With locations in Baton Rouge and Ascension Parish, Roul’s Deli has grown a large following in southern Louisiana with its freshly made burgers. The popular deli market is now planning its first location in Lafayette, and the owners are suggesting they are looking to add more locations in the future.
Roul’s Deli is in its second generation of family ownership, and current co-owner Hesham Saymeh recently told What Now New Orleans that he and his co-owner sister Sara Saymeh have been growing the brand since taking over, in no small part due to a more active social media presence.
“I would definitely credit social media, just as a way to connect with our customers,” Saymeh said. “Getting in touch with the community, understanding what they like, and developing a relationship with our customers has been very big.”
The comfort food menu at Roul’s Deli is perfectly suited to social media. Burgers are topped with everything from shrimp to crawfish to house-made jalapeno sauce. The menu also includes pita sandwiches and classic po-boys.
Saymeh said the food and family values behind Roul’s Deli are perfectly suited to Lafayette. The new location will be a new build, and it is tentatively slated to open in fall 2026.
“We believe Lafayette and the area around it have some of the best food, not just in the state but in the country,” Saymeh said. “We love the community aspect of Lafayette, and we think it like really aligns with what we try to bring as far as our values.”
He added that additional locations in the region could be established if the right opportunities arise and pass strict scrutiny. For example, the upcoming Lafayette location at 2201 Johnston St. has been under consideration for some time.
“This specific piece of property, we’ve been eyeing for two to three years, and we finally pulled the trigger on it,” he said. “We’re very excited to be a part of Lafayette and soon hope to be in other areas of Louisiana.”
