The Legendary Louisiana Po’boy Counter That’s Always Packed at Lunch
New Orleans has no shortage of great sandwich shops, but only one po’boy counter draws a crowd so big that people gladly wait in line rain or shine.
Parkway Bakery & Tavern has been serving up the city’s most legendary po’boys for over a century, and locals will tell you it’s absolutely worth the wait.
From presidents to plumbers, everyone finds themselves squeezed into this Mid-City landmark at lunchtime, hoping to snag one of those overstuffed shrimp po’boys that made this place famous.
Where the Po’boy Was Perfected
Founded in 1911, Parkway started as a small neighborhood bakery and evolved into one of New Orleans’s most famous po’boy counters. It began selling “poor boy” sandwiches in the late 1920s when the po’boy became a city staple. Back when horses still pulled carts down the street, this little shop was already slinging sandwiches to hungry workers.
The building itself has seen Hurricane Katrina and countless lunch rushes. Yet somehow, it keeps standing—and the po’boys keep getting better.
Walking through those doors feels like stepping into a time capsule where the recipes haven’t changed and neither has the commitment to quality. It’s where tradition meets lunchtime chaos, and nobody seems to mind the madness one bit.
A Line Out the Door, Every Single Lunch Hour
Locals know to arrive early—by noon the line often snakes out the door, stretching toward the sidewalk on Hagan Avenue. Office workers clutching their phones, delivery drivers on tight schedules, and wide-eyed tourists all squeeze in shoulder-to-shoulder for a shot at the city’s most iconic sandwich.
Nobody complains much, though. The wait becomes part of the experience, a badge of honor proving you’re willing to suffer for greatness.
Some folks bring umbrellas on sunny days just for shade. Others chat with strangers about which sandwich to order, bonding over their shared hunger and anticipation for what’s coming.
Fried Shrimp Royalty
Their fried shrimp po’boy is legendary—stuffed to overflowing with crispy Louisiana Gulf shrimp on soft Leidenheimer French bread, delivered fresh daily. Each bite delivers that perfect crunch followed by tender, sweet shrimp that tastes like the ocean decided to throw a party in your mouth.
It’s been named one of the best sandwiches in America by countless food writers, and frankly, the praise is well-deserved. The shrimp are fried to golden perfection, never greasy, always hot.
One sandwich could easily feed two people, but good luck finding anyone willing to share once they take that first bite.
A Neighborhood Staple With Presidential Street Cred
Even presidents have waited in line here. Barack Obama visited Parkway in 2010 during a trip to New Orleans, sealing its status as a must-eat landmark for anyone passing through the Crescent City.
The Secret Service probably had a minor panic attack watching him navigate the crowded counter, but the Commander-in-Chief wasn’t about to miss out on a legendary shrimp po’boy. His visit put Parkway on the international map, though locals already knew what the rest of the world was just discovering.
Now, photos of that presidential lunch hang proudly on the wall, reminding everyone that great food recognizes no rank or title.
Bread, Sauce, and Simplicity
No gimmicks, no reinvention—just perfect bread, local seafood, house-made gravy, and the classic dressed toppings. Parkway proves that when ingredients and execution are flawless, hype is unnecessary.
The Leidenheimer bread arrives fresh daily, with that signature crispy crust and pillowy interior that soaks up every drop of flavor without falling apart. Their mayo isn’t fancy, their lettuce isn’t organic kale, and their tomatoes are just regular tomatoes.
But somehow, when you put it all together with perfectly fried seafood, magic happens. Sometimes the simplest recipes are the hardest to master.
From Bakery to Bayou Legend
Once a small corner bakery, Parkway now anchors a vibrant Mid-City neighborhood. Its worn counters, old photos, and bustling patio tell the story of a century of New Orleans flavor and resilience.
Hurricane Katrina caused major damage in 2005, but the owners rebuilt and reopened in 2006, determined to keep the tradition alive. The patio, located a short walk from Bayou St. John, became the perfect spot to devour a messy po’boy while watching the world drift by.
Today, those same counters serve thousands of sandwiches weekly, each one a small tribute to survival and stubbornness.
Why Locals Keep Coming Back, Even in the Rain
It’s more than food—it’s habit, heritage, and home. For many New Orleanians, a lunch break at Parkway isn’t just a meal; it’s a weekly ritual steeped in nostalgia and neighborhood pride.
Grandparents bring grandkids to the same spot where they ate as teenagers. Construction workers show up in muddy boots, knowing nobody will judge them for the mess they make while eating.
Rain or shine, Mardi Gras or Monday, Parkway stays regularly packed at lunch because it represents something bigger than sandwiches—it’s a living, breathing piece of New Orleans soul that refuses to fade away.