Katz's Deli Reviews

Best pastrami sandwich in my life! Absolutely loved it!

I know there is always a battle of pastrami in NYC, but on my first visit I only had eyes for Katz. Just unreal how good this sandwich is. Unbelievably tender and juicy pastrami that a baby could eat. Great mustard and rye bread. The service was okay, but you probably aren t coming here for that. Gimme the meats.

Pastrami itself is great, portion is huge and it tastes amazing. However it is a bit overpriced - 24USD for that amount of money you can get two Reuben's at Eisenberg's. But whole experience together with vibe inside the local is outstanding.

No doubt the best pastrami in NYC.
You may also can have some craft beer on tap as the Kats from Brooklyn brewery!!

I really liked this place and the atmosphere!! The food was delicious.

I do prefer healthy food and I dont like to wait 40 to 50 min for a sandwish, therefore I do prefer to go elsewhere & eat healthy. For the same calories and the same price I can eat Macdo + Burger K + Chick-filet without waiting 40 to 50 min. I have seen many people waiting in the queue & leaving messages (insta, faceb etc..) "worth to wait, it is delicious" of course before having their sandwish, bon appetit for those who love greasy meat (not tender)

Been going since I was a little kid. Love the food. Its became too touristy. The lines to get food are crazy and finding a table is insane at any busy times. I chose waiter service but still had to wait.

Super fun tourist destination if you're in New York City absolutely one-of-a-kind experience ordering definitely a really cool place to visit an excellent food the staff was amazing we accidentally got in the wrong line and he still sent our order down to the grill and brought it over.

Always a must when we visit NYC! You have to try the liver & onions. Yeah, I know, I know...but just TRY it. It is SO GOOD! And of course, get the pastrami with mustard and cheese. Bring cash, but if you have to use a card, go to the register in the back, he will take cards. Seating can be tight, so grab a table and save spots when you can. They will bus the table for you. Only negative, I didnt like their versions of a pickle. I usually love a good pickle, but theirs was weird.

The most magnificent meal we had in New York, choose your line and enjoy your cutter work on your pastrami sandwich.

Order fries as a side and the most celebrated mustard on the bread.

I do not recommend the cheesecake, but everything else was perfect.

I had a pastrami sandwich. It was extremely good. So good, in fact, that in my mind I was re-enacting Sally in When Harry Met Sally when she was in Katz's faking it.

Pastrami on Rye is orgasmic but the dining area resembles Baghdad (circa 2006) every man for themselves - only the strong survive!!

Worth the premium prices! Amazing pastrami and NYC experience

All the rumors are true... You can get yourself one heck of a pastrami sandwich here at Kats! Grab some fries with your sandwich, they are great and thick cut. Great deli!! I enjoyed the sandwich and had enough to bring home for dinner.

It's not very often a place is as hyped as Katz's and doesn't disappoint. The line and wait were long but the Pastrami Rueben was the best I've ever had by a wide margin. I would go as far to say it was the highlight of my two day trip to NYC. The only complaint was the bread wasn't buttered and toasted but with how superb the meat was it's really just nitpicking. I would make it a point to go back again when in the area.

Had the half Reuben with Swiss with Marzah ball soup. Free appetizer of pickles, cucumber and pickled tomatoes they were good, but I think they were meant to be eaten with your sandwich. The sandwich portion was enormous so work up an appetite!! Sandwich itself was just okay, nothing to write joke about. Just an ordinary Reuben. I have had better ones in Canada. Matzah ball soup was delicious, a must have when you go.

MUST COME and try it for yourself. Probably the best beef sandwich I ve ever had.

Simply the best. Great pastrami and really nice portions. The best of NYC. The service speak spanish, most of them are boricuas. If you tip them before you order they treat you better ;) Good beer and really good staff. Always crowdy but you can find always a table

This is the best sandwich you'll ever have. My god, the MEAT is so juicy and succulent it's obscene. Tip for more samples, don't knock the tip cup over. Don't lose the ticket. Pay cash at the front, card at the back.

WORTH.

Great deli food. The process can be a bit intimidating for newcomers, but also there are full service seats against the wall.

We ordered from beef sandwich and the taste was delicious but for the cleanliness they need an improvement. For example the counter which is employee s work station was dirty dirty and for the chopping board was dirty too it seems like they are not cleaning chopping boards every day or once in a 2 days. Which is Cleaning is really important for me for a restaurant!

Some classic Jewish food that is made properly and deliciously. I strongly recommend the Pastrami!

The staff was extremely unfriendly and left a bad taste in my mouth, will not be coming back here after the bad quality of service with mediocre food.

Id say a mix of 60% locals and 40% tourists in here but a legendary diner and more than met my expectations. We had the 3 meat platter

This place is way Over-priced and Over-rated. $24.00 for a large deli sandwich! Corned beef is sliced too thick. Corned beef should be sliced thin for deli sandwiches. I don't understand all the hype. The table next to me ordered a burger for 11.00 and it was at best a 4.99 burger. Came with nothing.

Would never go back or recommend.

Sandwich are excellent but they need a separate exit. Way too much traffic at the door. Potential fire hazard.

That corned beef sandwich hd me sick for the entire weekend

Pricey but good was great. You kinda have to go if you're visiting NYC or you're not getting the full experience.

If you are a foodie visit at least once a bit pricy tho, definitely share the sandwich it s so big

Famous, or infamous, Katz is a very classic, authentic Jewish deli. I have heard of it likened to a tourist trap, but good is good, I have yet to have better. The Pastrami sandwich is the best Pastrami I have had to date and has not changed. The staff is very friendly but very New York , no nonsense and can come off as curt if you aren't used to it.

You might not be used to spending $20 on a sandwich, but it's so, very, very, worth the investment.

Will be back when I get a chance.

My favorite place for an epic pastrami sandwich. Absolutely tender pastrami and turkey; very generous portions. Lively atmosphere, people smiling everywhere and the history associated with Katz's. I can always rely on this place and the people who work at Katz's for an awesome food experience!

A New York institution. Always consistent service and quality.

World famous for their pastrami - the best you've ever tasted. Matzo ball soup that is more delicious than my own. The place is packed with people - in every shape, size, and ethnicity...
I love this place.
Katz's has been around since 1888.
You must experience this historical.deli at least once in your lifetime.

I've always enjoyed a good pastrami sandwich. Hot or cold, the blend of meat and spices has always held a place in my heart. After hearing about the famed Katz Deli, I finally found the time to stop by. From the time I walked in there, my experience was tainted. A turnstile straight out of a 1980 subway station did not give me positive impression. Then you notice that the tables looked liked they've been in use for over 50 years. Was the sandwich good... It was fine. Though this is one example of a situation where ambience can make or break a restaurant.

If you enjoy great kosher pastrami....Katz is and always will be the place!!!!!

Must go to place when you are in NewYork city! Do not be discouraged if there is a line it moves fairly fast. You won't be disappointed

Get your heart attacks served on a platter...you only live once

Statue of Liberty
Empire State Building
Katz's
Iconic landmarks of N.Y.C!
A bit pricey though...!

The pastrami absolutely rivals the melt in your mouth action of the best Texas brisket.

Absolutely deserving of its notoriety. This is no tourist trap.

Well..when in city and need to eat :) this is the spot you surely must visit! :)

If you're visiting NYC for the first time and didn't make a stop here, then you wasted a trip. Simply good meat, good people, good vibe, most quintessential NYC deli. No frillz, eat pay & get out, vegans are so missing out.

Absolutely the best Corned beef & Pastrami anywhere! All the deli items you crave. No trip to New York is complete without a visit to Katz's !

Price is high, but Wow! really delicious pastrami sandwich. Tastes almost like brisket, but in a different way. Worth it!

Best pastrami in NYC, prepare to pay almost $25 for a sandwich (including the tax)!

Amazing pastrami sandwich. Get the whole ensemble with fries and coke and leave here a happy person. It is a bit expensive but it s worth it. The pickles that come with your sandwich are also notable. Easy five stars

So I guess if your in New York City for the first time you feel like you have to go to this Deli but it's just a tourist trap. Deli sandwiches are not any better than you get at other restaurants so not worth the effort to get here for plain average taste, high cost (> $20) and out of the way location. Corned beef sandwich on menu says "the key to finishing is pacing yourself" really? Don't be fooled by pictures it does not come on large slices of rye bread so meat is stacked high but small in size. Service is almost non-existent so be prepared to fend for yourself or just go to any decent deli next to you or Irish Pub and get a way better corned beef for much less and friendly service! Not sure how this place gets 4.5 stars and whoever the owner is why don't you try remodeling or at the very least cleaning the bathroom with all the money your making? I'm giving it 2 stars because it's just OK but would never go back (ever!).
Editing this review to 1 STAR - forgot about the "ticket" they give you when you enter that you HAVE to hand back when you check out or you get fined (what a scam - is this even legal? Where is the New York DA?).

I have heard about this place from family but never went there until tonight. The food is amazing, I left wanting more. The portions are huge and the price is excellent. The staff is friendly. Great experience and will be back over and over again.

we got two pastrami on rye with ruben and i think it was overkill. the pastrami itself was so tender and flavorful, it did not need the cheese and sourceawl to add to it. i never knew pastrami could be so flavorful and tender so i thought it would need the extra flavoring but i was so wrong! their mustard + meat is already enough.

Always crowded pastrami sandwiches ridiculously priced

My favorite sandwich meat place in nyc. I always bring my friends here. The sandwiches are a bit pricey, although its definitely worth it. You cant go wrong with there famous pastrami dish!!

It's simply the best. All of the negative comments are people who just don't understand that they are in New York City. Quit your whining and enjoy the sandwich. If it wasn't the best, would it be around for almost 130 years? The menu lists the prices (so there's no "guessing" about what you're paying), the staff are very nice, provided you play along and have a sense of humor and understand sarcasm (something highly intelligent people understand), and the atmosphere is quintessential New York...if you want to take twenty minutes to order, try TGI Fridays or Applebee's. If you want THE authentic New York experience, and the absolute best sandwiches in the city, this is the obvious choice.

It's exactly what you've heard. The food is amazing and no fuss. You order your food at a counter and they cut your meat right in front of you. It's the most delicious pastrami sandwiches you'll have.

The lines are long and the food is amazing. bring cash and a good appetite.

I love a good bagel a shmeer. Hopefully it isn't to busy when you go.

We flew in on a weekend and Oy! Those lines were long.

Everyone comes here for one of two reasons, to see where they filmed that scene from When Harry meet Sally or for the pastrami. We came here for both. It's a bit confusing coming here, first you get a green ticket when you walk through the door. This is how they charge you for ordering food, each adult gets a ticket. You can order at the counter or find a table with waiter service. I got in line to order because that's what they told us to do at the door, by sister went to find a table and was told about waiter service. This is the way to go if you have no idea what you're doing. There are multiple lines and it does get a little confusing when you want to order multiple things. Between the four of us, we got a bowl of matzo ball soup, chicken noodle soup, order of latkes and meat for 3. The meat for 3 was carvings of pastrami, corn beef and beef brisket. They served rye bread and pickles with the order of meat.

Everything was delicious. The meat was so tender and not fatty at all. When you exit the restaurant, they take back all the green tickets, if you don't turn one in, there's a charge.

When you enter, you are given a ticket to enter and must be used to pay as you exit. Even if you share something and don't order anything, you must present your ticket or you will be charged a lost ticket fee.I ordered a pastrami sandwich and completely finished it because it was so delicious. I don't even like mustard but the mustard on these sandwiches is so good and gives it such a delicious flavor!

Simply over-rated deli and expensive too. Don't waste your money or time. There are much more to do or eat in NYC!

Huge sandwiches. Expensive but big enough to share. Iconic, expect to wait.

Okay, my family and I are visiting New York and I have to tell you, Katz's Deli is absolutely the best. Imagine four individuals from North Carolina that have never been here before! Yep, you get the picture. Everyone was incredibly nice and we couldn't have had a better experience. The food is awesome. The people are awesome. The atmosphere is awesome. This is a must stop for anyone visiting New York City.

Expensive pastrami sandwich but it really is the best. It is worth it but you definitely can't go too frequently. Long lines and very expensive. $22 just for one sandwich and pickle.

Difficult to understand the procedure. There seems to be a cohesive system but it s not explicit or intuitive for first time visitors. Food and drinks were definitely overpriced. If you can ignore the influx of the tourist hype and the prices, it is a great traditional deli experience with delicious pastrami.

It s another item off my bucket list. The place was insanely crowded but the lines went quickly. We thankfully found a seat but it s all a tight squeeze. Their brisket and pastrami were both delicious!

Loved it! Had an awesome time eating and looking at all of the photos on the wall. Don t lose that ticket and you won t have any trouble.

Liked the pastrami better than the corned beef Reuben. Best pastrami I ve ever had but we were in there like cattle. Ambiance and environmental experience matter. Oy. Note to self... only buy ONE sandwich for two people!! The sandwiches could feed a small village.

Expensive, but a fun place for good Deli late at night

I've been wanting to come here for about 10 years since I first started hearing about it, I missed out 7 years ago when I took my first trip to NYC but assured my family that I would be coming this time around through hell or high water. We made the trip, I had the pastrami and it was as great as I had anticipated, the mega pile of meat, the beautiful rye bread, the mustard all just came together to make the best sandwich I'd ever eaten. I loved the hustle and bustle of the place, the whole experience was as good as the food was. My only mistake was that I shared half the sandwich with my wife rather than having a whole one to myself!

Tastiest pastrami sandwich...and eat the pickles, people! So good!

One of the best! The juicy, savoury, and lingering taste ... kinda similar to the Canadian Montreal smoked meat, but tastes slightly different, highly recommend the Katz!

So busy it is silly. Food wasn't fantastic and getting a table was almost impossible. Staff not very sociable.

We shared the Rueben and the Pastrami sandwiches! I have never liked pastrami but I ve been converted! Katz s pastrami is delicious. The wait is well worth it. The rye bread is perfect! Nice and soft. I look forward to returning!

Epic sandwiches don't come cheap at this New York City landmark. A must visit. Waiting and crowds are part of the vibe, all year almost everyday. Have your friend nab a seat so you can pig out in vague comfort amongst the massive crowds. Sandwiches are about 20$ a pop but are considerably sized and can be enough for two.

I had the pastrami sandwich. At first I thought the price was outrageous! $21 is steep for a sandwich... but then I had my first bite and WOW! The Flavor and texture with the mustard and rye bread was a remarkable combination. Worth every penny

Was it worth 30-50$... Hell no it's not. Horrible service and incredibly overpriced. Why pay extra? ItsIta call board head. You're an idiot to ay this cult of 60$ sandwiches. Save 50$ and get a bodega sandwich.

You need to eat the pastrami while it's nice and hot. Saved half my sandwich for the morning. It was still delicious but not even close to how good it was the night before. The prices are a bit steep, but that's to be expected given it's Katz's.