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Categories: Delis, Sandwiches [Edit]
Neighborhoods: University City, Spruce Hill
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I get the Rachel (turkey reuben) when I go here. It's always filling and delicious - one of the best sandwiches I've ever had. The butchers are really nice and sometimes offer samples of meat and cheese if the lunch rush is slowing things down.
Whenever I go here, I consider it a treat. Unfortunately, this is not a good thing. The sandwiches are pricey and the wait is excruciatingly long at times. It sucks that I can only go here when I have some time to kill and have some money burning in my pocket. Otherwise, I'd be here much more often.
About 4-5 years ago, a person I knew got their sandwich from Koch's.
I used to be so annoyed by the waiting time, and the lack of places to sit while waiting for your order. I did like how they got down to business with a order placed.
The final outcome was a large-filling sandwich, with a long wait, lack of seating, and semi-attentive staff.
I haven't been back in a long time due to the fact that I'm not in the area as much and I don't have a craving for their food. It's an aiight sandwich shop to be fair.
Although I like that the sandwiches are bigger than your head and they are certainly delicious, I find this place gets slightly more esteem than it deserves. It's certainly good but essentially a deli - no more magically than any other I've seen.
I will say I find the people that work there friendly and helpful. Lunchtime brings a big crowd so be prepared to wait a bit. The line moves fast and you'll be rewarded with a huge sandwich for a completely reasonable price. I only wish there was a place to sit after purchasing - even if only a few more tables outside.
I just moved to West Philadelphia, so I can't compare the new owners of Koch's to the previous ones. I generally don't like sandwiches, but my boyfriend and I walked in one day and I have been coming back about once a week ever since. Some other reviewers have mentioned the long wait time, and that the same amount of care is not put into the sandwiches after the ownership changed. Every time I have gone, the wait time was long, about 15-20 minutes, but that was because the guy behind the counter put an insane amount of love into my Reuben. He doesn't slap all the ingredients together, but he heats the meat, cheese, and sauerkraut together so the flavors soak into one another. I don't mind waiting a few extra minutes if it is the difference between on ok and an amazing sandwich. The prices are a bit high ($10 a sandwich), but when you consider how massive they are, it is not too bad.
I thought Koch's Deli was pretty good for my first time. My friend got the Rachel - Pastrami and Swiss Reuben, which was banging. I got the Restaurant School Hoagie which was good cuz it had Russian Dressing, Cole Slaw, Honey Ham, and I forgot the other ingredients. My hoagie costed $10 and so did my friend's Rachel sandwich as well. No sitting since there are no chairs. The wait was long so you should definitely call ahead of time. Although the wait was long, the owner gave us free samples of turkey, roast beef, and pickles to commend our wait. I will return when money isn't tight.
I lost my Koch's virginity today.
My Koch's virginity persisted despite my roomie (Kevin S) giving it a 5 star in December. I have always biked past this place without a second glance. Granted it has an assuming exterior, but once inside you are transported back in time to a piece of West Philly history.
Following a softball game victory, we ended up here on suggestion of one of our teammates.
First, if you can, make sure you call in advance. My friend had the hookup and they greased the preparation so our sandwich would come in 30 minutes and not 45 minutes.
The wait is pretty entertaining though. I had the counterman banter with me about my Koch virginity, the California Governor (lots of Arnie accented quotes), and kept calling for me to take samples of pastrami, garlic cheese and pickles (And as a grad student, free food is always high on my menu).
Once the sandwich came, I was impressed by how much it had packed in it. The Honey Turkey club sandwich was packed with turkey, lettuce, tomatoes.....just a sandwich galore!
And just like the first time, you want it again and again-same applies to Koch's in the future for me. And Koch's at least will not cost you a first or second date and blown money on flowers/chocolates etc. Just $10 bucks and you are in sandwich ecstasy.
Up until 2005, Koch's would have been an easy five stars. But in 2005 Bob Koch, last of the Koches, passed away, and the business was sold to someone else.
The food is not the same; the cold cuts are poorer quality and the sandwiches are not assembled with the same care. Can't anyone put together a sandwich? Maybe it sounds silly to say it, but no. The Koches really knew sandwiches. They were sandwich masters. And they really cared about what they did. The new guy, not so much.
The experience isn't the same either, because the Koch brothers aren't there. Last time I went in, while I was waiting, I had my laptop open. "What are you doing?" asked the owner. Just working, I said. "Well, it looks kind of suspicious," he said. Yeah, and screw you too.
The shop still has the same sign, and it still says "Koch's", but it's a lie. Koch's is closed.
Been here a few more times since the last review and every time I like it more. Of course it's not fancy, it's a little deli with some kitschy little wall decors and tons of letters from across the years. No tables, obviously, but that's not the reason you come here, anyway. The guys behind the counter here are really some of the most egregrious and friendly shop owners/workers around and they really go the extra mile to make your sandwich just the way you like it. They'll even make recommendations (or basically force you..) to have what they believe is the better choice of (something).. like the time my boyfriend got the Jewish Hoagie and they put garlic cheese on it.. and it was sooooo good (the cheese part anyway, the only part of that sandwich I can have, haha).
They'll also force ham samples and cheese and pickles on you. As if they really needed to do that..
Ezra and the other regular workers here are just so nice. They make it a fun experience to go and oh yeah, the sandwiches are probably bigger than my head. I think I made a rule sometimes long ago not to attempt to eat something of that size, but it's hard to get around that here.
They are absolutely stuffed to the max with whatever it is you ordered and then some.
Definitely more than three stars (but not yet 4, because I haven't been there enough to clearly… Read more »
This place is known for good deli slices and I guess they're okay, but the sandwiches aren't grilled they're toasted in these weird toaster ovens that I've sure would've been genius in the seventies, but now they seem like cheap Quizno's knock-offs. The bread is good and the staff is friendly even when there's a wait... but meh.
Warning: once you've experienced Koch's, you'll never look at sandwiches the same way again! Seriously, it's that good. I really can't say anything that hasn't already been said numerous times in much better reviews than I am capable of writing, but I will sum it up for you in three words: Koch's is awesome. This not an ordinary deli, it is a west Philadelphia landmark. It almost doesn't matter what I order; if it's on the menu it will taste good.
Most sandwiches will set you back eight to ten bucks, but it's well worth it. You can't get this quality anywhere else. The portions are huge and all the ingredients are as fresh as can be. If you don't know what you want, talk to the staff. They are knowledgeable, friendly, and know what they're doing. This deli is takeout only, although there are tables and chairs outside. There is free parking across the street in the CVS lot.
Thanks for the tip Meredith. HOLY CRAP does this place know how to make a sammich! they are hands down the best Jewish Deli in Philly and give great service every step of the way. and not only did the sandwich maker make my sammich to perfection, he was friendly and cool enough to tell me some things about stuff on my street that I had no idea about.
If you like your sammiches piled high with meat than this is by far the place for you. their catchphrase is "More Meat for Less Bread" and their dead on. The turkey pastrami was piled high on my potato bread. The lettuce was fresh and came from a good sized head. the hot peppers and fried onions hit the spot. and the cooler had awesome sodas from Jones and Dr. Browns (The celery soda was better than I thought it would be.). Next time I come here I'm going to have to order the Whitefish sammich so I can report back to Aaron (and I might just have to pile on some nova lox in the process). And I'm going to have to go for one of those awesome sounding blintzes too. SAMMICHES!
Well, if nothing else, the sandwiches here are piled high with every ingredient you would wish to desire. Exactly what to get if you want to get stuffed to the gills.
Staff is super-friendly and handing out samples as you wait, but don't take too long, or the customers behind you, moreso than the staff, will get mad.
THIS, friends, is what I will recall about Philadelphia. (okay, so I didn't really do much while I was in town, besides sit around eating alcoholic watermelon -which i will also look back on fondly- in my friend's apartment, but don't let that subtract from the significance of my visit to Koch's).
Sandwiches, right? They're good!
And they're really big and fresh and made with a little attitude and a dollop of history (for which I am totally a sucker...i'm from the west coast for the love of god. we have like, 10 years of history) and in particular, the sweet peppers!! how have i not delighted in sweet peppers on my sandwiches yet in my life? shit is good!
and i kinda liked being bossed around and patronized when I asked what my cheese options were. clearly i'm a novice. but a hoagie novice no more!
dang philly!
Remember when Cliff birthed a hoagie during a dream sequence on "The Cosby Show?" If I could spawn a hoagie, it would be like one from Koch's. Their sandwiches are the stuff of dreams.
You've gotta get them with everything. If you don't, you'll not only miss out on a condiment flavor explosion...but the managers may degrade you and your undressed sandwich by calling it a "Wawa hoagie"......snap!
Finally made it out here...the sandwiches are monstrous, delicious and could feed at least 5 small children. Koch's has a great old-time deli feel; they pass out slices of corned beef and cheese to us as we wait in line for their masterpieces. All the signed photos, cards, and awards are a testament to their greatness.
I got the Penn sandwich...mmm...corned beef, pastrami, tongue, sweet muenster, cole slaw, russian dressing on rye. Figuring out how to take the first bite should require a corp of army engineers for safety's sake...because you can't unhinge your jaw.
anyways, I went around 12:30 on a weekday, and it took ~35 minutes to order and get out the door with a feast in hand. it didn't help that some guy had pre-ordered some 30 sandwiches.
Mmm, yet another reason to miss West Philly! Koch's has the absolute best (and biggest) sandwiches. I used to be a big fan of the honey turkey hoagie, and honestly, I probably could've taken 3/4 of the turkey off, put it in a Ziploc, eaten off that for a week, and still had an extremely filling sandwich.
The line gets pretty ridiculous on weekends, but the free samples of cheese, meats, etc. makes the time pass. You can also peruse the Wall of Fame and see all the love letters to Koch's - there's even one from Pat Sajak.
If you go during non-peak hours, the employees are extremely chatty and friendly; otherwise, it's fairly Soup-Nazi-ish but very efficient.
After blatantly ignoring suggestions to try Koch's deli from friends for nearly 5 months, myself and the misses decided to stop in after work for a sandwich. I immediately wanted to slap myself for depriving my stomach of some of the most delicious deli meats and cheese I've ever tasted. There were no other customers when we got there which from the looks of some of the other reviews is a rare occurrence. We were greeted immediately and I told the gentlemen behind the counter that this was our first time to their deli, much to their delight as all the workers raucously harassed us about being a couple of virgins. We were invited to the counter as they pulled meat after meat out of the cooler and handed us thick, tender, juicy slices of (insert every deli meat you can think of and some that you never heard of here). I opted for the corn beef special with garlic cheese and the lady went with roast beef with horseradish cheddar on a recommendation....not that we needed them after the deli meat extravaganza. The sandwiches were phenomenal and we both had half a sandwich left for lunch the next day.
Before we left my girlfriend was told to call her father to let him know that she lost her virginity and made us vow to bring more virgins for them to deflower.
Good times + great food = 5 stars
The absolute best place to get a sandwich in Philiadelphia. Koch's blew away my already unreasonably high expectations the first time I went there with a Rueben for the ages; a double-decker of delicious corned beef and perfect cheese and sauerkraut. Each time I go there I look forward to trying something new, whether it be an Italian hoagie or my now favorite Penn special. People have already said it but the ingredients here are out-of-this world good and the friendly staff will dish out samples and talk to you enough that the wait (which sometimes can be 30 minutes) passes in a flash. I can't recommend this place enough.
Awesome. There really is nothing more to say.
Make sure you go if you are in Philadelphia, take my car if necessary.
Koch's, a staple of West Philadelphia eateries, is truly as good as it gets: an old-school take-out delicatessen/sandwich shop that makes mountainous sandwiches and delicious hoagies. I can only make it through half of their double-decker sandwiches in a sitting. You can get beef tongue, corned beef and all sorts of amazing meats here on a sandwich or by the pound, all with a whole lotta quirky attitude. The employees bicker and laugh like an old married couple and offer you pickles, cheeses and more while you wait. There's always a long line at this place, and rightfully so.
Best corned beef hoagie ever.
I walked in and was so hungry and new to the place that I didn't even know anything about their famous gobblers.
That's like getting apple pie at the cheesecake factory, and discovering that it's the best apple pie ever in the world ever.
This place has my vote. Anytime I'm in town, I'm going back to West Philly for Koch's.
When I visited my boyfriend in college (he went to Penn), I made him take me here each time.
Now that I live in Philly, I'm pleased as punch to have Koch's whenever I want!
Expect: service with attitude, 4 inches tall sandwiches, and a full belly
Koch made his sandwiches in West Philly for -- I'm gonna ballpark this -- probably about forty years, earning himself a tremendous following of people from the city and the burbs. (I know a guy who used to drive in several days a week from the Main Line just for one of those towering sandwiches). Sadly, Bob Koch passed away over a year ago, but his sandwich shop continues to function down on Locust Street, and people still form enormous lines on Saturday afternoons.
The lure of Koch's has always really been the atmosphere. As you stood in that tremendous line (I've waited as long as 40 minutes for a sandwich), everyone was always surprisingly glad to be there, waiting, schmoozing about meat and, maybe, sports. Koch used to pass around samples of his meats and cheeses and pickles and everyone would say how incredible it all was. It was the sort of scene you'd have expected in another time, when people didn't lead such damn hectic lives.
It's not the same place without Bob Koch there, but I'm glad to report that the Israeli guys who took over have really made an effort to continue the Koch tradition. Nothing in the interior of the narrow sandwich shop has changed, not the pictures on the wall, not the handwritten amendments to the sandwich menu that hangs above the meat slicers. I was in there with my dad right after the takeover and they weren't handing out meat. My dad told them that Koch always used to send around freebies, and a bunch of folks in the line echoed my father's words. The next time I went in there, though, the new Israeli owners had mastered free meat schtick.
Koch's has a ton of very original sandwiches on its menu, but I almost always order a hot brisket sandwich with fried onions. A corned-beef sandwich is another great option, if, like me, you prefer to stick to the simple classics. But regardless of what you order, you can be sure that Koch's will make you a towering sandwich, composed of the best deli meats, cheeses and breads.
An easy five stars, no matter who's running the show.
Summary: This place is amazing! The staff was very friendly and helpful. The food was excellent.
Details: I can't eat wheat, therefore I can't eat bread, so I asked them to just put the contents of an Italian hoagie (meat, cheese and toppings) in a container. The guys behind the counter cheerfully offered to make me a hoagie using leaves of lettuce as a stand in for the roll (they called it a lettuce wrap). I went at 5:45 pm on a Saturday and there were only 2 other customers there (when I've walked by in the past it's looked really crowded and busy). The man who made my sandwich patiently asked me what I did and didn't want on it, which I really appreciate since I am allergic to mayo. When I got home, I happily ate the entire thing despite the fact it probably contained over 1/2 lb of meat.
For people with allergies: I am absolutely delighted with the food and service. Most of my food restrictions are due to sensitivities as opposed to full-blown allergies where one gets hives and/or has to seek medical attention. If you are at all worried about cross-contamination from other foods, I can't recommend this place to you. But if you try to avoid wheat in general or don't like bread, the lettuce wrap is a great option!
Cars: I walked there but I did notice a sign in the deli saying that Koch's has an agreement with CVS that makes it OK for Koch's customers to park in CVS's lot. It's a nice neighborhood for a walk though.
My first trip to Koch's was in 1979. I haven't been there since Bob passed. It's good to see from a recent review that the place seems to have landed on its feet. The world would be a poorer place.
My favorite is hot brsket with Munchee cheese, with cooked onions. Just a bit of mustard.
Milk shakes and blintzes -- perfection. Plus Vel-ray and Vernor's Ginger Ale (at least they used to carry that.)
Goodness gracious... the sammies at Koch's are the size of your head! The first time I went to Koch's, I had an insatiable craving for my favorite --- a veggie hoagie with all the fixin's. What I received was the most massive veggie hoag I have ever attempted to devour in my whole entire life. I could only finish half of it and even that was a challenge, and I had enough leftovers for a hearty lunch the following day. The prices of their sandwiches are extremely affordable and the staff is always friendly. You may have to wait longer than usual for your sandwich to be made, but trust me. It is worth the wait.
Massive sandwiches. A very unique West Philly deli with a lot of character. Just ordering your food is an experience in itself. I've gotten full off of the free samples before getting my sandwich. Overall very satisfied with this place. One down side is the prices can be a bit steep for sandwiches (around $10), but you definitely get what you pay for in terms of portions.
The absolute best. Period. I have never had a sandwich like I had from Koch's in my life. They are large and extremely delicious. They have great specialty sandwiches, but if you want something simple they can make that too. Heck, they'll make you anything you want. Eat Koch's and enjoy. Your arteries won't forget it, and you won't regret it.
Just go there. It's awesome. The sandwhichs are amazing, and the staff is even better. Plus, it's affordable. Same price as quiznos or subway, but significantly better quality. And free cheese, meat, and pickle hand outs as you wait.
So before I start, I have to say, I grew up in NYC and worked in a Deli most of my life. My blood runs rampant with the nitrates from Boars Head. I may only live to 50, but my body will be pickled forever thanks to Brunkhorst Meats in their shiny red and black trucks. I was spoiled as far as delicatessens go. So, everything is based off that Bias.
The sandwiches are expensive but they are huge. I am an eater. I have been known to pack away 40 ounces of prime rib at a time and then finish my wife's left overs. That's why i go to the gym so much. I had the PENN Special, and man, I had to leave 1/2 for later. As far as the flavor, some of the meats lack flavor. The salami is good, but the toungue left something to be desired. it lacked flavor. The texture was good, but it just lacked flavor. Its a nice deli, good portions, and if I pay ten bucks for something that makes me wait to finish it later, i think its a good deal. It would be 4 stars all the way if the flavor was a bit better with some of the meats, but I think I found a place to keep the nitrates pumping in my veins!! Woohoo. Even better is the fact that I don't have to go there. Delivery through Campus http://food.com. I havenever actually been in there, maybe one day.
As a Penn student in the early 90's, I frequented this place. I remember I would have to phone my order in ahead of time, wait in line and while waiting indulge on free munchies (cookies, brownies etc) while waiting for my order to be filled. As a New Yorker, I never thought I would find a good old fashion Jewish Deli while studying away from home. This place will always be a favorite.
Miss this place so much. When the lines get long (not uncommon), they'll pass around slices of meat and cheese to those waiting. Wax paper with meat and cheese, moving through the line. Some people might scoff at the apparent unsanitary-ness of this, but I find it genius.
I haven't had one of these sandwiches in years (about 7 years now, I think), but my oh my they were good. The Drexel was my favorite. The milkshakes are to die for as well. This is not a place to diet, this is a get fat and enjoy your food kind of place with huge fattening sandwiches. Note, there is no seating, just go in, stand in line, get your food and take it somewhere else to eat.
I live down the street from Koch's. I used to have to force myself to only go every other week so as not to gain too much weight.
I think most of the reviews here are elegies to Bob Koch and his family. Bob was one of those guys who just made the place. You'd come in and he'd know your name after you'd been there a couple of times, he'd tell you an off-color joke and if you came in with your family, he'd hit on your mom (in the best possible way).
The sandwiches are legendary. The size of small elephants. You can get a sandwich and eat half for lunch and half for dinner with a nap in between. I remember thinking that they were a little expensive (almost ten dollars for a sandwich) but when you hold the bag in your hands, you will understand why. Size alone does not recommend a sandwich of course. Koch's uses good meat and has a bewildering array of possible choices for your hoagie. My favorites are the Restaurant School special and the Drexel.
Since Bob passed away a couple of years ago, Koch's has been taken over by some guys who are working to keep it like the Koch's of old. It isn't the same, but they are still handing out treats to keep you happy in line and the boss is trying to tell bad jokes. Sure, I don't go in as often as I used to, but it is still a great place.
This place is definitely top notch, the other two reviews are spot on about good people, service and food. I just wanted to say they also sell cold cuts at pretty good prices. I like to grocery shop at trader joe's but hate prepackaged cold cuts, so I head here for my cold meats. mmm. Just thinking of Kotch's makes me want Bob Kotch special (ham, turkey, swiss, slaw and russian dressing on rye)
the most absurd sandwiches you will ever encounter. and i mean that in the best way possible. these babies are crafted with care and it shows. i've never been during lunch, so i can't vouch for the service then, but otherwise the staff is fantastic, very sweet and chatty. in fact, just yesterday, while waiting for my turkey reuben, i had the pleasure of learning about the 2 different sides of the aluminum foil they use to wrap the sammies in. go to koch's, you may just learn something.
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