Market Data

How Many Full-Service Restaurants Are in Lafayette, LA? (2026 Data)

Lafayette, LA · pop. 414,288 282 full-service restaurants in this metro — 68.1 per 100,000 residents
68.1per 100k here
71.5typical U.S. metro
-5%vs. typical metro
Market verdict balanced Roughly typical competition — winning here comes down to outmarketing the businesses already in the map pack.

Full-Service Restaurants per 100,000 residents

Lafayette, LA68.1Typical U.S. metro71.5U.S. average76.8

Saturation vs. all 387 U.S. metros

Lafayette · #161Least saturated (opportunity)Most saturated

Lafayette ranks #161 of 387 — more open than 59% of U.S. metros.

What the data says about the Lafayette full-service restaurants market

According to U.S. Census Bureau data, there are 282 full-service restaurants serving the Lafayette, LA area (population 414,288) — 68.1 per 100,000 residents. That's -5% below the typical U.S. metro (71.5 per 100k), making Lafayette more saturated than 41% of the 387 metros we track.

For context, the national average is 76.8 per 100k — higher than the typical metro because dense urban areas pull it up. The Lafayette, LA population grew 1.5% from 2020 to 2023, a signal of steady local demand.

Should you open a restaurant in Lafayette?

It's a balanced market. Lafayette sits near the U.S. median for full-service restaurants per capita, with 1.5% population growth. There's room, but winning comes down to outmarketing the full-service restaurants already operating here.

How to win the Lafayette market with AI

Market data tells you the playing field. Winning it is about marketing — and that's where most full-service restaurants leave money on the table. Here's the high-ROI playbook:

  • Own local search. Optimize your Google Business Profile and local SEO so you show up in the map pack for "restaurant near me."
  • Capture every lead. Most restaurants miss 20–30% of calls. AI call capture turns those into booked customers.
  • Compound with reviews and content. Use AI to systematize reviews, follow-up, and local content.

See the full playbook for your industry: AI marketing for full-service restaurants.

Lafayette full-service restaurants market — FAQ

How many full-service restaurants are there in Lafayette, LA?

There are 282 full-service restaurants in the Lafayette, LA area — about 68.1 per 100,000 residents.

Is Lafayette, LA a good place to open a restaurant?

Lafayette ranks #161 of 387 U.S. metros by full-service restaurants per capita (balanced). With 68.1 per 100,000 residents and 1.5% population growth since 2020, it's a typical market for a well-marketed restaurant.

Is the Lafayette full-service restaurants market saturated?

Lafayette has 68.1 full-service restaurants per 100,000 residents versus a U.S. median of 71.5 — balanced, more saturated than 41% of U.S. metros.

How fast is Lafayette, LA growing?

The Lafayette, LA metro population grew 1.5% from 2020 to 2023, to about 414,288 residents.

Other full-service restaurants markets in LA

Alexandria, LA 43.9/100k · underserved Houma, LA 50.3/100k · underserved Monroe, LA 53.2/100k · underserved Baton Rouge, LA 54.1/100k · underserved Lake Charles, LA 56.2/100k · underserved Shreveport, LA 59.7/100k · underserved Hammond, LA 72.4/100k · balanced Slidell, LA 88.5/100k · saturated
All full-service restaurants markets →