The story
Tucked away on St. Claude Avenue in New Orleans, Hanks operates as a seafood market and convenience store, earning a solid 4.3-star rating for its shockingly good takeout. It’s the kind of unassuming neighborhood spot that locals already treasure, with a casual, no-reservations vibe and a menu built around classic po’boys and fried chicken.
Mark Wiens didn’t mince words, calling Hanks the place for “the best fried chicken I’ve ever had.” He highlighted the “hot sauce unlike anything else” and the unforgettable hospitality from Major. The kitchen turns out Roast Beef, Double Hot Sausage, and Fried Shrimp po’boys alongside that legendary bird—all proof that this corner-market phenomenon is a true local treasure.
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
Reviewers rave about Hank’s impossibly crispy fried chicken, calling it the star of a menu that feels both nostalgic and effortlessly elevated, with a warm, unpretentious vibe that makes every bite feel like a homecoming.
“This fried chicken is incredible. It's so hot and fresh — they must have been frying it as we were ordering the poboy. The batter is artistic, incredibly crispy. The chicken on the inside is so tender, so moist and juicy. The seasoning is unbelievable — tons of black pepper all throughout. And then their signature hot sauce — it's thick and creamy, not what I'd expect from a hot sauce, but it has some heat to it. It gives a kind of sweet tinge, a new dimension of flavor. The fried chicken is amazing on its own, but when you dip it into that sauce, it gives it another dimension, another layering of flavor. It's unlike any other hot sauce. This is a bite of fried chicken I'll never forget in my life.”
What creators say
1 creator has covered Hanks. Most active: Mark Wiens
A seafood market and convenience store with incredible poboys and the best fried chicken I've ever had — the hot sauce is unlike anything else and the hospitality from Major was unforgettable.
Dishes mentioned
Roast Beef Poboy
This roast beef poboy is fantastic. The beef is tender — it's really been stewed down. The gravy is like liquid beef, with good chunks of fat mixed in, making it incredibly rich, tender, and flavorful. The bread holds up even with all that sauce — the outside layer is durable. The mayonnaise becomes a gravy rather than being blobby, and it gets soaked up by that bread. The lettuce, tomato, and pickle give it a freshness and vegetable contrast so it's not too heavy. It's like a full roast beef dinner all in one sandwich.
Double Hot Sausage Poboy
This double hot sausage poboy is loaded with sausage. The sausage is simmered in its own fat in a pan, then folded into the bread. The bread gets a little soggy but that sogginess has so much flavor. The hot sausage doesn't have an intense kick but is well seasoned — you see red chili flakes and seeds in there. It has this very addictive salty chili flavor, with a build of heat after the fact — after you chew and swallow, there's a lingering type heat. The mayonnaise is not gloopy but saucy, combining with the oily sausage all blending together within that bread. The acidity of the pickles creates a perfect harmony.
Fried Shrimp Poboy
This fried shrimp poboy is a classic. The shrimp are seasoned so well — salty, a little peppery. The batter is not too thick, and they're not oil sponges — they're crispy and have been drained well. The shrimp are really meaty. On their own, you get the full force of the shrimp flavor plus that crispy batter and peppery seasoning. They're seasoned to perfection. Usually with poboys the bread plus fried shrimp can be too much breading, but this one — I could do this maybe not every day but definitely once a day. Highly recommended.
Fried Chicken
This fried chicken is incredible. It's so hot and fresh — they must have been frying it as we were ordering the poboy. The batter is artistic, incredibly crispy. The chicken on the inside is so tender, so moist and juicy. The seasoning is unbelievable — tons of black pepper all throughout. And then their signature hot sauce — it's thick and creamy, not what I'd expect from a hot sauce, but it has some heat to it. It gives a kind of sweet tinge, a new dimension of flavor. The fried chicken is amazing on its own, but when you dip it into that sauce, it gives it another dimension, another layering of flavor. It's unlike any other hot sauce. This is a bite of fried chicken I'll never forget in my life.
