Vegan
Take-out
Breakfast
Jewish
Est. Nov. 2021. All-vegan deli offering fresh bagels, bagel sandwiches, and various prepared foods. Has vegan corned beef, chik'n, and lox. Non-veg turned vegetarian in 2020 and in turn, turned all-vegan in 2021. Open Mon-Sun 8:00am-3:00pm.
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Last update on 09 Mar 2024 by JohnGardner
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Added by ElectricAntelope on 29 Nov 2021
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116 Reviews
First Review by phathousecat
justification
Points +61
Best sandwich - Edit
If you come to Portland you HAVE to try Ben & Esther's. I took the turkey bacon club and my bf tried the ruben sandwich and we both loved it. We are definitely going back to try other things before leaving Portland. Get ready to order and walk around a little bit before coming back to get your food though! (We had a 40 minutes wait, but it was worth it!)
Read morePros: Staff was nice and helpful, Big menu, lots of choices
Cons: 40 minutes wait (but they tell you)
Guest
phytophile
Points +1407
This is the best place for old school bagels - Edit
We had the lox sandwich and the Reuben and they were excellent. The potato salad was delicious. Highly recommend
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2025-12-15
Pros: Old school bagels without any suffering , Good variety , Delicious and for the animals
Cons: Nothing bad
Guest
ElectricAntelope
Points +536
Bag bagels, bad sandwiches, bad owners - Edit
Just looking at the bagels is depressing and they're not any better to eat. It's just bread with a surcharge. I've tried their lox, knishes, reubens, egg salad, latkes, and more because I so desperately wanted to like this place. It's just straight up bad.
Read moreThe owner is also a problematic bigot who isn't actually Jewish despite his claims. Cultural appropriation much?
Updated from previous review on 2025-01-02
Guest
AdrieneL
Points +200
Jealous, so jealous of PDX for having this outstanding vegan deli - Edit
Used to live in PDX several years ago, before the vegan options in town expanded, and just visited again to find Ben & Esther's Deli in the mix. If I lived there again, I promise I never would take this place for granted: I would make weekly stops to get these delicious bagels, sandwiches, soups, and more. Ah, count your blessings, PDX!
Read morePros: Delicious sandwiches and bagels , Friendly service
Guest
longcaredonthair
Points +198
Smashing place - Edit
If you want to have one of the best BLT’s, definitely come here, lovely staff and lovely sandwiches 12/10.
Read moreGuest
kenswab
Points +102
Average - Edit
I got a bacon egg and cheese on a poppy seed bagel and honestly the bagel itself was just okay. For a place that claims to have nyc bagels mine fell flat.
Read moreGuest
AshRayne
Points +93
Best vegan deli! - Edit
We lived in San Diego and found this little gem. After moving to Arizona, we still can’t get our favorite deli out of our heads. Luckily every time we visit our friends in Portland we come here. In both locations incredible food and amazing staff. One of the best vegan spots of all the states we’ve travelled too.
Read moreGuest
herbivorousjane
Points +139
A Favorite - Edit
After visiting the location in San Diego a few years ago, I was excited to try B&E's again and was not left disappointed. Every sandwich was prepared perfectly and so tasty! We ordered breakfast sandwiches and took two other sandwiches on a picnic later that day. Everything was wrapped well and easy to transport, but our only issue was that the pickles were wrapped in paper and soaked through the sandwich wrappings. While I applaud the lack of plastic, it was a surprise to find pickle juice all over the bag when we attempted to eat our lunch at a later time!
Read morePros: Fully vegan, Everything is well made, Diverse menu
Cons: Pickles aren't packed to go friendly
Guest
ktravel
Points +266
Love Ben & Esther’s - Edit
I’m a big fan of Ben & Esther’s and stop there on most of our trips to Portland. The veggie bagel with added Just egg is my “go-to” order. Staff friendly and easy online ordering if you want to grab and go.
Read morePros: Great food, So many options , Friendly staff
Guest
Skye
Points +1606
In town and managed to go twice - Edit
We forgot how much we’re loved the food! Ate once at beginning of the trip and once at end! So good!!
Read morePros: Portion, Flavor, Service
Guest
T-Snapper
Points +20
Highly Recommend - Edit
All vegan menu with lots of options. Everything there has great flavor and texture! The Reuben was especially impressive
Read moreGuest
happycowgirl
Points +6009
F*bomb delicious! - Edit
I ordered the BLT. Such a simple order you'd think. I don't know how they do it. The flavors are amazing. The texture of the marbled rye, how it's slightly grilled, the to-die-for flavor of the vegan bacon, the crunch of the lettuce, the taste and texture of the vegan mayo. It's Perfection.
Read moreVery impressed with the neon "For The Animals" sign inside. Even more impressed with the "For The Animals" art work on the side of the building. It's what drew me in.
That said, just a gentle reminder to the owners, the place needs a little TLC. The tables and space outside are the first impression and things are looking a little dingy. Same with the tables when you first walk in. Vegans don't like fresh cut flowers (they're dying), but some plants would be a nice touch. The Dutch have a word for making a setting warm, comfortable and inviting called gezelligheid. It's similar to the Danish concept of hygge. Just needs a little more hygge. : )
Guest
along112
Points +653
Great sandwiches - Edit
Full vegan deli with sandwiches. We got a couple bagel breakfast sandwiches, which hit the spot. They also have a bunch of different lunch sandwiches that I can’t wait to try.
Read morePros: Breakfast and lunch sandwiches , Reasonable price, Fast
Guest
LindsaySchramm
Points +87
So so good - Edit
Such great quality and food options
Read morePros: Great selection , Amazing flavor
Guest
RebeccaSullivan
Points +6438
So Fun - Edit
Updated review (07/2025): Have gone to Ben & Ester’s almost every time I’ve been in Portland and also went to the Seattle location 2 years ago before they closed. We returned and ordered some breakfast sandwiches in the afternoon to take with us on the road for breakfast the following morning while heading down to Crater Lake. I ordered the bacon, egg, and cheese on a toasted salt bagel, and my sisters ordered the veggie cream cheese sandwich on an everything bagel and the lox sandwich on a plain bagel. Unfortunately the person making their sandwiches mixed their bagels so they didn’t get the correct bagel. They enjoyed their sandwiches but my sister stated that the carrot lox was a little too thick. I enjoyed my BEC which I heated up in the microwave at a Love’s rest stop. Will return next time we’re in PDX.
Read moreOriginal review (08/2022): So much fun to be able to go to a vegan deli. We ordered a plain bagel with veggie cream cheese (my sister really enjoyed it), the Benny’s Brisket (they were out of steak so they subbed corned beef) but my mom really enjoyed it. I got the Rueben which was good but could have used more toppings (sauce, sauerkraut cheese) to even out all the meat. Still very good!
Updated from previous review on 2022-08-17
Guest
AlisonMHell
Points +148
The Best Deli - Edit
East Coast vibes this is the best Deli I have ever eaten at.
Read moreGuest
hkhm
Points +450
Yummy Bagels - Edit
I often despair at finding good bagels when I eat out, let alone getting a good dozen to go. We ordered an egg, cheese and sausage on a salt bagel with a latke (with applesauce and sour cream!) and a veggie combo on a poppyseed bagel with potato salad.
Read moreThe latke was crisp and yummy, the potato salad was red potatoes and dill, excellent sides. The cream cheese on the veggie was also flecked with little bits of veg and tasted great.
This is a definite weekly stop even if I am just going to get a bakers dozen bagels for my daily breakfast.
Pros: Tons of choices, Fast Service, Open Early
Cons: none
Guest
samcotswolds
Points +41
Everything is great! - Edit
Sandwiches are big! You might want to split with someone. Bagels are the best. I picked the place I live based on its distance from B&E (seriously I did)
Read moreGuest
AnnaLalalee
Points +40
Amazing Lunch Spot! - Edit
Great atmosphere, chill staff, and the food tasted great. Of course, fully vegan menu too. Split a reuben dog and lox bagel with a friend, both of which were fantastic. The carrot lox and capers on a fresh bagel paired so well with the nondairy cream cheese.
Read morePros: Great food, Chill atmosphere, Nice cashier and cook
Cons: Street parking for those who drive
Guest
Freckles_
Points +648
Outsanding. - Edit
I'm at a loss for words. Every single item here is identical to the meat-counterpart, and even better! I ordered the reuben, outsanding; the grand puba, outsanding; the new Yorker, outsanding; the French dip; outsanding. You cannot go wrong with any of the sandwiches and they are as filling as they are good (especially the grand puba!). The staff her is also very friendly. The building could use some more ventilation, but we sat outside and it was lovely so we didn't mind.
Read moreGuest
lilvegancat
Points +1766
Comforting Jewish Favorites - Edit
Amazing to come to a place that has some of my favorite foods growing up veganized.
Read moreTheir matzah ball soup is spot on! It’s so hard to make vegan matzah balls (I’ve tried). And the bacon they had on their breakfast bagel was THE BEST vegan meat I’ve tried in my life. Full stop.
Sadly their lox bagel was a huge miss. Salmon lox are so packed with smoky and salty flavor but theirs tasted like a light seasoned carrot and their slices are too thick. Maybe I caught them on a bad day :’(
Updated from previous review on 2025-06-03
Guest
DuncanMacbethLead
Points +1385
Unreal bagels - Edit
This place is great. So many options and great bagels. Came here two days in a row to get our fix!
Read moreOnly had bagels so can't comment on the other foods, but would definitely recommend the RZA and Bensonhurst. Just note they can go a bit heavy on the red onion so I'd ask without if you don't like too much!
Pros: So many options, Amazing bagels, Huge portions
Guest
mandaziegelman
Points +457
Yum - Edit
Jalepeno bagel, bacon, egg, cheese, bacon chive smear…. So damn good especially when they crisp it up long enough.
Read morePros: Flavorful, Nostalgic , All vegan
Cons: When they don’t crisp up the bacon
Guest
JillBelsanPoston
Points +613
Best vegan Reuben we've ever had - Edit
All vegan deli. Bagels and deli sandwiches. Definitely the best vegan Reuben we have ever had. The Philly Cheese is in my top 2.
Read morePros: Friendly staff, Yummy food, Large serving
Guest
Kimby1000
Points +364
Deli-cious! - Edit
This was our first stop when we arrived in Portland after a 4 hour flight. I like veggies more than faux meats, so I ordered the veggie sandwich on an everything bagel. It came with avocado, yum! My husband (from Philadelphia) ordered the Vegan Philly Cheese Steak. He said the faux steak was ok, but the faux cheese whiz was spot on! We both enjoyed our meals and took a stroll through the artsy neighborhood afterwards. Highly recommend it.
Read moreGuest
blueberrybandit
Points +435
Best cinnamon roll I've ever had - Edit
Finally got to try this place and I will be back! The cinnamon roll was incredible! Loved my bagel sandwich too.
Read moreGuest
nsweeney
Points +259
Really great - Edit
Are here twice during our trip. Had bagel sandwiches and loaded potato salad. All was very good. If we are ever in Portland again will definitely eat here
Read morePros: Bagels, Friendly staff
Guest
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