The Most Scrumptious Delis in Chicago

Bongiorno's Italian Deli & Pizzeria

★★★★☆ 4.3 (861) • $$

"Bongiorno's was welcoming and so cozy inside- it definitely feels like a local pizza joint. My friend and I came by on a Sunday evening and got seated immediately. The place is small inside so it fills up quick. Service was genuine and attentive and everything we ordered was great. The margherita pizza had a fantastic crust and I loved that you could order a personal size pizza. The spaghetti was tasty, but I've had better elsewhere. The service and beyond reasonable prices will keep me coming back when I'm in town."

J.P. Graziano Grocery

★★★★★ 4.6 (684)

"Why 4 stars? Because this hit the spot after a long commute. --- --- ---Specifically, that long commute originated in Texas. When I knew I was coming to Chicago, I reached out to a local trusted source for a lunch recommendation. She gave me two top choices - this was one of them and I painstakingly went back and forth trying to decide which place to choose, before ultimately going with JP Graziano. I'm happy with my choice. I ordered a classic Italian sub and it was exactly what I would have expected it to be. High quality cold cuts, plenty of Chicago accents, and the bonus of lemon soda available in the fridge. Of course, I grabbed some salt and vinegar chips too, because that's a requirement.Thanks for the nice "Welcome to Chicago" meal, JPGG!"

Pittsfield Cafe

★★★★☆ 3.9 (850) • $$

"Came in for late breakfast or early lunch a few days ago. Got a coke and spicy bacon cheddar skillet. The food is good diner food. I think what makes it special is that it's a restaurant in a skyscraper. Sometimes on the news they interview people in diners. Think it would be neat if they interviewed customers in here and listened to their thoughts on topics of the day. The skillet has jalapenos in it so you get little kicks of spice but it's not overly spicy."

Publican Quality Meats

★★★★☆ 4.2 (683) • $$

"Made a quick stop into the establishment to grab a few items. Lots to offer here if you're looking for farm meats and cheeses. Very high-end items to acquire. They also had a very good selection of wine to purchase. Definitely surprised but how many refrigerated items they had to purchase. I am really curious as to how some of the frozen bread items taste."

The Bagel Restaurant & Deli

★★★★☆ 3.5 (613) • $$

"Great place for breakfast or lunch. The omelets and hash owns are terrific. Also great deli meats. The bagels aren't a highlight for me, though. Very attentive and friendly service."

Corey’s NYC Bagel Deli

★★★★☆ 3.7 (547) • $

"I love Corey's!They open at 6am each morning 7 days a week. Which makes it a perfect spot to start your day.Since it is Sunday I walked down there shortly after they opened and purchased my favorite Vegetable Cream Cheese to bring home to make breakfast with. It is beyond delicious and creamy and full of vegetables whipped in!Thank you Corey's also for your professional staff who are polite, helpful, knowledgeable, respectful, efficient and work well as a team. The lines always move quickly!There are a few places inside to sit and eat. The establishment is always clean and organized in a way that patrons can self service."

Macello Cucina di Puglia

★★★★☆ 4.2 (414) • $$

"Valentine's Day dinner with the family... we were escorted to our table right away, the inside is unpretentious and cosy with wood fire - pizza oven and minimal decorations. Our server Joseph brought out our drinks and accidentally dropped beer on me and broke the bottle . My new red dress messed up and I was wet and uncomfortable for rest of the evening. My wine was served in a stemless glass not sure why , didn't enhance my experience of the good Pinot noir. We got the mussels, delicious! Some sausage appetizer and Main course whole chicken, pasta and seafood risotto. Dessert cannoli and tiramisu. Loved the pasta sauce wish they sold in the deli up front. They offered lemon cello @ the end for the valentines. Not sure if I want to come back ."

Max and Benny's Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.5 (567) • $$

"Max and Benny's offer such hearty and delicious meal options! I had a soup and half-sandwich, which were both delightful. I even had leftovers because they will definitely fill you up! Can't wait to go back. They also have two back rooms for larger events/parties."

Capri Deli & Pizza

★★★★☆ 4.4 (354) • $

"Amazing family owned Italian deli. Awesome sandwiches and love the fact you can have them on garlic bread. Cute interior but prefer take out. I love how kind the staff is as well. A fantastic local business. V"

Conte Di Savoia

★★★★★ 4.5 (321) • $

"I had high hopes for this place. It's an authentic Italian deli with a market that has all your classic favorites including pasta, cookies and more. I ordered a turkey sandwich. They forgot all of the condiments I asked for including the giardiniera (extra cost) which was super disappointing. The bread was probably the best part of the sandwich. It was nice and soft.The pasta salad was entirely too oily for me. Also, the San Pellegrinos we bought were both flat. All and all, not a win today."

Tempesta Market

★★★★★ 4.6 (293) • $$

"I've gone here a few times to have their chicken and dumpling soup plus their meatballs (Sympathy for the meatballs) a la carte. Both are amazing! Their Galvanina sodas are refreshing too.For large scale events, they offer catering if you're planning a party or hosting a work luncheon.I have yet to try their tasty looking sandwiches and can't wait to go back!My only complaint here is the parking situation. It's street parking only. Depending on the time of day you could get lucky to find a spot within seconds otherwise you may find yourself circling the neighborhood a few times."

Gio's Cafe & Deli

★★★★☆ 4.2 (297)

"An amazing find!Decently authentic, quick and efficient service, cool vibes. There were 6 of us and they were not only able to accommodate a bigger table, but timing of appetizers and entrees was perfect.Lots on the menu to choose from. Tiramisu was the standout!"

Vinnie's Sub Shop

★★★★★ 4.6 (245)

"Of all the great sandwich shops on Grand Ave, Vinnie's is by far my favorite. It's a small little shop with just a few seats so you might have to take to go. The food is fantastic - I've tried every sandwich and each one is more delicious than the next. Lastly, the people who run Vinnie's are some of the nicest and most welcoming people. Every time I come here it feels like I'm walking into my home. Vinnie's is a must!"

North Buena Wine Shop & Deli

★★★★★ 4.6 (174) • $$

"Combines your local deli sandwich shop with a local wine shop for a perfect mix. Sandwiches are always made with fresh ingredients so you can be sure they are great quality. You can also buy some delicious extras like their fresh made chocolate chip cookies. Super friendly and welcoming staff."

North Buena Deli Uptown

★★★★★ 4.6 (173) • $$

"Combines your local deli sandwich shop with a local wine shop for a perfect mix. Sandwiches are always made with fresh ingredients so you can be sure they are great quality. You can also buy some delicious extras like their fresh made chocolate chip cookies. Super friendly and welcoming staff."

Oasis Fresh

★★★★★ 4.7 (156) • $

"I cannot believe I haven't already written a review for Oasis Fresh. It's truly a gem in the community. I was always very meh about Mediterranean food- just never really liked it much. But one trip to Oasis Fresh (unwillingly) completely changed my world. I think I went back every week for a month after my first visit..Food is fresh, consistent, so so so well-seasoned. Staff is always warm and accommodating. I'm obsessed with the chicken shawarma with basmati rice platter and it's a plus that the serving size is big enough for two meals. Long story short, if you like Mediterranean food at all- or even if you don't, just go and try it. You can thank me later."

Kathy De's Deli

★★★★★ 4.5 (153) • $

"So I used to live in Chicago as a California native. I'm always trying to like figure out what makes Chicago so amazing and they're cuisine their food there's sandwiches there's soups there pizza so here. I am being served at Kathy's. I get the feeling as an outsider that it's a very blue collar first responder EMT like police officer neighborhood which makes me feel great cause I feel safe you know... That's just my opinion so I pop into Kathy's and I get the Italian sandwich! Man was that good!!!Very Clean interior and exterior . I Love the sandwiches Fantastic Service."

Spiro's Deli

★★★★☆ 4.4 (150)

"This Spiro's Deli place is so awesome! Absolutely the best in town! The owner suggested I try a chicken sandwich, chose Chicken Caesar pita, and also sampled a couple other sandwiches. All excellent. Met a couple of regulars and now I understand why this place has been in business so long. The ambiance of this place is everything, literally. The vibes and all just really light up my mood. They have a very neat structure and their interior is neat. The inside is clean, neat, tidy, bright, well organized, and decent. It definitely looks great in the eyes and not just that but their service is phenomenal. What an absolute treat! . Definitely will return soon."

JB's Deli

★★★☆☆ 3.3 (231)

"JB's Deli is a sandwich lovers dream!I was originally introduced to JB's via my husband a year ago but I never had the appetite to eat such a large sandwich. I finally randomly decided to check out JB's on a surprisingly busy day. The inside of JB's is a 1/3 sandwich counter, 1/3 miniature store, and a 1/3 sitting section in the back room. I didn't expect it to have so much going on inside but it gets very cramped when a lot of people are waiting for sandwiches and by a lot I mean 5 or 6 people.On the day I visited it was really busy and they were unfortunately short-staffed so the wait time was probably double what you'd normally encounter. I ordered the "My Cardiologist Needs a New Car" and it was massive. It was listed as roughly 3/4 pounds of deli meat and they did not lie.The sandwich was massive and I only managed to get through a quarter of the sandwich. Due to the size of the sandwich I was able to eat it over a couple of days. Next time I am going to opt for a sandwich that is promptly pastrami and/or corned beef because the brisket was a little flavorless. The saltiness from the other meats helped balance the flavors but it you had the brisket by itself it wasn't as delicious as the corned beef and pastrami. The overstuffed sandwiches are a great way to buy something that will last you a few meals and try out the different combinations of meats. I will definitely visit again to try out a different sandwich but I will pre-order so I can avoid any potential wait-time."

Once Upon A Grill

★★★★☆ 3.9 (139) • $$

"Outstanding deli and authentic Mexican by the nicest people. Best Reuben I've had in a long time."

Steingold's of Chicago

★★★★☆ 3.9 (133) • $$

"Damn, if I ever plan on opening a restaurant, I for sure will not be opening up a bagel shop. After reading the most recent reviews it seems like it's hard to please these bagel shopping customers. If customers are treating places like "it's just a bagel shop" or "just pizza" they're you're never going to be satisfied. If people are commenting that it used to be their favorite bagel shop, then where the heck is the review that showed that? I really don't understand the one review people, trying to harm these local business. This place is the real deal. After trying bagels in New York, I knew that anything I tried anywhere in the world, would have to be compared to the bagels I've had in the Big Apple. I will admit there's not much in the city of Chicago that is remotely close to the bagels served in New York. Are offerings aren't that great. That is until i decided to check out Steingolds. I ordered their "Steingolds Classic Lox" with an Everything bagel. It came with lox and scallion cream cheese, capers, tomatoes and untoasted. These bagels were massive. They tasted fresh as did the lox. A very simple but flavorful sandwich executed to perfection. And also very filling. It also came with a pickle and a side. I chose their bagel chips which were also phenomenal. I'm glad I finally found my local bagel place. There is literally no other place in the city that offers bagels like Steingolds does. Not even my previous favorite place in the north burbs. Will absolutely be return very very soon."

AV Anthony's

★★★★☆ 3.7 (140) • $

"The best Grecian chicken love their food simply one of the best fast food places to eat on 63rd Cicero"

Nonna Soluri's Italian Deli

★★★★☆ 4.3 (91) • $

"Just want to keep this short and sweet. Love stopping here when I'm in the area to get a slice or a sub. Very nice mom/pop shop, ingredients are fresh, food is consistent and the service is pleasant. Keep it up and check it out!"

Frantonio's Italian Deli & Cafe

★★★★☆ 4.3 (86) • $

"One of the best Italian deli in the area! We had the prosciutto mozzarella sub and some side dishes for lunch. The mozzarella reminded me of those from Eaterly! How I miss good fresh mozzarella! The Italian cookies were not to be missed! The orange slice one is sooo on point with the almond flavor and sweetness from the dried orange! I wish I had got more! The people there were friendly and nice! I saw locals would walk in and grabbed premade meatballs and other stuff to go! I am gonna try those premade items next time :)"

Morry's Deli

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (136) • $

"Serving huge portions, Morry's has been serving the Southside for decades. I hadn't been in a long while and decided to revisit. I've been on a pastrami kick since having an amazing sandwich at Hershel's Eastside Deli Philly.They said addicts are constantly chasing the euphoric rush of their first hit, but it's impossible to duplicate. I'm beginning to wonder if HEDP ruined sandwiches for me. I've had respectable pastrami/corned beef sandwiches here in Chicago, but none nearly as good. Publican Quality Meats has perfectly cooked pastrami, but it's cold and not offered as a sandwich. Fumare's in The French Market is good, but can be dry and overcooked.Morry's is of lower quality than the aforementioned meat purveyors, but the sandwich will get the job done. Not a bad option by any means, but I wouldn't make a special trip."

Galleria Market

★★★☆☆ 3.2 (151)

"Has to be kind of a stretch to call this a restaurant but it actually is. It's more like a convenience store but you can place orders and have food made. Galleria Market is a place to do grocery shopping and have a bite. Kind of convenient. The prices are pretty high on a few things. Basically it's a convenience store but it makes kind of fresh food. It has a deli with Boar's Head. There's also menu items that don't have meat. Falafel is an example. The prices on the groceries are pretty high. Forget about going here for shopping and just stick to the deli. The sandwiches aren't the best but these are okay. Convenient to get a deli item. It just has kind of high prices. The actual grocery part is even more of a ripoff so just avoid that stuff and stick with the freshly made sandwiches."

Calabria Imports

★★★★☆ 4.3 (83) • $

"I called in an order for pickup. They answered my call, took my order and food was ready in 15 minutes. Very simple process. When I came to pick up my order, noticed it was pretty busy inside. They had a few tables. It was a lot larger and cleaner than I had expected. Definitely a more modern Italian style deli. My wife ordered an Italian sub, and I ordered their Original Freddy. I had a few bites out of the Italian. Bread tasted fresh as well as all the other ingredients. Just a little dry for my taste. Perhaps some seasoning and olive oil would have made this sandwich a little better. The Freddy was delicious. It was my first time trying this Southside Chicago sandwich. It came with a flattened sausage patty, sweet peppers, melted mozzarella cheese and red sauce. Think of an Italian sausage plate in a bun. Very tasty, and the sweet peppers complimented the Italian sausage perfectly. Not sure when I'll be back in Beverly, but l would definitely order this again."

Dunnings Gourmet Market & Deli

★★★★☆ 4.4 (67)

"In town this summer visiting family and stopped at my Favorite European Deli & Sandwich Shop. I normally buy the freshly made delicious salmon/dill salad and chicken salad; the best ever. This time they were serving the Rueben Sandwich which they only offer once a week because it's made in-house and I know it's a process. The Rueben sandwich was amazing; and the flavors and tenderness of the corn beef meat is to die for. I miss this sandwich so much as it's hard to get this type of authentic tasting deli food in Houston. I hope they always stay in busy because they make and offer different food items daily. Also, their bakery items and coffee is so good. This is such a quaint deli shop for the Flossmoor area which is nice for quick bite or coffee break and lunch with friends or day date. I can't say enough good things about this place. If you're a cook you will really appreciate the change in menu items. Every salad and sandwich I've tried had a flavor burst to to your taste buds. Run to visit this place don't walk and give this local gem a try. Best wishes to the owner and chef whom I'm met before and takes much pride in her food and care for the customers."

Ambrosino's Italian Market & Deli

★★★★☆ 4.2 (73) • $

"This amazing Italian deli makes you feel like you are in Italy. The warmth and customer service of the staff is amazing.Anything you want Italian is here from the meats to the pastas to the sauces you name it they have it! I brought home some homemade Italian meatballs and they're delicious chicken Parmesan, along with some Fixin's to make subs over the weekend.I've passed by this little hidden gem in Frankfurt several times and decided to try it out and I am just over the moon impressed with all the options. If you're in the area stop by, you won't be disappointed."

All Too Well

★★★★★ 4.5 (61)

"I had been eyeing this place and saving it for when my Taylor swift fan friends visiting and I wish I came here sooner because it was AMAZING!The interior is pretty small and low key - you order at a counter and there are picnic table and small circular tables to sit at. The food came out so fast. It's the perfect casual space for stopping in for lunch. I also really appreciate how large their water station is - some restaurants make it difficult to stay hydrated and I appreciate that they are prepared!I got the Artie B's (prosciutto, salami, marinara, pesto among other things), my friends got the "oh yeah" sandwich of the day (capricola, Turkey, burrata, lettuce, banana peppers, etc) and the Bombay chalet (turkey, aoli, spicy fig jam, chili crunch, arugula, etc). We tried each others and absolutely loved them all. The bread and ingredients were super fresh on everything and all the flavors perfectly balanced. We agreed the oh yeah had the best balance of freshness and the Bombay chalet had the best sauce. Everything was incredible I will absolutely be coming back because I want to try everything on the menu."

Racine Bakery

★★★★☆ 4.3 (66)

"Not gonna lie, I looked up how to pronounce "paczki" before I walked in because I didn't want to look like an idiot.It's pronounced "POONCH-key."This is an adorable Lithuanian and Polish bakery in the MDW area. They have all sorts of European sweets as well as donuts, eclairs, and American fare. The first think that caught my eye was the paczkis, stuffed donuts with fillings like apricot, blueberry, rose hip, raspberry, and fresh strawberry. The fresh strawberry one ($2.99) was amazing, like a strawberry shortcake. The pastry itself was light and crisp on the outside, and the filling and cream was perfectly sweet. So, so, good!Note that they do have a $5 minimum to use card. Just buy more paczkis!"

Impallaria Bakery & Deli

★★★★☆ 4 (76)

"There is literally nothing you want that you cannot get here! And the service is always fast and the ladies are so kind! Everything is fresh and perfect!!!"

Mom & Dad's Deli

★★★★★ 4.5 (59) • $

"I have continued my quest to find the best sandwiches in the Chicago area. After checking some reviews, I decided to give Mom and Dad's Deli a chance and headed there for lunch. I was really glad I did and I would highly suggest checking them out. Basics first, this is located at 63rd and Central and is right by the airport. There is plenty of street parking and its a mile or two south of I-55. They do accept credit cards and they will cater your party/event as well. There is a huge selection of hot and cold sandwiches plus lots of salads. There is a big selection of chips and drinks as well.I decided to get a special and tried the Italian Sub which also came with a small soup. I have special place in my heart for a good Italian Sub and this sub was really good. Fresh bread and fresh toppings, I would absolutely get it again The soup was Chicken Noodle and outstanding. It was homemade and fresh. Perfect flavoring.Just another reason why I love Yelp. I would never have tried this place and have probably driven past it many times. Forget Subway, Jimmy Johns and any other corporate chain. Shop local, eat local. This is great family owned place and a great part of the neighborhood."

McAlister's Deli

★★★★☆ 4 (67)

"I love that McAllister's is there as an alternative to Panera. Whenever me and the wife feel like eating healthy but also something delicious, this place hits the spot. If you're familiar with the pick 2 options at Panera, they over something similar. 1/2 sandwich, salad, soup, OR spud. You cannot go wrong.I love ordering the chicken salad sandwich and chicken salad as my pick two. They always use fresh ingredients and it always comes out consistent. Their lemonade is bar none also. Worthwhile ordering."

Mabe's Deli

★★★★★ 4.5 (47) • $$

"Fantastic service with the friendliest family of staff Tried them at lollapalooza, got the: Turkey burger bites bomb dot com fried plantains famous turkey monte cristo Sandwich (batter + light sugar with toast, cheese & turkey frie)d Veggie Philly cheese steak Homemade strawberry lemonadeSeriously everything was delicious! Definitely would want to try the monte cristo and PLAINTAINS freshly fried in the shop likely the best PLAINTAINS I've had in Chicago When grabbing and going, I would recommend ordering on their website ahead of time vs using door dash/GrubHub. Support small businesses"