cajun turkey at Tasty's

Tasty's, 24th & utah, san francisco

The consensus between Els and I is that this is the best po'boy we've tried at Tasty's.  The turkey was moist and topped with capers, and best of all, it held together much better than the shrimp or fried fish, which tended to tumble out of the sandwich.  The meat really is the centerpiece of these sandwiches; the bread and veggies don't really add that much, so it's important to find a meat that can stand alone.  Thus far we think this is the best of the options at Tasty's.

shrimp po'boy at Tasty's

tasty's, 24th & utah, san francisco

This sandwich is actually from my first trip to Tasty's, before Els and I went got the french fry po'boy.  I liked this shrimp po'boy quite a bit- more, I think, than Els did- but it was a pretty sloppy sandwich.  The shrimp had a tendency to spill out with every bit, and the sandwich was so hefty it was hard to pick up.  I always thought that the name po'boy came from the fact that these were fairly small and plain sandwiches- but at Tasty's they are rather stacked.  If you want a po'boy, this is better than your other Mission options (that is, Popeye's).

french fry po'boy

I decided yesterday, while eating a ham and swiss from the deli at 19th and Guerrero, that I was failing in my journalistic obligation to discover new and interesting sandwiches. Would anyone really be that interested in my ham and swiss (it was pretty good btw)? Probably not, but what if I had ordered the salmon BLT that was on the menu? Perhaps moreso! And so, with my renewed dedication to finding less boring sandwiches, I got this french fry sandwich from Tasty's (in the kitchen formerly occupied by Yat's, in the bar Jack's). The menu claimed that this sandwich was a New Orleans tradition- basically, it was a po'boy with fries and gravy as the main substance. I like poutine, and was hoping this might be a little like the Canadian dish. It didn't end up being too similar, but it was very tasty. The mound of fries on top was gigantic, which made eating the sandwich challenging.
I wish there had been more gravy, but otherwise i'd say it was good. Next time Els and I are going earlier, to order off the brunch menu... there's a fried egg sandwich that sounds crazy good.

Domilise's Louisiana shrimp po' boy: the definition of delicious.

Tucked away in the side streets of the garden district in New Orleans is a small, family-owned po' boy shop called Domilise's. this is where we found the holy grail of po' boys.

the defining qualities of a delicious po' boy are this: nice and fresh, soft french bread with a slightly crispy exterior. lettuce, mayo, and tomato also at a level of maximum freshness, and the crux of it or course being the quality of meat or seafood and the sauce that goes with it.

generally, as far as sauces for the go, seafood usually gets a helping of some slightly spicy, tangy, and sweet marinara. roast beef is served with a heaping helping of gravy. and corned beef gets topped with some spicy creole mustard.

on this particular outing we decided to share the meal. and since the girlfriend only eats seafood and veggies we stuck with the former, which was not by any means a burden. not to mention the fact that the cooks suggested the shrimp po' boy anyways. we decided that sounded best, and soon learned that it was a choice we would cherish for the rest of our lives.

everything hit the mark. see above for a description of all the ingredients that worked out so well... but what really deserves a more detailed description is the shrimp and it's sauce.

holy crap, what utter perfection! i couldn't have dreamed up a more perfectly fried helping of shrimp. it met that perfect balance between crispy and tender. they were juicy, fresh, and full of flavor. and the sauce, well, it clearly decided to marry the shrimp at some point while it was in my grip and have children in my mouth upon entry. The most delicious children to have ever lived! The way in which the sauce was able to enhance the flavor of the shrimp was otherworldly. Complimentary to the utmost degree.

Without a doubt, this is a sandwich for the ages. if you ever find yourself in New Orleans take a cab directly there from wherever you happen to be in the city. Deny yourself this pleasure, and you will be doomed to a life of regret. Reward yourself with this sandwich though, and you can look forward to a long, fulfilling life. A life that will consist mostly of either sitting and remembering what you had experienced that day, or going back and returning for more. The sad (or beautiful depending on how you want to look at it) thing is, I'm not even exaggerating...

Bonus Tip:
add Lousiana's Crystal brand hot sauce (I am not a stealth marketer) to your bites for an extra kick that fits in perfectly. Or to every alternate bite like I do because I'm neurotic.

this painting inside, too good to not share...