I've eaten at Zella's several times. I've ordered different sandwiches and sides every time, and each one left me with a new favorite. Delicious New York style sandwich. Delicious. read more

Incredible pastrami on rye, great service and atmosphere. Great dinner menu as well as beer and wine. Will be one of my go to's in Asheville

Incredible lunch spot. Affordable prices and it's even got an under $10 menu too. Homestyle chips are a great addition to the meal. I got the BLT with chips and a tea and this has to be the best BLT I've had at any sandwich shop I've eaten at. read more

Zella's Deli - BLT combo - Delis Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

Great deli and incredible pastrami and rye. The light smoked flavor was perfect. The staff were very helpful and pleasant. This place is a NYC throwback. If you want a NY Deli style place...this is it! One of my new favorite sandwich places in Asheville read more

Zella's Deli - Inside - Delis Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

See all

A friend recommended this place and we were looking for to go sandwiches to take on a hike so we popped in recently. The man behind the counter was so helpful and friendly. He let us know that they make all of their breads in house EXCEPT for the Kaiser & hoagie rolls. They also make their own pastrami & corned beef. I literally wanted everything on the menu. It was difficult to make a choice. The chicken cutlet caught my attention. I ended up getting it on a NY Kaiser roll with melted provolone and house made 1000 island dressing. Fantastic. My friend got the Italian and the tomatoes on it were some of the best I have seen all season. She said it was delicious w/ many different Italian cold cuts (cappicola, salami, pepperoni & provolone, lettuce, tom & O&V). A woman that works there told me that the original location had been in Swanannoa and was completely washed away in the flood as was her family's home. I was touched that she shared with me and was inspired by her/their resilience. They had a small dessert case and they make homemade pies. When I was there they had peanut butter pie (popular), pineapple coconut pie and - one of my faves - buttermilk pie. What sealed the deal for me is they sold my absolute favorite rainbow cookies which hail from Brooklyn. They are the best with the perfect ratio of raspberry jam and chocolate (free samples on the counter too). Go there now. You won't regret it. read more

Zella's Deli - Chicken Cutlet Sandwich, melted provolone, house made 1000 island dressing on a NY Kaiser roll. - Delis Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

See all

I went to Zella's Deli today. What a treat. I did forget pictures but just wanted to say how wonderful my Italian sandwich was. The meat was top notch. The lettuce and tomato were fresh and it had oil and vinegar not mayo. Perfect. Now the pièce de résistance, the roll. The outside was so crusty and the inside soft. I have not had such a roll since being in NYC last year. This was a perfect Italian sub. Period. I've been in Asheville since 1997. First time I rave. read more

The menu doesn't leave out anything you're looking for at lunch. My Italian sub was delicious. Kudos are in order for the interior buildout at the new location too. We will go back. It's counter service with delivery of food to table, so what's not to love! read more

Staff was extremely pleasant and professional! Love the outdoor seating so that our dog could join us! And then there's the food... Amazing! Absolutely delicious. Five ******! read more

Excellent Food, great service, reasonable prices. Fountain soda is so good. Love the Black Cherry. This restaurant is like an older diner and it's lovely. I plan to eat there as often as I can. Try it, you won't be disappointed. read more

The good..Placed order online for pick up. Food was ready and waiting when I got there. The sandwich tasted good. Housemade chips perfectly crisp. My Rachel sandwich came with dill pickle. I love dill pickle! The not so good.. The quarter piece of dill pickle was the size of a green bean. The sandwich was skimpy more like something I would make at my home then something I actually paid money for at a fancy deli. The toasted bread was soggy, not toasty. The housemade chips had no flavor. I also got a cucumber salad I think was portioned well but tasted plain. having a business is not easy. read more

1st time eating here,I ordered the NY Pastrami on Rye, absolutely delicious! The only complaint is: the pickle was so 'tiny',, would have been alot better with a large pickle or two. The staff was warm & friendly, nice clean resturant with outdoor seating. I will be back, next time it will be the Rueben! Excellent place to grab a NY style sandwich. read more

The new location seemed level this spot up some. Love the indoor and outdoor space. It does a great job looking old-school, but also clean. Lots of character. We got another pastrami as well as a Caprese and Caesar salad. It's quite expensive to add prosciutto to the Caprese and I wouldn't recommend it for the amount you get and the price you pay. The Caprese honestly is quite delicious by itself so I would rather just get a different sandwich or stick to the vegetarian option. Each sandwich is served with a few Housemade chips. The chips are really wonderful, but a very tiny quantity. It was a little interesting because I only had like six of them but my partner had like 15. Doesn't really seem to be a standard - it's really more like what your sandwich fits and what they grab. The Caesar salad is wonderful and the croutons and flavor have much improved. The server was kind enough to split it into us without us asking. The ranch as well as the Caesar tastes like homemade. They definitely take their time here so don't come in a rush. I actually like that about the spot. The workers are very kind as well. I like that they have some affordable lunch specials and it feels like that's probably the way to go. read more

See all

Zella's Deli has moved from downtown Asheville to a spot on busy U.S. Hwy 70 in Swannanoa. (Yelp's listing hasn't been updated.) It's not a fancy spot, but it's decorated with New York City photos and has a pleasant atmosphere. This deli makes one of the best Reuben sandwiches in the Asheville area, and maybe THE best. It comes close to an authentic New York deli version, with lots of corned beef, thousand island dressing, sauerkraut and Swiss cheese on toasted rye bread. With house-made chips (so-so) and a good pickle, it goes for $13. Zella's has some other good deli sandwiches, but the Reuben is the way to go. read more

Great, friendly service, decent value, and good food. My dad liked his Rueben, and the bacon, egg and cheese on white bread that I got was very good. The bacon and eggs were cooked well, the cheese was melty white American cheese, and the bread was nicely toasted. I'd recommend going here read more

Zella's Deli - Bacon Egg & Cheese on white bread - Delis Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

Quick service, great pastrami, and fresh rye bread. Exciting to have a family deli close to tunnel area.

Awesome addition to the dining scene in downtown AVL! Affordable, quality food served by super nice folks. Go check these guys out and give them some Asheville love! read more

See all

Zella's is just amazing! We went to the location in Swannanoa before the storm and missed their food for almost a year. The new location on Tunnel Road in East Asheville is welcome addition. Their sandwiches and bagels are the real deal - hoagie rolls and bagels are directly from a bakery in NY. I had a bagel with lox the other day that may be the best bagel I've had in my life. OMG. Check them out! read more

The meat is good, but the portions are super small. The french fries to go were wrapped in tissue paper and were about a handful of fries each, and the roast beef and pastrami cheese steak both felt like they were either trying to turn a profit by not putting very much meat on the sandwhich or ran out of supplies. When you go to a deli you expect a stacked sandwhich, especially when three sandwhiches and two cookies cost $75. I'd say this was definitely not worth the price. Too bad as the flavors were good and it's in our neighborhood. either come down the price or make the sandwhich and sides heartier. read more

They moved to Swannanoa, got hit by hurricane, now relocated on tunnel rd in east Asheville by second hand sports. But don't rush in. They still don't have their heads screwed on right. The menues are only available in a stock in front of the register so your entire party has to stand there and read. They don't know how to work the cash register yet and most importantly they falsely advertise matzo ball soup.im a cripple and needed a chair to endure the time it took to get to the counter while they stumbled through screens. The topper was no soup. I'll check back in a month or so. If they can't run the front of the house, God knows how the back of the house is doing...hello? Health Department? read more

Went to lunch at the location in Swannanoa. Amazing fresh sandwiches! I got the caprese with prosciutto. The bread is so fresh and chewy. One of the best sandwiches I've had in a long time. Don't miss the peanut butter pie....and the pickles!! Love the fresh pickles. I am looking forward to trying dinner next time. After 5pm they have all kinds of Italian Classics like Piccata and Marsala read more

Zella's Deli - caprese with prosciutto, homemade chips - Delis Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

For a place that calls itself in New York style deli, it's a joke I went there today. They have French is yellow mustard on the table when it should be deli mustard when I went to the counter and asked for deli mustard, they checked, and they were out of it. They were also out of corned beef. I had a pastrami on rye. The pastrami was thin and obviously not anything like a New York pastrami, which would be sliced and warm. He would also have a choice between lean and regular pastrami, which, of course was not an option. They were also out of coleslaw. They also toasted Arise he would never have toasted rye in New York. I don't recommend anyone bothers to go to this place. read more

The service here was amazing and the vibe is so homey. The gentleman BEN who took our order was such a well knowledgeable local he gave us all the spots to visit while we were in town. We rolled in a little late but he accepted us with open arms and lets us stay till after close! Even offered us free ice cream in their amazing soda selection! THE FOOD WAS OUT OF THIS WORLD!!!!! It came out quickly and was taken down in seconds we both ate every bite! Will be back! read more

Zella's Deli - Sub! - Delis Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

See all

New York corner deli. IYKYK If not get educated Get the pastrami. Talk music with the cook. Great people. Great food Wish I was sticking around more to try other items on menu. read more

Great to have a real Deli - with parking - on the East Side! Very friendly service and ambiance. Lunch menu has all the deli favorites and the sandwiches are very amply filled and accompanied by tasty house chips and dill pickle. Today we enjoyed the chicken parm and chicken salad sandwiches and potato salad. The sandwiches are priced attractively - $7-12 - and come with pickle and chips. However the sides are an extra $3.50 for a small cup. I wish I had the choice of substituting the chips and pickle with pasta or potato salad or coleslaw for an upcharge less than $3.50. The pies look homemade as do the cookies and brownies. On a previous visit I tried the blondie, which was dry and disappointing, especially for $4. The dinner menu looks terrific - but pricey for this type of establishment. However this was our second visit - and won't be our last - as the sandwiches are definitely the real thing! read more

Zella's Deli - Real Deli Sandwiches! - Delis Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

I've eaten here a few times and the food has been pretty good. One star because I just stopped by at 11:45 am on a Monday and they're closed. Their posted hours at the restaurant and online are 10 am to 3:30 pm daily. I paid $5.50 to park specifically to go there. This is the second time this has happened. I won't be going back. Disappointing. read more

I have eaten at Zellas once, and had carryout for lunch two times and I would say that this NY deli is no NY deli. It's not anything like the deli's I have frequented throughout the north. For example, the pastrami sandwich (which should be the signature entre) was minimalist. The pastrami was tasty but there should have been more of it. All it had was brown mustard on underwhelming rye bread that was thin and not deli-worthy. No swiss cheese, no coleslaw, no Russian dressing. Also, even though I came for carryout pickup, I had to wait fifteen minutes in line. Just an awkward flow to the service and staff. There is no real ambiance, that's why I did carryout. read more

This is my second review of Zella's. What great food ! All cooked to order. The Rueben is perfect. Love the breakfast sandwiches. Don't miss this gem as you tour downtown Asheville! Wayne and staff were great! read more

Brooooooo this place is FIRE!!! The first time I went was with a group of friends and everything I tasted was delicious. Folks working the counter are always nice and efficient. The seating area and bathrooms have been very clean each time I've been in. 10/10 y'all go get that sausage. The bfast on a Kaiser roll is a favorite of my partner and we would both get the bologna again. Thick cut like it's homemade. read more

See all

Initially very excited to have a NY deli in downtown Asheville. Went on a Sunday afternoon with my Uncle Thom. Thom is from the Northeast and I thought he would really appreciate this spot. When Thom ordered his bagel, he was informed they did not have any fresh bagels. Extremely disappointed to say the least!! My sub was okay, but really dry. Wanted to love this place; however, not a place we will try again. The best part of the meal was the window seat watching the Downtown Asheville scene. read more

So I wanted an authentic New York sandwich but found that wasn't available on the dinner menu. So I ordered chicken marsala. Not sure what it was but marsala was not used . Will never return to this fake NYC deli. read more

Yes! Boy, did I need a good Bagel with Lox and cream cheese sandwich and Boy, did they deliver it! And in the middle of a flood in their restaurant! Thank you! Perfect .. just the right amount of chewy plain bagel, creamy cream cheese, salty delicate lox, and spice berries & crunch from the onion.. but not too much and the tomato. Point on. Thank you! read more

Delicious food! My husband and I came here while on vacation in Asheville, and the subs did not disappoint! It's a very traditional feeling deli, which is hard to find. I had the sausage, onion, and pepper sub and my husband had the chicken parm sub. Both were very tasty! read more

New delicious deli alert!! The absolute nicest staff helped us at Zella's. I had the chicken salad sandwich which is a just right texture with a balance of peppers and celery. Husband had the hearty meatball sub, and he said the bread was glorious. You order at the counter and the seating space was open air with roll up garage doors. We can't wait to come back and try other delicious meats and sides! read more

They were a little backed up today but they still made me a bomb ass sandwich Thnx guys keep up the good work.

We grabbed sandwiches here and they were great. Fast service. Lots of meat in our sammies. Delicious. We would definitely return here. Very convenient location downtown. A nice option if you don't want a sit-down meal or you're looking for a to-go option. read more

Sandwiches are excellent! Large portions and great quality meat! I would definitely recommend giving this place a try.

When they relocated to Swannanoa as you might expect everyone was on their P's and Q's. I've visited several times and while the food is really good, the service has deteriorated. Ambiance is very quaint at best. read more

The sandwiches were good, but a bit pricey. The chips were stale and the pickle was actually not good at all. This was a take out order and I would suggest putting something with liquid in a plastic bag. The pickle juice got all over my car seat. And the sweet tea was NOT sweet at all, but after a packet of sweetener all better. Lunch for two with a drink was $40. + disappointment. Will not likely eat here again. read more

I love meatball subs and love trying them at new spots, of all the places I've been Zella's has outright the best I have ever had. The right size and amount of bread, a delicious sauce that's not drippy, perfect size meatball that are flavor and not dry and for me most important it's just a little bit of cheese. I hate getting one that's got more cheese then anything else. Top all this off with freshly made chips, and Boylan soda and friendly staff. I only wish I lived closer. read more

only thing better than the food is their customer service approach. a tech glitch with the printer messed up my order, they could not have been more helpful in making things right. try 'em - you won't be dissapointed................................. read more