5 Ways to Explore Local Food Culture in Lafayette
From food trails to tours, these Lafayette experiences will feed your belly and your soul.
From food trails to tours, these Lafayette experiences will feed your belly and your soul.
Lafayette is nestled in the heart of Acadiana, the densely populated region of Louisiana between Baton Rouge and Lake Charles, an area considered the heartland of Cajun cuisine. The city is also home to more restaurants per capita than New Orleans and New York City. Along with endless restaurants, here are even more ways to manger (Cajun-French for “eat”) your way through Lafayette's vibrant culinary scene.
Take a guided food tour.
Louisiana is home to numerous food tours that showcase the breadth of the state’s culinary culture. In Lafayette, hop aboard the cozy, customized tour bus guided by Cajun Food Tours to make stops at numerous Lafayette eateries, including off-the-beaten-path gems and local favorites, while also learning about the history of the area. Expect to taste many Cajun specialties like boudin, king cake, étouffée, gumbo, fried seafood, cracklin’ and more.
Coconut Shrimp from Charley G's in Lafayette
Po’boy from Olde Tyme Grocery in Lafayette
Homemade boudin
Sample authentic boudin.
The area in and around Lafayette is the indisputable center of all things boudin. Lafayette even holds the annual Boudin Cookoff in October, where the top boudiniers come together to show off their skills. The city of Scott in Lafayette Parish is the Boudin Capital of the World and hosts the annual Boudin Festival in April. Sample even more boudin any time of year when you follow the Cajun Boudin Trail, which leads you to some of Louisiana’s best boudin and other regional specialty items.
Follow the Plate Lunch Trail.
Looking for comforting soul food? Look no further than a “plate lunch.” Similar to the meat-and-three restaurants throughout the South, these popular eateries serve up casual, home-style meals that consist of a protein (think fried chicken, crawfish and fried fish), a gravy-covered starch, a pair of vegetable sides, and a simple piece of bread—often all served on a single plate. Discover the people and stories behind some of Lafayette's oldest plate lunch houses when you follow the Plate Lunch Trail, a curated selection of these down-home restaurants, which serve an array of Creole and Cajun specialties.
Explore farmers markets.
One of the best ways to get in tune with the Acadiana community is by visiting a farmers market. There are an abundance of these markets in Lafayette and the surrounding areas, with local vendors featuring just-picked produce, homemade treats, artisan trinkets and more local products. Pick up a tasty treat—with options such as a sweet or savory pies, tamales and baked goods—or load up your bounty of fresh produce and cook up a delicious meal using one of our Cajun, Creole and other classic Louisiana recipes.
Plate lunch from T Coon’s Restaurant in Lafayette
Bayou Teche Brewing in Arnaudville
Freshly baked pies at a farmers market
Sip craft beer at breweries in Lafayette.
There are some great breweries in the Lafayette area – perfect for complementing all the local delicacies.
In Lafayette, the family-friendly and dog-friendly Adopted Dog Brewing serves a wide range of tried and true beer styles (with their brewmaster's touch) along with small batches.
Another favorite is Bayou Teche Brewing in Arnaudville. Their flagship beer is Bière Pâle—a Louisiana Pale Ale designed to be paired with Louisiana cuisine. Other beers include Swamp Thing IPA, Cinco De Bayou Mexican Style Lager, DDH Cocodrie IPA, Acadie French Farmhouse Ale and Ragin' Cajuns Lager & Ale.
In Broussard, Parish Brewing’s flagship brew is Canebrake, a refreshing wheat ale brewed with Steen’s Cane Syrup from nearby Abbeville. Their award-winning double IPA called Ghost in the Machine has gained praise from enthusiasts around the world.
Experience even more flavors and restaurants in Lafayette.