Turkey, cornbread dressing, cranberry sauce, and gravy are getting stuffed into French bread again. The whole Thanksgiving plate fits in your hands, and it only shows up on November Wednesdays.
I love that this sandwich does good while it tastes good. A portion of every sale supports cancer research through a local foundation. That makes a second helping feel almost responsible.
The shop behind it has roots stretching back more than a century. It started as a neighborhood bakery and later became a po’ boy legend in Louisiana.
Bringing turkey, dressing, and cranberry sauce together on French bread, this Louisiana Thanksgiving sandwich turns a holiday feast into a beloved November lunch tradition.
Today the shop still draws hungry crowds who know exactly what they came for. Why wait until Thursday for stuffing when Wednesday hands it to you on bread? There’s a whole story behind this seasonal favorite, and it’s worth making room for before the holiday arrives.
Your Lunch Order Helps Fund Cancer Research
Good food with a good cause behind it always tastes a little better. The Thanksgiving Poor Boy returns each year as a fundraiser with the Al Copeland Foundation.
The foundation supports cancer research and innovative treatments. A portion of all Thanksgiving Poor Boy sales goes straight to that mission.
So yes, ordering a second sandwich could count as generosity. I fully support that line of thinking.
Several well-known Louisiana brands also sponsor the effort. Crystal Hot Sauce, Leidenheimer Baking Co., Blue Plate Mayonnaise, and Luzianne Tea all lend a hand.
That list reads like a roll call of New Orleans pantry staples. It feels fitting that local favorites team up for a local cause.
I believe that’s what makes this tradition stand out. It’s a seasonal treat, but it also brings a whole community together around something meaningful.
The partnership gives every Wednesday in November extra purpose. You’re not only feeding yourself, you’re helping fund work that matters to many families.
Bring friends and order a round. Lunch becomes a small act of kindness when every bite pitches in, and nobody has to write a check.
Hagan Avenue Is The Way To Thanksgiving On Bread
Parkway Bakery & Tavern stands at 538 Hagan Avenue in New Orleans, Louisiana, in the Mid-City area near Bayou St. John. Approach the neighborhood on its local streets and follow Hagan Avenue to the sandwich shop.
The recognizable old bakery-and-tavern building is in a residential neighborhood rather than the French Quarter. Look for Parkway’s entrance along Hagan Avenue and the usual po’ boy crowd outside.
Park only where local signs permit and follow the shop’s ordering line. The Thanksgiving Poor Boy is scheduled for Wednesdays November 4, 11, 18, and 25, 2026, rather than every day of the month.
A Special Ticket Lets You Breeze Past The Line
Lines at this spot can stretch a while, and fans of the turkey sandwich know it. That’s where the Skip the Line ticket comes in handy.
Ticket holders get exclusive access to bypass the regular line from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. That covers the heart of lunchtime, when hunger hits hardest.
The perks don’t stop at speed. Each ticket also includes a commemorative t-shirt and a spread of extras.
You get sweet potato fries and a Luzianne iced tea. There’s also a sweet potato Hubig’s Pie, which is a beloved New Orleans hand pie.
Fresh scoops of New Orleans Ice Cream round things out. Dessert and a souvenir shirt in one deal feels like a pretty sweet bargain.
The ticket ties into the same fundraiser, so it supports the cause too. You skip the wait and give back at once.
I like that it turns lunch into a mini celebration. Plan your arrival inside that midday window to make the most of it.
And wear the shirt proudly afterward. It’s proof you showed up for turkey and charity in November.
Those Loaves Have Been Coming From The Same Bakery Since 1978
Bread can make or break a po’ boy. Here, the French bread comes from Leidenheimer Baking Company, a partnership that started in 1978.
That date has a story. A flood that year destroyed the original brick ovens, and the bakery stopped making its own bread.
Instead of fighting that setback, the shop leaned into sandwiches. Poor boys became the full focus, built on Leidenheimer loaves ever since.
Leidenheimer also sponsors the Thanksgiving fundraiser. So the bread holding your turkey is part of the good cause too.
New Orleans French bread has a crisp crust and a soft inside. That combo matters when gravy and cranberry sauce start soaking in.
A sturdy crust keeps the sandwich from falling apart too fast. The tender middle soaks up flavor like a sponge with excellent taste.
I find it charming that one loaf links decades of history. A rough moment in 1978 shaped the sandwich you’ll grab this November.
Next time you bite in, give the bread some credit. It’s doing quiet, heroic work under all that stuffing and gravy.
The Rest Of The Menu Deserves A Wednesday Visit Too
Turkey gets the November spotlight, but the regular lineup is stacked. Roast beef with debris, those gravy-soaked bits of beef, is a signature favorite.
Fried shrimp and smoked alligator sausage poor boys also headline. Yes, alligator, and it’s a very New Orleans thing to try at least once.
Wednesdays bring a bonus. Golden fried Gulf oysters show up on Wednesdays and Thursdays, so turkey day overlaps with oyster day.
Louisiana catfish, grilled chicken, hot sausage patty, and Italian meatball round out more choices. Picky eaters in your group won’t feel stranded.
Then there’s The Bayou Beast. It’s nearly three feet long and loaded with BBQ beef, fried shrimp, and alligator sausage under melted pepperjack.
That one feels less like lunch and more like a team project. Bring several friends and a clear plan.
Sides include sweet potato fries, French fries, and fried pickles with remoulade. Potato salad, coleslaw, and Zapp’s chips also make the list.
Craving something spoonable? Chicken and sausage gumbo and jambalaya are ready to warm you up.
Save Room, Because Dessert Is Worth The Strategy
Sweet endings matter during the holidays. Parkway Bakery & Tavern keeps three solid desserts on hand for anyone with room left.
Classic French bread pudding makes perfect sense at a place built on bread. It’s a smart, tasty use of the very thing the shop is famous for.
House-made banana pudding is the second option. It’s a Southern classic that feels right at home on a Louisiana menu.
Butter rum cake completes the trio. Choosing between them may be the hardest decision of your whole afternoon.
Here’s a tip for the Thanksgiving crowd. A full turkey po’ boy with dressing and gravy is hearty, so pace yourself.
Splitting a sandwich with a friend can free up dessert space. Then you can share pudding too, which feels very holiday-spirited.
I believe dessert works as a great preview for the big feast. Think of it as practice for pie on Thursday.
Skip the Line ticket holders already get a Hubig’s Pie and ice cream. That crowd might need a nap more than a menu.
More Than A Century Of Bread, Grit, And Comebacks
Back in 1911, a German baker named Charles Goering, Sr. opened a neighborhood bakery. He sold French bread, donuts, and sweet rolls to locals.
Henry Timothy, Sr. bought the bakery in 1922. In 1929, he added a poor boy shop that changed everything.
During a streetcar strike, he gave free French fry poor boys to union members. That generous gesture fits right in with today’s charity sandwich.
His sons, Henry Jr. and Jake, took over in the 1960s. The business kept rolling until it closed its doors in 1993.
That could have been the end. Instead, Jay Nix bought the building in 1995 because he wanted to preserve its history.
With help from his nephew, Justin Kennedy, the shop reopened in 2003. Kennedy now serves as general manager and head chef.
I love a good comeback story, and this one delivers. Generosity started this place’s poor boy legacy, and it continues every November.
Inside, photos and memorabilia cover the walls. Every corner gives a nod to the decades that came before your turkey sandwich.
Grab A Seat Under The Tents And Get Comfortable
Seating comes in plenty of shapes here. Small square tables sit close together, while larger communal tables live under big tents.
A patio adds even more outdoor space. High-top counter seating works well if you’re flying solo with a sandwich.
Indoors, air conditioning helps on warm days. November in Louisiana can still surprise you with heat, so that’s a welcome perk.
Ordering has its own system. You can order at the bar or from the main food line, and a separate pick-up window helps too.
The vibe stays casual and comfortable. Nobody needs to dress up to eat turkey and gravy off French bread.
Practical details make planning easy. Restrooms, customer parking, and wheelchair accessibility are all available.
Takeaway service is an option as well. Grab your Thanksgiving Poor Boy to go if you’re running holiday errands.
Communal tables can lead to friendly chats with neighbors. Sharing a long table over a holiday sandwich feels pretty festive.
I think that relaxed setting suits this sandwich perfectly. Comfort food deserves comfortable seats.
Mid-City Is Calling, So Plan Your November Wednesday
Mid-City New Orleans is home base for this sandwich legend. You’ll find Parkway Bakery & Tavern at 538 Hagan Avenue, New Orleans, Louisiana 70119.
Hours run Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays are closed, so don’t show up early in the week.
Conveniently, Wednesday is opening day each week. That’s also Thanksgiving Poor Boy day, so the timing works beautifully.
Recognition keeps rolling in for this spot. The MICHELIN Guide named it a Bib Gourmand for 2026, a big nod to great value cooking.
Former President Obama has dined here too. Food Network and other media have featured the shop over the years.
Still, the turkey special is the November star. Arriving earlier in the day gives you more breathing room to order and settle.
I’d suggest pairing your visit with a slow Mid-City stroll. Walking after cornbread dressing feels like a smart move.
Louisiana holiday traditions come in many forms. This one happens to come wrapped in paper, packed with gravy, and helping a great cause.