Vegan
American
Delivery
Take-out
Bakery
Breakfast
Jewish
Multiple locations. All-vegan deli offers fresh bagels, knishes, shmears, reubens, bagel sandwiches, and various prepared foods. Has vegan corned beef, chik'n, and lox. Reported closed May 2023.
18 Reviews
First Review by LeahDardis
vegginator1
Points +114
Yes please!! - Edit
I travel to Oceanside a few times a year and it has always been a vegan desert so I was thrilled to discover a vegan Jewish deli. The people working there are so nice, the hours are convenient and the food… I’m working my way thru the menu and everything is delicious. I especially love the bagel lox sandwich and the Reuben. I only wish I could stay longer but I will be back!
Read morePros: Totally vegan, Delicious food, Nice people
Cons: Like everything a bit pricey but I don’t mind
Guest
VeganChels
Points +60
Closed in Oceanside - Edit
Best food. So sad they’re closing today😒
Read moreGuest
Reneeleslie96
Points +244
Tasty bagels and sandwiches - Edit
Delicious classic deli options, pasta salads, potato salads, fantastic jalapeño schmear, we definitely will be back to try to the chicken salad sandwich and other bagel/schmear combos!
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2023-02-19
Pros: All Vegan bagel shop with gluten free options too, Great selection of bagels and schmears , Impressive sand which options!
Guest
gypsygirl1962
Points +108
Delicious - Edit
I had the Reuben sandwich it was amazing. The strawberry cheesecake was creamy and indulgent. The matzo ball soup was comfort food at its best. My picky non-vegan daughter loved her bagel sandwich. I got a bag of day old bagels and chive bacon spread to go both were really good. The halva was flaky and tasty. We will be back
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2023-01-28
Pros: Delicious vegan comfort food, Reasonable prices, Large servings
Cons: Probably not the healthiest but worth indulging
Guest
nikkiboes
Points +34
Yummmmmy - Edit
I ordered their everything bagel with lox and it was outta this world! Honestly, I want to try everything in the menu because I’m still shook at how they made carrots taste like salmon! #Veganuary
Read morePros: The whole menu is vegan, So many different options , Quick service and great location
Guest
CinemaSpinach
Points +819
Can you come to the IE? - Edit
We don't have a big Jewish community, but we'd thrive off those sandwiches. Loved to see the different East coast combinations. The menu seemed to have plenty of traditional Jewish deli staples. The portions were good and seemed to be an excellent place to pick up fresh bagels (with all kinds of vegan spreads). I've only tried the lox on jalapeño & the mushroom brisket on rye(?). Would return if I'm ever in the area again.
Read moreGuest
JakeFuller
Points +1404
Loved it! - Edit
My second location I’ve visited. It’s pretty much all good. I got a few different items as they were closing. So everything I purchased was out of the deli cooler.
Read moreGuest
BeccaLotus
Points +118
New Local Vegan Deli! - Edit
Getting to try vegan deli food was such a joy yesterday! My friend and I split the Matzo ball soup which was comforting and tasty. My friend enjoyed a Reuben and I enjoyed a BLT sandwich- all vegan! My mouth waters thinking of how good the BLT was. My friend enjoyed their meal as well. This deli also carried New York Seltzer classics like root beer and black cherry flavor. The manager, Mark, was super welcoming and great to chat with. The service was fast and friendly. I will definitely be back!
Read morePros: Fully Plant-based Deli, Awesome Staff, Extensive Menu
Guest
adriennejune
Points +204
VEGAN JEWISH DELI! - Edit
What more do I need to say?! So excited to have these flavors veganized! And it's great that they offer gluten free bagels. I had the lox bagel sandwich and it was divine.
Read moreGuest
BrittanyBorden
Points +24
Bomb! Vegan Bagels - Edit
I got the veggie bagel and added sausage. It was fabulous. Also got their Matzo ball soup to go and it was exceptional. The broth had so much flavor. Try it!
Read morePros: All vegan options , Great meat substitutes, Fabulous matzo soup
Cons: Better or stronger coffee :)
Guest
Laurenbdoeslife
Points +910
Hits and misses - Edit
I had a mixed experience here…I was on a short trip to the area so I went two days in a row, to make sure I got to try alot.
Read moreItems I enjoyed:
Thanksgiving leftover sandwich (november special)
Challah french toast (also november special; a dollar or two overpriced imo for portion)
Knish (although it doesn’t look like I’d expect and is served with mustard which I find odd)
Steak and egg bagel sandwich (my friend got it and liked)
Items I found to be lacking:
Kugel….they forgot the raisins (apparently the normally include them, which I find necessary). It didn’t have much flavor.
Mini cinnamon babka…too dry and not enough filling.
Raspberry brownie…dry, hard, and lacked flavor. I threw almost the whole thing away. Hard to do because I love brownies!
Peach cream cheese….maybe it’s just not my thing, but I think the base cream cheese they use with the peach isn’t great either.
Black and white cookie…the cookie is ok but the frosting is overly sweet. They gave it to me for free for my bday tho, which was super nice!
Overall, you are safe with the sandwiches, but the baked items are hit or miss.
Pros: All vegan, Classic jewish items
Cons: Expensive, Mixed success w/baked goods
LeahDardis
I eat here about once a week. I haven’t had the November special yet so I hope after the trial it gets better. I can’t wait until they make matzo Brie and stock pumpernickel bagels
Read moreLaurenbdoeslife
I liked the november specials!
Read moreGuest
JPW
Points +221
Disappointed - Edit
When I first saw the listing for this restaurant I was excited to try it as I had not been to a "real" Jewish deli in decades. My wife and I started with the Matzo Ball soup, which was good. It was large enough for two and included two matzo balls and all the other ingredients that one would expect in this soup. Since it uses vegetable broth it needs a bit more flavor, but otherwise a worthwhile treat.
Read moreI had the New Yorker, essentially a corned beef sandwich on rye. The corned beef did taste a little like I remember real corned beef tasting, but it was a very mild flavor. It wasn't bad, but in my opinion, it wasn't great either.
My wife had the Philly Cheesesteak; she thought there was too much bread and that it was a bit dry. She also said that there was not much cheese in it; it is a CHEESEsteak after all.
We shared a pumpkin cheesecake for dessert. It was flavorable, but it was more the consistency of a pie rather than a cheesecake.
In general, the portions were reasonable although they are rather pricey. I was going to try "The Grand Puba", but at $25 for one sandwich I changed my mind. The meal must have had a lot of salt in it as we were very thirsty for the rest of the day (we ate around 3:00 p.m. on a Friday). The food is wrapped for takeout even though we indicated that we would eat in. They do not have soup spoons - ever try to eat hot soup with a small plastic teaspoon?
We were disappointed, but other people must like this place as there were always a few people coming in to get takeout; we were the only ones to eat in. Great concept (Jewish deli) however.
Pros: Matzo Ball soup, Lots of deli choices, Great concept (Jewish deli)
Cons: Pricey, Too Salty
Guest
RacerDean
Points +220
Great bagels. Great sandwiches - Edit
I sense that both Carlsbad and Oceanside are seeing great new vegan options. I love the cinnamon bagels and the sandwiches are quite large. I've been here four or five times now.
Read moreNot sure if it was just an off-day, but the one time I had coffee there it wasn't good.
Parking can be tricky as there is a laundermat in the strip mall and the furniture store has threatening signs about parking in their spaces.
Pros: Food quality, Nice staff, Close to the freeway
Cons: Limited parking
Guest
·X·
Points +20511
Ben & Esther’s - Edit
OMG. I loved the location in San Diego so much that I made my partner stop at this one on our drive up to LA the following day. This time I tried The vegan bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich and was b-l-o-w-n away!!!! The sausage version of this is amazing too. Next time I’ll ask for both bacon and sausage on it! The everything bagel was nice and chewy though it would be great if they applied more everything seasoning to the bottom half of the bagel. Dill pickle was A !
Read moreGuest
MOkeefe
Points +85
A New York Deli in Oceanside Ca? You betcha! - Edit
The staff is so friendly . The menu is extensive and the food is very good. We are from New York originally and there are no proper delis and around our area.
Read moreWe wish them all the best and much success
Pros: Variety , Quality, Location
Guest
Noah06
Points +43
Ben & Esther’s Vegan Jewish Deli - Edit
It is utterly impossible to not love this place. Amazing flavors and textures, plus great ambiance.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2022-08-07
Pros: The dolmas are to die for., Best schmears in the world., Best challah ever
Cons: No cons
Guest
ScottReutter
Points +224
Tasty! - Edit
I got the turkey and bacon sandwich and it was very delicious! Can’t wait to come back and try the other sandwiches and bagels!
Read morePros: Great menu with lots of options , All vegan
Cons: Small dining area inside , A bit pricey but worth it
Guest
LeahDardis
Points +402
It’s been so long - Edit
All vegan and all the time. Imagine a beautiful Sunday morning eating bagels and schmears. Add in some carrot lox, dill and capers. Yummy. Plus, no animals were harmed.
Read morePros: Bagels, Matzo Ball soup- so goooood, Deli by the pound
Cons: No pumpernickel bagels
Guest
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