Po'boy at Gumbo Pot: 30 Sandwiches in 30 Days (Day 9)

By Elina Shatkin Thu., Nov. 17 2011 at 6:05 PM

Catfish po'boy from The Gumbo Pot.

Maybe it's because we're not in New Orleans. Maybe it's because Los Angeles has so few Cajun and Creole restaurants, there is little competition and even less incentive for them to be great. Maybe it's that the Original Farmers Market is gradually becoming more touristy and less tasty. Despite their name, the stalwart at the longstanding Gumbo Pot, one of the more accessible New Orleans-inspired eateries for locals and visitors alike, is their selection of po'boys. The trick is knowing which are worth ordering.

Offered in half-a-dozen varieties (catfish, salmon, snapper, shrimp, oyster or a combo of shrimp and oyster) the po'boys are served on sturdy French rolls with big leaves of lettuce and -- this is the kicker -- tart, wisp-thin slivers of lemon with the rind still intact. You can get your fish blackened or fried in cornmeal. The breading is crisp and sturdy, not too heavy. The shrimp are tender, the fish is fine. Some things, however, aren't improved by frying. Oysters, for example. The ones in the Gumbo Pots po'boys are sad, chalky blobs with none of the cool brine or slippery texture you get when you slurp them raw.

Enjoy your tour of the Farmers Market. Have a glass of wine at Monsieur Marcel, a taco at Loteria, a seafood cocktail at Tusquela's, an apple fritter at Bob's Donuts, a scoop of Choffee ice cream at Bennett's, a slice of cheese-bottom pie at Du-Par's and, starting tomorrow, a burger at Short Order. If you want a little taste of Louisiana, consider a shrimp or a catfish po'boy from The Gumbo Pot. Whatever you do, avoid the oysters.

Previously...

Day 8: Waffle Sandwich at Shaky Alibi

Day 7: Kobb Salad Sandwich at Kokomo

Day 6: Sotto's Porcetto Sandwich

Day 5: Attari Sandwich Shop

Day 4: Godmother Sub at Bay Cities Deli

Day 3: Shaved Turkey Sandwich at True Food Kitchen

Day 2: Porchetta at Mozza2Go

Day 1: Cole's vs. Philippe's

Elina Shatkin is a staff writer at LA Weekly. Follow her at @elinashatkin or contact her at eshatkin@laweekly.com.

Location Info

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The Gumbo Pot

6333 W. Third St., Los Angeles, CA

Category: Restaurant

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30 Sandwiches in 30 Days, 3rd & Fairfax, Cajun, Elina Shatkin, Original Farmers Market, Po'Boy, Sandwich, The Gumbo Pot

We Recommend

The99centchef

Gumbo Pot's combo Oyster/Shrimp PoBoy is great! I have to disagree with Elina on this one. The only thing off-putting is the slice of lemon (with rind intact?) -- I like a slice of lemon in tea or water, not raw on a sandwich.

Jeffrey Fuentes

Cooked oysters are not most oyster lovers way to have them. I happen to enjoy the oyster po' boy. I have ordered it more often than any other except the mixed oyster and shrimp one this article pictures. Why would you illustrate the article with a sandwich that contains a filling you do not recommend?

X. X. California

Right on, Elina! I hate fried oysters, much as they're loved in New Orleans. Even attentive frying enchalkalates a tender and plump whisper of the sea -- unlike with shrimp or squid or the chewing-gum wrapper that carelessly fell out of your pocket. I haven't been to the Gumbo Pot in an age-an-a-half, so I need to stop by for a shrimp po' boy. The fact that outstanding Cajun, Creole, cafeteria, Southern, and other authentic regional American cuisines -- including BBQ, although with Big Mista and Smoke City the situation has improved in the last three or four years -- are so hard to find tells us something about the country and county of Los Angalus. Put another way, the fact that so much lousy regional cuisine finds favor here tells us something about LA and all the horses people rode in on.