The Best Italian Deli in Every State

There are few things as magical as a great Italian deli. When you’re heading out of the deli with jars of marinated artichokes, bags of Italian cookies, and a huge mortadella sandwich, you are shopping at the right place.

But a good Italian deli is hard to find; some states barely even have them. Want to know where to find the best Italian deli in your state? I sifted through troves of Google, Yelp, and TripAdvisor reviews to find the best of the best. 

Here are some of the best Italian delis across America.

Birmingham

Ranelli’s has been a Birmingham institution since 1971 thanks to some mondo-big sandwiches and homemade pastas. You’re here for the famous Richman Po-Boy, an Italian/Creole/Cajun beauty packed with ham, salami, and pastrami.

Anchorage

The Last Frontier may be a long way from Italy, but at Originale, it doesn’t feel like it. Thanks to a menu full of hearty Italian sandwiches and a market full of imported products, this is probably the best Italian deli you can find in the middle of a tundra.

Phoenix

Don’t let the strip mall digs fool you, because Romanelli’s is as legit as it gets. Since the '70s, Phoenix locals have piled in for sandwiches, homemade Italian sausages, and more.

Springdale

Not all Italian delis send you out the door with a big cold cut sandwich; some of them send you out the door with the most authentic pasta for miles. The market and deli section at Zelli has all the Italian specialties you’d ever need, from tin fish to pasta sauce, but it’s the fresh pasta specials that you can’t leave without.

Burbank

There are Italian delis with soul, and then there is Monte Carlo, which has so much soul that the whole place almost feels like its own little city. Imported meats, cheeses, tins, pickles, and sweets decorate every corner of the room, and just when you think the wonders may finally cease, you catch a glimpse of the other half of the building. Here at Pinocchio, you can eat the goodies you picked up in the deli, as well as anything from the intoxicating hot bar (think lasagna, pizza, and pasta) that resides on this side.

Denver

For a sandwich joint in Colorado, Spinelli's feels as much like an East Coast deli as you’re likely to see in the Rocky Mountains. All the stuff you want is here: pickles, marinated snacks, hearty salads, and, of course, big, meaty sandwiches.

Stamford

Fresh Italian groceries, artisan cheeses, deli specials, and a world-class sandwich counter are the big draw at Liuzzi, but if you’re looking to feed more than just yourself, catering is a beautiful option.

Wilmington

Oh, Papa! We love to see an Italian deli like this one, where a tray of baked ziti is just as easy to nab as a tray of cold cuts or chicken parm. This is full-service Italian food, and the marketplace full of imports only adds to the wonder.

St. Petersburg

Mazzaro’s has everything you could want when you come to an Italian deli, from a big bakery and cheese section to sandwiches and Italian wine. Check, check, check, check.

Dunwoody

Grab some fancy Italian olive oil, pick up a few bottles of vino, and pull up to a counter seat at E. 48th Street Market, which sings with New York Italian deli greatness … even though you’re in the middle of Georgia.

Honolulu

Traditional Italian cooking isn’t the easiest thing to find on island time, but Bocconcino is an exception. Chef Donato Loperfido makes fresh mozzarella and burrata daily, which means plenty of pizzas and sandwiches.

McCall

Pastas and sauces! Sandwiches! Artisan cheeses! Espresso drinks! Aged beef and homemade sausages! Every direction you turn your head at Gemma’s is full of wonders.

Chicago

J.P. Graziano has been a staple in Chicago since the '30s. The fourth-generation grocer is packed to the gills with specialty foods, but Italian subs are the draw here. Grab a Mr. G, featuring imported meats and cheese, truffle mustard, and Roman-style artichokes alongside the rest of the classic sub fixings.

Fishers

Angelo’s is a lot of things. It’s a pasta shop, but it’s also an Italian market, and it’s also a place to get a meatball sandwich, and it’s also a place to buy somebody a gift basket full of Italian treats. Plus catering. Plus pasta-making classes. Plus grab-and-go-lunches. Plus, plus, plus.

Des Moines

You’ll find the kings of the Iowa Italian sausage game at Graziano Bros, a specialty grocer that has fed Des Moines’ soul since 1912. The menu has tons of classic sandwiches, but if you skip the sausage grinder, you might be doing this wrong.

Overland Park

You probably won’t find a true-to-form Italian deli and grocer in Kansas, but there are definitely places to get your hands on a quality Italian sub. Local chain Goodcents has capicola, pepperoni, salami, and oh yeah, chicken parmesan pasta.

Bowling Green

Kentucky hospitality meets Italian love-soaked cooking at Geno’s, where Italian-style French dips and spicy chicken parm subs are available alongside pizza and calzones. Catering’s an option, too.

Metairie

While the world famous Central Grocery is still undergoing renovations in New Orleans, you can head out of town to Metairie, where Nor-Joe Import Company is waiting with open arms. Nor-Joe’s muffaletta is famous in its own right. Grab one to go, as well as all of the Italian meets, cheeses, and bakery treats you can dream of.

Portland

Many Italian delis are known for their sandwiches, but at Micucci Grocery in Portland, it’s all about big, honkin’ slabs of Sicilian pizza. You might as well grab some beautiful Italian olive oil while you’re in there and give ’er a drizzle.

Silver Spring

You can practically bathe in the northeast influence at Filippo’s, from the cannoli right down the renowned Italian subs. Filippo’s cold cut sandwich is a thing of beauty, piled high with capicola, salami, provolone, lettuce, tomato, onions, oil, vinegar, and some irresistible hot peppers.

Boston

As you've probably heard, Boston’s North End is renowned for its Italian food. You may have come here for an East Coast red sauce joint, but that was last night’s dinner. Today is a new day, and today you’re going to Bricco Salumeria for one of the best selections of cured meats and Italian cheeses in Massachusetts. The sandwiches are out of this world — especially the porchetta.

Sterling Heights

Ventimiglia Foods is known as a one-stop Italian shop in Michigan, thanks to its fresh-made Italian sausage, imported groceries, and elite subs. The eggplant and rosemary ham sandwich is a must.

Eagan

They’re keeping it extremely simple at Brianno’s, an Eagan deli with a wide-ranging menu. Stop in for pizza, pasta, sandwiches, and more take-home imports than you can count.

Vicksburg

Mississippi isn’t exactly the Italian deli capital of America, but Brick Street Market scratches the itch. Classic cold cut subs are available, but it would be a mistake to skip something with more southern flair, like the BBQ chicken po-boy.

St. Louis

Eovaldi’s is beautifully old-school, and thanks to St. Louis’ position between the south and the midwest, you’re getting the flavors of both regions. Experience it yourself with The Extra Special, a Southern/Italian po-boy stuffed with roast beef, ham, mortadella, Genova salami, pepper cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickles, onions, pepper cheese, light mayo, and Eovaldi’s famous Italian dressing.

Hamilton

Italian/European groceries, deli sandwiches, and tons of daily specials await you at Seppi’s, where you may spend more time staring at aisles of imported items than you will eating your food.

Omaha

Authentic Italian bakeries of Orsi’s quality are hard to find in this country, let alone in Nebraska. Omaha locals lose their minds over the garlic bread, and have been doing so for over 100 years now.

Las Vegas

In a city of lights, glitz, and glam, it’s nice to know there’s a place like Cugino’s, a laid-back Italian deli only 10 minutes from the Strip. Pizza, pasta, sandwiches, arancini, and more are all available for dine-in, and the market of imports is begging to be picked through on your way out.

Laconia

The Italian Market’s deli counter is the stuff of legend in Laconia. Hot or cold, these are grocery store sandwiches that soar well-beyond your standard deli counter. The chicken parm is especially popular with locals, and when it comes to cannoli, you know the drill: Order it.

Hammonton

How do you go about picking the best Italian deli for a place like New Jersey? It’s impossible, really, but the city of Hammonton has worshipped the family-owned Bagliani’s since 1959. Between 70-year-old Italian sausage recipes, a globally stocked cheese corner, and sandwiches that draw lines, it’s a perfect slice of Jersey Italian culture.

Santa Fe

Sassella, the Santa Fe Italian fine dining stunner, is known as a sit-down spot. It’s a beautiful thing, then, that its deli is available during the daytime for every Italian staple you’re craving. From prepared foods and sandwiches to aged vinegars and gift baskets, Sassella is quite the Swiss army knife.

Astoria

Much like New Jersey, New York is another state where finding the “best” Italian deli is probably impossible. With New York City’s bodega culture, you could make an argument that there are great Italian delis every 20 feet. But if you want a safe bet for an incredible experience? Hit Sal, Kris, and Charlie’s, one of the most famous bodegas in all of New York.

You’re gonna wait in line for this one. And you’re gonna like it.

Angier

North Carolina is hardly known for Italian delis, but about an hour outside Raleigh, Giuseppe’s is a bright light. You’re here for saucy meatball subs, tasty stuff in jars, and even morning bodega sandwiches.

Bismarck

Country House Deli is the closest thing to an Italian deli for miles, unfortunately, but that doesn’t mean you can’t stop in for an East Coast-style grinder or some award-winning (their words) chili.

Canton

Prepared pastas and sandwiches in one corner; dozens of olive varieties in another; cakes, tiramisu, and cookies beyond that. DioGuardi’s is a wonderland of Italian delights. And you’d be wise to leave with a take-and-bake pizza.

Tulsa

Fresh pastas, pizzas, and gorgeous focaccia are the name of the game at Gambill’s, which resides in an unassuming Tulsa strip mall. Oh, and they’re brewing their own beer to boot.

Portland

They say bread is the most important part of a sandwich, and despite the fact that Geraldi’s is baking its own bread fresh every day, the insides might give that bread a run for its money. Whether you’re going hot with a Chicago-style beef or a chicken parm (Served! On! Garlic! Bread!) or keeping it classic with some pastrami, this is an Italian deli for the books.

Philadelphia

If you’re from Pennsylvania, a chill shot down your spine earlier when I heaped all that praise onto New Jersey’s Italian deli scene. You probably immediately scrolled down to this spot right here.

Sure, cheesesteaks were most likely invented by Italians. Sure, the roast pork sandwiches of Reading Market and beyond are full of Italian inspiration. But despite all that, Pennsylvania still has classic Italian delis all over the place, and at Dattilo's Delicatessen, you’ll forget all about those sandwiches. You’ll be lost in the red wine-splashed salami, shredded lettuce, tangy tomatoes, and crusty bread that make Dattilo’s Italian sub so terrific.

Middletown

They’re cranking things way up on the authenticity scale at Bottega Bocconi, where the quality of the sandwiches are as legit as the imported groceries. If you want a big, American sub, move along; you’ve come to Bocconi for piadine, a classic Roman flatbread used for all of the deli’s sandwiches.

Mount Pleasant

Just outside Charleston, you’ll find Joey Tomatoes, a market and sandwich shop, with specialty breakfasts and fresh-baked pastries. Don’t sleep on the pastrami.

Sioux Falls

In an Italian deli wasteland, Look’s Marketplace is about as close as you’ll get. Is it distinctly Italian? No. Can you still get some cold cuts, imported pastas and wine? You sure can.

Murfreesboro

An hour outside Nashville, you’ll find Domenico’s, an Italian deli stocked with meatball subs, hot salami, and potato salad that locals can’t get enough of.

Dallas

Jimmy’s is a Dallas institution, and in a state known for sausage links, it’s a big deal that this place is revered for just that. Restaurants all across town serve Jimmy’s famous Italian sausage, which you can have in sandwich form at the shop. Or you can take a ton of raw sausage home and grill it up yourself. No wrong moves.

Salt Lake City

You’ll find Caputo’s in three locations across Salt Lake City. Shop Italian specialty foods to your heart’s content, and don’t forget to look over the chocolate section, which is something to behold.

Essex Junction

For over 30 years, Martone’s has been serving beautiful sandwiches, wraps, and more. And if you're wondering if you should go for the gigantic $2 deli pickle, the answer is yes.

Glen Allen

You’ll feel like you’re smack in the middle of an Italian neighborhood in Philly at Sandano’s, which is famous for cheesesteaks in Glen Allen. That doesn’t mean you should leave without trying the meatball sub though, so make sure you bring a friend.

Seattle

Seattle’s Pike Place Market may be most famous as a spot to grab some clam chowder, a few oysters, and watch a bunch of dudes throw salmon to each other. Yet DeLaurenti, a paradise of Italy’s best olive oils, wines, meats, cheeses, and more, is also here, and it may just be the best part.

Union Market

There’s old school, and then there’s old school. A. Litteri has been a part of D.C.’s beating Italian food heart since 1926, slinging Italian groceries, wine, and killer subs. You can find classics from other great Italian delis too, like Central Grocery’s olive salad.

Morganton

Nonno Carlo is a bright spot in a state that lacks great Italian delis. Whatcha need, fresh pizzas? Marinated mushrooms? Thick, beautiful mozzarella? Nonno’s gotcha.

Monona

A third generation family operation since the early '70s, there is so much to love about Fabroni’s. We’ve got aisles of imported cookies, wines, and specialties. We’ve got homemade Italian sausages and salads as far as the eye can see.

Casper

Much like the Dakotas, Wyoming isn’t quite the hot spot of Italian delis that other states are. That said, you can still head to Steamboat Deli & Outlet for a great sub, pasta and lasagna specials, and even a big flag of the Italian Royal Navy on the wall.