Where to Find Great Jewish Delis Around Philly

Where you should go in the Philadelphia area when you're craving pastrami sandwiches, matzoh ball soup, lox, and a fully stocked pickle bar.


Famous Fourth Street Delicatessen | Photo by Maddy Sweitzer-Lamme

It’s not surprise that Philly is full of excellent Jewish delis: We’re a sandwich-obsessed city with a significant Jewish community, both in and outside the city. Whether you’re looking for house smoked salmon, comforting matzoh ball soup, or a tangy, stacked-to-the-ceiling reuben, a crunchy-crisp latke, or all three, we’ve got a spot for you.

Famous 4th Street Delicatessen, Queen Village 
Here’s what you need to understand before you go to Famous 4th Street for the first time: the prices may seem high, but that’s because the portions are absolutely, positively, completely gigantic. Look for appetizer portions, plan to share, or be prepared to take home leftovers.

 

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Biederman’s Specialty FoodsItalian Market 
Biederman’s is a newcomer, specializing in house smoked fish like salmon, sable, whitefish and more. The super-friendly staff will help you decide what to get if you’re unsure (they’ll even give you samples), and though they don’t serve bagel sandwiches yet, they do serve everything you need to put them together yourself (bagels, cream cheese, etc).

Hershel’s East Side DeliReading Terminal Market 
Hershel’s calls itself the best Jewish deli outside New York, but we prefer to think of it as one of Philly’s best. The pastrami and reuben sandwiches here are stacked high – just be sure to ask for extra mustard.

Schlesinger’sCenter City 
We like Schlesinger’s old school vibe, with it’s long deli case and big, comfortable booths. But we keep coming back for the the matzoh ball soup with farfalle and matzoh balls the size of our fists.

Koch’s DeliWest Philly 
Koch’s looks a lot like your average Philly sandwich shop, where Italian hoagies rule the day, but it’s not. Their pastrami sandwiches and Reubens will remind you that there are excellent sandwiches outside the Philly canon, and we would all do well to enjoy them more often.

Rachael’s Nosheri, Center City 
Half the reason we keep coming back here is because we love the word ‘nosheri’. The other half is because the bagels are some of the best in the city.

 

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Abe Fisher, Center City 
Ok, yes. We are aware that this is not a deli. But Abe Fisher does do some fancy versions of Jewish classics like latke fries, a roast chicken dinner for two, and matzoh ball soup.

Kibitz Room, Cherry Hill 
The catch phrase for the Kibitz Room is “Where size does matter.” Compete in the Kibbitz Room Challenge and eat one of their gigantic GBMF sandwiches (plus potato salad, coleslaw, and a pickle) in 45 minutes or less and your meal is free.

 

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Moish & Itzy’s, Newtown
Moish & Itzy’s has introduced a car hop to account for social distancing, so you can have challah French toast, reuben dogs, milkshakes and more in the comfort of your car.

Hymie’s, Merion Station 
Hymie’s has all the classics, including an exceptionally good egg salad, but you’d be remiss not to order some treats from their sweet case, which includes a wide variety of chocolate dipped pretzels, plus cookies, macaroons, and more.

 

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Ben & Irv’sHuntingdon Valley 
If you’re in it for the smoked fish products, order Lenny’s Sunday Brunch – an enormous platter with six bagels and every cured fish product in the house.

Steve’s Stein’s Famous DeliNortheast Philly 
There used to be a huge community of Jewish people in this area. Now many of them have left, and the delis have gone with them, but Steve Stein’s still stands, a bastion of all things kosher, with a nicely appointed produce section as well.