13 Best Delis Guy Fieri Visited On Diners, Drive-Ins And Dives
We all love to discover great little delis where we can feel comfortable and fill up on good food. But America is vast, and no one person can discover every great little eatery. Enter Guy Fieri with his show "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives."
Before Fieri visited, many of the restaurants featured on his show were previously known only locally. Still, following in Fieri's footsteps is a continental task. That is why we've put together a list focused on the best delis Fieri visited.
To identify the best delis, we scoured the list of restaurants he visited, picked out the delis, eliminated anything that has since closed down, and found the ones with the most media accolades and consistent positive customer reviews.
The General Muir - Atlanta, Georgia
At first glance, the large windows and sleek decor may suggest this is an upscale restaurant, but it's a genuine New York-style Jewish deli. The pastrami sandwich and latkes stand out, and you can't go wrong with the bagel and cream cheese or the matzoh ball soup.
Indeed, whether you are sitting down at one of those sleek tables or picking up food from the counter, this Michelin-guide spot offers genuinely good food that not only has received national accolades, but also thousands of great reviews on Google, where patrons praise the thick and tasty pastrami and have plenty of wonderful things to say about the Reuben.
The popularity of the sandwiches here should come as no surprise to those who know The General Muir makes its own bread from a bakery next door, a James Beard semifinalist in 2016 for Outstanding Baker.
(678) 927-9131
1540 Avenue Pl B-230, Atlanta, GA 30329
Perly's Restaurant and Delicatessen - Richmond, Virginia
Tasting Table has named this spot one of the best Jewish Delis in America. Indeed, there are many reasons to love this place. Our staff cited the humorous menu and fun twists on classics, like a kosher BLT made with turkey and beef bacon.
Meanwhile, the place gained traction on "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives" for its family recipes, with a special nod to the potato and duck pierogies. Fieri also highlighted the Jewish egg rolls, made with pastrami and sauerkraut.
And the positive attention doesn't stop there. One professional reviewer was especially enamored with the matzoh ball soup, while another couldn't get enough of their latkes and was blown away by their bread selection.
(804) 912-1560
111 E Grace St, Richmond, VA 23219
Kenny and Ziggy's New York Delicatessen - Houston, Texas
This New York-style deli has appeared on "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives" twice, in 2009 and 2021. But the place probably would have reached a wide audience without Guy Fieri's help. It regularly receives local and national coverage that praises menu items like the Oreo chocolate mousse cheesecake, pastrami burger, and stuffed cabbage, all served in generous portions.
Its owners, Kenny and Ziggy, have long restaurant backgrounds. Ziggy comes from a long line of deli owners and operators and graduated from Le Cordon Bleu London Culinary School, while Kenny and his father made it their mission to open a Jewish-style deli in Houston.
(713) 871-8883
1743 Post Oak Blvd, Houston, TX 77056
Italian Corner - East Providence, Rhode Island
If you can't go to Italy, bring Italy to you. This seems to be the ethos at this East Providence deli, which imported its chef, pasta machines, cured meats, and more from Italy. Guy Fieri became especially enamored with the brasato sandwich and tortellini with Bolognese.
One Google reviewer called Italian Corner a place that serves perfect sandwiches. Another pointed out that Italian Corner isn't just a one-hit wonder, but a place that consistently serves good food. But a deli that can also please vegetarians isn't so easy to find, and Italian Corner shines there, too, with one Google reviewer saying the zucchini frittata on focaccia was the best sandwich they'd ever had.
(401) 431-1737
10 Boyd Ave, East Providence, RI 02914
Look's Marketplace - Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Look's Marketplace in South Dakota is a butcher, a bakery, and a deli, and it has thrived since 1883. Although it began as a simple meat market, it has evolved to serve some pretty elaborate sandwiches. Guy Fieri enjoyed the Porcules, a hot sandwich made with homemade sausage, house-smoked pork belly, pickled onion, chili-lime mayo, and homemade ciabatta bread.
(605) 336-3104
500 E 69th St, Sioux Falls, SD 57108
Otto's Sausage Kitchen and Meat Market - Portland, Oregon
The Germans sure know how to make a bratwurst, and Otto's is a prime example. Portland residents have been going to Otto's for its sausages and other fare since it opened in 1922. Otto's serves 50 kinds of sausages, including chicken and pork, along with deli favorites like the smoked pastrami sandwich, which Fieri especially liked.
Perhaps the main reason for these sausages' success and popularity is that they are made in-house with fresh, local meat. Diners also enjoy the sausage toppings, including local mustards and classic sauerkraut.
(503) 771-6714
4138 SE Woodstock Blvd, Portland, OR 97202
Defonte's Sandwich Shop - Brooklyn, New York
Guy Fieri said that an ideal visit to Brooklyn involves an old-school Italian deli, and one quintessential example is DeFontes Sandwich Shop. Open since 1922, it holds a special place in his heart for its tasty Italian subs, such as the pizzaiola sandwich.
On one visit, Fieri watched the kitchen prepare the sandwich, including making house-made mozzarella, then slicing and baking it with the sandwich. Others have praised the soda selection and the stuffed peppers, especially the fried eggplant, which stays crunchy and light in its thinly sliced, battered form. The clientele is a mix of local regulars and visitors willing to brave long journeys to Red Hook.
(718) 625-8052
379 Columbia St, Brooklyn, NY 11231
Dolce and Clemente's - Robbinsville Township, New Jersey
This old-school deli's vast menu impressed Fieri, and so did the prosciutto bread stuffed with provolone and Italian cured meats. Plenty of Google reviewers seem to agree. One person said it was their favorite item, while another said it was "out of this world so good."
Beyond other popular items like the hoagies and chicken parm, reviewers often cite the friendly, kind staff and helpful, prompt customer service. Local media has named this spot one of the best Italian delis in New Jersey, where competition for such a nomination is fierce.
(609) 259-0072
2 N Commerce Square #101, Robbinsville Twp, NJ 08691
Emily's Lebanese Deli - Minneapolis, Minnesota
With most delis on "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives" being Italian or Jewish, it's nice to see a change of scenery with a Lebanese Deli. And Emily's Lebanese Deli has more than earned its spot on the list. Guy Fieri was especially taken with the lamb shish kebab and kieef, a Lebanese version of steak tartare made with raw ground beef.
But he is not the only one to have noticed the place, which has been running for more than forty years. One national media outlet named Emily's one of the best Middle Eastern restaurants in the Twin Cities area, especially for its lamb-stuffed grape leaves, tabouli salad, and kafta kabob. The food is prepared fresh each day using old family recipes.
(612) 379-4069
641 University Ave NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413
Manny's Cafeteria and Delicatessen - Chicago, Illinois
Manny's has delivered familiarity and consistency since 1942. On the "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" episode, people spoke of a convivial atmosphere that kept them coming back year after year.
Diners seemed to especially love the in-house pastrami and generally saw the place as a local institution and an essential stop on Chicago's food scene. Fieri also had nothing but good things to say about the matzoh ball soup and the stuffed cabbage.
The restaurant also won the 2027 Iconic Restaurant Award as part of the Banchet Awards, which celebrate culinary excellence in Chicago. Meanwhile, the restaurant boasts more than 4,000 mostly positive Google reviews, with many praising the corned beef, pastrami, and any dish that features them.
(312) 939-2855
1141 S Jefferson St, Chicago, IL 60607
Sherman's Deli and Bakery - Palm Springs, California
Katz's Deli in New York City, the oldest deli in the U.S., is probably the nation's most famous deli. So when a deli gets compared to Katz's — as SFGate has done, saying the two are "regularly mentioned in the same breath" — it means it must be good. The deli makes everything in-house, from its lox to its pastrami. They even bake their own bread, fresh every day.
According to the Food Network, Fieri visited for his show and noticed the turkey pastrami, saying, "If that's the only thing that you sold here I could expect lines all the way to Wisconsin." Some 8,000 Google reviewers and counting have had a similar reaction to Sherman's, with many praising the turkey pastrami as well as other deli meats and dishes.
(760) 325-1199
401 E Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, CA 92262
Eastside Market Italian Deli - Los Angeles, California
This Italian deli has been going strong since 1929, though the Angiuli family bought it in the 1970s. It is known for serving especially meaty sandwiches and a range of Italian dishes, including eggplant parm, meatballs, and lasagna.
Guy Fieri was particularly drawn to the D.A. special, which came packed with sausage, meatballs, roast beef, and pastrami. But this place didn't need Fieri to be put on the map. It's been a Los Angeles institution for years, beloved for its friendly, convivial atmosphere. It even delivered meals to frontline workers during the pandemic.
(213) 250-2464
1013 Alpine St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
DeFalco's Italian Eatery, Grocery and Deli - Scottsdale, Arizona
This longstanding deli built a strong local reputation in and around Scottsdale long before Guy Fieri showed up. Fieri was particularly struck by the deli's in-house Italian sausage, made from an old family recipe, and the Centurion calzone, which comes with two layers of mozzarella and soppressata.
The deli also has a strong connection to local sports, especially the basketball community at nearby Arizona State, whose players and coaches have often frequented the deli, while the owners hold football and basketball season tickets. It's more than a deli: If you're looking for high-quality, rare food imported straight from Italy, you'll find it at DeFalco's.
(480) 990-8660
2334 N Scottsdale Rd a133, Scottsdale, AZ 85257
Methodology
All the delis, and indeed, all the restaurants featured on "Drive-Ins, Diners, and Dives" are pretty good. Guy Fieri clearly enjoys the food at every establishment he visits and wants the chefs and owners to succeed.
Even with the baseline quality, some delis are better than others. To curate the list, we eliminated any establishment that has closed since Fieri visited and looked for awards, accolades, media attention, and positive reviews. The delis with the most praise, whether from professional reviews like CN Traveler, amateur reviews on Google, or both, earned a post on this list.