Quick answer
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, editor-curated, food critic rankings, and local recommendations, will help you navigate the city's best pastrami.
- Best overall
- Katz's Delicatessen
- Top pick
- Katz's Delicatessen
Top verdicts
- Katz's Delicatessen: Counter service is dramatically faster than table service — tip the cutter and ask for the moist (third) cut.
- 2nd Ave Deli: Two locations — UES at 75th has shorter waits than Murray Hill at 33rd.
- Pastrami Queen: Cash-friendly; the to-go window beats the dining room for speed.
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.
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.
Area map
All 11 spots at a glance
| # | Name | Style | Price | Area |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Katz's Delicatessen | jewish-deli | budget | Lower East Side |
| 2 | 2nd Ave Deli | jewish-deli | budget | Murray Hill |
| 3 | Pastrami Queen | jewish-deli | mid | Upper East Side |
| 4 | Sarge's Delicatessen & Diner | jewish-deli | upscale | Murray Hill |
| 5 | David's Brisket House | deli-/-bbq | mid | Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn |
| 6 | Frankel's Delicatessen & Appetizing | modern-jewish-deli | mid | Greenpoint, Brooklyn |
| 7 | S&P Lunch | luncheonette-/-deli | mid | Flatiron District |
| 8 | Liebman's Deli | kosher-deli | mid | Riverdale, Bronx |
| 9 | Hometown Bar-B-Que | texas-bbq | budget | Red Hook, Brooklyn |
| 10 | Carnegie Deli at Madison Square Garden | jewish-deli | budget | Penn Station / MSG |
| 11 | Ben's Kosher Deli | kosher-deli | upscale | Bay Terrace, Queens |
1Katz's Delicatessen
Jewish DeliQuick comparison
- Best for
- The benchmark NYC pastrami sandwich
- Strengths
- Known for Jewish Deli · Lower East Side
- Price / value
- $25–$30
- Why it made the list
- 1888 Lower East Side institution — the global reference for pastrami on rye, hand-cut to order behind a brass-railed counter.
- What to order
- Pastrami on rye with mustard and a half-sour pickle; egg cream to drink.
🕐 Opening hours
22nd Ave Deli
Jewish DeliQuick comparison
- Best for
- Less crowded kosher-style pastrami
- Strengths
- Known for Jewish Deli · Murray Hill
- Price / value
- $27–$32
- Why it made the list
- Murray Hill kosher-style deli (originally East Village) that's served pastrami sandwiches at near-Katz's quality for decades — a slightly less-touristed alternative.
- What to order
- Hand-sliced pastrami on rye, matzo ball soup, and a celery soda.
3Pastrami Queen
Jewish DeliQuick comparison
- Best for
- Upper East Side kosher pastrami
- Strengths
- Known for Jewish Deli · Upper East Side
- Price / value
- $25–$29
- Why it made the list
- Upper East Side kosher deli that some Pastrami eaters prefer to the bigger names — leaner cut, distinct mustard, and a calmer counter.
- What to order
- Pastrami on rye and a knish on the side.
4Sarge's Delicatessen & Diner
Jewish DeliQuick comparison
- Best for
- 24-hour pastrami fallback
- Strengths
- Known for Jewish Deli · Murray Hill
- Price / value
- $22–$28
- Why it made the list
- 24-hour Murray Hill deli operating since 1964 — the fallback for pastrami at 4 a.m. when nothing else is open.
- What to order
- Pastrami sandwich, latkes, and a Cel-Ray; matzo ball soup to add.
5David's Brisket House
Deli / BBQQuick comparison
- Best for
- Brooklyn-borough pastrami underdog
- Strengths
- Known for Deli / BBQ · Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn
- Price / value
- $12–$18
- Why it made the list
- Bed-Stuy deli operated by Yemeni-American family for decades — a rare non-Manhattan pastrami operation with a serious local reputation.
- What to order
- Pastrami sandwich on rye with mustard; brisket sandwich for the side-by-side.
🕐 Opening hours
6Frankel's Delicatessen & Appetizing
Modern Jewish DeliQuick comparison
- Best for
- Modern Brooklyn Jewish deli
- Strengths
- Known for Modern Jewish Deli · Greenpoint, Brooklyn
- Price / value
- $18–$24
- Why it made the list
- Greenpoint modern Jewish deli with a smaller menu and a millennial-friendly atmosphere — pastrami quality holds against the classics.
- What to order
- Pastrami sandwich on rye, the latke, and a cream soda.
7S&P Lunch
Luncheonette / DeliQuick comparison
- Best for
- Counter-stool retro luncheonette pastrami
- Strengths
- Known for Luncheonette / Deli · Flatiron District
- Price / value
- $16–$22
- Why it made the list
- Flatiron's revival of the legendary Eisenberg's luncheonette — counter-only stools, classic Jewish-deli sandwiches, and a meticulously preserved 1929 dining room.
- What to order
- Pastrami sandwich on rye with mustard; tuna melt as a non-pastrami option.
8Liebman's Deli
Kosher DeliQuick comparison
- Best for
- Bronx kosher deli pastrami
- Strengths
- Known for Kosher Deli · Riverdale, Bronx
- Price / value
- $20–$26
- Why it made the list
- Bronx kosher deli that's served the Riverdale community since 1953 — a borough-deli operation with no concession to tourism.
- What to order
- Pastrami on rye, knish, and matzo ball soup.
9Hometown Bar-B-Que
Texas BBQQuick comparison
- Best for
- Texas-BBQ-meets-pastrami crossover
- Strengths
- Known for Texas BBQ · Red Hook, Brooklyn
- Price / value
- $18–$30
- Why it made the list
- Red Hook BBQ joint whose Texas-style pastrami beef rib has crossed over into the deli conversation — a rare BBQ approach to the classic deli meat.
- What to order
- Pastrami beef rib (when available, weekends); pulled pork as the BBQ baseline.
🕐 Opening hours
10Carnegie Deli at Madison Square Garden
Jewish DeliQuick comparison
- Best for
- Pre-MSG-game pastrami
- Strengths
- Known for Jewish Deli · Penn Station / MSG
- Price / value
- $25–$35
- Why it made the list
- The legendary Carnegie Deli closed in 2016 and a smaller stall now operates at MSG — a useful pre-Knicks pastrami stop with the brand still attached.
- What to order
- The Woody Allen (pastrami and corned beef on rye) with a Dr. Brown's.
11Ben's Kosher Deli
Kosher DeliQuick comparison
- Best for
- Queens borough kosher deli
- Strengths
- Known for Kosher Deli · Bay Terrace, Queens
- Price / value
- $20–$28
- Why it made the list
- Bayside, Queens kosher deli with a strong outer-borough local reputation — clean, classic execution and fewer crowds than Manhattan equivalents.
- What to order
- Pastrami on rye, knish, and matzo ball soup.
Frequently asked questions
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.