Katz's Delicatessen

6.7/10American

AI-generated summary

Get the . They cut it thick and it stays juicy, and people say nobody else in the city comes close. One feeds two. The bread is the constant complaint, dry and falling apart before you can bite it. It runs about $28 and the ordering system is chaotic, so regulars go after midnight when the line is gone.

NYC classic — Founded in 1888 on Ludlow Street by the Iceland brothers, the deli took the Katz name in 1910 after Willy Katz and his cousin Benny bought out the founders. It moved to its Houston Street corner in the 1930s and coined "Send a Salami to Your Boy in the Army" during World War II. Its hand-carved pastrami on rye remains the city's benchmark. Wikipedia

205 E Houston St, New YorkLower East Side, ManhattanGoogle Maps

What Reddit says2,391

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  • It’s absolutely incredible and I think it’s very difficult to find good value for that much meat anywhere else in the city, especially for that quality of meat.

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  • despite being to NYC a few times I'd never done Katz since 2nd Ave Deli is always my go to Jewish Deli. While the pastrami was incredibly fatty and tender the sandwich fell apart before I'd even taken a bite

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  • in:Katzs 49 pts

    I went last week, it's expensive, but worth it

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  • Pastrami is a must-order. If you're only getting one thing, it should be that. On rye, with mustard.

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  • replying to u/killerasp: its really really good. the price is a shock to the wallet, but other than that, its not like you are going to eat one every weekend. its like a sandwich you get 2x year at most.

    The pastrami is superior, skip the Ruben. The microwaved “Swiss” cheese 🧀 and “kraut” is so flavorless and adds nothing to the experience but dogging out the rye to disintegration.

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  • Pastrami was flavorful and melt-in-your-mouth, with no chewy bits or gristle. We split a half of the sandwich (took the other half home) and some potato knishes and it really hit the spot

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  • replying to u/No-Basil7368: Katz deli is the best pastrami on earth and people that try and be contrarian (really just the norm these days) by suggesting Sarge's or 2nd Avenue Deli or honestly wherever is better are just trying to flex that they are educated on the subject and have a different take. These places aren't as good, and its so obvious.

    something has to be said for how thick Katz's slice their pastrami that gives it a way better mouth feel than a lot of other places.

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  • replying to u/herseyhawkins33: Sorta related so I'm asking: has Katz's legitimately gotten worse over the last year or 2? You always had contrarians calling it a tourist trap when its reputation as the best pastrami in the city was valid. These days I've seen more than a few people saying it's gone downhill and is tough, dry, etc. I haven't been in 2+ years and wonder how common/true that is for people who've been going for years. Thanks!

    Sure, they could do better with the bread and toppings, but that $30 is basically paying for the meat, and as far as I’m concerned, nobody else comes close.

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