These 15 New York Delis Never Go Out Of Style
Some places just taste like New York, and these delis prove it every single day. You come for the pastrami, the pickles, the bagels, and somehow leave with a memory that feels like home.
From century old counters to new school classics, every stop delivers character in every bite. Bring an appetite and a little patience, because the best things here are worth the wait.
1. Katz’s Delicatessen (Lower East Side, Manhattan)
You come to Katz’s for pastrami that practically melts the moment it hits the plate. The slicer carves thick, pepper crusted ribbons, stacked high on rye with a clean stripe of mustard.
Grab a ticket at the door, soak in the neon glow, and let the crowded counter energy pull you in.
It feels like a time capsule without the museum hush. The photos on the wall, the clatter, the quick jokes from lifer cutters, all keep the rhythm.
Add half sour pickles, maybe a knish, and watch the table disappear under tradition that never feels forced.
2. Russ & Daughters (Lower East Side, Manhattan)
Russ & Daughters is where smoked fish becomes ceremony. Pick your lox style, from silky Gaspe to assertive belly lox, then let a perfect bagel and precise schmear complete the ritual.
Onions, capers, tomato, maybe a slice of cucumber, and suddenly breakfast feels like a holiday.
The shop balances old world charm with exacting standards. Lines move, smiles land, and everything looks impossibly polished behind glass.
Whether you sit at the cafe or carry out a neatly wrapped bundle, you taste a century of know how in every bite.
3. Second Avenue Deli (Murray Hill + Upper East Side, Manhattan)
Second Avenue Deli keeps the old soul humming in a modern room. The matzo ball soup is textbook comfort, with a feather light floater and golden broth that tastes like someone worried over it all day.
Sandwiches arrive stacked, tidy, and unapologetically generous, best with coleslaw and Russian dressing.
Service is brisk but warm, like you have been coming for years. Nosh plates, stuffed derma, and chopped liver carry deep tradition without feeling heavy handed.
When you crave classic Jewish deli done precisely right, this is where your compass points.
4. Sarge’s Delicatessen & Diner (Murray Hill/Kips Bay, Manhattan)
Sarge’s is that late night friend who always says yes. The menu reads like a mixtape of greatest hits, from sky high pastrami to blintzes and big bowls of chicken soup.
You will find combo sandwiches that demand two hands and a strategy, plus all day breakfasts that feel right at midnight.
Portions border on theatrical, but the flavor stays sincere. Rye has bite, pickles crunch, and the staff keeps everything moving.
Slide into a booth, lean into excess, and let the diner deli mashup do its thing.
5. Barney Greengrass (Upper West Side, Manhattan)
Barney Greengrass is a smoked fish sanctuary with Upper West Side charm. The sturgeon is rich and regal, especially alongside eggs and onions that perfume the whole room.
Bagels and bialys get the supporting role they deserve, while whitefish salad and nova show perfect restraint.
Tables sit close, conversation hums, and the ceiling feels like it has heard every neighborhood story. Service moves with brisk confidence, never fussy, always focused on getting you fed right.
When you want breakfast that anchors a day, this is the move.
6. Pastrami Queen (Upper East Side, Manhattan)
Pastrami Queen lives up to the crown with no nonsense excellence. The meat arrives steaming, peppery, and cut thick enough to show marbling like strata.
Mustard, rye, and a side of pickles keep the focus sharp, proving you do not need trickery when fundamentals sing.
The room is small, the flavors are huge, and takeout remains a strong play. Grab an order, find a nearby bench, and let the city become your dining room.
Classic sides round it out, but that sandwich is the headline every time.
7. David’s Brisket House (Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn)
David’s Brisket House serves comfort with quiet confidence. The brisket is tender, deeply seasoned, and sliced to overflow a soft roll or rye.
A drizzle of jus ties everything together without drowning the sandwich, letting the meat speak clearly.
There is no staged nostalgia, just a beloved neighborhood spot doing what it does well. Order a combo with pastrami or corned beef if you like contrasts, then add a simple side and settle in.
It feels timeless because it never tries too hard.
8. Frankel’s Delicatessen & Appetizing (Greenpoint, Brooklyn)
Frankel’s bridges tradition and now with style. You get silky smoked fish, sharp pickles, and pastrami that means business, all presented with modern clarity.
Breakfast sandwiches come on bialys or bagels, layered neatly so each bite lands balanced and satisfying.
The space feels friendly and efficient, inviting quick stops and lingering mornings alike. Order coffee, grab a seat by the window, and watch Greenpoint stroll past.
It is the kind of deli that reminds you classics thrive when handled with care, not fuss.
9. Court Street Grocers (Brooklyn + Manhattan)
Court Street Grocers is a new school icon with serious craft. The sandwiches are creative without gimmicks, built on crusty breads that can handle generous fillings.
House roasted meats, thoughtful sauces, and crunchy greens line up so every bite lands with purpose.
It is not about Jewish deli tradition here, but New York deli spirit remains present. Specials rotate, but favorites like the BEC or turkey classics never fade.
Expect a wait, and expect it to be worth it.
10. Mill Basin Deli (Mill Basin, Brooklyn)
Mill Basin Deli brings the neighborhood together over reliable favorites. Sandwiches come hefty and neat, built for big appetites and bigger smiles.
You taste steady hands in the corned beef, pastrami, and chicken soup, each seasoned with confidence rather than flash.
It is the dependable spot you recommend without hesitation. Service is welcoming, the menu broad, and there is always room for another pickle.
Come hungry, leave happy, and carry the comfort through the rest of your day.
11. Liebman’s Kosher Delicatessen (Riverdale, The Bronx)
Liebman’s feels like a postcard from deli history that never stopped being relevant. Kosher traditions guide the menu, from crisp latkes to corned beef and pastrami stacked tall.
The slicing is careful, the rye sturdy, and the pickles perfectly briny.
Families gather here, regulars greet each other, and newcomers quickly become converts. You taste continuity in every bite, the kind that anchors a neighborhood.
If you want the full classic kosher deli experience in The Bronx, this is the place to settle in.
12. Park Italian Gourmet (Borough Park, Brooklyn)
Park Italian Gourmet celebrates the Italian American hero in full color. You get a serious Italian combo built on a crackly seeded roll, layered with mortadella, soppressata, capicola, and provolone.
Oil, vinegar, shredded lettuce, tomato, and peppers bring the crunch and the zing that make everything pop.
The counter hums, the slicer sings, and sandwiches land heavy and satisfying. It is straightforward, generous, and deeply New York.
When you crave a proper hero that drips down your wrist, this is your stop.
13. Faicco’s Italian Specialties (Greenwich Village, Manhattan)
Faicco’s is where the Village goes for Italian sandwich rites of passage. Cutlets crackle, fresh mozzarella stretches, and long semolina heroes cradle layers that taste like Sunday.
Hot and sweet peppers, vinegar, and herbs make every bite feel lively and precise.
The shop itself is a treasure hunt of cured meats and pantry gems. Order a hero, snag arancini for the road, and try not to eat everything before you reach the park.
Tradition here feels celebratory, not stuck.
14. Sunny & Annie’s Deli (East Village, Manhattan)
Sunny & Annie’s proves creativity belongs in the deli canon. The menu reads like a zine, full of mashups that somehow taste inevitable once you bite in.
Expect sweet heat, crispy textures, and sauces that pull everything together without drowning the details.
It is tiny, always buzzing, and perfect for late night cravings or odd hour lunches. Grab a sandwich to go, unwrap on a stoop, and let the East Village soundtrack score the meal.
Cult favorites exist for a reason.
15. Milano Market (Upper East Side, Manhattan)
Milano Market builds the kind of sandwiches that turn lunch into an event. Think thick cut turkey, prosciutto, or chicken cutlets layered with fresh mozzarella and a sharp house dressing.
The bread is substantial and fresh, ready to hold everything together without collapsing.
Lines move quickly, and the staff keeps orders precise. Grab chips, maybe a cookie, and you have a complete mood lifter.
It is an Upper East Side staple because the result is always satisfying, no matter how you customize.
