So there is this place in Opelousas on E. Vine St. People call it Billy’s, Ray’s, Billy Ray’s, or Billy and Ray’s. Whatever it is, they have the best boudin balls EVER. See, a lot of places in south Louisiana have boudin balls. Rice and basically dressing mix tossed together, packed in a ball deep fried. Billy Ray’s (as I call it) has them all beat due to one simple thing. Their batter.

They double dip their boudin balls in a mixture that can only be compared to the batter on Popeye’s fried chicken. Gnarly, crispy, crunchy goodness with a soft inside.

Now, as for the boudin, be careful. The place has such a complicated name because they sell two different boudins. Not just one spicy and one mild, but two different recipes. You see, they sell Billy’s (the spicier one) and Ray’s (the milder of the two). It is easy to be confused by which one is which because they have a big sign inside that says “Ray’s hot boudin,” but don’t be mislead. If you want spicy, the easy thing is to just ask for the spicy and they know what you’re talking about.

In fact, I think it is a mistake to order anything but the “spicy.” Ray’s boudin is bland to me, bordering on tasteless. Billy’s, the spicier one, is great, and is the stuffing for their boudin balls also. I’ve messed up before, ordering Ray’s boudin because of the sign saying it was the hot one, and I have ordered Billy’s and been given Ray’s. Now, I just say “spicy.”

To further ease the confusion though, just get yourself a boudin ball. Also, they have also have another location in Krotz Springs on 190.

Tags: Billy Ray's, boudin, boudin balls, Cajun food, Louisiana, Louisiana food, Opelousas