Your Guide to the Crescent City’s Iconic Sandwich
There’s no such thing as visiting New Orleans without sinking your teeth into a proper po boy. This beloved sandwich isn’t just food—it’s a piece of living history that tells the story of our vibrant city. Whether you’re a tourist exploring the French Quarter or a local looking to rediscover your favorite po boy spot, the Crescent City offers an incredible variety of these iconic sandwiches that’ll make your taste buds sing.
From classic roast beef po’boys dripping with gravy to innovative vegan creations, New Orleans has perfected the art of stuffing fresh ingredients between crusty French bread. The best places in New Orleans for a po boy range from century-old dive bars with wood paneling to modern establishments pushing culinary boundaries.
The History Behind New Orleans’ Beloved Po Boy
The po boy sandwich has deep roots in New Orleans culture, dating back to a streetcar strike in the 1920s. Brothers Bennie and Clovis Martin, who owned a restaurant, began serving free sandwiches to the striking workers—calling them “poor boys.” Over time, this generous gesture evolved into the po boy we know and love today.
What makes a true New Orleans po boy special isn’t just the filling—it’s the French bread. Local bakeries create loaves with a crispy crust that gives way to fluffy, airy interiors perfect for soaking up gravies and sauces.
When you order yours “fully dressed,” you’ll get lettuce, tomato, mayo, and pickles, creating the perfect balance of flavors and textures.
The Best Places in New Orleans for Roast Beef Po Boys
Domilise’s Po Boy Bar: A Local Institution
When locals talk about the best roast beef po boy in town, Domilise’s Po Boy inevitably comes up. This Uptown gem has been serving the same recipe since 1918, and stepping inside feels like traveling back in time. The wood paneling and vintage atmosphere transport you to old school New Orleans, while the roast beef po’boy transports your taste buds to heaven.
At Bar Domilise, they pile tender, slow-cooked roast beef high on fresh French bread, then smother it in rich, dark gravy that soaks into every crevice. It’s messy, it’s perfect, and it’s why this spot remains a local favorite despite being tucked away off the beaten path.
Parkway Bakery: Where Tradition Meets Perfection
Parkway Bakery has earned its reputation as one of the best po boy shops in New Orleans, and their roast beef po’boy is legendary. Located in Mid City, this restaurant serves roast beef that’s been slow-cooked to perfection, falling apart at the touch of a fork. The gravy here isn’t just an afterthought—it’s a carefully crafted sauce that brings the whole sandwich together.
What sets Parkway apart is their attention to detail. The French bread is always fresh, the meat is consistently tender, and they don’t skimp on portions. You’ll often find yourself in a parking lot full of locals who’ve been coming here for decades.
Mother’s Restaurant: A French Quarter Classic
While some might call Mother’s a tourist trap, locals know better. This French Quarter institution has been perfecting their roast beef po boy for generations. Their signature “Ferdi Special” features roast beef and baked ham with gravy, creating a unique twist on the classic New Orleans sandwich.
Mother’s uses a special debris gravy—made from the drippings and bits of meat that fall during the cooking process—that adds incredible depth of flavor to their roast beef po’boy.
The Best Places in New Orleans for Shrimp Po Boys
GW Fins: Upscale Seafood Excellence
Though primarily known as an upscale seafood restaurant, GW Fins creates one of the most impressive shrimp po boys in the French Quarter. Their fried shrimp po boy features Gulf shrimp that’s breaded and fried to golden perfection, served on artisanal French bread with house-made remoulade.
What makes their shrimp po boy special is the quality of ingredients. The fried shrimp are massive, sweet, and perfectly seasoned, while their BBQ shrimp po boy offers a completely different experience with butter-soaked shrimp that’ll have you licking your fingers.
Acme Oyster House: Tourist-Friendly with Local Flavor
Don’t let the crowds fool you—Acme Oyster House serves legitimate fried seafood, including an excellent fried shrimp po boy. Their shrimp are hand-battered and fried fresh, creating a crispy exterior that gives way to sweet, tender meat inside.
The restaurant has two locations, but the original French Quarter spot offers the full New Orleans experience. Order your shrimp po boy fully dressed and don’t forget to add Crystal Hot Sauce for that authentic local touch.
Deanie’s Seafood: Bucktown’s Shrimp Specialists
Deanie’s Seafood has been serving exceptional Gulf shrimp since 1961, and their fried shrimp po boy showcases decades of seafood expertise. Located in Bucktown near Lake Pontchartrain, this family-owned restaurant sources the freshest local shrimp and fries them to golden perfection with a light, crispy batter that lets the sweet shrimp flavor shine through.
Their generous portions and commitment to using only the highest quality Gulf shrimp make this a favorite among locals who know where to find the real deal. The restaurant’s lakeside location and casual atmosphere create the perfect setting for enjoying authentic New Orleans seafood.
The Best Places in New Orleans for Oyster Po Boys
Casamento’s: The Oyster Specialists
When oysters are in season, there’s no better place for a fried oyster po boy than Casamento’s. This family-owned restaurant has been shucking and frying oysters since 1919, and their expertise shows in every bite.
Their fried oyster po boys feature plump Gulf oysters with a light, crispy coating that doesn’t mask the briny sweetness of the seafood. The oysters are fried to order, ensuring maximum freshness and flavor.
The Original French Market Restaurant and Bar
Located in the heart of the French Quarter, this restaurant serves classic New Orleans dishes including an outstanding fried oyster po boy. Their oysters are fresh from Louisiana waters, battered and fried until golden brown.
What sets them apart is their commitment to traditional preparation methods—no fancy tricks, just perfectly executed fried seafood on fresh French bread.
Felix’s Restaurant and Oyster Bar
Felix’s has been a New Orleans institution since 1755, making it one of the oldest continuously operating restaurants in the United States. Their fried oyster po boys showcase centuries of expertise in preparing fresh Gulf seafood.
The oysters here are shucked to order and fried in small batches, ensuring each po boy gets the freshest possible seafood. Their location in the French Quarter makes it a convenient stop for tourists, but locals know it’s the real deal.
The Best Places in New Orleans for Vegan Po Boys
Meals From the Heart Cafe: Compassionate Cuisine
Meals From the Heart Cafe has revolutionized the vegan po boy scene in New Orleans, proving that plant-based versions can be just as satisfying as traditional meat and seafood options. Located in the historic French Market, this restaurant specializes in vegan and gluten-free versions of classic New Orleans cuisine.
Their vegan po boys feature house-made seitan, marinated tofu, or creative vegetable combinations that capture the essence of traditional flavors without compromising on taste. The restaurant’s commitment to using fresh, local ingredients ensures that every vegan po boy is packed with flavor and nutrition.
Seed: Upscale Plant-Based Dining
Seed occasionally features vegan po boy specials that showcase how creative plant-based cooking can honor New Orleans traditions. Their approach focuses on using local vegetables and innovative preparation techniques to create satisfying alternatives to traditional po boy fillings.
Green Goddess: Vegetarian Comfort Food
This Magazine Street restaurant offers several vegetarian and vegan po boy options, including a “fried green tomato po boy” that’s become a local favorite. Their creative use of vegetables and plant-based proteins shows that vegan po boys can be just as indulgent as their traditional counterparts.
The Best Places in New Orleans for Alligator Po Boys
The Original French Market Restaurant and Bar
Beyond their excellent seafood, this French Quarter establishment serves an adventurous alligator po boy that gives visitors a true taste of Louisiana’s wilder side. The alligator meat is typically fried and seasoned with Creole spices, creating a unique flavor that’s surprisingly tender and mild.
Jacques-Imo’s Cafe: Creole Creativity
This Mid City restaurant is famous for pushing culinary boundaries, and their alligator sausage po boy is no exception. The combination of traditional po boy preparation with exotic Louisiana ingredients creates an unforgettable dining experience.
Jacques-Imo’s approach to the alligator po boy shows how New Orleans chefs continue to innovate while respecting local traditions and ingredients.
Cochon Butcher: Artisanal Approach
When available, Cochon Butcher’s alligator po boy represents the intersection of traditional Louisiana ingredients and modern culinary techniques. Their house-made alligator sausage brings a level of sophistication to this wild protein.
The Best Places in New Orleans for Crawfish Po Boys
Franky & Johnny’s: Neighborhood Gem
During crawfish season, Franky & Johnny’s serves one of the best crawfish po boys in town. Located in Uptown New Orleans, this neighborhood restaurant treats crawfish with the same respect they give to all their fried seafood.
Their crawfish po boy features whole crawfish tails that are battered and fried until crispy, then piled high on fresh French bread. The sweet, tender crawfish meat paired with the restaurant’s house-made sauces creates a perfect seasonal treat.
R&O’s Restaurant: Bucktown Classic
Located in Bucktown, R&O’s has been serving excellent fried seafood since 1985. Their crawfish po boy showcases Louisiana crawfish at its finest, with perfectly seasoned and fried crawfish tails served on outstanding French bread.
The restaurant’s location near Lake Pontchartrain gives it access to some of the freshest crawfish in the region, and their preparation methods highlight the natural sweetness of these Louisiana crustaceans.
Short Stop Po-Boys: Metairie Favorite
While technically outside New Orleans proper, Short Stop in Metairie deserves mention for their exceptional crawfish po boy. This local favorite has built a devoted following with their generous portions and consistently excellent preparation.
Their crawfish po boy features whole crawfish tails that are seasoned, battered, and fried to perfection, creating a sandwich that rivals anything you’ll find in the city proper. Grab one on your way to the airport.
The Best Places in New Orleans for Gluten-Free Po Boys
Meals From the Heart Cafe: Celiac-Safe Options
Meals From the Heart Cafe stands out as one of the few restaurants in New Orleans offering legitimate gluten-free po boy options. Their dedicated gluten-free kitchen ensures that people with celiac disease can safely enjoy this New Orleans classic without worry.
The restaurant offers gluten-free versions of traditional po boy fillings served on specially sourced gluten-free French bread that maintains the texture and flavor profile that makes po boys special. From fried “shrimp” made with plant-based ingredients to traditional-style roast beef, their gluten-free po boys don’t compromise on taste.
Encore Cafe: Breakfast and Beyond
Encore Cafe offers several gluten-free sandwich options that can satisfy po boy cravings for those avoiding gluten. While not traditional po boys, their creative approach to gluten-free bread and fillings provides alternatives for people with dietary restrictions.
Satsuma Cafe: Health-Conscious Options
This local chain occasionally offers gluten-free bread options that can be used to create po boy-style sandwiches. Their focus on fresh, local ingredients makes them a good option for people seeking healthier po boy alternatives.
The Best Places in New Orleans for Hot Sausage Po Boys
Domilise’s Po Boy Bar: Traditional Excellence
Domilise’s Po Boy doesn’t just excel at roast beef—their hot sausage po’boy is equally impressive. Using traditional Louisiana hot sausage that’s grilled to perfection, they create a sandwich that delivers both heat and flavor.
The hot sausage here isn’t just spicy for the sake of being spicy—it’s a carefully crafted blend of pork, spices, and local seasonings that represents classic New Orleans flavors. Served fully dressed on fresh French bread, it’s a perfect example of traditional po boy craftsmanship.
Parkway Bakery: Consistent Quality
Parkway Bakery’s hot sausage po’boy showcases their commitment to using high-quality ingredients across their entire menu. Their hot sausage is sourced from local suppliers and grilled to create the perfect balance of crispy exterior and juicy interior.
What makes Parkway’s version special is their attention to temperature and timing—the hot sausage is always served at the perfect temperature, and the French bread is always fresh from their ovens.
Johnny’s Po-Boys: Old School Preparation
This traditional po boy shop serves hot sausage the way it’s been done for generations. Their hot sausage po’boy features locally made sausage that’s grilled over an open flame, creating smoky flavors that complement the spicy seasonings.
Johnny’s represents the kind of no-frills po boy preparation that locals have cherished for decades—simple ingredients prepared with skill and served with pride.
Meals From the Heart Cafe: Plant-Based Heat
Meals From the Heart Cafe brings something completely unique to the hot sausage po boy game with their Chef Kell’s Hot Sausage Po’boy. This innovative creation proves that vegan versions of classic New Orleans dishes can deliver just as much flavor and spice as their traditional counterparts.
Made from pea protein and packed with flavor, this vegan hot sausage po boy captures all the heat and complexity that makes the original so beloved. Yes, it’s spicy and hot! The restaurant’s commitment to authenticity means they’ve managed to recreate the taste and texture of traditional Louisiana hot sausage using entirely plant-based ingredients.
The Best Places in New Orleans for Asian-Inspired Po Boys
Ba Chi Canteen: Vietnamese-Creole Fusion
Ba Chi Canteen perfectly represents New Orleans’ diverse culinary landscape with their Vietnamese-inspired po boys. Their “Cochon de Lait Po Boy” features slow-roasted pork with pickled vegetables and cilantro, creating a fusion that feels both foreign and familiar.
The restaurant’s Asian-Creole fusion approach shows how New Orleans continues to evolve while honoring its po boy traditions. Their use of French bread as the foundation keeps these creations firmly rooted in local culture.
Dong Phuong Bakery: Authentic Vietnamese Flavors
While technically in New Orleans East, Dong Phuong Bakery creates some of the most interesting Asian-inspired po boys in the metropolitan area. Their Vietnamese-style po boys feature traditional Asian ingredients like lemongrass pork and pickled vegetables on authentic New Orleans French bread.
This family-owned bakery represents the beautiful cultural blend that makes New Orleans special—traditional Asian flavors meeting classic New Orleans sandwich-making techniques.
Compère Lapin: High-End Caribbean Fusion
Chef Nina Compton’s Compère Lapin occasionally features Caribbean-inspired po boy specials that showcase how international flavors can enhance the classic New Orleans sandwich. While not always on the menu, when available, these creations demonstrate the endless possibilities for po boy innovation.
The Best Places in New Orleans for Unique Po Boys
Killer Poboys: Gourmet Approach
Killer Poboys has built their reputation on elevating the humble po boy to gourmet status without losing its soul. Their glazed pork belly po boy represents this philosophy perfectly—taking a luxurious ingredient and preparing it in the traditional po boy style.
Their “Surf and Turf” po boy combines fried shrimp with roast beef, creating a decadent sandwich that shows how traditional elements can be combined in new ways. The restaurant’s Magazine Street location makes it accessible to both locals and tourists seeking elevated po boy experiences.
Piece of Meat: Artisanal Sandwiches
This Mid City restaurant creates po boy-style sandwiches using artisanal bread and carefully sourced ingredients. While not traditional po boys, their approach to sandwich-making shows how the po boy concept continues to influence New Orleans cuisine.
Their creative use of local ingredients and innovative preparation methods demonstrates that the spirit of the po boy—generous portions of delicious food served on great bread—can take many forms.
The Joint: Barbecue Meets Po Boy Perfection
Located in the Bywater, The Joint brings authentic barbecue flavors to the po boy world with their smoky, slow-cooked meats. Their Pulled Pork Po Boy features house-smoked pork shoulder that’s been cooking for hours, resulting in tender, flavorful meat with a perfect bark. The Brisket Po Boy showcases their pitmaster skills with beef that’s smoked low and slow until it practically falls apart.
What sets The Joint apart is their commitment to traditional barbecue techniques combined with New Orleans po boy sensibilities, creating sandwiches that satisfy both barbecue purists and po boy traditionalists.
Where Locals Really Eat: Hidden Gems and Neighborhood Favorites
Magazine Po-Boy: Authentic Neighborhood Experience
Located on Magazine Street, this unassuming shop serves some of the most authentic po boys in the city. Without the tourist crowds or fancy decor, Magazine Po-Boy focuses entirely on what matters—exceptional sandwiches made with care and served with pride.
Their fried catfish po boy exemplifies the kind of straightforward excellence that keeps locals coming back. The catfish is fresh, the breading is perfectly seasoned, and the French bread is always on point.
Liuzza’s Restaurant & Bar: Neighborhood Institution
This Mid City institution serves po boys alongside their famous barbecue shrimp and other New Orleans classics. Their roast beef po’boy and fried seafood options showcase traditional preparation methods that have been perfected over decades.
The restaurant’s neighborhood atmosphere and outdoor seating create the kind of comfortable environment where locals gather to enjoy great food and good company.
Verti Marte: 24-Hour Po Boy Paradise
When locals need a po boy at odd hours, Verti Marte delivers. This 24-hour deli in the French Quarter serves legitimate po boys around the clock, making it a favorite among service industry workers and night owls.
Their “All That Jazz” po boy—featuring fried shrimp, roast beef, and gravy—represents the kind of creative excess that makes New Orleans special. It’s indulgent, messy, and absolutely delicious.
The Art of Eating a Po Boy: Tips for Maximum Enjoyment
Eating a proper po boy is an art form that requires strategy and commitment. First, don’t be afraid of the mess—a good po boy should be juicy enough to require multiple napkins. The French bread is designed to hold up to gravies and sauces, but even the best bread has its limits.
When ordering fully dressed, remember that each component serves a purpose. The lettuce adds crunch, the tomato provides acidity, the mayo brings richness, and the pickles cut through heavy flavors. Removing any of these elements changes the entire sandwich dynamic.
Po Boy Etiquette: Respecting the Tradition
Real New Orleans po boys are serious business, and there’s an unspoken etiquette that comes with ordering and eating them. First, never ask for your po boy “deconstructed” or with ingredients on the side—that defeats the entire purpose of the sandbox.
When visiting traditional po boy shops, don’t expect fancy plating or elaborate presentations. These sandwiches are meant to be wrapped in paper and eaten with your hands, preferably while standing at a counter or sitting on a barstool.
Most importantly, don’t compare po boys to other regional sandwiches. A po boy isn’t trying to be a hoagie, a sub, or a grinder—it’s its own unique creation with its own standards and expectations.
Your Po Boy Adventure Awaits
The best places in New Orleans for a po boy represent more than just restaurants—they’re keepers of tradition, innovators of flavor, and gathering places for communities. From the century-old recipes at Domilise’s Po Boy Bar to the creative plant-based options at Meals From the Heart Cafe, these establishments show how a simple sandwich can capture the heart and soul of an entire city.
Whether you’re craving a traditional roast beef po’boy dripping with gravy, a fresh fried shrimp creation, or an innovative vegan alternative, New Orleans offers options that’ll satisfy every taste and dietary need. The key is approaching each po boy with an open mind and an empty stomach.
Your favorite po boy might be waiting at a dive bar off the beaten path, or it could be the creative special at an upscale restaurant in the French Quarter. The only way to find out is to start exploring, one delicious sandwich at a time. After all, in a city where food is culture and culture is food, every po boy tells a story worth tasting.