Orleans & York | Our Story
A family recipe, stacked high
Orleans & York was born from one man's lifelong love of great food and two cities that take sandwiches very seriously. Sami Othman's story is the deli — and every sandwich tells it.
New York beginnings
Sami Othman grew up in his family's deli in New York, learning the craft from the inside out — behind the counter, before most kids had a first job. By age 16, he'd opened his own shop, Aziz O Deli, named in honor of his father.
The move west
In 1982, Sami and his wife Maria packed their East Coast deli experience and brought it to Los Angeles. He kept working the craft, opening several delis across the city while a bigger idea took shape.
Two cities, one sandwich
In 2013, that idea finally had a name: Orleans & York Deli, where New York hero sandwiches meet the soulful tradition of New Orleans po' boys. It wasn't a concept dreamed up in a conference room — it was a lifetime in the making.
Los Angeles takes notice
The city caught on fast — TripAdvisor named Orleans & York the #1 Cajun & Creole spot in Los Angeles in 2015, and Los Angeles Magazine followed with its award for Best Po' Boy. South LA had a new staple.
The next generation
Today, Sami's children carry the family legacy forward across multiple locations in the Los Angeles area, staying true to everything their father built. The flavors, the hustle, the neighborhood pride — all of it still runs in the family.