Ben And Esther's Vegan Jewish Deli
If you're a fan of delicious deli food and plant-based meals, you have to check out Ben And Esther's Vegan Jewish Deli. Located at 6912 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, Oregon, this vegan deli offers a fresh twist on traditional Jewish deli classics – all without any animal products.
Walking into Ben And Esther's, you'll feel like you're stepping into a cozy neighborhood spot where comfort food takes center stage. The menu is packed with mouth-watering options, from pastrami sandwiches made with seitan to rich, flavorful matzo ball soup. Whether you’re craving something savory, sweet, or just a hearty bite, this place has got you covered. And don’t worry, even if you’re new to vegan food, you’ll quickly fall in love with the inventive dishes that hit all the right notes.
What sets Ben And Esther's apart is their commitment to both delicious food and sustainability. All the dishes are prepared with fresh, high-quality ingredients, making sure you get that authentic, satisfying taste you'd expect from a Jewish deli—just without the meat. It's the perfect spot for anyone looking to enjoy comforting, familiar flavors while sticking to a vegan lifestyle.
Plus, the deli is family-friendly, offering a warm and welcoming atmosphere that makes it ideal for gatherings, casual meals, or just grabbing a quick bite. The friendly staff are always ready to help you navigate the menu, ensuring that your meal is exactly what you're looking for.
If you’re in Portland and looking for a vegan-friendly spot that offers a unique take on Jewish deli fare, Ben And Esther's Vegan Jewish Deli is a must-visit. With its flavorful dishes and inviting vibe, it’s the perfect place to enjoy a meal that’s both delicious and kind to the planet.
Reviews
First off, I'm thrilled to be able to find a good vegan Jewish deli. I had high hopes for Ben and Esther's, and it was good but not great. The reuben was pretty tasty, and I wouldn't have known it wasn't actually corned beef. The sandwich was definitely no where near as thick as one I'd get at any regular Jewish deli, and the price was about the same. The kugel was a miss though, and I didn't even finish it. The staff was very inattentive and didn't seem interested in taking my order. It's a small shop and I'm guessing most of their business is takeout as there's not much seating.
I'm tempted to give them 5 stars, but having only been here once so far I'll reserve a possible higher rating for the future. It's a small place, with only seats for maybe 6 - 8 people to sit and eat, so depending on how busy they are you might need to take yours to-go. We aren't vegan but regularly eat vegan/vegetarian, and they have a few gluten-free bagels as well as all their other bagels, so we gave them a try for lunch. The gluten-free bagel I had was one of the best I've tried, and so good the Hubs couldn't tell the difference between mine and his. We shared two of they open-faced bagel sammies, the lox and the whitefish. The whitefish was our fave and we couldn't believe it wasn't real fish. The lox had the right texture, but lacked flavor...overall still a good sammie, but I'd try a different topping next time. They were generous with all the toppings, but next time we'll ask them to go easy on the cream cheese as they really laid it on quite thick (the norm for a bagel place, I know). We also tried a half-sour pickle (yum!), and the Hubs had a Black & White Cookie, which he enjoyed (and since it was October the cookie was decorated spooky with a spider web, so clever & cute!). The food was ready within 5 - 10 minutes, the service was friendly & they happily answered our questions.
This place was the bomb! Omggg the sandwiches were so filling and filled with so much of the vegan protein. The flavors were there, the portions were there, and the service was there! I would recommend this place to anyone who enjoys a good sandwich! My favorite was the Reuben and the Turkey Club.
Yahoo...,real bagels!!! Awesome everything about this shop. Best bagels in NE Portland, hands down. The really cool thing is that they're also vegan....so you can get substitute dairy toppings for your bagels. They have this amazing breakfast sandwich that they call.... steak and eggs.... which is the vegan take on that. Don't go anywhere else for bagels. Just saying.
I had read about this place while exploring Google Maps and the reviews & pictures looked great. Being from Guam, we don't have many Vegan choices--let alone Jewish vegan!--so I had to try it for myself. Husband and I ordered the Reuben and the Turkey Club. I wish I had taken pictures of the sandwiches but there was no time because as soon as we got them, I gobbled my half of each sandwich up. They both were delicious!!! Such flavor. Crispy in all the right places. Great bread. So delicious, I ordered a Reuben to go for my college son. He loved it, too!! Told him that it was vegan after he had finished his sandwich. He still loved it. Highly recommend for anyone wanting a good sandwich on the cleaner side.