Louisiana is renowned for great barbecue, and Lafayette boasts some awesome BBQ places. Here are some of the best that the city has to offer.
Johnson’s Boucaniere
The original Johnson’s Boucaniere opened in 1937 in Eunice, LA; this family-run restaurant and specialty meat store in downtown Lafayette is still preparing meat and barbecue to the same recipes today. The only seating is on the lovely and spacious covered outdoor terrace of this historic house where you can relax and enjoy the Zydeco music. Inside, you can buy their specially prepared and home-smoked meats to take home.
The smoked meat is slow-smoked for 11 to 13 hours and they’ve been tweaking their BBQ sauce recipe for seven years to get it perfect. On the menu you’ll find sandwiches including smoked pulled pork, brisket, or chicken, smoked meat po-boys, smoked garlic sausage po-boys, the Begneaud Special, and the Zydeco Special with mixed sausage. Boudin is also a Johnson’s specialty.
Blanchard’s Barbecue
Blanchard’s Barbecue on West Pinhook Road features chic minimalist decor that gives the restaurant a cool vibe. The inside offers plenty of seating and they have a cute little outside patio. Three generations of Blanchards have been preparing barbecue, initially in a food truck, and they have now opened their restaurant.
To start your meal, you should try the Pouting Dream, which is hand-cut fries covered with brisket, brisket gravy, and queso fresco. The BBQ & Bread menu features brisket, pulled pork, turkey, smoked chicken salad, pimento cheese and bacon jam, and El Hefe with brisket, pork, and sausage. You can make any of them Southern-style by adding pimento cheese.
Lil’ Daddy’s Bar-B-Q
Don’t be put off by the gas station location, because Lil’ Daddy’s Bar-B-Q on SE Evangeline Thruway is one of the best wood-smoked barbecue places in Lafayette. The owner has a passion for barbecue and the restaurant’s “secret” recipe for awesome barbecue is a great piece of meat, slow-burning wood, and plenty of time.
The menu offers a variety of barbecue sandwiches and po-boys, plates that include two sides and a roll with ribs, chicken, brisket, pork, or sausage, and combo plates. You can get bulk meats to go or a family pack for four that includes a slab of ribs, a whole chicken, two pints of sides, and four rolls. When ordering sides, the Bar-B-Q Beans are highly recommended.
Dwight’s Restaurant
Located on Johnston Street, Dwight’s Restaurant is primarily known for their crawfish and Cajun food, but their Sunday BBQ lunch is something to be experienced. Along with the brisket, pork steak, and sausage, you can have the rice, baked beans, potato salad, some awesome sauce, and more. You can find barbecued meats on the Monday lunch special. When it’s in season, the local pond-raised crawfish is prepared for homemade recipes that have been tried and tested for decades.
These are a few of the area’s best restaurants where you can satisfy your appetite for awesome BBQ. You sure won’t leave any of them feeling hungry.
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