Katz's Delicatessen
Deli · Lower East Side ·
Iconic NYC deli for towering pastrami sandwiches & classic fare
Iconic NYC deli for towering pastrami sandwiches & classic fare
"World-famous for the When Harry Met Sally scene, this deli leans into its cinematic legacy: there’s a sign marking the exact table—“Where Harry Met Sally … hope you have what she had! Enjoy”—and a display of photos including Rob Reiner with Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan, and the then-owner. In a recent Instagram tribute, the team called Reiner a “quintessential New Yorker and creative giant who brought Katz’s to millions of people by showing the magic of our store in his masterpiece,” and current owner Jake Dell recalls him as a regular who would stop in whenever he was in town to grab a sandwich." - Nadia Chaudhury
"When I’m in a “When Harry Met Sally” mood, I head to Katz’s Delicatessen for a memorable meal—yes, I can have what she’s having." - Opheli Garcia Lawler Opheli Garcia Lawler Opheli Garcia Lawler is a journalist with a decade of experience, half of which has been dedicated to covering the way we travel. From interviewing former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to digging into Amtrak customer complaint data, Opheli has developed a deep well of knowledge about what shapes our travel experiences. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"On Manhattan’s Lower East Side, Katz’s Delicatessen—made famous by its appearance in When Harry Met Sally—has been curing, brining, and smoking its pastrami in-house since 1888. The sandwiches are a hefty amount of hot, fresh, thick-cut pastrami on seeded rye with a smear of mustard and a side of dill pickles (extra pickles recommended); the pastrami is smoky, peppery, piled so high it defies gravity, and guaranteed to leave mustard on your shirt." - Amelia Schwartz
"As a frequent patron of Jewish delis and a corned beef sandwich girl to my core, the fact that my go-to order at Katz’s is pastrami truly says something. Yes, the line is long, and yes it is filled with tourists, but there’s a reason so many people want to eat here (and it’s not just because of its presence in When Harry Met Sally). It’s where my sister and I go when we need a little taste of the Jewish delis we grew up on, and the sandwich is particularly well paired with a bowl of matzo ball soup. The pastrami itself is thick cut and perfectly seasoned—best eaten right there in the restaurant when it’s hot, but almost as delicious the next day for leftovers (just be sure to store the rye bread and meat separately if you don’t want the bread to get soggy)." - Kat Chen
"Matzo ball soup for breakfast here is a power move I highly recommend, especially before 9 a.m. when the ever-popular deli is mercifully less crowded. For $9.95, the generous bowl is textbook: an epic-sized fluffy matzo ball surrounded by hearty chunks of carrot and chicken; I paired it with a kraut-topped frankfurter ($5.95) for a satisfying start to the day. The only hassle is remembering the hectic ordering and ticketing/checkout system." - Nadia Chaudhury