Philadelphia offers a wide choice of kosher delicatessens.
With a thriving Jewish population, you're bound to find great kosher delis, and Philadelphia is a perfect example. With a history of Jewish settlement stretching back more than 350 years, Philadelphia has more than a quarter-million Jewish residents; the fifth-largest Jewish community in the world outside of Israel. Not surprisingly, then, Philadelphia has lots of kosher delis to choose from. Add this to my Recipe Box.
Famous Fourth Street Delicatessen
In business since 1923, the Famous Fourth Street Deli is a Philadelphia landmark. The deli serves up a traditional range of "ungashtupt" (Yiddish for overstuffed) sandwiches, including corned beef, pastrami (smoked on site), chicken salad and, of course, chopped liver. Sandwiches may be ordered in regular and "zaftig" (plump) sizes. Famous Fourth Street's menu also offers other Jewish specialties, such as beef brisket with latkes (potato pancakes), matzo ball soup, matjes herring, and a lox and eggs platter for breakfast.
Rachael's Nosheri
Rachael's is located right in the middle of Center City Philadelphia and dishes out a creative take on kosher food. In addition to traditional standbys, you'll find the "C.B. Loves C.L." sandwich (corned beef and chopped liver) and the "Ike and Tina Tuna," a combination of tuna salad and chicken salad. Along with familiar kosher sandwiches, the deli also offers sub-style sandwiches on hoagie buns. Rachael's offers a large breakfast menu, and an impressive list of smoked fish specialties, including lox, kippered salmon and jumbo whitefish.
Koch`s Deli Restaurant
Billing itself as "the best Jewish Deli this side of Brooklyn," Koch's prides itself on rapid delivery of kosher sandwiches and hoagies. Unique offerings include the Baked Salmon Salad sandwich, the Jewish Three-Foot Hoagie and the Lou Koch Special Double Decker, which is stuffed with roast beef, turkey, chopped liver, mustard or Russian dressing, and onion and served on rye bread. The deli offers food for both pickup and delivery but no sit-down dining space.
The Kibitz Room
An old-fashioned Jewish deli, this is the sister restaurant of the more famous Kibitz Room in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. You'll find all the dishes you'd expect from a kosher deli, as well as a few surprises, including a pickle bar that offers everything from kosher gherkins to pickled eggs. Other specialties include corned beef and pastrami on potato knishes, and the Kibitz Burger, a hamburger topped with pastrami and Swiss (delicious perhaps, but definitely not kosher.)
Tags: chopped liver, corned beef, Famous Fourth, Famous Fourth Street, Fourth Street, also offers, beef pastrami