McAlister's Deli — Restaurant in Port Arthur

I’m 38 years old from Houston, and before this job brought me to Port Arthur, I had never actually been inside a McAlister’s Deli. I had only tried a McAlister’s Club once before when someone brought it to us on a late night job. That sandwich was good, so when I saw this place nearby, I figured I’d give it a shot.

That was over two months ago. Since then, I’ve been coming in once or twice a week, and every single time I’ve had the same experience. Not once have I had a bad visit.

The service I’ve gotten here is better than anything I’ve had at any other restaurant. I’m not talking about someone just handing you your food. I mean real customer service. There are two people in particular, Jeremy and Lilly, who truly seem to enjoy what they do. From the second you walk in, it’s all smiles and positive energy. It doesn’t feel forced. It feels like you’re being taken care of by friends.

They don’t just take your order and move on. They check in with you while you’re eating. They actually care. I know Chick-fil-A has a reputation for friendly service, but I’ve been to a lot of Chick-fil-As, and this McAlister’s blows them all out of the water.

I can’t speak for any other location, but this one right here has set the bar high. If I owned a restaurant, Jeremy and Lilly are exactly the kind of people I’d want on my team.

Now that the job is wrapping up and I’m heading back to Houston, I can honestly say I’ll miss this place. I’ll miss the food, but even more than that, I’ll miss the people who made this spot feel like a little break from a long day at work....

I LOVE McAlister's Deli but was disappointed at this location. We went in 30 mins before they close to pick up a few things (2 of us). I am always so weary to do that, but there were still people sitting inside eating, so we decided to be sure and make it quick. We decided not to dine in out of respect for the employees who were probably ready to go home. We stood there for about 5 minutes before anyone even came out to the front of the counter. When our orders were finally taken, the man taking our order actually rolled his eyes at us. While we waited for our food, another man came in and ordered something for a quick pickup. I felt really bad for him because he was treated in the same regard. We waited 15 minutes for our food and ran out. There were 10 minutes left before they closed. It was 850pm and the employee followed us to the door and locked it. When we arrived home, our food was cold.

I don't mean it had been sitting on the counter for hours, it was actually cold. It must have been sitting in a refrigerator. Mac and Cheese, Potato, gravy, all cold. I ate it anyway, but was totally turned off by that place.

I understand wanting to go home. I have worked in the industry. I don't make it a habit to go into places even 1 hour before they close, but to be treated that way during business hours is unacceptable.

I grew up with a McAlister's Deli down the street from me in Oklahoma. My food was never cold, and I really hope that they're not ALL like this down here...

This place is more than just a Deli. It is an outstanding quick-service haven for mouth-watering sandwiches that are both traditional, as well as having more exotic options for those that have a more adventurous taste. IMO, from timeless classics that they put their own spin on such as the BLT, French Dip, and Pastrami sandwiches, to more original oddities such as the Cuban, McAlister's exudes quality and flavor with everything that I can observe and taste. The only complaint that I have; their Chicken and Dumplings soup is a bit bland, but that is absolutely minor, their sandwiches are the real star of the show, and it seems to me that you really can't go wrong with any of them from the menu. Even though it's a "quick-service" restaurant, with no expected Tableside service, they still had a gentleman come by and individually ask customers if they needed or wanted anything to enhance their dining experience. Amazing service, we left a tip for that. Back to their menu, the McAlister's Club and King Club seem to be amongst the famous of them all. Quality, quality, quality! Without a doubt, come here and try it yourself. You'll always see a line here, and for good...