Nielsens Delicatessen

My favorite sandwich in the whole city of Houston is the junior chicken salad on wheat with lettuce and tomato. I wouldn’t get anything else there. It’s perfect comfort food like your grandma would make it. The deviled eggs are awesome but a bit on the dry/​bring side. It’s definitely not a traditional, southern deviled egg.

My mother loves this place and asked me to pick up some potato salad for a party. I ordered 2 quarts over the phone and got there to pick it up… The cashier tells me «$ 48.52.» I’m all, «excuse me??!» And she repeats it. Holy cow I didn’t want to make a scene and just paid the woman but are you freaking kidding me?! I could feed a family of 8 for $ 48.52! It better have 18k gold flakes it it!

Nielsens is the best! If you love a good pastrami sandwich or tuna salad this place rocks! Best to order ahead and get it to go.

OK, I have read a lot of the bad reviews here, and I think you might not have tried the specialties here. Yes, it is just a deli and it is nothing «special», but what this place is regarded for is the fact that some meats are made in house, as well as the mayo. Nielsen’s is a Danish, and not Jewish, deli so the Corned Beef is not high on the list for items to be made in house. They also have pumpernickel, which is not carried at many delis (not the corporate monsters, anyway). And, speaking of which, this place is family owned. It is not regulated by Mission Statements and P and E statements, but by a family that has lived in Houston serving many people for decades. They have a solid clientele that consists of Native Houstonians that do not go in to bark orders at them. Perhaps, if they were rude to you, you might have done something to turn them off. Just a thought, and I am not in anyone’s head, here. I just implore you all to try it again, with an open mind. Don’t expect a Jewish Deli. Try the specialties.

It was my first visit. It is noticeably dirty with water leaking through the ceiling tiles. I ordered the chicken soup, which didn’t have a tasty broth. It was watered down. The jalapeño was pretty simple – cut in half with cream cheese in it. I’d go back once more to try their specialty sandwiches but I am in no rush.

My friends from Houston have been coming here for 40 years. My first time and I don’t get it. Pastrami and corned beef is not cooked in house but are pre-​packaged. Good potato salad and cole slaw but I just don’t see what the attraction is except for nostalgia for those who have been patronizing this deli for a long time. Only a few stools to sit at an inside counter otherwise only takeout.

Guy at the counter was such a jerk I decided to leave without ever trying the food. Won’t be back. Nice work, Mr. Happy Pants!

I’m really disappointed because I drive by this place all the time and was expecting it to be much better than it actually was…
The place had a very strange energy, it was dead with only a couple of weirdos in there. It was very dirty! I don’t know the last time they cleaned the place… grime and dust all over the tile and built up in the crevices and corners. The floor had not been mopped in ages. The sad and lonely hunk of roast beef behind the counter sat in a brown puddle of water and blood that had seeped from the wrapping. The guy behind the counter had the personality of a rock. I ended up paying $ 14 for a turkey sandwich and small cup of crab salad (imitation crab meat, mayo, and chives) Their homemade mayo on the sandwich had no zing, tasted like bland flavorless cream. The turkey was good, above average, very fresh, not like the usual slightly wet, rubbery deli meat turkey. So I will give them a plus for that. The rest of the sandwich was unremarkable. For $ 14 I would rather go to Houston’s.

Nielsen’s Deli is always a hit in my book!
Sandwiches are great… simple classics such as Egg Salad, Corned Beef with Swiss or the Rueben are among my faves! Their house made mayonnaise is incredible! The deviled eggs and fruit salad are a perfect accompaniment to any sandwich, but your wallet will feel the pinch at the register.
The place is a total dive… quaint and nostalgic! There is minimal seating, so plan on getting your food to go!
I LOVE when I get to see the cranky owner… no trip is complete without seeing him! One of these days I’m going to make him smile!
Today I purchased shortbread for my colleagues and everyone is raving, but now they want to know why I didn’t bring them sandwiches.

Turkey was extremely dry! I could have made a better sandwich at home. Deviled eggs tasted like a powdery paste. Overall disappointing. but the chips were good.

For my first time here I was disappointed they were out of deviled eggs. They rang me up very quickly and didn’t include the chips and drink. I mindlessly handed over my card as they seemed in a hurry and then I realized I needed a drink and chips. This became very uncomfortable because they couldn’t void the transaction and redo it, and anything under $ 5 must be paid in cash and I only had my card. The manager came out from the back and in an exhausted tone huffed «Ahh just give her the chips and drink» and walked past us without eye contact. so that was weird but nice. The crab salad was perfect, all their ingredients were fresh. Overall weird experience for a first time, but I will be back to try those deviled eggs!

Very good food! Minimal seating, but great deli. They have a homemade mayo mustard sauce that is good on the sandwiches.

If you’re not fond of mayonnaise, Nielsens is probably not for you. They make their own and slather it generously. The sandwiches are piled high. They have a good selection of salads… egg, tuna, crab, beet. It’s a simple little place with only a counter and a half dozen stools for seating. The place is a Houston landmark, so it’s worth at least a trip if you’re in the Galleria area.

I had roast beef on pumpernickel. BF had liverpaste on white but we are going to completely ignore his lunch because clearly he makes poor sandwich decisions.
Wanted to love it after reading about the glory of the homemade mayonnaise. My sandwich was just that — a sandwich. Got upcharged for cheese (which didn’t end up on the sandwich???) and lettuce and tomato. Wait — upcharged for lettuce and tomato??? Yeah — that just happened.
Anyway, the deviled egg was not very good — I’m not mad about it, it just wasn’t very good. The potato salad was OK but pretty bland. Can’t speak to the quality of the stuffed pepper because although I ordered one, it also didn’t seem to make it into the bag???
All in all, with all of the delicious sandwich places in town (Kenny & Ziggy’s, Katz’s, Kahn’s…etc) it is doubtful that we will be back.
Total for the lunch (2 sandwiches, 2 lg drinks, 1 bag of chips, 1 small tater salad, 1 deviled egg, 1 missing stuffed pepper and ghost cheese) was in the neighborhood of thirty bucks.

For the same price of 1 «it’s ok» sandwich I could make a stellar lunch for 4 people at home. But then again I’d have to go the store, buy the ingredients and someone has to cleanup.

Please do not change a thing! From the friendly staff to the delicious potato salad, I am always happy to stop by this Houston institution! Although it doesn’t look like much, Nielsen’s has been a fixture since (way, way, way) before I was born.
I have been going since middle school when I used to ride my bicycle over after school.
The sandwiches never (ever) disappoint: freshly sliced meats on simple bread served with love.

If you like a European-​style sandwich (i.e., butter instead of mayo), you’ll love their sandwiches. I’m partial to their roast beef, thin-​sliced, medium-​rare, and absolutely delicious. All the sandwiches come with a slice of a delicious dill pickle. Their potato salad is made with mayo and sour cream (I think), hard-​boiled egg, onion, and may be the best in the city (it certainly is the richest!).
If you’re looking for atmosphere, go somewhere else – this is a place to pick up your food and take it somewhere else, or grab one of the 4 – 5 seats facing the parking lot. The food is pricey ($ 10.72 for a regular 4.5 oz. roast beef sandwich and a dixie cup of potato salad), but it’s been great for years. People who order the chicken salad and the deviled eggs swear by both of them, too.

Great chicken salad! Seating and parking is very limited. There’re only few bar stools to seat if you’re looking for dine-​in option. The place is gonna get cramped and very packed during lunch hours, so come early or after the office lunch crowds disappear.

I really want to rate this place higher, I really do. I have been several times, and LOVE the simplicity of the place with the two people who own it dating back to the 1950’s…This place has been here FOREVER! These are the things I like about it:
Location: Right off Richmond just inside the loop, its a short drive from my office
Staples: YUMMY potato salad (but a bit too mayonaise-​y,) AWESOME fudge balls, ginormous deviled eggs, easy peasy jalapeño’s with cream cheese)
Happy cashier lady
Things I DON’T like:
–i’ts TINY! There are about 5 seats in the entire place, not good for groups, and they practically force you to take the sandwich back to the office
–There’s nothing special about these sandwiches. Maybe once upon a time there was, but alas no more. The chicken salad is just okay, the bread is standard, and the turkey sandwich I had was nothing to write home about.
–The price – Seriously??? I don’t mind paying for high quality, if its worth it, but who are they kidding? I had a chicken salad sandwich small potato salad and a couple of deviled eggs for $ 15. Crap, I could have had a fantastic Gyro and glass of wine for that!
Alas, I want to like you, but there are better options for the galleria.

I love this place — I only wish it was in Austin (hence I can’t give it 5 stars).
Every time I am in Houston, I stop by this small storefront delicatessen (basically a couple of cold cases, cash register, and 6 – 7 stools if you choose to eat there). I love the roast beef and turkey that they use in their sandwiches (I think the turkey is roasted in house). The bread is as good as it gets — toothsome dark pumpernickel, excellent rye, etc. The mayo is housemade. Brownies, the same. They also make some great croûton-​like garlic toast that works well with soups and salads (not something you can get at Nielsen’s).
Nielsen’s is a family-​owned business. They are on their fourth generation of in-​house management. And it shows. It’s a «Danish» deli which means that NY deli fare (knishes, etc.) are not available. I can’t fault this place at ALL. Check it out.