Deli Boys

What happens when "Fargo" crashes into "Dumb and Dumber"-but with a generous serving of spicy masala? You get "Deli Boys", a fresh and frenetic crime-comedy that's as unpredictable as it is entertaining.

At the heart of the series are two brothers: one flamboyant and reckless, the other naïve yet ambitious. Their father, a successful businessman who deliberately kept them out of his empire, suddenly dies-leaving them to inherit not just his legacy but also the shady dealings hiding beneath it. As they fumble through legal and financial chaos, a whirlwind of colorful characters enters (including FBI) the picture, none more magnetic than Aunt Lucky (Poona Jagannathan), who effortlessly steals every scene.

Clocking in at around crisp 23 minutes per episode (sans credit roll), Deli Boys delivers tight, well-paced storytelling, a rarity in today's era of overlong streaming series. The humor is sharp, unforced, and refreshingly authentic-never pausing to over-explain inside jokes, especially those rooted in South Asian (particularly Punjabi) culture.

Goofy yet organic, Deli Boys blends smart writing with strong technical execution. It may not reach cult-classic status, but it's a solid, standout comedy that will resonate with South Asian audiences for years to come.

I am SO happy to have found this show! It is VERY bingable and immensley entertaining. Deli Boys is a true masterclass in dark comedy without going too dark or too light. I'm just sick to death of these bland, TV-14 sitcoms that take no risks and use the same tired plot hooks over and over.

Deli Boys does an outstanding job of navigating the dark comedy genre without over-relying on excessive gore or violence. Yet at the same time, there is plenty of action, blood, drugs, etc mixed in with a few sweet moments and some satire. Again, if you like the sort of comedy in shows like The Boys, Avenue 5, Future Man, etc then you will be very happy :)

It boasts an all-star, diverse cast who are presented in such a way that it felt very intentional and purposeful. Which is why each character feels 'real' and is believable. Deli Boys seamlessly brings you into the cultural dynamics of the family in addition to the unique issues faced when two different gangs of two very different ethnic backgrounds clash.

This is in stark contrast to how so many of those TV-14 sitcoms I mentioned cast POC these days; as though they realized last minute they needed more diversity and so hastily recast or even created a new role. Of course, this results in characters who are so one dimensional they just as easily could've been Chinese, Ethiopian or English!

I finally found a good comedy to watch even if it's a dark one! I'm a fan of dark comedies anyway. You can get away with much more in these type series. Absolutely love the clash of cultures and the ways of life. There's a stereotype but their characters themselves make fun of it. Really good story fits modern day perfectly. Plenty of laugh out loud scenes and screwed up families. You find yourself really rooting for some of the characters to succeed. The series succeeds where many others fail. The only thing I wish is that the episodes were an extra 5 minutes longer. There is plenty of story to tell in the series. Looking forward to the next season.

I'm Indian American and watched this series in 1 sitting... 10 episodes, with my white girlfriend. We both LOVED IT.

The performances were fantastic - Poorna J (Lucky Auntie) steals every scene!

It's SO wonderful to see South Asian characters in an unapologetically funny and twisted light! None of it is serious - it's incredibly creative and imaginative. The comedy was fresh, culturally specific and utterly relatable. It fearlessly brings characters we've never seen (Pakistanis and Indian Americans) in gangster / drug genre movies. It's so well executed, and had so much heart! There were moments that were generally moving!

I hope it gets renewed for 10 seasons!

There were some moments that were so captivating, so laugh out loud funny - I found myself replaying them several times before continuing.

Do yourself a favor... watch it now!

If you were to cross Schitt's Creek with Pakistani humor and cultural nuances, you'd get Deli Boys-and it DELI-vers! (See what I did there?)

The show is a fresh and hilarious take on the immigrant family hustle, blending sharp wit, fast-paced comedy, and an undeniable sense of warmth. At its core, Deli Boys is not just a comedy about two brothers taking over their late father's business-it's a celebration of family, identity, and the immigrant experience.

The main cast-Asif Ali as Mir Dar, Saagar Shaikh as Raj Dar, and Poorna Jagannathan as Lucky-feels like a real family. The chemistry between them is effortless, bringing an authenticity to their interactions that makes the show all the more engaging. Mir and Raj's sibling dynamic is chaotic in the best way possible-constantly bickering but always backing each other up when it counts. Mir, the ambitious yet slightly naïve brother, and Raj, the more reluctant, level-headed one, balance each other perfectly. Then there's Lucky, their fiery and unfiltered auntie figure, who steals every scene she's in. Poorna Jagannathan's comedic timing is impeccable, and her ability to switch between sarcasm and genuine care for the boys makes her one of the most memorable characters in the series.

What really sets Deli Boys apart is how seamlessly it integrates Pakistani humor into its storytelling. The jokes land because they feel authentic, not forced. The writers don't just sprinkle in cultural references for the sake of representation-they make them an organic part of the characters' lives and conversations. From the way Mir and Raj react to traditional expectations to the way Lucky delivers backhanded compliments with the precision of a desi auntie, the humor feels lived-in and real.

One of the funniest recurring bits is how the brothers navigate their father's legacy while being utterly unprepared for the world he built. Their interactions with the Pakistani mafia-like figures in the business world are both hilarious and nerve-wracking. The show plays with the idea of Pakistani hustle culture-whether it's through negotiating deals, haggling in ways only desi families know how, or finding loopholes in seemingly impossible situations. These moments resonate deeply, especially for anyone who has grown up in an immigrant household where resourcefulness is second nature.

Another highlight is the use of Urdu and English interchangeably. There's something incredibly satisfying about seeing characters switch between languages mid-sentence, the way so many South Asian families do in real life. It adds another layer of authenticity and makes certain jokes land even harder. The show doesn't stop to explain these moments to a non-South Asian audience-it just lets them exist naturally, which makes them all funnier.

In a television landscape that often struggles with authentic South Asian representation, Deli Boys stands out. It doesn't try too hard to explain itself-it just is, and that's what makes it so brilliant. The cast's chemistry, the razor-sharp writing, and the effortlessly woven cultural humor make it a must-watch.

Do not miss this show. It is worth every episode.