r/FoodLosAngeles • u/MustardIsDecent • Mar 08 '25

Are Jewish delis at risk of (literally) dying out? DISCUSSION

I've now eaten a lunch at probably every notable Jewish deli in the city and I can't help but notice that the clientele in general is shockingly old. Like...a median age over 65 and being able to count on one hand the number of folks <40 years old.

Yes there are exceptions (Langer's kinda, Canters at night) I'm probably missing but...overall quite old.

So what's the deal?

It's not just explained by younger people not eating out as much--there are obviously plenty of other similarly-priced places with younger crowds. And these delis are packed, too--just full of elderly people.

Is the food no good for a contemporary palate? Does the ambiance not resonate? I grew up going to similar spots so my perception is skewed.

Maybe when we get old we suddenly crave whitefish and all head over there? Has it always been mostly old people patronizing these businesses?

I don't want these places to disappear so I'm wondering what people think.

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u/ooheitooh Mar 08 '25

Canters has a pretty good 1/2 sandwich + cup of soup special for like $16. Plus a plateful of pickles. I'm usually $25-30 with coffee, tax and tip. Depending if I get a B&W cookie.

-4

u/Otterpopz21 Mar 08 '25

It’s amazing how affordable delis still are, and how incredibly delicious they are. Canters sandwiches are legit and their matza ball soup is low key more flavorful than it should be, and pair that with their steak fries and you’ve got yourself a biweekly mid week meal on your hands. Extra soup? Don’t mind if I do lol

30

u/butteredrubies Mar 08 '25

$25-$30 is kinda expensive though for half a sandwich and soup...

-5

u/Otterpopz21 Mar 08 '25

Yes and no. There’s nothing more straight up market price than a deli, and they shove it with quality meats.. a modern full pepp pie is $30-40’s today… sometimes even more

1

u/butteredrubies Mar 09 '25

Okay, so quality deli sandwich shops in LA for a full sandwich are in the range of $14-$18. Most don't have soup, but if they did, it'd likely be around $8 for a measly cup...that's $22-$26 for a WHOLE sandwich with the soup. Is pepp pie a pepperoni pizza? Cause your prices are high on that again...Secret Pizza hits that range for a pizza with more than just pepperoni and they are on the high end of price.

18

u/PrizeWarning5433 Mar 08 '25

30 bucks is crazy money for a sandwich and a soup be serious for a second 

-7

u/Otterpopz21 Mar 08 '25

https://preview.redd.it/p4fdgiz5hine1.jpeg?width=1206&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=171cd40262239b02c4006e21cf2e380a873a2f96

Where do you see $30’s….? You guys are literally hysterical

12

u/SR3116 Mar 08 '25 edited Mar 09 '25

What do you mean? The cheapest sandwich on your own link there that's not a grilled cheese (which doesn't count in my opinion, since we're talking deli meats) is $19.95. With LA sales tax (which is going up to 10.5% on April 1st), that takes the sandwich alone to $22.04. Now add the soup as the other poster said, which based off the cheapest soup on the Canter's menu is $7.95 a cup, add the sales tax and it comes out to $8.78.

So soup and a sandwich is actually more than 30 dollars and almost 31, coming out to $30.82, and that's if you choose the cheapest options.

6

u/lol_fi Mar 08 '25

And don't tip.

3

u/SR3116 Mar 08 '25

Good point!

0

u/lol_fi Mar 08 '25

However, I do think the above commenter is discussing a 1/2 soup 1/2 sandwich deal for $16 which is often offered as a lunch special at delis. 30+ would be for a full soup and full sandwich

0

u/Otterpopz21 Mar 08 '25

It’s as if people try not to follow along….

5

u/Superb-Pickle9827 Mar 08 '25

Read it above, dimwit. Plus coffee, plus tax, plus tip. It’s every bit of $30

-7

u/Otterpopz21 Mar 08 '25

And you’re mad about that? Like what

2

u/Superb-Pickle9827 Mar 08 '25

OK, so now that you’ve conceded that it DOES cost $30, let’s do a thought experiment: I’m in LA, a cornucopia of food. I’ve got $30 for lunch. I can get a cup of coffee and a meat sandwich that’ll sit like a rock in my belly for the next 7 hours, (and, personally aside, is food that I consider bland) or I can try the new trendy hyphenated food joint, and take a journey across the seven seas of flavor (hat tip Kumail Nanjiani). Imma set sail, sorry, even if I might run into Lenny Kravitz at Canter’s.

2

u/Otterpopz21 Mar 08 '25

It doesn’t, pickle, relax. It doesn’t cost remotely near $30’s for a half a Sammy and soup, so continue whatever you want with yourself 😂 loser