ACADIANA, LOUISIANA, USA -- One of the biggest elements of visiting Louisiana's Cajun Country is the food -- arguably America's most distinctive regional cuisine. Budget conscious travelers will be happy to know that getting a good -- make that great -- meal in this neck of the woods will not require a major cash outlay. The area is filled with great things to eat at astoundingly low prices. We found lots of wonderful restaurants, shops and markets. Below are some of our favorites, in no particular order

Josephine's Creole Restaurant -- Josephine Cormier (pictured at right with Cajun cooking queen Marcelle Bienvenu) feeds about 50-75 folks a day, many in "to go" boxes so the working men who frequent her place can take them back to the job. Everything is homemade here, even the sauces and seasonings, and you can really taste the difference. There are a lot of restaurants across the country that can learn some valuable lessons from Josephine. While the restaurant serves standard southern and soul food fare from steam tables set behind the counter, this food is anything but ordinary. Every dish positively sings with flavor!

Josephine learned to cook from her dad's side of the family and she's passed her skills on to her own three kids and five foster kids. She uses lots of herbs because she says, "herbs make your meal."

On the subject of Cajun and Creole cuisine, Josephine says "People from different heritages, even within the Cajun and Creole culture, cook differently. There are a million nuances to this cuisine."

Everything we tried here (and we tried it all) was outstanding, but especially memorable were the ribs, the dirty rice, and the smothered okra. Absolutely not to be missed is the macaroni and cheese -- the best we've had anywhere (don't even think about the calorie count).

At Josephine's, nothing is wasted, as it all contains flavor -- a common theme in Cajun and Creole cooking. For instance, the drippings from the turkey go into the cornbread dressing.

Josephine's has been open for 13 years now (this was written in 2006) and operates a thriving catering business in addition to her restaurant. The menu here changes daily, so come back a few times if your time in the area allows it. You won't be disappointed.

Note: Josephine's is open for lunch only -- no breakfast, no dinner!

Josephine's Creole Restaurant is located at 830 S Main Street in St. Martinville, LA 70582. Phone 337-394-8030.

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Possum's - This casual St. Martinville cafe is a good place for lunch, dinner or a cold drink at the bar. Especially good are the crab cakes and the "Puff n Stuff" - a savory concoction of shrimp or chicken in cream sauce encased in a delicate puff pastry shell. Nice touches here include the homemade cocktail sauce that has a nice lemony zest, and the house dressing - a remoulade type sauce with an extra touch of cayenne spiciness.

Possum's Restaurant is located at 1007 Little Oak Dr. in St. Martinville, LA 70582. Phone 337-394-3233.

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Victor's Cafeteria -- Dave Roubicheaux eats here! Victor's found international recognition via the fictional detective, but in all actuality Roubicheaux creator James Lee Burke is the one with the affinity for Victor's Cafeteria, using it as a setting in his books. Likewise mystery novel fans will have an extra reason for visiting one of New Iberia's favorite eateries. Most folks, however, go for the great home cooking.

Victor's has been serving up all your favorite Southern foods cafeteria style since 1969. There are so many good things to eat here, it's difficult to choose. "Eyes bigger than the stomach" syndrome is a common affliction at Victor's Cafeteria.

Especially good is the fried chicken, the side dishes, and Victor's homemade pies. Don't even think about leaving without a slice (my favorite was the Coconut Cream, but they're all good), or you'll be missing out on some truly memorable desserts.

Note: Victor's is open for breakfast and lunch only! If you can't make it Victor's, know that they market a line of savory frozen pies under the 5 'Lil Cajuns brand, so look for them in grocery stores throughout the south.

You can find Victor's Cafeteria at 109 W Main Street in New Iberia, LA 70560. Call 318-369-9924.

Bon Creole Café -- This small local cafe makes the best Po' Boys (the Southern equivalent of a hoagie, submarine sandwich, or grinder) in the area. The folks that run this friendly establishment are also major seafood purveyors and wholesalers, so you can't go wrong with any of their seafood dishes, which are ultra-fresh. Try the shrimp Po' Boy or the soft shell crab Po' Boy -- the fillings are plentiful, and perfectly cooked and seasoned. An order of fries makes a perfect side dish. You'll find an array of local hot sauces to spice up your sandwiches Creole style.

Bon Creole is located at 1409 E. St. Peter St. in New Iberia, LA 70560. Phone 337-367-6181.

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Mulate's, The Original Cajun Restaurant -- If you want some hearty Cajun fare, from spicy snacks like fried shrimp or alligator, to a full meal like gumbo or jambalaya, accompanied by a full bar, Mulate's is a good choice. This is casual fare, much of it fried, and all of it spicy and delicious.

The decor is casual -- the ceiling peppered with past patron's business cards. Be sure to leave yours too (you waitress will be happy to provide the necessary tacks) to prove you were there.

Go to Mulate's in the evening and your food will be served to the sounds of a live Cajun band, for this place is just as much a dance hall as it is a restaurant. You can dance the night away to a Cajun beat and burn off your dinner before retiring for the evening. Many great bands perform at Mulate's on a regular basis, so keep your eyes on the schedule for your favorites.

You can get a similar food/drink/dance combo at Prejeans Restaurant in Lafayette too.

Find Mulate's, The Original Cajun Restaurant at 325 Mills Avenue in Breaux Bridge, LA 70517. Phone 337-332-4648.

Prejean's Restaurant can be found at 3480 NE Evangeline Trwy in Lafayette, LA 70507. Phone 337-896-3247 or click to www.prejeans.com.

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Don's Seafood and Steak House -- Bargain hunters can't go wrong at this Lafayette restaurant. For around $10.00 (as of this writing in 2006) diners can get an enormous seafood platter that includes shrimp, stuffed crab, oysters and fish. (Yes you read that correctly.) In addition to the seafood platter, you'll find an array of typical southern and Cajun fare, with an emphasis on fresh seafood. It's not hip or happening, just good old fashioned coastal southern fare at unbeatable prices.

Don's Seafoodand Steak House is located at 301 E Vermilion Street in Lafayette, LA 70501. Phone 337-235-3551 or visit their website at www.donsdowntown.com.

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Dwyer's Café-- Dwyer's has been a Lafayette institution since it first opened in 1927. While they are open for dinner, you'll find a lot of locals gathering here for breakfasts and lunches especially. As it's located in the heart of downtown Lafayette, Dwyer's seems to be the local place to see and be seen, catch up with neighborhood news, and enjoy a hearty morning meal or plate lunch.

Breakfasts are a Southern style affair, naturally. Don't miss the grits or the sweet potato pancakes (the owner put the latter on the menu to cater to low carb dieters but they were so good they became popular with everyone).

Plate lunches are served cafeteria style with a main course meat entree (try the smothered pork chops) with three side dishes of your choice, all for about six bucks!

Find Dwyer's Cafe at 323 Jefferson St in doowntown Lafayette, LA 70501. Phone them at 337-235-9364.

More Great Eats on the Cheap
Some of the best budget conscious food you can get in Cajun Country doesn't come from a restaurant at all. Small bakeries and markets abound with food you can take away for a casual picnic or meal on the go. Here are our favorites:

Meche's Donut King -- You may think you've had good donuts before, but unless you've been to Meche's you're probably mistaken. The donuts here are so soft, so light, so flavorful, they're almost ethereal. As demand for these melt-in-your-mouth treats is high, you're bound to get them fresh and warm from the fryer or oven most any morning.

The bakery has been operating for over twenty-one years now. Meche's has three locations in Lafayette, run by three different Meche siblings -- Shelley, Ricky, and Rowdy.

In addition to donuts, Meche's is famous for their Mardi Gras King Cakes. Don't worry if your visit doesn't coincide with carnival season, Meche's makes these traditional Cajun cakes all year long, in a variety of flavors and stuffed with an assortment of different fillings. They ship King Cakes to every state in the union. Last year (2005) the Guilbreaux Road location alone made 16,020 King Cakes. Of those, 1675 of those were sent out of the area via overnight shipping.

Meche's Donuts has three Lafayette locations: 306 E Willow Street Lafayette, LA 70501; 402 Guilbreaux Rd, Lafayette, LA 70506; and 205 Rue Louis XIV, Lafayette, LA 70508. Phone 337-232-2782.

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Poupart's Bakery -- It's easy to forget you are in Louisiana and not France inside the doors of Poupart's Bakery. All the sweet and savory pastries and baked goods you'd find in a typical Parisienne patisserie can be found here, prepared to perfection by its native French owners. The French Bread is sheer perfection -- with a soft inner texture and a crust that is crisp and light, offering the perfect amount of bite resistance before yielding to the soft yeasty heart of the loaf. Absolutely not to be missed are Louise Poupart's homemade jams, jellies and preserves in variety of flavors from traditional berry to fig and even Japanese plum. Take home several jars or you'll be sorry later you didn't. Our favorite was the fig preserves -- sweet but not cloying and filled with delicate fruit flavor. Poupart's also serves a variety of sandwiches, on their homemade bread and flaky croissants, so this is a good place to pick up a picnic lunch to go. Enjoy your sandwiches underneath the Evangeline Oak and soak up some Cajun history at the same time.

Poupart's Bakery is located at 1902 W Pinhook Road in Lafayette, LA 70508. Phone 337-232-7921 or visit their website at www.poupartsbakery.com.

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City Garden Market at River Ranch -- Set in the center of a stylish, brand new, perfectly planned community is a farmer's market that feels like it stepped out of yesterday. Each Saturday farmers and artisans bring their wares to the River Ranch town square. In addition to fresh local produce -- some of it organic -- you'll find artists and crafts people along with food purveyors. We got a terrific muffuletta sandwich from 9 year old Robert H. Duncan (pictured at right). Robert's mom makes the sandwiches, but he's one heck of salesman. Even if you're not hungry, it's impossible to say no to this cute charmer, and you can always eat the delicious hearty classic New Orleans sandwich later.

Another staple at the market is Jimmy Romero, AKA "The Pie Man" (pictured at left). People come from far and wide to get Jimmy's famous pies. The secret is in the crust, he says, and he's very proud that even the bottom pastry in his fruit pies never gets soggy. What was once a hobby has turned into a full time enterprise for the former oil rig worker.

The setting at the market is serene, and there's lots of lawn space to spread out on and enjoy your purchases while listening to live music entertainment.

The City Garden Market is held every Saturday at River Ranch Town Square in Lafayette from 8AM to noon. Phone 337-316-6356 or click to www.riverranchdevelopment.com.