What’s your first impression when someone says Louisiana? I imagine sultry days, courtyards shaded by trees dripping with moss, and bayous with cypress trees rising like centennials from the coffee colored water. But, most of all, I think of the food.
The unique blend of cultures has inspired native dishes that will tempt your taste buds. Here you’ll find a blend of Cajun, Creole, and Southern dishes so good you’ll return home with snugger jeans. If you’re lucky enough to visit Lafayette, Louisiana during Mardi Gras season (or any time of the year), bypass the chains and try these restaurants instead. You’ll be glad you did.
Delicious Restaurants in Lafayette, Louisiana
I visited so many restaurants during my trip to Lafayette and received so many recommendations from locals that I decided to divide my dining into a breakfast, lunch, and dinner series.
Breakfast Options:
If you’re in the mood for Southern food, stop by Dwyer’s Cafe. This family-owned restaurant, a favorite with locals, has been dishing up breakfast and lunch since 1965. Breakfast, beginning at 6:00 AM daily, has a selection of Breakfast Specials, Omelets, including a made to order option, and Breakfast Sandwiches. You’ll find all the Southern classics; pancakes, grits, eggs, sausage, and bacon. The lunch crowd will find Po-boys, Sandwiches and Salads, and a daily Blue Plate special.
Breakfast Special #3
The decor is classic 70’s, with orange booths and wood paneling. The portions are huge, designed to remind you of Mama’s home cooking. And, the waitresses are friendly, making everyone feel like a regular. Before leaving, check out the mural on the side of the restaurant. It’s a tribute to their history and includes paintings of retired employees.
Want something more upscale? Visit Social Southern Table and Bar for their Sunday Brunch. Using locally sourced ingredients whenever possible, this farm to table restaurant gives new twists to old Southern classics. You’ll find tender Chicken Fried Green Tomatoes served with a smooth, creamy jalapeno ranch dressing. The bread and spread; two freshly baked sweet potato biscuits, two buttermilk biscuits, and an assortment of jams, flavored butters, and spreads made in house, is another favorite.
Chicken Fried Green Tomatoes and the Bread and Spread.
For the more adventurous, there’s The Walk of Shame Frites; freshly fried potatoes topped with aged cheddar, sausage gravy, and a sunny farm egg. A tangy sriracha maple syrup is served on the side. No brunch would be complete without drinks. Social Southern delivers. Round off the meal with a Mimosa or one of their Louisiana brewed craft beers. Lunch and dinner are also available.
Or get your dancing shoes on at Buck and Johnny’s Zydeco Breakfast, held each Saturday from 8:00 to 11:00. This breakfast, featuring live Zydeco music, is so popular a line snakes down the block waiting for admission. The atmosphere inside the restaurant is festive. There’s dancing on the first floor and the tables are squeezed together. People line the walls and the staircase to view the dancers. You probably won’t be able to hear your companions when the music is playing. Instead, sit back, listen to the sights and sounds, and enjoy bottomless mimosas or Bloody Marys.
Here’s where you’ll find all your Cajun Favorites; boudin, crawfish étouffée, sweet potato biscuits, and beignets. In the mood for Southern Cajun? Try the “Troubled Waters,” grits topped with crawfish etouffee, or the “Cajun Boudin Breakfast,” two eggs cooked to order, a biscuit, and grilled boudin.
Family owned and operated, the restaurant was originally a Domingue’s Motors. The building has been restored to keep as much of the original ambiance as possible, with exposed brick walls, lighting made from oil cans, and vintage tin signs. Ask for a seat on the exposed balcony overlooking the dance floor. Note: An entrance fee is charged for the Zydeco Breakfast. Lunch and dinner are also available.
After breakfast, take time to explore historic Beaux Bridge. It’s filled with charming antique shops and quaint gift shops featuring locally sourced products.
Another can’t miss Cajun breakfast stop is Billy’s Homemade Boudin & Cracklins’. The inside of the shop is sparse, with only a few tables and chairs, but they have the largest supply of specialty meats in the South. Patrons walk through the line, cafeteria style, and give the attendants their orders. Specialties include Boudin Balls and Crawfish Balls, something like hush puppies, only filled with either boudin and rice or crawfish and rice. An easy on the go breakfast is the boudin or crawfish pistolettes, small hand pies. And, no one should leave without trying the cracklins’. Billy’s Homemade Boudin & Cracklins’ closes at 7 PM so you can get your boudin fix for lunch and dinner too.
Fried Corn, Boudin Balls, and Cracklins’
Other Recommendations:
While I didn’t get to visit these restaurants, they were highly praised and often frequented by friends that live in the area.
Poupart Bakery, Inc. – In business since 1957, this family-owned bakery is the only authentic French Bakery in Acadiana. They serve a selection of freshly baked breads, cakes, and desserts, along with a selection of sweet and savory items for breakfast. I did sample several of their king cakes at a Mardi Gras event and was sorry they were closed when I tried to visit.
The Coffee Depot– Located in an old train depot, this quaint family-owned restaurant serves up delicious coffee and piping hot beignets.
Hub City Diner- With a tagline like “Rockin and Rollin’ since 1990” and a pink flamingo mascot, this diner is the place to be. From the fun 50’s vibe to the ample portions, you’ll find everything from classic diner breakfasts to that Louisiana favorite, beignets by the basket.
Pistolettes from Billy’s Boudin & Cracklins’
Where to Find the Restaurants:
Dwyer’s Cafe is located in downtown Lafayette at 323 Jefferson Street.
Southern Social Table and Bar is located at 3901 Johnson Street in Lafayette.
Buck and Johnny’s is located at 100 Berard Street in the Breaux Bridge Downtown Historic District, a 20-minute drive from Lafayette.
Billy’s Homemade Boudin & Cracklins’ is located at 523 Apollo Road in Scott, Louisiana, a 10-minute drive from Lafayette.
Poupart Bakery, Inc– is located at 1902 West Pinhook Road in Lafayette.
The Coffee Depot is located at 902 St. Mary Street in Scott, Louisiana.
Hub City Diner is located at 1412 South College Road in Lafayette.
Walk of Shame Frites From Social Southern
I’m not the only person to think Lafayette has some of the best food around. They were voted the Tastiest Town in the South by Southern Living in 2012, a Best of the Road Food City by Rand McNally and USA Today, and the 2014 Best Getaway in the South, Tastiest Town, and Best Gumbo in Louisiana by AAA Southern Traveler.
Looking for a Louisiana Food Experience for yourself? Check out the Best Food Town and Cajun Food Tours put together by the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce.
Have you visited Lafayette, Louisiana? What is your favorite restaurant?
Yum! There’s also a company here that offers a food tour and I’ve been wanting to do it. Soon, I hope. I love food!
Now this sounds like my kind of tour! I would love to go on this!!!
I’ve never had a cajun breakfast before, I am so curious to try sweet potato biscuits now. Would love to visit too!
I just need to travel more. I want to be able to try all of these foods.
All that food looks amazing. That must have been fun being able to try all that yummy food. I think a food tour would be great!
I had the best foodie experiences in Louisiana. I need to visit Lafayette for some good eats.
I have got to find a reason to visit there! Breakfast is my favorite meal and these look like special locations. Thanks for telling us about them!
I will put this on my list. All the food look delicious, I need to check these out.
I haven’t been to Louisiana in years, but this makes me want to go back. So many food memories! Those biscuits! Those po boys. The fried green tomatoes. Definitely want to go back and check out these places.
I have never been to Louisiana, but I have always wanted to go on a food tour through the state. I’ve always heard great things about LA cuisine, and I think this post is solidifying that! Everything looks amazing!
The only place I’ve been to in Louisiana is New Orleans. It looks like you found a lot of great breakfast food in Lafayette.
I’ve never visited Louisiana before. All of your meals look so yummy. I would love to try some of these restaurants out.
Every food mentioned above made my mouth water, I just want to go to Louisiana to try out all of those restaurants, the environments sound welcoming too.
I lived in Louisiana for 8 years and nothing compares to the food there. I was licking my chops reading and looking at your photos. I miss grits, I have to have people bring them in for me (I live in Mexico). Those biscuits had me wanting to lick my screen lol Looking forward to your lunch and dinner shares because your breakfast shares definitely had me drooling.
I am all about food tours! I always love trying out new places. All of this food looks tasty.
I had no idea southern cuisine had so many variations on breakfast dishes. So many of these look so delicious and hearty.
I have never been to Louisiana. That breakfast looks amazing, though! Breakfast foods are my favorite.
I need to plan another trip to Louisiana. They have the best food and now I know where to go for breakfast. These photos are making me hungry!
I have never been down to Louisiana but I have heard they have the best food. I am hoping at some point I can explore that part of the USA and check out all the food.