Some of the best meals in Texas hide behind plain doors and simple signs. You walk in expecting a quick lunch, and then a sandwich arrives that is taller than your coffee cup.
Suddenly you are planning your next visit before you finish the first bite. This is the story of a deli that turns a regular lunch break into a memory worth driving for.
A Slice of New York on Post Oak Boulevard
Picture a busy stretch of Houston’s Uptown area, full of shiny shops and quick traffic. Right in the middle of it, at 1743 Post Oak Blvd, sits Kenny & Ziggy’s New York Delicatessen, a classic deli that feels like it was carried down from Manhattan.
The place is known for one thing above all else: big portions. Its pastrami sandwiches are famous, and the rest of the menu follows the same generous spirit.
Think corned beef, matzo ball soup, lox, chopped liver, and towering slices of cheesecake.
Visitors often say it rivals some of the best delis in New York City. That is a bold claim for a spot in Texas, yet guests keep making it.
Some even drive in from other cities just to eat here, and many arrive after seeing it recommended by food travel personalities online. One meal usually explains why the buzz never fades.
Retro Walls and a Roomy New Home
Walk through the door and your eyes go everywhere at once. The walls are packed with memorabilia, giving you plenty to study while you wait for food.
Guests love the retro vibe, which feels playful rather than stuffy.
Longtime fans point out that the newer location is much bigger than before. There is plenty of seating both inside and out, so groups have room to spread out.
Diners also mention how spotless everything is, a level of cleanliness some say you rarely see.
The room hums with energy, especially at lunch. Yet people say it never gets so loud that conversation becomes a chore.
You can still chat easily across the table while the whole place buzzes with happy eaters.
It is old-school in style but fresh in feel. That mix makes the setting part of the fun, not just a backdrop for the sandwiches.
The Pastrami That Started the Pilgrimage
Bring a big appetite, or better yet, bring a friend. The pastrami here comes stacked so high that some guests ask for extra rye bread just to split one sandwich into normal portions.
Fans call the meat tender and full of flavor. The rye bread gets praise too, described as soft and fresh with a mild rye taste that lets the pastrami shine.
Sandwich #1, which combines pastrami and corned beef on rye, earns some of the loudest cheers, with one diner calling it the best sandwich they had eaten in a long time.
Other combos work wonders as well. A pastrami, turkey, and Swiss cheese stack drew raves when paired with coleslaw and fries.
There are even little fried pastrami balls on the menu for curious first-timers. Whatever form it takes, the pastrami is the reason so many people happily make the drive.
Reubens, Corned Beef, and Free Pickles
First things first: the pickles are free, and people adore them. Guests describe them as perfectly sour, a crunchy warm-up before the big plates land.
Some even buy a pint to take home.
Then comes the Reuben. The One and Only Reuben, sandwich #7, is a grilled stack of pastrami, melted Swiss, hot sauerkraut, and Russian dressing on buttery rye.
Diners call it incredible, and one said the Russian dressing was simply perfect.
Corned beef lovers are well served too. One visitor said it was the best corned beef they ever had.
An open-faced Reuben is another favorite for sharing.
A quick tip from regulars: these sandwiches shine brightest at the table. One guest who ordered Reubens to go found them missing key toppings, so it is smart to check takeout bags before leaving.
Eating in is the safest way to enjoy them.
A Menu Big Enough to Get Lost In
One visitor called it the biggest menu they had ever seen, and that is no exaggeration. Breakfast runs all day, and the pages roll on with sandwiches, burgers, and hearty entrées.
Traditional Jewish comfort food leads the way. Matzo ball soup, lox and latkes, chopped liver, egg barley farfel with mushrooms, and kasha varnishkes with gravy all have loyal fans.
Pelmeni soup is described as pure comfort in a bowl.
Then the menu wanders in fun directions. Guests praise the Monte Cristo, the French Dip, fish and chips, beef stroganoff, and a Boulevard Big Boy steak burger.
Spinach artichoke dip arrives with bagels.
Here is a sneaky tip from a regular: ask for the stuffing as a side. People insist it is awesome.
With so many choices, servers often help first-timers decide, and their recommendations tend to land well.
Cheesecake Slices That Feed a Crowd
Save room. Seriously, save room, because the dessert case might be the real star.
The famous torte, half chocolate mousse and half cheesecake on an Oreo-like crust, has devoted followers. Another showstopper goes by the name OMG Cheesecake, and one couple admitted not a single bite made it home.
An Oreo chocolate cheesecake impressed a family with both its size and flavor.
Portions here are not shy. One guest guessed a single cake slice could feed four or five people.
The lineup goes beyond cheesecake. Eclairs, babka, rice pudding, and chocolate cream pie all earn happy mentions.
One visitor even started lunch with dessert, which feels completely reasonable in this place.
Even diners who had mixed feelings about a main dish said they would return just for the sweets. That says plenty about how good they are.
Friendly Servers and a Family-Friendly Buzz
Great food tastes even better when someone serves it with a smile. Guests here talk about the staff almost as much as the pastrami.
Diners describe servers as attentive, personable, and sometimes funny. Several mention specific team members by first name, which tells you how memorable the service feels.
Many first-timers say staff gave spot-on suggestions that made ordering easier.
The crowd is wonderfully mixed. Families bring kids who happily dig into pancakes and chicken tenders.
Couples come for lunch dates, and others recommend it for business lunches.
Even a rowdy table felt welcome, according to one happy guest. Travelers who follow food shows stop in while visiting Texas.
Not every dish wins every heart. A few people found the chicken soup or a salad less exciting.
Still, the warm service keeps people coming back again and again.
Hours, Prices, and Smart Sharing
Good news for early birds and night owls alike. Kenny & Ziggy’s opens every day of the week from 8 am to 9 pm, so breakfast, lunch, and dinner are all on the table.
Now for the honest part: it is not cheap. Guests say sandwiches often run over $20, and one Reuben came to about $30.
Another visitor spent roughly $25 per person on lunch.
The trick is sharing. That $30 Reuben fed three people, and others say one sandwich can feed a family of three or maybe four.
Ordering carefully makes the price feel much fairer.
Weekend lunch can bring a short wait, with one family waiting around 15 minutes on a Saturday. Questions can go to the deli at 713-871-8883, and the menu is online at kennyandziggys.com.
Worth Every Mile of the Trip
So, is it worth the drive? Plenty of happy, very full diners would say yes without blinking.
One guest joked about needing oxygen after leaving because they were so stuffed. Another said the only disappointment was not being able to buy everything in the store.
Those are the kinds of problems you want from a lunch spot.
Kenny & Ziggy’s is not a quiet little café. It is a lively, spotless, memorabilia-filled celebration of deli food, served in heroic portions.
Prices lean high, but sharing takes care of that.
Come hungry, bring friends, and eat in rather than rushing off with takeout. Start with the free pickles, order the pastrami, and leave space for that famous torte.
You might arrive curious. Chances are you will leave already planning your return trip to Houston.
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