Authentic pastrami delicatessen in New York City

The undisputed, most famous delicatessen in New York City for an authentic pastrami sandwich is Katz's Delicatessen on the Lower East Side of Manhattan.

Founded back in 1888, Katz's is a legendary New York institution and a bucket-list destination for food lovers from all over the world.

Why Katz's Pastrami is Legendary:

• The Meat: Their pastrami is brined, rubbed with a secret blend of spices, heavily smoked, and then slow-steamed for hours until it is mind-bogglingly tender. It is hand-carved to order by master cutters at the counter.
• The Scale: The sandwiches are massive, "piled-high" monuments of meat stacked thick between two slices of traditional rye bread.
• The Experience: Steashing into Katz's means grabbing a legendary paper ticket at the door (don't lose it!), navigating the bustling, neon-lit old-school dining room, and tipping your cutter a buck or two while they hand you a sample slice of warm pastrami off the carving board.

If you're planning a trip to Katz's or want to explore a few other iconic contenders (like Barney Greengrass or Liebman's ), let me know and I can share tips on how to beat the lines or recommendations for other classic NYC Jewish deli staples like matzo ball soup and knishes.

If you want the quintessential New York City pastrami sandwich, Katz’s Delicatessen on the Lower East Side is the best choice. It’s the legendary NYC deli experience: hand-carved, pepper-crusted pastrami piled high on rye bread, with mustard and a pickle on the side.

Why Katz’s is the one to visit

• A genuine NYC institution: Its roots go back to 1888, and it remains a landmark of the Lower East Side’s Jewish deli tradition.katzsdelicatessen.com+2
• The signature sandwich: Hot pastrami on rye with mustard. The meat is prepared in-house and hand-carved.preprod.katzsdelicatessen.com+2
• The full experience: Expect a bustling, old-school deli with counter carvers, a distinctive ticket-based ordering system, and plenty of New York character.official.nyc.com+2

• 

Katz's Delicatessen

205 E Houston St, Lower East Side, Manhattan

Open from 8 a.m. on most weekdays; hours vary by day.official.nyc.com+2

About $29 for the pastrami sandwich on the current listed menu.katzsdelicatessen.com+2

Official website and menu

My ordering advice: Get the classic pastrami on rye with mustard, plus a sour pickle. Go a little outside peak lunch hours if you can, since it gets crowded.official.nyc.com+2

One important distinction: if your goal is the most iconic pastrami experience, choose Katz’s. If you want a more low-key alternative, Pastrami Queen is also worth considering.www.timeout.com+1