Pastrami on rye is one of those simple pleasures that just gets better when the meat is piled thick and the bread is fresh. Massachusetts has a surprising number of delis that take this seriously, from tiny neighborhood counters to a downtown Boston lunch legend.
Some are kosher, some are New York style, and a few keep unusual hours you will want to double check before you go. Here are seven spots worth planning a meal around.
1. Michael’s Deli, Brookline, MA
Over on Harvard Street in Brookline, Michael’s Deli keeps things small, casual, and focused on the classics. The counter turns out overstuffed sandwiches, bagels, and old-school deli plates in a cozy space with no table service.
The pastrami is the headliner, tender enough to pull apart, and often ordered hot with mustard and cheese on toasted rye. If you want to branch out, there is a creative housemade knish filled with mashed potato, kasha, or savory meat, and even a balsamic and fig glazed pastrami sandwich for something different.
Corned beef, chopped liver, potato latkes, and matzo ball soup round out the menu, along with Dr. Brown’s soda to keep it traditional. Prices land a little higher than a basic sandwich shop, but the meat count backs it up.
Hours run short on Mondays, so aim for a Tuesday through Saturday lunch. Parking on Harvard Street can be tricky, so give yourself a few extra minutes.
2. Mamaleh’s Delicatessen Cambridge, Cambridge, MA
Mamaleh’s brings a fresh, modern spin to the Jewish deli in Cambridge, and it runs all day from breakfast through dinner. You can grab and go or settle in for full table service at 15 Hampshire Street.
Their pastrami earns real praise for being tender and deeply flavorful, whether you get it stacked in a Reuben or a Rachel or simply piled over excellent rye. The balance here is the trick, with the bread, coleslaw, and Russian dressing all pulling their weight alongside the meat.
Beyond pastrami, the kitchen turns out nova lox sandwiches, cheese blintzes, meat knishes, hot potato latkes, and egg and cheese options, plus a strong coffee and dessert selection. There is a full vegan and vegetarian menu too, which is rare for a deli.
Open seven days a week from 8 AM to 8 PM, it works for almost any craving. Brunch gets busy, so reservations are a smart move on weekends.
3. Chani’s Kosher Deli, Worcester, MA
Central Massachusetts gets its own contender at Chani’s Kosher Deli, tucked at 22 Newton Avenue in Worcester. The strictly kosher kitchen turns out corned beef and pastrami sandwiches that hold their own against big-city delis.
Portions here run large, and the pastrami tends to be tender, fatty, and packed with flavor. Pair the hot pastrami with the crispy fries, and you have a plate that eats more like a feast than a quick lunch.
The menu stretches well past sandwiches, with schnitzel, brisket, deli turkey, Israeli salad, knishes, matzah ball soup, and Dr. Brown’s soda to finish it off. Prices sit a bit higher, but the sheer amount of food helps explain why.
One important note before you drive over: the deli keeps limited hours. It is open Monday through Thursday until 5 PM, closes early on Friday at 1 PM, and stays closed Saturday and Sunday.
Parking is free, which is a nice bonus.
4. Fresser’s Delicatessen, Randolph, MA
Down on the South Shore, Fresser’s Delicatessen in Randolph has built a loyal following on friendly service and freshly made sandwiches. You will find it at 1097 N Main Street, open weekday mornings and early afternoons.
Regulars point straight to the pastrami and corned beef, which stay consistently tender and full of flavor. The number 18, a grilled corned beef and pastrami combo, is a signature order, and the Rachel sandwich is another one people rave about.
Beyond the marquee meats, the kosher-style deli serves homemade breakfast and lunch dishes, knishes, Reubens, and house-made pickles that get plenty of attention on their own. A simple pastrami on rye with mustard does the job just as well.
Keep the schedule in mind, since the doors are open Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 2 PM and closed on weekends. Parking is free, so this is an easy weekday stop.
5. Evan’s New York Style Deli, Marblehead, MA
North Shore diners have a genuine New York style deli in their corner at Evan’s, sitting at 252 Humphrey Street in Marblehead. Quick service and generous portions are the calling cards here.
The pastrami is the reason to make the trip, high quality enough to go toe to toe with a Manhattan counter, and they even offer Romanian pastrami for the purists. A popular move is the Hot Combo of turkey and pastrami with coleslaw, hots, and Russian dressing on toasted light rye.
Do not skip the pastrami knish, a smart little side that turns a good lunch into a great one. Brisket, corned beef, fresh sandwiches, and bagels fill out the rest of the board.
The deli is closed Mondays, opens Tuesday through Friday at 8 AM, and starts even earlier on weekend mornings. Saturday tends to be the busiest stretch, and free parking makes the visit painless.
6. Barry’s Village Deli, Inc., Waban, MA
In the quiet Waban village of Newton, Barry’s Village Deli has been a fixture for years, serving homemade New York style deli fare at 6 Windsor Road. The variety of meats here is a big part of the draw.
Alongside the hot pastrami and corned beef, the counter stocks tongue, liver wurst, and other traditional deli meats, plus a wide choice of breads. The Reuben has a strong reputation, and serving sizes are famously plentiful.
If you are building a plate, the menu also lists a whitefish salad sandwich, a chopped liver sandwich, and a straightforward BLT. Pastrami on rye remains the safe bet for first timers.
Barry’s opens early, at 6 AM on weekdays, which makes it handy for a morning bite or an early lunch before the Tuesday afternoon rush. Dine in, takeout, and table service are all available, and parking is free.
7. Sam LaGrassa’s, Boston, MA
If there is a pastrami pilgrimage in Boston, it ends at Sam LaGrassa’s on Province Street. This longtime family-run shop is downtown lunch royalty, open only on weekday afternoons and almost always with a line out the door.
The pastrami is the star, moist and tender, and stacked into sandwiches that regularly get called the best around. Many order the Pastrami Corned Beef Combo, though the Chipotle Pastrami and a classic pastrami with spicy brown mustard on rye have their own devoted fans.
The rest of the menu keeps the sandwich focus tight, with a well-regarded Reuben, a Cuban, and vegan coleslaw on the side. Portions are generous, and the quality is what you are paying the higher price for.
Plan around the hours, which run Tuesday through Friday from 11 AM to 2 PM only, with the weekend and Monday closed. There is no table service and street parking is tough, so come ready to wait a little.
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