Gioia's Deli

Head to St. Louis and ask anyone where to grab lunch on “The Hill,” the city’s famous Little Italy, and you’ll most likely be pointed toward Gioia’s Deli. Opened in 1918 by Marcallo, Italy, native Charlie Gioia (and famously built from wood and brick from the 1904 World’s Fair), Gioia’s has stood the test of time thanks to its craveworthy sandwiches, thin-crust St. Louis-style pizzas, and, most famously, their iconic homemade sausage known as Hot Salami, or Salam di Testa.

Made fresh in-house every day, sliced to order, and served hot, Gioia’s Hot Salami is made from beef, pork, and a secret blend of spices that hasn’t changed in over 100 years. When piled onto cheesy garlic bread there’s absolutely nothing else like it, and it’s a true St. Louis icon, named the state’s best sandwich by Food & Wine and part of the reason why Gioia’s was named a James Beard American Classic in 2017. That legendary Hot Salami, as well as pizzas and sandwiches loaded with Italian meats, are now being delivered nationwide!