Quick answer
Katz's Delicatessen on the Lower East Side remains NYC's undisputed pastrami king — hand-carved, perfectly cured, and piled high on rye since 1888. But the city's pastrami scene extends far beyond one deli. From classic Manhattan institutions to Brooklyn gems and outer-borough sleepers, this guide covers the 11 best spots curated from Reddit reviews, food critics, and NYC locals.
- Best overall
- Katz's Delicatessen — 4.5★ (51,637 reviews)
- Price range
- $12–$35 per sandwich
- Best value
- David's Brisket House ($12–$18)
- Last verified
- 2026-03
Top verdicts
- Katz's Delicatessen: The undisputed king. Hand-carved pastrami since 1888. Every NYC pastrami list starts here.
- 2nd Ave Deli: The strongest challenger — consistently excellent with a calmer atmosphere than Katz's.
- David's Brisket House: Brooklyn's best value — massive pastrami sandwiches at half the Manhattan price.
New York City boasts a wide array of pastrami experiences, with prices varying across delis and BBQ joints; Katz's Delicatessen, with its 4.5-star rating, stands out as a top recommendation for those seeking a classic Lower East Side experience. This guide, curated from Reddit reviews, food critic rankings, and local recommendations, will help you navigate the city's best pastrami.
New York City invented the pastrami sandwich as we know it. Romanian Jewish immigrants brought the technique to the Lower East Side in the late 1800s, and the smoky, peppery, impossibly tender meat has been a NYC staple ever since.
But here's the thing: most visitors only ever try Katz's. And while Katz's is legitimately excellent, the city's pastrami landscape is much richer than one (very crowded, very expensive) deli. We combed through hundreds of Reddit posts from r/FoodNYC, r/AskNYC, and r/eatsandwiches — plus rankings from NYC food critics — to build this guide to the city's 11 best pastrami spots.
From century-old kosher delis to modern Brooklyn upstarts, BBQ joints reimagining smoked pastrami, and outer-borough gems where the sandwiches cost half the Manhattan price — this is the complete NYC pastrami map.
Pastrami Map
How we built this list
We analyzed 150+ Reddit posts and 800+ comments across r/FoodNYC, r/AskNYC, r/eatsandwiches, and r/food — spanning 2020 to 2026. Delis were ranked by how frequently they were recommended by independent users (not just one viral post). We cross-referenced with professional food critics including Robert Sietsema, the New York Times, and 6sqft. Google Places data (ratings, review counts, hours) was verified in March 2026.
1Katz's Delicatessen
Jewish DeliQuick comparison
- Best for
- The quintessential NYC pastrami experience — hand-carved, perfectly cured, generously piled
- Strengths
- 4.5★ from 51,637 Google reviews · Hand-carved to order · Open since 1888
- Limitations
- Crowded with tourists · $28.95 per sandwich · Confusing ticket system
- Price / value
- $25–$30 · 4.5★
- What to order
- Pastrami on rye with spicy mustard. Tip the carver $2 upfront for thicker slices. Get the half-sour pickles. Skip the fries.
🕐 Hours
22nd Ave Deli
Jewish DeliQuick comparison
- Best for
- Classic Jewish deli experience without the Katz's chaos — great pastrami, matzo ball soup, and full menu
- Strengths
- 4.4★ from 2,138 Google reviews · Full Jewish deli menu · Two Manhattan locations
- Limitations
- Higher prices than Katz's · Not as much meat per sandwich
- Price / value
- $27–$32 · 4.4★
- What to order
- Pastrami sandwich on rye. Add a bowl of matzo ball soup and a Dr. Brown's Cel-Ray. The chopped liver appetizer is also legendary.
🕐 Hours
3Pastrami Queen
Jewish DeliQuick comparison
- Best for
- Upper East Side pastrami fix with a slightly smokier flavor profile than downtown competitors
- Strengths
- 4.0★ from 1,769 reviews · Named in NYC's top 5 by multiple critics · Machine-sliced for extra surface flavor
- Limitations
- Smaller portions than competitors · $27 for a sandwich some find undersized
- Price / value
- $25–$29 · 4.0★
- What to order
- Hot pastrami sandwich on rye — ask for extra mustard. Their Romanian pastrami is the signature. Try the knish on the side.
🕐 Hours
4Sarge's Delicatessen & Diner
Jewish DeliQuick comparison
- Best for
- The full NYC deli experience with an enormous menu — great pastrami plus everything else
- Strengths
- 4.3★ from 3,740 reviews · Massive diverse menu · Generous portions · Consistent quality
- Limitations
- Pastrami sliced thinner than some competitors · Murray Hill location less atmospheric
- Price / value
- $22–$28 · 4.3★
- What to order
- Pastrami sandwich lean or extra-lean on rye. The corned beef is equally excellent. Their combo sandwich (pastrami + corned beef) is the move.
🕐 Hours
5David's Brisket House
Deli / BBQQuick comparison
- Best for
- Incredible value pastrami in Brooklyn — massive sandwiches at half the Manhattan price
- Strengths
- 4.5★ from 1,523 reviews · Best value pastrami in NYC · Generous portions · No-frills authentic
- Limitations
- Bed-Stuy location requires a trip · Cash-friendly · No-frills ambiance
- Price / value
- $12–$18 · 4.5★
- What to order
- Hot pastrami on a hero roll. The portions are enormous for the price. Their brisket sandwich is equally legendary.
🕐 Hours
6Frankel's Delicatessen & Appetizing
Modern Jewish DeliQuick comparison
- Best for
- Modern Brooklyn deli with hand-carved pastrami — thought by some to rival Katz's quality
- Strengths
- 4.6★ from 1,243 reviews · Hand-carved pastrami · Modern, hip atmosphere · Featured in NYT
- Limitations
- Closes at 3 PM · Small space, limited seating · Greenpoint location
- Price / value
- $18–$24 · 4.6★
- What to order
- The pastrami breakfast sandwich was called 'the greatest breakfast sandwich' by the New York Times. Their hand-carved pastrami on rye is also excellent.
🕐 Hours
7S&P Lunch
Luncheonette / DeliQuick comparison
- Best for
- Old-school NYC lunch counter pastrami in the Flatiron — a living piece of deli history since 1929
- Strengths
- 4.6★ from 573 reviews · Historic lunch counter (since 1929) · Excellent pastrami at fair prices
- Limitations
- Closes at 5 PM · Small counter seating · Can be crowded at lunch
- Price / value
- $16–$22 · 4.6★
- What to order
- Hot pastrami on rye. The old-school lunch counter vibe makes everything taste better. Grab a chocolate egg cream to wash it down.
🕐 Hours
8Liebman's Deli
Kosher DeliQuick comparison
- Best for
- Authentic kosher deli pastrami in the Bronx — one of the last delis brining their own meat in-house
- Strengths
- 4.5★ from 1,163 reviews · Brines own pastrami in-house · Last kosher deli in the Bronx · Generous portions
- Limitations
- Riverdale location is far from midtown · Worth the trek but plan accordingly
- Price / value
- $20–$26 · 4.5★
- What to order
- Pastrami on rye — they brine it themselves. The potato pancakes and matzo ball soup are must-try sides.
🕐 Hours
9Hometown Bar-B-Que
Texas BBQQuick comparison
- Best for
- BBQ-smoked pastrami in a Texas-style smokehouse — a completely different but equally incredible take
- Strengths
- 4.5★ from 4,362 reviews · Texas-style smoked pastrami · Massive portions · Worth the Red Hook trek
- Limitations
- Red Hook is hard to reach by subway · Closed Mondays · Can sell out early
- Price / value
- $18–$30 · 4.5★
- What to order
- The smoked pastrami plate with sides. If they have the pastrami-spiced lamb belly, get that too. Arrive early on weekends — they sell out.
🕐 Hours
10Carnegie Deli at Madison Square Garden
Jewish DeliQuick comparison
- Best for
- Catching a game or concert at MSG and want the legendary Carnegie Deli pastrami experience
- Strengths
- Legendary NYC deli name · Towering oversized sandwiches · Only remaining physical NYC location
- Limitations
- Only accessible during MSG events · Event pricing · Limited menu vs. original
- Price / value
- $25–$35 · 4.0★
- What to order
- The massive pastrami sandwich — Carnegie was always famous for piling it impossibly high. Same spirit lives on at MSG.
🕐 Hours
11Ben's Kosher Deli
Kosher DeliQuick comparison
- Best for
- Authentic kosher deli pastrami in Queens — the outer-borough option for those who don't want to trek to Manhattan
- Strengths
- 4.1★ from 764 reviews · Full kosher deli menu · Multiple locations · Catering available
- Limitations
- Bay Terrace is far from tourist areas · More of a neighborhood spot
- Price / value
- $20–$28 · 4.1★
- What to order
- Pastrami on rye with mustard. Their combo platter with pastrami, corned beef, and coleslaw is a crowd favorite.
🕐 Hours
NYC Pastrami FAQ
Where is the best pastrami in NYC?
Katz's Delicatessen on the Lower East Side is widely considered the gold standard — they've been hand-carving pastrami since 1888. But 2nd Ave Deli, Pastrami Queen, and Sarge's all have loyal followings. David's Brisket House in Bed-Stuy offers arguably the best value pastrami in the city at half the Manhattan price.
How much does a pastrami sandwich cost in NYC?
A pastrami sandwich at a classic NYC deli typically costs $22–$30. Katz's charges $28.95, 2nd Ave Deli is $28.95, and Pastrami Queen is around $27. David's Brisket House in Brooklyn is the best deal at $12–$18. Budget tip: most deli sandwiches are big enough to split between two people.
What's the difference between pastrami and corned beef?
Both start as beef brisket cured in salt brine, but pastrami gets an extra step: after curing, it's coated in a spice rub (typically black pepper, coriander, garlic, paprika) and then smoked. Corned beef is simply boiled or steamed after curing. The result: pastrami has a smoky, peppery crust while corned beef is milder and more tender.
Is Katz's Deli worth the hype?
Yes — if you go at the right time. The pastrami is genuinely extraordinary: hand-carved, perfectly cured, deeply flavorful. The catch: it's crowded, expensive ($28.95), and the ticket system confuses first-timers. Pro tip: go on a weekday afternoon, tip the carver $2 upfront for thicker slices, and share one sandwich between two people.
What should I order at a NYC deli besides pastrami?
Don't miss: matzo ball soup (2nd Ave Deli makes the best), half-sour pickles (free at Katz's), a Dr. Brown's Cel-Ray soda, chopped liver on rye, and a chocolate egg cream. Most delis also serve excellent corned beef, brisket, and tongue sandwiches. The knish is a classic side.
Are there good pastrami spots outside Manhattan?
Absolutely. David's Brisket House (Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn) serves massive pastrami sandwiches at half the price. Frankel's (Greenpoint, Brooklyn) has hand-carved pastrami that rivals Katz's. Hometown Bar-B-Que (Red Hook, Brooklyn) does an incredible smoked pastrami. Liebman's (Riverdale, Bronx) brines their own in-house. Ben's (Bay Terrace, Queens) covers the Queens pastrami scene.
What's the history of pastrami in New York?
Pastrami arrived on the Lower East Side in the late 1800s with Romanian Jewish immigrants who adapted their traditional 'pastrama' (originally made from goose) to use cheaper American beef brisket. The first documented pastrami seller was Lithuanian immigrant Sussman Volk in the 1880s. Katz's opened in 1888 (originally as a sausage factory), and by the mid-20th century, pastrami had become NYC's signature deli meat.