Katz's Delicatessen is a legendary New York institution, operating since 1888 and recognized as NYC's oldest deli. It's famous for its hand-carved, generously portioned sandwiches, particularly the pastrami. The restaurant offers a unique, authentic, and lively old-school New York deli experience, attracting both locals and tourists.
Customer Perception
Customer perception is mixed but generally positive, highlighting Katz's as an iconic and historic NYC experience. Many praise the pastrami sandwich for its tenderness, flavor, and generous portions, often calling it a 'must-visit.' The atmosphere is described as authentic, lively, and chaotic in a fun way. However, common criticisms include long lines, a potentially confusing ordering system, and high prices. Some reviewers find the food, particularly the corned beef, to be mediocre or overrated, while others feel it lives up to the hype.
Additional Details
Katz's Delicatessen offers nationwide shipping, allowing customers across the country to experience a taste of NYC. It's known for its unique ticket system for ordering and payment, which adds to its distinctive character.
Lines can be long, so visiting earlier or later in the day is recommended to avoid peak crowds. Ordering for pickup is also an option to bypass the wait inside.
Even though the they had several lines going, and the line was contained within the store - each person in line felt like they took close to 5 minutes to get served. So definitely expect a wait even if there are a handful of people in the restaurant.
As for the food, I got the pastrami, and brisket combo. The pastrami was honestly super underwhelming. Yes it was relatively juicy, and decently flavorful, the texture was wholly unappealling. When eaten in single pieces, it's not bad, but layered together in a sandwich, it becomes painfully obvious to me that the meat is nowhere near tender enough for my liking. 6.5/10
The brisket sandwich was much better in my opinion. It was much more tender than it's pastrami counterpart, with same ingredients. Although tender, it feels lacking in flavor. But I could appreciate the simplicity of the sandwich. Hard to beat the brisket sandwiches in the south though. 7.5/10
Overall, definitely a tourist trap kind of thing going on here. I'm really glad I finally tried it, but will not come back here again
A true New York institution and an absolute must-visit.
Katz’s Delicatessen is much more than a restaurant—it’s a piece of New York history. From the moment you walk in, you can feel the energy, the authenticity, and the decades of stories that have passed through its doors.
Of course, the legendary pastrami sandwich lives up to the hype. The meat is incredibly tender, flavorful, and generously stacked, making every bite worth the wait. The portions are famously huge, and the quality is great.
What we loved most was that Katz’s remains completely unapologetic about what it is: loud, busy, bustling, and full of character. It feels genuine in a city where authenticity can sometimes be hard to find.
Yes, there may be a line, and yes, you’ll probably share the experience with plenty of tourists—but for good reason. This is one of those iconic places that truly deserves its reputation.
If you’re visiting New York for the first time, Katz’s should be on your list. If you’re returning to New York, it’s the kind of place you’ll happily come back to again and again.
5
I’ve been to Katz’s several times over the years, and every time I bring someone new, I get to experience it all over again through their eyes. There is something special about watching a first timer step up to the counter, see those mountains of hand carved pastrami, and realize that the sandwich they are about to receive is unlike anything back home.
Yes, there is usually a line. Yes, it is busy. But Katz’s has been doing this since 1888, and there is a reason generations of New Yorkers and visitors keep coming back. The pastrami is the star of the show. Tender, smoky, peppery, and sliced right in front of you. The brisket is outstanding as well, and the potato latkes are worth saving room for.
What I love most is that Katz’s does not try to be trendy. It does not need gimmicks, fancy presentations, or social media tricks. It simply focuses on doing one thing exceptionally well and has been doing it for more than a century.
Every visit feels a little like stepping into a piece of New York history. The walls tell stories, the countermen work with the confidence that comes from decades of experience, and the food still lives up to the reputation. Whenever friends or family visit the city with me, Katz’s is one of the first places I suggest. Not because it is famous, but because it earns that fame every single day. Five stars.
5
Katz's has been open since 1888 and it shows in the best possible way. The walls are covered in celebrity photos going back decades, the staff have clearly been here a while, and when you walk in you get handed a paper ticket that you're told very firmly not to lose. The ordering system is a little chaotic by modern standards, separate counters for sandwiches, sides, and drinks, but once you figure out the flow there's something almost fun about it.
You're here for the pastrami. That's just the fact of the situation. The corned beef is excellent too and worth trying if you're going back a second time, but the pastrami on rye is what this place is built on. It's hand-carved, piled in a way that should be physically impossible, and the meat is tender and peppery and spiced in this way that is almost impossible to describe if you've never had real New York deli pastrami. We ordered the classic with mustard and it was exactly right. The sour pickle plate showed up alongside and the briny, crunchy pickles between bites of that rich sandwich are something I think about regularly. The matzoh ball soup is worth getting if you have the appetite, a big golden broth with a soft, properly dense matzoh ball sitting in the middle of it. The frankfurter on the side was fine, nothing remarkable, and to be honest we barely touched it.
This place is a cultural institution and worth visiting even if you're not sure how you feel about deli food. One bite of that pastrami and you'll understand every person who's ever raved about it.
5
One of the best sandwich i have ever had!
I have got the classic pastrami with mustard and it was unbelievable!!!
The place inside is clean and still sort of old style, which gives a very nice vibe.
Not so easy to find seated places, but there is lots of movement.
Always busy, always ao great! Extremely recommended!
