The Schlan family of suburban deli destination Max and Benny’s has served Northbrook for nearly 30 years, inspired by its Bubbe Gussie’s culinary prowess. Its now socially-distanced dining room is open featuring breakfast options, deli sandwiches, and much more. There’s a separate selection offered online for delivery and takeout, including at-home bagel baking kits and Shabbat dinner boxes (tzedakah included — each box donates $10 to the Greater Chicago Food Depository).

This 60-year-old Skokie deli Kaufman’s features a fish counter that offers four types of lox and pastrami smoked in-house. It’s so old school, the restaurant still uses traditional schmaltz (chicken fat) in a variety of its dishes. Everything at Kaufman’s is homemade, from the knishes to the kreplach to the kasha varnishkas — just like Bubbe used to make. Carryout only.

Tucked away in Andersonville, JB’s has developed a following for its massive “over-stuffed” sandwiches, Ashkenazi deli favorites, and its famed sign that declares it “one of a few Jewish delis.” Customers can pick up classics like matzo ball soup, latkes, creamed herring, knishes in various flavors, stuffed cabbage, and delightful dessert offerings including babka, rugelach, halvah, and even chocolate mandel bread. Staff have added a handful of outdoor tables along the corner of Clark and Catalpa.

Steingold’s is among a growing cohort of Jewish-American delis bringing old world delicacies into the modern era. Opened in 2017, this North Center spot draws on institutions from New York’s Lower East Side for sandwiches like the “Grandma Rachel” (roasted pastrami-spiced turkey, coleslaw, Havarti, challah) and the “Classic Lox” (choice of bagel and lox, tomatoes, lightly pickled cucumbers, capers, red onion). There’s also soups, sides, and meats by the pound, plus a special “everything bagel” ice cream pop created in collaboration with local spot Pretty Cool Ice Cream. Ordering is available online.

One of the premier spots for Jewish deli cooking in Chicago, the Bagel specializes in Ashkenazi comfort favorites like chicken in the pot, kasha varnishkes, liver and onions, mandel bread, and rugelach. It also highlights harder-to-find options like pickled beef tongue and five varieties of blintzes. Ordering is available online and there’s outdoor seating on a Barry Avenue patio.

Massive South Loop spot Eleven City Diner serves breakfast all day (even fried matzo brei!), plus tons of Ashkenazi standards like turkey pastrami, corned beef, knishes, and so much lox. The wide-ranging menu also options like Impossible burgers, a quinoa scramble bowl, malts, melts, various burgers, and a whole section of loaded mac and cheese. Eleven City also operates a Los Angeles location. Customers can order delivery online or stop in for dine-in service on weekends.

A South Loop institution founded in 1942, Manny’s defines Chicago Jewish deli royalty. The cafeteria has a storied history with the city: opened by Russian immigrants on Van Buren and Halsted it’s gone on to achieve landmark status as a generations-owned establishment on South Jefferson. The menu is traditional Jewish fare and the portions are massive. It’s one of the few places left in the city eaters can still order matzo brie, kishke, and kasha and noodles, all in one sitting. Manny’s is open for takeout, outdoor dining, online ordering, ships nationwide via Tastes of Chicago,

Morry’s Deli was established by Morry Orman, father of CNBC host Suze Orman, in 1960. This former deli chain (which is now only one location) was known for its sandwiches stacked high with corned beef, turkey pastrami, and more. The Hyde Park spot is still known for triple decker sandwiches, but it’s also become known for breakfast dishes, Italian sausages and beef, and a few barbecue specialties and burgers. Ordering is available online.