Best Jewish Delis in NYC (2026)
Pastrami, smoked fish and matzo ball soup across the city, from the Lower East Side to Bayside.
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Updated November 2026
New York's best Jewish deli meal doesn't always look the same. It might be hand-carved pastrami under fluorescent lights on the Lower East Side, sturgeon and eggs on the Upper West Side, or stuffed cabbage in a Riverdale dining room full of regulars.
Start with what you want to eat. Katz's is the first stop for pastrami, 2nd Ave Deli has the deepest traditional menu, Barney Greengrass is the smoked-fish breakfast, and Liebman's is the old-school neighborhood room. Check the Kosher column if it matters, because some kosher delis stay open on Saturdays and some don't. The guide runs by borough, starting with Manhattan.
The Best Jewish Delis in NYC at a Glance
| Deli | Neighborhood | Best for | What to order | Kosher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Katz's Delicatessen | Lower East Side | The definitive NYC pastrami sandwich | Pastrami on rye with mustard | No |
| Russ & Daughters | Lower East Side | The essential appetizing counter | Nova bagel, Super Heebster | No |
| B&H Dairy | East Village | Kosher dairy comfort food | Soup, pierogi, blintzes, challah | Dairy |
| S&P Lunch | Flatiron | An old-school lunch counter | Pastrami, tuna melt, egg cream | No |
| 2nd Ave Deli | Kips Bay, Upper East Side | A full traditional deli meal | Matzo ball soup, pastrami, stuffed derma | Yes, open Saturdays |
| Sarge's Delicatessen & Diner | Murray Hill | Corned beef and a huge diner menu | Corned beef on rye, cheesecake | No |
| Carnegie Deli | Midtown | Giant sandwiches near the theaters | Broadway Danny Rose, cheesecake | No |
| P.J. Bernstein | Upper East Side | A low-key neighborhood meal | Kreplach soup, tongue, pastrami | No |
| Pastrami Queen | Upper East Side | A focused pastrami stop | Pastrami on rye with mustard | Lexington, open Saturdays |
| Barney Greengrass | Upper West Side | Sit-down smoked fish and eggs | Sturgeon and eggs, nova, sable | No |
| Frankel's Delicatessen | Greenpoint | A modern deli breakfast | Pastrami, egg and cheese | No |
| Mile End Delicatessen | Boerum Hill | Montreal-style smoked meat | Smoked meat sandwich, poutine | No |
| Essen NY Deli | Midwood | A broad kosher Brooklyn menu | Pastrami, matzo ball soup, pastrami egg roll | Yes, closed for Shabbat |
| Mill Basin Deli | Mill Basin | An old-school South Brooklyn trip | Pastrami, matzo ball soup, hot dog | Yes, open Saturdays |
| Gottlieb's Restaurant | South Williamsburg | Hungarian Jewish comfort food | Stuffed cabbage, goulash, pastrami | Yes, closed for Shabbat |
| Shelsky's of Brooklyn | Cobble Hill, Park Slope | Smoked fish and deli meat in one stop | Member of the Tribe, hot pastrami | No |
| David's Brisket House | Bed-Stuy | Brisket at a halal counter | Brisket on rye, pastrami | Halal |
| Edith's Sandwich Counter | Williamsburg | Jewish diaspora sandwiches | Pastrami chopped cheese, PEC&L | No |
| Liebman's Deli | Riverdale | An old-school neighborhood room | Pastrami and corned beef combo, soup, knish | Yes, open Saturdays |
| Ben's Kosher Deli | Bayside | A full kosher deli meal in Queens | Pastrami and brisket, soup, knish | Yes, open Saturdays |
| Knish Nosh | Rego Park / Forest Hills | Knishes and a quick deli lunch | Potato knish, pastrami on rye | Kosher style |
The Best Jewish Delis in Manhattan
Manhattan is where the city's Jewish deli culture started. These run south to north, from the Lower East Side to the Upper West Side, so you can start with what's closest. Here for potato pancakes? Our best latkes in NYC guide covers several of these same kitchens.
Katz's Delicatessen
205 E Houston St, New York, NY 10002, USA
The pastrami is smoky, heavily peppered and carved by hand at the counter, in thick, uneven slices you won't find at most delis. One sandwich can feed two, so add a hot dog or knish before you order another. Hang on to the paper ticket you get at the door, because you'll need it to leave. The line moves faster than it looks, and early on a weekday is quietest. Details: 205 E Houston St. Mon–Thu 8 a.m.–11 p.m., then straight through from Fri 8 a.m. to Sun 11 p.m. No reservations. Not kosher.
Russ & Daughters
179 E Houston St, New York, NY 10002, USA
There's no pastrami here, just smoked salmon, sturgeon, sable, herring and whitefish salad sliced to order. Get nova with cream cheese, tomato, onion and capers on a bagel, or the Super Heebster, with whitefish and baked salmon salad, horseradish-dill cream cheese and wasabi roe. The shop is takeout only, so walk to the Orchard Street cafe for a sit-down breakfast with cocktails. Details: Shop at 179 E Houston St, daily 8 a.m.–4 p.m. Cafe at 127 Orchard St, walk-in only, last seating 2:30 p.m. Mon–Thu and 3:30 p.m. Fri–Sun. Other shops at 502 W 34th St and in the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Not kosher.
B&H Dairy
127 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003, USA
This narrow kosher lunch counter has been serving vegetarian comfort food since 1938. Sit at the counter and build a meal from soup, pierogi or blintzes, with thick challah to mop up what's left. It's the best bet here for vegetarians. Details: 127 Second Ave. Closed Mondays. Open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. the rest of the week. Usually closes for several weeks in summer. Kosher dairy.
S&P Lunch
174 5th Ave, New York, NY 10010, USA
S&P took over the old Eisenberg's counter in the Flatiron, and it still feels like a working lunch spot. Come for matzo ball soup, a tuna melt, an egg cream or a reasonably sized pastrami sandwich. The Flatiron Delight is the big order, with pastrami or corned beef, slaw, Swiss and Russian dressing on rye. Details: 174 Fifth Ave. Mon–Fri 8 a.m.–8 p.m., Sat–Sun 9 a.m.–8 p.m. Not kosher.
2nd Ave Deli
162 E 33rd St, New York, NY 10016, USA
Go here when you want more than one famous sandwich. Start with soup or chopped liver, split a pastrami sandwich, and add something harder to find, like kishke, kreplach or stuffed cabbage. The little chocolate sodas at the end are part of the ritual. Both locations close early, so plan on an early dinner. Details: 162 E 33rd St, daily 11 a.m.–8 p.m. 1442 First Ave, daily 11 a.m.–9 p.m. Kosher, open Saturdays.
Sarge's Delicatessen & Diner
548 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10016, USA
Sarge's is a Jewish deli inside a sprawling New York diner, which makes it the easy answer when a group can't agree. The corned beef is cured in-house, sliced warm and the best reason to come, so pair it with matzo ball soup and cheesecake. The towering Monster photographs better than it eats. Details: 548 Third Ave. Mon–Thu 10 a.m.–11 p.m., Fri–Sun 8 a.m.–11 p.m. No longer open 24 hours. Not kosher.
Carnegie Deli
834 7th Ave, New York, NY 10019, USA
Carnegie closed in 2016 and came back in September 2026 in the old Stage Deli space, a block from the original. The sandwiches are huge on purpose, so split a Broadway Danny Rose, with pastrami and corned beef, and save room for cheesecake. Treat it as an energetic comeback rather than a perfect copy of the old room. Details: 834 Seventh Ave. Daily 11 a.m.–10 p.m. No reservations, so go before the pre-theater rush. Not kosher.
P.J. Bernstein
1215 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10021, USA
P.J. Bernstein has been feeding the Upper East Side since 1965, and it's a neighborhood all-rounder more than a pastrami pilgrimage. The deeper menu sets it apart, with tongue, kreplach, stuffed cabbage and matzo ball soup. Come for a relaxed sit-down meal without a line. Details: 1215 Third Ave. Closes around 8 p.m. Not kosher.
Pastrami Queen
1125 Lexington Ave #2, New York, NY 10075, USA
This is the compact alternative to the giant dining-room delis, with a counter, a few tables and a reputation built on one thing. The pastrami is sliced thinner than Katz's but stays juicy and smoky, so get it on rye with mustard. The West 72nd Street shop has been closed since March, and the Moynihan counter is handy on a train day. Details: 1125 Lexington Ave, daily 10 a.m.–9 p.m. Moynihan Food Hall, 421 Eighth Ave, daily 10 a.m.–10 p.m. Kosher on Lexington, open Saturdays.
Barney Greengrass
541 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10024, USA
The "Sturgeon King" opened in Harlem in 1908 and has been on Amsterdam Avenue since 1929. The order is sturgeon and eggs with a toasted bialy, and a group should share nova, sable and whitefish salad too. The room is cramped, hurried and proudly unpolished, so go on a weekday morning or near opening on weekends. Details: 541 Amsterdam Ave. Closed Mondays. Restaurant open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tue–Fri and to 5 p.m. Sat–Sun. Bring cash. Not kosher.
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The Best Jewish Delis in Brooklyn
Brooklyn has the widest range in the city, from Hungarian cholent in South Williamsburg to pastrami chopped cheese a few subway stops away. The newer shops mostly close by mid-afternoon, so plan around breakfast and lunch. For a different side of Jewish cooking, see our best Israeli restaurants in NYC guide.
Frankel's Delicatessen
631 Manhattan Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222, USA
Brothers Zach and Alex Frankel opened this small Greenpoint shop in 2016. The pastrami, egg and cheese is the order, with hot pastrami and melted cheese turning a bodega classic into something richer. At lunch, get the pastrami Reuben or the brisket on challah. Lines build fast on weekends, so a weekday morning is easiest. Details: 631 Manhattan Ave. Daily 8 a.m.–3 p.m. Counter service and limited seating. Not kosher.
Mile End Delicatessen
97 Hoyt St, Brooklyn, NY 11217, USA
Mile End is a Montreal-style deli, so the star is smoked meat, seasoned differently from New York pastrami and served in thinner slices with mustard on rye. Order the sandwich first, then add poutine or matzo ball soup. Mornings bring smoked meat hash and a latke, egg and cheese sandwich. Details: 97A Hoyt St. Mon–Fri 8 a.m.–8:30 p.m., Sat–Sun 9 a.m.–8:30 p.m. Not kosher.
Essen NY Deli
1359 Coney Island Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11230, USA
Essen is one of Brooklyn's most complete kosher deli meals, with meats cured and smoked by hand and a menu that runs from matzo ball soup to Chinese-American dishes. Start with pastrami on rye or a pastrami and corned beef combination, and treat the pastrami egg roll as a fun extra. Details: Closed Saturdays, and closes mid-afternoon on Fridays. Kosher, closed for Shabbat.
Mill Basin Deli
5823 Avenue T, Brooklyn, NY 11234, USA
Mill Basin pairs an old-school kosher menu with a dining room hung with fine art, and it's been serving South Brooklyn for more than 50 years. Start with an overstuffed pastrami sandwich, and add a hot dog and soup for a group. It's a trek from most tourist neighborhoods, so pair it with another South Brooklyn stop. Details: 5823 Ave T. Closed Mondays. Tue–Sun 9 a.m.–8 p.m. Kosher, open Saturdays.
Gottlieb's Restaurant
352 Roebling St, Brooklyn, NY 11211, USA
Gottlieb's has been in Williamsburg since 1962, and it shows the Hungarian and Hasidic side of the city's Jewish food. Pastrami is popular, but come for slow-cooked dishes like stuffed cabbage, goulash and chicken fricassee, and Thursday is the day for cholent. Hours can shift around the Jewish calendar, so check before a special trip. Details: 352 Roebling St. Mon–Thu and Sun from about noon to 10 p.m., Fri until 3 p.m. Closed Saturdays. Kosher, closed for Shabbat.
Shelsky's of Brooklyn
141 Court St, Brooklyn, NY 11201, USA
Shelsky's bridges the appetizing store and the meat deli, which makes it a good answer when a group is split between fish and meat. The Member of the Tribe, with nova and cream cheese on a bagel or bialy, is the fish order, and the hot pastrami and Reuben handle the deli side. Court Street is the flagship, and the Park Slope shop goes by Shelsky's Brooklyn Bagels. Details: 141 Court St, Cobble Hill. 453 Fourth Ave, Park Slope. Not kosher.
David's Brisket House
533 Nostrand Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11216, USA
David's is a Jewish-style deli run by Yemeni Muslims in Bed-Stuy, it's halal, and the brisket is the reason to go. The pastrami and corned beef are served on rye too, but the plain brisket shows off the meat best. This is a small, no-frills counter, not a nostalgic dining room. Details: 533 Nostrand Ave. Mon–Thu 9 a.m.–9 p.m., Fri–Sat 9 a.m.–10 p.m., Sun 10 a.m.–8 p.m. Halal, not kosher.
Edith's Sandwich Counter
495 Lorimer St, Brooklyn, NY 11211, USA
Edith's is a contemporary Jewish diaspora counter, pulling from Ashkenazi, Sephardi and New York sandwich traditions. The pastrami chopped cheese is the clearest New York crossover, and the PEC&L stacks pastrami, egg, cheese and a latke. Add Totkes, tots made from square latkes. Details: 495 Lorimer St, Williamsburg. Mon–Thu 8 a.m.–3 p.m., Fri–Sat 8 a.m.–5 p.m., Sun 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Also at 64 Charles St in the West Village and in Tribeca. Not kosher.
The Best Jewish Delis in the Bronx and Queens
These are neighborhood places first, so they're worth the trip once you've done the Manhattan classics, or any time you're nearby.
Liebman's Deli
552 W 235th St, Bronx, NY 10463, USA
Liebman's has been in Riverdale since 1953, and it's now widely called the last Jewish deli in the Bronx. Order the pastrami and corned beef combo to compare the two meats, then add matzo ball soup and a knish. The room fills with regulars, and it's the right next stop once you've done Katz's. Details: 552 W 235th St. Daily 11 a.m.–9 p.m. Kosher, open Saturdays.
Ben's Kosher Deli
211-37 26th Ave, Bay Terrace, NY 11360, USA
Ben's dates to 1972, and the Bayside location is the place to go for a full sit-down kosher deli meal in Queens. Split a half-pastrami, half-brisket sandwich, then add chicken soup and a square knish. It's an easy stop for families, with a kids' menu. Details: 211-37 26th Ave, Bayside. Dining room Sun–Thu 11 a.m.–8:30 p.m., Fri–Sat 11 a.m.–9 p.m. Kosher, open Saturdays.
Knish Nosh
98-104 Queens Blvd Queens, NY 11374, Rego Park, NY 11374, USA
This Queens Boulevard shop has been making knishes since 1952, so start with potato and branch out to spinach, broccoli or pastrami. The rest of the menu is getting harder to find: stuffed cabbage, kasha varnishkes, kugel and matzo ball soup. It's a small takeout-leaning spot, so go earlier in the day, because popular knishes can sell out. Details: 98-104 Queens Blvd. Mon–Fri 8:30 a.m.–7 p.m., Sat–Sun 8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. Kosher style, not certified.
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