We discovered no consensus on our seemingly simple question about who makes the best Po Boy in New Orleans.
Interestingly, some people answered our question with a question. They wanted to know what kind of Po Boy since they had different answers for shrimp versus oyster versus roast beef.
Discover the best sandwiches in America. The Po Boy is one of these sandwiches.
Inspired and hungry to answer the question for ourselves, we sampled Po Boy sandwiches all over the city during multiple visits to New Orleans. We ate Po Boys at dive bars and fancy restaurants. Some of these spots were in the the touristic French Quarter while others were in neighborhoods like gritty Mid City and the tony Garden District.
Now it’s our turn to answer the question except that we don’t have just one favorite Po Boy in New Orleans. Instead, these are our five favorites:
1. Parkway Bar and Tavern
In earlier times, whenever we were asked “Who makes the best Po Boy in New Orleans?”, we always answered: “Parkway Bakery” without hesitation or doubt. Through succeeding years, we’ve eaten more than our share of Po Boys both at Parkway and beyond. But we’ll always remember that ‘love at first bite’ experience during our initial visit to the Mid City institution in 2007.
Those first Po Boys weren’t our last. The Po Boy shop and tavern, which opened in 1911, over a century ago, became ‘destination dining’ for us every time we returned to the Crescent City. After bringing friends here for their first Poorboys (as Parkway calls them) during one trip, we became Poorboy whisperers. Then there was that time that we literally squeaked in a visit on our way out of town, scarfing down Po Boys before hitting the road for Texas.
Parkway Bar and Tavern isn’t fancy. The walls are covered with old menus and other memorabilia. But the kitschy decor, while charming in its own way, isn’t the reason why both locals and tourists trek to Mid City. They (and we) come for the Po Boys.
Choosing which Po Boy to order at Parkway is a challenge. Many opt for Parkway’s shrimp Po Boy packed with perfect morsels of the fried crustaceans. Lightly breaded, the shrimp is the star of the seafood sandwich. Others go for roast beef which may be Parkway’s most popular sandwich – a messy beauty with braised beef bathed in a rich, thick, dark gravy.
Not as popular but just as delicious is the grilled hot sausage beef patty Po Boy. If you love your sausage hot and flavorful, then this may be the sandwich for you. We recommend getting it fully dressed with lettuce, tomatoes, mayo and pickles.
Parkway’s large sandwiches live up to their name. Since the price difference is relatively minimal to upgrade to a large Po Boy, it’s worth going large to get the extra fillings, plus you’ll likely want to save some for later since you’ll be eating sides too. That’s assuming you want sides.
Trust us, you do.
Parkway offers various sides on their menu, many featuring fries and chili. We recommend ordering fries topped with gravy and huge strands of tender roast beef, AKA debris. In another time and place, this side would and could be the main course.
You clearly won’t have room for dessert after a Po Boy and a side or two. That’s no excuse to miss out on the homemade bread pudding served in a pool of rum sauce. It’s one of the best desserts in New Orleans. Share it, taste it, eat it and be happy.
Pro Tip
Sit at the bar. Not only will you skip the queue, but, more important, you can order adult beverages. We recommend pairing your Po Boy with a spicy Bloody Mary unless you’re in the mood for a cold Abita beer.
Parkway Bakery and Tavern is located at 538 Hagan Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70119, United States.
