Good pastrami is one of those foods that feels simple until you taste the real thing. California has a long history with Jewish delis, steam tables, and hot pastrami piled high on rye, and a handful of counters still take that craft seriously.
Some have been around for decades, while others put their own West Coast spin on the classic. If you have been settling for thin, dry slices, these seven spots are worth the trip.
Here is where to go when you want a sandwich that actually earns the word deli.
1. Langer’s Delicatessen, Los Angeles
Few sandwiches carry the reputation that the No. 19 does. Langer’s has been serving Los Angeles from its spot near MacArthur Park since 1947, and its pastrami is regularly named among the best in the country.
The No. 19 layers hot pastrami with coleslaw, Swiss cheese, and Russian dressing on double-baked rye. The rye is the secret weapon here, crisp on the outside and sturdy enough to hold everything together.
Langer’s steams and hand-cuts its pastrami, which keeps it tender instead of dry. The counter sits right by the Westlake/MacArthur Park Metro stop, so parking headaches are easy to skip.
Hours run daytime only, and the shop closes on Sundays, so plan around that. If you try one pastrami sandwich in California, most people would point you here first.
2. Canter’s Deli, Los Angeles
Open around the clock, Canter’s has been feeding the Fairfax district since 1931. When a late-night pastrami craving hits, this is one of the rare places that can actually help.
The pastrami arrives thick-cut and warm, stacked on rye with mustard and a pickle spear on the side. Sandwiches come with a choice of sides, and the menu stretches far beyond pastrami into matzo ball soup and house-baked goods.
Canter’s is as much a landmark as a restaurant. The retro decor and long history make it a fixture in Los Angeles food culture.
The bakery counter is worth a look on your way out for rye bread and pastries. For anyone who values a deli that never closes, this one is hard to beat.
3. Wexler’s Deli, Los Angeles
Curing and smoking in-house sets this spot apart from the old-guard counters. Wexler’s, with a stand inside Grand Central Market downtown, treats pastrami like a from-scratch project rather than a delivery order.
The pastrami is cured, smoked, and steamed on site, then piled onto rye. That extra effort shows up in the flavor and the tenderness of every slice.
Grand Central Market gives you a lively setting with plenty of other vendors nearby, which makes it an easy stop if your group cannot agree on one cuisine. There is also a Santa Monica location for Westside visitors.
Alongside pastrami, Wexler’s is known for its house-smoked fish and bagel plates. It is a good bridge between classic deli tradition and a newer, craft-minded approach.
4. Brent’s Delicatessen, Northridge
Head into the San Fernando Valley and Brent’s is the name that keeps coming up. Family-run and open since 1967, it has built a loyal following far beyond its Northridge neighborhood.
The pastrami is hand-cut and served hot, and portions lean generous. Regulars often pair the sandwich with matzo ball soup or a black-and-white cookie from the bakery.
Brent’s runs a full-service dining room rather than just a grab-and-go counter, so it works well for a sit-down family meal. A second location in Westlake Village serves the Conejo Valley crowd.
The menu is huge, covering deli classics, breakfast, and baked goods. If you live in the Valley and want serious pastrami without driving into the city, this is the go-to.
5. Saul’s Restaurant and Delicatessen, Berkeley
Northern California gets its own heavyweight in Berkeley. Saul’s, on Shattuck Avenue in the Gourmet Ghetto, brings classic Jewish deli food together with a local, seasonal ingredient philosophy.
The hot pastrami sandwich comes on rye with mustard, and the kitchen is known for making many items from scratch. House-made pickles and sauerkraut round out the plate.
Saul’s has long championed a more thoughtful, sustainable take on deli cooking, which fits right in with the Berkeley food scene. Matzo ball soup and other traditional dishes fill out the menu.
The dining room is casual and family-friendly. For anyone in the East Bay who wants real deli without heading south, Saul’s carries the torch.
6. D.Z. Akin’s, San Diego
San Diego diners have leaned on D.Z. Akin’s since 1980.
Located near San Diego State University, it is one of Southern California’s best-known full-scale Jewish delis outside Los Angeles.
The pastrami sandwiches are famously oversized, and the menu is enormous, covering everything from sandwiches to soups to a bakery case up front. Sharing a sandwich here is a reasonable strategy.
Beyond pastrami, the deli is known for matzo ball soup, blintzes, and a wide selection of house-baked breads and pastries. It functions as a neighborhood institution as much as a restaurant.
The setting is casual and welcoming to families and large groups. For the greater San Diego area, this is the classic deli stop.
7. The Hat, Alhambra
Not every great pastrami comes on rye with a side of matzo ball soup. The Hat, a Southern California drive-in chain that started in Alhambra in 1951, made its name on the world-famous pastrami dip.
The pastrami dip stacks a huge pile of thin-sliced pastrami on a roll, served with the meat juices for dipping and yellow mustard and pickles on request. Order it with a side of fries and you have a classic SoCal meal.
The original stand in Alhambra sits at the corner of Valley and Garfield, and the chain has grown to several locations across the region. Portions are famously large, so come hungry.
It is a different style than the sit-down delis on this list, more roadside counter than table service. When you want piled-high pastrami on the go, The Hat delivers.
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