Every city has their definitive sandwich. Los Angeles has the French Dip, Chicago has the Italian beef and New York has the Italian Sub. Here in New Orleans, they have the Po Boy. Served at every tourist trap, hole in the wall and even coffee shop, the po boy runs this town; there can be only one king.
While po boys can be filled with everything from catfish to alligator to roast beef, this list compares only shrimp po boys in order to keep the ranking consistent.
Felix’s Restaurant & Oyster Bar — Felix Special Po-Boy
Though any Po Boy can delight, a visitor to Felix's Restaurant & Oyster Bar ought not to go head first for one of these sandwiches and would be better advised ordering the freshly made oysters. Photographed by Finn Martin/BruinLife.
Felix’s is an oyster bar first and a po boy spot last. The sandwich is too bread heavy and even though it comes dressed with tomatoes, mayo, lettuce and pickles, it was still somehow dry. As for the meat of the matter, the shrimp was a hit or a miss on if it was crispy or not. The Felix Special Po-Boy was a po boy in name only and not all that special.
Creole House Restaurant & Oyster Bar — Gulf Shrimp Po-Boy
Crunchy and few, the fried shrimp offered in the Creole House's Po Boys underwhelms but does not disparage this classic sandwich. Photographed by Finn Martin/BruinLife.
Another oyster bar, another mediocre po boy. The only reason this one ranks slightly higher than Felix’s is because the shrimp had a more consistent crunch; though there were only about 12 of them in the entire sandwich. Other than that, the Gulf Shrimp Po-Boy too was bread heavy, dry and unremarkable.
Gumbo Shop — Sautéed Shrimp Po-Boy
Living up to its name, the Gumbo Shop applies its gumbo specialize to its Po Boy sandwiches. Here is plated the Sautéed Shrimp Po Boy. Photographed by Finn Martin/BruinLife.
The Gumbo Shop serves up the most unique po boy on this list, maybe in all of New Orleans. Unlike other restaurants, Gumbo Shop’s po boy is more like soup in a bread bowl than a sandwich. The shrimp is covered in a “gumbo-like” sauce and then spooned into hollowed out French bread. While this is unusual, that doesn’t mean it’s bad, quite the opposite. The bread was the perfect vessel because of how soft it was; it soaked up the gumbo sauce excellently. The shrimp were perfectly cooked, having that nice snap while still being tender. As for the sauce, it was rich, viscous and flavorful. Also, this sandwich had whole green bell peppers and red onions in it which gave the po boy a distinct bitterness and provided needed texture to what could have easily been a mushy meal. Since the Sautéed Shrimp Po-Boy is so unique, it is number three on this list; this is also why it cannot rank any higher.
Guy’s Po-Boys — Fried Shrimp Po-Boy
Lightly peppered and dressed generously, Guy's Po-Boys offers a standard Po-Boy that will surely satisfy your hankering. Photographed by Finn Martin/BruinLife.
Guy’s Po-Boys is the textbook definition of what a po boy should be. The shrimp is lightly battered, not deep fried. It is also incredibly peppery in the best way possible. This is also the best dressed sandwich on this list. Whole sliced tomatoes make for a moist bite while the hot sauce adds a vinegary brightness. While there isn’t much to be said about Guy’s Po-Boys, that is only because it is the standard in which every po boy should be compared.
Domilise’s Po-boys & Bar — Shrimp Po Boy
Simple, fresh and delicately dressed: Domilise's offers a Po-Boy and curly fry combination in a cozy, hometown feeling setting. Photographed by Finn Martin/BruinLife.
Domilise’s has been serving up an impressively simple, yet delicious, po boy for over 100 years. Unlike the other sandwiches on this list that feature Cajun spices and are dressed to the nines with mayo, lettuce, tomatoes and pickles, Domilise’s uniquely isn’t. While it still hits the hallmark notes of a textbook po boy, the shrimp flavor is the standout. Even though it is still fried, it is more akin to a tempura batter. Because of this, the shrimp flavor really comes through in the sandwich. As for the flavor of the shrimp, it tastes incredibly fresh and not in an unpleasant fishy way. While this still is a “fried shrimp” sandwich, it eats almost as if it’s a light and flakey shellfish appetizer. The simple freshness of the sandwich from Domilise’s Po-boy & Bar is why it is a beloved New Orleans restaurant and number two in this list.
NOLA Poboys — Fried Shrimp Poboy
Inside this Bourbon Street facing Po Boy joint hides one of the city's best Po Boy sandwiches. Served with spice levels of either Yankee, Spicy, or Cursing Murray in the Morning, these sandwiches will not disappoint. Photographed by Finn Martin/BruinLife.
If this is New Orleans, then these are po boys. Naming a restaurant NOLA Poboys sets a high standard off the bat, but it’s a standard they surpass. Out of every fried shrimp po boy on this list, the ones at NOLA Poboys are by far the most crispy. This is such an important element to this iconic sandwich that cannot be overstated. Going from a crispy exterior to the supple shrimp interior, gives the sandwiches a powerful interplay of textural variety. Also, the shrimps were bursting with Creole flavors and spices. While other places serve their po boys “spicy,” NOLA Poboys delivered the best flavor. Their sandwiches are served at just the right level of spice; hot enough to get a kick at the back of the throat but not too spicy that it burns. Another aspect this sandwich gets right is how it’s dressed. The pickles actually add an acidic bite and moisture to the meal. The tomatoes and lettuce are there for vegetal freshness in what is often a heavier dish. NOLA Poboys is everything someone would want from this New Orleans classic and so much more.
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Trying every po boy would have been an impossible, but delicious, journey. While there were countless places left off of this list, NOLA Poboys was a definitely standout in the cities sandwiched scene.
