10 Ohio Sandwich Shops Where Customers Say The Deli Meats Are A Cut Above The Rest
A stack of corned beef about five inches tall sounds like a dare. In Ohio, it’s simply how one old-school deli builds a weekday lunch.
That stack sent me hunting for more. I found a family counter that makes its own deli meats.
Another shop steams razor-thin pastrami with Swiss on seeded rye. One more pours s’mores-flavored milk right next to its subs.
I love how different these counters are. A few sit in busy downtowns.
One stands near Amish farm fields, and another sits along a rural state route. Several close by mid-afternoon, so timing really matters.
For families, that variety is a gift. There’s a plain turkey sandwich for the picky eater.
There’s a towering Reuben for the grown-up who skipped breakfast. So which Ohio deli counter would you point the car toward first?
1. Slyman’s Restaurant and Deli
Five inches of corned beef on one sandwich is less a lunch and more a construction project. Slyman’s Restaurant and Deli on Cleveland’s St. Clair Avenue builds that kind of stack on a regular weekday.
The meat comes sliced thin and piled high, so it stays tender instead of chewy. You can go classic with corned beef on rye with Swiss, or try the Corned Beef Melt.
Can’t pick a favorite meat? A melt pairing pastrami, corned beef, and Swiss lets you skip the decision entirely.
Kids who don’t care about cured beef can stick with a turkey sandwich. Sides keep things simple, with potato cakes, onion rings, pickles, and homemade soups.
Ordering happens at the counter, though there’s some table service if you eat in. Takeout works too, which helps when the back seat is getting restless.
Timing is the big thing to plan around. The deli opens at 7 a.m. on weekdays, closes at 2:30 p.m., and stays closed on weekends.
A small free lot sits on site, with free street parking nearby. Weekday afternoons can get busy, so an earlier arrival from downtown Cleveland makes life easier.
Address: 3106 St Clair Ave NE, Cleveland, OH 44114
2. Express Deli
Plenty of delis slice meat. Fewer make their own, and that’s the quiet bragging right at this family-owned counter in Brook Park.
House-made deli meats go into big sandwiches and the signature pita wraps. The Reuben Wrap is a clever twist, folding a classic into something easier for small hands to hold.
Prefer tradition? The corned beef sandwich and the Reuben keep things straightforward, and potato salad rounds out the tray.
A secret special sauce shows up on the sandwiches and wraps. Nobody’s handing over the recipe, so you’ll just have to taste it yourself.
The room tends to run quiet and clean, with counter service that keeps lunch moving. It’s a handy stop just southwest of Cleveland, close to the airport area.
Hours run 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. Sundays are closed, and weekday afternoons can get busy.
Parking is easy, thanks to a free lot that usually has plenty of room. Takeout, delivery, and catering are all options if you’re feeding a whole team after a ballgame.
Address: 5185 Smith Rd, Brook Park, OH 44142
3. Frenchi’s Deli & Bakery
Le Pastrami sounds like it should come with a beret. At this Columbus sandwich shop, French flair meets fresh-sliced deli meat in a delightfully unfussy way.
The shop sits on East Hudson Street in north Columbus. Its menu leans on fresh-sliced meats, plus French-style baked goods for a sweet finish.
Pastrami gets the spotlight, alongside Les Corn Beef Sandwiches and a corned beef hoagie with generous fillings. Tuna fans can look for Le Thon.
Picky eaters have room to roam too. A full vegetarian menu and a lineup of wraps mean nobody has to settle for a sad bag of chips.
Plan ahead, because the schedule is unusual. It’s closed Mondays and Wednesdays, opens at 1 p.m. on Thursdays, and runs until 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
Service happens at the counter, and the setup works best for takeout or delivery. The owner’s patience with first-timers studying the menu adds to the charm.
Free parking in a lot or on the street is usually easy to find. Hours can shift, so a quick check before you drive is smart.
Address: 18 E Hudson St, Columbus, OH 43202
4. Carl’s Deli
Hyde Park has fancy shops and pretty streets, yet one of its best lunch moves is a deli sandwich. Carl’s Deli has been on Observatory Avenue long enough to feel like part of the neighborhood.
The menu runs wide, with handcrafted sandwiches on a strong lineup of breads. Hot pastrami and the Hot Corned Beef & Turkey Sandwich are two meaty headliners.
Curious about the names? The Gale Sandwich and the Italian Turkey add personality, while the vegetarian Gorlami gives meat-skippers a real option.
Sandwiches come big, so splitting one with a kid is a fair plan. Deviled eggs make an easy side that young eaters usually recognize.
A pastrami Reuben is a popular move here. Ask for it without slaw if you like your rye a little tidier.
The shop is set up for quick visits and takeout, with a fun outdoor area. That patio space comes in handy on a nice Cincinnati afternoon.
Hours run 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, which makes this a rare weekend-friendly pick on the list. Look for free street parking nearby, and expect weekend afternoons to fill up.
Address: 2836 Observatory Ave # A, Cincinnati, OH 45208
5. Romans Deli
Razor-thin is the key phrase in downtown Toledo. Romans Deli slices its corned beef and pastrami that way, then steams them with Swiss on seeded rye.
The result is soft, melty, and stacked without being stiff. The pastrami sandwich is the signature, though the corned beef and the Reuben share the stage.
Save room for the pickles. They earn nearly as much attention as the meat, which says a lot.
The shop on Jackson Street keeps a small, simple setup built around takeout. There’s no restroom, so plan a stop elsewhere before little ones get settled.
Weekday hours run 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and weekends are closed. Wednesday mornings and Friday lunchtime tend to be the busiest stretches.
Street parking is the play here, with both free and paid spots around. Downtown Toledo sits right off I-75, so it fits neatly into a northwest Ohio road trip.
Pair lunch with a stroll around downtown and you’ve got an easy weekday outing. Just make sure everyone in the car is on board with rye.
Address: 526 Jackson St, Toledo, OH 43604
6. Diamond Deli
The smell of corned beef and melted cheese hits first at this little South Main Street shop. Diamond Deli brings New York-style deli energy to downtown Akron.
The family-owned spot is known for giant sandwiches, both traditional and specialty. Many come with quirky names, which makes ordering half the fun.
Pastrami with Swiss and the Reuben show off the house corned beef and pastrami at their best. A Turkey Reuben offers a lighter spin on the same idea.
Kids who want nothing to do with pastrami can grab the Grilled Cheese Delux. Wraps, including grilled chicken and buffalo chicken, add more choices for the table.
Leave space for dessert. Homemade carrot cake by the slice makes a sweet finish, and the pickles have fans of their own.
Hours run 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays only. Thursday and Friday lunch rushes get busy, so an earlier start helps.
Dine in, grab takeout, or order delivery. Parking includes a free lot plus street spots, which is handy near the University of Akron area.
Address: 378 S Main St, Akron, OH 44311
7. All The Best Delicatessen
Cheesecake on a deli list? Absolutely, because this Dayton spot treats dessert as seriously as its pastrami.
All The Best Delicatessen sits on Far Hills Avenue south of downtown, serving a New York-style menu. The pastrami Reuben is the standout, rich and savory on buttery grilled bread.
A turkey Reuben gives a lighter option with the same melty appeal. Brisket, chopped liver, chicken salad, and a tuna melt cover classic deli ground.
Families get real perks here. There’s a kids’ menu, high chairs, and table service, so you don’t have to juggle trays.
Weekend mornings bring breakfast, with doors opening at 8 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Weekdays start at 11 a.m., and closing time is 8 p.m. daily.
Sides deserve a look, especially the potato salad and an Israeli salad. A sandwich combo is a smart way to sample more than one meat.
The free parking lot usually has room. Afternoons can get busy, so an early dinner may feel calmer with kids.
Address: 5940 Far Hills Ave, Dayton, OH 45429
8. Kravitz Delicatessen Inc
House-made corned beef is the calling card at this Belmont Avenue deli. Kravitz Delicatessen has been a Youngstown lunch staple since at least the 1980s.
That corned beef goes into signature Reubens and a classic Corned Beef & Swiss. Pastrami & Swiss gives the other cured favorite equal billing.
Craving breakfast for lunch? Corned beef hash turns the same beloved meat into a hearty plate.
Soup matters here too, with wedding soup and chicken noodle on the menu. Kids who balk at rye can usually find comfort in a bowl.
Baked goods and desserts round out the counter. Hummus with pita and a deli potato add simple sides for lighter appetites.
The place is set up for quick visits, takeout, and delivery. Portions run generous, so one lunch can easily stretch into a second meal.
Hours run 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and until 5 p.m. on Saturday, with Sundays closed. A free parking lot makes it easy to swing in on Youngstown’s north side.
Address: 3135 Belmont Ave, Youngstown, OH 44505
9. Trail Side Deli
A deli counter, a bakery case, and bulk food shelves all share one roof in Amish Country. That’s basically the setup at Trail Side Deli in Millersburg.
The deli slices local meats and cheeses fresh and builds custom sandwiches to order. A chicken salad sandwich is a popular lunch pick.
Homemade pies and cookies make it hard to leave with only a sandwich. Produce, groceries, and hard-to-find items fill out the store.
Holmes County is prime road-trip territory for Ohio families, especially during fall foliage. Grabbing sandwiches here sets you up for an easy picnic between farm-country stops.
Custom orders are a lifesaver with picky eaters. A plain sandwich with one meat and one cheese is a simple ask.
Hours run 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and the store is closed Sunday. Saturdays get busy, especially from morning into the afternoon.
A free lot keeps parking easy, and there’s free Wi-Fi and a restroom inside. Millersburg sits about an hour and a half south of Cleveland, depending on your route.
Address: 1497 S Washington St, Millersburg, OH 44654
10. Horst Sub & Deli
S’mores milk is not a typical sandwich-shop sidekick. Along Route 7 in New Waterford, it shares the spotlight with subs made from high-quality deli meats.
Horst Sub & Deli builds subs on freshly baked buns with fresh veggies. The meats and cheeses come in a wide selection, and each one stays easy to taste.
Farm-fresh flavored milks give kids something fun to sip. Ice cream and fry pies close the deal nicely.
Early birds win here, since doors open at 6 a.m. Monday through Saturday.
Breakfast and coffee make it handy before a long drive.
Families have it easy, with high chairs, a gender-neutral restroom, and outdoor seating. Counter service keeps things casual and quick.
The shop sits in a small Columbiana County village near the Pennsylvania line. It’s a short drive south of Youngstown, which makes it simple to add to a day trip.
Parking is free, with a lot and street spots that usually have room. Closing time is 6 p.m., and Sundays are closed.
Address: 5437 OH-7, New Waterford, OH 44445