Looking for the best places to eat in Lafayette? I’ve got you covered for breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner! I’ve done a lot of research on where to eat in Lafayette after several trips to the Hub City totaling over 7 months. Needless to say, I love Lafayette, and I LOVE LOVE LOVE Southern food!
If you’ve never been to Lafayette Louisiana, I have to warn you that you may have a problem when it comes to dining out. Why? There’s way too much delicious food in Lafayette. This is Creole and Cajun country. And that means they know how to make the perfect roux, add savory seasonings, and fry anything that looks like it needs frying.
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Places to Eat in Lafayette (Mostly Downtown)
Here are a few of my favorite restaurants in Lafayette and some suggestions on what to order. Note that quite a few places are closed on Sundays and Mondays, so be sure to check the hours beforehand.
Breakfast and Brunch Restaurants
Black Cafe: Coffee shop serving breakfast, lunch, and early dinner. Some of the menu items include: Sweet Potato Biscuits, Scotch Eggs, Beignets.
But my fave is the Sausage in a Biscuit…and the coffee. Service is always with a smile—they’ll make you feel at home at Black Cafe.
There’s also drive-thru for those days when you just don’t want to move too much or you’re roadtrippin’.
Address: 518 S Pierce St #100 | Mon to Fri 6:30 am to 3 pm | Sat & Sun closed
Dwyer’s Cafe: This your classic Southern home cooking, Lafayette style, for great breakfast and one of the oldest restaurants in the city. They’re also open for lunch.
Address: 323 Jefferson St| Monday through Sunday 6 am to 2 pm
French Press: Gets my vote for brunch in Lafayette. Try the Sweet Baby Breesus—Boudin Buttermilk Biscuit Sliders made with Bacon, Boudin Balls, and Steen’s cane syrup.
My other favorite menu item is the Chicken and Waffles…and the Praline Bacon is divine. James Beard-nominated, Chef Justin Girouard puts on a great menu. Did I mention they have a full bar?
When I visited they had a downtown location, but as of January 2025, they only have the newer Ambassador Caffrey location.
Address: 3822 Ambassador Caffery Pkwy | Mon – Sun 7 am to 2 pm
Edie’s Biscuits: This is on my list for my next visit to Lafayette. People rave about the biscuits, but Edie’s also has omelets and eggs cooked to order with a great selection of meats; besides the usual bacon, ham, sausage, they have catfish, chicken, or chicken fried steak. And hey, they open at 5:30 in the morning, so that’s a plus for any early birds on the hunt for a great breakfast.
Address: 1400 W Pinhook Rd | Mon – Fri 5:30 am to 11 am
Try the Chicken and Waffle at French Press restaurant in downtown Lafayette
Lunch in Lafayette
Southern-style plate lunches are a must-try dining option while you’re in Lafayette. And the Po’Boys…and the Boudin…
Laura’s Two: Madonna Broussard is continuing the tradition set by her grandmother, who opened the original Laura’s in 1968.
Laura’s Two serves up delicious Soul Food, Cajun and Creole style lunches. Baked Stuffed Turkey Wings are one of the most popular menu items. If you want the turkey wings you better get there early. On my third visit I made it to Laura’s before they ran out of turkey wings, so delicious!
But don’t worry, the other menu items will make your belly happy too, like Smothered Pork Chops, BBQ Ribs, and Fried Catfish. All served up with rice and gravy and two side dishes. Laura’s Two gravy is a rich brown heavenly wonder.
This is my go-to for a plate lunch in Lafayette. A plate lunch is typically a meat entree along with 2 or 3 sides such as collard greens, dirty rice, okra, etc.
Address: 1904 W University Ave | Sun/Tue – Thu 10:30 am to 2:30 pm | Fri & Sat 11 am to 2:30 pm
Stuffed turkey wings with collard greens and beans for sides – usually there is rice and gravy but I didn’t want to eat extra carbs from rice
Scratch Farm Kitchen: I first encountered Scratch Farm Kitchen at the Lafayette Farmers Market, so when they opened a restaurant, I knew it would be a good place to eat. As the name suggests, everything is made from scratch, and ingredients are sourced from local farms.
They have a good selection of vegetarian items on the menu along with regular burgers, burritos, boudini, and more. This is a great choice for healthy home cooking comfort food.
Address: 2918 Johnston St | Tuesday to Thursday 9:00 am to 3 pm | Fri and Sat 8 am to 2 pm
Veggie burger at Scratch Farm Kitchen
Johnson’s Boucaniere: On my last couple of visits to Lafayette I finally got to eat at Johnson’s. It’s one of the most highly rated spots for Smoked Meats, BBQ, and Boudin. If you’re a meat lover, then Johnson’s is your place. I also love their gumbo, on cold days this is the perfect meal.
Address: 1111 St John St | Wed – Fri 10 am to 3 pm | Sat 8 am to 3:00 pm | Sun (BBQ & Boudin) 10 am to 2 pm
Monday closed | Tuesday (packaged items only) 10 am to 5:30 pm
Olde Tyme Grocery: My go-to for classic-style Po’boys. Indoor and outdoor seating at this small grocer and po’boy shop. Great service and yummy eats.
Glen Murphree, from New Orleans, purchased Olde Tyme Grocery in 1982 and started out on his own, making 10 – 15 po’boys each day. Don’t worry, they make a bunch more nowadays.
Address: 218 W St Mary Blvd | Mon – Fri 8 am to 10 pm | Sat 9 am to 7 pm | Sun closed
Pop’s Po-Boys: Classic po’boys along with creative stylings like the Boudreaux which features Buttermilk Fried Catfish, Pickled Okra Tartar Sauce, and Blue Cheese Coleslaw. Every time I go to Pop’s I look at all the menu offerings for a few minutes….and then I order a classic shrimp po’boy….I never stray.
Address: 740 Jefferson St | Mon – Wed 10:30 am to 2 pm | Thu – Sat 10:30 – 9 pm | Sun closed
Acadian Superette: CLOSING APRIL 30, 2026. I hope there be a new eatery here with the same passion for food. Acadian Supereette is known for smoked meats, po’boys, boudin, plate lunches, and more. They make a great Reuben sandwich. The burgers and brisket looked scrumptious, but I haven’t tried those yet. And they have a lovely patio out back so you can enjoy dining outdoors when the weather is pleasant.
Address: 600 Lamar St | Tues – Sat 11 am to 3 pm | Sun/Mon closed
Dinner in Lafayette
There are a bunch of great restaurants in Lafayette; here are a few of my favorites downtown.
Spoonbill Watering Hole and Restaurant: I only got to eat here once so far—superb seafood! And the cocktails are fabulous too. The restaurant is located in the old Conoco gas station on Jefferson Street downtown, and they kept the bones of the original building, so it’s a unique design.
Address: 900 Jefferson St | Tues – Thu 11 am to 9 pm | Fri & Sat 11 am to 10 pm | Sun 10 am to 2 pm | Mon closed
A Conoco gas station finds new life as the Spoonbill Watering Hole and Restaurant in downtown Lafayette
Hideaway on Lee: This is your place to grab late-night eats in Lafayette. Hideaway on Lee also features live music events; check their events calendar on Facebook. They have some of the best hamburgers in town. Also try the brussel sprouts and tasso appetizer.
Fun fact: Wilson Savoy, a member of the Cajun band Pine Leaf Boys, is one of the owners of Hideaway on Lee, and for a few months I rented a room (with two fabulous musicians) at a house that Wilson owned. My roommates hosted music jams at the house, and Wilson popped in one night to play piano, a memorable evening for me!
Address: 407 Lee Avenue
Hours: Wed – Sun 11 am to 2 pm | 5 pm to 10 pm | Fri & Sat 11 am to 2 pm | 5 pm to 11 pm
Tsunami Sushi: Excellent sushi as well as other offerings such as my favorite, Blackened Salmon with Kimchee-Smothered Collard Greens. Check out their happy hour specials :)
Address: 412 Jefferson
Hours: Tue – Thu 11 am to 9 pm | Fri 11 am to 10 pm | 12 noon to 10 pm | closed Sunday
The photo below is from one of my happy hour visits to Tsunami, and I admit the image is a bit out of focus; I blame it on the happy hour drinks :)
A Southern favorite of shrimp n grits and collard greens from Tsunami Lafayette
Pamplona Tapas Bar: Tapas (small plates) and wine bar. Good eats! Check the specials because they often have some delicious creations on the board. As a solo diner I love this place because I can fill my belly with a variety of small plates, and they have a decent wine selection.
Address: 631 Jefferson St
Hours: Tue to Sun 4:30 pm to 10:30 pm | closed Sunday
Pamplona Tapas Bar has a great selection of appetizers and tapas
Final Thoughts on Where to Eat in Lafayette
You’re going to have more choices for places to eat than you have room in your belly, but do your best to try a variety of the offerings, and especially the local classics like Southern-style biscuits, boudin, and plate lunches, to name a few.
Enjoy this culinary experience knowing that you probably can’t try all the best restaurants in Lafayette in one visit, but you can try a few. And then you have a great excuse to return to Lafayette for more. Laissez les bons temps rouler! (Let the good times roll!)
Cheers from me at Spoonbill Watering Hole & Restaurant, Lafayette Louisiana
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