Sammys are the beat! always plenty to eat and tasty beyond belief gets crowded on weekends everyhing is fresh read more

I came to visit on a Friday afternoon and there was a little wait, but not too bad. I'm assuming it was the lunch break crowd from the nearby businesses. As someone who has been to Katz's and Carnegie Deli (back in the day), I can say that Kaufman's is probably as close as you're going to get in Chicago. I have a couple of more delis to try but this was the first of the three. I ordered the New Jersey Bypass, a pastrami sandwich on rye with spicy brown mustard, two everything bagels, chive cream cheese, and a mini black and white cookie. The flavor of the meat is right on but not as tender as I have had before. The thing that really impressed me about this place was the pricing. It's definitely a little cheaper than the other jewish style delis that I've been to and the portions are pretty good, as well. When the bagels were bagged up for me, they felt like they have been in the refrigerator or something, and pretty hard. I don't know if they just weren't as fresh, but they could have used some work. After I got home and toasted it, it was decent. But I expected more from a place like this. Chive cream cheese complimented it very well. And lastly, the black and white cookie. I've never had one before but I'm definitely a fan now. I'll be back for just the cookie alone. Service is good and speedy. Don't expect five star fine dining service at a deli of this caliber. read more

Kaufman's - Mini black and white cookie - Delis Near Me - Skokie, Illinois

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Where to begin? Stopped in on a recommendation from a friend. Our experience at Kaufman's was a highlight of our trip! Great staff- friendly, engaging, patient with our questions. The food was fantastic. We started with bagels and cream cheese for breakfast. Wow! I ordered the lox spread on pumpernickel and it was so delicious. The experience was so good that we came back a few hours later for lunch! Generous portions on our turkey club and pastrami sandwiches. The bakery items were melt-in-your mouth good. Most memorable was the staff and their friendliness. I can't recommend this place enough! read more

My late grandma lived right around the corner from Kaufman's almost her entire life. Some of my fondest memories was visiting and walking to the corner for delicious bagels, cream cheese, lox, & PICKLES in barrels. When I moved to Chicago, I came to see if they were still around. While at first, I did not recognize the new larger building they had built in place of the old shopping center storefront, as soon as I walked in, I knew it was the same place! The air is filled with smells of fresh bagels, bread, and pastries, the line to the deli counter is lined with people eager to purchase the fine meats/cheeses, and the barrel of new or old pickles still exist! It was exactly what I remembered from the 90's! Their deli sandwiches are amazing! Meat piled higher than you can imagine, fresh baked bread, and fresh ingredients/sauces come together to form an AMAZING sandwich no matter which one you choose. Good luck taking a bite of your sandwich! Did I mention it's HUGE? Paired with a giant old pickle, it was delicious. Yet that's not the best part of Kaufman's! The real Magic are the bagels and cream cheese. I purchased a dozen bagels to try several kinds. Just as in years past, the onion and garlic bagels were by far the best! Paired with their delicious cream cheese, I was in heaven! This has been a bagel shop/deli/grocer that I have cherished my entire life. I am so happy they are still around. This is truly a Skokie staple! read more

Kaufman's - Bakery - Delis Near Me - Skokie, Illinois

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Kaufman's is a Skokie staple. Their sandwiches are absolutely huge and have the best names for them. Bubbe's kitchen sink is one of my favorites. 5 meats piled high. I ordered the Auntie Judy this time. Turkey and corned beef with coleslaw on rye. I mean everything is spectacular about this place. I don't think they have slacked off a bit. You really can't with a place like this. The regular customers would notice and I've yet to see that. The corned beef is amazing. You hear people talk about corned beef in Chicagoland you will hear either Kaufman's or the defunct Elliott's in Harwood Heights. Service was great. read more

A Skokie, Illinois landmark. If you want a great corned beef sandwich you could drive down into the city (Chicago) and go to Manny's on Jefferson and have one heck of a great sandwich! But with Kaufman's you will have an equally great sandwich, piled high with the thin cut beef where there's a perfect amount of fat on it. Warmed beef, a good seeded rye and deli mustard on it,.....just PERFECT with the pickle slices! I seem to forget this place every time I return to the area and don't know why. Will do my best to frequent it before I leave town!!! read more

Kaufman's - They have the meat!! - Delis Near Me - Skokie, Illinois

We usually love everything at Kaufman's Deli, except this time, we ordered a matzo ball soup. Turns out they put together an "Instant Bowl" with three matzo balls and a packet of seasoning, to which you add 12 oz. of water and heat it in the microwave. The result is "the least flavorful broth soup I've ever tasted," said my daughter. And we paid $9 for it. We feel ripped off. It may be awhile until we order from Kaufman's again, even though it's only 1.5 miles from our house. Too. bad. read more

We were on the hunt for a good, Non- Chain deli and found Kaufman's for lunch. Jackpot-- all the high quality ingredients , variety, and service that you would expect from an authentic Jewish Deli-- and it was well worth the extra drive for us. An amazing sandwich menu was complemented by a wonderful bakery and all the right chips and drinks. The reuben was right down the middle with the only wrinkle being two fatty bites per 1/2. The corned beef was piled high, the kraut perfectly sour, the dressing and bread as expected. The turkey and pastrami with cold slaw was piled high with meat and had the right amount of slaw. With chips and drinks the bill for this indulgent lunch for 2 was over 30 bucks. We'll be back the next time we get that deli hankering. Masks were required and the restrooms were closed. read more

Kaufman's - Reuben - Delis Near Me - Skokie, Illinois

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They put food on a dirty scale. Keep changing recipes on the salads. Some staff seem like they rather not be bothered.

Been going here since I was a little kid. Amazing place. Delish deli. I really love pickle barrels and their pastrami sandwiches.

The food was delicious & the bakery was awesome, too bad it was so small, you could barely eat, and be comfortable, , All in all it was good

Was working in the area and had a taste for a good deli sandwich, based on a past visit, I decided to go to Kaufmann's. Basically I was disappointed with my visit. I ordered a hot (key word) pastrami sandwich, it was barely room temperature and very small. I have gotten great sandwiches here in the past that were a meal in themselves. Unless you are a regular here, the take a number ordering system can be confusing. And like someone else mentioned, the washroom is closed to the general public, had to hit McDonald's across the street before traveling again I like the feel of an old style deli, but based on this visit, no need to repeat. read more

I really wanted to like this place more. The order, for a first timer, was confusing. You order your sandwich/prepared foods first, then bread/desserts, then drinks before you pay. For the amount of people working there, it was odd no one pointed this out. The sandwiches, are expensive, but huge. We ordered a turkey bagel, and the "heartburn" sandwich. Both were piled high with terrific flavor. For prepared food, that we brought home, we had a knish, chicken Kiev, egg salad, and egg roll. Only the Kiev had any real flavor. We also ordered their special blondie, and a s'mores bar for dessert, which were very good. The oddest thing about the place was, with the exception of one person, everyone else there either seemed like they had something better to do, or just didn't like working there. It really made the experience feel awkward. There's other places in the area I'd like to try, and it will be a while until I come back here again. read more

Kaufman's - Heartburn Sandwich - Delis Near Me - Skokie, Illinois

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This is a high quality bagel that's not too big but just a bit dry and costs $1.20 and great flavors like Asiago, cinnamon raisin, blueberry, everything, garlic, sesame sesame seed, etc. There is also a deli section with high quality cold cuts and salads and prepared foods. Then they also have really good bakery goods. I had an amazing almond stick! And at the end of the day, they donate their leftover bagels to places...such great humans! And they also donate bagels to customers ... all because they have no preservatives....I love this place and they totally have my loyalty for their giving hearts and high quality food. I am so happy to get bagels here and freeze them to enjoy later also. read more

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Back home in the Chicago suburbs. My parents used to rave about Kaufman's. Now that I live nearby, we decided to try them! The place is a nice store. It has a bakery, soups, Jewish kosher deli, fish, and many salads ! We split a regular corn beef sandwich on rye. The corn beef was juicy and bursting with flavor! It's what they are known for. You can also get reduced fat or lean cuts of the meat. I normally don't like rye bread but this was excellent!! For a desert, I got their rice pudding... absolutely awesome!!!! The food here is absolutely delicious! My parents used to drive a hour from Bolingbrook to get their corn beef for St Patrick's Day! This place is an institution in the area. Some say they are rude, I didn't experience that at all. Culturally, some of the workers may be monotone but they are friendly. Absolutely come by and treat yourself!! Support your local institution! read more

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This is a plaace that I frequented consitantly for almost 20 years. I moved quite a distance away last year. I have spent thousands at this store. Today, while in the area on a rare occasion i stopped in and spent well over $150.00 for food items. I bought one of my favorite, their potato salad. It was awful. They use a different type of potatos and leave the yellow skins on them, there is nothing in the potato salad except that potatoes and some sort of dressing Texture and taste is awful. I wasn't too pleased with this after I have raved to everyone about what a good meal I was bring back. I called and politely asked for the manager and whoever answered the phone said she was. I mentioned the issue with the potato salad Befor I could even finish my sentence she got a bad attitude telling me I just don't like potato salad, etc. I told her no thats not it at all. She said bring it back in with the receipt for a refund. I said I am more than 15 miles away. She goes on to say that's the rules. All of this is fine, but for being a customer for so many years and politely asking about it I think she could have been a lot nicer and maybe said if you come in again when you are in the neighborhood they could either replace it or give me a couple of dollars off on my order. I am sure she knew who I was, maybe not but shame on them treating customers like that. Not at all what they used to be. Eventually they will be out of business as well. Customer service is still important when you are trying to sell something expensive. I will never return. Shame on this person. read more

I came here for a quick lunch. The inside is very spacious, and they are very organized. They have different lines for their sandwiches as well as a separate line for bagels. And you pay towards the entrance. Everyone was nice and I received my food very very quickly. I ordered their Pastrami on Rye with mustard. I also wanted an Everything bagel but they didn't have any so I opted for one of their pumpernickel bagels. It wasn't as soft as I would have preferred, and probably would order one again. Their pastrami sandwich however, was out of this world. They put plenty of meat in your sandwich and it was so tasty. The pastrami was cooked and seasoned perfectly. Definitely a very filling sandwich. The rye bread was very soft and tasted fresh. It was also served with a pickle. One of my fellow helpers tried comparing this place to Katz in NYC. IMO it's not fair if you're comparing this to the most famous deli in America serving $40 pastrami sandwiches. That's something you simply just don't do. I will definitely be returning. read more

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This place has been on the list forever! If you're looking for a great and loaded sandwich at good price, here's your spot. They also have deli by the pounds as well as desserts. I got the classic Rueben with beef liver and the amount of meat you get is insane! So flavorful. We also tried the fire smokehouse and this was our favorite. Came with two picked for each sandwich. They were pretty busy so expect a wait but totally worth it. Will definitely be back to try a lox bagel! read more

Kaufman's - Fire Smokehouse - Delis Near Me - Skokie, Illinois

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I have been going to Kaufman's since I was a kid in the 70's. The food was always excellent and back then the bakery would always give little kids free cookies which was sweet. The food is very good (don't like the potato pancakes at all). Its very high quality. My favorites are the leaned corned beef sandwich, the tuna salad, pickles and fresh bagels. Ever since the fire and the rebuilding of the store its not the same. It seems like the owners care more about profits these days then keeping long time customers. I understand that some items are quite expensive (like the fish), but a bag of chips for $2.50? Really? Some of the meat prices are also ridiculously high. $20/pound for salami? Its not like this place is kosher which would increase the pricing. Due to the high prices for most items I only come here a few times a year now. If the prices weren't so ridiculous high I would likely come much more often. read more

The true measure of a deli, in my humble opinion, is the Reuben sandwich. And few places make a really good Reuben. Aside from being ranked the number one deli on the Northshore, a strong argument can be made that Kaufman's probably makes the best Reuben as well, at least here in Chicagoland. As mentioned by other reviewers, the corned beef is very tender, and when coupled with the Swiss cheese, thousand island dressing and sauerkraut - wow, that's one satisfying sandwich!! Ask for your rye bread to be toasted for a little extra crunch. With a snappy pickle and crunchy chips..that's a perfect combination. The New Jersey bypass contains both pastrami and corned beef - it's a challenge to eat because of its size and height. You can easily save half for dinner. They are spacing out customers and managing the number entering the deli - which is very good. The parking lot is a little tight but people are continuously coming and going. read more

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I got the turkey pastrami Sammie and it was perfect! Huge enough to make 3 other sandwiches at home, which I did!

It's been eight years since my last review, and this continues to be my go-to place for lean corned beef, chicken salad, and a plethora of other deli foods and breads. The food is great. The overall experience, not so much. I was there this week, a day or so before the pre-Christmas storms hit, and while it was bustling it wasn't crowded. I was in and out with two full bag of goodies to sustain us through the storm within about 15 minutes. I've had an ongoing issue with logistics. During the pandemic they closed the dining area and expanded the grocery offerings, and now have different stations where you pick up sandwiches and salads to go and bakery items, and some extras of these things are located in cases and on shelves around the store. Once I got the lay of the land it was better, but it was confusing at first, and even still. This time, I tried to get six bagels to go along with my deli meat, and the guy in the Venezuelan soccer shirt kind of barked at me that I get those "over there" and gestured somewhere vaguely off in the distance with his head. Oops, sorry! After getting my meats and salads from him (some at one end of the counter, some at the other -- another confusion) and wandering a little, and looking at the paltry selection of breads on one shelf, I figured he must have meant the bakery counter, although what's featured there are sweet dessert items, so it was hard to tell. Also be sure to take a little paper number, on your left as you walk in and head back to the deli counter. If you don't, it'll be the subject of shame. At that counter, they live and die by those numbers. In summary -- the food is great, the people working at the bakery counter and register are great, and those working at the deli counter can be a bit salty and make you feel like a rookie every time you're there. read more

This place is amazing and I wish I had come here sooner. Corned beef sandwich was delicious. I love the fatty parts, not gonna lie. Corned beef with mustard is a must! I had their creamy coleslaw too and it's probably some of my favorite I've ever had! Apple Honey Cake! I saw a bunch of these at their bakery counter (with or without apples). It's amazingly delicious. So soft and moist. I'd find myself craving it the next day. Give it a try! read more

Kaufman's - Corned beef - Delis Near Me - Skokie, Illinois

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Kaufman's is a childhood "go to" deli... however in adult years, I've avoided shopping there... not because to food isn't great... it's because I can never tell how much I should pay for an item... Making a rare excursion to Kaufman's, because of their pricing policy... again, I had register issues. When I called to discuss my bill with Supervisor Iris.... Iris explained that I actually owed them $2.60 because their cashier rang my $5 each super bagel incorrectly... Hmm not a pleasant place to shop!!! At Kaufman's the customer is never right and should just turn over money... Well, having spent $138.78, I thought I could get some clarity on pricing... sadly, at Kaufman's THE CUSTOMER IS NEVER RIGHT... just hand over the cash and DON'T question anything... Best way to do that is to STOP SHOPPING AT KAUFMAN'S... they can go the way of Dom's where prices were always a guessing game at the end... read more

Nice set up, but overpriced. Never in my life have I bought a turkey sandwich for $18. I am originally from New York and am used to deli sandwich's costing between $9-$12. The sandwich was just okay. Service was also pretty slow for 8:15am, and not many customers. read more

Kaufman's - Turkey Sandwich option from the menu. - Delis Near Me - Skokie, Illinois

Great place! My dad and I wanted a good corned beef sandwich and didn't want to drive downtown to a famous place on Jefferson St, that will remain nameless. read more

This is a Skokie staple and the best sandwich shop hands down. I got their tuna salad and even though it was pricey it's worth every cent. I like their deli sandwiches as well. The service is always very good even if it's a long wait the counter folks are always nice and professional with a smile on their faces. They now have outdoor seating which is great if you want to enjoy the day with your entree. I highly recommend coming here you won't be disappointed. But they are $$ if you don't mind spending $15 for a sandwich this is the place for you. read more

A+ deli and bakery. I stop here every Sunday after church to get my bagels for the week and some of their amazing soup. If I need a special sweet treat for a friend's bday etc. I always come here. The sandwiches are great but be prepared to know what you want to order. I felt like I'd was in the Seinfeld episode when the soup guy wanted your order now or you get skipped! Haha! In all seriousness the service is friendly. Especially the cashiers. I love the thumbprint cookies and their eclairs are to DIE for. The parking lot is horrible-very small-but I somehow manage to get a spot. This place is definitely the BEST bakery and deli around. It's a must stop if you're in the area. read more

Why is it no one can tell me what a bagel and cream cheese cost, why is this literally not written down anywhere??? Why do you make me feel like a Karen for asking... read more

Two of us ate. -- both a Reuben sandwich with lean corned beef and a pastrami sandwich. Both delicious. We also stocked up on bagels and challah bread and two almond sticks for home. All were delicious. I highly recommend recommend their sandwiches and their baked goods. read more

Stopped at Kaufman's a few weeks back for brunch with my wife and so glad we did! We both were in the mood for good bagels and after a quick search on Google, Kaufman's was the choice. There was a bit of a line when we entered but the staff moves quickly to take orders and get you out the door. Everyone we dealt with was very friendly and helpful when ordering. The bagels were delicious - I had the lox on everything bagel and really enjoyed it. I'll be back next time I'm in Skokie! read more

The best Jewish deli in the area. The owner is always accommodating. The food is consistently fresh and tastes great.

Excellent; but he hours don't work for me. I am not a stay at home parent, a person who works at home, or a retired person. It is impossible for me to patronize a business that closes at 3. I thought these were pandemic hours? read more

Kaufman's is a great Jewish deli, buts it's not strictly kosher. It has been a neighborhood staple for 60 years. It has some of the best bagels this side of Brooklyn, and great corned beef and pastrami. As well as lox and cream cheese. read more

Excellent!!! Perfect kosher style deli. Details not necessary. It's popular and not especially quick, but if you like Jewish deli food, you will like this. read more

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Amazing selection of deli, prepared foods and desserts. The quintessential club sandwich is sooo good and the bacon is beef bacon which is even better for me! Their selection of chips and snacks are also great and I always feel good supporting a local business. read more

Kaufman's - Quintessential club - Delis Near Me - Skokie, Illinois

Some things are great here - some things are really awful. Still happy to have a deli in the area but if I continue having bad experiences here, I will have to stop giving them my business. I'll start with the negative first: Soups are pretty bad especially the cabbage should be avoided at all costs! I've had super sweet cabbage soup before but this cabbage soup is so loaded with sugar that it tastes like a mistake was made in the kitchen. Also the prices are ridiculously high and I have been overcharged with the weight more than once. Also the same chocolate bar that I get at Whole Foods, is sold here for almost double the price. The good things are the lox, all the smoke fish, corned beef, chopped liver, most of the salads and the pastries and bakery items are fantastic! Bagels are also good and the cranberry pistachio mondel Brot (biscotti) is to die for! Most everything they bake is superb! Just beware with all the the soups especially the cabbage soup, don't get ripped off on the grocery items on the shelves, and check the weights. A little over on the scale is lot when it comes to lox at $35 per pound. And God forbid if you have a problem here, the owner does not seem to care and she is not nice at all. Rating this 2 stars due to the negative issues with the place but hope they can rectify things. read more

Food is great ambiance is a deli and small grocery store. Service is fine. It comes with a little bit of an attitude!

One of the best delicatessen place I've visited in Chicago-suburb region! I got combo sandwich. Just say you want "combo sandwich " and add your toppings you like. I just got typical lettuce, tomato, spicy Mayo, cheese. And I added Pastrami and corned beef. Usually corned beef and Pastrami are salty. However, Kaufman's meat aren't salty and it's seasoned just perfectly. The meat stack is beyond imaginable. They stack that sandwich fattttttttt! read more

Kaufman's - Combo sandwich. Pastrami and corned beef. (Onion, lettuce tomato, spicy Mayo) This is the best sandwich (Source: Trust me bro) - Delis Near Me - Skokie, Illinois

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Kaufman's was a really strange place for a Chicago native. It was a mix between a New York deli, bakery, and war zone. We got there at about 1:20pm on a Sunday afternoon. There was a huge line, and the warehouse like room was large with tall ceilings, but all the items and people made me feel claustrophobic. It felt like chaos. We ordered three sandwiches and a large bag of chips, and the total came out to be around $41.47. The New York Style - I ordered this sandwich with the chicken liver and tomato and lettuce, and he didn't add in the veggies. Thanks for listening, bud. The sandwich was fine. I don't think I'd ever come back for it. The Quintessential - it's supposed to come with Beef bacon, but he said he didn't have it. They charged full price anyway. Moishe's Pupik - we ordered it with pastrami. The BIL seemed to really enjoy the sandwich. All in all, the visit made me feel very anxious. The place feels mismanaged and barbaric. Why yell out numbers when you have a digital counter? Not to mention, there are such technological devices called microphones. Also, having each deli worker take an individual order and then create the order is a "service"-style from the Stone Age. Perhaps we can apply concepts like an assembly line so that a visit takes less than forty minutes. If you're a fan of New York, disorganization, chaos, and overpriced sandwiches, check out Kaufman's. You won't be disappointed. read more

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