The Best Pastrami in New York

What is the best pastrami sandwich in New York? Below I'll tell you the 3 best places to try this iconic New York recipe.

What is pastrami, and what does it have to do with New York?

Pastrami is an old Jewish recipe that originated in Eastern Europe. It arrived in New York with the immigrant communities that settled in Manhattan's Lower East Side. That's the neighborhood where you'll find some of the best pastrami in New York.

Today New York's Jewish neighborhood has moved to Williamsburg in Brooklyn, an area I'd recommend you get to know.

This star New York preparation is beef cured in brine and spices, then smoked, which is where it gets its signature flavor.

At some point someone had the idea to make a sandwich with pastrami, and over the years it became a classic New York flavor you have to try.

Pastrami sandwiches are another example of how New York blends cutting-edge food with Old World recipes.

The hot dog is another example, a mix of German bratwurst and an Italian hoagie. By the way, they're said to have been invented at the original Nathan's in Coney Island, Brooklyn.

What is the best pastrami in New York?

Finding the best pastrami sandwich in New York has become an almost mythical quest for locals and visitors alike.

Now let me tell you which are the most popular spots to try this NYC culinary tradition. Then we can sit down and argue about which is the best pastrami sandwich in New York 🥪😋.

Don't picture anything fancy. It's just a few flavors that work magic together: pastrami on rye bread, mustard, and a side of pickles.

You can order it with other ingredients and different kinds of bread, but this is the recommended classic version of the traditional pastrami sandwich.

You'll find these sandwiches at any New York deli, but to try the original recipe, here are the places serving the best pastrami sandwiches in New York:

1. The pastrami sandwich at Katz's Delicatessen

Lower East Side: 205 East Houston Street, at Ludlow Street.

The first restaurants famous for their pastrami were small family spots in immigrant neighborhoods like the Lower East Side in downtown Manhattan.

Among the survivors, the pastrami at Katz's Deli stands out, legendary across all of New York, so much so that you'll usually have to wait in line to get in.

Katz's Delicatessen has been making pastrami in New York since 1888, and it's the oldest, most traditional deli on this list of the best pastrami sandwiches in NYC.

Katz's pastrami recipe has stayed exactly the same ever since, because the place is still in the hands of its original founders, a family of Russian immigrants.

Besides the pastrami, it has a glorious corned beef and other traditional dishes from that mixed European kitchen.

Movie fans will surely recognize it, since a famous scene from When Harry Met Sally was filmed here, and food lovers will know it was one of Anthony Bourdain's favorites.

If you love movies and NYC, read this piece on the best films shot in New York, When Harry Met Sally among them.

2. Eisenberg's Sandwich: pastrami in New York since 1929

Flatiron District: 174 Fifth Avenue at 22nd Street

Just steps from the distinctive Flatiron Building, Eisenberg's pastrami is the favorite of plenty of New Yorkers. Bourdain featured it on No Reservations as another classic city spot.

Its slogan is «raising New York's cholesterol since 1929,» so it has some years on it too, and the prices are a little friendlier.

Like Katz's, the walls are covered with photos of celebrity regulars, Lou Reed among them.

Its pastrami sandwich is quite different from Katz's. At Eisenberg's it looks much more rustic. Try both and let me know.

I'd recommend sitting at the counter. The servers are very friendly and will almost certainly slip you extra pickles 🤭.

3. Carnegie Deli at Madison Square Garden

This is the newest New York deli on this list (1937), run by the third generation of the same family. It came to be recognized as one of the most famous delis in the United States.

Sadly, its Manhattan restaurant, two blocks from Carnegie Hall, closed in 2016. The good news is that they opened locations inside Madison Square Garden (sections 105/106 and 219).

So if you go to a concert, to see a New York Knicks game, or to the Republican convention 😅, you can try them.

Carnegie Deli's pastrami and corned beef sandwiches were famous for packing a pound of meat. Almost half a kilo!

To give you an idea of the challenge eating at the original Carnegie Deli was, the restaurant's motto read: «if you can finish your meal, we've done something wrong.»

You can also buy online this famous Carnegie Deli pastrami.

How to judge a good pastrami sandwich

I'll close this top 3 of the best pastrami in New York with a few pointers so you can judge the quality yourself and become a total expert 😀:

The texture of the meat in a good pastrami is tender and juicy, easy to bite through. No knives needed.

The flavor of the best pastrami balances salt, smoke, and spice. No single element takes over.

The way the pastrami is sliced is crucial. The slices should be thin and even.

The traditional pastrami sides are rye bread, mustard, and pickles, which complement the flavor perfectly.

Oh, and show up hungry when you go try pastrami in New York. These things are huge.