# I need a good pastrami on rye. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 26, 2009, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-good-pastrami-on-rye/487536 "2009-02-26T18:28:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Judith\_Prietht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b19c9b/32.png) [@Judith\_Prietht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Judith_Prietht)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-good-pastrami-on-rye/487536/1 "2009-02-26T18:28:22Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![MikeG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikeg/32/4329_2.png) [@MikeG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeG)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2009, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-good-pastrami-on-rye/487536/2 "2009-02-26T18:37:03Z")
[Mannys](http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=3722) 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 ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2009, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-good-pastrami-on-rye/487536/3 "2009-03-01T20:21:49Z")
Yeah, absolutely, positively Manny’s. It’s the closest I’ve found to a New York quality pastrami on rye in the city. ---
**Author:** ![hays](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9adbd/32.png) [@hays](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hays)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2009, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-good-pastrami-on-rye/487536/4 "2009-04-29T17:30:12Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cab0a1/32.png) [@Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Man_With_a_Cat)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2009, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-good-pastrami-on-rye/487536/5 "2009-04-30T00:12:57Z")
**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. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2009, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-good-pastrami-on-rye/487536/6 "2009-05-07T20:33:02Z")
> [@hays](#): > > Keep in mind that they close early (around 3, I think). They expanded their hours a few month ago and are open from 5 a.m. until 8 p.m., Monday through Saturday, closed Sunday. ---
**Author:** ![maddin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc348/32.png) [@maddin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maddin)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2009, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-good-pastrami-on-rye/487536/7 "2009-06-25T16:02:45Z")
Hello, For the best pastrami sandwich in the Chicago area, try Kip’s Deli Restaurant, 1791 St. John’s Ave. in Highland Park. ---
**Author:** ![editorkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c37758/32.png) [@editorkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/editorkid)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2009, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-good-pastrami-on-rye/487536/8 "2009-12-02T20:02:42Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2009, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-good-pastrami-on-rye/487536/9 "2009-12-02T22:59:13Z")
> [@maddin](#): > > For the best pastrami sandwich in the Chicago area, try Kip’s Deli Restaurant, 1791 St. John’s Ave. in Highland Park. 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. ---
**Author:** ![editorkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c37758/32.png) [@editorkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/editorkid)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2009, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-good-pastrami-on-rye/487536/10 "2009-12-07T16:08:45Z")
> [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](#): > > 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. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2009, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-good-pastrami-on-rye/487536/11 "2009-12-17T16:43:29Z")
If you’re near the loop any time soon, [Perry’s](http://www.perrysdeli.com/) deli is pretty darn good. ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2010, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-good-pastrami-on-rye/487536/12 "2010-08-08T21:35:08Z")
> [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](#): > > 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. 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.](http://kaufmansdeli.com/) 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.) ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2010, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-good-pastrami-on-rye/487536/13 "2010-08-08T23:53:50Z")
I’ve always liked corned beef on rye more than pastrami, but then I may as well just get a Reuben. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2010, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-good-pastrami-on-rye/487536/14 "2010-08-08T23:59:01Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > I’ve always liked corned beef on rye more than pastrami, but then I may as well just get a Reuben. Bite your tongue. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2010, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-good-pastrami-on-rye/487536/15 "2010-08-09T01:07:51Z")
> [@samclem](#): > > > [@needscoffee](#): > > > > 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. ---
**Author:** ![Stan\_Shmenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/94ad74/32.png) [@Stan\_Shmenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stan_Shmenge)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2010, 9:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-good-pastrami-on-rye/487536/16 "2010-08-10T09:01:11Z")
No love for Morry’s in Hyde Park? Or has it gone downhill? ---
**Author:** ![JXJohns](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jxjohns/32/469_2.png) [@JXJohns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JXJohns)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2010, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-good-pastrami-on-rye/487536/17 "2010-08-18T13:33:52Z")
> [@zoid](#): > > If you’re near the loop any time soon, [Perry’s](http://www.perrysdeli.com/) deli is pretty darn good. Seconded. ---
**Author:** ![peedin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peedin/32/14095_2.png) [@peedin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peedin)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2010, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-good-pastrami-on-rye/487536/18 "2010-08-18T18:43:16Z")
Is the Belden deli still around? ---
**Author:** ![Stan\_Shmenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/94ad74/32.png) [@Stan\_Shmenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stan_Shmenge)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2010, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-good-pastrami-on-rye/487536/19 "2010-08-31T03:43:11Z")
Just bumping to ask about Morry’s. I think it went downhill when they moved to the corner. ---
**Author:** ![da\_pope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ba0ec/32.png) [@da\_pope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/da_pope)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2010, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-good-pastrami-on-rye/487536/20 "2010-09-06T00:33:06Z")
Kaboff’s Delicatessen in Northbrook. It might as well be on Devon Ave in 1968. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-a-good-pastrami-on-rye/487536.md?page=2)