Tacos with bayou bite

It was an idea born not so much of innovation but of a lack thereof—at least on the part of the customers. Chef-owner of Taco Boudreaux’s on S. Sherwood Forest Blvd., near I-12, Brennan Ledet, was working at his father’s Mexican restaurant in Napoleonville when he noticed that his father had to keep certain Cajun staples on the menu to please insistent patrons who didn’t want to try anything too exotic. Their neophobia sparked an idea in Ledet—why not combine the two cuisines? Years of experimentation and months of elbow grease later, Ledet opened the doors to his new restaurant, Taco Boudreaux’s, in December 2011. On the menu, nearly everything is a blend of Mexican and Cajun cuisines: from the Oyster Taco-feller appetizer, which features flash-fried Louisiana oysters on crispy tortilla chips, to the popular and self-explanatory Blackened Alligator Fajitas. You can get enchiladas stuffed with fresh Gulf seafood, or a po-boy filled with carne asada, bell peppers and Cajun remoulade sauce. Even their fish tacos feature fresh fried catfish. The drinks menu is equally diverse, with a list of 12 Mexican and 12 south Louisiana beers, and cocktail specials like the Mardi Gras Martini, a sweet twist on the traditional tequila drink. The menu isn’t just Louisiana themed, however. Ledet works hard to make sure all of his items are sourced as locally as possible, from seafood to produce. “I don’t mind paying a few dollars more for good stuff,” he says. “I know it comes back to you tenfold because the customers know the difference.” And local assets will also appear in the restaurant’s décor: Ledet plans to allow area artists to sell their art on the walls, host monthly live music events with local bands, and much more. “It’s about supporting the community,” he says. The next event coming up is “Sinko de Bayou” on April 5. You can find out more on their website, tacoboudreaux.com, and check out a photo gallery of some of their food by clicking here. 2628 S. Sherwood Forest Blvd., (225) 293-4735