Page Sponsored by Ellen's Cafe Reviews      Profile      Menus      Website

Kahn's Deli

MY REVIEW: I recently moved back to Houston after being gone for 6 years. My last visit to Kahn’s before I left for college was with my dad. He loved the Kahn’s Reuben. I loved the tuna salad, so we both had our favorites. I am now a college graduate and a mom, and was anxious to return to Kahn’s with my dad and my family, to once again to order the yummy tuna salad and Mexican Coke. My dad still frequents Kahn’s and told me that the décor had changed, but that I would still enjoy my sandwich. He was right! It had changed, but the change was terrific. It felt much bigger, there were comfortable booths, and it was a great place for me to take my daughter. The girl who made my sandwich was happy and made me feel welcome. She was friendly to my daughter and was glad to see my dad. But most of all, the food was still great – just as I remembered it. My dad ordered the Reuben and talked my husband into ordering the same. The Russian dressing still glows in the dark, which made us all laugh. Everyone loved their sandwiches. Yes, some things do change, and in this case, it is for the better.

NAME: Lily
SUBMITTED: 7/4/2010   LAST VISIT WAS: 7.1.10
FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times

MY REVIEW: We usually frequent the restaurant next door for breakfast, but we decided to give Kahn's a shot. Our breakfast was wonderful. Huge breakfast. I had the bagel, lox, cream cheese, caper breakfast and it was fantastic. The only thing I would ask would be to have them, next time, bring the cream cheese on the side. My husband had an omelet and it, too, was huge. The only thing that might keep many people away (and they were not busy at all and should have been) is the prices. It is a bit pricey, but they give you a lot. I would go back again to have the lox.

NAME: LLITL025
SUBMITTED: 6/9/2010   LAST VISIT WAS: 5/2010
FREQUENCY: Visited once

MY REVIEW: For decades I have worked close to the village and Kahn's has long been one of my favorite places to eat, HUGE reubens, mouth watering pastrami, and wonderful "named" specials. ( I use to have one on the menu prior to the remodel ) My last few visits have left me perplexed, all the staff I remembered, all of whom greeted me by name are gone ? The prices have gone through the roof. I can understand shipping costs, overhead etc. but it seems to border on greed. Why you ask ? Well the sandwiches are big but not well constructed. Putting a mound of meat on bread that falls apart makes for a frustrating lunch. If I wanted to eat my meat with a knife and fork I would go to a steak house. They use to give you a large sliced dill pickle, now you get a inch and a half jerkin..??. The sides used to be ample and fresh. The sides I see on their line often lack consistent taste and are served in styrofoam cups in lieu of the bed of lettuce with tomatoes they used to give you. The staff does not know how to make the classics I loved...the Loyd Gite...the Gretchens and my wife's favorite..The Triple Threat. Customer service seems to have taken a hit as well, a colleague of mine came in for lunch and as he went to pay the cashier seemed to be glued to the other computer going so far as to raise his hand as if to say " wait till I am done with this " before he would ring my friend up, I would surmise that with the higher prices they would be more than eager to complete the transaction but such is not the case. He now eats at J*ason's . Not all is negative though, the new build-out is attractive, exposed brick, ostrich benches that you sink into, tasty gelato, a great beverage selection and longer hours. The food and service though are what creates repeat business in my opinion and those aspects have slipped....I hope not to the point of no return. I wont say I will never go back, just not 3 to 4 time a week like I used to. The lesson I learned...not all change is good.

NAME: The Rice Professor
SUBMITTED: 3/9/2010   LAST VISIT WAS: Febuary 20 2010
FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name...

MY REVIEW: What a cool place to sit back and relax and listen to some cool music while eating some of the best sandwiches in the Village. The manager Derrick was training a new kid, Matt in how to make the sandwiches..it was like watching a artist at work. The place is super clean and these two guys made it a great experience in helping us decide on a sandwich...the menu is endless. I can not wait to try one of the other 50 sandwiches or salads.

The Ruben was off the hook and loaded to the max with meat piled a mile high. The sandwich was a work of art and it just melted in your mouth it was so tender. My husband sandwich "The Judy" was so big it took him almost all day to eat...you really get your monies worth at this place.

I will be back again and again!!!

NAME: Mamma Mia
SUBMITTED: 11/22/2009   LAST VISIT WAS: 11/22/2009
FREQUENCY: Visited once

MY REVIEW: My comments are relative to what I had at Alfred's and at the old Kahn's. I ordered a hot pastrami sandwich on dark rye. What I got was a chopped beef pastrami sandwich that had been put through a steamer and then grilled. There was no taste to the pastrami and the grilling turned it into some other kind of sandwich. I had wanted a chopped chicken liver sandwich but they no longer carry that. If you remember Alfred's or the old Kahn's, save your money and go some other place. I will not return.

NAME: Dave Hallene
SUBMITTED: 10/28/2009   LAST VISIT WAS: 10/2009
FREQUENCY: Visited once

MY REVIEW: I have recently started to frequent Kahn's Deli. It is a surprise to read some old timers complain about the sandwiches. I have no idea how Alfred's sandwiches were, but compared to Kenny's & Z*iggy's reubens, Kahn's deli is way superior. 1/2 pound of excellent corn beef in the Reuben for $10. And the pastrami and swiss is just as excellent, the best in Houston. I feel there are some haters out there. Just visit the deli and judge the sandwiches for yourself. The owner told me recently that beginning in September, they are going to carry different coffee products,desserts, and gelato from Gelato B*lu which is the best Gelato maker in Houston. There is a good reason this deli has been open for 60 years.

NAME: Big Mike
SUBMITTED: 8/20/2009   LAST VISIT WAS: Last week
FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times

MY REVIEW: Still great Rubens and nice spot to meet friends for lunch. Watch your sandwich being made; they treat it like a work of art. I love the place.

NAME: Bfortynine
SUBMITTED: 7/21/2009   LAST VISIT WAS: July 2009
FREQUENCY: Visited 4-6 times

MY REVIEW: I am glad Kahn's has reopened. I have been a patron for years and missed it when it was gone (renovation). It feels a lot bigger because of the high ceilings now and I think the space is bigger, too. Delis in Houston have lost a lot of their charm because they have become "dining experiences" rather than "wait in line for a great sandwich" places. Although Kahn's decor is different, it doesn't distract from the old deli feeling. The Rubens are still great and the corned beef is great, too. What I liked that was different, was a few lower calorie selections and the Credit Crunch Lunch, which is a smaller and cheaper version of the big sandwich that you just couldn't finish anyway. I saw families with kids eating together, which I never saw in the old place. I would like to see a few more selections of imported beers, though.

Kahn's Deli is a good value. A lot of sandwich for less than you pay at some other delis.

NAME: Bfortynine
SUBMITTED: 4/3/2009   LAST VISIT WAS: march, 2009
FREQUENCY: Visited 4-6 times

MY REVIEW: Alfred should be rolling in his grave! In the 60’s, Alfred Kahn made a mean corned beef sandwich at his deli in the Village and over on Stella Link Road. In those days, his place was the N*ew York Deli of Houston. Whether you were dining in or taking out, he had some great food and sandwiches, including his corned beef.

Now Mike, his son comes along and claims to be continuing the tradition of Alfred’s. There is no comparison of the two! Kahn’s deli is a hole in the wall with unfulfilled claims of greatness. Since Kahn’s recent remodel, the place has even gotten worse!

Take the so called famous Kahn’s Reuben Sandwich. Kahn’s cuts their corned beef wafer thin, lets it pile up anyway it falls, cuts the meat with the grain, against the grain, with lots of fat, whatever way they can get the most product.... Corned beef is suppose to be cut across the grain, thin, but not wafer thin, and stacked neatly. Some fat is not bad, as it flavors the meat, but too much is not good.

Kahn’s builds its Reuben sandwich on bread that is not a traditional rye bread. The bread tastes, feels, and looks more like Mrs. Baird’s whole wheat bread. Nothing against Mrs. Baird’s or whole wheat, but you don’t build a Reuben Sandwich on this type bread. The bread is soft and does not have a crispy crust like a real Jewish Rye. Kahn’s builds the sandwich by putting a bunched up “wad” of corned beef on the sandwich with cheese, Sauerkraut and Kahn’s radioactive bright fuschia colored Thousand Island dressing, heat it up and serves it with a pickle.

The sandwich is a pile of mush. The bread is soggy and the meat is all curled up like bacon after being heated. New York would laugh if they saw this sandwich! But in truth, New York is scrambling, as the C*arnegie, K*atz’s, and S*tage Deli’s have lost their Zagut ranking to another Houston Deli recently..... Houston does have a great New York Deli, but Kahn’s is not even close....

Meanwhile, I know where the real Reuben in town is.... You can find me there….. Hint...K*&Z.... especially their Z location in the Park Shops downtown…

NAME: REVIEWER "X" a.k.a. Markh
SUBMITTED: 2/25/2009   LAST VISIT WAS: February 2009
FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times

MY REVIEW: What happened to this place! It was so good! So Homey! The food is a mear shadow of what it used to be. I ask again what happened!!! The menu is now with esoteric sandwiches that turns this place into a snooty fancy sandwich shop,they even have now a fancy Chef. Look Get rid of the chef, bring back Mike a real deli guy and bring back the real food we all loved.I guss everthing has a begining and an end.

NAME: Mitchel Green
SUBMITTED: 2/15/2009   LAST VISIT WAS: 02/14/09
FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name...

MY REVIEW: Very saddened and disgusted with the "new" kahns. What the heck happened? My wife and I hardly go to the village and normally our only reason we drive the 60 or so miles from katy is to go to kahns. It was always our treat.

We haven't been back in a while and yesterday we specifically went to get our "treat". We walk up and instantly notice that everything has changed. It felt like we lost our best friend. Everything was different. We immediately walked away saddened and went across the street to t*exaphilidelphia. Sorry to see you go kahn's, we had a good run.

NAME: wheredkahnsgo
SUBMITTED: 1/25/2009   LAST VISIT WAS: 1/2009
FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times

MY REVIEW: Well, Kahn's is finally open again. This was my first visit since the change in concept. After 15 years of loyalty to Mike's shop, I can say that this first trip back will be my last.

The Good: Reuben was delish. Portion seemed right, even if was a little pricey. The Village doesn't lease cheap and food is expensive right now too. So that was fair. I used to tell Mike to go half way on the kraut. Didn't have that problem this time. Though the bread was not toasted enough. There's a lot more seating. The staff was very nice and upbeat.

The Okay: The music they played was good (but I never came here for music), and the decor was nice. But it's a shock to see faux ostrich booths where round stools once were. I was given a nice tumbler for my iced tea instead of styrofoam and digging for ice out of an igloo cooler. Can't decided if this was good or bad.

The Bad: the decor may have been nice, but if you'd been here before, it will sadden you. I'm not against change. But this was a landmark around here. Basically, I see this as the "New Coke" version of Kahn's. The guy behind the counter is someone I recognized from the bar scene. Sure enough, some statuesque plastic surgery beneficiary strolls in and starts talking about how dead Midtown clubs are and that Washington Ave is where it's at... what? That conversation would have never taken place here before. Remember, Mike used to ban cell phone use and general nonsense. And the brownies? If you're remembering Marcia's Mexican vanilla brownies, no such luck (but Mexican cokes are still here).

The verdict: the food is 90% of what it used to be, and the place is no longer homey, but semi-posh. If you are a transplant or never came here before, you will like it. It's good. For an old regular, it's just not the same. Stick to that other iconic sandwich shop in the village.

NAME: PAX
SUBMITTED: 12/15/2008   LAST VISIT WAS: 12/2008
FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name...

MY REVIEW: Well, Kahn's has finally reopened, and while the interior looks very nice since the renovation, I was pretty disappointed with my sandwich. The corned beef is still delicious -- but I wasn't full when I finished. The Reubens here used to be legendarily gut-busting; now they're just sort of average. I expect more from a $10 sandwich. Hopefully that was a one-time thing.

NAME: Zach
SUBMITTED: 10/24/2008   LAST VISIT WAS: 10/2008
FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name...

MY REVIEW: Sandwiches are EXCELLENT. The owner/staff could use a smile on their face and the young man behind the counter could use an attitude adjustment.

NAME: Mike
SUBMITTED: 5/1/2008   LAST VISIT WAS: April 2008
FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name...

MY REVIEW: I was told to eat here by a Houston born friend, and glad I did. I had the Rueben, and loved it. The structure of the place was like taking a step back in time, and I liked it. The only negatives, yet minor, was the pickle that was served with the sandwich was not the best tasting, and the tea was not fresh. I will return to this place because it is far better than the other deli's especially the over priced Ken and Zig*gy's and Kat*zs.

NAME: srbess
SUBMITTED: 1/19/2007   LAST VISIT WAS: 1-2007
FREQUENCY: Visited once

If you don't agree with these comments, agree with them or have additional comments,
click here to Add Your Review.