Katz's Deli Reviews

I enjoyed a delicious knish and a vanilla egg cream

Got caught in a thunderstorm in lower manhattan and ran under the awning of this place. Ended up going inside and did not expect the giant space this place had. Nothing but people enjoying huge plates of fries to triple deckers full of pastrami. The family style kind of dining with an apartment of meats and sides is ridiculously enticing

Staff are generally friendly but you might be squeezed shoulder to shoulder with many rude customers. Be prepared to wait if you are coming at popular mealtimes. Get the pastrami sandwich - it did not disappoint.

Tasty juicy beef, the bread was a little bit not fresh

You can't beat Katz's for a great pastrami sandwich. They are not cheap but portions are huge. One sandwich would honestly do two. Great atmosphere and friendly service.

Must experience NYC institution for unique excellent pastrami and corned beef. Not inexpensive but huge servings. Where Harry met Sally.

Great food and the staff was even better! A must go to in New York!

The service is very fast and the cutters at each station are really nice. The food is amazing for every type of meat you ask to be cut they let you taste it.

While it is a bit spendy and a little touristy you just can't beat the deliciousness of the sandwiches. Hands down my go to is the pastrami ruben

The hype about the pastrami and sandwiches is real .This is definitely EXQUISITE QUALITY food. The coleslaw, pastrami, pickles, EVERYTHING is fresh and amazing quality. There's usually a long wait (the line can sometimes reach outside) but it is totally worth it. Once you come into the restaurant, they hand you a ticket that you must keep until you exit because you need it on the way out. Make sure not to lose it, otherwise you will get charged. Katz's is a MUST every time I visit NYC.

The epitome of the New York experience. Mouth watering pastrami and brisket.

Couldn't visit NY and not come here! The chilli was outstanding and well worth a repeat visit. The pastrami on rye looked great too - just too much meat for one person though!

Great deli! Gets very touristy, and there are long queues outside, but worth a visit.

I can't begin to describe how disappointing my visit to Katz's was. The place was dirty and run down - both inside and out, and my corned beef tasted like it was processed in Chernobyl - chemically and salty as hell. Neither the bread nor the meat looked or tasted fresh. I've eaten in Katz's many times as a kid, but this is a painful reminder that qsometimes you can't go home again.

Best pastrami ever-- if I've said it, it's been said a million times-- get the pastrami whatever it takes.

I recently went for the first singles' night series they had, and it was a blast.

Amazing sandwiches!! we tried Turkey, roast beef, chicken salad and pastrami sandwiches! I liked pastrami the most!! excellent service too! you just to have little patience as they are really really busy!!!

As a tourist I had high expectations, this is New York after all, some of the best delis around. I assumed this was going to be the best corned beef sandwich I've ever had. It wasn't, it was the worst corned beef I've ever had, it was so chewy I had to tear back and forth on every bite. It has a nice atmosphere, but I won't be back for the food.

Spend your paycheck but eat delicious nyc favs. Super cool vibe though!

The cutter tried his best not to pull new meat and forced me to take whatever he made. I asked him that the meat quantity is not enough compare to what i get every time i visit katz deli, and in response to my complaint he pulled the sandwich back from the counter and refused to serve. There was a long queue to get to another cutter and get your turn must took long time Ultimately i took what he made and decided not to travel 150 miles to eat katz deli.

The food here is gourmet! If you like food you should come here!

Must go if you are in New York. Unique atmosphere and who knows, who you might run into. Worth a visit!

I usually do not like Deli's but this place changes that. Great food and atmosphere.

Literally the best potato salad and matzoh ball soup I ever had. Matter of fact it may have been the best sandwich I ever had (the brisket). The atmosphere was amazing, and made visiting New York, so much better. The only thing that bothered me was the price (even though it was bought for me). Still though, when in Rome.

This place defines New York Delicatessen. There are no lines to order your sandwich. Basically it is an organized chaos to get a bite. My try their brisket and pastrami sandwiches.

Great to go once ,the experience was great ,but you better bring your CHECK book.$$$$$

Cash only. Good food. Must try pastanami and/or corn beef sandwhich. If they have square knish try that too.

We've decided to try this place after so many praising reviews. I must say our experience was rather mixed.
The place is crowded,pretty much all of the employees will give you feeling they would be rather if you won't be there.
As you enter,the girl moving the crowds was constantly yelling......if you loose your ticket,you automatically pay $50 regardless of how much was the cost of your food .
Meat cutter was complaining of people not moving ahead.....?????
There was rather confusion, people didn't know,where they should move.
After you order and get your food,good luck to find the empty chair to sit down. We ended up eating standing by the counter but were told we can't do that.Eventually we found 2 chairs available, sat down and began to eat, just to be told by waiter 5min later ,that we can't sit there,because that's waiter's served section.
With half way eaten meal,we had to get up and look again for another empty chair in this chaotic place.The meat was delicious, but not sure if the sandwich was worthy 25$
Considering we've spent over 100$ there and were not able to at least enjoy the food,I dont think this place is worth the visit. They clearly need some business management improvements there.Not sure exactly what they would need to do to improve, but considering the amount of money they're making there,I am sure there is some solution to make this place better then it is right now.

An employee asked if I would rather have his hot dog than the one they were serving. :-/

Best Deli so far, if there is a long line waiting for service just get in there, it goes pretty fast and if by any chance it went extra slow, it was definitely worth the waiting. Enjoy!

Great food in a really fun place. An NYC original not to be missed. Best Reuben in town, but I still don t understand the obsession with the tickets.

Very tasty Pastrami with big volume as you would expect for an American size. Prices are also NY standard which means not cheap... For those who do not eat that much or at least have normal appetite, I would recommend to order 2 pastramis and share with 3 or 4 people.

Katz is great, nice meat sandwiches and good sides, a little expensive bit it's worth it.

I'm surprised I haven't written a review for Katz's after coming here time and time again whenever I visit New York. I won't say anything different from the other thousand reviews. The pastrami is like magic. So, so, so good. I've been to Langer's and I think the pastrami at Katz's is better than Langer's (although overall sandwich still goes to Langer's in my opinion). Seriously, pastrami at Katz's can't be beat. I wish they did use better, sturdier bread because usually due to the pastrami stuffed between, the bread will gradually crumble in my hand. However, I have nothing bad to say about their pastrami. Also tried their Matzo ball soup this last time around and it was like chicken soup for the soul.

Be sure to hang on to your ticket that they give you when you come in, no matter if you're planning to buy/eat anything. You need that ticket to get out!

Awesome pastrami sandwich melts in your mouth. Eat it with their home made mustard.

I mean, its an institution and I love good dive places but the prices are insane and the meat was plentiful but kinda bland. 22 bucks for a Ruben with no sides or grilled bread? I suppose one can live on reputation and one mediocre review won't make a difference but.....

Simply the best. Everything is good, but don't miss the Pastrami--it is unrivaled.

Katz's. What else can be said that hasn't. This place is always crazy busy. On a beautiful New York day the line will wrap around the block. If you want a table, it's always at least a half hour wait. If you tough it and hop in one of the lines, you can shorten your sandwich to face wait time down to 15 - 20 mins. Tip your meat cutter and they'll reward you with a couple of slices of meat while they prepare your sandwich. The wait isn't a pleasant experience and it can be a disaster navigating around the mass of people. BUT...but you do it because you have never tasted meat this good in your entire life. The mouth watering flavor will keep you coming back time and time again.

The wait is worth it the food is amazing.
I usually get a pastrami sandwich and potato salad. Enjoy

This place was crazy busy when we went.. waited outside 20 minutes and the 20 more to get a table. Our waiter was awesome and friendly. We had the Pastrami sandwiches with fries. I give the Sammies a 9 out if 10. I'm still confused about the tickets and what they are for. Overall a great experience.

Truly an iconic place that takes you back in time. I try to visit this famous deli at least once a year. I always get the pastrami sandwich and sometimes also an egg cream. Then while I eat, I spend some time looking at the pictures on the wall of all the famous people who've also eaten here: from presidents to actors, athletes to movie directors. I prefer the table service rather than having to go to the counter and wait in line to order my food. You are in New York City, but feel as if you went back in time.

The pastrami sandwich was great. Schwartz is better by a hair. If not for the line up (1 hour) and no seats. Oh and the price. I would of rated this higher

Iconic NY deli. Excellent matzoh ball soup. Delicious corned beef!

I wish that I loved this place, same attributes as time square - people are excited to witness it but it has little substance

Amazing food. Best pastrami I have ever had. How you order is a bad setup if you're a first timer. It can be confusing. Cool old time deli vibe.

SO GOOD! Katz's Pastrami is delicious and not to be missed! This famous Delicatessen is a landmark that should remain a New York icon forever.

Katz is legendary. Specifically for their pastrami sandwiches. Sadly I left disappointed both times this weekend after I was told that I ordered the wrong thing last night, and followed all advice/pointers tonight.

I've had better sandwiches for less money than Katz. Outside of saying you went there it is overrated and overpriced.

A New York Classic. Got to go there to experience (and support) the Deli culture - as so many of these places like this have shut down over the years, and a good deli is such a great experience. Katzs a pretty intimidating place if you're new to it... but thats half the fun. Just don't loose your ticket!

Best pastrami. Meat is so tender is basically Melts in your mouth!

This place speaks for itself but the pastrami and pickles were delicious. The atmosphere is great, seating was quick.

This was a must try recommendation from anyone who knew I was going to New York, even if they hadn't been to New York themselves.
Got the classic Pastrami Sandwhich,
I immediately requested for the meat to be shipped to my house. Knowing how big it was I only ordered the one to share.
If you are okay for paying $21(roughly $35 AUD) for a Sandwhich, then go for it. In Australia, that's absurd.

The best pastrami sandwich hands down. Thick slices of JUICY pastrami is unheard of. I'm not usually a fan of pastrami but this deli has opened my eyes to what real pastrami should taste like.

I absolutely love this place. Best food in lower manhatten. A most have

Staple Deli on the LES, it is a MUST, things never change there, great quality, great flavor!

I mean, the history is cool and I've never had a sandwich that big before... but it was just a sandwich. I'm glad I went but I wouldn't go back.

pastrami is a must try.
Very touristic so if you have an accent, you don't feel well served.
Also quite expensive for a sandwich

Tip your server and he will give you a free tasters before. Servings are big!

Very much overrated.
The pastrami sandwich was good but not worth the 22 dollars they charge.
In addition it took standing in line for 20 minutes just to order as the place was very full (Sunday afternoon).
Given the amount of people the staff couldn't keep up and the tables were not clean.

The wait and prices are worth it. Deli meat like you've never had before. The Reuben has a bit of corned beef and brisket. One feeds two if you're not too hungry

Went here once for the hot pastrami sandwich and fries - my brother and I were lucky to be there as the guy manning the hot pastrami, it was straight out from the hot brine; he gave my brother and I some mighty big slices and much of it too. When we chowed down, it was very very tasty, with the mustard of course - now its my minimum standard for hot pastrami. I may be no expert in it, but I had many sandwiches and nothing beats Katz's for the moment.

Fries were okay - your normal steak cut fries. Mustard and other condiments were also available, decor is generally good.

Saw the table where Meg Ryan did her thing in that movie with Billy Crystal. Wow.

But haven't tried anything else, though the corned beef looked good too.

I liked it, and will go again next time I am in Houston.

Traditional deli. Excellent quality. Big selection of local, traditional NYC food.

Most of the food was good despite me being surprised to see my sandwich being made partially with a microwave, but the service and ordering system they have makes no sense whatsoever. This is the only deli I've been to that has a bouncer at the door who ominously explained that the ticket is "your only way in, and your only way out."

As a native NYC resident and a first-timer here, there was no real explanation of how to order, or what to do at all. The signs they have don't explain anything, and nobody tells you what you're supposed to do until you're done figuring it out. While you're figuring it out, beware that the staff may move you along to another part of the "line" (there's no real line system) if you don't figure out what you want quickly. The result is that myself and guest got skipped twice by people who came up after us even though we were ready to order.

Once we finally finished eating (the food was good, but nothing like it was hyped up to be) we brought our tickets to the counter to pay and the cashier took our ticket. Only after this were we told that the exit line is cash only. Reading up on Katz's online, you probably already know this. We did not read about this place online before going in. It being 2016 and living where credit is almost always accepted, I tend not to carry much cash. Even if I had been, I don't carry enough for what these guys charge for food (It was almost $60 for two people, that's two sodas, two sandwiches, two pickels, and we shared a cole slaw).

On my way to the ATM, my heart breaking more and more with each step because of the double fees I'd have to pay with my bank to use their ATM on top of the already unjustifiably expensive food, the bouncer told me that I could just use my credit card at the counter in the back. Then he told me I couldn't because the cashier already took my ticket. I asked if she could just give it back and he told me she can't! I asked why she didn't mention anything about it when I handed in my ticket and he told me it "wasn't her job," and showed me a sign facing AWAY from the cashier's line that said cash only!

Why the hell can't they just take cards up front if they take them at the counter? Why couldn't she just give the ticket back so I could pay in the back? Why can't they have a more obvious sign, maybe one facing the actual cashier's line so people can see it among the hundreds, maybe thousands of different signs and photos hanging off the walls before they give their ticket to the cashier irrevocably? And while I was complaining about it with my guest, the bouncer yelled out in the line to call "the guy complaining" to move me to the front of the line (i.e. pay us quicker and get out), which by the time I went around and got there, put me in exactly the same place I was already in.

In my experience, service is what makes a place memorable and an experience worthwhile. You can make the best sandwich in the world, and cut the best meat in the world, but while your food will be good your restaurant will suck. It's just a matter of "make our service easy for customers to use" and "be nice to every customer." Combine that with just a little bit of common sense, and you'll have great service. The quality of service here completely ruined the experience of dining at a place that everybody brags about. I really don't want to come back, and I'm disappointed at what's supposed to be a "legendary" spot in NYC.

An experience you must do! Spectacular! Great food! EST 1888. This is NYC

Ticket system is suck, we went there paid more than $100 for a meal on the way out got harassed by little black man for not having all the tickets for him on the way out which no one told us about we have to keep those tickets. Don t go there go to Carnegie deli instead bathroom also dirty and it s makes you want to kick that loud mouth guy ass

Amazing pastrami sandwich! The best I've had
5min wait and was easily able to find an empty seat for 2!

A fantastic New York institution. The food is superb and staff are helpful. Its always busy, but has loads of seating. If you are going there, go very hungry. And be sure to tip the cutters, they do a great job and will take good care of you.

Awesome food, great service. A little pricey but well worth it

The #1 stop for the BEST Pastrami. Bring cash and your appetite

A pastrami sandwich here after late night drinks in the LES is a new york must do

What shall I say: it is heaven for meat eaters! the Pastrami was delicious, the whole experience in that cult joint was fabulous. So much history everywhere and still all is focussed on the best possible product. This is how you transfer tradition into the here and now.

Katz s delicatessen is the only place in the world who makes the authentic pastrami. They still have the original feel to it plus the staff are so passionate and so much into what they do that it reflects in the service, their food and the space.

The best pastrami sandwich that I had in my life but very expensive (almost 35usd including a coke)
The place is far, there is nothing turistic near, if you wanna go there is on porpuse. The service is great and you can see how there are preparing your sandwich in front of you

Delicious, big sandwich, staff not the most friendly.

Only 3 because meat on bread shouldn't cost 22.99.

Awesome classic spot, if your a cornedbeef lover or a pastrami boy, you gotta step your game up and get to Katz. You won't regret it.

What can I say about cats greatest pastrami sandwiches on the planet.