It wasn’t until Alon Shaya started his fantastic James Beard-award-winning Israeli restaurant in New Orleans that people began to recognize the plethora of other Jewish delis and restaurants in the city.
New Orleans is known for its culture and food, and Jewish cuisine plays a role. No matter if you are looking for Israeli Jewish cuisine or Jewish-American deli food, you can find eateries that cater to all types of tastes.
Jews have been living in New Orleans since the 18th century, and it is no surprise that they have left their mark on the city’s popular food culture as well. Even though no tourist thinks of bagels, pastrami sandwiches, or falafels when they come to New Orleans, you will find a variety of eateries serving classic Jewish food that will satisfy both your soul and your stomach.
In this article, we have listed some of the top Jewish delis in New Orleans that are definitely worth a visit. You can find authentic Jewish classics at some while others offer a fusion of Jewish and creole that is unique to New Orleans!
Here Are Some of the Best Jewish Deli New Orleans Locations You’ve Got to Check Out!
Stein’s Market and Deli
If you are a fan of laid-back diners and delis, you will love the ambiance and no-pretense vibe of Stein’s Market and Deli. Stein’s Market and Deli has a simple interior and comfortable seating that ensures the customer feels welcome. The staff is inviting and friendly and can guide you regarding the most popular items on the menu.
If you are coming in for a late lunch, you can enjoy a delicious muffuletta at Stein’s, which is a roll that is slightly toasted on the outside and has a soft interior. It is topped with various kinds of deli cheese, deli meat and even has an olive salad under the meat. The muffuletta packs a punch of flavor and is perfect for enjoying on the go or at the deli itself.
Stein’s Market and Deli is very reminiscent of a New York deli, and they can make some great sandwiches that will make you want to stick around. Most sandwiches are made with great quality bread that has the perfect amount of flaky crust and is packed with meat, vegetables, and other ingredients.
If you are curious about the eatery and want to check it out on your own, you can find Stein’s Deli and Market on a section of Magazine Street that boasts a number of interesting dining spots, boutiques for great clothing, accessories, and home décor items as well.
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Empire State Delicatessen
Empire State Delicatessen was established in 2004 by owner and head chef Paul Tufaro. He has been in the restaurant industry for over 30 years and wanted to start a venture of his own with this deli. He chose downtown New Orleans as the perfect place to start his business so that he could target the businessmen of the thriving Central Business District.
Paul knew that most people in the area had come from Chicago, New York, and New England, and he could add to the diversity of the cuisine culture that had become a signature of New Orleans. Empire State Delicatessen specializes in serving Chicken Cheese Steaks, hot Reubens, Philly Cheese Steaks, BBQ brisket, fresh salads, hot soups, and gourmet sides. The daily specials are prepared by the owner himself, who remains a hands-on part of all daily operations.
One of the most famous sandwiches from Empire State Delicatessen has to be the Fat Cat sandwich. This sandwich is a wonderful take on the classic pastrami and rye sandwich and contains almost one pound of grilled New York-style pastrami. The toasted rye bread also holds Swiss cheese, Russian dressing, and mustard, along with a healthy helping of pastrami. The sandwich is superbly delicious and is enough for two people to share.
Cochon Butcher
People who are in New Orleans for only a day or a week are tempted to try Cochon Butcher at least twice on their trip. The pastrami sandwich, cochon muffuletta, duck pastrami, brisket sliders, and cured meats are some of the most popular items on their menu.
Every dish is prepared with care and contains fresh and hot ingredients that maximize the flavor and make customers want to return for more. The service is quick, and the staff is helpful and friendly. You can even pick some great drinks from the counter and enjoy stacked sandwiches with some delicious sauces like sweet potato hot sauce.
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World Deli
Are you looking for home-cooked meals, salads, po’boys, and high-quality ingredients? World Deli offers a large variety of meals, premade soups, and main dishes prepared to order. Some of their most famous offerings include chicken Parmesan, veal, breaded pork chops, and macaroni dinners. The roast beef sandwich is fantastic and can remind you instantly of a New York Jewish deli.
If you are short on time and can’t make delicious food on your own, you can get some dinners from this deli and heat them up whenever you like. The staff is friendly as well and can guide you to make the best choice from the menu.
Mother’s Restaurant
Are you looking to enjoy a hearty meal at a New Orleans-style deli that serves delicious comfort food? You should try eating at Mother’s Restaurant. Mother’s Restaurant serves a variety of po’boys with a range of fillings, meats, and sauces that can make you come back for more.
The Famous Ferdi Special is a popular po’boy at Mother’s Restaurant that contains roast beef, ham, debris sauce, and gravy. The Turkey Ferdi is another special sandwich that contains turkey with roast beef or ham along with debris sauce.
The roast beef at the restaurant is prepared with a special method that ensures it remains moist and flavorful. Aside from that, the eatery also offers a wide variety of classic New Orleans seafood options as well as salads, sides, and desserts.
Humble Bagel
Humble Bagel is one of the best places you can go to get New York-style bagels. Aside from having a large variety of bagels, they also offer delicious bagel sandwiches that can be perfect for a weekend breakfast treat or tasty weekday lunch.
You can stock up on bagels for the week and slice them before putting them in the freezer. This way, you can reheat bagels whenever you like in the toaster and enjoy them with your favorite cream cheese spread.
Since Humble Bagels is quite popular, the bagels run out pretty quickly, and you need to go there beforehand to pick out your favorites. If you are visiting Humble Bagels for the first time, you should definitely try out the Lox bagel.
Kosher Cajun NY Deli & Grocery
If you are looking for a kosher deli that serves amazing Jewish food in New Orleans, you should check out Kosher Cajun NY Deli & Grocery. It is a quaint spot with a large variety of Jewish ingredients, dishes, and desserts.
The staff is extremely helpful and friendly, and you will note that the location has a lot of authenticity to it. No matter if you go for the knishes or the sandwiches at the deli, you’ll find that they are made of fresh ingredients and authentic recipes.
The most popular dishes at this deli have to be the Matzo Ball Soup, the Reuben Sandwich, the J&N Special, the Rachel, the Hot Pastrami sandwich, and the egg rolls.
Aside from that, you can get high-quality sufganiyot and other sweet kosher treats as well here. The latkes are superb, and you can enjoy three small fried potato pancakes. They come with applesauce, and you can add sour cream to them afterward.
The sufganiyot are delivered from New York around Hannukah time and are some of the most affordable sufganiyot in the Metairie New Orleans area. Most visitors have remarked that the store reminds them of an old-school Brooklyn deli, and you can even find halal meat, unique spices, and special packaged goods here.
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Summary
You may not find as many Jewish delis in New Orleans as in Los Angeles or Miami, but the quality of Jewish food and treats is bound to be the same, if not better. Jewish people have been in New Orleans for a long time, as is evidenced by their impact on the food culture of the city.
Instead of the classic pastrami or roast beef sandwich, you will be able to find roast beef po’ boys that are drizzled with sauces and other toppings. At a few places, you will be able to find high-quality bagels and sandwiches that will make you want to return for more.
No matter if you are looking for authentic Israeli Jewish food or Jewish-American deli fare, you will definitely be able to find eateries that serve fantastic Jewish dishes in New Orleans.
And finally, be sure to check out the Best Jewish Delis in Houston – lots of good options in Texas.
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My name is Jay and I started this website to share my love of Deli Food. I am Jewish with Italian ancestry and grandparents who emigrated to the US from Poland, Russia and Turkey. This website is my celebration of the delicious flavors of international deli culture. Please feel free to send me your suggestions and feedback through the contact form.