Bring your appetite and a stack of napkins, because New York’s classic delis still pile sandwiches like skyscrapers. We are talking hand carved pastrami, crackly rye, tangy mustard, and enough pickles to start a garden. This is about tradition, hustle, and that first jaw dropping bite you remember forever. Ready to chase the city’s tallest sandwiches and the stories behind them?
Katz’s Delicatessen – New York, New York
At Katz’s, the slicer’s blade sings and steam perfumes the air the second your ticket gets torn. You watch ruby edged pastrami fall in glistening ribbons, then land on seeded rye like a soft avalanche. A swipe of spicy mustard, a pile of pickles, and suddenly your hands are full of history.
The sandwich is colossal yet balanced, pepper crust crackling against silky fat and smoke. You lean forward because you know the drip is coming, and that first bite feels like New York saying welcome back. The countermen joke, nudge, and feed you sample bites while you wait. Sit, breathe, then demolish. Bring extra napkins, and maybe a friend.
2nd Ave Deli – New York, New York
2nd Ave Deli feels like the city in condensed form, brisk and comforting at once. The pastrami is peppery, steamed just right, and stacked into a geometric miracle between sturdy slabs of seeded rye. A smear of mustard, a splash of seltzer, and you are good to go.
Order a side of half sour pickles and crunchy slaw for the full ritual. The servers move with practiced speed, yet there is room for a joke and a wink. Portions? Heroic. You finish half, pause, then rally because the spices keep calling. If you crave classic kosher deli with a generous spirit and skyscraper portions, this is your reliable north star every time.
Pastrami Queen – New York, New York
Pastrami Queen serves royal stacks that demand two hands and some strategy. The meat is shockingly tender, smoky, and trimmed so each bite hits big without excess. Rye slices hold their ground like good architecture, keeping everything aligned as juices run.
Grab a side of creamy slaw and a black cherry soda, then plant your elbows and commit. The counter folks work fast but never rush your joy, sliding a sample across the counter like a secret handshake. One bite in, and pepper, smoke, and sweetness harmonize. You will plan your next visit before the last crumb. If your heart beats for pastrami, this place understands completely and delivers with fearless height.
Barney Greengrass – New York, New York
Barney Greengrass is the Sturgeon King, and the crown fits. While it is famed for smoked fish, the sandwiches stack high with silky lox, sturgeon, or whitefish salad, layered on bagels or rye. The texture contrast is bliss, delicate fish meeting sturdy bread and a whisper of onion.
Order scrambled eggs with lox if you want breakfast that feels like a holiday. The staff delivers with swift, seasoned charm, and the walls hum with neighborhood stories. Each bite tastes like Old New York mornings, salty and bright. Fold a napkin under your wrist and lean in. You will leave smelling faintly of smoke, smiling, and planning tomorrow’s return for another towering fish creation.
Eisenberg’s Sandwich Shop – New York, New York
Eisenberg’s brings classic lunch counter vibes where the grill crackles and orders fly. The sandwiches arrive stacked and glossy, from tuna melts and BLTs to pastrami on rye that leans skyscraper tall. Each plate feels like a postcard from midtown’s busy past.
Slide onto a stool, watch the cook pile meat with quick tongs, and time slows. A crisp pickle spears through the chaos, balancing richness with snap. You sip a cherry lime rickey and plot dessert as crumbs scatter. It is comfort that keeps its edge, unfussy and generous. Bring extra napkins, because the melts will test your reflexes, and you will not want to surrender a single drip.
Sarge’s Delicatessen & Diner – New York, New York
Sarge’s is where deli ambition meets diner comfort, and the sandwich heights are outrageous. The Reuben towers with marble rye, kraut, Swiss, and rivers of Russian dressing that insist on extra napkins. Pastrami and corned beef are hand sliced and piled until gravity protests.
There is a late night charm here, with cheesecake whispering from the case and matzo ball soup for backup. You get both, obviously. The servers are seasoned pros, reading your order before you finish. Portion control is not the vibe, satisfaction is. Take a deep breath, square your shoulders, and go all in. When the plate hits, the city’s heartbeat syncs with yours, and you understand why regulars never stray.
Russ & Daughters – New York, New York
Russ & Daughters is precision and heritage wrapped in delicate paper. The sandwiches are elegant yet towering, with glistening slices of smoked salmon layered over cream cheese on chewy bagels. Capers, onion, and tomato create a fresh chorus that keeps each bite lively.
Order the Classic or go bold with sable and wasabi roe for a playful twist. The counter hums with a ballet of slicing knives and careful assembly. You leave with a tidy parcel and a grin. Unwrap, lean forward, and catch those runaway capers before they escape. It is New York appetizing at its smartest, where refinement still requires plenty of napkins and a ready appetite.
Junior’s Restaurant & Bakery – Brooklyn, New York
Junior’s is known for cheesecake, sure, but the deli sandwiches are skyscrapers in their own right. Corned beef, pastrami, or roast turkey arrive stacked like a celebration, rye barely containing the momentum. A crunchy pickle and tangy slaw complete the plate with classic Brooklyn swagger.
Slide into a booth, order a black cherry soda, and let the chatter swirl. The meat is juicy, edges peppered and smoky, begging for an assertive mustard swipe. Yes, save space for cheesecake, but tackle the sandwich first. You will need extra napkins and a strategy. Wrap leftovers with pride if you surrender. Either way, you will leave happy and already plotting the next visit.
Mill Basin Deli – Brooklyn, New York
Mill Basin Deli keeps the old school flame burning bright on Brooklyn’s edges. The pastrami and corned beef are hand sliced to order, stacked so high you negotiate each bite. Rye bread holds, but barely, and mustard is mandatory.
Locals swear by the brisket too, tender and richly seasoned, perfect with a latke side. The crew behind the counter moves fast, with a nod and a grin that says you are in good hands. Grab extra napkins and lean forward to save your shirt. It is a neighborhood classic that still feels special, where quality and quantity live happily together and every sandwich tells you to come hungry.
Liebman’s Deli – Bronx, New York
Liebman’s is a Bronx time capsule where the pastrami leans tall and proud. The rye is seeded, the mustard sharp, and the balance between fat and spice lands just right. You get that satisfying tug as you bite and the pepper sings through.
Regulars fill booths, trading stories while plates clatter and steam rises. Order a hot dog or knish on the side if you are feeling ambitious. The sandwich is the main event though, generous and fearless. Napkins will stack up as quickly as the meat. It is the kind of place that makes you a loyalist after one visit, then a lifer when you return for seconds.
David’s Brisket House – Brooklyn, New York
David’s Brisket House treats brisket like a sacred ritual. The meat is tender, with shimmering edges and deep seasoning that blooms in each bite. Piled high on bread with a drizzle of jus, it is juicy enough to demand a stack of napkins.
Order pastrami or turkey if you like, but brisket is the star by miles. The counter crew carves with care, slipping you a taste when they see your grin. Each sandwich feels warming and generous, Brooklyn hospitality in edible form. Take a seat, breathe in the spice, and go slow. This is the kind of lunch that turns a day around.
Ben’s Kosher Delicatessen Restaurant & Caterers – Bay Terrace, New York
Ben’s in Bay Terrace delivers big deli energy with room for everyone at the table. Sandwiches come stacked aggressively, corned beef and pastrami layered with architectural ambition. The rye stands tall, the pickles snap, and the mustard knows its job.
It is family friendly and fast, with soups, knishes, and crunchy salads flanking the main event. You settle in, unwrap the giant, and plan your angle of attack. Expect drips, smiles, and leftovers. The crew moves briskly, keeping the line happy and the portions generous. If you need a reliable Queens area deli fix, Ben’s feels like a dependable home base.
Zabar’s Café – New York, New York
Zabar’s Café is your pit stop after wandering the iconic market next door. Sandwiches showcase smoked salmon, whitefish, or tuna stacked on bagels with generous schmears. The result is tall, tidy, and ridiculously satisfying, especially with a coffee on the side.
Find a seat, watch the neighborhood flow past, and let the dill and smoke perfume the moment. The bagel chew, the brine of capers, and the sweet onion crunch keep each bite awake. Extra napkins help catch the gleaming drips. It is an Upper West Side ritual, part errands, part indulgence, and fully delicious. You walk out with momentum and maybe a cookie for later.