This Old-School Pennsylvania Deli Hasn’t Changed Its Soup Recipes In Decades
Matzoh ball or kreplach? That’s the delicious dilemma waiting at a family-run deli that has been ladling homemade soup since 1954.
The menu promises traditional recipes perfected through generations. It also lists a homemade chicken soup and a rotating homemade soup of the day.
I like how simple that sounds, because simple is usually where the magic hides.
This deli started in Philadelphia and later moved to the suburbs of Pennsylvania.
The family kept the doors open and the stockpots going through seven decades. I can’t imagine how many bowls have crossed those counters.
There’s more than soup, of course. Corned beef, pastrami, smoked fish, and free pickles all compete for your attention.
So which one wins your first spoonful, or do you just order everything and sort it out later?
Seventy Years Of Soup Started With Two Guys Named Ben And Irv
Ben Shore and Irv Chudnoff opened their deli in the fall of 1954. That’s the starting line for Ben & Irv’s Delicatessen & Restaurant, and the story only gets better.
The first location sat at 7701 Ogontz Avenue in Philadelphia’s West Oak Lane neighborhood. For three decades, that corner served the neighborhood with deli staples.
In 1984, the business moved north to Huntingdon Valley. The address changed, but the family ownership stayed put.
That detail matters more than you might expect.
Family-run places tend to guard their recipes like heirlooms. Ben & Irv’s describes its food as traditional recipes perfected through generations.
That’s a pretty bold promise for a bowl of chicken soup.
Think about everything that changed between 1954 and today. Cars, phones, music, and even how we order lunch all look different now.
Yet this deli still builds its menu around homemade Jewish specialties.
Some families pass down quilts or pocket watches. This one seems to have passed down a stockpot and a whole lot of patience.
Honestly, that sounds like the better inheritance. Seventy years is a long run for any restaurant.
For a deli, it’s practically legendary status.
Matzoh Ball Or Kreplach Is The Toughest Choice You’ll Make All Day
Decision fatigue is real, and this menu knows it. Ben & Irv’s lists its homemade chicken soup with a choice of matzoh ball or kreplach.
Matzoh balls are the famous ones. They’re dumplings made from matzoh meal, and they’re the star of countless family holiday tables.
Matzoh ball soup is also one of the signature items here.
Kreplach are the quieter cousin. They’re small filled dumplings, often compared to Jewish wontons.
Plenty of delis skip them, so finding them on a menu feels like a small win.
Here’s a friendly tip for first-timers. If you’re dining with someone, order one of each and swap halfway.
Nobody has to live with regret, and everybody learns something.
The homemade chicken soup forms the base for both options. That broth carries a lot of the flavor, whether you choose a matzoh ball or kreplach.
Soup like this has a reputation as comfort in a bowl. Got a cold, a rough week, or just a gray afternoon?
A bowl from a seventy-year-old deli makes a pretty convincing argument.
Either way, you’re enjoying a comfort-food tradition with serious staying power. That’s hard to find anywhere these days.
Check The Soup Of The Day Before You Commit
Loyalty to chicken soup is admirable.
Still, the menu at Ben & Irv’s also features a homemade soup of the day, and that’s worth a peek.
A rotating soup keeps things interesting for people who stop in often. One visit might bring something familiar.
The next could tempt you away from your usual order entirely.
The key word here is homemade. The deli puts that label right on its soups, which tells you where its priorities sit.
Canned shortcuts don’t fit a place built on family recipes.
So how do you play this smart? Ask your server what’s simmering before you open the menu too wide.
It saves time, and it might steer you toward a new favorite.
Soup also works as a sneaky strategy. A cup next to a sandwich lets you sample more without committing to a giant meal.
Your stomach will thank you later.
Since the daily pick changes, every visit carries a little mystery. That’s a fun feeling at a deli that otherwise loves tradition.
Consider it the one surprise on a menu full of beloved classics. Sometimes the wild card is the winner.
Corned Beef Gets Top Billing For Good Reason
Corned beef on rye might be the official handshake of the Jewish deli.
At Ben & Irv’s, corned beef sandwiches rank among the signature items.
The deli describes its meats as authentic New York style. That style usually means thin slices, piled high, and served on rye.
It’s a look that says lunch is now a serious event.
Pastrami also shows up on the menu for anyone feeling bold. It’s the smoky, peppery relative of corned beef.
Choosing between them is almost as hard as matzoh ball versus kreplach.
Want the full deli experience? Pair a sandwich with a cup of soup.
That combo is about as classic as it gets, and it covers both sides of the menu nicely.
Plan on bringing an appetite, or at least a takeout container. Deli sandwiches have a reputation for size, and nobody wants to leave good corned beef behind.
Ben & Irv’s earned the Best Deli title from Philadelphia Magazine in 2014. A sandwich like this probably helped build that case.
It’s the kind of meal that makes an ordinary weekday feel like a small celebration. No special occasion required.
Free Pickles Hit The Table Before You Even Decide
Complimentary pickles are a deli tradition worth protecting.
Ben & Irv’s keeps it alive by bringing them out at no charge. It sounds like a small thing.
Yet those crunchy spears set the tone for the whole meal. They tell you this is a classic deli, not a fancy bistro pretending to be one.
Pickles also serve a practical purpose. They give you something to munch while you study a big menu.
Trust me, you’ll need the extra time with this many choices.
There’s a rhythm to deli dining that pickles help create. Crunch, sip, chat, and repeat until your order shows up.
It’s a pleasant way to ease into lunch.
Here’s a gentle warning, though. Pace yourself if you plan on soup and a sandwich.
Filling up on free pickles is a rookie move, even if it’s a tasty one.
Small touches like this explain why old-school delis feel so welcoming. They treat you like a guest before the first bowl even arrives.
Honestly, free pickles might be the best greeting in the restaurant world. A handshake has nothing on a good half-sour.
Breakfast Here Starts Early And Means Business
Doors open at 8 a.m. every single day.
That makes Ben & Irv’s a solid pick for an early start anywhere in this corner of Pennsylvania.
The deli serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Mornings bring a chance to try bagel sandwiches and smoked fish, which are deli staples for a reason.
Kippered salmon appears among the specialties too. It’s a smoked salmon style that pairs nicely with a fresh bagel.
If you love lox, this is your neighborhood.
Now, can you order soup at breakfast? Nobody’s going to judge you.
Matzoh ball soup at 9 a.m. sounds like a perfectly reasonable life choice.
Timing matters on certain days. Mondays close at 3:30 p.m., so plan dinner elsewhere that night.
Sundays wrap up at 5 p.m., while Fridays and Saturdays stay open until 8 p.m.
Tuesday through Thursday, the kitchen runs until 7 p.m. That gives you plenty of room for a weekday dinner fix.
Early birds get the bagels here. Late risers still get a shot at soup.
Take The Deli Counter Home With You
Leaving with only leftovers would be a missed opportunity.
Ben & Irv’s runs a full-service deli counter stocked with smoked fish and kosher-style meats.
The counter also carries salads, bakery items, and homemade specialties. It’s basically a grocery run for people who’d rather skip the cooking part.
This is handy for planning a weekend brunch. Grab smoked fish and bagels, and suddenly you’re the host everyone remembers.
Nobody needs to know you didn’t cure the salmon yourself.
Soup lovers can benefit here, too. Stocking up on homemade soup for a busy week feels like a gift to your future self.
Ask the staff what’s available when you stop by.
The counter turns a single meal into a longer relationship with the food. You enjoy lunch, then carry a bit of it home for later.
It also makes a smart stop before visiting friends or family. Showing up with deli goodies beats showing up with store-bought cookies every time.
Consider it a takeout window with seventy years of practice. That’s a pretty reliable shopping partner.
Your Next Party Might Need A Deli Tray Or Three
Feeding a crowd is stressful. Ben & Irv’s makes it easier with catering for both home gatherings and business functions.
The deli handles birthday parties, anniversaries, graduations, and holiday parties.
It also caters a bris and provides shiva trays and dinners. That range covers life’s happiest moments and its quieter ones.
The catering is billed as award-winning Best of Philadelphia catering. That’s a useful credential when you’re trying to impress a room full of relatives.
Office lunches work too. A spread of deli favorites tends to get coworkers talking about something besides spreadsheets.
That’s a win for team spirit.
Here’s a practical tip. Reach out early when you’re planning a big event, especially around holidays.
Popular caterers fill their calendars fast, and nobody wants a last-minute scramble.
Family recipes carry extra meaning at family events. Serving food rooted in generations of tradition adds a warm layer to any gathering.
Plus, there’s usually leftovers. Few things beat cold corned beef the morning after a party.
Some might argue that’s the real reward.
Finding This Soup Spot Takes Zero Detective Work
Directions are refreshingly simple. Ben & Irv’s Delicatessen & Restaurant sits at 1962 County Line Road, Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006.
County Line Road runs along the edge of Montgomery and Bucks counties in Pennsylvania. That puts the deli within easy reach for folks across the northern Philadelphia suburbs.
Can’t make the trip? Delivery is available through DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub.
Takeout works too, which means soup can come to your couch on a chilly evening.
Dine-in is still the classic move, though. Sitting down with a bowl and a pickle plate captures the old-school spirit best.
Delivery is great, but it doesn’t bring the pickles to your table quite the same way.
Frequent visitors might want to look into the E-Club program. It offers exclusive discounts, which makes those regular soup cravings a little easier on the wallet.
The move from Philadelphia back in 1984 didn’t break the chain of tradition. The recipes simply found a new home with more room to grow.
So grab your keys or your phone. A bowl of seventy-year-old tradition is closer than you think.