Where to Find the Best Boudin in Louisiana

In early 2002, Calvin Trillin wrote a funny yet memorable story in The New Yorker about Cajun boudin (“Missing Links”) that has stuck with me ever since. In the years since I read the story, I’ve been to New Orleans several times, and have seen boudin on local menus; it’s usually gussied up with a side of chow chow and Creole mustard, or served with some heirloom vegetables. But I never had cause to visit the heart of Cajun country – Acadiana as it’s called – until last week. My son’s School of Rock All-Star tour took him through Texas (allowing me to return to Smitty’s in Lockhart and City Market in Luling for barbecue) and then after Houston, a gig in Lafayette, Louisiana before ending his tour back in Dallas. I quickly looked up Trillin’s piece, and sure enough, several of the places he visited were along Highway 10, between Lake Charles and Lafayette – the exact routing we would take after leaving Houston.

After jotting down Trillin’s places, followed by some quick consulting with Brett Anderson, the former Restaurant Critic at the Times-Picayune who was recently named a New York Times Correspondent (and who knows Louisiana food better than anyone), I mapped out eight stops, intending to hit them all within 24 hours. Here’s the result of my research (change setting to 720p resolution since I shot in 4k on iPhone):

Sonnier’s Sausage & Boudin
1217 Mill St., Lake Charles, LA
337-656-2876

Cormier’s Specialty Meats
509 Allison St., Jennings, LA
337-616-8242

The Best Stop Express
3002 Daulaut Dr., Duson, LA
337-935-6868

Billy’s
523 Apollo Rd., Scott, LA
337-232-1114

Don’s Specialty Meats
730 I 10 S. Frontage Rd., Scott, LA
337-234-2585

Kirk’s U-Needa-Butcher
713 Surrey St., Lafayette, LA
337-234-1787

Johnson’s Boucanière
1111 St. John St., Lafayette
337-269-8878

Legnon’s Boucherie
410 Jefferson Ter., New Iberia, LA
337-367-3831