf Dr, New Haven, CT 06511 Website (Yelp) IXTAPA #1 TRUCK – Reviews- Yelp

Louis’ Lunch

Then it was time to head to Louis’ Lunch. This is one of the oldest restaurants in the area and they claim to be the inventors of the hamburger as we know it today. It was founded in 1895.

The address on Crown Street is not its original location. In the 1970’s it was picked up and put on a truck, then brought to its current location. The staff was so friendly, and the atmosphere was so relaxed. Louis’ Lunch is one of those places where there are few options to choose from, but everything you’ll have is good. The burgers are only cooked one way and there is no ketchup. Your options are cheese, tomato, and onion. This is not Burger King. You can’t have it your way. But you’ll be happy regardless.

There are little booths where you sit that are so cute. They have a very historic look. Also note how so many people have carved their names into the wood throughout the whole restaurant. At the large table near the entrance, you could see the newspaper stories about Louis’ Lunch. There was one that showed a picture of how the restaurant was put on a truck and carried to the current location.

Right behind the counter you can see the special toaster (below, left) and grill (below, right) used to make the burgers. I’ve never seen anything like the grill before. There is a sign near the grill that explains how the design is the trademark of Louis’ Lunch. It definitely looks like it is100 years old.

Also, the staff here has been working at the restaurant for generations. It’s been a family business since 1895. Address: 261 Crown St, New Haven, CT 06511 Website: Burger Restaurant in New Haven, CT | Louis’ Lunch

Rubamba Latin Gourmet

One of the best things about this New Haven food tour was finding new places along the way. At Rubamba Latin Gourmet we found arepas. Arepas consist of cornmeal, corn and cheese.

One of my friends had been looking for arepas and she was not disappointed when we found these. The arepas here are Colombian style and they were different from what she had had before. But she was definitely satisfied with this style of arepas (pictured below).

The staff was so friendly. And I mean, so friendly. One of them even modeled his “Arepa Lover” shirt for me. He definitely loves his arepas.

I ordered churros which were very good. They were crispy on the outside and soft in the center. The caramel sauce they came with made them even better. Address: 25 High St, New Haven, CT 06510 Website: Rubamba Restaurant – New Haven

Pepe’s Pizza

Then we headed to Pepe’s Pizza to pick up our pizza. Pepe’s was supposed to be our second stop. However, the wait time was one hour. So, definitely call ahead and take the wait time into consideration if you are planning to go to Pepe’s.

We took the recommendation of the server and tried the pepperoni pizza with ricotta cheese. It was so good. This is only my second time having Pepe’s and the first one was just okay. I’m definitely glad I gave them a second chance. There is a reason Pepe’s is so famous.

The pickup location is the original Pepe’s that has been there since 1925. You can also sit down in the second location that is basically next door. As you can see in the image below, the line is out the door. People really love their Pepe’s Pizza. It’s a Connecticut staple, with locations in other parts of the State as well.

Again, the staff was super friendly. They showed us the back where they were making the pizzas. Then they even put on a little fire show in the oven for us. Who says people from Connecticut aren’t friendly? Address: 157 Wooster St, New Haven, CT 06511 Website: Home | PEPE (pepespizzeria.com)

Bar

The next stop on this New Haven food tour was Bar. I’ve been to Bar numerous times, and we always get the same thing. It’s all about the mashed potato and bacon pizza. This time was no different. Mashed potatoes and a pizza does sound different and it’s definitely unique. But it’s very good.

This time there was a wedding going on in the back. So, now we know that Bar hosts weddings as well. They also have a brewery, so check out their beer selection if that’s your thing. Address: 254 Crown St, New Haven, CT 06511 Website: BAR New Haven (barnightclub.com)

Insomnia Cookies

From Bar, we headed over to Insomnia Cookies, where you can have cookies delivered to you until 3am. This is the best late-night spot for a cookie or brownie. I’ve gotten the vegan birthday sprinkles cookie before, and I liked it. So, I got one of those again. I also got the limited-edition “Jingerbread Blondie”. It was very good, although it was very rich and heavy. I don’t think I’d have it again, but it wasn’t bad for one time.

They also have ice cream that can be put onto either the brownies or cookies. And the line is always long, so you know the cookies are good.

Most of the cookies are soft and have a doughy taste to them. So, if you like your cookies baked golden brown, then this might not be the spot for you. They’re good, but they do not taste home-made. Address: 240 College Street, New Haven, CT 06510 Website: Insomnia (insomniacookies.com)

So that was my New Haven food tour. For other spots in New Haven, check out the mini food tour included in my New Haven architecture post.