Ask anyone in Louisiana about their favorite roast beef po’boy and you might get a long pause, because folks tend to guard these spots like family secrets. A proper roast beef po’boy is slow-cooked, sloppy, and swimming in gravy, served on soft French bread that somehow holds it all together.
Across the state, from Shreveport down to New Orleans, there are counter-service joints and busy grills making the real thing every single day. Here are 8 places worth knowing about, each one bringing its own spin to a Louisiana classic.
1. Poor Boy Lloyd’s, Baton Rouge, LA
Downtown Baton Rouge does not always get credit for New Orleans-style eats, but this cafe on Florida Street carries that flavor proudly. It runs as a casual breakfast and lunch spot most of the week, with dinner added on weekends.
The star here is the hot roast beef po’boy, the kind loaded with gravy that runs right down your arm. Regulars often pair it with red beans and rice or a cup of gumbo, and the fried seafood plates hold their own too.
Weekday hours run from 7 AM to 3:30 PM Monday through Thursday, with a later 9 PM close on Friday and Saturday. You will find free street parking nearby, plus counter and table service in a cozy, historic room.
I like this stop because it gives Baton Rouge a genuine po’boy destination without a long drive south. Bring a group, watch a game, and order the roast beef dressed.
2. Pop’s Poboys, Lafayette, LA
Lafayette’s downtown sandwich scene got a jolt when this hip cafe-style dining room started blending old-school po’boys with modern touches. It sits right on Jefferson Street with a separate bar area and a bright, trendy feel.
The roast beef debris po’boy is the one to beat, built with shredded beef and gravy in the messy, close-to-New-Orleans style that fans keep coming back for. Sides like fried pickled okra, house-cut fries, hush puppies, and smothered greens round things out nicely.
Families are welcome, and there is a kids’ menu with options like a ham and cheddar po’boy or a fried shrimp version. Hours run 10:30 AM to 2 PM early in the week, stretching to 9 PM Thursday through Saturday.
Parking is usually easy with both lot and street options. Saturday afternoons and evenings get the busiest, so plan around that if you want a quieter table.
3. Darrell’s, Lake Charles, LA
Lake Charles regulars have a saying about this place: you do not drive through town without stopping for the roast beef po’boy with jalapeno mayo. Big, bustling, and popular with sports fans, it specializes in hefty sandwiches piled high.
The Darrell’s Special is the signature, stacked with roast beef, turkey, ham, three cheeses, jalapeno mayo, and gravy that drips everywhere. It has been voted the second best po’boy in the state of Louisiana, which is no small thing in po’boy country.
The classic French po’boy bun comes loaded with homemade roast beef, and you can add grilled shrimp for a surf-and-turf version. Jalapeno mayo shows up on the menu as its own draw for heat seekers.
Hours are 11 AM to 10 PM Monday through Saturday, with Sunday closed. There is a drive-through, plenty of free parking, and a kids’ menu, so it works for a quick lunch or a longer sit-down.
4. Bear’s Restaurant, Covington, LA
Covington keeps this one close, and the short hours are part of the reason it feels like an insider spot. Open Tuesday through Friday from 10:30 AM to 3 PM only, it is a counter-serve storefront where po’boys are the whole point.
Roast beef leads the lineup, with a BBQ roast beef version adding a smokey twist for anyone wanting something different. The beef comes out tender and melt-in-the-mouth, and a simple order of mayo and gravy is a favorite way to go.
Beyond the roast beef, you can get shrimp, catfish, and BBQ beef po’boys, with big portions of fresh seafood. Kids get arcade games to keep busy while the food is made.
There is no table service and no reservations, and a wait is common, so patience helps. Parking can be a little tight, but the roast beef po’boy is the payoff people show up for.
5. Bayou Blue Po-Boys, Houma, LA
Some folks who moved two hours away still make the trip back to Houma just for this roast beef sandwich. That kind of loyalty tells you plenty about this family-owned joint out on LA-182.
The roast beef po’boy is the headliner and gets called the best in the area by people who have tried plenty. It comes with thin, crispy onion rings that have become just as much a reason to stop.
You can also order shrimp po’boys, hamburgers, and plate lunches, so there is more than one way to fill up. The vibe is casual and cozy, with no table service, which keeps things quick.
Hours run 10 AM to 2:30 PM Monday through Friday and until 2 PM on Saturday. Parking is easy and free, dine-in and takeout are both options, and the overstuffed po’boys feel like the ones locals remember from decades back.
6. Short Stop Poboys, Metairie, LA
When someone born and raised in the area pictures a New Orleans roast beef po’boy, they picture gravy dripping and every bite messy. That mental image is exactly what this longtime Metairie spot on Transcontinental Drive delivers.
Roast beef debris is the specialty, and the kitchen will happily make it sloppy and wet if you ask. Alongside it you can get shrimp, oyster, and BBQ beef po’boys, plus a well-regarded seafood gumbo.
The menu leans into fun with the French fry po’boy and Roman Candy for something sweet. Desserts also include fried pies, cookies, and ice cream, so there is a way to end the meal on a treat.
Open with long hours from 8 AM, closing at 7 PM most days and 8 PM on Fridays, it fits a wide window. There is a drive-through, plenty of parking, and a family-friendly feel, though a wait is common at busy times.
7. Domilise’s Po-Boy & Bar, New Orleans, LA
Operating since 1924, this Annunciation Street institution has a line out the door full of people who know exactly what they came for. It is a no-nonsense counter-serve space in a residential Uptown neighborhood, complete with an original bar top.
The roast beef po’boy is a must, smothered in gravy and dressed with mustard and vegetables. The Roast Beef and Swiss is a standout order, and the roast beef with jus is another way regulars like it.
Portions run massive and filling, and the crispy fries make a good sidekick. Beyond roast beef, the menu covers fried shrimp, hot smoked sausage, and meatball po’boys.
Hours vary by day, opening at 11 AM and closing anywhere from 3 PM early in the week to 7 PM on Friday and Saturday. Street parking can be tricky and reservations are not taken, so build in time to wait, and grab a shirt while you are there.
8. PO Boy Express, Shreveport, LA
Up in northwest Louisiana, Shreveport gets its roast beef fix at this cozy sandwich shop on Line Avenue. It runs in an LSU Tigers atmosphere and covers Cajun-style comfort food, including vegetarian options.
The roast beef with gravy po’boy is the reason to stop, with tender, flavorful meat and a smart ratio of beef to bread. The bread itself holds up to a sloppy sandwich and comes in several options, and there is even a dipped version worth trying.
Sides get a Cajun kick, with a potato salad that brings some heat and plenty of flavor. Fast, friendly counter service keeps the line moving.
Hours run 10:30 AM to about 6:45 PM most weekdays, with a shorter Saturday window from 11 AM to 2:30 PM. There is a drive-through, free parking, and takeout or delivery, making it an easy grab whether you are dining in or heading out.
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