Hot Pastrami Sandwich

[DelifoodguruMD]

Going to be in Chicago for 5 days,looking for the best Hot pastrami sandwich on the best rye I can find.

[bsnprf]

In earlier posts I used to suggest that the best pastrami in the Chicago was at Zingermans in a far eastern suburb. BUT, what made their pastrami so special was the quality of the meat as well as the seasoning and the unmistakeable smokiness - they used Niman Ranch pastrami. They stopped using Niman Ranch some time ago ("spotty delivery schedule") and now use a Detroit purveyor - the same pastrami used by Steve's - good, but certainly not special.

[arsephin]

Romanian is very good. But a place I like quite a bit that's much closer to downtown is called Fumare Meats in the French Market (don't let the name fool you, it's not very French)

It's really Montreal-style smoked meat but it is SO GOOD. It's the closest thing to Schwartz's Deli (Montreal, duh!) that I've come across.

131 N. Clinton Street
Monday - Friday 7:00 AM - 7:30 PM | Saturday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Phone: [phone]

[nsxtasy]

I like Steve's Deli in River North. They do a pretty good hot pastrami sandwich - not as good as Kaufman's, but still pretty good. Note that they have Detroit-style rye bread, which is different from the New York style served by Kaufman's in that it's not studded with tons of caraway seeds. I really like the Detroit-style rye, whose flavor is brought out by warming. www.stevesdeli.com

[tzurriz]

Bergsteins deli in Chicago Heights is quite good actually, but not within the city.

[nsxtasy]

Same for Schmaltz Deli in Naperville.

[nsxtasy]

I miss Kaufman's!!! (They've been shut by a fire for almost a year now, although they are making progress in rebuilding.)

[DelifoodguruMD]

anybody gone to Belden Deli yet?

[chicgail]

Belden deli will do if you really need a corned beef fix, but it's hardly a destination for great Jewish Deli. It's a real missing in this city. There is Max and Benny's up in Northbrook, but even that's not fabulous. Your other option is to drive the five hours to Zingerman's in Ann Arbor, MI.

[weinstein5]

They do not do hot sandwiches but Romanian Kosher Sausage makes an excellent pastrami -

[ferret]

But it bears next to no resemblance to the classic NY version.

[DelifoodguruMD]

I already know to go there,thanks for the comment.

[gordeaux]

Ferret really is being helpful. I looked at the thread title and thought, "Not really a Chicago thing." There is a "best" hot pastrami, but it's just gonna be the tallest midget.

[DelifoodguruMD]

Oh belive me I know where I can get a good hot pastrami sandwich,as I used to co own a Jewish deli in Bethesda,MD and I used to use Carnegie Deli Pastrami. I was just inquiring. I know what Vienna Hot dogs taste like,just looking for something uniquely Jewish in Chicago!

[jbw]

Something uniquely Jewish? Let me bring up Manny's. Not for its corned beef or its pastrami; not impressive by NYC or even East Coast standards (although its boiled beef brisket on onion roll is something now difficult to find), but it is simply one of the last Jewish cafeterias of its kind. These used to be a fixture on Chicago's near West side, and Manny's is the last of the breed perhaps anywhere (with the possible exception of one in Indianapolis that I haven't yet been to):
http://www.mannysdeli.com/

It's also kind of a Chicago institution, and in that respect, too, perhaps worth a detour.

[masha]

I agree with Ferret on this one. Your other posting says you are from DC. Take the train to Baltimore & go to Attman's if you want good Jewish deli food, without traveling to NYC. It's not one of Chicago's strengths.

[ferret]

Once you get here, head over to O'Hare and buy a ticket to New York.

[DelifoodguruMD]

you are so helpful,NOT!

[ferret]

Seriously, this is not a hot pastrami sandwich town. If there's one worth having I haven't found it yet. Someone will undoubtedly mention Manny's but those people clearly have not had a good hot pastrami sandwich.

[camusman]

Agree that you cannot find pastrami here to compete with the best in NYC, or even Langer's in LA for that matter.
If desperate you can try Manny's or Perry's. My favorite is Romanian Kosher, but that's all the way up near the northern limits of Chicago at 7200 N. Clark.

[chicgail]

Sad, but true.