Some sandwiches are so good that people stop talking about them, mostly so the line stays short. Across Mississippi, a handful of counters, delis, and corner spots have been quietly stacking roast beef onto French bread and soaking it in gravy for years.
Some sit near the Gulf, some sit near college campuses, and one even shares space with a grocery store. If you love a messy, napkin-heavy lunch, this list will point you to the places that do roast beef the right way.
1. Pirate’s Cove, Pass Christian, MS
A glass bottle of Barq’s Root Beer sits on the menu right next to the po’ boys, and that pairing tells you a lot about the mood here. Pirate’s Cove on Menge Avenue keeps things simple, cheerful, and fast.
The roast beef po’ boy is the headliner. It comes on French bread with shredded lettuce, tomato slices, dill pickles, and mayo, and plenty of Gulf Coast regulars put it at the top of their personal rankings.
Shrimp and oyster po’ boys share the spotlight, along with a Meat Combo, a Cubano half, and a Buffalo Chicken Bacon Ranch version. Double cheeseburgers, corn nuggets, and Messy Fries round out the counter menu.
Seating is at picnic tables, and ordering happens at the counter. Kids get their own menu, and high chairs are available.
Hours run 10:30 AM to 8 PM Monday through Saturday, and the place is closed Sunday. Friday afternoons into evening get busy, so an early lunch on a weekday is the smoother play.
2. Po-Boy Express, Ocean Springs, MS
Bring cash. Po-Boy Express on Government Street does not take cards, and that small detail has never slowed down the regulars.
The Roast Beef and Gravy Po-Boy is the reason it lands on this list. The bread holds up, the beef is tender, and the gravy actually tastes like gravy instead of an afterthought.
Plenty of folks come for the Steak Bomb, a local favorite, while others swear by the shrimp. A crab and cheese po-boy also shows up on the menu for anyone feeling adventurous.
Sides deserve attention too. Fried mushrooms and PO Taters potato wedges make easy additions to any order.
The room is casual and fairly quiet, which makes it a solid solo lunch stop. It opens at 11 AM Monday through Saturday, staying open until 8:30 PM on Friday and Saturday, and it is closed Sunday.
3. Fat Albert’s, Jackson, MS
Here is the curveball on the list. Fat Albert’s on Beasley Road skips the po’ boy tradition and goes straight to Chicago.
The Italian beef sandwich is the star, with thin-sliced, well-seasoned beef piled onto a roll in true Windy City style. Portions lean generous, and the prices stay friendly.
Gyros are the other signature, and the Philly cheese steak has its own following for being juicy and nicely seasoned. A gyro sandwich with fries makes an easy combo.
Plan around the schedule. Fat Albert’s runs Tuesday through Saturday from 11 AM to 6 PM, and there is usually a wait.
One practical note: there is no restroom on site, so most people treat it as a quick stop or a takeout run. For a Jackson lunch that tastes nothing like the usual, I would save this one for a Thursday or Friday craving.
4. Oby’s of Oxford, Oxford, MS
Ole Miss students have been filing into Oby’s for a long time, and the University Avenue spot still has that homey, lived-in charm.
The kitchen leans Cajun. The roast beef po’ boy comes with dipping gravy on the side, which lets you control the mess level yourself.
Crawfish po’ boys are popular, and the Reuben has fans thanks to bread that gets a generous dose of butter. Rotel and chips, Rotel cheese fries, hushpuppies, and bread pudding fill out the rest of the order nicely.
Oby’s is one of the few places on this list open seven days a week, from 10:30 AM to 9 PM. There is outdoor seating, table service, and a kids’ menu.
Game weekends and Friday evenings fill up fast. A midweek lunch is the calmer route.
5. Taranto’s Crawfish, Biloxi, MS
The name says crawfish, but the roast beef po’ boy might be the sleeper hit at Taranto’s on John Lee Road.
The beef is tender, the French bread gets pressed, and the gravy has a clear Louisiana accent. The family behind the cooking brings that Cajun style across the state line.
Crawfish platters, boiled shrimp, a Dungeness crab platter, and gumbo keep the seafood crowd happy. Swamp Fries, fried pickles, onion rings, and hush puppies make strong sidekicks.
Marine life artwork covers the walls, and the setup is no-frills and family friendly. Table service and a kids’ menu make it easy with a group.
Taranto’s is open Tuesday through Saturday, 11 AM to 9 PM. Weekday mornings are the quietest window.
6. Gold Post Sandwich House Inc, Hattiesburg, MS
Since 1971, Gold Post has been serving New Orleans-style po’ boys on Hardy Street. That kind of staying power in a college town says plenty.
Order the roast beef dressed with gravy, or go for the version with tomato gravy that regulars keep recommending. The portions are generous, and the prices stay reasonable.
Homemade BBQ sauce, tartar sauce, and salad dressing come from the kitchen. Ham and shrimp po’ boys, seafood gumbo, red beans and rice, and onion rings round out the classics.
A drive-through makes it handy on a busy day. Hours are 10 AM to 8 PM Monday through Saturday, with Tuesday and Thursday lunch running busiest.
7. The Deck, Columbia, MS
Early risers in Columbia already know The Deck. The doors on Main Street open at 5:30 AM, long before most sandwich shops even think about turning on the lights.
Breakfast and classic fast food staples fill the menu, but the roast beef po’ boy is the item that keeps people talking. It is a hearty, no-nonsense build in a town that appreciates exactly that.
Coffee and desserts get high marks, and the tea selection is a nice bonus. There is a drive-through, outdoor seating, and counter service.
The Deck stays open until 9 PM Monday through Saturday and closes on Sunday. It stays steady most of the day, so grabbing it on a road trip through south Mississippi works well.
8. Fayard’s, Biloxi, MS
Some of the best po’ boys on the Coast come from behind a convenience store counter, and Fayard’s on Popp’s Ferry Road proves it.
The pressed roast beef and gravy po’ boy is the signature. Longtime Coast families who grew up on the old Fayard’s in D’Iberville still seek it out today.
Breakfast biscuits keep the morning crowd coming, with doors opening at 5 AM on weekdays. Coffee and desserts are also strong picks.
Hours are Monday through Friday 5 AM to 7 PM and Saturday 7 AM to 3 PM, closed Sunday. Weekday lunch is the busy stretch, so call ahead or go early.
It is a fitting place to end this list, a reminder that great roast beef rarely needs a fancy dining room. Grab plenty of napkins on your next Mississippi drive.
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