Kenny & Zuke's Delicatessen

03/25/2025

https://www.wweek.com/food/2025/03/25/storied-restauranteur-teams-up-with-one-of-portlands-oldest-grocery-stores/

Ken Gordon has opened and closed at least 10 restaurants in his 48-year career, including his most famous, the iconic Portland institution Kenny & Zuke’s Delicatessen. In the 16 months since Kenny & Zuke’s closed, Gordon separated from his wife of 37 years and, since September, has run the deli ...

12/22/2024

So here's the latest: After taking most of a year off after closing Kenny & Zuke's, I'm working again! About 8-10 weeks ago, I started cooking at Sheridan Market, my favorite store in Portland.
I really wasn't looking to run a kitchen, or start up another business. I just wanted to do the fun part - Cooking. And that's what I get to do at Sheridan.
They recently replaced their Deli case after their old one being broken for 3 months, and they hired me to fill it with things I like to cook. Last week included my Buttermilk Fried Chicken in Duck Fat, Raviolis with Vegetables and Sage Butter, Chicken Hand Pies, Bolognese Lasagna, and so on. The case is loaded with those things and then at 3:00 all that's left gets moved to grab-n-go. Mondays-Fridays only.
I'll also be revamping their sandwich menu starting in about 2 weeks. Pan Bagna, Roast Pork with Mama Lil's Peppers & Fresh Mozzarella, Roast Beef with Horseradish Cream, etc.
PLUS, we're working on producing my old pastrami so we can put together a respectable Reuben with the hand-sliced real thing.
Come for a visit and say hello - I'm there cooking Weds - Fri. from 6 AM to 2.

11/18/2023

It pains me to contact you all under these circumstances, but unfortunately we will be closing Kenny & Zuke's. Our last day will be Sunday, November 26th.

It's been a long ride, sometimes joyful, often painful. I've tried my best to make it work, but eventually that wasn't enough. Ultimately, it's a risky business with never a guarantee of success.

Thank you all for your support over the 16 years we've been in business. Not sure what I'll do next - could be a part time cooking gig, or a pop-up, or a book, or a combination of all.

Ken

08/24/2023

08/20/2023

New stuff from Kenny & Zuke's. First, our hours will now be 8:30-3:30, Tuesday-Sundays. Next, new men items: We'll now be serving Leslee's Paleo Granola, a tempting and healthy mix of Flaked cocnut, dried fruits, nuts and seeds, served with a chopped apple and either cow's or oat milk. And our famous Pastrami Hash and Poached Eggs, and an Everything Frittata with ham, Mama Lil's peppers, mushrooms, caramelized onions and cheddar. Finally, a BLT to end all BLT's. All starts Friday the 25th. We'll print the menu here on Friday!

07/07/2023

Welcome to our two new menu items - A classic Turkey Club on Toasted Ciabatta, and Deviled Egg Salad on a Toasted Bagel with cucumbers and Mama Lil's Peppers. Enjoy them!

06/17/2023

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Explore the culinary goldmine between Mississippi and MLK

05/12/2023

So sorry to all of you who showed up the past 2 weeks expecting a fresh bagel and finding none.

BUT...........As promised, we will start serving bagels again tomorrow (Saturday, the 13th)! While we no longer have a baking kitchen, we've arrange with Henry Higgins to carry their excellent ones. Varieties will be Plain, Everything, Sesame, Salt, Onion and Cinnamon Raisin.

We'll have most of our breakfast menu back, and you can now get your breakfast sandwich on a bagel or ciabatta. And we're adding our Kenmcmuffin, which has been a runaway hit.

Plus, after 10, you can get one of our killer sandwiches - Pastrami and Pastrami Reuben (back on Rye!), Steamed Slider Burgers, Meatball Heros, Cubanos, etc.
And we're back open on Sundays! See you all soon!

05/05/2023

Oyyyyy...Okay, more changes, these I think you'll all like! So breakfast starts again tomorrow at 7:30 with breakfast sandwiches, pastries, etc.. But a week from tomorrow we'll be getting bagels back in and will serve them with spreads, as sandwiches, with lox or whitefish, etc. Then at 11:30 we'll start our new sandwich menu, until 3:00 or so. And we'll go back to opening Tuesdays through Sundays. That's it for awhile (I hope!).

05/02/2023

Okay, another piece of news: Starting this Saturday, May 6, we will be opening back up for breakfast! True, no bagels. But we will be serving some great breakfast sandwiches, a Ken Mcmuffin, and the outstanding coffees from Proud Mary. Served Tuesdays through Saturdays from 7:30 - 11:30, then on to our great new sandwich menu from 11:30 - 7:30. See you then!

04/28/2023

We are now open again with our new sandwich menu. Just sampled the Reuben and the Steamed Burger Sliders...Holy S**t!