Heralded as the birthplace of jazz and the mother of Mardi Gras, New Orleans is also famous for its mouth-watering southern cuisine. Here you’ll find stacks of teetering po’ boys: a heavenly fresh-baked submarine roll stuffed with fried shrimp, oyster and crawfish, or hot beef served with gravy. Eat it and weep at one of these top spots for po’ boys in New Orleans.
Johnny’s Po-Boys
The original, the best, Johnny’s Po-Boys stakes its claim as the oldest family-owned po’ boy restaurant in New Orleans. Dine at tables with traditional checked table cloths in this crowded cafeteria, where you can chow down on long-time specialties including catfish po’ boy, country fried steak po’ boy, and the infamous surf ‘n’ turf with hot roast beef and fried shrimp.
Casamento’s Restaurant
Founded by Italian immigrant Joe Casamento in 1919, Casamento’s Restaurant is a big-timer on the New Orleans po’ boy scene, and serves up a great old-fashioned po’ boy with a twist. Instead of the traditional New Orleans’ “French bread,” here they use chunks of pan bread to sandwich their signature fillings. The delicious fried oyster loaf is world famous, which begs the question – if this is poor man’s food, who needs money?
Domilise’s Po-Boys
Domilise’s is a veteran of the New Orleans po-boy industry, and has the lines to prove it. Trading for more than 100 years, it attracts crowds of loyalists and diehard aficionados to its humble uptown location. Don’t leave without trying the decadent shrimp po’ boy with Swiss cheese and beef gravy – divine.
Crabby Jack’s
Those who frequent Crabby Jack’s religiously do so for the po’ boys alone. From the unassuming roadside location, with plastic accoutrements and basic, tile-clad décor, this place serves up some of the best fried shrimp po’ boys New Orleans has to offer. Feeling adventurous? It’s all about their signature po’ boy, overstuffed with slow-roasted duck with gravy and jalapenos. You’ll need somewhere to lie down after.
Guy’s Po-Boys
An institution in the po’ boy trade, you can expect generous portions at Guy’s. Order a traditional fried shrimp, or roast beef dressed with onions and gravy. Both options are obscenely good – allegedly the best in the city.
Parkway Bakery & Tavern
The Parkway Bakery & Tavern is a re-opening of a 1920s po’ boy shop and bar, and carries the history with it. Regularly topping “best po’ boy” lists around the country, Parkway is famous for its sloppy roast beef po’ boy which attracted a visit from the Obamas in 2010. (Image: © Thomas Kosa/iStock/Thinkstock) Written by insider city guide series Hg2 | A Hedonist’s guide to… whose guide to New Orleans cover all the best hotels, restaurants, bars, clubs, sights, shops and spas.
