BBQ in Lafayette

Blanchard's BBQ started out as a food truck-turned-brick and mortar BBQ stop shines with its slow-smoked brisket and the creative dishes they make from it. Try the poutine dream: hand-cut fries topped with gravy, your choice of protein, and cheese curds. Or stick with the classic plate of three types of meat plus sides. I recommend mac n cheese and smoked beans.

If you ever find yourself cruising down University Ave, roll your windows down once you get close to the St. John intersection. The smell of smoked meat wafting through the air is a magnet to Johnsons'. It's hard to keep driving once you get a whiff of the sweet, smoky aroma. Johnson's brisket is another top contender for best brisket in town but don't pass up the pulled pork or ribs. While smoked boudin doesn't technically count as BBQ, be sure to pick up a link as a snack.

If sauce is your thing, Bourque's has a house-made Boss Sauce in four flavors to drench your BBQ with ranch, honey mustard, original, and tartar. Their specialty is the jalapeno sausage cheese bread, so grab a loaf alongside your smoked sausage or turducken.

If you're craving BBQ, Tchoup's smokes all their meats in-house, from brisket to pulled pork and down-home comfort food sides. Try the mac and cheese and wash it down with a smoked old-fashioned. Perfect for a lovely spring afternoon - they have plenty of dog-friendly outdoor seating.

On weekdays, you can enjoy a traditional plate lunch at the Acadian Superette featuring classics like rice and gravy. On Saturdays, the Superette does a cochon de lait or roasted pig. Choose between smoked house-made sausage, ribs, pulled pork, or boudin (or all of them). Grab a plate and take a seat on the newly renovated outdoor patio.

On Sundays, Cafe Coachella focuses on BBQ plate lunches. Choose from pork steak, chicken, sausage, ribs, or turkey rolls. Don't expect anything less than delicious southern sides like potato salad, mac n cheese, baked beans, and yams.

Soul food runs deep in this family's blood, and you can tell in the Sunday BBQ at Laura's 2. Try the smoked stuffed turkey wing, a BBQ turkey leg, or ribs with sides like rice dressing or baked beans. You will not leave disappointed or hungry.

South End Country Mart is known among locals that when it comes to foods like boudin and cracklins, some of the best come from a convenience store. South-End Country Mart is no exception. The meat market/convenience store/ plate lunch stop also offers BBQ specials on Sundays starting at 10:30 am. Go early because they usually sell out by noon.