I was looking for a non-chain sub shop and other Yelpers led me to this one. It's located in a small strip mall but there is plenty of parking. A little outdated looking but that doesn't matter to me so long as the food is good. They have a video gaming area behind some doors too if that's your thing. Plenty of tables and seating inside. I ordered the OG Italian sandwich to go. They had a choice of white and wheat bread. I ordered the wheat bread but I didn't notice until I got home that they used the white bread. Sandwich had lettuce, tomato, mozzarella cheese, the Italian meats, black olives, and Italian dressing. Overall a good basic sandwich which is what I was craving. Sometimes the best things are the simplest unlike a lot of sub shops these days that have a bajillion toppings you can add that hide the quality of the sandwich. I do want to go back and try the Reuben sometime. I thought the prices were just a little high but it's a small mom and pop business and the quality is just going to be better. Reminds me to the sub shops from the 1980s before the big chains came along. read more

See all

Best sandwich I've ever had!!! Highly recommended it! Also great service! Super cute too!

Cute couple that owns this sandwich place. Great place if you are looking for a non-chain sandwich shop. Made to order and close to PCC and Lewis and Clark college.Sandwiches are great and the place is right off the main drag. read more

Hands down one of the best places to grab a sandwich from! Every single time I've ever been there, I have no left disappointed!!

First good sign, it smells good when you walk in the door. If you want a good old fashion FRESH sandwich, this is the place. No frills, but really good fresh food. Highly recommend and we will be back. Gene and his wife were sweet and friendly. read more

Sandwiches were really good. Great proportions, perfectly toasted roll and delicious. It was a bit weird having a small casino in the middle of the shop though. Not that big of a deal. God stop for lunch. read more

I always stop by the UPS store and have been wanting to try Gene's Deli! As I have seen in previous reviews - I am also surprised by the five start ratings. The staff was incredibly friendly and quick with orders, however the business needs so work as it is extremely outdated. I was so hungry I did not take a picture (whoops) - but the sandwiches were ok. Best part was the bread. No a lot of substance in between the bread. I wish I had made a sandwich at home! We had ordered the Honey mustard chicken and the Reuben sandwich. Glad I tried it because I have been wanting to -- but I dont plan to go back. Also the menu of the picture does not have representative prices. At least 4-7$ more expensive on menu in the restaurant. read more

This is a tough review to write. I'll start by saying the people working were great and very nice. The prices very good. Now the hard part. Just not a good sandwich. C- at best. Bread weak, it wasn't toasted enough, and not enough mayo. Dry. If you own a sandwich shop, you gotta make a good sandwich. read more

Pretty darn good sandwich. Had the Italian sub and a Reuben for good measure. Sub was better for sure. Bread was particularly good. Will be back soon! read more

Yummy food, great service. My son got soup & I got a cold turkey sandwich. The bread was almost like a ciabatta, really good. I'd go back if I was in the neighborhood. read more

I am shocked to find so many people have given this place a higher rating. We love to support local business but were very underwhelmed by our orders. Plus the place is in desperate need of a facelift. We felt the sandwiches were about the same level of sandwich we would make for ourselves at home. Great bread, but not a whole lot that's special or exciting about the rest. Glad to have gone to check it off the list, but don't plan to return. read more

I ordered a Chicken Teriyaki Hawaiian (small) and my boyfriend ordered an Original Italian (regular), both on white bread. The bread was toasted well, the edges of the bread being very crisp. The toppings on both sandwiches were well paired and delicious! However, I would say that having more teriyaki sauce on the chicken may taste better. The service was excellent and the man at the counter was very friendly, polite, and flexible. This sandwich shop is a great place to stop by for lunch! Prices were totally reasonable and not expensive at all. I totally recommend and will 100% be coming back again. read more

Gene's Deli is the BEST!!! Not only is every sandwich amazing, but Gene and his wife are the sweetest! I so look forward to coming into this establishment, from the delicious food to the wonderful conversation. read more

Great sandwiches and the service is very friendly! Amazing prices, definitely recommend!

The boy decided he needed to have soup today, and there aren't many options for that in our neighborhood. We tried Subway, but the one here doesn't do soup (why?) so we did a search in the neighborhood and wound up here. What a neat little spot! The couple were super friendly, kind, and patient. The video poker seemed to be doing more trade than the restaurant, but hey whatever keeps the doors open. The boy had the beef barely and enjoyed it. I had the clam chowder, which was serviceable. I sorta wished I'd gone for a sandwich because the menu looked tasty. Reasonable prices and a local alternative to Subway, etc? We'll be back. read more

Gene's Deli - Delis Near Me - Portland, Oregon

The sandwiches are great here! And the owner and his wife are incredibly sweet and friendly. We ordered a large amount of sandwiches, and he offered our drinks on the house. Wonderful establishment. read more

Stopped into Gene's on a hungry whim the other day. Was in the area, saw a couple of specials posted on the window, decided it was worth a try. Opted for the "noodle special". I should have been paying attention when I ordered. I was asked if I wanted the "regular", said yes without thinking. Actual options were small and regular, when in my mind, I guess I expected regular and large. $8.50 later, I received a Styrofoam container with a lot of noodles, a few veggies, and a bit of pork. This was a very generic fried noodle dish, a bit oily, very flat flavor. A bit of Sriracha and some soy sauce brightened it up but really didn't do much more than that. The volume of noodles certainty satisfied my hunger pangs but I would have been much happier with a lot more protein and fewer noodles. Ah well, lesson learned. read more

Not great. The honey mustard chucked sandwich was awful. Maybe try the fries rice if you go. That might be more in there wheelhouse. .

In my opinion, to this day one of the best sandos I've ever had-- if not THEE best sando and my favorite. Love having them toast it, get the tomato cuz it's the perfect texture combo with the perfectly crunchy bread and savory meats and gooey cheese. Every detail of the sando is great here, and I loved the workers they are so sweet and respectful and honoring. I live over 2000 miles away now and have yet to find a sando this good. It's a total hidden gem and I learned of it by word of mouth. I hope locals will continue to support this business so it be there whenever I visit :) but also, because given by the service, I would hope their business continues to succeed. Their sandwiches alone deserve success, but their service was a cherry on top. Now if only I could get o e delivered via airplane.... :) read more

Great sandwich and sweet owners. If you want fried rice, you need to order 15' ahead.

Always quick, friendly and fresh. I just keep coming back to this little family-owned spot. Gene and his wife are always warm and welcoming. Prices can't be beat and the grilled chicken bacon ranch is a winner! Try one of their specialties- fried rice or fried noodles. Support these local spots- they are a gem to our over-priced, over-saturated community! read more

What a seriously nice and cute couple who run this deli. This is a must visit, and they are struggling a bit with a year of covid reduced business. Come spend a little money here and help these nice people out! read more

This deli has been around for quite a while and I first tried them in 2011. Pretty good sandwiches. A few months ago, I started to go about once a week. The owners are husband/ wife I think. They are always very friendly and hospitable. The sandwiches are great. Very generous amount of meat and toppings. The toasted breads make them even better. I have tried the Sicilian, Reuben, and Roast beef. My fav is the Roast Beef. They also have fresh Asian noodles and fried rice at a good price for the large amounts of noodles / rice. They also have the Oregon Video Lottery machines. I always play a few games while waiting for my food to be made. And bonus - I always walk away with more cash than I started with (even after playing for only 5 minutes). Thanks for the great food! read more

Friendly staff, delicious sandwiches. Apparently they've been in business for 21 years! I love that I moved right down the street from them. This is officially my go-to sandwich shop. Oh, and they were all wearing masks and had hand sanitizer available. They are clearly being careful in the midst of the COVID19 pandemic. Felt very safe picking up my food. read more

Not sure what all the hype is all about. Italian sub tasted off. The first thing that hits the palette are olives that don't seem to be very fresh. Upon inspection, the tomato is grainy and old. The soup was inedible, tasted really weird. I can make a better Italian sub at home. This one is missing one crucial ingredient: cherry peppers. No salt and vinegar chips is also disappointing. It's just bad. I'm burping up my sub after eating it which is not a good sign. read more

This holy institution deserves all the gifts and gold under the sun. Regular Classic on Wheat. If you know, you know. read more

Small and quiet little sandwich place just off of I-5. Great stop if you are feeling a sandwich or driving nearby. The owners are very sweet as well! read more

Gene's Deli - Veggie sandwich (no mushrooms, add mayo and mustard) Bread comes warm with toasted cheese, so yummy! - Delis Near Me - Portland, Oregon

See all

I love these sandwiches. Super fresh and decent in size. However, it is almost $10 for a regular size and that is a lot for a sandwich. I'd go more often if the price was lower. read more

I had the country turkey sandwich and it was delicious at a great price. Highly recommended.

Awsome sandwiches!!!, the bread and ingredients that are being used here taste great!! The owners are very nice people. Keep the good work. This establishment is a hidden gem. read more

See all

I ordered a BLT it was so good. I recommend:)) the man who runs the place w his wife are sweet kind people. I will come here again

Love this place! The owners are very nice and after a few visits will start remembering your order! Their sandwiches are amazing! I've tried about 5 of the different ones on the menu, and haven't been disappointed yet. Best subs in Portland! They also do fried rice and BBQ pork noodles on specific days now, I've tried both and they are both very tasty and a super great value. All in all, great food, great people, and a great value. Support local! read more

Gene's Deli - This is after eating a HUGE portion of the fried rice. It's so good and a really good deal! - Delis Near Me - Portland, Oregon

I finally tried Gene's Deli after Subway stopped carrying Swiss or cheddar. I wish I had tried it a long time ago! My sandwich was absolutely delicious and the gentleman who took my order was kind and funny. Much better than Subway. I look forward to getting sandwiches from Gene's regularly! read more

It is ok. Not a deli as much as it is a mom and pop sandwich shop. They have a fairly limited list of sandwiches. I had an Italian sub, and it was decent, but nothing special. There are many better options in Portland. read more

Their service was excellent--I picked up several sandwiches for our movers with very little notice and the clerks were very warm and friendly. That being said, the sandwiches were a little lackluster. I may try them again in case my memory is failing me, but I thought they were going to be something pretty special from the Yelp reviews I'd read. Side note: apparently movers are sick of pizza. They were overjoyed I'd gotten deli sandwiches. read more

WOWWWWW!!!!!!! How have I waited for so long to write this review when I've been a huge fan of this place for years?! First of all: it's the best sandwich I have literally ever have. Second of all: they give wonderful service. The owners are on the quieter side but are so kind and lovely and put their love into every sandwich. Pro tips: You definitely want your sandwich toasted, and you want the white bread. Second pro tip: tip these people well!! They give a really good deal for what they're making and they deserve it!! read more

Really great spot for lunch. Their sandwiches are delicious and made with care, so expect to wait a bit for your meal. I promise it's worth it! I love that they are open early in the morning as well rather than just lunch. read more

Great, toasted subs. I've been going here for years & people are sleeping on these! My favorite sandwich is the Honey Mustard Chicken, with the BLT a close second. Best sandwiches in SW Portland! read more

I am just going to agree with everyone else here on this one. The couple are really nice, the video poker area is kinda wierd, the sandwitch is filling and at a fair price. I got the regualr size Super Club but next time I go there will try another kind of sandwitch, they all look so good. The place is not easy to spot and you will pass right by it if you are not looking for it. I would rather give my money to a mom and pops place before a chain any day, give them a try. read more

John and his wife have continued to make this toasted submarine sandwich shop prosper and thrive in a little commercial strip for quite a few years, so it was explained. A good variety of sandwiches that are anchored on fresh breads with tasty ingredients. Quick, flavorful and satisfying. Add a bag of chips and you are at about $7. Daily noodles are worth a try as well. read more

Gene's Deli - Delis Near Me - Portland, Oregon