Parkway Bakery & Tavern
Two Po'boys — ~$16–18 ⭐ Michelin Bib Gourmand
The undisputed king of New Orleans po'boys, open since 1911 — and the only po'boy shop with a Michelin Bib Gourmand to prove it. Slow-roasted beef in gravy, fried shrimp, oyster, Creole BBQ shrimp — all on house-made Leidenheimer French bread. Two "small" po'boys is a proper meal for two and comes in around $16–18. Neighborhood tavern vibes, outdoor patio, banana pudding for dessert.
Café du Monde
Beignets & Café au Lait for Two — ~$10–14
Open since 1862. Never closed except for Christmas Eve. Two orders of beignets (six pillowy, powdered-sugar-bombed fried dough squares) and two chicory café au laits runs around $12 total — the best $12 you'll spend in any city in America. Jackson Square, open-air seating, powdered sugar on everything you own. Cash only at the original. Worth every second of the line.
The Joint
BBQ for Two — ~$16–20
Bywater's award-winning BBQ institution, featured on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives and named one of the best barbecue spots in the country. Slow-smoked over pecan and oak: ribs, brisket, pulled pork, Chaurice sausage. A pulled pork sandwich with a side runs about $10 — two people eat smoked BBQ heaven for right around $20. Cypress-paneled corner spot with a full bar and backyard patio.
Dong Phuong Bakery & Restaurant
Bánh Mì for Two — ~$12–16 ⭐ James Beard Award
A 2018 James Beard American Classic Award winner tucked into New Orleans East's Vietnamese community. They bake the bread that half the city's restaurants use for bánh mì — and their own sandwiches are absurdly cheap and excellent. Grilled pork, cold cuts, pâté chaud meat pies, pho, king cakes during Mardi Gras season. Two bánh mì plus a pastry runs about $14. A pilgrimage-worthy detour.
Melba's Po-Boys
Two Po'boys — ~$16–18 🌙 Open 24/7
The only po'boy joint in the city open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week — and the po'boys are actually delicious, not just convenient. Around $12 per sandwich, daily plates of red beans and rice or baked chicken for $11. The kind of place locals know about and tourists walk right past. If you're eating at 2am in New Orleans — and you should be — this is the move.
Camellia Grill
Two Diner Plates — ~$16–20
New Orleans' most beloved diner since 1946, right on the St. Charles streetcar line. Counter-service, bow-tied waitstaff, and a menu built around cheeseburgers, omelets, pecan waffles, chili-cheese fries, and grilled apple pie. Two full plates come in right around $20 — and the atmosphere is worth every penny. A rite of passage for any NOLA first-timer.
Mandina's Restaurant
Creole Lunch for Two — ~$16–20
The ultimate old-school Creole neighborhood joint — Tommy Mandina's family has run this place since the late 1800s and the menu hasn't changed much in 50 years. That's a very good thing. Best homemade gumbo and turtle soup in the city, plus po'boys, jambalaya, and Italian-Creole mash-ups you won't find anywhere else. Two cups of gumbo plus a shared po'boy is an unbeatable lunch for under $20.
Bratz Y'all
Two German-NOLA Sausage Sandwiches — ~$16–18
German-inspired sausages meets Louisiana attitude in a Bywater beer garden. Bratwurst, currywurst, and Cajun sausage sandwiches all under $11. Outdoor picnic tables, cold beer, and a uniquely NOLA-meets-Bavaria experience you won't find in any other city in the South. Two sandwiches and you're still under $20 with beer money to spare.
El Pavo Real
Tacos for Two — ~$14–18
Widely considered the best non-Tex-Mex Mexican restaurant in New Orleans — which is a city that doesn't always do Mexican justice. A filling taco meal runs about $9 per person, most other generous entrées are under $12. Authentic flavors and fresh ingredients in a no-frills setting. Two people eat a proper Mexican meal for well under $20, which feels borderline impossible in a tourist city.
Dat Dog
Two Loaded NOLA Hot Dogs — ~$14–18
Only in New Orleans can you get a hot dog topped with alligator sausage, crawfish étouffée, or pulled pork — and Dat Dog delivers all of it. Multiple locations across the city with a fun, casual atmosphere. Two fully loaded dogs come in well under $20 and cover a cuisine category no other city in this directory can match. Taco Tuesday: $1 per taco dine-in if you feel like switching it up.
Café Reconcile
Creole Soul Food for Two — ~$16–20
A social enterprise café in Central City training at-risk youth in culinary and hospitality skills — and the food is genuinely outstanding. Fried chicken, red beans and rice, gumbo, cornbread, bread pudding — classic Creole soul food done with care and pride. Two lunch plates for under $20, and every dollar you spend goes back into the community. The most feel-good deal on this entire page.
💡 Pro tip: New Orleans hours are notoriously unpredictable — some spots close randomly, keep jazz funeral hours, or go on vacation during slow season. Always verify on Google Maps before making a special trip. Dong Phuong in particular sells out of bánh mì by early afternoon, so go early. If a deal's gone stale, flag it on our main directory.
These chain deals work anywhere in the country, including New Orleans.
Applebee's
2 Entrees + Appetizer
One shareable appetizer + two full-size entrées. Fiesta Lime Chicken, Classic Bacon Cheeseburger, Boneless Wings & more. Available dine-in, takeout & delivery.
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