13 of New Orleans' best poboys

Caveat: This list isn't all encompassing. Tell us at [email protected] where we should check out next.

Beginner advice: Think about what kind of poboy you want — seafood, hot, cold, fried — when making your choice.

• The most important question is: Do you want that dressed? "Fully dressed" means mayonnaise, pickles, lettuce and tomato.
• Don't worry, pickle haters. You can always ask to skip something.

Roast beef poboy at Parkway

You can't go wrong at Parkway Bakery. Roast beef, shrimp, oyster — they are all well-executed here.

• And, in November, everyone lines up for the Thanksgiving poboy.
• The roast beef comes dressed with cheese and gravy and requires a stack of napkins for cleanup, but it is worth it. (Go deeper)

Fried shrimp and oyster at Domilise's

Domilise's is a veritable institution in the New Orleans poboy world.

• You can do a half-and-half oyster and shrimp poboy if you get a large, or go with a friend, order smalls and swap halves.
• Don't forget your curly wedge fries and a bottle of Barq's. (Go deeper)

Fried crawfish poboy at Short Stop Cafe

Russell's Short Stop Poboys is an old-school restaurant in Metairie with 30+ poboys on the menu.

• The fried crawfish tail poboy is an unusual but tasty option. Order the onion rings on the side and thank us later. (Go deeper)

All That Jazz poboy at Verti Mart

The All That Jazz poboy arrives on a footlong loaf of seeded bread, warmth and grease seeping through the rapidly translucent butcher paper.

• It's stuffed with grilled ham, grilled turkey, grilled mushrooms, two kinds of cheese, slices of tomato, grilled shrimp and Verti Mart's mustardy Wow Sauce.
• It doesn't seem like it should make sense, but with every bite, it's clear that it does. It's also Trombone Shorty's favorite poboy. (Go deeper)

Shrimp/catfish poboy at Williams Seafood

This Kenner restaurant has a half-and-half poboy with shrimp and catfish served with a big lemon wedge and a giant squeeze bottle of Louisiana Hot Sauce. (Go deeper)

• A reader told us she'd been going here for 15 years, and we can definitely see why.

Cochon de lait poboy at Walker's BBQ

You can get the Jazz Fest favorite cochon de lait poboy all year at its creator's restaurant, Walker's BBQ in New Orleans East.

• The pork practically melts in your mouth, and beneath it is a crunchy, cool slaw with a creamy, spicy Creole mustard dressing. (Go deeper)

BBQ shrimp poboy at Liuzza's by the Track

The pistolette is overstuffed with shrimp, and the savory butter sauce gets a little tang from dill pickle slices and a squeeze of fresh lemon.

• This casual neighborhood spot is also known for its gumbo and bloody marys. (Go deeper)

Meatball poboy at Cafe 615, home of Da Wabbit

The sauce has just the tiniest hint of sweetness, and the meatballs smush just so, allowing the bread to stand up to this challenge of a messy poboy. (Go deeper)

Bang bang shrimp banh mi at Banh Mi Boys

This Vietnamese version of a poboy is filled with fried shrimp that have been tossed in a sweet Thai chili glaze.

• It's topped with cucumbers, pickled carrots and daikon radish, cilantro and jalapeños.
• Banh Mi Boys is a Metairie deli attached to a gas station and is a solid option for quick, good food on the patio. There's a Magazine Street location too. (Go deeper)

Catfish poboy at High Hat

A catfish poboy from this Freret Street restaurant comes fully dressed on Leidenheimer bread.

• The catfish is also available grilled, but High Hat's just-crunchy-enough, cornmeal-coated version straight from the deep fryer is our go-to. (Go deeper)

Jamaican jerk chicken poboy at Vaucresson's Creole Cafe

Vaucresson's got its start making hot sausage more than a century ago and is known for its hot sausage and crawfish sausage poboys at festivals.

• The jerk chicken sausage poboy is a newcomer and already a bestseller. It's dressed with homemade mango mustard and pickled onions.
• Try the warm cornbread on the side. (Go deeper)

Vegetarian poboy at Café Reconcile

The blackened portobello poboy is piled high with well-seasoned, meaty mushroom strips plus grilled bell peppers and onions, and fully dressed with lettuce, tomato, pickle and mayo.

• This nonprofit restaurant in Central City is doing good work for the community through its youth mentorship program — and serving up a really great vegetarian poboy option in the process. (Go deeper)

Sushi poboy at Seither's

Seither's Seafood in Harahan has a menu loaded with five award-winners from the Oak Street Poboy Fest.

• The sushi poboy is stuffed with snow crab salad, seared ahi tuna, avocado and sauces.
• It might be unconventional, but it works. (Go deeper)

What are your favorite poboys in New Orleans metro? Tell us at [email protected].