Po'Boy
Crusty Louisiana sub stuffed with fried shrimp or roast beef. Β· United States
Crusty Louisiana sub stuffed with fried shrimp or roast beef.
About Po'Boy
A length of crisp-crusted French bread is filled with fried shrimp, oysters or roast beef and dressed with lettuce, tomato, pickle and mayo. It is the classic sandwich of New Orleans.
ποΈ History & Culture
The po'boy is a cornerstone of New Orleans street food, and its name is most commonly traced to a 1929 streetcar strike. According to the popular account, brothers Bennie and Clovis Martin, who ran a restaurant, served free sandwiches to striking workers, calling them "poor boys" β which locals eventually shortened to "po'boys." The exact details of this story are sometimes debated, but the connection to the strike remains the most widely repeated origin.
Regional variations center on the filling: fried shrimp, oysters, catfish, or a slow-cooked roast beef with gravy are classic choices, though soft-shell crab and hot sausage also appear. The sandwich is always served on a crisp-crusted French bread loaf, and "dressed" means adding lettuce, tomato, pickles, and mayonnaise. Beyond its practical street-food roots, the po'boy has become a symbol of New Orleans working-class culture, celebrated in festivals and served at countless neighborhood shops, from old-line institutions like Domilise's and Mother's to modern eateries.
Recipes from travellers
No one has shared their own Po'Boy recipe yet. Yours would be the first.
Share how you make Po'Boy
You'll need to be signed in with Google or Facebook so your name can appear on it. Recipes go through an automatic food-safety check before they publish.
Sign in to share your recipe
Po'Boy β frequently asked questions
What is Po'Boy?
A length of crisp-crusted French bread is filled with fried shrimp, oysters or roast beef and dressed with lettuce, tomato, pickle and mayo. It is the classic sandwich of New Orleans.
What is Po'Boy made of?
Po'Boy is made with French bread, fried shrimp, lettuce, tomato and remoulade.
Where does Po'Boy come from?
Po'Boy comes from United States, and is especially associated with Louisiana. The po'boy is a cornerstone of New Orleans street food, and its name is most commonly traced to a 1929 streetcar strike.
Where can I eat Po'Boy?
A New Orleans corner shop, ordered dressed with all the fixings.
Taste Po'Boy in New York
Independent picks. We earn a small commission if you book through these β at no extra cost to you. How this works.
β Before you go to United States
Round out your trip β most travellers book these alongside their trip.
More dishes like Po'Boy
Ranch Water
Hailing from the United States, Ranch Water is a much-loved cocktail.
Kunik
Kunik is a beloved cheese, traditional to the United States.
Huguenot Torte
Huguenot Torte is a cake from the United States.
Tequila Sunrise
Tequila Sunrise is a traditional cocktail from the United States.
Shoofly Pie
Shoofly Pie counts among the traditional food of the United States, a sweet pie locals hold dear.
Philly Cheesesteak
Thin-sliced beef and melted cheese in a hoagie roll.
Horseshoe Sandwich
A Springfield, Illinois open-faced sandwich of bread, meat, fries, and a sharp cheddar-beer cheese sauce, on menus across central Illinois since the 1920s.
Kumru
Kumru is a grilled sesame-crusted sandwich from Izmir, Turkey, filled with melted kaΕar cheese, tomato and green peppers. A charcoal-grilled Aegean street food classic.
Tteokbokki
Chewy rice cakes in a sweet, fiery red chilli sauce.
Qutab
Thin folded flatbread filled with herbs or minced meat.
Shredded Chicken Sandwich
Shredded Chicken Sandwich is a beloved sandwich, traditional to the United States.
Rice and Beans
Coconut-cooked rice and beans, the Sunday staple.
Pambazo
Guajillo-dipped roll griddled and stuffed with potato chorizo.
Chileajo
Chileajo is a beloved stew, traditional to Mexico.
Geoduck
The geoduck is a giant Pacific Northwest clam prized for sweet, crunchy meat, served raw as sashimi or pan-fried, with British Columbia a major harvest region.
Chocolate de Mani
Chocolate de Mani is a beloved drink, traditional to the Dominican Republic.
- πΊπΈ Ranch Water · United States
- πΊπΈ Kunik · United States
- πΊπΈ Huguenot Torte · United States
- πΊπΈ Tequila Sunrise · United States
- πΊπΈ Shoofly Pie · United States
- πΊπΈ Philly Cheesesteak · United States
- πΊπΈ Horseshoe Sandwich · United States
- πΉπ· Kumru · Turkey
- π°π· Tteokbokki · South Korea
- π¦πΏ Qutab · Azerbaijan
- πΊπΈ Shredded Chicken Sandwich · United States
- π§πΏ Rice and Beans · Belize
- π²π½ Pambazo · Mexico
- π²π½ Chileajo · Mexico
- π¨π¦ Geoduck · Canada
- π©π΄ Chocolate de Mani · Dominican Republic
Travel guides for United States
All travel guides →Planning a trip where Po'Boy is on the menu? These guides cover United States and beyond.
City Breaks New York City on a Budget: How to See NYC Without Going Broke in 2026
May 16, 2026 · 6 min read
Budget Travel The Price of a Plate: What the National Dish Costs in 50 Countries (2026 Index)
Sep 02, 2026 · 6 min read
City Breaks 3 Days in Seville: The Perfect Long-Weekend Itinerary (2026)
Jul 06, 2026 · 6 min read
City Breaks 3 Days in Budapest: The Perfect Long-Weekend Itinerary (2026)
Jun 06, 2026 · 6 min read
Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience with Po'Boy.
Write a review
Sign in to verify you're a real person, then share your thoughts on Po'Boy.
Comments
No comments yet. Be the first to say something about Po'Boy.