6 jewish deli restaurants worth the trip across Canada, editor-ranked. All cuisines in Canada.
Schwartz's Deli ★ 4.9 · Montreal
plateau · 3895 Boulevard Saint-Laurent, Montreal, QC H2W 1X9
Schwartz's has hand-sliced Montreal smoked meat on Saint-Laurent since 1928, the city's most famous deli and a permanent queue on the Plateau.
Tip: The line moves fast at the communal tables; the takeout counter next door skips the wait entirely.
Wilensky's Light Lunch ★ 4.5 · Montreal
mile-end · 34 Avenue Fairmount Ouest, Montreal, QC H2T 2M1
Wilensky's is a nine-stool Mile End counter open since 1932, serving the fried bologna-and-salami Special exactly as it did in Mordecai Richler's novels.
Tip: They never cut the sandwich and never hold the mustard; order it their way or not at all.
Centre Street Deli ★ 4.4 · Toronto
yorkville · 995 Bay Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3C4
Centre Street Deli on Bay Street is the 2024 downtown outpost of the Thornhill original since 1988, Montreal-style smoked meat hand-sliced over light rye.
Tip: Order the lean-and-medium mix; pure lean dries out fast. The Thornhill original is at 1136 Centre Street.
United Bakers Dairy Restaurant ★ 4.3 · Toronto
yorkville · 506 Lawrence Avenue W, Toronto, ON M6A 1A1
United Bakers at Lawrence Plaza is the city's reference kosher-style dairy restaurant since 1912, no-meat menu with blintzes, smoked fish and split-pea soup.
Tip: Kosher-style, not certified kosher. Closed Saturday and most Jewish holidays. The Ladovsky family has run it since 1912.
Lester's Deli ★ 4.1 · Montreal
outremont · 1057 Avenue Bernard, Outremont, QC H2V 1V1
Lester's is the Outremont deli locals send you to when the Schwartz's line is too long, smoking its own brisket on Avenue Bernard since 1951.
Tip: It is calmer and roomier than the Plateau delis; a good sit-down option with kids in tow.
The Pickle Barrel Yonge and Eglinton ★ 4.0 · Toronto
yorkville · 2300 Yonge Street, Toronto, ON M4P 1E4
The Pickle Barrel at Yonge and Eglinton has run the Toronto-based deli chain since 1971, smoked meat sandwiches and Jewish-deli classics on the 2nd floor.
Tip: Multiple Toronto locations. The Yonge-Eglinton branch the most-visited, on the 2nd floor next to Cineplex.