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KATZ'S DELICATESSEN

Last Updated: 3 days ago

Phone: (212) 254-2246

Address: 205 EAST HOUSTON STREET 10002

TLDR

An iconic NYC Jewish deli, legendary for its massive, juicy pastrami on rye sandwiches and classic comfort food.

Sentiment Overview(Based on 523 Reddit comments)

52% Positive34% Neutral13% Negative

Achievements and Accolades

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Tags

american 210jewish deli 183deli 129deli 221pastrami 156sandwiches 102View All

Neighborhoods

Lower East Side

Instagram Posts References

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Recent Articles

Katz's Deli
very positive

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.

Hannah Albertine Mar 4, 2025
Read More →
Infatuation

Details

Katz's Delicatessen is a legendary, old-school Jewish establishment on the Lower East Side, renowned for its incredibly delicious and massive pastrami on rye sandwiches. The restaurant, a true New York institution, offers a bustling and efficient, albeit chaotic, experience that has remained consistent for over 130 years. While it's a popular tourist destination, the quality of its classic dishes, including matzoh ball soup and hand-sliced pastrami, makes it a worthwhile visit.

Food Overview

Katz's Delicatessen is famous for its Jewish deli fare, with the pastrami on rye sandwich being a standout, consistently praised for its size, juiciness, and flavor. Other popular items include matzoh ball soup, hot dogs, and pickles. While most reviews are positive, some mention high prices and a chaotic atmosphere, and a few suggest that the quality can be inconsistent or that other delis offer better value.

Highlights / Recommended

"The pastrami on rye sandwich is consistently hailed as the must-try item, often described as massive, juicy, and delicious. Other recommendations include the hot dogs, matzoh ball soup, and pickles. Trying the Dr. Brown's sodas is also suggested."

Mentioned Dishes:

  • pastrami(38)
  • pastrami sandwich(36)
  • pastrami on rye(22)
  • mustard(20)
  • fries(11)
  • dr. brown's cel-ray(11)
  • hot dog(10)
  • corned beef(7)
  • sandwich(7)
  • pastrami reuben(6)
  • russian dressing(6)
  • pickles(6)
  • sauerkraut(6)
  • latkes(5)
  • knish(5)
  • matzo ball soup(5)
  • pastrami on club bread(4)
  • dr. brown's black cherry(4)
  • brisket(3)
  • cole slaw(3)
  • dr brown's soda(3)
  • hot dogs(3)
  • dr. brown's cream(3)
  • manhattan special(3)
  • club bread(2)
  • cel-ray(2)
  • cream soda(2)
  • full sour pickles(2)
  • brisket sandwich(2)
  • cheese(2)
  • matzah ball soup(2)
  • dr. brown's cream soda(2)
  • dr. brown's black cherry soda(2)
  • reuben sandwich(2)
  • pastrami on rye with mustard(2)
  • cheesesteak(2)

Customer Sentiment

Customers overwhelmingly praise Katz's for its iconic status and high-quality, generously portioned pastrami sandwiches, though some find it expensive and chaotic.

Reddit References

Highlighted Posts

This post describes a 7-day trip to NYC where the user found everything they ate, including at Katz's, to be amazing. They also noted a funny interaction involving samples of pastrami.
The original poster considers Katz's to live up to its hype, specifically praising the pastrami on rye with mustard as amazing and the only correct way to have it.
This thread discusses various orders at Katz's, with many users recommending classic pastrami sandwiches, hot dogs, matzah ball soup, and Dr. Brown's sodas.
This discussion offers various strategies for navigating Katz's, including counter vs. table service, off-peak hours, and the general experience, with most agreeing the iconic pastrami is worth the effort.
In a discussion about latkes, one commenter suggested calling Katz's for catering.
This post discusses pastrami preferences, with one user stating they are partial to fatty pastrami, which is why Katz's is their 'GOAT' for pastrami sandwiches.
Several comments compare Katz's to other delis, with some suggesting Liebman's offers similar or better quality pastrami at a slightly lower price.

Recent Mentions

From post: Food To Take Home

"The commenter recommended pastrami from Katz as a food item to take home from NYC."

Positive
Sep 30, 2025View Comment →

From post: My Experience

"The author briefly mentioned visiting Katz and described their experience as 'meh'."

Neutral
Sep 28, 2025View Comment →

From post: I Am Writing A Book On Classic Regional American

"The user happily noted that Katz's Deli was included in the list of classic NYC establishments."

Positive
Sep 28, 2025View Comment →

From post: Looking For Unpretentious Yet Cool Eateries

"This commenter recommends Katz's Deli as a well-known establishment for visitors to experience, particularly for its classic deli fare."

Positive
Sep 24, 2025View Comment →

From post: If You Had A Tux Where Would You Go To Eat

"This commenter humorously advised bringing a bib if one were to wear a tuxedo to Katz's Delicatessen."

Neutral
Sep 23, 2025View Comment →

From post: If You Had A Tux Where Would You Go To Eat

"The original poster agreed with the suggestion of Katz's Delicatessen as a place to consider wearing a tuxedo."

Positive
Sep 23, 2025View Comment →

From post: If You Had A Tux Where Would You Go To Eat

"This commenter suggested Katz's Delicatessen as an option for wearing a tuxedo, possibly for a contrastingly casual experience."

Neutral
Sep 23, 2025View Comment →

From post: I Had The Salt Hanks The Hype Is Real

"This user notes that a sandwich from Katz's can cost over $30, implying that the price of Salt Hank's sandwich is not out of line with other high-priced NYC deli options."

Neutral
Sep 21, 2025View Comment →

From post: I Had The Salt Hanks The Hype Is Real

"This comment uses Katz's as a benchmark, noting that they have a more established reputation and a wider menu compared to Salt Hanks. It implies Katz's is a more legitimate establishment despite also experiencing high demand."

Neutral
Sep 20, 2025View Comment →

From post: Is There Anywhere I Can Buy Pickle Soda In New

"The commenter inquired if Dr Brown's Cel-ray soda is celery-flavored and confirmed that Katz likely sells it, calling it delicious."

Positive
Sep 20, 2025View Comment →

From post: Not The Best Restaurant

"In response to a comment about Katz Deli's pastrami, this user cryptically states 'It did until it didnt.'"

Neutral
Sep 20, 2025View Comment →

From post: Street Vendor Hot Dog Midtown Nyc

"This user suggests OP should go to Gray's or something similar, implying that Katz's hot dogs might be an alternative but focusing recommendations elsewhere."

Neutral
Sep 20, 2025View Comment →

From post: Not The Best Restaurant

"This user claims Frankel's in Williamsburg has much better pastrami than Katz Deli, also stating their hot dogs and pickles are superior."

Positive
Sep 20, 2025View Comment →

From post: Not The Best Restaurant

"The user states that Katz Deli's pastrami is not the best, and admits to being pained by this conclusion."

Negative
Sep 20, 2025View Comment →

From post: Is There Anywhere I Can Buy Pickle Soda In New

"The commenter suggested trying Dr Brown's Cel-ray soda, a classic New York soda, which can likely be found at Jewish delis or kosher supermarkets."

Neutral
Sep 19, 2025View Comment →

From post: Not The Best Restaurant

"This user states Katz Deli does not have the best pastrami."

Negative
Sep 19, 2025View Comment →

From post: Not The Best Restaurant

"The user asserts that Katz Deli does not have the best pastrami."

Negative
Sep 19, 2025View Comment →

From post: Been Vegetarian For 8 Years And Over It What Meat

"The author suggested Katz for a pastrami sandwich."

Positive
Sep 19, 2025View Comment →

From post: Been Vegetarian For 8 Years And Over It What Meat

"The author strongly recommended Katz's pastrami sandwich."

Positive
Sep 19, 2025View Comment →

From post: Recs For A Taste Of New York For European Visitors

"Katz's is described as the quintessential New York experience."

Positive
Sep 18, 2025View Comment →