Shapiro's Delicatessen
Best Deli in Indianapolis · IN
Corned beef the Shapiro way since 1905.
Shapiro's Delicatessen has called itself "America's oldest single-family deli" since Louis Shapiro opened it in Indianapolis in 1905. Four generations later, the cafeteria line still slides trays past towering corned beef and pastrami sandwiches, cut to order, with house-baked rye and a case full of Jewish comfort food.
A downtown institution for 120 years, Shapiro's is the 2025 Centurion Award winner for Best Deli in Indianapolis.
What they're known for
- Corned beef on rye
- Pastrami
- Reuben & cafeteria-line classics
Customers said it first.
A Centurion Award verifies the public record that’s already there. Read the reviews yourself on the platforms below.
Public-record snapshot as of July 2026. Live ratings are always current on each platform.
Why this business cleared the bar.
This record was published by The Centurion Awards from the public record. Selection follows the published criteria; Shapiro's Delicatessen met them on that evidence. The business can claim the listing or ask us to remove it.
- ✓Years in operation. Operating in Indianapolis since 1905 — 121 years of continuous business.
- ✓Sustained online presence. An established local institution with a consistent public footprint — listings, coverage, and word of mouth in Indianapolis.
- ✓Established customer track record. A deep public track record: Indianapolis has kept Shapiro's Delicatessen busy for 121 years.
- ✓Liked by customers and the community. Genuinely beloved by Indianapolis regulars and visitors alike — a bona fide community favorite.
- ✓Recognition in the local community. Named best deli in Indianapolis for 2025 for four generations of corned beef and cafeteria-line tradition downtown.
The specific data behind this award, and the exact thresholds, stay internal so the standard can’t be gamed. Read the methodology.
The details, verified.
- Legal / trading name
- Shapiro's Delicatessen
- Category
- Delicatessen
- Founded
- 1905, Indianapolis, IN
- Founders
- Louis Shapiro
- Location
- 808 S Meridian St, Indianapolis, IN 46225
- Centurion Award
- Best Deli in Indianapolis — 2025
- Record last verified
- July 2026
Frequently asked questions.
What is Shapiro's Delicatessen?
Family-run kosher-style deli founded in 1905, serving corned beef, matzo ball soup, and pie down a classic cafeteria line.
Is Shapiro's Delicatessen award-winning?
Yes — Shapiro's Delicatessen is the 2025 Centurion Award winner for Best Deli in Indianapolis, a verified, criteria-based award. Named best deli in Indianapolis for 2025 for four generations of corned beef and cafeteria-line tradition downtown.
Where is Shapiro's Delicatessen?
Shapiro's Delicatessen is in Indianapolis, IN.
Every award, on the record.
Each Centurion Award is its own dated annual record, and staying current means clearing the bar again each new year. The verification above is from the latest published award. Open a year for that year’s citation.
2025 Centurion Award
Best Deli in Indianapolis Indianapolis, IN · Awarded under the 2025 evaluation View the 2025 award →Awards run one calendar year and renew only if the business clears the bar again. Selection is by published criteria, never for sale.
Visit Shapiro's Delicatessen
A signal you can check.
This page is the standing record for Shapiro's Delicatessen (2025). It was published by The Centurion Awards from the public record; the business did not have to apply for it to appear. It wasn’t voted on or sponsored, and selection is not for sale. Owners can claim the listing or ask us to remove it. For hours, bookings, and live reviews, go straight to the business itself.
This page was published by The Centurion Awards from the public record; the business did not have to apply for it to appear.
Own this business? Claim the listing for free to manage it, correct it, or remove it. If you want the award kit (badge, certificate, and announcement), you pay after you claim. Through December 31, 2026, publishing is $99. The evaluation itself is free. The $99 covers the first year only. Renewals are $199/year. That fee never buys selection.
Run a business like this one?
If you’ve put in the years, you may already qualify. Evaluation is free, private, and never for sale.