Katz's Deli Reviews

Just an insanely good sandwich. Nothing else compares. The pastrami Reuben is a must if you come here.

hit or miss depending how much u tip your sandwich cutter

This is truly the place to go in NYC for a real deli experience. The reuben sandwich is my fave. My little brother always asks to get a corned beef sandwich from here every time he visits from the Midwest. He says "you just can't get a sandwich like this back home...."

Great, classic Jewish deli, very crowded but fun experience

This is a New York must! An experience worth the price! They stack the sandwiches so full with meat most are full with half a sandwich with nothing but the pickle! But the sandwich is worth the $20 plus you pay depending on your choice! We had Pastrami with spicy brown mustard and swiss cheese. It was so good! Also the is a that says "Where Harry met Sally! Hope you have what she had!" So fun! It is where they shot that scene!

Really disappointed with the experience overall - I really can't understand how this place has so much custom (at least that's what they tell us).

1. The process they've setup to order food works against the customers, the staff don't help out with information on where to go, they just loiter around the entrance and give you a small ticket (which even if blank, you still have to return at the end... I am guessing that they have some form of penalty if you don't as this place is day-light robbery in the truest sense);

2. Once you manage to fight the crowd and order some food, you basically get a two slices of bread with a load of pastrami, or your choice of meat in the middle - the staff doesn't help guide you through the options available as toppings, you basically have to guess. Also, if you're standing on one side of the counter, you cannot see the full range of menu choices available.

3. Completely overpriced... I guess the proud owners have calculated the customer's price elasticity and pushed the price up to the limit - I mean $20 for two slices of bread and pastrami?! (fair enough, it's a load of pastrami.... but $20??!!!). I wonder how much the staff are getting paid. Judging by the amount charged per sandwich, the volume of customers, and the staff's unhappy faces, I am guessing that Katz's owners are keeping a nice load of cash... Ahhh, yeah, and they don't give you a receipt. I wonder how much profit is actually declared for tax purposes.

Don't fall into this trap... it's out of the way, and not worth your money!

p.s. ... and they have the audacity to ask for a tip??!! Go ask the owners...

A must visit if in NYC, just to say you did it. Sandwiches ARE good, but WAAAY overpriced (be prepared for $25 each)!! You're paying for the experience, not the sandwich. Piled high with delicious pastrami on a mild rye bread (not toast) with a bit of mustard and a super good sour pickle. French fries are pretty good, too. *IF* there's a next time, I'd go for the reuben.
It IS organized (somewhat) chaos with big security style men ordering people around like it's the military (take it with a grain of salt). The ticket system kind of works but DO NOT LOSE YOUR TICKET!!!!!
I dare you to replay the Harry Met Sally scene at "their" table!!! :)

Amazing, came from the uk and made it a must go to place you wont be disapointed

Great hot pastrami!!! Just make sure you keep your ticket!

One of the greatest place to grab an authentic Deli Style Pastrami, steak fries, dill pickle, and black cherry soda.

So i live in upstate ny and for quite a while ive always wanted to visit NYC.. I recently had the chance to go there and since seeing katz's deli on a few dif shows ive wanted to go... Needless to say it was an amazing experience everyone there was super nice and explained how it worked(being it was my first time ever being there) i ordered the pastrami omelette and it was amazing... Needless to say i had to get the three meats tray to take home and am bringing it into work to share w the guys.... I am hooked and will be ordering something once a month now because its that good.... THANK YOU KATZ'S DELI FOR YOUR AMAZING SERVICE AND PHENOMINAL FOOD!!!

Large portions of mouth watering meat sandwiches and other classics. We arrived after lunch around 2 but still had to wait to be seated... Worth the wait

This place is a cool old diner kind of vibe but holy wow...their pastrami is UNBELIEVABLE!!! It melts in your mouth and is a large sandwich. It's pricey at about $21 and change for the sandwich but it is well worth it!

What a lovely food!!! Soo cool traditional tasty friendly. I love that. I wish to go back every day.

I loved this place, its no wonder it been in business for more 50 years. Keep up the good work guys.

Old and goofy as it gets in NYC (1888) -- the walls alone will plant an indelible mark. Pastrami is justifiably legendary and just watching everyone devouring those huge sandwiches and thousands of pickles is a culinary high! The system for buying and paying is a bit creaky, but it all becomes part of the story by the time you leave.

The pastrami is the best around. Crowded all the time, but worth the wait.

Great food served by friendly people. You go in, they give you a ticket that you will return to them later as you leave with the receipt attached. There are many lines to get into to order from. Choose the shortest line, of course. When your turn comes to be served, you will order, watch your food prepared, sample your food, take your food and move, and move down to the drink line. There, you will pay for everything. Keep your ticket to give to the person at the door in order to leave. Everybody who has been ever been anybody has eaten here and is on the wall in a picture frame, from Michael Douglas to Bill Murray. One of the restaurant scenes in the movie, "When Harry Meet Sally", was filmed here!

Great sandwich - had the famous pastrami on rye. The pastrami is thick and flavorfull and tender. The pickles are delicious. You'll definitely feel out of place if you don't know the ordering process so look it up !

From 5 to 3 stars. Used to love it, not as great as it used to be. Seating service, for you to get food, takes as long as you standing on line and getting a table for yourself. Not quicker al all.

Very tasty but I think overpriced. Everything else was nice.

Thanks to Man vs food I had 1 of the best pastrami of my life in new york. No credit card accepted... in 2015? Upgrade!

I'm a True New Yorker and Old School,Katz is the Best Place !!

This deli has been around for decades for the right reasons. The service is very efficient and helpful especially if it's your first time. They allow you to taste test their different meats before ordering, which was good because there's so many options. I highly recommend getting a sandwich that's stacked with nothing but meat!

This place is cool! It s authentic. You can always ask for a kids cheeseburger if you don t wanna explote eating

An iconic spot in New York! Fantastic food, although worth pointing out you sandwiches are HUGE so I'd recommend sharing :)

The best Jewish deli in the the country. NYC tradition and landmark. Love it!

Everything I had on here was great. If you are a first timer you can't miss the pastrami

A great pastrami sandwich, with a huge line and wait. You must decide if the sandwich is worth the epic wait.

Being from Montreal originally, my bar was high for good sandwiches. Katz exceeded and was probably the best I've ever had. It is very pricey $22 for just a sandwich, but a huge portion and I was stuffed. The dark green pickle is your standard kosher. The light pickle was a brined cucumber and we didnt care for it at all. We found the service very friendly. Luckily no line up at all when we went. It is off the beaten path and a good 10-15min walk from the nearest hop on hop off or subway stop.

Visiting the city first time looking for a good deli happened on Katz's. My wife and I loved the food. Very old world and the staff was happy enjoying their jobs. Read history & films were created here. Highly recommend. Food is excellent. Just what we looked for.

$34.19 for a Ruben and a beer? I suspect other places sell an equally good sandwich for half the price and that we're paying for the name.

Where harry met sally , we were blown away by the amount of people that visit this fantastic place , and the food ! You need to be very hungry to go here as the sandwiches are absolutely massive but stunning , a must to visit if your in new york

We chose the waited on table seating and the waiter was just as great as the food. Also a New York Egg Creme is soooooo delicious!

does nothing tour to say about Katz's Deli stunning staff really fun and friendly the food is incredible excellent service many options to choose from and you can even order your food for delivery if you live abroad so you can have meat shipped in you never have to be that far away from Katz's Deli

The pastrami on rye with pickles is worth all the hype. A good reason to visit New York.

Very hectic and staff not helpful at all. Food is average and nothing special and very expensive for average food. Definitely would not return!!

Did NOT disappoint. Pastrami sandwich was awesome. Arrived at 10.30 which was perfect - no crowds.

I just love this deli. I've eaten pastrami sandwiches for here since I was a baby. No matter the price, I will be back. I have tasted others, but nothing has that special taste and the service hasn't changed...Love e this place.

It's been around for over 100 years, you want great sandwiches it's the place to go

The prices have gone up substantially but Katz's is still my go to place for a pastrami sandwich. Can get extremely busy so bring your patience, along with your appetite.

As expected with above par food but service was bored and tired...

New York City's classic Jewish delicatessen! Been around over 100 years and seems to get better with age. The hand sliced meats are without parallel. The sandwiches are huge and can easily serve for two portions. This is a 'must visit' experience....!!!

The pastrami Reuben is delicious The Corned Beef is delicious the turkey is delicious the food is just magnificent it's a family-friendly place you must come out and check out cats on Ludlow Street and Houston Street you never had a pastrami sandwich like that before trust me magnificent

It has been about seven years since my last visit to Katz. I was feeling lucky on a Tuesday, 9/4/18, night because there was no line. Hopefully, my coworker from SC will enjoy a quick meal. $23.00 for pastrami on rye! + a pickle and water = $36.00. The pastrami is still good but the rye bread is poor and the sandwich as a whole is not as good as it use to be. Plus the portion looks much smaller. The mustard is good. Put bluntly, the service & food quality is poor. Maybe, I will check back in around 2025 if Katz is still around. Enjoy it while it lasts.

Fast courtesy service. Sandwiches portions were more than enough and piping hot! Can't wait to go back!

Send a salami to your boy in the army great place for a Kanish.

One of the oldest delis in the city and one of my favorites! Prices are a bit expensive but worth it. The pastrami is fantastic!

One of the best restaurant in the city amazing foods. Good server its my fave rate place.

Katz's Deli was certainly a site to visit while in NYC. It was an experience more than a culinary experience. Crowded, loud and chaotic. You can order to-go or sit and eat. We opted to sit and eat. Following a 20 minute wait we sat at a table with another couple. That was very enjoyable chatting with them about our respective visits to the city. I ordered a Pastrami Reuben... and it was ok, but not worth the $22.00 charged. Four stars because a visit here is worth the experience, and the food is not bad either.

The pastrami sandwich with mustard was amazing! By far my favorite pickles and a Matzo Ball Soup to go with it I've never had any other pastrami like it, they are usually dry and crumbly but you can tell their slow made process works!

It's crazy good!it's a little pricey but it's definitely worth the money

Oohhhh the pastrami sandwich...and the corn beef sandwich......

If you are down anywhere close to Katz's (and what I mean by close is like within 100 miles) you owe it to yourself to go and treat yourself to the best corned beef and pastrami I have ever had. Period.

Definitely a tourist attraction. The menu is fairly limited, but I do enjoy their pastrami and their chicken salad sandwich. Ticketing and paying system is odd and not intuitive.

Pastrami on the with Swiss lettuce tomato. Add mustard you gotta dream samich.

One my favorite places to go. Been taking my kids here forever. Best pastrami and corned beef sandwiches ever. One sandwich can feed four people. A must see.

Definately a tourist trap! Way over priced and subpar food. Not worth waiting in line!

Good sandwich, but too expensive. Absolute madhouse when it's lunch time. Great experience, but I wouldn't make it my go to place unless someone else is buying.

Must go to when in New York!!!
Lucky for us, we re minutes away at our week stay!!!!!
Rueben and Katz IPA- Great Servers, Great counter crew, Great Host
Highly recommended
Since 1888!!!!

The pastrami and corned beef were good but certainly not worth the price. Ordering and check out were chaotic and very time consuming. The staff needs training in basic courtesies.

I am a life long New Yorker and have Had Katz's take out before. However, I've never experienced eating there. It's worth doing once! We chose the waiter service and I promptly ordered a Vanilla Egg Cream. This is or a Dr Browns is really the only way to go. I settled on Corn Beef and my girlfriend the Reuben. We added Latkas and a Potato Knish and all was very good. Service was what you would expect. If you have a small group, id suggest the 3 meat platter to sample some of it all.

I hate to say it, but this was the best pastrami sandwich I've ever had. I'll be honest, I'm not a pastrami expert, so maybe I'm wrong, or... maybe they really are great! My wife had the rueben with pastrami and she loved it. The sandwiches are huge. Get a ticket on the way in, stand in a cutter line, give your ticket to each person that you get food from, present your ticket when you leave. Easy.

Very long lines and bit on the pricey side (they do give you a ton of meat though) but quality is top notch. Probably the most moist, juicy, and delicious pastrami sandwich I've ever had.

I mean, it's Katz Deli. I think the name should resonate with everyone by now. Doesn't get better.

OMG!!! This was my first time coming to this place. The pastrami sandwich is to die for.. excellent good and service!!

Always a great lunch or dinner option if you're in the mood for pastrami (or brisket, tongue, corned beef, turkey, etc.)

Very good pastrami sandwich little pricey but it was a good new York experiance. Me and my wife split the sandwhich because it was our first time buying from katz. Meat was very tender and juicy. Would buy again if I lived in new york

There is a reason this place has been going for 130 years and has over 20k reviews. There is nothing I can say about this place that hasn't already been said thousands of times before.

Little bit pricey, but huge portions of gorgeous food, and the atmosphere there is great.
If you are in NYC, you need to go here.

There are different sections of seating in this branch one next to the cashier, one next to the big windows looking out the street, and one section further in the back of the store. I prefer bright lighting, so I chose to sit at a table in the area next to the street-side window.

Perfect tourist sandwiches priced to indulge your pockets as wells as your appetite love the tomatoes pickles

Walk in just because how iconic it is. Walk away satisfied from the food. Win - win

Been to so many deli's in New York. Katz's is hands down the greatest.

Meat is so luscious. Yes. Luscious felt like the perfect word to describe their artistry with pastrami.

Portions are very generous. They seriously STACK.

Although it was close in terms of how it was advertised and from word of mouth, I did not understand the saw dust on the ground and the ticket system. The last thing I'd want to do is go into a place and lose the small little ticket they give you and have to go through some unnecessary situations just to prove a point. But I enjoyed my sandwich as I did with the oversized portion of french fries too...definitely a share-sized serving.

Fantastic deli food but be prepared to queue outside , the place has an awesome reputation and deservedly.

Delicious sandwiches and burgers. Ample portions available.Fast service even though the place was jam packed. NB this place is cash only!!! Don't ever lose that ticket that you are issued as it is the only means of ordering and paying.

We used to love the pastrami sanswiches here. Lately, however, we had heard that the quality had gone down. Well it has!! The pastrami was fatty and it seemed like they could not be bothered to slice it thin. Thick, fatty meat is not my idea of a good meal.

Great food but a little pricey. OUT OF THE WORLD meat to bread ratio.

The best pastrami I have ever had! It's very nice but it's very pricey! Mostly tourists but quite crowded during lunchtime.
Really nice location, few blocks away from subway 7! I highly recommend the pastrami! Can't go wrong with it. This legendary gem is a must try. You will not be disappointed.

You really can t go wrong; the wait is most definitely worth it.

Fascinating place! Fantastic sandwiches! Wish we had one nearby!

Always a great time. NYC iconic place. Will have to wait in line for a while.

True NY deli fun watching people not from here order lean salami?

We visit it everytime we are in New York City. We love bring meat back home to Indiana!

Best remaining old-school Jewish deli in NY! It s amazing!

Horrible service and the white dude with the beard at the door is unapologetically aggressive and inappropriate