Before I begin this review, I must say that I have visited this deli countless times in the past few years and have yet to be disappointed. With that being said, if you’re looking for some of the best soul food plate lunches in the city, stop by V-ZAY Food Express.
V-ZAY Food Express is a local convenience store and deli located in the heart of Simcoe. Here, customers can purchase items such as seasonings, bread and different condiments. Alcohol such as beer and liquor is also sold, along with cigarettes and vapes. You can also find little items like earbuds, necklaces and hats, to name a few.
The pleasant aroma of food fills my nostrils as I enter the store. Old school jams play as customers happily skip around the store checking out their food.
The store itself is very spacious. Everything is neat, tidy and easy to find. A variety of chips, candy and cakes line the shelves.
Sodas, juice, Powerades and sparkling water fill up one case, while beer and other alcohol fills another. The deli area is always clean and being updated with food. The workers wear hairnets and aprons as they prepare and serve plate lunches. Located at the bottom of the menu board is a daily prayer to add a little inspiration in the lives of each customer.
Each day, customers can look forward to a different list of delicious soul food meals on the daily menu. Their menu includes meals such as meatball stew, crawfish etouffee, smothered pork chops and fish coubion.
My personal favorite is cowboy stew with a piece of fried catfish and double candied yams on the side, which is usually cooked on Tuesdays, but that’s a review for another day.
For those who do not wish to order a plate lunch, other food items such as burgers, meat pies, fried chicken wings, tenders and fish are also sold. The prices are very affordable. Plate lunches are either $7 or $8 depending on the meal you choose to order.
Today’s menu consisted of turkey wings, barbeque chicken, pork steaks, pork ribs and sausage. For my meal, I ordered a barbeque pork steak plate with a substitution of corn bread dressing instead of rice and double green beans for the sides. As mentioned before, this deli never misses.
The pork steak was so tender and filled with flavor. The meat was cooked down to a beautiful dark brown color and brushed lightly with barbeque sauce. The cornbread dressing was very tasty and filling.
Now I’m not really a fan of eating greens, but these green beans were seasoned to perfection. The little hint of spice throughout each bite finished making this meal a 10 out of 10.
As always, the customer service was amazing. I was greeted with huge smiles. The energy of this store is always full of life. There’s so many different people and personalities in one spot.
The store itself is very easy to find, however, parking… not so much. Although the deli opens at 10:30 a.m. sharp, customers are wrapped around the shelves by 10:15. That’s how you know the food is good.
Make sure to visit V-ZAY Food Express. The address is 1598 E Simcoe St, Lafayette, LA 70501, USA. Their opening hours are Monday through Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and closed on Sundays. Your taste buds are sure to be satisfied.