TV Restaurants

What Happened to Ben's Best Deli After Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives?

Closed verified

As of September 2026, Ben's Best Deli has closed — confirmed via the business's own closure notice, June 17, 2025.

Primary source
dinersdriveinsdiveslocations.com ·

Last verified

What the source shows: A Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives fan site, updated 2025-06-17, listed the phone as permanently closed and reported the Rego Park deli closed in late 2018.

  • Season / episode Season 11, Episode 9
  • Original air date
  • Address 96-40 Queens Boulevard, Rego Park, NY 11374
  • Current name Ben's Best Kosher Delicatessen

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What happened after Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives?

On Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives ("From Crepes to Kreplach," aired 2011-03-14), Guy Fieri visited Ben's Best Kosher Delicatessen in Rego Park, Queens, sampling kreplach dumplings and the deli's chicken soup with matzo balls, according to a Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives fan site. The deli opened in 1945 and became known for a 21-day dry-cured corned beef sandwich and "Ben's Challenge," a one-pound meat sandwich eaten alongside soup, fries, and coleslaw. Dinersdriveinsdiveslocations.com, updated 2025-06-17, listed the deli's phone number as permanently closed and reported that Ben's Best closed in late 2018 when its longtime owner retired, ending nearly 70 years in business at the Queens Boulevard location. Regulars were also known for attempting "Ben's Challenge," the site noted, finishing the full sandwich, soup, fries, and coleslaw combination within an hour.

Featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives

Season / episode
Season 11, Episode 9
Original air date
Episode title
From Crepes to Kreplach
What was featured
kreplach dumplings, boiled chicken soup, and 21-day dry-cured corned beef
Role
Featured restaurant
Name on the broadcast
Ben's Best Deli

Frequently asked questions

Is Ben's Best Deli still open in 2026?

As of September 2026, Ben's Best Deli has closed — confirmed via the business's own closure notice, June 17, 2025.

What happened to Ben's Best Deli after Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives?

On Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives ("From Crepes to Kreplach," aired 2011-03-14), Guy Fieri visited Ben's Best Kosher Delicatessen in Rego Park, Queens, sampling kreplach dumplings and the deli's chicken soup with matzo balls, according to a Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives fan site. As of September 2026, Ben's Best Deli has closed — confirmed via the business's own closure notice, June 17, 2025.

Is Ben's Best Deli permanently closed?

As of September 2026, Ben's Best Deli has closed — confirmed via the business's own closure notice, June 17, 2025. We publish a closure only with a dated source behind it, and we say plainly when it has not been independently confirmed.

What is Ben's Best Deli called now?

Now: Ben's Best Kosher Delicatessen (formerly Ben's Best Deli). As of September 2026, Ben's Best Deli has closed — confirmed via the business's own closure notice, June 17, 2025.

Where is Ben's Best Deli located?

96-40 Queens Boulevard, Rego Park, NY 11374. That is the address on the record as of September 7, 2026.

What season and episode of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives featured Ben's Best Deli?

Season 11, Episode 9 of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, first aired March 14, 2011. The episode is titled “From Crepes to Kreplach”.

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Visit info

Address
96-40 Queens Boulevard, Rego Park, NY 11374
Venue type
deli
Official website
bensdeli.net

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