8 Best And 6 Worst Grocery Store Deli Counters

As any frequent grocery shopper knows, no two supermarket deli counters are created equal. Sure, a typical grocery store in the U.S. will slice up basics like cold cuts and cheese while also serving pre-made sides and salads. Yet, while the goal of every grocery store deli counter is relatively the same, each national chain approaches this area of the store a bit differently. Some focus on in-house branded items, while others opt for the allure of name brands like Boar's Head deli meat to take up the most counter space. 

We did some digging to get the general feeling that grocery store shoppers have about various deli counters. A few chains came out on top, while a few people avoid certain supermarket delis at all costs. To help you plan your next shopping trip, we've rounded up some of the best and worst grocery store deli counters you might encounter. It will hopefully help you to avoid overspending on lackluster deli items, and end up with all of the ingredients for the sandwich picnic lunch of your dreams. 

There are a lot of great reasons to shop at Walmart, the main perks being its low price tags on a wide variety of household items. However, the deli counter at the superstore is not one of them. The meat and cheese sold at the Walmart deli counter are probably fine, at least from a general health perspective, but they also likely won't be the best in taste or quality. The offerings are typically limited and it seems to customers that the deli case isn't often refreshed with new items to make ordering there more appealing. 

In a 2021 Mashed survey, 30% of respondents named Walmart as the store with the worst deli counter of all, so it's safe to say that widely held opinion maintains that cold cuts and picnic salads are better bought at another store. For other party supplies like paper plates and sandwich bags, however, you may find that Walmart's prices are hard to beat. 

Kroger is another popular grocery store chain that is mostly found in the eastern half of the U.S.  though its parent company owns many other chains across the nation. But just because this is an easily-recognized brand doesn't mean all of the store's offerings are the best of the best. Many dissatisfied customers have complained about the Kroger deli counter, saying that its food is basic and overpriced for its quality. Aside from some mildly interesting offerings like New York's Murray's Cheese, the meat and cheese options are boring. The chain's pre-made meals, many of which come from the Home Chef brand, also are very limited. While the rotisserie chicken won't be bad, it's far from the best-premade chicken you can buy at the grocery store by a long shot, especially considering its price.

Likewise, the cold sides do little to draw interest, with standard dishes like potato and macaroni salad. These simple offerings aren't even very flavorful, according to customers who have tried them. "Why not switch it up a bit and get rid of some of these lackluster-looking options they have at the deli in favor of new dishes and if the sales explode they know they're onto something?" u/chaos_battery wrote on Reddit. "Like year after year is the same stuff and I'm tired of going to different stores to get the best items."

Shoppers who live in New England, and more specifically in the state of Massachusetts, understand the woes of finding groceries at Stop & Shop. The grocery store chain is seemingly everywhere, but it often doesn't deliver high-quality items despite the often high price tags on grocery staples. Overall, only 27% of participants in a Boston.com poll rated the overall price and quality of what's for sale at the store to be "superior," a feeling that extends to the deli department. 

A few customers have claimed that they've even seen expired deli meat on sale in the store, despite paying what they believe was an above-market price for the rather unimpressive package. "Other markets, like Dave's, tend to have a reputation for being expensive, but on average I've spent more at S&S for less (and poorer quality) food like meats and produce, per shopping trip," one Reddit user wrote.

Those from the East Coast are likely familiar with Food Lion, a budget grocery store. They also likely know not smart to let the discounts fool them, as Food Lion is hit or miss. Many customers have pointed out that the selection across the store is minimal, making it hard to complete a full shopping trip there. 

When it comes to the deli at Food Lion, those customers argue that it's worth skipping altogether. The meat isn't always the freshest and the options are slim. Even the deli's premade fried chicken is notorious for being bad with some claiming that the breading is soft or that it even tastes like the plastic container it's bought in. To many, this is one deli counter staple that should at least be decent at every grocery store. One Reddit user even declared Food Lion to be the worst grocery store of all time, claiming that the competition isn't even close and that store's overall poor quality can be especially obvious in the deli department. 

Whole Foods is a grocery chain that's earned a reputation for selling a number of high-end products, as anyone who has shopped there has seen when they take a look at their receipt. The store is especially well known for selling organic and fresh food options as well as a bar that offers plenty of different salads and prepared meals. Despite the allure of the store, however, there's no reason to shop at the Whole Foods deli unless you're looking for a specialty item no one else carries. 

Consider the truth that deli meat isn't necessarily great for your health. It doesn't matter if Whole Foods is selling the most organic and natural version of salami, for instance — it's still a highly processed meat that can contain preservatives and high levels of sodium and fat that you may wish to avoid. Shoppers are better off saving the extra money they'd be spending on deli meat at Whole Foods to get far more meat for far less at another grocery store. Additionally, considering the deli's proximity to the hot food bar, you can skip the added temptation of paying per weight for a box of takeout food.

H-E-B is a beloved Texas grocery store, but the items sold at the state's regional chain can be hit or miss. For example, H-E-B stores sell tortillas that are made in-house and which are a must-try for any customers who stop in. However, the deli counter is less than spectacular. Firstly, in some locations, this spot could be a contentious area of the store, with some workers reporting ill treatment by customers and a stressful environment (though others seemed to enjoy the sometimes fast-paced work).

Then, there are the foods for sale. Aside from Boar's Head and a few Texas Heritage cured meat products, the deli counter at H-E-B is nothing special. The prices aren't particularly low and the items are generally fine, but nothing worth raving about. Even the store's basic rotisserie chicken isn't a cult favorite, which is not the case with some other grocery store chains. In short, while H-E-B is a fine option for regular grocery shopping, don't expect anything spectacular from the deli department. 

One major appeal of shopping at Super King is the reasonable price tags that can be found on a variety of international groceries, including the items behind its deli counter. The family-owned chain, which has locations around Southern California, sells seemingly everything at its deli counter, from caviar to olives. Whether you're looking to snag some authentic Spanish ham or ordering a deli platter for a party, it's hard to go wrong when you're stocking up at the Super King deli. 

Super King might not have the most locations across the U.S., but it's more than worth stopping at for your meat and cheese needs if you're lucky enough to live nearby. It's the kind of store that's worth taking the time to wander through, especially when you make your way to the deli to discover a new favorite that probably isn't on your list. "Huge range of produce/bulk goods, a great deli, and an ok butcher with awesome middle eastern goods as well," u/kitkatbar wrote on Reddit.