Manny’s Deli Chicago Serves Up St. Patrick’s Day Corned Beef and Passover Traditions — A Taste of Two Celebrations

In Chicago, few food institutions carry the weight of tradition quite like Manny’s Cafeteria & Delicatessen. Since 1942, the West Loop deli has served as both a neighborhood gathering place and a culinary landmark — where towering sandwiches, steaming trays of comfort food, and generations of loyal customers come together under one roof.

Each March, Manny’s finds itself at the crossroads of two cultural traditions: the city’s famously festive St. Patrick’s Day celebrations and the deeply symbolic Jewish holiday of Passover.

St. Patrick’s Day at Manny’s: An Ode to Corned Beef

In Chicago, the dyeing of the river green is practically a civic ritual. But inside Manny’s, the celebration comes in the form of brisket — lots of it. On St. Patrick’s Day alone, the deli serves more than 1,000 pounds of corned beef, sliced thick and piled high onto rye bread or served alongside cabbage and potatoes.

Fourth-generation owner Dan Raskin keeps the tradition alive, demonstrating how Manny’s iconic Reuben sandwiches are made — from the perfectly brined corned beef to the sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, and tangy dressing that complete the deli classic.

It’s a distinctly Chicago moment: an Irish-American holiday celebrated in a Jewish deli that has fed politicians, reporters, construction workers, and neighborhood regulars for more than eight decades.

Preparing for Passover: A Celebration of Freedom

As St. Patrick’s Day winds down, Manny’s kitchen begins preparing for another meaningful tradition — Passover, one of the most important holidays in Jewish culture.

Passover commemorates the biblical story of the Israelites’ escape from slavery in Egypt. At the heart of the observance is the Seder, a ceremonial meal that retells the Exodus story through symbolic foods and rituals passed down for generations.

Among the key elements:

• Matzah – Unleavened bread symbolizing the haste with which the Israelites fled Egypt, leaving no time for bread to rise.

• The Seder Plate – Featuring foods like bitter herbs, representing the bitterness of slavery, and charoset, a sweet mixture symbolizing the mortar used by enslaved laborers.

• Dietary Traditions – During Passover, many Jewish families avoid fermented or leavened grains such as wheat, barley, and rye.

  For many families, the Seder is both solemn and joyful — part storytelling, part communal meal, and part reflection on freedom and resilience. Some describe it as an interactive, ritualized gathering similar to Thanksgiving, though centered on the enduring theme of liberation.

  A Chicago Institution Since 1942

  Through it all, Manny’s remains a cornerstone of Chicago’s food culture. What began as a modest cafeteria on the city’s Near West Side has grown into one of Chicago’s most beloved delis.

  Known for its massive corned beef sandwiches, house-made comfort food, and welcoming cafeteria-style dining, Manny’s has remained proudly family-owned for more than 80 years, now led by the fourth generation of the Raskin family.

  In a city that thrives on tradition, Manny’s continues to serve something deeper than sandwiches — a living piece of Chicago history, where cultures, holidays, and communities intersect around the table.

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