Delicatessens cropped up in New York City’s Lower East Side after masses of German immigrants journeyed to the New World in the early 1800s. The German term “delikatessen” means something particularly tasty or unusual, tidbits or delicacies. Second-generation immigrants opened these specialty food stores featuring their culinary traditions. The ‘delicacies’ served more closely resembled traditional German fare, such as cold cuts, sausages, sauerkraut, and pickles.

It was the Yiddish-speaking Eastern European immigrants who took these items and added their own, creating what we think of today as a Jewish deli. To keep menus kosher, pork and dairy were eliminated from their offerings. Cuts of beef were cheap, leading to the popularity of corned beef and pastrami.

The Jewish population in New York City had skyrocketed to 1.5 million by 1920. A plethora of delis had opened across the city; owned, managed, and inundated by Jewish people. Among these delis is the famous Katz’s Delicatessen, which still serves up the classics today.

These days, delis can be found all around the United States – some more traditional than others. In Colorado, there are several Jewish and kosher restaurant stops across the Denver metro area.

Photo courtesy The Bagel Deli & Restaurant

The Bagel Deli & Restaurant has been serving authentic Jewish classics in Denver for over 50 years. The restaurant features several tables for dining in, but also a vast array of deli counter options to take home. This spot also boasts a visit from Guy Fieri on the TV show “Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives.”

You absolutely must try one of the towering pastrami sandwiches, or the corned beef and roast beef combo sandwich. The Bagel Deli also offers special menus for Jewish holidays, including Hannukah and Passover.

Photo courtesy Zaidy’s Deli

Zaidy’s Deli & Bakery has been a Colorado staple for more than 35 years. Located in Glendale, this place is often packed on weekends and at lunchtime.

Zaidy’s serves up plenty of deli classics, including blintzes, latkes, corned beef sandwiches, and matzo ball soup. While not everything on the main menu at the restaurant is kosher, there are kosher catering menus for Shiva and B’nai Mitzvahs, plus special offerings for Hannukah and other Jewish holidays.

Photo courtesy Rosenberg’s Bagels

Local favorite Rosenberg’s Bagels & Delicatessen whips up some of the best bagels in the city, along with house-made lox and gravlax, pastrami, corned beef, and plenty of deli counter-style items and baked goods for purchase. Besides the two mainstay locations in Five Points and Aurora, there is a kosher spot in Glendale for pickup and catering orders.

Be sure to try the Standard sandwich, featuring the house-cured gravlax, cream cheese, tomato, capers, and red onion on one of the house-made bagels (the Egg Everything bagel is a surefire hit).

Photo courtesy Leven Deli

Leven Deli, located next to the Denver Art Museum in downtown Denver, self-identifies as part-Jewish deli and part-Mediterranean restaurant. Open for breakfast with a coffee bar, lunch with signature sandwiches, happy hour with an extensive wine list, bakery, deli counter, caterer, the list goes on…

The aforementioned signature sandwiches include a delicious house-made smoked pastrami Reuben. Or, to accompany your happy hour spritz, try the smoked salmon toast on house-made sourdough.

Photo courtesy East Side Kosher Deli

East Side Kosher Deli in Glendale combines a kosher grocery store with a full restaurant. It also features a massive deli counter, which includes classics like kugel and smoked whitefish you can order by the pound.

While the menu features some non-traditional offerings, like Korean BBQ wings, everything on the menu is kosher as the restaurant name implies. The deli sandwiches can be ordered as “full” or “over-stuffed” for just a few dollars more – plus, each one comes with your choice from the large list of deli salads.

Photo courtesy Rye Society

Rye Society in RiNo serves up Jewish cuisine made from sustainably sourced, fresh ingredients. Here you can find plenty of staples like a Reuben on rye bread locally sourced from City Bakery.

Stop by for breakfast to get a bagel and schmear, or grab a classic sandwich at lunchtime. Rye Society also features a full coffee bar, so try one of its oatmeal cookie lattes.

Photo courtesy Call Your Mother Deli

Call Your Mother, a new favorite with a couple locations across Denver, is a self-proclaimed “Jew-ish deli.” House-made bagels include interesting flavors such as Za’atar and Maple Salt & Pepper, which you can top with nacho-jalapeno or pumpkin pie cream cheese just to name a few.

The sandwich offerings range in Jew-ish-ness, from mashed avocado with Fritos to smoked salmon with cream cheese and capers.

Last but not least, don’t forget about challah bakeries in Denver. Two main players are Talia’s Challahs and Challahrado Hearth. Challah is typically eaten on Shabbat, but even if you aren’t Jewish, challah is an excellent braided bread perfect for French toast! Both businesses require early orders for challah to be picked up on Friday afternoons.