The Absolute Best Delis In The US

Delicatessens were brought to the United States by Jewish European immigrants in the later half of the 19th century, who were mostly from Germany where the word "delikatessen" was used which, according to Macmillan Dictionary, means "a delicacy, fine food." As Ted Merwin explains in "Pastrami on Rye: An Overstuffed History of the Jewish Deli" (via The World), Jewish American delicatessens were first popularized in New York in the 1920s and specialized in providing high-quality cooked meats and other prepared foods to everyone in the community. They served as a place where the Jewish immigrants and their families could feel at home and have a sense of safety. Delis thus became well-rooted in family tradition and menus have rarely been changed to this day. They've become synonymous with the New York lifestyle and have been representative of the rich, Jewish cultural traditions that have integrated into part of almost every New Yorker's life.

What makes a good deli? They're not like the ones you'll encounter at your local grocery store. An authentic deli is all about manned counters of fresh cold cuts (especially pastrami and corned beef), cheeses, and made-to-order sandwiches, with rye bread being the cornerstone. Over the years, the menus have expanded to include all sorts of ready-made products, such as soups, salads, olives, and beyond. They're still widely found all across the United States and some stand out more than others for their long history, valued traditions, and never-changing menus full of delectable eats. Here are just some of the absolute best.

Located on the corner of St. Clair Avenue, Slyman's Restaurant has been highly successful in serving the Cleveland community all of the best, premium-quality delicatessen foods. According to Slyman's website, they're "the Home of the Biggest and Best Corned Beef." Family-owned since it's beginning in 1964 and passed on through the generations, Slyman's is famous in Cleveland for those enormous-stacked corned beef sandwiches on rye bread, especially when St. Patrick's Day rolls around. As per the owner's comments to Cleveland Magazine, the restaurant dishes out up to 3,000 sandwiches to the feasting celebrators. While corned beef is consumed all over the U.S. on St. Patrick's Day, it isn't exactly an Irish tradition and fits more into the Jewish culture. Either way, Slyman's is the choice meal of the day for Clevelanders.

But they're a hit all year round — just ask any of their 34,000 fans on their official Facebook page. Over on Tripadvisor, they're rated No. 1 of over 1,000 restaurants in Cleveland and hold a 4.5 rating out of 5. One Tripadvisor reviewer even totes it as being the "Best Sandwich I've EVER had!", clarifying it was the corned beef sandwich with Swiss cheese on rye, although the pastrami Reuben was excellent too. Because of their colossal following (as massive as their sandwiches), it's safe to say that Slyman's is one of the best delis in the U.S.

Delis are not just a place to grab a stellar corned beef on rye sandwich, a cup of coffee, and a chat with the locals, and they wouldn't want to be limited as such. Many delicatessens are also known for their homemade soups like matzo ball, which is what Zaftigs Delicatessen in Brookline, Massachusetts, specializes in. They also make an incredible turkey chili that's flavored with Massachusetts-favorite Sam Adams beer, a recipe that's been in the family for several generations. According to Boston Magazine, the chili has just enough of a spicy kick and features a gooey topping of melted cheddar cheese and scallions.

Their Brookline location opened in 1997 and they have made it a priority to keep their family recipes going strong, upholding decades-long traditions like any good deli. Just take a glance at their current all-day menu on the Zaftigs website that lists farm fresh eggs in their breakfast dishes, classic latkes (potato pancakes), and a selection of smoked fish such as salmon. One Yelp reviewer reports that the matzo balls are "fluffy" and the soup itself includes "chunks of chicken and vegetables." The latkes are served with applesauce and sour cream, "as they should be." Zaftigs Delicatessen has done everything right in a shorter existence than most other top delis, but they've quickly proven that they deserve a spot all the same.

If you're in search of one of the best pastrami sandwiches in New York, you'll find it on 3rd Avenue at Sarge's Delicatessen and Diner. According to their official website, they've been in business since 1964, serving up quality homemade foods such as hot sandwiches, cold cut platters, and "The Monster" — New York's "BIGGEST" sandwich, according to their menu. It's described as being stacked high with "Corned Beef, Pastrami, Roast Beef, Fresh Turkey, Salami, Sliced Tomato, Lettuce, Coleslaw & Russian Dressing" in between thick-sliced rye bread.

If you hadn't already expected, all of their meats are cured in-house, making each sandwich, no matter how grandiose, specially hand-crafted. And as Grub Street reported in 2020, they added a plant-based vegan corned beef to their menu, supplied by Mrs. Goldfarb's Unreal Deli based out of California. Their classic style and cozy restaurant setting complete with burgundy diner booths and walls of celebrity-visitor photos helps to make Sarge's a place to sit and stay awhile. If you stop by to take on the challenge of a Monster sandwich or to share a platter of cold cuts with friends, Sarge's is an experience of undeniable tradition.

Opened in 1947 and currently located in the Westlake neighborhood of Los Angeles, this Jewish deli has been well beloved and affectionately regarded as the best hot pastrami sandwich in Los Angeles. The generations of patrons who have enjoyed Langer's Deli would argue that the sandwich is the best in the world, suggests David Shaw for the James Beard Foundation. In a piece for The New Yorker, the late Nora Ephron praised the already-acclaimed sandwich for its "exquisite combination of textures and tastes" and with highest commendation said it is "a work of art."

If you read the Langer's menu, you'll find their famous #19 sandwich has "Pastrami, Swiss Cheese and Cole Slaw Russian Style Dressing," a deli classic. As Tasting Table notes, Langer's cuts each slice of peppered brisket meat with tremendous care to ensure quality texture and preserve the robust outer crust. Other specialties include traditional Jewish fare such as cheese blintzes (thin, rolled pancakes similar to crepes) and Kasha Varnishkes. On Yelp, they have nearly 4,000 reviews with an overall 4.5 rating out of 5. One reviewer credits Langer's as "The best pastrami in Southern California" because of its thick-cut and tender meat, fresh rye bread "with the proper crunch of the crust", and an old-world, no-frills atmosphere. Langer's is a true gem to SoCal.

As proven already, the secret to a successful delicatessen is not to change a thing, which is exactly how Manny's Cafeteria and Delicatessen has operated since 1942. Over the years, the Chicago eatery has added a traditional meat counter and moved from their original location, but that's it. The business has been in the same family for four generations and apart from their famous pastrami and corned beef classics, they also specialize in fish that includes varieties of salmon and trout, and homemade bakery items that are courtesy of longtime-cherished family recipes, per Chicago Tribune.

Walking into Manny's, you'll feel like you've stepped back in time when your feet hit the black and white tiled floor and you search for an open table within the massive cafeteria-style dining area, complete with old-school, dark wooden chairs. Due to the fluctuating population of Jewish communities in the Chicago area over the decades, Manny's has grown to become one of the most well-loved delis in the city. As owner Dan Raskin told DNAinfo, they've kept customers happy throughout the years by providing the same scrumptious eats that have always been found at traditional Jewish-delis and households alike.

Delicatessens are more common in the eastern and midwestern portions of the U.S., so it might be surprising to hear of one that's located all the way in Seattle, Washington. It's true! They're not just about Starbucks and local craft breweries. In the Emerald City, you'll find a classic East Coast-style deli at Tat's Delicatessen. They've only been in business since 2004 but have quickly proven themselves worthy of providing quality foods just like any other old school establishment. As the Tat's Deli website shares, it is all thanks to two Philadelphia and New Jersey natives: owners Brian Tatman and Jason Simodejka. They offer up a tremendous menu of breakfast dishes, Philly Steak sandwiches, hoagies (the Philly way of referring to a submarine sandwich) and soups such as their famous Tat's Stout Chili.

Tat's has accumulated over 1,100 reviews on Yelp and one reviewer writes that their enormous pastrami sandwich is "Philly-style" and "amazing" because it includes an "absolutely brilliant and addictive" combination of Russian dressing and coleslaw. If you have a hankering for an authentic East Coast-style deli lunch while in Emerald City, look no further than Tat's Delicatessen.

Ziggy Gruber is a third generation deli owner who's owned a few eateries across the country, but his New York-style delicatessen located in Houston, Texas, currently does an outstanding job at bringing Jewish deli traditions to the Lone Star state, where otherwise a hearty chili and barbecue are most beloved. While the family deli business began in 1927 in New York, it found its way to Houston in 1999, becoming the best in the state, and according to their official website, "one of the top delis in the nation." Whether you're in the mood for fresh matzo ball soup, a multi-stacked pastrami sandwich on rye, or "K&Z handcrafted, all beef, natural casing franks,” Kenny & Ziggy's will fill you up with any of their hundreds of menu items.

Even when you visit the restaurant, notes My Jewish Learning, the ambience of a classic, old-world-style deli and the Yiddish lingo that's tossed back and forth between staff will make you feel like you're in any authentic New York joint back east. Per Jewish Herald-Voice, in January 2022, Kenny & Ziggy's began a move to a new and bigger location in Houston where they will add indoor and outdoor dining spaces, a classic soda fountain for milkshakes, a coffee bar, and even a cocktail bar, but they ensure not a thing will change in regards to their iconic delicatessen offerings, because they don't need to—just ask any of their 13,000 Facebook fans.