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    The Original John's Deli

    4.0 (477 reviews)
    ModerateDelis, Salad, Sandwiches
    Open 9:45 am - 10:00 pm

    Order The Original John's Deli Takeout or Delivery

    The Original John's Deli Photos

    Business Info

    THE ORIGINAL JOHN'S DELI ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - The Original John's Deli

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    Joe C.

    Sadly, not good. Amazingly overrated. I could have given this place 1 star but I am feeling generous. This is our first try of the infamous roast beef, fresh mootz, and brown pan gravy classic. I am not sure if this place is owned or ran by new staff, but the hero was just not good. Mushy, dried out dark roast beef, and a gravy with no beef flavor. You're talking about a 25 dollar sub, it should always be good. The bread wasn't even good. Just a mess and a waste of money. Stomach ache, in an area with so many great sandwich shops, this should be a pass. Sorry, have to be honest. Thanks

    This is the "Tony Manero" - Divine!!
    Janine P.

    (short & sweet) Never -NOT- incredible, The Original John's Deli offers a wide array of sandwiches (amongst other things) to choose from; One to satisfy every diverse palate. Their sandwiches are plentiful - Stuffed full of all the ingredients you choose, and as much as the bread can handle (without splitting into something unrecognizable). Just the right amount of 'saltpeppahoregano Have the urge for Sandwiches? The Original John's is a sure bet - 100% of the time.

    Henry R.

    I remember when the sandwiches were as big a baby's head. Still good but I guess inflation hits sandwiches too lol

    Johnny Roastbeef
    Brandon Y.

    I said I would come back to try the Johnny Roast Beef and I did, eventually haha. The sandwich is super good and messy and very worth it overall. The roast beef has good flavor and matches with the gravy and onions really nicely. It soaks into the soft bread well, exactly what I'm looking for in this kind of sandwich. The mozz is good, but I think I'd probably substitute it for provolone or white cheddar if I could next time, just a personal preference. Very good sandwich though! Service was nice and quaint and the atmosphere has that old school charm and vibe to it. I will be back on occasion o7.

    The famous Johnny Roastbeef
    Danny M.

    Old School sandwich shop located in South Brooklyn. They've been here for decades and the sandwiches haven't changed. Still good and excellent value for the money. Service is quick and friendly. There are 4 tables to dine. It's a casual vibe, eat quickly kind of sandwich shop.

    Godfather
    Kelly N.

    Ordered on Toast and sandwiches were ready when we went to pick up. The deli is small with an entire wall with the menu on it. There is parking since it was next to CVS. We ordered the Godfather, Johnny's Roastbeef and riceball with Pistachios. Godfather was delish with the roasted red peppers, tomato salad and hot sliced cherry pepper. I also had the Italian bread toasted and scooped out. The roasted beef was ordered as is with the gravy on the side so it's not as messy to eat. The gravy was dark & looked like teriyaki sauce. It added more umami to the Roastbeef sandwich. The riceballs were ok. Overall good sandwiches and service was quick.

    The wall
    Tony L.

    Came to Brooklyn to visit family. I used to come here as a kid. Food is as good as I remember. Had chicken Parm. It was perfect. This is the original spot but the owner sold it and opened up on 13th Ave. Never had a chance to visit this location but based on what I ate this is the same. My cousin eats at the 13th ave told me the story she did it's great too.

    Johnny Roast Beef on a roll
    Bill S.

    When I'm in Brooklyn, I like to stick to my goto spots. I live on Long Island and if I want a warm roast beef sammy? Forgetaboutit. They'd look at me like I had two heads. I've never been to John's deli, lemme see what the hubbub is all about. Walking in, I'm a man on mission. If there is one thing that irks me, someone in front of me and not being prepared on the sandwich offerings. It's like being in an ice cream shop and the person in front of me wants to try every flavor. They're licking the spoon and commenting, Hmm the vanilla notes are very pronounced. Me? I have cash in hand and read the entire menu. I walk in and I'm surprised by the size of the deli. It's a small powerhouse with a few tables. The menu board is to the left on the wall, no one is in front of me and I ask for the Johnny Roastbeef. Roll or Hero I'm asked. I wasn't prepped for that choice so I said on a roll please. The roll was freshly baked but it was a scooby snack, I shoulda went for the the hero. The Johnny Roastbeef is freshly sliced roast beef with sautéed onions, mozzarella and gravy on a freshly baked roll. Look at my picture, the sandwich guy was an artist with the gravy! One bite and it was a slam dunk. There is something about warm roast beef and gravy, to have it on a handheld sammy is epic. John's deli, I'm glad we met. First time here and I had a great sandwich. I can't wait to return.

    the inside of the restaurant
    Rose D.

    Very small place. If you're not looking for it it is easy to miss. Glad I did not miss it!!! It's a small establishment, clean with indoor seating (3 tables) and outdoor (two tables) as well. We ordered the classic roast beef on a The sandwich was packed (not too thick) with savory, juicy & tender roast beef topped with caramelized onions that perfectly complimentary the beef. It really was a bite of delight. The guys at the counter where very nice and quick. We will definitely return

    I usually stop by John's Deli, everytime I want to go to Coney Island. Food at Coney is good, but John Deli is a perfect meal to have before walking around the boardwalk. It feels like one of those old-school neighborhood spots where everyone knows exactly what they're doing. The second you walk in, the smell of freshly sliced meats hits you like a wake-up call. It's busy, loud, and honestly kind of chaotic, but in that classic New York way. I ordered the Honey Bunny, and Johnny Roast Beef and lemme tell you it was huge, juicy, and packed. The bread was warm, the meat was tender, and they didn't skimp on portions. The staff works fast, but they're still friendly even when the line is long. Sure, the wait can be annoying, but really, would anyone wait if the food wasn't worth it?

    Fried Shrimp
    Hadiya M.

    As a Brooklyn native and sandwich lover, I can't believe I didn't come here earlier. John's deli serves up some delicious, made to order sandwiches with clever names and unique flavor combinations. We ordered the Eric Murphy with extra cherry peppers and the Dr. Tancredi to share. Both sandwiches were generous portions and with chips and a drink the total is about $40. They have indoor and outdoor seating. The owner was very personable and made us a little fried shrimp after we inquired about the weekend seafood sandwiches. Great customer service, very delicious sandwiches ( gotta get that sesame seed bread!) will definitely be back for more.

    Menu
    Cris T.

    The order was simple: Johnny roast beef on a nine inch hero with the gravy on side. It was an amazing hero. There was plenty of roast beef with cheese and onions. The gravy is so savory. I got the gravy on the side since I was traveling with the sandwich. The place is nice and clean. The staff is helpful and friendly. Parking can be a pain, but it's worth it. I will definitely be back.

    Roast beef sandwich

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    3 months ago

    Johnny roast beef gravy on the side!!!! Always super quick and they have indoor seating as well!!

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    Ari G.

    Thanks so much for the five stars, Kevin, we really appreciate it!

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    3 years ago

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    8 months ago

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    4 months ago

    The best rice balls in Brooklyn. Definitely recommend. Sandwich are great also . Wish this was around when I went to Lafayette

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    8 months ago

    Sandwiches are good. But 18$ for a 8 inch hero is absolutely insane. You're better off going to an actual pork store for a sandwich

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    9 months ago

    Pricey but absolutely delicious food, best eaten right there on the premises. Take a moment to enjoy the taste.

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    5 years ago

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    8 months ago

    Everything was phenomenal! The service, the people! The Potato croquettes are a must have!

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    1 year ago

    Asked them about food with no pork , but they added pork anyway.. Very rude personal !

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    Page 1 of 12

    Ask the Community - The Original John's Deli

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    Stay away from Holy Schnitzel if you don't want aggravation and wasted time…read more We received the wrong order (completely not our mistake), and for nearly two weeks we've been chasing them nonstop just to get a simple credit. Every time it's a different excuse, a different story, and no resolution. The manager, Dalia, keeps giving assurances but nothing actually gets done. Yesterday we were told the money would be sent via Zelle--something that takes seconds--and yet, still nothing. It's unbelievable that customers have to follow up again and again just to fix their error. There is no accountability and no one reliable to speak to. We order from restaurants regularly, and we have never experienced anything like this. If you value your time, money, and peace of mind--go elsewhere.

    I was buzzing with excitement for my first taste of Schnitzel, especially after seeing it featured…read moreso often on cooking shows! But to my dismay, it fell flat--lacking the flavor punch I had hoped for. To bring some life into the dish, I sprinkled the wings with a vibrant mix of salt, pepper, smoked paprika, garlic, and onion powder. What a transformation! On the bright side, the generous portions were a feast for the eyes, and the cole slaw was an absolute standout! Whoever whipped that up clearly knows how to work their magic with seasonings--hats off to the cole slaw chef!

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    Karavan Kebab

    4.0
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    As someone who enjoys trying new cuisines, as soon as I heard about this place serving authentic…read moreTajik cuisine, I knew I had to come and try (even if it's all the way out in Sheepshead Bay). There were some clear great parts of my dining experience and then some less good parts... let me start with the good... The food was delicious and super authentic. I ordered the Tajik Pilaf, which was $14.95 for a huge plate of rice, carrots, and beef, so great value. The rice had some kind of delicious sauce which added a really nice savory flavor and the carrots were cooked well too. The meat was actually my least favorite part of this place, as it was slightly chewy as opposed to tender (but not bad). I also tried the chicken kebab, which I was impressed by - the meat was very juicy, tender, and seasoned nicely. The interior of the restaurant is nicely decorated in a Tajik / central Asian style with a relaxed environment. There were just a couple other groups dining there, so finding a table was not an issue at all. The owner was constantly roaming around the restaurant (in a good, attentive way), frequently checking in on us and being super friendly, helpful, and welcoming. He made us feel at home and gave our experience a home-cooked meal kind of vibe. Now for the not so good part of our experience... the rest of the service... Right off the bat, after we were seated, we just sat there for what felt like a very long time without anyone coming by to check in or even offer water or anything. Finally, the waitress came over, which is when we also found out that somehow they don't offer regular tap water, only bottled water... like how is that even possible? Anyways, we proceeded to order our dishes and then waited for over 30 minutes only to find out at the dishes we ordered (fried lagman) was not available that day! And they only told us this after having already waited half an hour! You would think they would've known this before... so there we were, trying to order again... finally our food came and as mentioned, thankfully, it was actually very tasty. So all in all, while the service definitely could've used some improvement, the food redeemed the experience in a big way and coupled with the unique cuisine and friendliness of the owner, I am giving Karavan Kebab a solid 4 stars. I think risking the service speed to experience this unique and delicious cuisine is well worth it.

    Great food and friendly service, but unfortunately the experience ended on a bitter note…read more When we received the check, an 18% gratuity had already been added. That's fine--I assumed the tip was included. However, when we handed over our credit card, we were told that the 18% charge was not actually a tip. We were informed that it was used to support the kitchen and cover operating expenses, such as keeping the lights on. I found this explanation confusing and misleading. If an 18% service charge is added to the bill, most customers will reasonably assume it is gratuity. I ended up leaving an additional $5 for the staff, but I couldn't help feeling that the restaurant should simply pay its employees appropriately rather than putting customers in this awkward position. The food was excellent, but the billing practice left a bad impression. Unfortunately, I won't be returning.

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    The Original John's Deli - delis - Updated July 2026

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