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Cajun / Southern -- Lafayette, Louisiana

The Chimes Lafayette Menu 2026: Cajun & Southern Classics

The full Chimes Lafayette menu for 2026 -- Cajun and Southern classics from boiled crawfish and crawfish etouffee to boudin, gumbo, po'boys, and Louisiana craft beers on tap. Browse every category below, find the most-ordered dishes, and get quick answers to the most common questions about this Lafayette institution.

Lafayette, LouisianaCajun & SouthernLouisiana craft beerCrawfish (seasonal)Bar & full menu
Jump to full menu Cheapest items
Sample · $$

Signature items

Boiled CrawfishSeasonal
Crawfish EtouffeeSignature
Seafood GumboSignature
Boudin LinksLocal favorite
Bread PuddingDon't skip
Jump to: Most popular Crawfish guide Full menu About The Chimes FAQ
Quick answers

Common questions about The Chimes Lafayette menu

Four quick answers for the most common things people look for before visiting The Chimes.

Must-order item
Boiled Crawfish (in season)

Available Feb-Jun. Spiced Cajun boil with corn and potatoes. Call ahead to confirm.

Year-round classic
Crawfish Etouffee

Crawfish tails smothered in buttery roux sauce over rice -- on the menu year-round.

Best for groups
Po'Boys & platters

Roast beef, shrimp, and catfish po'boys plus fried platters make group ordering easy.

Drink to order
Louisiana craft beer on draft

Rotating tap list featuring Abita, Parish Brewing, Bayou Teche, and Louisiana guests.

Crawfish guide

Crawfish at The Chimes Lafayette: what to know

Boiled crawfish is the item people travel to Lafayette for. Here is what you need to know before you go.

When

Season: February through June

Louisiana crawfish season peaks in March, April, and May. The Chimes serves boiled crawfish live in season. Availability depends on the harvest -- call ahead or check social media before making crawfish your reason for the visit.

How it's served

Cajun boiled in spiced broth

Live crawfish are boiled in a heavily spiced Cajun broth with corn on the cob and new potatoes. Ordered by the pound. The spice level is authentic South Louisiana -- not toned down for tourists.

Off-season

Crawfish etouffee is year-round

Even when boiled crawfish is out of season, crawfish tails appear on the menu in etouffee, bisque, and dips year-round. If you're visiting outside peak season, the etouffee is the move.

Signature items

Six dishes that define The Chimes Lafayette

These are the plates most identified with The Chimes -- the ones locals recommend and first-timers should know about.

Seasonal -- Feb to Jun

Boiled Crawfish

Live Louisiana crawfish boiled in a Cajun spice broth with corn and potatoes. Ordered by the pound. The defining dish of South Louisiana and the main reason many people visit in crawfish season.

Year-round classic

Crawfish Etouffee

Crawfish tails smothered in a buttery roux-based sauce over white rice. One of the most-recognized Cajun dishes -- The Chimes' version is considered a benchmark in Lafayette.

Hearty Cajun staple

Seafood Gumbo

Dark roux gumbo with shrimp, crab, and oysters over rice with French bread. South Louisiana gumbo done correctly -- dark, rich, and seasoned with a Cajun hand.

South LA must-try

Boudin Links

Grilled pork-and-rice boudin links with Creole mustard. Boudin is a uniquely Acadian/South Louisiana sausage -- and The Chimes is one of the better places to try it in Lafayette.

Lunch staple

Roast Beef Po'Boy

Slow-roasted beef debris gravy on French bread, fully dressed. The roast beef po'boy is the gold standard of Lafayette lunch -- served properly, it's messy, rich, and unmistakably Louisiana.

Best dessert

Bread Pudding with Whiskey Sauce

Classic New Orleans-style bread pudding with a warm bourbon whiskey sauce. The near-universal recommendation for dessert at The Chimes. Do not skip it.

Louisiana craft beer

Louisiana craft beer at The Chimes Lafayette

The Chimes has long been one of the premier destinations for Louisiana craft beer in Lafayette, with a rotating tap list that highlights the state's breweries. Expect to find drafts from Abita Brewing (Abita Springs), Parish Brewing (Broussard, just outside Lafayette), Bayou Teche Brewing (Arnaudville), and rotating guest taps from newer Louisiana craft brewers.

The beer list is as much a draw as the food for many regulars. Pairing a cold Abita Amber or a Parish IPA with a bowl of etouffee or a plate of boiled crawfish is a quintessentially South Louisiana experience.

Tap lists rotate. Ask your server for the current draft selections or check the restaurant's social media for recent tap updates.

  • Abita Amber -- Classic Louisiana lager. Easy-drinking with Cajun food.
  • Parish Ghost in the Machine -- Double IPA from Broussard, LA.
  • Bayou Teche LA-31 Biere Pale -- French-Acadian farmhouse pale ale.
  • Rotating Louisiana guests -- New and seasonal Louisiana breweries on tap regularly.
  • Frozen daiquiris & cocktails -- Also available at the full bar.
Dietary guide

Vegetarian, gluten-aware & dietary options at The Chimes

The Chimes is primarily a Cajun and Southern seafood kitchen -- most dishes contain seafood, pork, or both. That said, vegetarian-friendly options exist:

Vegetarians can look to the house salad, spinach and artichoke dip, hush puppies, fried green tomatoes, mac and cheese, red beans and rice (specify no andouille), and most desserts (bread pudding, beignets, pecan pie).

Gluten-sensitive diners should note that The Chimes kitchen is a high-volume Cajun kitchen with frequent cross-contact. Fried items share fryers. Confirm with your server before ordering.

Menu items and preparation may change. Always confirm dietary needs directly with restaurant staff.

  • Vegetarian options: House salad, fried green tomatoes, hush puppies, spinach dip
  • Vegetarian sides: Mac & cheese, mashed potatoes, coleslaw, corn, fries
  • Vegetarian desserts: Bread pudding, beignets, pecan pie, praline ice cream
  • Red beans & rice: Order without andouille for vegetarian
  • Seafood-forward: Most plates include Gulf shrimp, crawfish, crab, or catfish
  • Gluten: Cross-contact in kitchen. Confirm with server.
Browse the menu

Jump to a category

All ten menu categories with item counts.

Crawfish & Seafood7 itemsBoudin & Sausage4 itemsGumbo & Soups4 itemsPo'Boys & Sandwiches5 itemsCajun Plates & Entrees6 itemsAppetizers & Starters6 itemsSalads & Lighter Fare4 itemsSides5 itemsDesserts4 itemsBeer, Craft Beers & Drinks6 items
The full menu

Every item on The Chimes Lafayette menu (2026)

All categories below. Tags flag vegetarian, spicy, and seasonal items. Prices are not listed -- The Chimes does not publish pricing online and prices vary seasonally.

A note on prices. The Chimes Lafayette does not publish menu prices online, and pricing on items like boiled crawfish changes throughout the season based on the Louisiana harvest. No prices are listed on this page to avoid misleading you. For current pricing, visit thechimes.com or call the restaurant directly before your visit.
About The Chimes

A Louisiana institution -- Cajun, Southern, and Louisiana craft beer.

The Chimes is one of the most recognizable names in Lafayette dining -- a casual, welcoming bar and restaurant built around the foods South Louisiana is famous for. From the boiled crawfish in spring to the etouffee and gumbo served year-round, the menu is a blueprint of Cajun and Acadian cooking tradition.

The Chimes is equally known for its beer program, which has long spotlighted Louisiana craft breweries at a time when many venues were not. Abita, Parish, Bayou Teche, and rotating Louisiana guest taps have made it a destination for beer drinkers as well as food lovers.

With roots in both Lafayette and Baton Rouge (near LSU), The Chimes carries a following that spans generations of Louisiana residents and visitors. The Lafayette location continues to serve the community as a go-to for casual Cajun dining, sports watching, and Louisiana craft beer.

LafayetteLocation
CajunCuisine
10Menu categories
LA CraftBeer program
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Common questions

The Chimes Lafayette menu -- frequently asked questions

Quick answers to the questions people most commonly ask before visiting The Chimes Lafayette.

What is The Chimes Lafayette known for?

The Chimes Lafayette is best known for its boiled crawfish (in season February through June), classic Cajun dishes like crawfish etouffee, gumbo, and boudin, Louisiana po'boys, and an extensive rotating tap list of Louisiana craft beers. It's a cornerstone of the Lafayette, Louisiana dining scene and popular with locals and LSU fans alike.

When is crawfish season at The Chimes Lafayette?

Boiled crawfish is a seasonal menu item at The Chimes, typically available from February through June, with peak season running March through May when Louisiana crawfish are most plentiful. Availability varies by year depending on harvest conditions. Call ahead or check The Chimes' social media to confirm crawfish is on the menu before your visit.

Does The Chimes Lafayette have vegetarian options?

The Chimes menu is Cajun-focused and seafood-forward, but there are vegetarian-friendly options including red beans and rice (without andouille), fried green tomatoes, hush puppies, house salad, spinach and artichoke dip, and several sides such as mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, and coleslaw. Vegans will have fewer options -- confirm with your server, as stocks and gravies may contain meat.

What are the most popular dishes at The Chimes?

The most popular items at The Chimes Lafayette include boiled crawfish (in season), crawfish etouffee, seafood gumbo, boudin links, po'boys (roast beef, shrimp, and catfish are favorites), and jambalaya. The bread pudding with whiskey sauce is widely praised as the standout dessert. The Louisiana craft beer tap list is also a draw.

Does The Chimes serve lunch and dinner?

Yes, The Chimes Lafayette serves both lunch and dinner daily. Hours and exact service times may vary -- visit thechimes.com or call the restaurant directly to confirm current hours, as they can shift around major holidays and events like the Cajun food festivals Lafayette hosts throughout the year.

Does The Chimes have a full bar?

Yes. The Chimes Lafayette operates a full bar with an extensive draft beer list featuring Louisiana craft beers (Abita, Parish Brewing, Bayou Teche, and rotating guests), cocktails, frozen daiquiris, and Hurricanes. It is a destination for Louisiana craft beer drinkers and has historically offered one of the largest Louisiana tap selections in Lafayette.

Is The Chimes Lafayette good for groups?

Yes -- The Chimes has a large, casual dining room and a bar area well-suited for groups. For large parties or private events, it's best to call ahead and confirm seating. The menu's broad range of Cajun and Southern dishes (seafood, po'boys, sandwiches, plates) makes it flexible for mixed groups. Check the official website or call for private dining or reservation options.

Is The Chimes Lafayette the same as The Chimes in Baton Rouge?

The Chimes brand has locations in both Lafayette and Baton Rouge. The Baton Rouge location near LSU is perhaps more widely recognized nationally, but the Lafayette location is its own full-service restaurant and bar with the same Cajun and Southern menu focus. Menu items and pricing may differ slightly between locations. This page covers the Lafayette location specifically.

Does The Chimes Lafayette have outdoor seating?

The Chimes Lafayette has historically offered patio and outdoor seating areas, ideal for the Lafayette climate during spring and fall. Availability can vary with seasonal events and weather. Confirm current outdoor seating setup by visiting thechimes.com or calling the restaurant before your visit.

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