Estrella's Montreal Deli

Estrella’s opened on September 1, 2001, as a small coffee shop in Langley City. Smoked meat took over fast, and a quarter century later it’s the place people in Langley mean when they say “the Montreal deli.”

Who runs it

Michael and Sharon Estrella own it, and their names are the ones on the deli’s own Our Story page. A 2017 Scout Magazine piece on the deli described Michael as a New Jersey transplant who’d been in Langley for decades, and noted the room itself started life as a radiator shop on an industrial strip of 200 Street. That’s still the setting. It’s a lunch counter in a light-industrial block, not a dining room downtown.

What they’re known for

The brisket. It’s brined, rubbed, dried and smoked over hickory, then steamed and sliced to order onto organic light rye. You pick lean, medium or fatty and regular or Dijon mustard. The Classic runs $15.50 and the bigger Montreal is $20.95; a Reuben with Swiss and sauerkraut is $18.50 or $23.95. The Estrella Special puts a quarter pound of smoked meat on a toasted brioche bun with Swiss.

Poutine is the other half of the reputation: fresh-cut Kennebec fries, cheese curds and house gravy, with chopped smoked meat as an add-on. There’s a breakfast poutine with an over-easy egg, too, and three breakfast panini, one with smoked meat and scrambled eggs.

If smoked meat isn’t your thing, there are five grilled panini (Garden Veggie, Ham and Swiss, Italian, Roast Beef, Turkey Red Pepper), plain deli sandwiches, a smoked meat chili, soups made in-house and two salads with their own dressings.

To take home

The counter sells smoked meat by the packet and, if you ask, whole briskets. Jars of hot cherry peppers, pepperoncini, their sundried tomato spread and their vinaigrettes are on the shelf and in the online store for pickup, along with gift cards.

Catering

Platters of deli sandwiches, panini or smoked meat sandwiches, salad bowls and desserts, aimed at office lunches and small events. Their site says typical orders land between $200 and $400; call or use the quote form.

First-timer notes

• It’s open Tuesday to Saturday only, 10 to 5. Check the clock before you drive over.
• The room is small. Pickup and delivery are front and centre on their site, so ordering ahead is normal.
• Medium is the safe first order if you can’t decide between lean and fatty.

More independent food spots are on our Shop Local page.