The 1888 Lower East Side institution serving 30-day-cured, hand-carved pastrami on rye — the most iconic deli sandwich in America.
Founded in 1888 on the corner of Houston and Ludlow, Katz's is the last great Jewish deli of old New York. The pastrami is cured for 30 days, smoked, steamed, and hand-carved to order behind a long counter where ticket-toting regulars and tourists line up shoulder-to-shoulder under buzzing neon. Cash a ticket on the way in, order at the counter (and tip the carver), grab a table, and pay on the way out.
The story behind Katz's Delicatessen.
Katz's has been on the same corner of East Houston and Ludlow since 1888, predating the subway, the Empire State Building, and most of the neighborhood around it. Three generations of immigrants — Russian, Polish, Jewish, and now everyone — have pulled a numbered ticket at the door and lined up at the counter for a sandwich that has barely changed.
The pastrami is the headline: navel cuts cured in brine for 30 full days, slow-smoked, steamed to order, and hand-carved (never machine-sliced) into pink, fatty, peppery slabs piled onto rye with a smear of brown mustard. The corned beef, brisket, tongue, and pastrami Reuben are nearly as famous. Order the egg cream and a Dr. Brown's Cel-Ray on the side.
The room is part of the experience: pressed-tin ceilings, hanging salamis, a wall of signed celebrity photos, and the famous "Where Harry Met Sally" sign over the table where Meg Ryan filmed the scene. It's loud, it's a little chaotic, and it's exactly the way it should be.
Because 137 years in, Katz's still cures, smokes, and hand-carves every sandwich the same way it did in 1888 — no shortcuts, no franchising, no concessions. It's the rare NYC landmark that's every bit as good as the hype.
— The 7Days7Nights editors
Don't miss these.
- 1Pastrami on rye with brown mustard — the sandwich that built the place
- 2Reuben (pastrami, sauerkraut, Russian dressing, Swiss on grilled rye)
- 3Hot dog with sauerkraut from the front counter
- 4Matzo ball soup
- 5Dr. Brown's Cel-Ray soda and a chocolate egg cream
- 6Tip the carver a dollar or two and you'll get a generous taste while you wait
Plan your visit.
Reservations
Reservations strongly recommended — book 2–4 weeks ahead for prime times.
Best time to visit
Weekday lunch (after the rush, before 5pm)
Nearest subway
F to 2nd Ave (1 block); J/Z to Essex St (4 blocks)
Hours
Sun–Wed 8am–10:45pm · Thu 8am–2:45am · Fri 8am to Sat 10:45pm (continuous)
Accessibility
Street-level entrance, wheelchair accessible
Seasonal note
Great year-round, with a different feel each season.
Insider tip
Go on a weekday afternoon to skip the lines and get the best photos.
Price range
Expect $$ pricing. Budget accordingly and check the website for the latest.
Who this is for.
Recognition.
- When Harry Met Sally (1989)
- Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown
- The New York Times — repeatedly named NYC's best pastrami
- James Beard Foundation — America's Classics Award
On the map.
Subway: F to 2nd Ave (1 block); J/Z to Essex St (4 blocks)
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