\#1: Pastrami Queen (fka Pastrami King)

\#5: 2nd Ave Deli

\#10: PJ Bernstein

\#12: Sarge’s

\#13: Junior’s (cake has taken the cake)

\#16: Katz’s (“tough, rubbery and barely edible”)

[https://www.nytimes.com/1979/03/02/archives/where-to-eat-the-best-pastrami-and-corned-beef-in-town-making-it.html?utm\_source=pocket\_reader](https://www.nytimes.com/1979/03/02/archives/where-to-eat-the-best-pastrami-and-corned-beef-in-town-making-it.html?utm_source=pocket_reader)

by Delicious_Adeptness9

17 Comments

  1. ApatheticAbsurdist

    I miss going to the Carnegie Deli.

  2. AsaKurai

    I didnt know Katz had such a bad review. The sandwiches are pretty expensive but didnt think it was rubbery?

  3. YosephusFlavius

    I remember reading an article that said at one point in time, probably in the 40’s and 50’s, that there were something like 600 “Jewish” Delis in the 5 boros of NYC. And now there’s less than 2 dozen.

  4. Jewish delis are wildly expensive for your average workday lunch. makes it tough to support them any more often than once in a while

  5. upyourattraction

    You need to ask for center cut pastrami at Katz’s. That stuff is juicy and delicious.

  6. solemnbiscuit

    I’m scared making good pastrami is just gonna be a lost art in like 10 years

  7. HilariousConsequence

    Am I an idiot or is 6 of 16 food establishments still being around after 45 years a pretty remarkable success?

  8. makesnosense00

    I wouldn’t say only. Almost half of the delis are still around over 50 years later.. that’s pretty great!

  9. AerysBat

    Honest question. How often do you guys go to Jewish delis?

    “Oh man, it’s so sad that these places are disappearing.”

    I mean, sure. But I eat a pastrami sandwich what – once every 2 years? Dozens of these restaurants is plenty of choice for me.

    Modern Jewish communities here prefer everyday Eastern European or Israeli food rather than extravagant meat sandwiches.

  10. I miss the original Pastrami King so much. Was so disappointing to try Queen. Not the same anymore.

  11. FarmTheVoid

    No offense but most food at these places is just bland.

  12. andthrewaway1

    2nd ave’s matzah ball soup is terrible.

    What I have found is that all these jewish deli’s do one item well. Even Katz’s has one or two good items Sarge’s pastrami is pretty good and sarege’s matzah ball soup is dece

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