Old-School NY Deli Hits Boca

Known for its oversized sandwiches, AJ’s Italian Deli brings unapologetic New York Italian deli energy to East Boca Raton, serving towering heroes, subs, fresh pasta, daily soups and breakfast made the old-school way.

Owner Emily Aronson spent decades thinking about opening a neighborhood Italian spot before finally bringing it to life.

“AJ’s Italian Deli has been a lifelong dream of mine,” Aronson says. After more than 20 years as a stay-at-home mom raising three children, the timing finally felt right. “The name AJ’s makes it even more special — it’s named after my children, Alexa, Jared and Jordan, so this really is a piece of my heart brought to life. Now that my kids are grown, I finally decided it was my time.”

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The deli’s cheeky “Big A--- Subs” tagline is more than marketing. It’s a callback to Aronson’s New York upbringing and the straightforward expectations of a real Italian deli.

“After school, my friends and I were always starving, and we’d hit our local Italian deli saying the same thing every time: ‘We just want a big a-- sub,’” Aronson says. “No frills, no nonsense — just something big, fresh and satisfying.”

That philosophy runs throughout the menu, which includes more than 40 hot and cold subs, each name meaningfully tied to people, places and moments, such as “The Emily” after the owner, “The 5 Boro’s,” a nod to New York, and “The Boca Firehouse.”

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The emphasis on authenticity extends beyond the names. AJ’s focuses on fresh ingredients, housemade dishes and a refusal to cut corners.

“Homemade and quality ingredients matter so much to us. You can taste the difference,” Aronson says. “It’s about being old school, staying authentic and getting back to our roots. A real New York deli isn’t rushed, it’s not trendy — it’s done right.”

Menu standouts include The Raja, a classic Italian hero piled high; a chicken Parmesan hero smothered in marinara and melted mozzarella; and Nana’s Pasta, with rigatoni, grilled eggplant, roasted garlic, tomato sauce and ricotta. A fresh daily soup is offered, and breakfast is served Monday through Friday from 7 to 10:30 a.m.

AJ’s Italian Deli is located at 151 E. Palmetto Park Rd., Boca Raton.