Some sandwiches are lunch, and some sandwiches are a group project. In downtown Seattle, one old-school deli has been building the second kind for decades, stacking pastrami so high that couples routinely order a single sandwich and share it.
The shop has stood on the same block since 1948, long before the glass towers moved in around it. The walls are plain, the menu is short, and the line moves fast.
Regulars say a whole sandwich is basically two sandwiches, and the plate arrives with extras that make the price feel like a fair deal. Keep reading to learn where it is, what to order, when to go, and why so many longtime locals call it a true city institution worth crossing town for.
A Corner of Howell Street Since 1948
Tucked between the towers of downtown, Market House Meats sits at 1124 Howell St, Seattle, WA 98101, in Washington state, United States. It is a small deli with a big job.
The shop specializes in cured meats, with pastrami, corned beef, and reubens leading the compact menu.
Plenty of Seattle residents walk past it for years before finally stopping in. Some live just a few blocks away and later joke that they wasted all that time.
The building is easy to miss if the eyes are fixed on the skyline. It does not shout for attention, and it does not need to.
What it offers is simple: hefty sandwiches, quick counter service, and a long track record in one neighborhood.
With a 4.8-star standing across more than 800 opinions on Google, the place has earned a loyal following that keeps growing. Not bad for a shop that never bothered with a makeover.
The real story, though, starts with how long those meat slicers have been running.
Older Than the Skyline
Back in 1948, downtown Seattle looked very different. The skyscrapers that now surround Howell Street had not yet arrived.
Market House Meats was already slicing corned beef by then. It remains one of the few lunch options in the area that has operated since before the high-rises took over.
That kind of staying power creates family traditions.
Some locals remember grandparents bringing them here as kids, and they still return as adults. The deli has become a thread connecting generations of Seattle eaters.
The shop keeps a clear commitment to doing things the old way. There are no trendy twists or flashy rebrands.
Instead, the focus stays on cured meats prepared with patience and served without fuss.
Many people call it a Seattle staple or a true institution. Those labels are not marketing slogans.
They come from decades of steady work in the same spot.
In a city that changes fast, a deli that barely changes at all has become something worth protecting.
The Pastrami Mountain Problem
Here is the headline act. The pastrami portions at this deli are so generous that couples often order one sandwich and split it down the middle.
A whole sandwich is roughly two sandwiches in practice. That math turns a $20 to $30 meal into a much better deal than it first appears.
First-timers are often caught off guard by the sheer stack of meat. Many say they have never seen so much pastrami on one sandwich.
Opinions on the pastrami itself vary a bit. Some call it the best in the city, while a few find it on the dry side compared with famous New York delis.
Still, plenty of eaters who have tried Katz’s in New York say they prefer this Seattle counter. That is a bold claim, and it sparks friendly debate.
Hot pastrami is also on the menu for those who want it straight off the griddle.
Sharing is optional, of course. Some regulars admit the sandwiches are good enough that splitting one feels like a sacrifice.
Reubens That Spark Loyalty
Pastrami may get the headline, but the reuben gets the most chatter. It is the single most talked-about item on the menu.
The corned beef comes hot from the griddle and nicely seasoned, tucked into rye bread. Many call it the best reuben of their lives.
Some fans have tried reubens practically everywhere and still name this shop as their favorite. That is serious loyalty from serious sandwich hunters.
The corned beef also shows up beyond the reuben. A plain corned beef sandwich is a popular pick for those who want the meat front and center.
Longtime Seattle residents often rank both the corned beef and pastrami as the best in the city.
One habit worth copying: order a reuben and a pastrami, then split both. It solves the hardest decision on the menu.
Reuben lovers may never get past this section of the board, and honestly, nobody would blame them.
Extras That Fill the Plate
A sandwich here rarely arrives alone. It usually shows up with a small crew of sides.
Potato salad, a pickle spear, a little cup of fresh horseradish, and small sandwich cookies often round out the order.
The potato salad has its own fan club. It gets mentioned dozens of times, often described as creamy and comforting.
Then there is the horseradish. It is hot, bold, and a favorite with those who like a kick alongside their corned beef.
The cookies are a sweet surprise. Getting two tiny cookies with a meat-heavy lunch feels like a friendly wink from the kitchen.
Split pea soup is another option, and some call it the best they have had in a long time. One order of a reuben with soup, cookie, potato salad, and a pickle came to about $20 after tax.
These little touches explain why so many people leave feeling they got more than they paid for.
Beyond the Cured Classics
Cured meat rules the menu, yet the board holds a few curveballs. Working through it has become a hobby for some regulars.
The CPR sandwich stacks corned beef, pastrami, and roast beef together with Swiss cheese, lettuce, onion, and tomato. It is a triple threat for indecisive eaters.
A Philly cheesesteak earns strong praise, and a Philly French dip has its own devoted fans.
There is also a brisket sandwich and a BBQ pork sandwich. The BBQ sauce supports the pork rather than burying it, though finishing the whole thing is a challenge.
A cheeseburger combo appears on the menu too, and it is considered very reasonably priced.
Not every item lands the same way for everyone. Some find the breakfast burrito perfectly fine but not special.
Still, the range gives repeat guests a reason to keep coming back and checking off one more sandwich.
Breakfast Built Like a Brick
Doors open at 8 AM, which means the griddle is busy long before lunch. Breakfast is a real draw here.
A breakfast sandwich on an English muffin is served all day. It is filling and reasonably priced, making it a smart pick for budget-minded diners.
Corned beef also finds its way into a breakfast sandwich. It is a strong option for those who want deli flavor before noon.
Then there is the Quad. This breakfast sandwich arrives wrapped in foil and weighs roughly a pound and a half.
It stays warm for about an hour and somehow holds together despite looking messy. Plenty of people cannot finish it in one sitting.
The advice from those who have tried: skip dinner the night before. The Quad is less a meal and more a summit attempt.
For early risers working downtown, this counter makes a hearty start to the day.
Walls With a Backstory
Nobody comes here for interior design. The dining room is plain, bare-bones, and proudly so.
Here is a fun detail. The tan color on the upper walls is not paint.
Decades of grill smoke have coated them, while the lower walls stay whiter.
That is about as authentic as decor gets.
Despite its simple style, the shop has a large seating area. It is clean and well lit, so sitting down to tackle a giant sandwich is easy.
The old-time look appeals to many guests. It feels like a step back to an earlier era of Seattle lunch counters.
Some guests knock a point off for atmosphere since nothing about it stands out. Others call that exactly the charm.
The verdict seems clear enough. It may not be the place for a first date, but it is a fine place to bring someone you care about.
Faces Behind the Counter
Ask regulars what keeps them coming back, and the staff often comes up before the food. Friendly service is mentioned well over a hundred times.
The team works fast and smiles while doing it. Even on a busy Saturday morning, a pastrami sandwich can arrive in under five minutes.
Some guests return just to chat with staff members they know by name. First-timers often say they felt like longtime customers within minutes.
The owners are known as warm and clearly proud of their work.
Language is no barrier either. Simple exchanges at the counter sometimes turn into shared laughs, mixing English and Spanish.
That friendliness spreads to the customers. Strangers end up talking in line, swapping stories about how long they have known the place.
Good sandwiches bring people in. Good people seem to be what brings them back again and again.
Who Should Grab a Seat
Couples on a budget may be the deli’s best audience. One sandwich, two people, and plenty of food for both.
Downtown office workers also make up a big share of the crowd. The location and speed suit a quick lunch break.
Travelers find it too. Some wander in while exploring downtown and leave calling it a highlight of their trip.
Fans of classic East Coast style delis will feel at home here. Those who love old-school spots with real smoked flavor tend to fall hard.
Families with history in the city treat it as a tradition. Newcomers who just moved nearby often wish they had come sooner.
Those craving a fancy setting may want to look elsewhere. The point here is the plate, not the backdrop.
Hungry, curious, and willing to share are really the only requirements for a good visit.
Hours, Costs, and Smart Timing
Timing matters, because this is a daytime-only operation. Market House Meats is open Monday through Saturday from 8 AM to 4 PM.
Sundays are closed, so weekend plans should lean on Saturday.
Expect to spend around $20 to $30 per person. Prices have gone up recently, like almost everywhere, and a full sandwich can feel pricey at first glance.
That changes once the size becomes clear. Sharing a sandwich cuts the cost per person sharply.
The all-day breakfast sandwich on an English muffin is a lighter option for anyone watching the wallet.
Phone orders for pickup work well. Orders can be ready to grab when you arrive, which saves time during the lunch rush.
Saturday mornings can get busy, though the kitchen keeps things moving. An early or mid-afternoon visit may offer a calmer stop before closing time.
A Sandwich Worth Sharing
Some places chase trends. This Howell Street deli simply keeps doing what it has done since 1948.
The formula is not complicated. Big piles of pastrami and corned beef, generous sides, quick service, and people who seem glad to see you.
Not every bite wins every guest. The pastrami draws the occasional comparison to New York, and the dining room will never win design awards.
Yet the crowd keeps returning, and newcomers keep discovering it after years of walking by.
For couples, the move is easy: order one sandwich, grab an extra napkin, and split it. For the very hungry, ordering two is also a fair choice.
Either way, it is hard to leave hungry. Downtown Seattle has plenty of new spots, but few carry this much history in a foil wrapper.
Go on a weekday, bring a friend, and let the pastrami do the talking.
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