The Best Jewish Delis in New York City

New York City runs on pastrami. The Jewish delicatessen is an active, necessary part of the city diet. A proper deli offers comfort in the form of cured meat, matzo ball soup, and perfectly sour pickles. You want a sandwich that requires two hands and a nap afterward. You want a loud room, swift service, and a waiter who does not care about your weekend plans. This guide highlights the absolute best places to eat pastrami, corned beef, and appetizing fare in the five boroughs right now.

Katz's Delicatessen

Lower East Side · 205 E Houston St · $$ WebsiteMap

The line stretches down Houston Street for a reason. Katz's remains the undisputed heavyweight champion of hand-carved pastrami that melts into thick slices of rye. The room is loud, smells beautifully of garlic and cured beef, and operates exactly as it should for anyone exploring the Lower East Side.

Go for: The pastrami on rye with mustard. Know before you go: Do not lose your entry ticket, or you will pay a steep fine at the exit.

2nd Ave Deli

Midtown East · 162 E 33rd St · $$ WebsiteMap

A certified kosher heavyweight that refuses to compromise on tradition, now operating comfortably on 33rd Street. They start you with a complimentary bowl of health salad and pickles before you even order. The chopped liver here is unmatched, and the matzo ball soup comes in a massive bowl.

Go for: The hot open roast beef sandwich. Know before you go: They close on the earlier side, usually by 8 p.m..

Sarge's Delicatessen & Diner

Murray Hill · 548 3rd Ave · $$ WebsiteMap

Sarge's does what a New York deli should do, which is serve massive plates of food all day and night. The booths are deep, the lighting is warm, and the pastrami is reliably excellent. It operates like a classic diner that happens to specialize in Jewish comfort food, keeping its old-school charm fully intact.

Go for: The matzo ball soup and a towering pastrami sandwich. Know before you go: It is open late, making it prime night owl territory.

Pastrami Queen

Upper East Side · 1125 Lexington Ave · $$ WebsiteMapProfile

A tiny storefront on Lexington Avenue that punches well above its weight class. The pastrami is heavily spiced, incredibly tender, and sliced slightly thicker than average. It is a strictly kosher operation with limited seating, so expect to take your food to go or eat quickly. It remains one of the finest lunch options on the Upper East Side.

Go for: The pastrami sandwich on rye with a potato knish. Know before you go: They have expanded to Moynihan Train Hall if you need a sandwich before a train.

Frankel's Delicatessen & Appetizing

Greenpoint · 631 Manhattan Ave · $$ WebsiteMap

Frankel's brings classic appetizing and deli staples to North Brooklyn without feeling like a gimmick. The aesthetic is bright and modern, but the food respects the old ways with thick-cut pastrami and stellar smoked fish. It is a mandatory weekend stop for anyone exploring Greenpoint.

Go for: The pastrami, egg, and cheese on a challah roll. Know before you go: Lines get very long on Saturday mornings.

Liebman's Deli

Riverdale · 552 W 235th St · $$ WebsiteMap

The last remaining Jewish deli in the Bronx holds down the fort in Riverdale. Liebman's has been operating since 1953 and looks exactly like you want a deli to look, complete with cozy booths and a serious neighborhood regulars scene. The hot dogs roast in the window, and the pastrami is stacked high and warm.

Go for: The number 9 combo with pastrami and corned beef. Know before you go: It is a bit of a trek from the subway, but worth the walk.

S&P Lunch

Flatiron · 174 5th Ave · $ WebsiteMapProfile

Operating out of the old Eisenberg's space, S&P Lunch keeps the lunch counter tradition alive and well. You sit on a swiveling stool and eat excellent tuna melts, egg salad, and smash burgers. The pastrami here is hand-sliced and reasonably priced, making it one of the best cheap eats in NYC for Flatiron office workers.

Go for: A pastrami sandwich and a chocolate egg cream. Know before you go: It is walk-in only and very tight, so it works best for solo diners or pairs.

Gottlieb's Restaurant

South Williamsburg · 352 Roebling St · $$ WebsiteMap

A Glatt kosher staple in South Williamsburg serving the Hasidic community and anyone else looking for deeply comforting Eastern European food. The menu leans heavily into Hungarian and Ashkenazi classics like beef goulash, stuffed cabbage, and potato kugel. It is a no-frills, deeply authentic slice of the neighborhood.

Go for: The potato kugel and cholent. Know before you go: The restaurant closes for Shabbat on Friday afternoons and Saturdays.

Russ & Daughters Cafe

Lower East Side · 127 Orchard St · $$ WebsiteMapProfile

The sit-down extension of the famous appetizing shop around the corner on Houston Street. This is where you go when you want to eat smoked fish on fine china instead of out of a paper bag. The room is beautiful, the cocktails are sharp, and it serves some of the best bagels in New York City.

Go for: The Classic board with Gaspe Nova, cream cheese, and a pumpernickel bagel. Know before you go: Expect a significant wait for brunch on the weekends, as they operate on a walk-in basis.

Barney Greengrass

Upper West Side · 541 Amsterdam Ave · $$ WebsiteMapProfile

The Sturgeon King has ruled Amsterdam Avenue since 1908. It is technically an appetizing store, but the faded dining room serves some of the best Jewish comfort food in the city. The scrambled eggs with onions and lox is a masterpiece of New York breakfast culture, cementing its status as an Upper West Side institution.

Go for: Scrambled eggs with sturgeon and onions. Know before you go: The dining room closes by 5 p.m. on weekends.

Mile End Deli

Boerum Hill · 97 Hoyt St · $$ WebsiteMap

Mile End introduces Montreal-style smoked meat to the New York deli conversation. The meat is cured and smoked differently than pastrami, resulting in a denser, deeply savory sandwich. They also serve excellent poutine, bridging the gap between Canadian comfort food and Jewish deli classics.

Go for: The classic smoked meat sandwich on rye. Know before you go: The poutine with smoked meat is heavy but completely necessary.

Shelsky's of Brooklyn

Cobble Hill · 141 Court St · $$ WebsiteMap

Shelsky's bridges the gap between old-world appetizing and modern Brooklyn tastes. They serve phenomenal smoked fish, creative bagel combinations, and some of the best sandwiches in New York City. The deli counter is always busy, and their approach to classic ingredients feels fresh without losing the plot.

Go for: The Member of the Tribe sandwich with salmon and cream cheese. Know before you go: This is primarily a takeout operation, so plan to eat your bagel in a nearby park.

David's Brisket House

Bed-Stuy · 533 Nostrand Ave · $ WebsiteMap

Run by Yemeni Muslims in Bed-Stuy, David's turns out some of the most respected Jewish-style deli meat in the city. The pastrami and brisket are fully halal, deeply flavorful, and piled generously on rye bread. It is a prime lunch option when wandering through the Bed-Stuy neighborhood.

Go for: The hot brisket sandwich with gravy. Know before you go: You can order a sandwich with all three meats (brisket, pastrami, and corned beef) if you are feeling ambitious.

Mill Basin Kosher Deli

Mill Basin · 5823 Ave T · $$ WebsiteMap

Deep in South Brooklyn, this kosher deli serves serious pastrami alongside a gallery of art on the walls. It is an old-school operation that focuses on huge portions and perfectly executed classics like latkes and chopped liver. The neighborhood relies on it for catering and holiday meals, but the dining room is always welcoming.

Go for: The latke chips with applesauce and a hot corned beef sandwich. Know before you go: It is closed on Mondays.

B&H Dairy

East Village · 127 2nd Ave · $ WebsiteMapProfile

A tiny, beloved kosher dairy counter that has been serving the East Village since 1938. You come here for phenomenal vegetarian soups, cheese blintzes, and thick slices of homemade challah bread. The staff is incredibly friendly, and sitting at the narrow counter feels like stepping back into a different era of the city.

Go for: The mushroom barley soup and a grilled cheese on challah. Know before you go: It is a dairy restaurant, meaning you will not find any meat on the menu.

Yonah Schimmel Knish Bakery

Lower East Side · 137 E Houston St · $ WebsiteMap

Operating since 1910, this narrow bakery specializes in the traditional Eastern European knish. The potato filling is dense and satisfying, baked in a thin crust of dough rather than fried. It is the perfect walking snack when you need something cheap and filling on Houston Street.

Go for: A classic savory potato or kasha knish. Know before you go: They also offer sweet knishes with fruit and cheese if you want dessert.

The Shout NY take

The New York deli is not fading away. It is evolving, with new generation counters in Brooklyn carrying the torch alongside century-old Manhattan institutions. Eat the pastrami while it is hot, tip your carver, and always order an extra pickle.