(Portland) Kornblatt's or Kenny & Zukes?

[amyh18]

Heading down to Portland with parents in a few weeks. I was planning on taking them to Kenny & Zukes but my parents did some research and found Kornblatt's. We both live in cities with zero decent deli options (Seattle & Omaha). If we had to choose one place...which one do you recommend? I've been to K&Z and thought the pastrami was excellent.

[AndyP]

Hey amyh18,

K&Z is great for a sandwich for lunch. Cruise around downtown after lunch, and when you get a bit peckish, head to Kornblatt's for an egg cream and a great bagel to tide you over until dinner!

Both will not disappoint.

Yoroshiku,
Andy

[SauceSupreme]

A little off topic, but when I compare K&Z to Langers, I refer to the bread. Langers toasts and steams it, and so it comes out kinda crusty on the outside and soft and moist on the inside. If you're ordering a reuben or rachel at K&Z, you probably won't notice a difference since all the Russian and slaw will tend to moisten up the bread, too.

I tend to like my sandwiches on the fatty side, and the default sandwich at K&Z is lean, so if you're like me and you want lots of fatty bits, don't be afraid to ask for your corned beef or pastrami sandwich "fatty".

Also, I think K&Z is kicking ass with their pickles. Pickled green beans, pickled asparagus, all of it is great, with my favorite being the pickled tomatoes.

[duck833]

Not even in the same planet, K & Z's. Best Pastrami west of Katz Deli in NY>

[dagrassroots]

Not to get in a debate but while I find the pastrami a K and Z's to be good I have found that it can be inconsistent and sometimes a little too dry. A place like langers in LA I never have had that problem so I would not put K and Z's in that classification yet.

[hhlodesign]

My opinion only:

K&Z > Langer's > Katz's
(still need to try Schwartz's)

K&Z is admittedly smokier than others, but I love that. I've never had a problem with dryness, but I always ask for the point.

[MichaelG]

Good idea, to ask for the point, because I have had two sandwiches at Kenny and Zukes where the pastrami was way too dry. Embarassing for the establishment in my opinion. In addition, I found the smokeyness to be too strong. That part's just my opinion. The dryness is not opnion, however. It's fact.

But I'm willing to give it yet another shot because I want it to be good.

I so want them to be good!

[Leonardo]

K & Z without a doubt. Have been to both places many times.
They make nearly everything themselves including all the baked goods and pastrami. Chewy bagels, smoky handcut pastrami. Don't forget the sweets such as rugelach!

[Mallory]

K&Z all the way!

GO K&Z

[SusieS]

I've been to Kornblatt's many times, & 99% of the time enjoy it very much. Never been to K & Z, although have heard fabulous things about it. Based on word of mouth, I would choose the latter, & am anxious to go myself!!