At Manny’s Deli Stop in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, the sandwiches are big enough that some customers end up sharing or taking half home. Corned beef, pastrami, and roast beef specials come stacked on rye with classic deli toppings.
But this small Jewish-style deli does more than sandwiches. The menu includes homemade latkes with applesauce and sour cream, matzo ball soup, fresh bagels, and breakfast served throughout the day.
The shop also puts its own spin on familiar favorites, including a pressed sandwich called the Jubano, made with corned beef, pastrami, Swiss cheese, pickles, and spicy mustard.
And before leaving, it’s worth checking the bread selection. Manny’s even offers day-old rye at a discount when available.
A Neighborhood Deli on Welsh Road
Manny’s Deli Stop sits at 4003 Welsh Rd in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, a suburb just north of Philadelphia. It’s a classic Jewish-style deli with a big menu and a small footprint.
Finding it can take a moment. The area along Welsh Road is full of strip malls, and at least one first-time diner said the shop was a little tricky to spot.
I’d suggest plugging the address into your map app before you head out.
Once you’re there, the setup is simple. You order at the counter, where deli cases show off salads, lunch meats, and cheeses.
A refrigerator holds soups you can take home and heat up later.
The hours are friendly for busy schedules. The shop opens at 8 AM every day, staying open until 7 PM Monday through Saturday and until 4 PM on Sunday.
That covers breakfast, lunch, and an early dinner on most days.
With a 4.8-star rating across more than 770 Google reviews, the deli has clearly earned attention in the neighborhood. So what exactly are people ordering?
The answer starts with the meat piled between two slices of rye.
Corned Beef and Pastrami Lead the Way
Corned beef and pastrami come up again and again when people talk about this deli. Together they’re among the most mentioned items in its Google reviews, and that tells you plenty about what the kitchen does well.
A popular way to order corned beef here is as a special. That means meat on rye with coleslaw and Russian dressing, a combination many deli fans grew up with.
One customer also went the simple route with corned beef, Swiss, and mustard on rye.
Pastrami gets similar love. One diner described a pastrami sandwich paired with the house dressing and slaw.
That kind of build gives you crunch, tang, and plenty of meat in every bite.
I’d start with a special if it’s your first visit. It shows off the bread, the slaw, and the meat all at once, so you get a full picture of the kitchen in one order.
Don’t skip the pickles either. At least one regular called them out as a must, and a deli pickle is the classic partner for a tall sandwich.
Next comes a sandwich with its own devoted fans.
The Roast Beef Special Has Devoted Fans
Some people go to a deli searching for one perfect sandwich. One customer spent years looking for a great roast beef special and wrote that the search finally ended at Manny’s.
The standard is high. A good roast beef special needs fresh rye with a chewy crust, crunchy coleslaw, a bit of tangy Russian dressing, and tender roast beef sliced just right.
Ideally, the meat should be rare and pink.
That reviewer said Manny’s version checked those boxes. The roast beef was freshly sliced and tender, and it looked the way deli roast beef should look.
They admitted they may never order anything else.
I find that kind of loyalty interesting. A huge menu can make it hard to choose, yet some people land on one item and stick with it for good.
If you like your beef on the rare side, this sandwich is a smart pick. Contractors on one lunch run also ordered roast beef and turkey, and they left happy.
Of course, the meat isn’t the only thing stacked high here. The portions themselves deserve their own conversation.
Portions Big Enough to Share
Plan on leftovers. Diners regularly describe the sandwiches as stacked high, and one visitor said a single sandwich could easily feed two people.
That’s good news for your wallet and your lunch tomorrow. One couple ordered a brisket sandwich and a jubano, ate some in the shop, and brought the rest home because they couldn’t finish.
The food seems to travel well too. A turkey Rachel stayed hot and held together through a drive back to Warminster, according to one customer.
That matters if you’re grabbing food for the family.
Here’s a practical idea. If you’re dining with a friend who eats lighter, consider splitting a sandwich and adding a side like latkes or soup.
You’ll get to taste more of the menu without overdoing it.
Leftovers do come in takeout containers, and one diner wished for more eco-friendly packaging. The team replied that they’re looking into greener options that still work for the business.
Big portions are great, but a deli also needs good bread and comforting sides. That brings us to two old-school favorites: matzo ball soup and crispy latkes.
Latkes and Matzo Ball Soup Bring the Comfort
Potato pancakes might be the most underrated order on the menu. Known as latkes, they’re served here with applesauce and sour cream on the side.
One home cook said she orders them because making latkes from scratch takes so long. She described them as soft in the center and crisp on the outside.
Another diner called them golden brown and a standout of the meal.
The sweet applesauce and cool sour cream give you two ways to enjoy each bite. I’d honestly order a plate just to try both toppings.
Matzo ball soup is another big draw. It’s among the most talked-about menu items, and the deli also sells soups to take home from its refrigerator.
That’s handy on a chilly Pennsylvania evening.
Gluten-free diners get a nice surprise too. The deli offers a gluten-free matzo ball soup, which one customer and her husband both enjoyed.
If you have serious allergies, ask staff about cross-contamination before ordering.
Soup and latkes cover lunch and dinner nicely. But some of the most interesting food here shows up earlier in the day, and you don’t need an alarm clock to get it.
Breakfast All Day, Bagels Included
Sleeping in won’t cost you breakfast here. Manny’s serves its breakfast menu all day, so a bagel sandwich at 2 in the afternoon is completely fair game.
Bagels are a big part of the appeal. They show up often in customer reviews, and even a New Yorker who calls herself picky said they were really good.
One diner praised a breakfast sandwich on a cinnamon raisin bagel.
For something fancier, consider a bagel platter. One customer ordered whitefish on an everything bagel with lettuce, tomato, cucumber, purple onion, cream cheese, and capers.
They described it as enormous and beautiful.
Lox is also on many people’s minds, and the deli’s bagel fixings get mentions from families too. I like that you can build a simple bagel or go all out.
Kids aren’t left out. One parent said their children love the challah French toast, a sweet choice that uses the soft, braided bread.
There’s also the L.E.O., a deli breakfast classic made with lox, eggs, and onions. With so many morning options, it makes sense that the menu keeps going well past the bread basket.
Let’s look at the sandwiches that aren’t traditional deli fare.
Chicken Cutlets and Hoagies Join the Lineup
Philadelphia-area eaters take hoagies seriously, and Manny’s goes beyond Jewish deli classics to serve them. Chicken cutlet sandwiches are especially popular.
The Chicken Caesar Cutlet Hoagie earns strong praise. One self-described Caesar snob called it the best chicken Caesar anything she’d ever eaten.
Her boyfriend ordered the Chopped Italian Hoagie and loved it too.
Wraps get attention as well. Manny’s snack wrap won over a customer who’d driven past the deli many times before finally stopping in.
A softball fan and his wife tried a crispy chicken Caesar sandwich and a crispy chicken wrap after a game.
The jubano is another name you’ll spot. It sounds like a Cuban-style sandwich with a deli twist, and one couple paired it with a brisket sandwich on their first visit.
I’d point anyone who isn’t into cured meats toward these chicken options. They give the menu a broader reach without losing the stacked style.
Grilled sandwiches are part of the story too. A grilled cheese with ham was part of one family’s order.
Speaking of grilled, a few classic hot sandwiches have their own following, including one named after a Rachel.
Reubens, Rachels, and Gluten-Free Bread
Reuben lovers will feel at home. The Reuben is one of the most talked-about items at Manny’s, right alongside corned beef and pastrami.
A Reuben is a grilled sandwich, traditionally made with corned beef. Its cousin, the Rachel, usually swaps in turkey, and that’s how several customers here ordered it.
One said the turkey Rachel came out hot and grilled to perfection.
Fun fact: deli menus don’t always agree on what goes into a Rachel. Some use pastrami, others turkey, and toppings can change too.
It’s worth asking how this kitchen builds it.
Gluten-free diners have options here as well. One customer ordered a Reuben on gluten-free bread and later came back for gluten-free matzo ball soup.
She was glad to find reliable versions of classics she missed.
That same diner noted she wasn’t sure about cross-contamination. If you have celiac disease, talk with staff before ordering so you can make a safe choice.
I like that a traditional deli makes room for different diets. Now, with your sandwich picked out, it’s time to think about something sweet, and the dessert case has a few tempting choices.
Black and White Cookies and Banana Pudding
Save a little room, because the sweets are part of the fun. Manny’s sells baked goods along with chips and other grab-and-go snacks.
The black and white cookie gets special praise. One customer suggested grabbing one and called it the best around.
This soft, cake-like cookie, iced half in chocolate and half in vanilla, is a deli tradition from the New York area.
Banana pudding is another favorite. A couple who visited twice in one day said you should definitely get it.
Creamy pudding, sliced bananas, and wafers make a cozy finish after a salty sandwich.
Here’s a money-saving tip worth knowing. Check the counter for day-old Jewish rye bread, which one visitor spotted on sale at half price.
It’s a smart buy for sandwiches or toast at home.
You can also pick up prepared salads from the deli cases. Chicken salad is one option, and staff even let a first-time customer taste it before deciding.
That kind of small gesture says a lot about how this place works. The people behind the counter might be the most mentioned part of the whole operation.
Friendly Faces Behind the Counter
Friendly staff is mentioned more than any single food item at Manny’s, with well over 200 references in Google reviews. That’s a lot of happy notes about the people.
Customers describe workers who take time to offer recommendations, especially to first-timers. One family said a staff member named John suggested lots of options for their kids.
Others praised fast, efficient service even when the shop was busy.
The space is small and tidy. One visitor counted three tables for two, so many people take their food to go.
The dining room has been described as clean and quiet.
A practical note for accessibility: the doors aren’t automatic. Anyone using a walker or wheelchair may need help getting inside.
Manny’s also caters breakfast and lunch. One customer said a catered breakfast arrived on time with warm bagels, and the team replied by thanking her as part of the Upper Dublin family.
Good sandwiches bring people in the first time. A warm hello and a sample of chicken salad are what make them want to come back for another stacked rye, and that combination is what this little Willow Grove deli does so well.
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