New Orleans is famous for many things, but nothing captures the city’s food culture quite like the po’boy sandwich. These epic creations stuffed with everything from fried seafood to roast beef are a true NOLA treasure. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a seasoned local, these iconic sandwiches deserve your attention and your appetite.
1. Parkway Bakery & Tavern
Operating since 1911, this Mid-City landmark serves po’boys that make locals line up around the block. Their roast beef version, swimming in rich gravy, requires at least three napkins and possibly a bib. The crispy French bread soaks up the juices perfectly without falling apart.
President Obama himself stopped by for a shrimp po’boy during his visit to New Orleans. The vintage atmosphere adds to the experience, with photos of old New Orleans decorating the walls and friendly staff who treat you like family.
2. Domilise’s Po-Boy & Bar
Hidden in a residential neighborhood, this unassuming corner joint has been family-operated for over 100 years. The shrimp po’boy here is legendary – perfectly fried golden crustaceans piled high on bread from Leidenheimer Bakery, dressed with pickles, lettuce, mayo, and hot sauce.
No fancy frills exist at Domilise’s, just plastic chairs and countertops worn from decades of happy eaters. Locals consider waiting in the inevitable line a rite of passage.
Celebrity chefs and neighborhood regulars stand shoulder to shoulder here, united by their love for what might be the city’s most authentic po’boy experience.
3. Liuzza’s by the Track
Steps from the Fair Grounds Race Course, this neighborhood gem serves a BBQ shrimp po’boy that will change your life. Unlike traditional barbecue, these plump shrimp swim in a buttery, peppery, Worcestershire-spiked sauce that soaks gloriously into the French bread.
Racing fans pack this joint during Jazz Fest, but locals know it’s worth visiting year-round. The cold beer served in frosty mugs perfectly complements the rich, spicy flavors.
Family-owned since 1996, Liuzza’s embraces its corner-bar vibe while serving food that far exceeds typical bar fare. Their gumbo makes a perfect starter before tackling their signature sandwich.
4. The High Hat Cafe
The fried catfish po’boy at High Hat Cafe perfectly balances Southern tradition with modern culinary excellence. Cornmeal-crusted Mississippi farm-raised catfish achieves the ideal crispy exterior while remaining tender inside. Chef Jeremy Wolgamott pairs it with house-made coleslaw and remoulade that adds just the right tang.
Located on Freret Street, High Hat represents the neighborhood’s dining renaissance. The bright, airy space with its retro diner feel welcomes families and food enthusiasts alike.
Beyond po’boys, their Delta-inspired menu honors both Louisiana and Mississippi food traditions. Still, that catfish sandwich remains the star attraction for many regulars.
5. Guy’s Po-Boys
A true neighborhood institution, Guy’s operates from an unassuming building on Magazine Street that you might miss if not for the line often stretching outside. Their potato chip-crusted fried shrimp po’boy delivers an unexpected textural delight with extra crunch from the chips incorporated into the batter.
Owner Marvin Matherne can usually be found behind the counter, crafting these masterpieces with the precision that comes from decades of experience. Cash-only and closing when they run out of bread, Guy’s embodies old-school New Orleans food culture.
The tiny dining room adds to the experience – you’ll likely make friends with fellow diners as you all enjoy what many consider the city’s most underrated po’boys.
6. Killer PoBoys
Revolutionary might seem like a strong word for a sandwich shop, but Killer PoBoys has genuinely transformed the New Orleans classic. Their sweet potato and collard green po’boy caters to vegetarians while honoring Southern flavors, featuring blackened sweet potatoes, braised collards, and pickled red onions.
Located in the back of the Erin Rose Bar in the French Quarter, this tiny kitchen produces globally-inspired variations that traditionalists might question – until they taste them. The Vietnamese-inspired glazed pork belly po’boy with lime slaw and garlic aioli has converted many purists.
Owners Cam Boudreaux and April Bellow prove that respecting tradition doesn’t mean refusing innovation. Their second location on Dauphine Street offers more seating but the same creative approach.
7. Johnny’s Po-Boys
Since 1950, Johnny’s has been feeding hungry French Quarter visitors and workers from their bustling St. Louis Street location. Their all-day breakfast po’boy stuffed with fluffy scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, and melted American cheese offers the perfect hangover cure after a night on Bourbon Street.
The no-frills dining room buzzes with energy as tourists and delivery drivers rub elbows at communal tables. The menu board lists over 45 different po’boy varieties, overwhelming first-timers with delicious possibilities.
Family-owned through generations, Johnny’s maintains consistency while serving thousands of sandwiches weekly. Their French bread delivery arrives multiple times daily, ensuring each po’boy features that essential crisp-outside, soft-inside texture.
8. Parasol’s
Tucked away in the Irish Channel neighborhood, Parasol’s has been serving their famous roast beef po’boy since 1952. Their secret involves slow-cooking the beef until it practically melts, then serving it “debris style” with the rich, flavorful gravy from the roasting pan poured generously over the meat.
The bar atmosphere adds character – neighborhood regulars might share stories of Parasol’s legendary St. Patrick’s Day block parties while you eat. During Saints games, the tiny space overflows with black and gold fans fueling up on these messy masterpieces.
Despite ownership changes over the years, the recipe remains sacred. Each bite delivers the perfect combination of tender beef, gravy-soaked bread, and traditional “dressed” toppings.
9. Mahony’s Po-boys
Chef Ben Wicks elevated the humble po’boy when he opened Mahony’s on Magazine Street in 2008. Their signature Peacemaker combines fried oysters and bacon with cheddar cheese and tangy remoulade – a combination that sounds excessive until you taste how perfectly the flavors complement each other.
The upscale-casual atmosphere attracts food enthusiasts seeking both traditional and innovative takes on the New Orleans classic. Mahony’s bread, sourced from century-old Leidenheimer Bakery, provides the authentic foundation for their creative toppings.
Their success led to a second location in the French Quarter, bringing these gourmet interpretations to even more hungry visitors. Despite the elevated approach, each sandwich remains true to the hearty, satisfying spirit of a genuine po’boy.
10. Crabby Jack’s
From the culinary mind behind the famous Jacques-Imo’s restaurant comes this casual Oak Street spot serving one of the city’s most unique po’boys. Their slow-roasted duck po’boy features tender, shredded duck meat bathed in a rich gravy that hints at orange and garlic, topped with traditional lettuce, tomato and mayo.
The quirky, art-filled space matches owner Jack Leonardi’s creative approach to Louisiana cuisine. Lines form early for lunch, with locals knowing to arrive before they sell out of popular items.
While unconventional, this duck creation has earned its place in the po’boy pantheon. Pair it with their homemade potato salad for a meal that showcases how New Orleans food traditions continue evolving while honoring their roots.
11. Stanley of New Orleans
Overlooking Jackson Square, Stanley offers a po’boy that brings New Orleans breakfast traditions into sandwich form. Their Eggs Benedict Po’Boy reinvents the classic with poached eggs, Canadian bacon, and hollandaise sauce on traditional French bread instead of English muffins.
Chef Scott Boswell’s fine dining background shows in the execution – perfectly poached eggs with runny yolks that blend with the creamy hollandaise to create a luxurious sauce. The bright, sunny corner restaurant provides the perfect spot for people-watching while enjoying this morning masterpiece.
Weekend brunch brings crowds seeking this clever hybrid creation. While purists might question calling it a po’boy, one bite of this French Quarter favorite silences any doubts.
12. Frady’s One Stop Food Store
This hidden gem masquerading as a corner grocery store in the Bywater neighborhood serves po’boys that locals try to keep secret. Their hot sausage po’boy features spicy, locally-made patties griddled until crisp at the edges, then dressed with the traditional fixings on perfectly textured Leidenheimer bread.
The small grocery section up front gives way to a few tables in back where neighborhood regulars enjoy these straightforward, perfectly executed classics. No frills or fancy presentations here – just honest sandwiches made with care.
Frady’s has operated since the 1930s, serving generations of New Orleanians looking for an affordable, satisfying lunch without the tourist crowds. Their cash-only policy and limited hours add to the old-school charm.
13. NOLA Poboys
When seafood cravings hit, the half-and-half po’boy at NOLA Poboys satisfies indecisive eaters with a combination of golden-fried shrimp and oysters on one magnificent sandwich. Located in the French Quarter, they’ve perfected the art of frying seafood – crisp exteriors giving way to plump, juicy interiors that burst with Gulf flavors.
The casual, counter-service setup allows you to watch as they prepare your sandwich to order. Their bread comes from Leidenheimer Bakery, maintaining that essential New Orleans tradition.
Founded by Murray Tate to showcase authentic po’boys to visitors, NOLA Poboys strikes the right balance between tourist-friendly convenience and genuine local flavors. Their seafood arrives fresh daily, ensuring quality that rivals more established locations.
14. Mother’s Restaurant
The Famous Ferdi Special at Mother’s combines baked ham, roast beef, and debris (the flavorful bits of roast beef that fall into the gravy during cooking) into one magnificent sandwich. Since 1938, this downtown institution has been serving these overstuffed creations to locals, tourists, and celebrities alike.
The cafeteria-style line moves surprisingly quickly despite constant crowds. Walls covered with photos of famous visitors and military personnel honor the restaurant’s history of feeding hungry servicemen during WWII.
While some locals debate whether Mother’s still deserves its legendary status, that first bite of a Ferdi – with its perfect balance of meats and gravy soaking into the bread – usually settles the argument. Their housemade bread pudding makes a perfect dessert after tackling this monster sandwich.
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