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In celebration of the region’s black community, we’re exploring the Creole and soul food restaurants the area offers. Lafayette has a growing list of black-owned businesses; many serve delicious sweets, plate lunches, burgers, and late-night hangs. These are only a few black-owned restaurants. Other popular stops that are household names but still worth mentioning are Laura’s II, Black Cafe, and DI Jerk shop.
2464 W Congress St, Lafayette, LA 70506
(337) 534-8086
Let’s face it. If you are looking for something to eat at 2:30 am, it’s probably comfort food or breakfast. Enter Shakeback’s - an all-night eatery featuring build-your-own options for everything. Whether it’s a build-your-own biscuit, salad, sandwich, or wrap, the world is your oyster (or fried chicken) at Shakebacks. Choose your carb and protein, such as ham or brisket, load it with cheese or grillades, top it with veggies of your choice, and drizzle sauces like honey butter or chipotle mayo.
713 12th St, Lafayette, LA 70501
(337) 232-9929
A long-standing staple in North Lafayette, the Creole Lunch House is well known for delicious plate lunches focusing on Creole and soul food. Walking into the old house-turned-restaurant gives you the vibe of stepping into your maw-maws on a Sunday after church. The menu changes daily, offering plates of red beans and rice, fried pork chops, and fried catfish with a side like black eye peas and cornbread. But leave room for the main attraction - Creole Lunch House is famous for its stuffed bread - a cheesy roll filled with seasoned beef and vegetables.
4016 Moss St, Lafayette, LA 70507
(337) 534-0545
If you are looking for old-school, traditional Creole plate lunches, Lumberjack’s has it. The menu has offerings like hamburgers and fried catfish, and daily specials feature liver and onions, cabbage rolls, meatball stew, smothered okra, and even smothered oxtail. You can find boiled seafood platters like shrimp and crawfish on occasion. It’s best to follow their Facebook page for updates.
2011 West Pinhook Road, Lafayette, LA 70508
(337) 806-9992
If you’re looking for soul food in an upscale setting, the second location of Callihan’s offers the best of both worlds. The original restaurant is in Baker, Louisiana, serving southern-inspired dishes since 2021. You better come hungry with lunch items like red beans and rice, meatloaf, or chitterlings smothered rib tips.
405 E University Ave, Lafayette, LA 70503
(337) 706-5094
Another spot open until 2:00 am, just across the street from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s campus, is KOK Wings. This place is a staple for hungry college students. Although it’s rumored to have some of the best-fried catfish in town, KOK specializes in, you guessed it, wings. Boneless, naked, or breaded, you can get your fill of wings at KOK. But if you want it all, try the personal platter: a fried fish fillet, fried shrimp, and five wings of your choice.
4302 Moss St, Lafayette, LA 70507
(337) 344-4425
Sweet Envie offers sweet treats as well as baking supplies. So if you’d rather whip up your cupcakes, you can still support this locally own-business. Choose from carrot cake, pralines, cheesecake, or petit fours. Sweet Envie offers her baked goods in larger quantities, so it’s perfect for feeding a crowd or hosting a party. They now provide lunch soup so that you can get the best of both worlds.
2310 Ambassador Caffery Pkwy B, Lafayette, LA 70506
(337) 406-2440
Noah’s offers cafe staples, including burgers, po-boys, and sandwiches. They offer wraps and salads if you’re looking for a healthier option. Entrees include shrimp baskets and chili cheese dogs for the kiddos. Call ahead because their lunch menu changes daily, but you can rest assured that it will have dishes like shrimp stew, broccoli cheese cornbread dressing, and fried okra.
April Courville is a graduate of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and a professional writer and photographer. Her freelancing career started in 2014 with the Times of Acadiana and has since written for The Daily Advertiser, The Advocate, Reveal Lafayette, Acadiana Lifestyle, and the Current. Her favorite topics to cover are food and wine, art, music and festivals.