Best New York-Style Deli in San Diego

D.Z. Akin's Restaurant (6930 Alvarado Road, San Diego) - Some of us are suckers for good 'ol New York-style Jewish delicatessens. The name 'deli' sells the these places short. We should get our teeth around the full name. Delicatessen. It would be a shame to lose a word like that.

Look, New York City has Katz's and Carnegie Deli, Ann Harbor, Michigan has Zingerman's, Los Angeles has Canter's and Nate 'n Al's, Studio City in LA has Art's Deli. Classic authentic delicatessens.

In San Diego, the closest we have to those landmarks is D.Z. Akin's. It is off-the-beaten path near San Diego State University, just off the I-8 freeway,

and squeezed into a strip mall. Open the door of D.Z. Akin's and you'll know just what a favorite joint this is by the all the people they pack in the place. They've been filling the booths since 1980.

If you like all the basic Jewish deli fare: pastrami, matzo ball soup, bagels/lox/cream cheese, chopped livah, corned beef, old fashion egg cream, borscht, blintzes, you name it- they have it. And yes, they have the complimentary kosher pickles waiting for you on the table.

If you have never been to a real Jewish deli you are in for a real treat. The sandwiches are piled high and are usually served on Jewish rye bread unless otherwise indicated on the menu. Do not, under any circumstances, make the fatal non-Jewish person error of asking for either white bread or mayonnaise. You will have rye, no mayo, and you will love it. End of story.

At D.Z. Akins, they offer two choices of mustard for your sandwich - regular and deli. These are located next to the pickle barrel. Choose the deli mustard and squeeze a dab on your sandwich. The meat is so tasty that you don't really need much else. Plus, all sandwiches come with your choice of macaroni or potato salad or coleslaw.

Let's get back to egg creams. An egg cream soda has neither egg or cream in it. It is an old school traditional NY beverage made of seltzer water, Fox's u-bet Original Chocolate Syrup, and milk. Done. Delicious. Repeat. If you want something evil like a milkshake, settle for the egg cream. It will melt your butter and save you some calories.

If you aren't into all that kind of food, you can get pretty much anything else you like (breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, or veggie) at D.Z. Akin's. If you want bakery items, they have it. Need a little kitsch in your life, they have it. Want to walk out stuffed like a kishke(stuffed sausage)? Plan on it.