Rickey Meche's Donut King — Restaurant in Lafayette

Meches Doughnuts (especially the Guilbeau road location) is BY FAR the best doughnut you can get for the best price that I've ever had, and it isn't even close. I truly pity the rest of the world that isn't Lafayette, Louisiana for the types of doughnut establishments they are forced to choose from. Imagine if you only had a bottom of the barrel chain like Dunkin' or one of those pretentious and expensive designer doughnut spots to get your doughnuts from. That would be a nightmare. Local Lafayette cooking and culture has spoiled me as far as its food in general, and Meches is no exception to that. What, you think Cajuns only know how to make etouffee? Wrong.

I grew up near Lafayette High on Congress Street and have many very fond memories of my dad and I going to Meches on Guilbeau in the early morning hours. Inside, the bright lights, jovial sounds of neighbors greeting each other good morning, and the crisp aromas wafting from the freshly baked dough in the back are the most pleasant shocks to your senses. It may be the 2020's outside, but once you step inside Meches, it's like walking back in time to an era where businesses actually put customers and community above all, and when I went home to visit last month and walked in, it would be remiss to tell you that it had the EXACT same impact as it did when I was a child; like walking into Willy Wonkas doughnut factory.

Have I mentioned that they have more than just doughnuts? Oh yes. This is the city of Lafayette, after all. There is a large selection of delicious kolaches as well as BOUDIN (my favorite Cajun food) and more stuff that I probably don't even know about. Oh, and they make an amazing KING CAKE during the Mardi Gras season, but don't get me started on that. My mouth watered a good bit when I typed that just now. Just know there is no going wrong with anything on the menu from Meches, whether it be sweet treats or hearty meats. They also have a large selection of beverages including Bordens strawberry milk which is next to impossible to find anywhere else; it's like the foil Charizard of liquids. Meches just has a remarkably niche and superb selection of items, all around.

I haven't lived in Lafayette for over a decade now, but I visit my family and friends there when I can. When I do, I always find the time to make my rounds to multiple child/adulthood hotspots from my past that are still doing their thing, and Meches is one of them. I don't think I even really have to say not to go anywhere else for your doughnut needs in Lafayette, but I honestly don't even know what other option would even be slightly plausible. "Big Doughnut" is just lucky that Meches isn't greedy like them and hasn't started an expansive reaching chain because they would have a monopoly of the industry. Shoutout to Meches, thank you for the memories....

I've heard from people around town that the guy who owns Meche's isn't the nicest person you'll ever meet, but apparently that applies to his regulars and cashiers as well. First of all, let's all agree that being a regular OR cashier at a local donut shop doesn't make you cool.

I know that at this particular location, customers are supposed to pick one of the four to six lines and stand in it. However, everyone this morning was lining up in one line and going to the next available cashier. When about six of us were in line, some regular walks in and starts talking to his usual cashier. He proceeds to walk right up to her and cut all of us in line. The lady behind me cleared her throat and gave me a look, so I said, "Hey, man, you just got in front of all of us in line. You're not the only one trying to get to work this morning." He proceeded to tell me that isn't how it works and all the lines are individual, but that he'll let me go. I said nothing else except to the cashier, letting her know that it's the business' responsibility to let their customers know how to line up. She snidely told me that they're usually way too busy to keep telling people how to line up. While this conversation was going on, the guy behind me would NOT let it go. He was telling some other regular that I'm sure he barely knows something like, "Doesn't it suck when you're a regular somewhere and others come in and don't know how it works?" I was boiling as I whipped around and asked him if he was trying to get punched in the face. Not my proudest moment, as I've never actually punched someone in my life, but that shut him up. And of course, the lovely cashier took his side again.

This is the type of small-town ridiculous mentality that I thought Lafayette was growing past. But apparently, there's still too many small-minded, ignorant people in this city to make it a better place to live.

I haven't mentioned yet that I went to Meche's to celebrate National Donut Day, and they were doing nothing in celebration, as almost all other donut shops are doing. If the number one donut shop in the city can't give their customers a free donut once a year, I'd have to say you're pretty stingy.

I will say their donuts are amazing, but no better than Cajun Market Donuts or whatever it's called (previously Meche's).

Lastly, their king cakes are disgusting. All you other reviewers, please try Keller's king cakes for a real king cake experience! King cakes are not supposed...

Louisiana is known for their cooking, but I can only begin to imagine where this one went wrong. Their glaze donuts are big and fluffy, but lacking any discernible flavor aside from bread and sugar. They smell amazing, but once you taste them, you will know more disappointment than Edwards being governor.

The only thing worth buying are their turkey "kolaches" which are more like a cheese and turkey filled croissant, but no hate on this because they actually do have some flavor. Their cinnamon twists are also good, for both reasons I've added a star to my rating, but the prime staple of what no donut shop should ever fail at is a disaster. My wife knows my love of donuts and often brings me leftovers from her work, but I unfortunately throw them all away because they aren't worth eating.

I reheat two month old frozen donuts from my favorite place in Texas before I eat a freshly baked Meche's donut. ...