Can You Overstuff a Po’boy? Louisiana’s Most Heated Sandwich Debate

Here in South Louisiana, we don’t play around when it comes to po’boys. The crusty, flaky bread, the perfectly seasoned fillings, the mandatory stack of napkins—it's all part of a sacred tradition.

Here, a po'boy is more than just a sandwich. But there’s one question that has caused more heated debates than a bad call in Tiger Stadium:

Can you overstuff a po’boy?

It’s a real question. Some say the more, the better. Others claim there’s a limit. And today, we’re putting this debate to rest. (Or at least giving you some solid talking points for the next time it comes up at a fish fry.) We have so many great varieties in South Louisiana, but the question remains, and we're going to try to find an answer.

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The “More is More” Argument

For some, there is no such thing as “too much” when it comes to po’boys. If the sandwich doesn’t require structural reinforcement, is it even a real po’boy? These folks believe a proper po’boy should be a challenge—shrimp stacked so high they’re trying to escape, roast beef drowning in gravy, oysters piled to near-collapse.

The philosophy here is simple: excess is the point. A good po’boy shouldn’t just fill you up—it should humble you. If you’re not leaning over the table and praying your sandwich holds together, did you even eat lunch?

The “There’s a Limit” Argument

On the other side of the debate, po’boy purists argue that too much of a good thing can ruin the magic. Stuff it beyond a certain point, and suddenly, your bread-to-filling ratio is all out of whack. You’re wrestling with gravity, losing half your shrimp, and wondering if your shirt will survive the battle.

Traditionalists say a po’boy should be balanced—enough filling to satisfy, but not so much that the sandwich falls apart before you get the first full bite. When you’ve got more stuffing than bread, is it even a sandwich anymore? Or have you just created a messy plate of ingredients that happens to be served near some bread?

The Science of Stuffing

Look, we’re not physicists, but there’s some real sandwich science at play here. Leidenheimer bread is sturdy, but it has its limits. Overload it with fried shrimp, and eventually, the whole thing gives out. Too much gravy, and suddenly, your roast beef po’boy is a fork-and-knife situation instead of a hand-held masterpiece.

And let’s be real—if you need utensils to finish a po’boy, you’ve officially crossed the line into “open-faced roast beef” territory... Which is fine! But let’s call it what it is.

The Final Verdict

So, can you overstuff a po’boy? Well… it depends on who you ask.

If you believe a po’boy should be a spectacle, then by all means, stack it sky-high. If you prefer a balanced, easy-to-eat sandwich that doesn’t require an engineering degree to hold together, then a little restraint might be the way to go.

Either way, there’s one rule we can all agree on: If you need a fork, you might’ve gone too far.

So, what’s your take? Is there such a thing as too much stuffing, or should po’boys always be pushed to their limits? Let us know in the comments or on social media—preferably while you’ve got one in your hands.