The story
At the corner of Broad and Banks in New Orleans, a legendary convenience store serves what Mark Wiens calls “some of the best gumbo” and “incredible smothered pork chops.” Wiens, who visited for his video “We Found America’s BEST Fried Chicken!! (No More KFC),” described the food here as “unbelievable” and highly recommended it.
Beyond the praised gumbo and smothered pork chop, the menu also includes red beans and rice and fried rice. This casual, no-reservations spot is a neighborhood favorite known for takeout, with a focus on American and seafood fare—proof that some of the city’s best meals come from the most unassuming corners.
Synthesised by AI from every creator’s review. First reviewed 2026.
Most-loved dishes
AI summary of what 4 dish mentions say about the food
Broad and Banks’ gumbo earns rapturous praise for its deep, soulful complexity, with reviewers calling it a must-order. The overall vibe is one of unpretentious warmth, where every bite feels like a comforting, expertly crafted hug.
“This gumbo is legendary. It has this thick, kind of stickyish texture — somewhere between a stew, a gravy, and a soup — because of the roux which thickens it. There's an undertone of spices and flavors and this herbal aroma, this smokiness all coming together. It's a complete meal with rice, all your proteins, and onions. It's warming, soothing, tasty, and nice and salty. The smoked sausage has a nice smokiness and a little pepperiness, and it just crumbles in your mouth. The shrimp is great — you can't go wrong with shrimp in New Orleans. And the hot sausage — that takes the heat up another level, it just melts in your mouth and disintegrates, leaving your mouth coated in flavor. That's a highlight bite without a doubt. Adding Louisiana hot sauce gives it even more vinegary acidity and a little bit of heat — so good.”
What creators say
1 creator has covered Broad and Banks. Most active: Mark Wiens
A legendary convenience store with some of the best gumbo in New Orleans and incredible smothered pork chops — the food here is unbelievable and highly recommended.
Dishes mentioned
Smothered Pork Chop
This smothered pork chop is phenomenal. It's griddle fried so it browns the meat, giving you that Maillard reaction and increasing the flavor. It has this brown gravy that's so intensely meaty and porky. The onions are sautéed but still crispy — they retain that crunch and ultimate onion flavor. The portion is gigantic — two whole pork chops. The quality of the pork and the texture is perfect. It's incredibly tasty.
Gumbo
This gumbo is legendary. It has this thick, kind of stickyish texture — somewhere between a stew, a gravy, and a soup — because of the roux which thickens it. There's an undertone of spices and flavors and this herbal aroma, this smokiness all coming together. It's a complete meal with rice, all your proteins, and onions. It's warming, soothing, tasty, and nice and salty. The smoked sausage has a nice smokiness and a little pepperiness, and it just crumbles in your mouth. The shrimp is great — you can't go wrong with shrimp in New Orleans. And the hot sausage — that takes the heat up another level, it just melts in your mouth and disintegrates, leaving your mouth coated in flavor. That's a highlight bite without a doubt. Adding Louisiana hot sauce gives it even more vinegary acidity and a little bit of heat — so good.
Red Beans and Rice
Red beans and rice is one of the great dishes of New Orleans. It's as comforting as food gets. The beans are cooked down until they just melt into this buttery consistency, creating a gravy that just melts into the rice. So good.
Fried Rice
The fried rice is delicious — it has a bit of Creole seasoning, it's really yellow in color, with shrimp, egg, and some onions. What a combination.
