Restaurant

Katz's Delicatessen

East VillageManhattan

4.5· 51,643 reviewsOpen nowKosher
Katz's Delicatessen — restaurant — in East Village — Manhattan — NYC
Katz's Delicatessen interior — East Village

East Village

Manhattan

The brief

About Katz's Delicatessen

No-frills deli with theatrically cranky service serving mile-high sandwiches since 1888.

Health inspection

NYC DOHMH Grade A

A

Score12(lower is better)

Inspected2/25/2025

Grade A is the highest mark from NYC's Department of Health — about 90% of restaurants earn it.

How grades work

Community Rating

4.5

½

out of 5

51,643 community reviews

Rating aggregated from community reviews across platforms. Read full reviews on Google or Yelp for detailed diner experiences.

Community-sourced rating

Reviews

What diners say about Katz's Delicatessen

15 verified Google reviews · 9 with owner responses

4.9

15 reviews

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Fernando Javier MenendezLocal guide
a week ago

We went there on a Wednesday afternoon and it was packed. Though lines move fast and everyone is extremely helpful. We had the Ruben sandwich with pastrami and we also tried the square knishes. The sandwich is #1 or #2 in my list of best ever. Soft bread, melted cheese, tender flavory pastrami, and mustard. You can taste all of the different flavors as they are perfectly balanced. The knishes were very good too but it was the first time ever so I had no benchmark to compare.<br>Definitely a new favorite at NYC. Will come back for more.

Response from the owner

We're so glad you enjoyed your first visit - there's nothing we love more than making new fans! And though we often serve a full house, the best times to try dodging the crowd are definitely during off-peak hours: breakfast, between lunch and dinner, or late nights on the weekends. Hope to see you back again soon for another Reuben fix!

Rmin LotfiLocal guide
2 weeks ago

Katz’s Delicatessen absolutely lived up to the hype. I ordered the classic Pastrami Sandwich, the Reuben with pastrami, and a side of fries. The pastrami was incredibly tender, juicy, and packed with flavor. Every bite tasted fresh and perfectly seasoned.<br><br>The Reuben was just as impressive, with the rich pastrami pairing perfectly with the Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and Russian dressing. The balance of flavors was outstanding, and the bread was toasted to perfection.<br><br>The fries were crispy, hot, and a great complement to the sandwiches. Portions were generous, and the quality of the food made the experience worth it.<br><br>Beyond the food, the atmosphere felt like a true New York institution with lots of history and character. If you’re visiting NYC and want an authentic deli experience, Katz’s is a must-visit. I would gladly come back again.

Response from the owner

We're so glad your first visit was everything you'd hoped it'd be - there's truly nothing we love more than making new fans. Hope to see you back again soon for another Reuben and fries fix!

Bruno gLocal guide
2 weeks ago

The pastrami at Kat'z is absolutely exceptional, tender, flavorful, and melt-in-your-mouth good. Truly one of the best I've ever had. The only downsides are the long line outside to get in and the pretty noisy atmosphere inside, but the food is 100% worth it.

Response from the owner

We're so glad you enjoyed your visit! And though we do often serve a full house, if you ever want to try dodging the crowd, try stopping by at an off-peak hour: breakfast, between lunch and dinner, or late nights on the weekend. Hope to see you back again soon!

Dogukan CANLocal guide
3 weeks ago

Tried reuben, pastrami and brisket.<br>Each has its own taste. Worth trying each.<br>Although there is a queue, they serve very fast. We were there around 6pm. Other times might be busier.<br>Cutters are very friendly.<br>Atmosphere is quite authentic, I liked it.<br>I recommend that you get in the line and grab your own plate rather than waiting to be seated.

Response from the owner

We're so glad you enjoyed your first visit! And yes - though during peak hours we can get quite busy, if you ever want to try dodging the crowds, drop by at an off-peak hour: breakfast, between lunch and dinner, or late nights on the weekend. Hope to see you back again soon!

Daniel NietoLocal guide
3 weeks ago

This place is truly legendary. Had the half pastrami on rye with mustard and half corned beef. The best pastrami sandwich I've ever had. If you go at peak times, be prepared to wait in line, but I assure you it will be worth it!

Response from the owner

We're so glad you enjoyed your first visit - there's truly nothing we love more than making new fans! And yes, during peak hours we can get pretty packed, so the best times to try dodging the crowd are breakfast, between lunch and dinner, or late nights on the weekends. Hope to see you back again soon for round two!

AlexLocal guide
4 weeks ago

I’ve been to Katz’s Delicatessen a few times whenever I visit NYC, and it’s always worth the stop. If you go near opening time, there’s usually little to no line. Around lunch and dinner, the line definitely gets longer, though it moves fairly well depending on the crowd and how prepared people are to order. The more people know what they want ahead of time, the faster things move. It does get pretty crowded inside, so expect a busy atmosphere.<br><br>A few helpful tips:<br>• When you walk in, they give you a ticket — don’t lose it because you’ll need it to exit, even if you don’t buy anything.<br>• If you want to order to-go, head toward the middle once inside.<br>• If you want vacuum-sealed frozen pastrami by the pound to take home, go toward the end near the card payment area.<br><br>The pastrami here is incredible, and they usually give you samples while making your sandwich, which honestly just makes the experience even better. Also — tip, tip, tip. The staff work incredibly hard keeping everything moving in such a busy place. They take both cash and Venmo.

BillyLocal guide
a month ago

AMAZING!!! ———> This is some of the best pastrami I’ve had in my life!!! This stuff melts in your mouth. Paired with delicious cheese, sauerkraut, and mustard it is a seriously good bite of food. The sandwich was enough to fill both my wife and I so the price is more justified. My only complaint with the sandwich is the bread was super thin and un-toasted causing it to instantly fall apart when picked up. With that being said the pastrami really carried the show here. We also got an egg cream and that was super super delicious!! Definitely worth a stop, probably the best meal I had in New York.

Isaac RomeroLocal guide
a month ago

The pastrami sandwich in this place is absolutely worth the visit. The wait can get pretty long, but once you try the food, you’ll understand why people line up. The portions are great, the flavors are delicious, and the whole experience feels like a classic New York stop. The wait may test your patience, but it’s definitely worth it.

GavremLocal guide
a month ago

The service is amazing. Cutter was very nice and gave use pastrami to taste while prepating the Pastrami Sandwich. We went on Wednesday noon, almost no wait time. They are realy fast. Pastrami Sandwich was geat definitly worth the social media popularity. The hot dog was good.

Response from the owner

We're so glad you enjoyed your visit! And yes - though we often serve a full house, the best times to dodge the crowds can be during more off-peak hours: breakfast, between lunch and dinner, or late nights on the weekend all tend to be less crowded (though sometimes you can get lucky at noon on a Wednesday!) Hope to see you back again soon for another pastrami fix.

tomerLocal guide
3 months ago

While everyone comes for the famous pastrami, do not sleep on the New York Brisket here, it is a masterclass in deli tradition!<br><br>Unlike the smoky, crusty BBQ brisket you find in Texas, Katz’s serves a quintessential New York braised brisket that is incredibly tender, moist, and flavorful. It’s slow-roasted to perfection, sitting in its own rich juices until it practically melts on the tongue. I ordered mine on rye with a bit of gravy and a side of their iconic pickles, and it was pure comfort food.<br><br>The portions are massive (easily enough for two), and the hand-carved slices are thick and juicy. Yes, there’s usually a line and the ticket system is old-school, but for a true taste of NYC history, this brisket is 100% worth it. A must-visit for any meat lover!

Response from the owner

So glad you didn't hit snooze on the brisket! We put a lot of care and time into all our meats, and appreciate your thoughtful breakdown. Hope to see you back again soon for round two.

Konrad CloughLocal guide
4 months ago

Went to Katz for the world famous Pastrami on rye and wasn't disappointed. Went at 10am so we didn't have to queue, friendly staff that also gave me a sample of the pastrami before we ordered. Got cheese on top with mustard and a side of pickles, one of the best things I ate whilst in New York can't really complain about the price considering the portion size was huge. Even bought a t-shirt on the way out, I will be back!

Response from the owner

We're so glad you enjoyed your visit! And yes - the best times to try dodging the crowds are definitely during off-peak hours: breakfast, between lunch and dinner, or late nights on the weekend. Hope to see you back again soon!

Ken FLocal guide
4 months ago

The food was fine and about what you would expect from a decent delicatessen. They're fairly consistent with their level of quality and portion sizes as well. If your goal was to get a great pastrami sandwich, you're probably better off just going somewhere else (and it would be a lot cheaper, too). But this is a NY staple and is a great place to visit once (and I mean just once).<br><br>Their prices reflect their mainstream popularity so just keep that in mind. Their portion sizes are also huge so that offsets it somewhat. Just something to keep in mind.<br><br>Lines can get long but you can avoid that by going earlier or later. You could also order pickup if you don't want to stand inside for long.<br><br>I mentioned earlier that if your goal was to get a great pastrami sandwich, you could go elsewhere. I'm not going to list any places since that would be inappropriate on someone else's business page, but you could find them through google. Alternatively, if your goal was just to go to any random delicatessen, you could walk down the street.

Camila Aldana CrudoLocal guide
4 months ago

Katz’s Delicatessen is definitely an NYC classic and a must-visit at least once. The atmosphere is super authentic and chaotic in a fun way — it really feels like a piece of New York history.<br><br>The food is very good, especially the pastrami sandwich. The meat is tender, flavorful, and the portions are huge (easily enough to share). You can tell the quality is there and that they know what they’re doing.<br><br>That said, it’s extremely crowded and the system can feel a bit stressful and confusing, especially if it’s your first time. Sometimes it’s not very clear where you’re supposed to pay or if you can add more items to your order, which makes the experience a little overwhelming.<br><br>Prices are also quite high for what you get, even though it’s iconic.<br><br>Overall, it’s a great experience and worth trying for the vibe and the food, but probably not a place I’d go to regularly. Still, a solid 4 stars for the quality and the legendary NYC feel.

Response from the owner

We're glad you enjoyed your meal, but sorry to hear you were frustrated by your experience. Though we do often serve a packed house, we never want any customer to feel confused or overwhelmed! If you ever want to try dodging the crowds, try dropping by at an off-peak hour: breakfast, between lunch and dinner, or late nights on weekends can often be less busy. We hope you'll give us another chance to serve you up the perfect sandwich in a slower setting!

Kaitlyn BrinsterLocal guide
4 months ago

If you’re ever in NYC, Katz’s Delicatessen is an absolute must. The famous pastrami on rye lives up to every bit of its reputation. The walls are lined with signed photos of musicians, actors, and cultural icons who have passed through over the decades, adding to the unmistakable sense of history. Katz’s has been a New York staple since the late 1800s and has occupied its current location since the 1930s.<br><br>Be prepared: Katz’s is cash only, and the iconic pastrami sandwich costs over $30. That said, it’s unlike anything you’ll ever taste. The sandwich is massive and easily enough to share between two people. Even with multiple carving stations, you can expect a wait of at least 20 minutes on a slow day, but it is absolutely worth it.<br><br>The experience made such an impression that we even brought a sandwich home for my father-in-law, who hadn’t had one in decades. When he heard we were going, he insisted we bring one back. That alone says everything.<br><br>Katz’s isn’t just about incredible food. It’s about stepping into a living piece of New York history. I highly recommend making it a part of your NYC experience. ❤️

Ana AndradeLocal guide
5 months ago

We waited about and hour since we got there to the moment we got a table and the food. The food was amazing!! It was worth every penny. We ordered the classic Katz pastrami which it there signature sandwich. We also ordered the Reuben, some of their fries and they gave us regular and pickle cucumber. The pastrami was super juicy and tender, smoky. Their house made mustard was really testie and creamy.Their house beer was also really good. It was fruity and smooth. I left this place super happy and excited to come back to New York City to have this amazing food again!!

Reviews sourced from Google. Displayed for informational purposes. Ratings reflect reviewer opinions at the time of posting.

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