By Morgan Crawford Scott
Acadian Foodmart
Lafayette
618 Rue de Belier facebook.com/ AcadianFoodmart
Warm, familiar food cooked with soul on an ever-changing plate lunch rotation is what people have come to expect at Acadian Foodmart, owned and operated by Linda Duhon for the past 40 years. Standout items at this unpretentious establishment include crawfish étouffée, seafood jambalaya, sausage and greens, smothered pork chops, and boudin balls. Oh, and the portions are generous, too.
Kartchner’s
Krotz Springs
24562 Hwy. 190 facebook.com/KartchnersGrocery
On the eastern side of St. Landry Parish is Kartchner’s, a popular roadside stop on Highway 190 in Krotz Springs, a small town on the Atchafalaya River. Part Cajun butcher shop, part smokehouse, Kartchner’s is known for its cracklin’s, boudin, and other specialty meats like tasso and andouille. It has long been a favorite for travelers in need of a pick-me-up between Lafayette and Baton Rouge.
Chadeaux’s Cajun Kitchen
Kinder
| 14440 Hwy. 165 | facebook.com/chadeauxs
Securing some deer or pork sausage, rabbit, stuffed quail, tasso, and other specialty meats is reason enough to stop at Chadeaux’s Cajun Kitchen. It also sells frozen meats if you want to bring some Cajun flavor home with you, and it’s recently started to offer shipping as well. For something to tide you over on the ride, snag some cracklin’s, smoked boudin balls, or house-made jerky.
Key’s Fuel Mart
New Orleans
1139 N. Rampart St.
This unassuming gas station hideaway in the Tremé/Lafitte area of New Orleans, adjacent to the French Quarter, is a prime example of “don’t judge a book by its cover.” It’s got some of the best fried chicken around—no contest. You’ll close your eyes and sigh while cherishing that first bite: a delicious golden-brown, crisp crust revealing tender, juicy meat underneath.
Cajun Fast Mart
Sulphur
4796 Hwy. 27 S. facebook.com/cajunfastmart1234
Last-minute fishing and hunting supplies are often what draw passersby in, but the breakfast sandwiches piled high with bacon are the claim to fame and will have you coming back time and time again, especially for those early travel days. As for the honorable mention menu items, it’s a toss-up between a no-frills hamburger or a filling beef po’ boy.
Food N’ Geaux
Baton Rouge
15913 Old Hammond Hwy. | foodngeaux.com
This convenience store opened a little more than a decade ago, and it’s been a neighborhood staple ever since. Red beans and rice, crawfish pie, boudin links—you name it, they got it. It’s open most days at 5 a.m., so you can fuel up for the day with a biscuit sandwich or grits and eggs. Come back for lunch to devour the shrimp and corn soup or a potato log combo.
Bergeron’s Boudin & Cajun Meats
Covington
French Market Express
Natchitoches
5109 University Pkwy. frenchmarketexpress.com
While it does offer gasoline and other items, French Market Express is almost more a restaurant than it is a convenience store. Open 365 days a year, its expansive menu boasts a variety of options to enjoy for morning, noon, and night. Lunchtime is prime time—crawfish meat pies, Cajun turkey sandwiches, chicken and sausage gumbo, and many other classics are just the start. It’s ultimately known for its Louisiana yam cake, baked fresh daily, but the dessert offerings are limitless.
Grab-N-Geaux Smokehouse & Country Store
Lake Charles
7080 Gulf Hwy. grabngeaux.com
They must be doing something right at Grab-N-Geaux, because they’ve garnered 25 locations across the state, from Lake Charles to Lafayette. Slowly smoked, Texasworthy barbecue with a Cajun twist is what it’s known for—think sliced brisket sandwiches and tacos, fall-off-the-bone ribs, and pulled pork sandwiches with house-made spicy barbecue sauce.
USA Travel Plaza & Cajun Diner
Monroe-West Monroe
450 Hwy. 546 W. facebook.com/p/USA-Travel-plaza-15-61557618571444
This laid-back service station and its diner are a hit with both diesel rig operators and morning commuters. The menu is authentically Cajun, the staff are friendly and warm, and with daily specials for under $10, what’s not to like? A satisfying plate of red beans and rice with smoked sausage or hearty country-fried steak and fried fish will stick to your ribs, but if you’re still hungry, order one of the many appetizers that come in at under $5—you can’t go wrong with fried pickles, alligator “kickers,” or fried jalapeños.
Curtis Grocery
Florien
8301 Hwy. 473 | curtisgroceryontoledobend.com
Fresh and made-to-order is the name of the game at Curtis Grocery, a locally owned gas station, convenience store, and restaurant just off the Toledo Bend Forest Scenic Byway. Customers can expect comfort classics like beignets and biscuits and gravy in the early morning, and for lunch, options like Mississippi catfish hand-battered in yellow cornmeal for that signature crunch, along with house-made hush puppies and mini Natchitoches meat pies.
Chesson’s Grocery
Bell City
1005 Hwy. 27 facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063772590643
This slice of small-town Louisiana is your one-stop shop for gas, groceries, and other local goods. Housed in a charming red wooden building, Chesson’s Grocery is a family-run spot near the Creole Nature Trail and SWLA Boudin Trail. On any given day, you’ll find a family or coworkers seated at tables covered in red-and-white vinyl tablecloths, enjoying a chili cheese dog, a juicy hamburger, or crawfish (when in season) across from one another.
Honorable Mention
Jewel’s Quick Stop
Oakdale 406 E. Jackson St.
3 J’s Fourway
Natchitoches 11028 Hwy. 1
Anacoco Mercantile
Anacoco 1678 Front St.
American Market
Baton Rouge 5251 Nicholson Dr.
DB’s Station
Longstreet 13475 Hwy. 5
In-Laws Cajun Specialties
Iowa
1121 Lowe-Grout Rd. inlawscajun.com
Whether you’re stocking up on meats for your freezer or grabbing a snack for the road, shoppers at In-Laws Cajun Specialties will not be met with disappointment. Boudin (and boudin balls) come in delectable flavors like smoked pepper jack, crawfish, and, of course, original, and the sausages keep things interesting with flavors like green onion garlic and jalapeño Cheddar. Stop by the new location in Moss Bluff for the shrimp sauce piquante over rice or fan-favorite fried ribs.
