Jewish delis originated in Germany in the 18th century, and by the 19th century, they were already a part of American food culture. Chicago was one of the first American cities where Eastern European Jews decided to settle. They brought their distinctive culture to the States and decided to open up their small businesses to become an integral part of the community, and that’s when Jewish delis in Chicago became famous.
American culture is incomplete without famous Jewish delis that introduced the nation to mouthwatering flavors. Whenever a person craves pastrami, corned beef, rye bread, matzoh ball soup, or bagels, they know exactly where to go and get a serving.
If you are in Chicago and crave some of that juicy pastrami sandwich with a traditional side, here are the places you should scour.
Jewish Delis in Chicago
11. Kaufman’s Bagel & Delicatessen
Co-owned by Bette and Judy Dworkin, Kaufman’s is a family-owned place that has served varieties of lox and pastrami meat for six decades. They are famous for their four types of in-house smoked pastrami and lox.
The restaurant serves traditional and classic dishes, most of which contain schmaltz. The deli does not outsource any of its meat or other products—everything at Kaufman’s is homemade.
They also serve seasonal items at their deli and the bakery. Yes, Kaufman’s is not only a Jewish deli, it’s also a bakery and a catering service. Their kreplach is one of their best offerings.
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10. The Bagel Restaurant
The Bagel is one of the most famous spots to eat Ashkenazi comfort food in Chicago. They are located in Lakeview, serving the best selection of chicken in the pot, Mandel bread, kasha varnishkes, rugelach, and liver and onions. They also have five types of blintzes and pickled beef tongue on the menu.
This deli is a family-owned business and is popular for its hospitality and home-style cooking. People have been frequenting the place for generations, and you won’t be disappointed with the wide selection of food on the menu.
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9. Eleven City Diner
Eleven City Diner is located on South Wabash Avenue in Chicago, catering to families who want to enjoy a casual family dinner at a neighborhood restaurant. The place has a diverse menu, but you’ll find all the famous Jewish staples.
They aren’t a ‘deli’ by name, but Eleven City Diner has the makings of one with delicious items like friend matzo brie, corned beef and pastrami hash bowl, and fresh bagels. The diner also has knishes, turkey pastrami, and a large quantity of lox. If you want to mix cuisines, you can order mac and cheese, quinoa scramble bowl, or burger with your deli meal.
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8. Half Sour
Half sour is not a traditional Jewish deli, it is more of a Jewish deli inspired menu, with modern spins on some classic deli items. The place has an undeniable Jewish influence. It serves in-house smoked pastrami, prepares fresh bagels for the morning crowd, and ferments pickles to offer as sides.
The deli dishes have the traditional influence, but Half Sour is not afraid of testing the waters and giving a modern touch to their dishes. If you’re feeling a bit adventurous, try their latkes with hot honey and apple sauce, Reuben sandwich with ‘special sauce’ and Mornay, or Sephardi-style fried artichokes.
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7. Manny’s Cafeteria & Delicatessen
Founded in 1942, Manny’s Cafeteria & Deli has been in the family for four generations. At first, it was a shoestring operation where Manny served as the cook. Later the deli moved to Jefferson Street in 1964, where it’s currently located. If there’s Jewish deli royalty in Chicago, it’s Manny’s!
You can enjoy the classic flavors of kasha and noodles, kishke, and matzo brie at this deli. There’s no need to worry about portions at Manny’s either. They serve massive portions to all their customers. The place still has the old-school vibe and décor, which makes it a must-visit deli in Chicago.
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6. Steingold’s of Chicago
Steingold’s is not a half-century-old establishment in Chicago, but it sure has the vibe! Established in 2017, Steingold’s of Chicago specializes in making bagels the right way and serving the matzo ball soup of dreams. Given the popularity of the place since it started, your odds of liking the food here are higher.
The deli takes bagel preparation seriously, and their bagel flavors are definitely what you should visit the place for. Other than that, there are cold and hot sandwiches to die for. Some of them are Steingold’s Classic Lox, Aunt Alice, and Grandma Rachel.
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5. Max and Benny’s
Max and Benny’s is a family-owned business like many other popular and authentic Jewish-American deli restaurants. For almost 30 years, it has been operated by the Schlan family who named the deli after their two sons, Max and Benny. The deli has a selection of breakfast options with deli sandwiches, homemade bakery treats, and soups.
You can also grab a bite after work or book the space for an evening gathering. Max and Benny’s has everything from cheese blintzes to hamantaschen on the menu. You can also find at-home bagel-making kits being sold here, which is quite interesting.
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4. Rye Deli & Drink
Rye Deli & Drink is all the rage most of the year, but as winter comes, they have to go on a hiatus to recuperate. As soon as they open up again after the colder months, you can expect to see long lines of people waiting to get their hands on a cup of coffee with a handmade bagel platter.
This Chicago deli combines old-school techniques with the modern approach of deli cuisine. They have house-smoked salmon, pastrami, fresh bagels, and sides–everything is prepared in-house and made by hand to ensure quality and authenticity.
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3. JB’s Deli
JB’s Deli has been around since 1990, serving delicious soups and overstuffed sandwiches to Chicagoans. Everything from pastrami and Reuben sandwiches to chicken noodle soup is on the menu, with nova lox being one of their best-sellers. One of the main attractive features of the deli is its sign that says ‘one of a few Jewish delis.’
Like any classic Ashkenazi deli, JB’s has every item on the menu prepared to perfection. Matzo ball soup, knishes with flavors, creamed herring, latkes, halvah, rugelach, and babka are some of the deli’s top offerings.
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2. Morry’s Deli
Morry’s Deli started as a small establishment in Hyde Park in 1960. Morry Orman, the owner of this place, institutionalized his deli with the triple-decker sandwich that piles high with delicious meat cuts. If you are a corned beef sandwich lover, you’re going to love this one!
The deli is also famous for its breakfast dishes, barbecue specialties, and Italian sausages. It’s been around so long that you don’t need to be wary of trying out Morry’s sandwiches. You can simply take the veterans’ word for it and enjoy a hearty sandwich.
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1. Sam & Gertie’s
Sam & Gertie’s is a vegan Jewish deli owned by the husband and wife duo Sam and Gertrude Stuart. The deli is dedicated to serving only vegan food, which sets it apart from its competitors in Chicago. The variety of soups, latkes, sandwiches, chopped liver, smoked whitefish, babka, and bagels is more satisfying than you can imagine.
The best dishes at Sam & Gertie’s is their babka and matzo ball soup. They are open only on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, so make sure to get there before the crowd gathers.
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Summary
Like Los Angeles, New York, and other big cities, Chicago has many options for deli meat lovers. Jewish delis in Chicago serve everything from pastrami on rye to bagels, lox, and matzo ball soup. You can easily find more than one place specializing in Ashkenazi Jewish cuisine and enjoy a range of flavors that suit your palate.
So, next time you’re on your lunch break or visiting the city for a business meeting, make sure to drop by one of the places we’ve listed here.
And there are also some amazing Italian Delis in Chicago that are worth checking out too!
Jewish Delis in Chicago – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why Are Jewish Delis Disappearing?
One of the main reasons for the disappearance or lesser demand for Jewish delis is that people are more interested in premium, grass-fed cuts. Other reasons are increased meat prices, failure to attract a significant number of younger customers, and increased rent prices.
Why Do Jews Not Eat Milk and Meat in the Same Meal?
Jews are prohibited from mixing meat with dairy products, which is one of the prohibitions in the Torah. As per kosher laws, they are not allowed to eat dishes where meat is prepared in milk or any other dairy product.
Do Jewish Delis Serve Pork?
Traditional Jewish delis do not serve pork. The deli meat served at most delis is beef, and you should only try their beef products anyway because beef products are their specialty.
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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.
