Cathy MerrittI try to cook my food at home, but sometimes, I just feel so lazy that I’d rather eat whatever’s left in my fridge. One day, a co-worker, who probably felt bad for me, recommended her favourite Jewish delis, and since then, I’ve been a changed man.
The variety in these delis is outstanding—pastrami on rye, Reuben sandwiches, and more—and the food is always served quickly, so I can order and eat my fill in just 15 minutes or so! I can also get a few grocery items if I want. How convenient!
Here are the Jewish delis that my co-worker recommended and that I now love!
Pancer’s Original Deli
– From: pancersoriginaldeli
Address: 3856 Bathurst St, North York
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—10 am to 8 pm
Contact Number: +14166361230
Pancer’s Original Deli has been around since 1957, and still, this place gets a lot of visitors every day. I’m one of these people, even though I don’t live in North York. I may be lazy, but the craving for delicious food sometimes overpowers my laziness.
The smoked turkey is my favourite thing to get. It’s absolutely massive, and the meat is juicy with a lovely combination of smoky and savoury flavours. Sometimes, I order cucumber salad and add that to the sandwich for a burst of refreshing zestiness.
| Pro Tips: This deli offers catering services for parties. Sometimes, if there’s a sports match (especially basketball and hockey), the staff will view it on the deli’s TVs. Feel free to watch! |
SumiLicious Smoked Meat and Deli
– From: atastysight
Address: 5631 Steeles Ave E #5, Milliken Crossing, Scarborough
Operating Hours:
- Wednesday to Saturday—11 am to 7 pm
- Sunday—11 am to 5 pm
Contact Number: +16473478899
If smoked meat is your cup of tea, then you’ll love SumiLicious. Located all the way in Scarborough, this deli has some of the best smoked meat sandwiches I’ve ever tasted, so now I’ll be screaming about this to anyone who will listen.
The smoked meat is wonderfully tender, and its smokiness is distinct without being overpowering. It also has a strong hint of peppery flavours, which I like.
Another dish that you might want to try is their smoked meat poutine. The smoky, peppery flavours of the meat, paired with the cheesy, tangy goodness of poutine—absolute perfection, I’m telling you!
| Pro Tip: If you like the deli’s pickles, peppers, and mustard, feel free to buy a litre or a jar of them here. |
Schmaltz Appetizing
– From: schmaltzappetizing
Address: 414 Dupont St
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday—9 am to 2 pm
- Saturday and Sunday—9 am to 4 pm
Contact Number: +16473504261
Normally, I’m not the biggest fan of bagels, but I make an exception for Schmaltz Appetizing.
The Shmendrick is my current obsession. It has 140 grams of pastrami, making it quite the hefty snack, and it also comes with a full sour pickle and yellow mustard. Every bite is a hit of sharp tanginess, followed by the salty, savoury goodness of the pastrami.
| Pro Tips: You can build your own bagel here.This deli also owns Grateful Catering, which you can book if you want classic deli dishes during your special event. |
Dave’s Genuine Deli
– From: davesgenuine.deli
Address: 1763 Avenue Rd
Operating Hours: Tuesday to Sunday—11 am to 8 pm
Contact Number: +14167873354
Dave’s Genuine Deli has a lovely homey feel to its ambiance, and honestly, that’s part of its charm. The staff is amazing as well; they’re always kind to me, and even the chef comes out to chat.
I always get the grilled Reuben sandwich here. As much as I loved smoked turkey or meat, I usually choose the corned beef because I really like how its salty, slightly sour taste pairs with the Swiss cheese. For an even stronger kick of tanginess, I add sauerkraut to my sandwich.
| Pro Tip: You can book the deli’s catering services for your special event. |
Centre Street Deli
– From: yummm.to
Address: 1136 Centre St, Thornhill
Distance from TO: Around 40 minutes
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Thursday—7 am to 5 pm
- Friday to Sunday—7 am to 7:45 pm
Contact Number: +19057318037
Centre Street Deli is technically located all the way in Thornhill, but it’s right by Toronto’s borders, so I say it still counts. Even if you disagree, I’d still implore you to check this place out anyway because their stuff is phenomenal!
I recommend ordering the turkey pastrami sandwich. It combines smokiness with bold spiciness, and it’s also quite juicy. Sometimes, I add a side of pickled salmon because the tangy flavours bring the sandwich to a whole new level.
| Pro Tip: Book this deli as your caterer for your event. They have party trays, a wide variety of meat, appetizers, salads, and more. |
Caplansky’s Deli
– From: caplansky
Address: 6301 Silver Dart Dr, Floor Departures, Toronto Pearson International Airport, Mississauga
Distance from TO: Around 35 minutes
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—4 am to 9 pm
Contact Number: +14165003852
I discovered Caplansky’s Deli on a whim—while I was waiting for my flight at the airport, actually. I just came there because I needed a quick snack, and before I knew it, I kept coming back for more, even though I didn’t have a flight to get on.
As much as I love the sandwiches here, it’s the beef brisket that I can’t stop thinking about. It’s cooked low and slow, so the meat is so tender that it falls off the bone and still retains its juiciness. As for the flavour, it’s a combination of sweet and savoury, with a hint of tanginess from the tomatoes and cider vinegar.
| Pro Tip: Caplansky’s is also best known for its mustard. You can purchase a jar—or a pack of jars—at the deli or via the website. |
Uncle Sid’s Deli
– From: unclesidsdeli
Address: 1263 Bloor St W
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday—8 am to 8 pm
- Saturday and Sunday—9 am to 8 pm
Contact Number: +14165162327
Uncle Sid’s Deli is almost like a hole-in-the-wall on Bloor Street; it’s so easy to overlook. But thankfully, I did check it out, and now it’s on my permanent Jewish deli rotation.
You can’t go wrong with any of the big sandwich combos. I personally love the Montreal smoked meat sandwich; it’s just super juicy, smoky, and savoury! This meal also comes with coleslaw, pickles, and fries, so it’s very filling.
| Pro Tip: This deli sells jars of their pickles. Feel free to buy one (or more) during your visit. |
Kiva’s Bagel Bakery and Restaurant
– From: kivasbagelsbakery
Address: 1027 Steeles Ave W, North York
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—6:30 am to 5 pm
Contact Number: +14166639933
Another great deli shop that offers amazing bagels is Kiva’s Bagel Bakery and Restaurant.
My usual order here is the turkey sandwich. I mean, it’s a classic for a reason—the meat is juicy, smoky, and peppery.
But recently, I’ve gotten obsessed with the avocado sandwich, which has cheese and tomato aioli. I love the nutty, salty, and tangy combination; it surprised me at first, but I ended up really liking it in the end.
| Pro Tip: If you want to book their catering services, you need to call the deli ahead of time. |
Hartmans (Savours Gourmet)
– From: hartmanskosher
Address: 3500 Bathurst St, North York
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Wednesday—8 am to 7 pm
- Thursday—8 am to 8 pm
- Friday—7 am to 2 pm
- Sunday—9 am to 6 pm
Contact Number: +14166637779
I mostly treat Hartmans as a grocery store because this is where I get my fresh meat. But I also really like their deli section. Sometimes, I just order a sandwich and hog it down; it’s a great treat after shopping!
My favourite thing to get is the hot corned beef sandwich. It’s a simple treat—tender meat and bold, salty, and savoury flavours—but it definitely hits the spot, and I can’t get enough of it!
| Pro Tip: They offer catering services. Just call them if you’re interested. |
Eisenbergs Sandwich Co.
– From: eisenbergsjcc
Address: 4588 Bathurst St, North York
Operating Hours:
- Sunday to Thursday—9 am to 7 pm
- Friday—8 am to 4 pm
Contact Number: +14166381881
I’m always a big fan of mom-and-pop shops in Toronto, and so far, Eisenbergs Sandwich Co. is one of my favourites. This kosher dining spot offers a great variety of dishes—from classic sandwiches to salads and more!
My go-to order here is the Flame-Roasted Tunacado, which features tuna and avocado—ingredients I don’t normally pair together, but somehow, they work. It’s salty and nutty, and it packs quite the spicy punch as well, thanks to its red pepper sauce.
| Pro Tip: This shop offers catering services for all events. If you want to book them, you can send an email to [email protected]. You can also contact them via phone. |
