Z Deli São Paulo: Wagyu Pastrami, French Dip and Caipirinhas
We went to Z Deli Restaurante & Delicatessen in São Paulo for pastrami and came away remembering both the sandwiches and the wait outside. Caipirinhas were handed through a street-facing bar window before we reached a table. Once seated, we shared Wagyu Pastrami and French Dip; the pastrami was our favourite.
Caipirinhas before the table
This is the restaurant at Alameda Lorena 1689 in Jardins, rather than one of the other Z Deli sandwich locations. We had coffee nearby while waiting for it to open, then joined the queue. Our wait outside was about 15 minutes.
The bartender worked through a window opening onto the street. We ordered two caipirinhas and watched them being made before they were passed out to us. They were among the caipirinhas we most enjoyed in Brazil.
Warm sesame-covered ring bread and salted butter came alongside the drinks. The bread reminded us of Turkish simit in appearance, though this was Z Deli’s own serving. Food and drinks had already made the wait feel part of the visit.
A Jewish deli tradition in São Paulo
The restaurant’s identity draws on Jewish delicatessen food. The menu we photographed included dishes such as latkes, kreplach, varenikes and matzo ball alongside the sandwiches. We did not eat those dishes; they helped us understand the wider kitchen beyond our order.
That combination interested us: a Brazilian caipirinha outside, then pastrami associated with Jewish deli cooking once seated. It felt like two food traditions meeting naturally during the same meal.
Wagyu Pastrami was our choice
We cut both sandwiches in half and shared them. Each came with fries and pickles. The Wagyu Pastrami contained coleslaw, Swiss cheese and mustard, but what we noticed first was the quantity of meat. It formed the body of the sandwich, rather than a few thin slices between bread.
We liked the combination of the generous filling, Swiss cheese and warm bread. The bread mattered because it had to carry that much meat. Of the two sandwiches, this was the one we would specifically return for.
New York’s Katz’s comes to mind whenever we eat pastrami, but we would not describe the settings as interchangeable. This Alameda Lorena address felt more like a contemporary restaurant than a counter-service deli. Our comparison was about the food tradition, rather than a claim that the experiences were the same.
French Dip and its jug of jus
The French Dip was filled with thin slices of ancho, or rib-eye, and Swiss cheese. A small metal vessel of jus came alongside it. We tried both dipping the sandwich into the sauce and pouring some over the bread.
Once the jus reached the bread, the sandwich became noticeably juicier. That way of eating it was part of its appeal. Sharing the two sandwiches made it easier to compare them without choosing only one dish.
The room, service and prices
The restaurant was busy, with a slightly rustic interior and plenty happening around the tables. Despite the crowd, service during our visit was quick. We would plan for a lively meal rather than a quiet room.
The menu we photographed listed Wagyu Pastrami and French Dip at R$99 each. Those are prices from our visit menu, not a current quotation or an all-in bill. Drinks and any service charge should be checked separately.
For current dishes, prices and branch information, use Z Deli’s official website. The broader menu is another reason to make sure you are looking at the Restaurante & Delicatessen on Alameda Lorena.
Watch our Z Deli visit
The restaurant appears in our São Paulo food video. This player begins at 07:06; the video is in Turkish.
Where is Z Deli Restaurante & Delicatessen?
Z Deli Restaurante & Delicatessen
Alameda Lorena, 1689Jardins, São Paulo, Brazil
Confirm current hours and booking arrangements before going. This address is close to the café where we stopped beforehand, so a coffee and a meal can fit into the same Jardins outing.
Before you go
Which sandwich would we order again?
Wagyu Pastrami. We enjoyed trying the French Dip too, but preferred the pastrami overall.
How do you eat the French Dip?
Dip it into the accompanying jus or pour the sauce over the bread. We tried both.
Does Jewish deli mean certified kosher?
No. A food tradition or restaurant description does not establish kosher certification. Ask the restaurant directly if certification matters to you.
Adapted from our original Harbiyiyorum visit account.
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