12 Po’Boy Hotspots Locals Can’t Stop Talking About In Louisiana
Louisiana’s po’boy sandwich is more than just food it’s a cultural icon wrapped in French bread. This humble sandwich has deep roots in New Orleans’ history, dating back to the streetcar strike of 1929 when restaurant owners served free sandwiches to the ‘poor boys’ on strike.
Today, finding the perfect po’boy is a passionate pursuit for locals and visitors alike, with countless spots claiming to serve the very best.
1. Parkway Bakery & Tavern: New Orleans’ Historic Sandwich Haven
Open since 1911, Parkway Bakery stands as a New Orleans institution that’s weathered hurricanes, depressions, and changing times. Their golden-fried shrimp po’boy remains the talk of the town, with perfectly crisp seafood nestled in bread that’s crackling on the outside and cloud-soft inside.
The lines often stretch around the block, but locals will tell you it’s worth every minute of waiting. What makes their sandwiches special isn’t just quality ingredients it’s the generations of family expertise behind each creation.
Did you know? During Prohibition, Parkway operated as a secret speakeasy, serving drinks in coffee cups while maintaining their sandwich business as a front!
2. Domilise’s Po-Boy & Bar: Uptown’s Unassuming Legend
Hidden in a residential Uptown neighborhood, Domilise’s looks more like someone’s house than a world-famous sandwich shop. This family-run spot has been serving knockout po’boys since the 1930s from behind a worn counter that’s seen generations of hungry customers.
The roast beef po’boy here is the stuff of legend slow-cooked until it melts in your mouth, dressed with gravy that soaks perfectly into the bread. Locals advise newcomers to get the half-and-half shrimp and oyster for the ultimate first-time experience.
The no-frills interior hasn’t changed much in decades, which is exactly how regular customers like it. Cash only, so come prepared!
3. Mother’s Restaurant: Home of the Ferdi Special
Standing proudly on Poydras Street since 1938, Mother’s serves what many locals consider the messiest, most satisfying po’boys in New Orleans. Their world-famous Ferdi Special combines baked ham, roast beef, debris (the bits that fall into the gravy while carving), and gravy on French bread.
When you walk in, the smell of slow-cooked meats hits you immediately. The line moves efficiently despite constant crowds, and the walls covered in photos tell stories of famous visitors and regular folks alike who’ve made this place their second home.
Though touristy, Mother’s maintains authentic flavor profiles that keep locals coming back. Remember to grab extra napkins you’ll need them!
4. Guy’s Po-Boys: Magazine Street’s Hidden Gem
Tucked away on Magazine Street, Guy’s operates out of a tiny, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it storefront that locals guard jealously. The potato salad po’boy might sound strange until you try it then you’ll understand why it’s developed a cult following among New Orleans food enthusiasts.
Owner Marvin Matherne personally assembles each sandwich with meticulous care. His hands move with practiced precision, layering ingredients in perfect proportion. The blackboard menu changes regularly, featuring seasonal specials alongside classics.
If you’re lucky enough to visit when they’re serving the fried green tomato and shrimp remoulade po’boy, order it immediately. This unique creation represents everything wonderful about New Orleans fusion cuisine in one handheld package.
5. Mahony’s Original Po-Boys & Seafood: Upscale Classics on Magazine
Mahony’s brought po’boy culture into the 21st century without losing touch with tradition. Their fried oyster version topped with blue cheese and bacon challenges purists while winning over even the most skeptical locals with its perfect balance of flavors.
The restaurant’s bright, modern interior contrasts with many older po’boy joints, but the quality speaks to deep respect for the sandwich’s heritage. Each creation comes on Leidenheimer bread the gold standard for authentic New Orleans po’boys.
While some traditionalists grumble about the higher prices, most agree that the generous portions and creative combinations justify the extra dollars. Their peacemaker po’boy, combining fried shrimp and oysters, has won multiple awards at local food festivals.
6. Killer PoBoys: French Quarter’s Contemporary Twist
Housed in the back of the Erin Rose Bar in the French Quarter, Killer PoBoys revolutionizes the sandwich while honoring its roots. Their globally-inspired creations include the Vietnamese-influenced pork belly po’boy with lime slaw and garlic aioli that locals line up for.
Chefs Cam Boudreaux and April Bellow started this spot as a pop-up that became so popular they had to make it permanent. The tiny kitchen produces massive flavors, proving innovation and tradition can coexist beautifully.
Unlike many traditional shops, they offer excellent vegetarian and vegan options that don’t feel like afterthoughts. The roasted sweet potato po’boy with black-eyed pea hummus and pickled shallots has converted many carnivores into believers.
7. Johnny’s Po-Boys: French Quarter Institution Since 1950
Johnny’s holds the title of oldest family-owned po’boy restaurant in the French Quarter, serving hungry locals and tourists alike since 1950. Their all-day breakfast po’boy stuffed with fluffy scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, and cheese has cured countless hangovers throughout the decades.
The menu is intimidatingly large, with over 45 different po’boy variations to choose from. Regulars know to look for the handwritten specials on the wall, which often feature seasonal ingredients or family recipes not found on the regular menu.
Though always busy, the line moves quickly thanks to efficient staff who’ve mastered the art of rapid-fire sandwich assembly without sacrificing quality. Cash only and worth every dollar!
8. Parran’s Po-Boys: Metairie’s Beloved Neighborhood Spot
Just outside New Orleans in Metairie, Parran’s has been feeding hungry locals since 1975. Their hot sausage po’boy, featuring locally-made sausage patties with a secret spice blend, creates a perfect heat level that builds without overwhelming.
Families gather here after Little League games and church services, making this spot a true community hub. The owners know most customers by name and often remember their usual orders before they even reach the counter.
Unlike some tourist-focused spots, Parran’s serves generous portions at neighborhood-friendly prices. Their bread comes from nearby Gendusa’s Bakery, offering a slightly different texture than the Leidenheimer bread used downtow slightly softer with a thinner crust that locals swear makes certain fillings taste better.
9. Olde Tyme Grocery: Lafayette’s University District Favorite
Venturing beyond New Orleans to Lafayette, Olde Tyme Grocery has been feeding hungry University of Louisiana students and locals since 1982. Their seafood po’boys feature Gulf catches so fresh they were likely swimming that morning.
The building itself, a converted old grocery store (hence the name), maintains its vintage charm with worn wooden floors and memorabilia covering every wall. During crawfish season, their special crawfish po’boy available for just a few precious weeks causes lines down the block.
Many Lafayette natives claim this spot serves the best po’boys in the entire state, sparking friendly rivalries with New Orleans establishments. The shop donates sandwiches to local homeless shelters every week, embodying Louisiana’s spirit of community service alongside culinary excellence.
10. Bears Restaurant: Morgan City’s Seafood Sanctuary
Morgan City locals guard Bears Restaurant as their treasured secret, though word has spread about their extraordinary seafood po’boys. Their oyster loaf a variation on the traditional po’boy featuring perfectly fried oysters on thick-cut bread has remained unchanged since the 1950s.
The fishing boats visible from the restaurant’s windows hint at the source of their incredibly fresh ingredients. Family-owned for three generations, Bears maintains quality by limiting their hours and often closing once they’ve sold out of fresh seafood for the day.
During shrimp season, their special BBQ shrimp po’boy combines Gulf shrimp with a tangy, spicy sauce that regulars claim is worth driving across the state to experience. The modest prices reflect the owners’ philosophy that great food should be accessible to everyone.
11. R&O’s Restaurant: Lakefront Legend in Metairie
Sitting near Lake Pontchartrain in Metairie, R&O’s combines Italian-Creole influences with traditional po’boy craftsmanship. Their roast beef po’boy features meat that’s roasted and marinated in-house for 24 hours before being sliced paper-thin and soaked in rich gravy.
Families have been celebrating special occasions here for generations, with many locals insisting their first communion, graduation, or engagement wasn’t official until it was celebrated with R&O’s sandwiches. The restaurant’s Italian roots show in their muffuletta-inspired olive salad option for po’boys.
Hurricane Katrina nearly destroyed this beloved spot in 2005, but loyal customers helped rebuild it better than ever. Today, their half-and-half po’boy (half shrimp, half roast beef) represents the perfect marriage of land and sea that defines Louisiana cuisine.
12. Parasol’s Bar & Restaurant: Irish Channel’s Best-Kept Secret
Hidden in New Orleans’ Irish Channel neighborhood, Parasol’s looks like just another corner bar until you taste their roast beef po’boy regularly voted the city’s best by locals who know their stuff. The beef is slow-roasted until it practically dissolves, then served with gravy so rich it should be illegal.
During St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, this spot becomes ground zero for the neighborhood’s famous block party. Their special-recipe roast beef has remained unchanged since the 1950s, despite changes in ownership over the decades.
The bar’s interior feels frozen in time, with decades of memorabilia covering the walls and regulars who’ve occupied the same barstools for years. Many locals consider ordering a dressed roast beef po’boy and a cold Abita beer at Parasol’s to be the perfect New Orleans lunch experience.
