Killer Poboys in New Orleans is the Conti Street po-boy counter at the back of Erin Rose, with chef-driven $13 po-boys including the rum-glazed pork-belly and the seared shrimp builds.
Tip: Pork-belly with rum ginger glaze is the cult order; the bar in front serves drinks while you wait.
Address: 811 Conti St, New Orleans, LA 70112
Verti Marte in New Orleans is the 24-hour Royal Street deli at Governor Nicholls in the French Quarter, with the $12 All That Jazz po-boy as the cult late-night and budget lunch order.
Try: All That Jazz po-boy
Tip: Phone the deli for delivery to a French Quarter hotel; it runs 24 hours a day on the Royal Street counter.
Central Grocery in New Orleans is the 1906 Decatur Street Sicilian deli that invented the muffuletta, with $13 half muffulettas built on the round seeded loaf with house olive salad.
Try: Muffuletta (half)
Tip: A half feeds one; a whole feeds two to three. Order to walk and eat in Jackson Square across the street.
Coop's Place in New Orleans is the Decatur Street Cajun dive open since 1983, with $13 rabbit and sausage jambalaya and the Chicken Tchoupitoulas plate on the budget menu.
Try: Rabbit and sausage jambalaya
Tip: Dive bar atmosphere, late kitchen, cash-friendly. Pairs with Abita Amber on tap from the bar.
Stein's Deli in New Orleans is the Magazine Street Jewish-Italian deli in the Lower Garden District, with $15 Reuben sandwiches and a long sandwich queue at lunchtime.
Try: Pastrami Reuben
Tip: The Reuben sandwich is the cult order; the deli closes Monday and runs out of bagels by 11:00 on Sunday.
Willie Mae's Scotch House in New Orleans is the 1957 Treme fried-chicken counter on St Ann Street, a 2005 James Beard America's Classics winner with three-piece chicken plates and red beans.
Try: Fried chicken plate
Tip: Lines are real; arrive at 11:00 open or expect a 45-minute wait. Cash and card both accepted.
Dat Dog on Freret in New Orleans is the Freret Street specialty hot dog counter, with $9 alligator sausage, crawfish dogs, vegetarian franks and crawfish etouffee on top of any link.
Try: Specialty hot dog
Tip: Build with crawfish etouffee on top of a frank for the local order; sides of fries run $4 a basket.
