Yan's Deli feels like an elevated yet comforting Montreal deli, blending classic pastrami and brisket with bold modern twists and a bright, playful space with custom Lego decor. The food earns praise for quality and generous portions, from perfectly brined pickles and house challah to deeply savory brisket, standout pastrami, latkes, and thick, rich milkshakes, with cocktails and celery soda adding a contemporary edge. Flavors come through as honest and well executed, and much of the menu is made in house, highlighting freshness and depth. Service is typically friendly and attentive, helping create a welcoming vibe, though a few visits note occasional hiccups or longer waits and some items can feel pricey for the portion and context. The concept blends comfort food with elevated technique, making brunch, lunch, and dinner viable options, and the overall impression is that Yan's Deli is a place with heart, personality, and staying power, likely to draw locals back despite cost considerations.
Brought some friends from Europe. We had a wonderful time! Thank-you. I had a pastrami sandwich, huge latkes & a huuuuuuuuge carrot cake. Cherry soda was nice too. It's like going to heaven. Here is a picture of a huge black & white cookie my friend ordered.
Beautiful, minimalist space with food that is extraordinary. I had the chicken soup (which was the best I've ever eaten), & simply had to bring one home. Also had the pastrami omelette - don't let the simple name fool you -this was an elevated, delicious egg frittata; juicy & bursting with flavour. Can't wait to come back to try so many other tempting dishes...
We felt very comfortable walking into the Deli & realizing that what we were smelling wasn't a marketing strategy. It's brisket. It's pastrami. It's onions softening on a flat top somewhere behind the counter. It's the honest, homey aroma of a deli that understands exactly what it is.
This isn't a place trying to manufacture nostalgia with Edison bulbs & ironic menu fonts. The nostalgia here is incidental. Accidental, even. It comes from real food made by real people, served without theatrics. All the good things a deli should have? They have them. Pastrami that respects your appetite. Beef bacon that doesn't apologize for itself. & the pickles. Perfectly brined, crunchy, & just sour enough to make you sit up straighter.
Behind the counter, the vibe isn't some corporate'brand story.' It's plastered across the walls in art, photos, random decorations, & a delightful custom Lego set of the building itself. We loved that detail! It tells you everything: they care, but they're also having fun.
About the food.
🥪 The tuna melt. Generous tuna salad, not gloopy, layered thick between golden, griddled bread that had that perfect crunch.
🍔 The onion brisket sandwich. Deeply savory, tender brisket piled high, carrying that slow-cooked richness. It was bold & hearty.
🥤& then, the milkshakes.'Powerful' feels like the right word. These are not polite, airy shakes. They are THICK. The Biscoff one was bliss in a cup. The baby Guinness frappé-absolutely delicious-balanced sweetness & depth.
The menu doesn't stop there. Brunch items? Check. Specials? Of course. Alcoholic drinks menu? Yes, because sometimes your pastrami wants a proper pairing. Snacks, things to go, comfort food staples-they have it all.
A deli that stretches into modern territory without losing its roots.
& here's the part where I speak plainly: I pay for my meals. No comps, no influencer hush money. Just me, my wallet, & my honest opinion. We absolutely loved everything we had here. Truly.
But.
My meal-tuna melt, one milkshake, & three cows in a blanket-came out to $40 plus tax & tip, totaling $53. That's not cheap. The food was very, very good. But there's a point where the price-to-quality ratio starts to wobble. At a certain number, it doesn't matter how delicious the brisket is or how perfectly the pickles snap. It just feels like a lot.
Would we go back? Yes.
Would we go back casually, on a whim, without checking our bank balance first? Maybe not.
This is a excellent place. It's heartfelt. It's delicious. It's doing a lot right. But like their milkshakes, it packs a financial punch. & sometimes, no matter how good the food is, the bill has the final word.
I was not expecting to fall in love with a Montreal deli today. I was eating delicious food before I even noticed the delightful Lego decorations. The Pastrami was one of the best i've ever eaten in this city, & that fish platter was easily one of the highlights of this resto visit.
I don't often go out, but this was well worth it. 10/10
My favourite Pastrami in town. I ordered takeout from here a few times before I checked out the menu online & decided that it would be a great place to sit at a table with a handful of friends. Family style or individual meals, the portions are generous & the flavours are phenomenal. Coffees, cocktails, & soft drinks also phenomenal. Open space with plenty of seating but busy enough to recommend reserving a table in advance. Kid & senior-friendly. Free parking on the street or in the lot over to the side.
Feb 9, 2026
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An absolute amazing experience! From the friendly greeting, to the comfortable atmosphere, delicious food, everything was perfect. Even the music was great. This is better than any deli I've been to. For dinner, we tried a variety of dishes, including soup, steak, chicken & pastrami. You will not be disappointed. I cannot wait to return!
We first visited just a few days after the opening & it was sensational. The pastrami was juicy, the bread warm, soft, & thick. Hands down the best pastrami sandwich we've ever had. It melted in our mouth. The party sandwich was just as impressive.
We returned today &, unfortunately, everything was off. The meat was overcooked & dry, the breads weren't warm & moist enough, & the overall flavour was lacking. A disappointment compared to our first visit.
I got the pastrami sandwich & it was incredible. The best sandwich I've bet had in my life. The service was amazing & the atmosphere feels like a family kitchen. 10/10 would recommend for anyone.
Nov 1, 2025
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Yans Deli is a must dining experience! Gourmet, modern Jewish Deli. Everything about the food was terrific, & the staff were extremely pleasant. The atmosphere is causal & full of good energy. I only wish I could have eaten more food!
I started with the Yaourt Grec & Miel - Greek Yogurt & Honey. It was topped with roasted mixed nuts, white kiwi, giant gourmet grapes, & plums. I felt a bit silly ordering the yogurt, since I eat Greek Yogurt almost daily at home anyway & felt I should explore other options that sound so very appetizing. However, I heard it was fantastic so I had to try it. It turned out to be phenomenal. A yogurt to end all yogurts ;-). It was by far the smoothest, creamiest Greek yogurt with just that right amount of Greek yogurt tang. The drizzled honey along with the fruits & nuts set it over the edge. It was decadent & went well with both the espresso & cappuccino (complements to the barista). I highly encourage both to accompany these wonderful flavors!!
Next I had the Kartoffelpuffer - Large Potato Latka with Apple Sauce & Quark Cheese. Another exceptional choice. The Latka was perfectly crisp on the outer edges, holding together the finest, tiniest shreds of potato. Not sure how they do it but it looks so fluffy & pretty…like the Greek pastry Kataifi. These Latkas lack that typical excess moisture you might get when making them at home. These were nice & thick, yet not dry at all & full of flavor! The Apple Sauce was so pure & the Quark Cheese like silk. A must try, even as an appetizer to share. Oh did I mention it was finished with a perfect amount of Fleur de Sel to make your tastebuds pop!
It's a good thing I went in hungry because the word on the street is that the Pastrami here is excellent. I agree. It's been a while since I've been to the famous Katz Deli but I certainly do not recall it being as excellent as the Pastrami experience here at Yans. The marbling of the meat is robust & gives it so much flavor that mixes perfectly well with the pepper & spices. After tasting the meat solo to appreciate the amazing flavors, I could not resist loading it onto their house rye bread slathered with their special spiced mustard. Absolutely perfect! Plus, I complemented it with a signature Yans Deli Celery Soda. WOW what a treat. Super Refreshing!
I had to top off my special meal with the Yans Deli signature Black & White Cookie. With the black icing made to be vanilla flavor, the white icing was chocolate. It was a decadent surprise to the flavor pallet, covering a very large, very soft & very fresh buttery cookie. It was like a birthday cake I've never had! Very indulgent!
I look forward to returning to dine at Yans, as there is so much more on the menu to explore.
Yann's deli is incredible. The food is comforting (& quality) staples, we had the lox, pastrami, massive latkes & more… everything amazing. Ambiance was friendly, airy & comfortable.
I wish we would have tried the sandwiches but will definitely be back
