NYC Food & Drink Delis

The 6 Best Jewish Delis in NYC (2026)

Updated October 2026 · 6 picks

The best Jewish delis in NYC in 2026 are Katz's Delicatessen on Houston Street for pastrami, 2nd Ave Deli for matzo ball soup and the full menu, and Pastrami Queen on the Upper East Side, which is kosher-certified. Sarge's in Murray Hill and Liebman's in the Bronx keep the old-style deli going, and Russ & Daughters is the appetizing counterpart.

1. Katz's Delicatessen — Lower East Side (Houston Street), Manhattan

New York's most famous deli since 1888 — hand-carved pastrami piled high.

$$ Mid-range

Katz's has stood on the corner of Houston and Ludlow since 1888, and its hand-carved pastrami on rye is the reason people queue around the block. The cavernous room, with its ticket system and signs reading 'Send a salami to your boy in the army', is a living piece of Lower East Side history.

It is not kosher — it is a Jewish-style deli open seven days a week.

Good to know: Hold on to your ticket — you need it to leave. Tip the carver and you'll get a taste while he cuts.

205 E Houston St, New York, NY

Google Maps Website

2. 2nd Ave Deli — Murray Hill and Upper East Side, Manhattan

Matzo ball soup, chopped liver and pastrami — serving New York since 1954.

$$ Mid-range

2nd Ave Deli has served New York since 1954; its original Second Avenue home closed in 2006, and it now runs from East 33rd Street in Murray Hill and First Avenue on the Upper East Side, with a bar upstairs at the uptown location.

It is known for matzo ball soup, chopped liver and pastrami, and it is open daily. Its website has a kosher certification page — check it if kashrut matters to you.

Good to know: Start with the matzo ball soup.

162 E 33rd St, New York, NY

Google Maps Website

3. Pastrami Queen — Upper East Side (Lexington Ave & 78th St), Manhattan

Old-school kosher pastrami since 1956.

$$ Mid-rangeHechsher Certified kosher (UES and UWS locations)

Pastrami Queen has been making pastrami since 1956, and its Lexington Avenue shop is one of the last classic kosher delis in Manhattan.

Its Upper East Side and Upper West Side locations are certified kosher; a counter in Moynihan Train Hall is not listed as kosher.

Good to know: Split a pastrami sandwich — they are enormous.

Lexington Ave & E 78th St, New York, NY

Google Maps Website

4. Sarge's Deli — Murray Hill (Third Avenue), Manhattan

A classic Murray Hill deli with mile-high sandwiches.

$$ Mid-range

Sarge's, on Third Avenue in Murray Hill, is a family-run Jewish-style deli with towering pastrami and corned beef sandwiches, matzo ball soup and a classic diner-style room.

It is not kosher-certified.

Good to know: Close to the Empire State Building and the Morgan Library.

548 3rd Ave, New York, NY

Google Maps Website

5. Liebman's Delicatessen — Riverdale, The Bronx

The Bronx's last old-style Jewish deli, a Riverdale fixture.

$$ Mid-range

Liebman's, in Riverdale, is the Bronx's surviving old-style Jewish deli and caterer, serving pastrami, corned beef, knishes and soups to a loyal neighborhood crowd.

Check its kosher status directly if it matters to you.

Good to know: Worth combining with a visit to Wave Hill gardens nearby.

552 W 235th St, Bronx, NY

Google Maps Website

6. Russ & Daughters Cafe — Lower East Side (Orchard Street), Manhattan

Sit-down appetizing — smoked fish boards, latkes and egg creams.

$$ Mid-range

The sit-down offshoot of the century-old Russ & Daughters shop, the Orchard Street cafe serves boards of smoked salmon, sable and whitefish, latkes, bagels and egg creams in a room styled like a classic lunch counter.

It is not kosher, and it is the appetizing — fish and dairy — side of the Jewish deli tradition.

Good to know: Weekend brunch waits are long; go on a weekday.

127 Orchard St, New York, NY

Google Maps Website

Frequently asked questions

Which New York delis are kosher?

Of the delis below, Pastrami Queen's Upper East Side and Upper West Side locations are certified kosher. Katz's is not kosher. If you keep kosher, see our dedicated guide to the best kosher delis.

What should I order at a Jewish deli?

A hot pastrami or corned beef sandwich on rye with mustard, a sour or half-sour pickle, and matzo ball soup. Knishes, chopped liver and a Dr. Brown's soda round it out.

What is the difference between a deli and appetizing?

Traditionally, a Jewish deli sells meat — pastrami, corned beef, tongue — while an 'appetizing' store sells fish and dairy — lox, sable, whitefish, cream cheese — because kosher law kept them apart. Russ & Daughters is New York's most famous appetizing shop.

1. Katz's Delicatessen — Lower East Side (Houston Street), Manhattan

2. 2nd Ave Deli — Murray Hill and Upper East Side, Manhattan

3. Pastrami Queen — Upper East Side (Lexington Ave & 78th St), Manhattan

4. Sarge's Deli — Murray Hill (Third Avenue), Manhattan

5. Liebman's Delicatessen — Riverdale, The Bronx

6. Russ & Daughters Cafe — Lower East Side (Orchard Street), Manhattan

Frequently asked questions

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