Katz's Deli: Some Delicious Pastrami
Hand-carved pastrami piled impossibly high, a paper ticket you must not lose and more than a century of Lower East Side history.
Katz's Delicatessen has stood on the corner of East Houston and Ludlow Streets since 1888. It's one of the last great Jewish delis of the Lower East Side, and its pastrami on rye is about as close as New York gets to a sacred food. It's also famous from the movies: the "I'll have what she's having" scene in When Harry Met Sally (1989) was filmed here, and a sign hangs over the table.
How the ticket system works
- Take a ticket at the door. Every person gets one.
- Choose: order at the counter yourself, or sit in the waiter-service section along the wall.
- At the counter, a cutter hand-carves your meat and usually hands you a taste. Tipping your cutter is customary.
- Each counter marks your ticket with what you ordered.
- Pay on the way out. Don't lose the ticket: there's a fee if you do.
What to order
- Pastrami on rye with mustard. No mayo, no lettuce, no arguments.
- Corned beef, or get a combo if you can't decide.
- Matzo ball soup and a knish to round things out.
- Pickles, both full and half sours, which come with the meal.
- A Dr. Brown's soda (Cel-Ray, if you're brave) or an egg cream.
Why is Katz's so expensive?
A pastrami sandwich at Katz's costs more than most sandwiches in New York, and people ask why. The short answer is labor, time and quantity:
- The cure takes weeks. The brisket is cured, then rubbed with spices, smoked and steamed. It's a multi-day process.
- It's carved by hand, to order, by skilled cutters, not run through a slicer.
- The portion is enormous. One sandwich is easily enough for two people, and splitting is common.
- Prime Manhattan real estate and a huge, busy operation open long hours.
Can cats have pastrami?
Since people really do search it: no, you shouldn't feed your cat pastrami. It's very high in salt, and its spice rub often contains garlic and onion, which are toxic to cats. A tiny accidental nibble is unlikely to be an emergency. Call your vet if your cat eats more than that or seems unwell. Save the pastrami for yourself.
Tips for visiting
- Go off-peak: weekday mid-afternoon is calmest. Weekend lunch is a scrum.
- Split a sandwich and add sides.
- Make a Lower East Side day of it with Economy Candy and a late-night slice.
FAQ
Why is Katz's Deli so expensive?
Katz's pastrami is cured for weeks, spice-rubbed, smoked and steamed, then hand-carved to order. The sandwiches are huge, often enough for two people, and the deli runs a large operation in prime Manhattan real estate.
Can cats have pastrami?
No. Pastrami is very high in sodium and its spice rub often includes garlic and onion, which are toxic to cats. Call a vet if your cat eats a meaningful amount.
How does the Katz's ticket system work?
Everyone takes a ticket at the door. Counter staff mark it with what you order, and you pay on the way out. Losing the ticket incurs a fee.
