Napkins are not optional at the seven counters on this list. Arizona has a surprising number of old-school delis where the bread barely holds back the pastrami, salami, and melted cheese.
Some have been slicing meat since the 1940s, while others double as Italian markets packed with imported treats. Grab a friend, bring a big appetite, and get ready to use both hands.
1. Miracle Mile Deli
Few lunch counters in Arizona can claim a family story stretching back to 1949, when a Brooklyn native opened the original shop. Miracle Mile Deli has moved a handful of times since then, but loyal regulars have followed it from address to address for decades.
Today it sits on North 16th Street in Phoenix, in a spacious spot that still runs on old New York energy…