12 Mississippi Sandwich Shops, From Classic Po’ Boys To Loaded Favorites, With One Jackson Place Taking The Top Spot
Some people prefer sleeping in a little later, but doing that here means missing the chance to try some of the best sandwiches in the state. These Mississippi sandwich shops range from classic po’ boys to loaded favorites worth planning a trip around.
Bread gets sourced fresh, never an afterthought compared to what actually fills each sandwich. Layers pile high with meat and toppings, avoiding the skimping some competitors rely on to cut costs.
Regulars order the same sandwich consistently, trusting the size and quality to stay the same every visit. One Jackson spot stands out above the rest, earning the top ranking through consistency alone.
Every order gets prepared with the same care regardless of how busy the shop gets. These sandwich shops proved that sometimes the best sandwich is worth setting an early alarm for.
1. Big Apple Inn
Pig ear sandwiches are not something you find on many menus, and that alone puts this Farish Street landmark in a category of its own. The counter has been serving them for decades, and the recipe has not wandered far from where it started.
The other star here is the smoked sausage slider, known simply as a smoke. It comes on a soft slider bun with slaw, mustard, and hot sauce, and it carries a forward heat closer to chorizo than to a standard breakfast link.
Farish Street once served as the beating heart of Black business and entertainment in Jackson. Big Apple Inn sat right in the middle of it, and the place became a meeting ground for civil rights organizers, including Medgar Evers and Martin Luther King, Jr.
Inside, the setup stays no-frills on purpose. Counter service, no table service, a small casual room, and a line that forms often enough that a short wait is normal.
Tamales share menu space with the sliders, including a dozen-count vegetarian order. A bologna slider rounds things out for anyone easing into the experience.
Anthony Bourdain put this spot on national television, and the crowd since then has mixed locals, college students, and curious travelers. Parking is easy, both in the lot and along the street.
Find it at 509 N Farish St, Jackson, MS 39202.
2. Fayard’s
Half grocery store, half po’ boy factory. Fayard’s operates on Popp’s Ferry Road in Biloxi, where the meat case and the sandwich counter share the same building and the same loyal lunch crowd.
The shrimp po’ boy comes fully dressed on pressed French bread, packed with golden fried shrimp that spill toward the edges. Roast beef po’ boys are the other calling card, and the cheeseburger po’ boy has its own following.
Breakfast happens here too, which surprises first-timers. Coffee, dessert, and quick morning plates keep the early crowd moving well before the lunch rush arrives.
Lunch plates come with enough food for one hungry person and often enough for leftovers. The raw meat selection on the market side means plenty of people walk out with dinner ingredients along with their sandwich.
The atmosphere is cozy and quiet, casual in the way neighborhood spots tend to be. There is no table service, so orders go across the counter and out the door or to a seat nearby.
Kids get their own menu, and groups fit fine. Parking is free in the lot and on the street, which matters on a busy weekday.
The family behind the counter has been running this operation for over 50 years, and that longevity shows in how smoothly the place hums. Swing by 1757 Popp’s Ferry Rd, Biloxi, MS 39532.
3. Ben’s Deli
Bring cash. That single rule shapes every visit to this Pass Road counter in Gulfport, where the shrimp po’ boy has built a reputation that stretches well past the city limits.
Order the twelve-inch and you get bread that struggles to close around the shrimp inside. Fresh bread, hot fried seafood, and a wrapping job that barely contains the whole thing.
Beyond po’ boys, the menu wanders into fried rice territory. Shrimp fried rice and combination fried rice sit alongside the seafood platter, fried shrimp baskets, and vegan onion rings.
A Steak Bomb holds down the non-seafood side for anyone who wants something different. Portions across the board run large enough that splitting is a real option.
Setup is bare bones and completely fine with that. Counter service, takeout, and picnic tables outside make up the entire dining room, and there is no restroom on site.
Service moves fast, which explains why the Friday afternoon and evening rush clears so efficiently. Call-ahead orders are often waiting the moment you pull up.
Parking includes a free lot plus street spots, so the cash-only policy ends up being the only planning required. Sundays are closed, so weekday and Saturday trips are the play.
Anyone driving the coast should build a stop into the route. The address is 1412 Pass Rd, Gulfport, MS 39501.
4. Quave Brothers Poboys And Meat Market Diberville
Dressed and pressed is the house standard here, and that pressing step makes a real difference. The bread flattens just enough to hold everything together without turning tough.
Oyster po’ boys and crabmeat and cheese po’ boys get the most attention, though the shrimp version has its own dedicated crowd. The seafood arrives fresh and the bread does not fall apart halfway through.
Roast beef and gravy is the slow-cooked option, built over long hours until the meat surrenders completely. A hot sausage po’ boy is available in a sixteen-inch size for anyone feeling ambitious.
The meat market side keeps the operation grounded in family recipes and old-school Gulf Coast cooking. Fish plates, seafood platters, and a muffuletta wrap fill out the rest of the board.
Bread pudding closes the meal, and Barq’s in glass bottles adds a nice throwback touch to the drink cooler.
Located inside Northgate Shopping Center, the dining room stays casual, cozy, and quiet. High chairs and a kids’ menu make family lunches painless.
A drive-through handles the Friday rush, which is the busiest stretch of the week by a wide margin. Delivery and curbside options exist too.
Parking is plentiful and free. The address is 10271 D’Iberville Blvd #2519, D’Iberville, MS 39540.
5. Po-Boy Express
Twelve inches of dressed and pressed po’ boy is the flagship order at this Government Street spot, and the six-inch is already more than most people can finish.
Fried shrimp gets top billing, and the version served here draws comparisons to what you would find across the state line in New Orleans. Roast beef and gravy runs a close second.
The Steak Bomb and the Hammerhead round out the specialty list, the latter landing on the vegan side of the menu. PO Taters and fried mushrooms handle the sides.
Portions carry real value, which explains the steady college student presence and the groups that pile in on Friday evenings when the place peaks.
Delivery is available and moves quickly, so the sandwiches show up still hot and still crisp. Takeout and dine-in both work fine.
The dining area stays casual and quiet, with seating but no table service. Orders go in at the counter and come out fast.
Kids’ menus, high chairs, and a family-friendly setup mean nobody gets left out. Parking is free and easy in the lot or on the street.
Sundays are closed, so plan around that. Weekday mornings run quiet if you prefer a calm lunch.
Ocean Springs itself is worth wandering after eating. The shop sits at 2422 Government St, Ocean Springs, MS 39564.
6. Gold Post Sandwich House Inc
Since 1971, this Hardy Street fixture has been turning out New Orleans-style po’ boys in Hattiesburg. Five decades of practice tends to smooth out the rough edges.
Roast beef dressed is the order that regulars default to, and the shrimp po’ boy shares the spotlight. Both come in six-inch and larger sizes depending on appetite.
Seafood gumbo made with a blond roux sets this kitchen apart from the darker-roux crowd. It pairs naturally with a half sandwich for a full lunch.
Burgers, salads, grilled cheese, and a grilled chicken club fill out a menu that refuses to specialize in only one thing. The onion rings are a vegan-friendly bonus.
The room reads historic and cozy, with a trendy edge that keeps the university crowd coming through. Booths fill up fast during Tuesday and Thursday lunch.
A drive-through handles the takeout traffic, which keeps the dining room from getting overwhelmed. Evenings run noticeably quieter across the week.
High chairs and a kids’ menu make it workable for families, and groups fit without much trouble. Parking is free in the lot and along the street.
Coffee is available, which is a nice touch for a sandwich house. Closed Sundays.
Find this Hattiesburg institution at 2210 Hardy St, Hattiesburg, MS 39401.
7. Art Of Roux
Cajun cooking in a compact space, with a menu that swings from gumbo to burgers without losing focus. Art of Roux operates on North 38th Avenue in Hattiesburg.
The Hot Ham and Cheese Po-Boy is the one that turns first-timers into repeat customers. Toasted bread, melted cheese, and coleslaw stacked on top if you want it.
Shrimp po’ boys come with homemade pickles and shrimp seasoned before frying, which makes a bigger difference than it sounds. Catfish is the other strong option.
Debris fries deserve their own mention, topped with the kind of gravy-soaked beef that makes forks necessary. Red beans and rice sit on the side menu.
Gumbo plates anchor the Cajun side, and the fancy sauce that comes with the fries has developed something of a cult following.
Dessert means mini pecan pie or bread pudding, both vegetarian and both worth ordering even when you are full.
The space is small, casual, and quick, with counter service and outdoor seating where dogs are welcome. Free wi-fi and gender-neutral restrooms are available.
A full vegetarian menu exists, which is rare among Cajun counters. Reservations are accepted, catering is offered, and Saturday afternoons draw the biggest crowds.
College students, families, and travelers all filter through. The address is 208 N 38th Ave Suite 10, Hattiesburg, MS 39401.
8. Oby’s Of Oxford
Open seven days a week, which in a college town is basically a public service. Oby’s sits on University Avenue in Oxford and has been feeding students and locals for a long stretch.
Cajun cooking shapes the menu, with po’ boys sharing space with jambalaya loaded with big chunks of chicken and sausage. Seafood gumbo is a steady favorite.
The All Around The World sandwich is the signature build, and the Reuben holds its own for anyone who wants something more familiar.
Loaded baked potatoes here arrive at a size that borders on comedic. The Chili Cheese Spud and Rotel Cheese Fries lean into the same excess.
Vegetarian options include a Greek salad, potato soup, and bread pudding for dessert. Healthy choices exist alongside the indulgent ones.
Service moves quickly even during the Thursday through Saturday evening crush, and staff manage to stay personal about it.
There is table service in addition to counter ordering, plus outdoor seating and catering. A great tea selection keeps the sweet tea crowd happy.
Whole shrimp platters and other plates mean this works as dinner, not just lunch. Groups, families, and solo diners all fit.
Parking is free and plentiful, a genuine perk in Oxford. Stop by 1931 University Ave, Oxford, MS 38655.
9. Panino Veloce
Speedy sandwich. That is the literal translation of the name, and it describes a small coffee and sandwich counter operating inside Tarasque Cucina on Jackson Avenue West.
House-baked focaccia does the heavy lifting, with a texture that stays soft without collapsing and enough flavor to stand on its own.
Pastrami gets piled on high enough that finishing becomes a legitimate challenge. Sourdough semolina is the other bread option, and it avoids the toughness that trips up a lot of house-baked loaves.
The potato salad is quietly one of the best things on the board, and skipping it is a mistake plenty of people make once.
Organic dishes, healthy options, and a full vegetarian menu give the counter more range than the small footprint suggests. Coffee is part of the deal too.
Hours are narrow, running Wednesday through Sunday during the midday window only. Planning matters here more than at most stops on this list.
Seating is limited and casual, with outdoor options and curbside pickup available. There is no table service, so everything happens at the counter.
The crowd skews toward Ole Miss students and anyone who has figured out where the good bread is in Oxford.
Free on-site parking removes the usual downtown headache. Look for it at Left Side, 1611 Jackson Ave W, Oxford, MS 38655.
10. Manhattan Deli & Grill
A New York bodega landed in northeast Mississippi, and somehow it works perfectly. Manhattan Deli and Grill runs on South Gloster Street in Tupelo with a menu built on chopped cheese and hero rolls.
The Chopped Cheese is the item that gets people talking: griddled beef and melted cheese on a roll with the vegetarian version available too.
Super BLT is the other headliner, and the onion rings come vegan-friendly for anyone paying attention to that.
Wraps, burgers, and pressed juices expand the lineup well past standard deli territory. Halal food is available, which is uncommon in this part of the state.
Breakfast starts early, and brunch is on the board, so the counter runs from morning straight through dinner most days.
The room is casual with a trendy edge, counter service only, no tables to sit at. Takeout and delivery carry most of the volume.
A full vegetarian menu and healthy options sit alongside the heavier sandwiches, giving mixed groups an easy compromise.
Parking can be tight on that stretch of Gloster, so factor in a minute or two of circling during the afternoon rush.
People drive in from surrounding towns specifically for these sandwiches, which says plenty. The deli is at 603 S Gloster St, Tupelo, MS 38801.
11. Finney’s Sandwich Shop
Lunch only, weekdays only, and closed by mid-afternoon. Finney’s operates on its own schedule on West Main Street in Tupelo, and the crowd shows up accordingly.
The club sandwich paired with thick, blended potato salad and freshly squeezed lemonade is the order that defines the place. Nothing fancy, just executed the same way for years.
Roast beef sandwiches, chicken salad, chopped BBQ, and burgers fill out a menu that includes daily specials with potato salad and chips included.
Milkshakes deserve a paragraph of their own, and the pineapple flavor is the sleeper pick most people never think to try.
Soups, salads, plated meals, and desserts round out an offering that is broader than the sandwich shop name suggests. A chef salad covers the vegetarian side.
The atmosphere feels historic and quiet, cozy in the way old lunch counters get after decades of the same regulars.
A drive-through exists for anyone in a rush, though sitting inside is the better experience. Dine-in and takeout are both available, and there is no delivery.
Prices run friendlier than most comparable spots, and staff treat first-timers like they have been coming for years.
High chairs and kid-friendly seating make family lunches simple. Free parking sits right outside at 1009 W Main St, Tupelo, MS 38801.
12. Wardo’s Poboys
New Orleans bread trucked up the river to Natchez. That single detail explains why the po’ boys at this North Broadway shack taste closer to the real thing than the geography would suggest.
Authentic Italian bread from New Orleans forms the base for everything, and the kitchen seasons the bread itself rather than relying on the fillings alone.
The ribeye po’ boy is the standout on the menu board, tender and seasoned end to end. Hot sausage is the other order that surprises people.
Shrimp po’ boys have earned the local title, and the muffuletta gives the whole operation some Sicilian range.
Gumbo is on hand for cooler days, and dessert is available if you somehow have room.
Shaded outdoor seating is a big part of the appeal, and dogs are welcome out there. Inside, there is seating near where the sandwiches are assembled, which is entertaining in its own right.
Service moves quickly, and the room stays casual and cozy without trying too hard. Groups fit fine, and kids get their own menu and high chairs.
Weekends bring the heaviest traffic, particularly Friday evenings and all day Saturday. Tuesdays are closed.
Natchez itself makes a great day trip, and this is the lunch stop. Find it at 309 N Broadway St, Natchez, MS 39120.