My husband disclosed to me several days ago that he’s never had a pastrami on rye. NEVER. While I am still reeling from this revelation, I need to take action.
Where can we go in the city – we live in Lincoln Park and have a car – for a pastrami on rye that will knock his socks off?
I want his first time to be a good one. I’ll even hold him afterwards.
Mannys is the Chicago benchmark for all things deli imho.
Manny’s Coffee Shop
1141 S. Jefferson
Chicago, IL
312-939-2855
Open for Breakfast & Lunch M-S
Yeah, absolutely, positively Manny’s. It’s the closest I’ve found to a New York quality pastrami on rye in the city.
Not only is Manny’s the best, they even have a health(ier) turkey pastrami. Kinda expensive, but huge portions. Keep in mind that they close early (around 3, I think). Safe, commercial neighborhood, just south of the Chgo Fire Dept Acad and the purported site where the Great Fire started. I reccomend the potato pancakes and baked rice pudding.
Turkey pastrami???
May the God of your choice have mercy on your soul.
You want healthy food, avoid pastrami. You want turkey, go get yourself a lean breast.
Of turkey, you sicko.
ETA: Myself, I like it on an onion roll.
They expanded their hours a few month ago and are open from 5 a.m. until 8 p.m., Monday through Saturday, closed Sunday.
Hello,
For the best pastrami sandwich in the Chicago area, try Kip’s Deli Restaurant, 1791 St. John’s Ave. in Highland Park.
Manny’s has wonderful ambiance, great history, amazing people-watching, but the pastrami is so awful the place wouldn’t last a day in NYC. Eleven City Diner’s is better, and e.leaven comes pretty close to my fondest childhood memories.
A friend enthusiastically mentioned Kip’s just a couple of nights ago and promises an excursion soon.
Alas, maddin, Kip’s has been closed for many years. MANY years. A sad loss. If you’re as far north as Highland Park, there’s good pastrami at the Now We’re Cookin’ Grill at 710 Central Avenue.
Max’s Deli at 191 Skokie Valley Road, also Highland Park, is generally good, but I can’t attest to it’s pastrami specifically.
There must be someplace in Skokie, but my info is dated. I’ll try to check with my friend, who’s a deli-maven, and get back here in a day or so.
Ah, thanks for the heads up. My friend mentioned “a deli in Highland Park that has pastrami you’ll like” and when I saw Kip’s mentioned here I jumped to the conclusion. Now I don’t know which of the two she’s talking about, but I guess we’ll have to try both.
If you’re near the loop any time soon, Perry’s deli is pretty darn good.
I’m not much of a pastrami person (I know, I’m betraying my heritage), but if you’re willing to settle for carryout, there’s always Kaufman’s. Bring home some bagels for the freezer! (It’s my go-to place for bagels and cream cheese, and the occasional loaf of challah or raisin pumpernickel, though I try to avoid the deli meats. I do give in to the chopped chicken liver or whitefish salad once in a while, though.)
I’ve always liked corned beef on rye more than pastrami, but then I may as well just get a Reuben.
Bite your tongue.
Sorry, never cared too much for tongue. Corned beef, yes.
No love for Morry’s in Hyde Park? Or has it gone downhill?
Seconded.
Is the Belden deli still around?
Just bumping to ask about Morry’s. I think it went downhill when they moved to the corner.
Kaboff’s Delicatessen in Northbrook.
It might as well be on Devon Ave in 1968.