The Best Jewish Delis in America Right Now

The Deli Is Not Dead

People have been writing obituaries for the Jewish deli for thirty years. And yet, here we are. New spots keep opening. Classic spots keep surviving. And the pastrami, when done right, still makes you close your eyes and think about calling your grandmother.

The American Jewish deli is more than a restaurant. It is a cultural institution. It is where immigrants fed themselves on familiar food in an unfamiliar country. It is where deals were made, arguments were had, and matzo ball soup cured hangovers of every variety. It deserves its flowers while it's still here.

These are the delis worth knowing about right now.

Katz's Delicatessen, New York City

We start with the obvious one because it earned the obvious spot. Katz's has been on the Lower East Side since 1888. The pastrami is hand-carved. The line is long. The prices are steep. Every single bite justifies all of it.

Katz's is not trying to be modern or innovative. It is trying to be exactly what it has always been, and it succeeds. Order the pastrami on rye. Get the matzo ball soup. Grab a pickle from the barrel. Don't overthink it.

Langer's Delicatessen, Los Angeles

Los Angeles does not lack for opinions on pastrami, and the city's most passionate opinion is this: Langer's makes the best pastrami sandwich in America. This is not a fringe view. Jonathan Gold said it. Nora Ephron said it. The line of regulars on Alvarado Street every weekday morning says it too.

The signature is the number 19: pastrami, Swiss cheese, coleslaw, and Russian dressing on double-baked rye. It sounds like too much. It is exactly enough. The bread alone is worth the trip.

Zingerman's Delicatessen, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Zingerman's opened in 1982 and became one of the most beloved delis in the country without being in New York or Los Angeles. That is an achievement. The sandwiches are enormous. The quality of ingredients is obsessive. The owners have written books about deli culture that belong on every food lover's shelf.

The Reuben here is a standard-setter. The matzo ball soup is the real deal. And the mail-order business means you can have Zingerman's anywhere in the country, which is both convenient and dangerous.

Mile End Delicatessen, New York City

Mile End is Canadian-Jewish deli, which means Montreal-style smoked meat instead of New York-style pastrami. The distinction matters. Montreal smoked meat is cured differently and seasoned differently, and the result is a sandwich that deserves its own category entirely.

The brisket here is exceptional. The smoked meat sandwich on rye with mustard is the move. Mile End has done something rare: it brought a regional tradition across the border and executed it with enough fidelity to make it worth arguing about.

Wise Sons Jewish Delicatessen, San Francisco

Wise Sons opened in the Bay Area in 2012 and quickly became the reference point for Jewish deli on the West Coast. The approach is traditional but not precious. The pastrami is excellent. The latkes are crispy and correctly sized. The rugelach will make you rethink everything you thought you knew about rugelach.

The Wise Sons team has also been thoughtful about the cultural dimension of what they're doing, treating the deli not just as a food business but as a community anchor. That intention shows up in the experience.

Kenny and Zuke's Delicatessen, Portland, Oregon

Portland has exactly one world-class Jewish deli, and it punches above its weight in every category. Kenny and Zuke's makes their own pastrami in-house, cured for days and smoked on premises. The result is pastrami that people in New York would have opinions about, which is the highest compliment a piece of cured meat can receive.

The chopped liver is also excellent. Don't skip it because it sounds like something your grandparents ate. That is exactly why you should order it.

What Makes a Great Deli

A great Jewish deli is not just about the food, although the food must be right. It's about the atmosphere of abundance. The sense that you will be fed, and then fed some more. The presence of pickles. The sound of orders being called. The understanding that a half-pound of pastrami is a reasonable lunch.

Jewish delis at their best are egalitarian spaces. Everybody eats the same food. The celebrity at the next table gets the same matzo ball soup as the kid celebrating his bar mitzvah in the back corner. That is not an accident. It is a value embedded in the culture.

Go to these places. Eat too much. Bring someone to share it with. That's the whole point.

--- **Jewish Books, Gifts & Essentials** For the tribe — books, Judaica, and gifts worth having: - [The Jewish Study Bible](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=jewish+study+bible&tag=theclantv20-20) — Scholarly Tanakh translation used in universities worldwide - [Bar & Bat Mitzvah Gifts](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=bar+mitzvah+gifts+jewish&tag=theclantv20-20) — Meaningful gifts for a meaningful milestone - [Hanukkah Menorah](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=hanukkah+menorah+jewish&tag=theclantv20-20) — From classic to contemporary, find the one that fits your family - [The Complete Passover Haggadah](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=passover+haggadah+modern&tag=theclantv20-20) — Every seder needs a good haggadah - [Jewish Humor Books](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=jewish+humor+books&tag=theclantv20-20) — Because we have been turning suffering into comedy for 5,000 years *Some links may be affiliate links. JewSA earns a small commission at no extra cost to you.*