Domilise's is a po' boy institution dating back to 1918, and what many consider the classic po' boy operation in New Orleans. It's an incredibly delicious hole-in-the-wall experience, where you can't go wrong with a fried shrimp or oyster, dressed.

This cheese shop has dominated the casual lunch game since opening in 2007 with a menu of sandwiches featuring cheeses from French brie (on a baguette with ham) to Rogue River's Smokey Blue (with thin sliced roast beef), not too mention a Ploughman's Lunch of cheeses, paté, chutney, a green salad, and bread. Both locations also offer some of the best entree salads in town.

This birthplace of New Orleans-style barbecue shrimp, Pascal’s Manale opened in 1913. Today, it’s a lunchtime destination for its friendly oyster bar, laid back attitude, and old-school atmosphere.

If meat is what you're after, head to this casual Cajun eatery in Mid City from chef Isaac Toups, where the chef's lunch (boudin, burger, and a beer) will set you back about $23 but the house signatures, like confit chicken thigh and the double cut pork chop with dirty rice, are not to be overlooked. The patio makes for an especially pleasant lunch setting.

This Bayou St. John po' boy staple is a favorite among locals and tourists in the know. The fried shrimp is a classic, but it's the Thanksgiving po' boy that has locals lining up around the block on Wednesdays in November. Bonus: An excellent Reuben and gumbo.

This horse tracks-adjacent neighborhood bar got its start in 1936, later evolving into a quintessential lunch restaurant and the unofficial gathering place for Jazz Fest. It’s best known for the garlic oyster po’ boy and barbecue shrimp po’ boy, both offering slight twists on the classics.

Show up. Wait in line. They'll tell you when a table is ready, and when it is, you'll eat some of the best fried chicken in existence. Don't overlook those peas either.

The buffet at this Treme landmark is legendary (when it’s available, per COVID safety protocols), and one of the best ways to experience the late Leah Chase’s iconic restaurant. Try it all at once — gumbo, fried chicken, fried catfish, greens, lima beans — or order from the new takeout menu, which also includes daily family meals, which covers gumbo, salads, po’ boys, and more.

This nationally-acclaimed sandwich spot in the LGD might be New Orleans’s best lunch destination to open in the past decade. Distinctive and incredible eats like hogshead cheese tacos, a fried bologna sandwich, any specials, and perhaps best of all, the collard green melt — slow cooked collards, Swiss cheese, coleslaw, and cherry pepper dressing served hot on rye — make this an essential lunch visit for locals and tourists alike.

This LGD staple is where numerous locals go to get their lunchtime pho fill. Many consider the broth here to be the best in town, but the menu is also home to numerous Vietnamese classics that won't break the bank.

This Bourbon Street landmark is famous for its Friday lunch, where the drinks are strong and the menu is bursting with classics — oysters Rockefeller, eggs Sardou, Galatoire Goute, pompano with crabmeat. Show up early to snag a table (and bring a jacket, gentlemen).

Stepping into Li’l Dizzy’s at lunchtime is likely to brighten your day, when you’re greeted with a bustling dining room, friendly owners, and happy customers. Choose from fried catfish and chicken, gumbo and red beans, and po’boys, all high quality and affordable.

It's hard to go wrong at this Cochon annex, where Link Group shows off its incredible charcuterie skills and even more incredible sandwiches. The muffuletta is one of the best in town, but it's hard to go wrong with anything from a Cubano to a serving of boudin.