Kenny & Zuke's Delicatessen facts for kids

Kenny & Zuke's Delicatessen
Sign near main entrance
Restaurant information
Established	2007
Head chef	Ken Gordon
Food type	Jewish delicatessen
Dress code	Casual
Street address	1038 SW Stark St
City	Portland
State	Oregon
Postal/ZIP code	97205
Country	United States
Seating capacity	67
Website	www.kennyandzukes.com

Kenny & Zuke's Delicatessen is a well-known Jewish-style delicatessen located in Portland, Oregon. A delicatessen, often called a "deli," is a type of shop or restaurant that sells fine foods, especially sliced meats and cheeses. This deli serves many delicious foods, though they are not prepared in the traditional "kosher" way.

How it Started

The story of Kenny & Zuke's began in 2006. Two friends, Ken Gordon and Nick Zukin, started selling a special kind of meat called pastrami at the Hillsdale Farmers' Market. They called their small business "The Pastrami King."

Their pastrami became very popular! Because of this, they decided to offer a Saturday brunch at Ken Gordon's restaurant, Ken's Place. They renamed their joint venture "Kenny & Zuke's." People loved their food so much that Ken and Nick started looking for a permanent spot for their deli. Later, Nick Zukin left the business. The main Kenny & Zuke's Delicatessen officially opened its doors in October 2007.

In 2019, the restaurant faced some financial challenges. However, Ken Gordon worked hard to make sure the business could stay open. He put a plan in place to pay back what was owed over several years. This allowed the deli to keep serving its customers without closing or changing how it operates.

Awards and Recognition

Kenny & Zuke's has received many compliments and awards for its tasty food.

• Bon Appetit magazine named it one of the top 10 sandwich shops in the entire country.
• The Oregonian, a local newspaper, said it was one of the best restaurants in Portland. They even called its Pastrami Burger one of the city's "Best Bites."
• Willamette Week also listed it among the best places for lunch, sandwiches, and dinners before a show. They even said it was worth waiting in line for!
• The Cobb Salad at Kenny & Zuke's was named the best in Portland by Portland Monthly magazine.

The deli has also been featured in national magazines:

• The New York Times wrote about it as a leader for the future of delicatessens.
• Maxim Magazine called it one of the best delis in the world.
• Gourmet Magazine highlighted it as one of only two delis in North America that were bringing back traditional, high-quality Jewish foods.

Health and Safety Checks

Like all restaurants, Kenny & Zuke's has regular health inspections to make sure everything is clean and safe. In 2008, the restaurant had some issues during an inspection. However, they worked hard to improve. By 2009, their scores showed much better results, proving they made important changes to keep their kitchen clean and safe for everyone.