Bếp Lafayette has only been open for a few weeks — but this Louisiana-Vietnamese bakery has already made waves in the community, starting with their unique king cakes.
I tried one on St. Patrick's Day (it was a "Patty Cake" on that day), and was blown away by the tender, flaky texture that was lightly sweet and citrus-y, with an airy icing on top that made me want to turn back — or fast forward — to king cake season.
The Gentilly King Cake is cooked in house and offered at Bep Louisiana Vietnamese Cafe, Tuesday, March 17, 2026. offered at Bep Louisiana Vietnamese Cafe, Tuesday, March 17, 2026.
Robin May
Bếp draws its king cake inspiration from Randazzo's in New Orleans, famous for its delicate brioche and silky icing. Owners Thuy and Vu Nguyen are from New Orleans and moved to Lafayette three years ago to find a different pace of life with their kids.
The name means "kitchen" in Vietnamese, and baker and chef Vu Nguyen is clearly at home there, turning out Vietnamese-style pastries like coffee buns, egg tarts, sweet rice cakes, pork floss buns and pâté chaud pastries, on top of salads, bánh mìs, chicken cracklin' plates with jambalaya, and more.
"The jambalaya is more like my take," said Vu Nguyen. "It's more Vietnamese. We like to cook everything quick, so we use the wok and fry the jambalaya like a fried rice.
"I wanted to do chicken cracklins because you always see them in the gas stations, and I love the crispiness of the skin." Nguyen's cracklin is both crispy and juicy with plenty of tender bites of meat clinging to the skin, adding texture and flavor to the dish.
Thuy Nguyen, co-owner of Bep Louisiana Vietnamese Cafe, holds her Banh Mi Pork sandwich created by her husband, Vu Nguyen at the cafe, Tuesday, March 17, 2026.
Robin May
"My husband does all the cooking, and he's self-taught. He's one of 13, and they all learned from their mom," said Thuy Nguyen, who works the front of the shop. "He's planning to add more items like pork chops and gravy, chicken and gravy, and bring in a pho as well. He's thought about doing a hamburger — his take on a brioche bun is really good."
The couple ran a sundry shop back in New Orleans, selling snacks, sandwiches, gumbos and soups, and have brought that sensibility to Acadiana with Bếp Lafayette, located at 2429 W. Congress St. in the shopping center behind Rouses Market.
If you've been looking to try an authentic bánh mì sandwich — meat and vegetables and tangy, savory flavors packed inside a crispy baguette — Bếp Lafayette has you covered. I loved the pork belly bánh mì that came with an authentic, house-made pâté that was a great contrast to the crunch of the pickled vegetables and chew of the fresh baguette.
Bep Louisiana Vietnamese Cafe is located at 2429 W Congress St behind Rouses, Tuesday, March 17, 2026. They offer authentic Vietnamese classics to Louisiana foods, all prepared fresh.
Robin May
The cafe will also draw lovers of Vietnamese coffee, a bold roast balanced with sweet condensed milk, and usually served iced. For a town that loves its iced coffees, this one stands out as a perfect treat for warm spring days.
Vietnam is the largest producer of Robusta coffee beans, known for an intense, chocolate-y flavor. Vu Nguyen said he hasn't been able to source beans from Vietnam due to tariffs, but in the meantime, he's crafting a Vietnamese-style drink with notes of chocolate milk, a hint of warm spices and a rich, milky sweetness that's great over ice.
Bếp Lafayette is open Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 2429 W. Congress St., Lafayette.