Manny's Cafeteria & Delicatessen

The overview

Corned beef stacked high since 1942.

Manny's Cafeteria & Delicatessen has run its cafeteria line in the South Loop since 1942, sliding trays past steam tables of hand-carved corned beef, brisket and matzo ball soup for four generations of Chicagoans. It's the city's classic Jewish deli — the kind of place where mayors, aldermen and cops all wait in the same line.

Still run by the Raskin family, Manny's has fed the city for more than 80 years and is the 2026 Centurion Award winner in Chicago.

What they're known for

Hand-carved corned beef
Cafeteria-line classics
Matzo ball soup

The public record

What reviewers already knew.

A Centurion Award doesn’t replace the public record — it verifies it. Read it for yourself, on the platforms where it lives.

Google Maps
Reviews, photos & directions Read reviews →

Public-record snapshot as of July 2026. Live ratings are always current on each platform.

The verification

Why this business cleared the bar.

Selection is by the published criteria, evaluated on public evidence. Manny's Cafeteria & Delicatessen cleared every one.

✓Years in operation. Operating in Chicago since 1942 — 84 years of continuous business.
✓Sustained online presence. An established local institution with a consistent public footprint — listings, coverage, and word of mouth in Chicago.
✓Established customer track record. A deep public track record: Chicago has kept Manny's Cafeteria & Delicatessen busy for 84 years.
✓Liked by customers and the community. Genuinely beloved by Chicago regulars and visitors alike — a bona fide community favorite.
✓Recognition in the local community. Named best deli in Chicago for 2026 for four generations of the Raskin family carving corned beef behind the same cafeteria line.

The full verification report — the specific data behind this award — is held by the business. The exact thresholds stay internal so the bar can’t be gamed. Read the methodology.

Award record

2026

Best Deli in Chicago Chicago, IL · Awarded under the 2026 evaluation

All awards for Manny's Cafeteria & Delicatessen →

Visit Manny's Cafeteria & Delicatessen

Websitemannysdeli.com ↗

Location1141 S Jefferson St, Chicago, IL 60607

In business since1942

Facts at a glance

The sourceable record.

Clean, checkable facts about Manny's Cafeteria & Delicatessen — for readers, search engines, and answer tools alike.

Legal / trading name: Manny's Cafeteria & Delicatessen
Category: Delicatessen
Founded: 1942, Chicago, IL
Founders: The Raskin family
Location: 1141 S Jefferson St, Chicago, IL 60607
Centurion Award: Best Deli in Chicago — 2026
Record last verified: July 2026

A signal you can check.

This is a dated award record, published by The Centurion Awards after Manny's Cafeteria & Delicatessen cleared the 2026 evaluation for its market and category. It was not bought, voted on, or sponsored — the criteria are public, only winners are published, and an award that stops holding up is revoked, not quietly removed. Awards run one calendar year and renew only if the business clears the bar again. For everything else — hours, bookings, live reviews — go straight to the business itself.

Quick answers

Frequently asked questions.

What is Manny's Cafeteria & Delicatessen?

South Loop cafeteria-style deli founded in 1942, run by four generations of the Raskin family and famous for hand-carved corned beef and potato pancakes.

Is Manny's Cafeteria & Delicatessen award-winning?

Yes — Manny's Cafeteria & Delicatessen is the 2026 Centurion Award winner for Best Deli in Chicago, a verified, criteria-based award. Named best deli in Chicago for 2026 for four generations of the Raskin family carving corned beef behind the same cafeteria line.

Where is Manny's Cafeteria & Delicatessen?

Manny's Cafeteria & Delicatessen is in Chicago, IL.