Katz's Deli, New York City

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This is the famous Katz's Delicatessen, one of the icon food places in Manhattan. Over 100 years old, this place is famous for its Pastrami sandwiches. It has becoming even more popular after a movie seen from Rob Reiner movie as well as being visited by some reality chef TV programs.

Favorite Dish: Of course, I had to take the Pastrami sandwich here. Yes, I admit the Pastrami meat is EXCELLENT. The sandwich and the beer I had with it, well, I was a tourist, it was OK but I wouldn't live on it if I was living here :)

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Katz's deli open since the late 1800's has been in business for a reason ... IT IS AWESOME !!!!!!! The specialty is the pastrami with mustard on rye bread !!!! Such a simple sandwich, but you will not find a better one anywhere else on EARTH ... many argue the Carnegie Deli is better, but I don't believe so .... at least here you don't get the attitude. The staff here is friendly and will let you try the meats before they make your sandwich. Be warned ... CASH ONLY ..... as you enter you are given a ticket you then walk you walk up to the counter ... BE READY TO ORDER IF YOU STEP UP ....... if not stand to the side .... prices are NYC prices so don't be shocked ... Pastrami sandwich runs $14.95 plus $2.00 for a soda plus tax, your talking $20 easy ... BUT WELL WORTH IT ... and yes this is where they filmed "Where Harry meet Sally" and Yes there is a sign that shows you were Meg Ryan sat ... be warned also, come early because if you get late, the line goes out to the street ......

Is a typical deli and sandwich restaurant, with excellent and high quality, and since then they have also a lot of snacks that are god.

Also you can buy with you from their business and take home with you, very good.

A simple traditional deli, been there for years and I grew up 2 blocks away and was my favorite back then, 40 years ago

Favorite Dish: The cornbeef and pastrami sandwich is to die for...I get cravings 200 miles away and when I am in NYC, I have to stop by and get my fix....I also get a hot dog too and kill two birds with one stone

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this delicatessen near chinatown is a food icon in new york, famous for it's sandwiches especially the pastrami and i will do a two part food tip on Katz (for more pictures).

Favorite Dish: the pastrami and the corned Beef Sandwhiches what else!

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This must be the most well-known and the most loved pastrami sandwich in New York.
In that scene in Meg Ryan and Billy Cristal movie, 'When Harry Met Sally', Meg Ryan ate this sandwich. I found the same sandwich as Meg was eating, even though the movie was made more than 20 years ago.
When you enter Kat's Deli, you will soon like the lively atmosphere and good smell of pastrami and cucumber pickles.

Favorite Dish: Of course, pastrami sandwich. The pastrami is very juicy and tasty. The black pepper has very nice smell.

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Katz's Deli, founded in 1888, is the New York Deli world's answer to the Hofbräuhaus -- crowded, touristy, and expensive. But, like the Hofbräuhaus, the product it serves is first-rate. Renowned for its preserved meats, particularly its pastrami, corned beef, and salami, Katz's made a name for itself in World War II because its hard salami was so resilient, it could actually be shipped to the troops. Hence the motto "send a salami to your boy in the Army" came into being. You can even ship a salami to the troops today if you want to -- check the website or ask at the counter for details.

Lots of celebrities have visited Katz's over the years -- from Bill Clinton to Sarah Jessica Parker. Then-Vice President Al Gore even brought Russian Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin over for a bite. And probably the most famous visitors were the cast of "When Harry Met Sally." Yes, this was the place where Sally (Meg Ryan) filmed her famous "yes...yes...YES!" scene. The table she sat at is labeled, in case you want to re-live the movie. Want to have what she was having? According to the website, it was the brisket.

Favorite Dish: I had to try the pastrami on rye. I have to say it was the tenderest pastrami I had ever eaten. I washed it down with a bottle of house seltzer. The sandwich is quite large, so it can easily be shared by two people. Since I was alone, I ordered it "to go," ate half at the deli, then brought the other half home.

When you enter the Deli, you will be greeted with a hearty "How Ya Doin'?" and handed a ticket. Whatever you do, don't lose the ticket, as this is where your bill will be totaled when you exit (lose your ticket, and you pay 50 bucks). As you order your food and drinks, hand your ticket to the server, and he/she will add the appropriate amount to your bill. Even if you don't order anything, your ticket is your exit check.

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I had matzo ball soup which I thought was pretty good, a good pastrami sandwich and an excellent creamy cheesecake. My friend had a brisket sandwich. Unfortunately it was full with many tourists, but is was fun observing everyone including a guy wearing a Hell's Angle leather jacket from Switzerland!

Favorite Dish: The matzo ball soup. Nice and big, and soft, not like my mother's small canon balls!

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My fave deli for BIG pastrami or corned beef sandwiches.
Two can get by on one sandwich they are so huge.Per the waitstaff (I agree): you shouldn't take it with you ... in other words, your sandwich is not nearly as good when reheated later, try & eat it all before you leave.Everyone has their fave NY Deli: Carnegie, 2nd Ave, etc.
Katz is my favorite for both taste and location,
and they stay open late (after 2am on weekends, see website). The sign out front says: - "Katz's, that's all"
per Alan Dell the owner:
“ This sign originated when Benny Katz hired the signmaker to make the sign,” Mr. Dell said. “The signmaker asked, ‘Well, what exactly do you want to have it say?’ and Benny said to the signmaker, ‘Katz’s, that’s all.’
Sure enough he painted that on the sign! ”Here's a good descriptive & current NYTimes piece on the Katz experience.

NOTE: TICKET ALERT - when you enter they give you a "theater ticket" that you must redeem when you exit ( they do this to minimize theft ). Hang on to your little yellow 'theater' admission ticket,
or you will have some esplanin' to do w/ the security guard on the way out.

Favorite Dish: Hot Pastrami w mustard & horseradish.
If I shoot the moon, I start with chopped liver, a pastrami & egg salad sandwich, then cheesecake with either cherry or strawberry topping.

About $19 bucks for a sandwich & rootbeer (that's "tableservice" - it's a couple bucks cheaper if you get it yourself at the counter and sit at a middle table)

Probably $30+ for all the above, but it's enough for 2 and imo some of the best you'll ever eat.
Ess gesunt!

Here's the menu

Kat's Deli is a sort of legend of the Lower East Side, became famous during WW2 with the slogan "Send a salami" because, from there, girls could send a salami directly to their boyfriend at the Army. Actually I went there in August 1999 for the first time, because the most famous scene of "When Harry met Sally" was right here. Besides, my husband felt in love with their pastrami sandwich. It is a 10-inches-tall sandwich, so full of lovely sliced meat (beef), served with gurks and mustard (but I hate both of them, I prefer a plain pastrami, it's full of flavours standing alone). In July 2009 we came back, the place mantains its atmosphere (we recognize some waiters) but found it bloody expensive. For two pastrami sandwiches and two beers, we paid 48 usd!!!! And we waited at counter, so we had not paid the service. Moreover, we were short of cash, at the main cashier credit cards are not accepted, at the 2° cashier they were out of order....I took the risk to stay there and do the washing up! A draft bier costs 6 usd and a pastrami sandwich 14,95 usd. Don't leave NYC without trying Kat's Deli pastrami, but you can find cheaper bier.

Favorite Dish: Pastrami sandwich is a legend; thanks to VT I had read the interesting story of it, brought to US by Jewish immigration, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pastrami