Growing up in a Jewish family, my favorite night was always dinner at the deli. The height of flavor. The epitome of comfort. A childhood sensation I still conjure: the vision of hot corned beef glistening pink between slices of crusty rye setting off alarm bells of hunger deep within my DNA. But deli love is hardly an ethnic exclusive. Inquirer photo editor Alejandro Alvarez, who is Mexican-American, tells me I owe him a corned beef sandwich every time he does me a favor. And he isn’t joking. So, after handing off photo assignment No. 45 for this Dining Guide, we strolled to the Reading Terminal Market, took a counter seat at Hershel’s East Side Deli, and I paid the man his due in deli meat.

Suburban Delis That Satisfy

Traditional Jewish delis remain some of the best casual neighborhood restaurants serving homemade comfort food outside the city limits. For some of the highlights, don’t miss: the creamy blintzes and pastrami combo and all-you-can-eat pickle bar at the Kibitz Room (100 Springdale Rd., Cherry Hill, N.J.); the smoked fish platter and schmaltz-enriched matzo ball soup at Ben & Irv’s (1962 County Line Rd., Huntingdon Valley); the “Shmoozer” combo of corned beef and pastrami layered with coleslaw at Hymie’s (342 Montgomery Ave., Merion Station); the smoky, creamy, whipped whitefish salad at Moish & Itzy’s Deli (21 Summit Square Ctr., Langhorne).