Last Updated: 8 days ago
Phone: (212) 254-2246
Address: 205 EAST HOUSTON STREET 10002
Iconic NYC Jewish deli known for its legendary, massive pastrami on rye sandwiches, worth the hype & wait for a true taste of the city.
Hannah Albertine reviews Katz's Deli, an iconic Jewish establishment on the Lower East Side, praising its enduring quality and classic dishes like the pastrami on rye and matzoh ball soup.
Katz's Delicatessen, an iconic Jewish deli on the Lower East Side, has been serving classic comfort food for over 130 years. Renowned for its massive, juicy pastrami on rye sandwiches, the establishment is a popular destination for both tourists and locals. While the high prices and potential for long lines are noted, many consider the quality and experience to be worth it. The deli also offers other favorites like matzah ball soup, hot dogs, and hand-sliced corned beef, with a unique ticket system for ordering.
Katz's Delicatessen is most famous for its pastrami on rye sandwich, which customers describe as massive, juicy, peppery, and worth the hype, though some find it pricey. Other popular items include corned beef, hot dogs, and matzah ball soup. While the pastrami is consistently praised, opinions on other items like brisket and fries can be mixed, and some find the pickles to be just okay. Some customers have also had less favorable experiences with specific cuts of meat or overall value.
"The pastrami on rye sandwich is overwhelmingly recommended as the must-try dish, often described as legendary, huge, juicy, and worth the price. Other popular recommendations include the Reuben sandwich, matzah ball soup, hot dogs, and half-sour pickles."
Customers generally have a very positive view of Katz's Delicatessen, frequently praising the quality and generous portions of its pastrami sandwiches. While some find it overpriced or too crowded, the iconic status and delicious food often outweigh these concerns.
Important Note
The restaurant can be very crowded with long lines, especially during peak hours. Prices are considered high by some, and the ordering process (especially the ticket system) can be confusing for first-timers. Some reviews mention inconsistencies in meat quality or sandwich construction.
"Compares Katz's Delicatessen and Halal Guys, stating that while Halal Guys decreased quality to scale, Katz's maintains high quality but has increased prices due to rising costs, specifically mentioning brisket."
Positive"Explains that Katz's Delicatessen's pastrami sandwich is expensive because it uses over a pound of meat and is made kosher, which inherently increases costs."
Positive"Expressing impressiveness at the idea of someone being able to finish the large pastrami sandwich from Katz's Delicatessen alone."
Positive"This commenter notes that the pastrami sandwich at Katz's Delicatessen is made with over a pound of fatty meat and is kosher-style, explaining its higher price point compared to other options."
Positive"Seeking recommendations for a pastrami sandwich that rivals Katz's Delicatessen, mentioning their mother's preference for Katz's and father's for Carnegie Deli."
Neutral"This commenter defends Katz's Delicatessen, suggesting that a $30 pastrami sandwich, which can feed two people and is arguably the best in the country, is a reasonable price. They also mention that brisket is expensive due to current market costs."
Positive"This commenter argues that Katz's Delicatessen charges too much for its pastrami sandwich, stating it's not worth the price and that no true New Yorker would find $30 reasonable for a sandwich."
Negative"The commenter recommends trying a sandwich from Katz Deli as an authentic NYC food experience."
Positive"This user noted that Katz's pastrami does not dry out the next day, which is an advantage over some other sandwiches."
Positive"This user argued that quality is more important than quantity, implying Katz's delivers on quality even if the portion size is not the largest."
Neutral"Katz Delicatessen is recommended for its experience and history, especially for classic deli items."
Positive"This user provided a detailed analysis of the cost of making pastrami, suggesting that even with high ingredient costs, places like Katz's might still have lower per-ounce prices than perceived, and noted drinks as a significant profit driver."
Neutral"Had a Reuben at Katz's which was found to be very chewy."
Negative"Described the corned beef at Katz's as chewy and stated the pastrami is significantly better."
Negative"The commenter finds Katz Delicatessen appealing and thanks the recommender."
Positive"Katz is mentioned as a potential pizza place or a deli to visit."
Positive"Inquired if the previous comment about preferring corned beef at Katz's was relevant to the prompt, given they don't like pastrami."
Neutral"Confirms ordering the corned beef at Katz's because they are not a fan of pastrami, preferring it with mustard and without trimming."
Negative"Expressed surprise at someone ordering corned beef instead of pastrami at Katz's."
Neutral"Recommends trying a slice of both corned beef and pastrami at Katz's to decide which is preferred on a given day, along with their full sour pickles."
Neutral
