At the counter of an old New York deli, the cutter lifts a steaming slab of pastrami out of the warmer, carves it by hand into thick slices, piles them onto rye bread until it towers, and slides a pickle onto the plate. The sandwich is taller than it is wide.
A New York deli is a Jewish delicatessen serving towering pastrami and corned beef sandwiches on rye with mustard, matzo ball soup, knishes, pickles and egg creams. The most famous is Katz’s Delicatessen on the Lower East Side, open since 1888. In 2026 a pastrami sandwich at a famous deli costs roughly $25–35. Traditional delis do not serve pork, but their meat is not halal-slaughtered (and this site does not treat kosher meat as halal), so Muslim travellers should choose the meat-free dishes or look for halal pastrami elsewhere in the city.
This guide covers what to order, how the famous delis work, halal choices, prices and deli lingo.
A slice of immigrant history
Delis grew up with the Jewish immigrants who arrived from Central and Eastern Europe in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. At their peak there were thousands in New York; only a handful of the old ones survive.
Some are strictly kosher, supervised by a rabbinic authority. Others are “kosher-style”: the same food, without certification.
What is on the menu
| Dish | What it is | Halal check |
|---|---|---|
| Pastrami on rye | Brined, spiced, smoked and steamed beef, sliced thick | Beef not halal-slaughtered |
| Corned beef | Salt-cured beef brisket | Beef not halal-slaughtered |
| Matzo ball soup | Dumplings of matzo meal in chicken broth | Chicken broth not halal |
| Knish | Baked pastry filled with potato or kasha | Usually meat-free; ask about fat |
| Pickles | Full-sour and half-sour cucumbers | Fine |
| Egg cream | Chocolate syrup, milk and seltzer; no egg, no cream | Fine |
| Black-and-white cookie | Soft cookie with half chocolate, half vanilla icing | Usually fine |
| Rugelach | Rolled pastries with fruit, nuts or chocolate | Usually fine |
How the famous delis work
- Katz’s Delicatessen – you get a paper ticket at the door. Order at the counter, where the cutter marks your ticket; pay on the way out. Do not lose the ticket.
- Table service areas – some delis also have waiter service, usually at a higher price.
- Portions – a sandwich easily feeds two. Sharing is normal (some delis add a small sharing charge).
- Counter tip – many people tip the cutter a dollar or two, who may hand you a taste of meat while slicing.
Halal note: traditional Jewish delis do not serve pork, but the beef and chicken are not halal-slaughtered, and we do not present kosher meat as halal. Meat-free choices at a deli include knishes, pickles, egg creams, cookies and rugelach. New York has halal delis and halal butchers that make halal pastrami, and halal food carts are everywhere. See our halal food travel guide.
Where to go
- Katz’s Delicatessen, Lower East Side – the most famous; busy, loud and part of film history.
- 2nd Ave Deli – a kosher deli open since the 1950s, now in Midtown and the Upper East Side.
- Lower East Side food walk – combine a deli with bagels and smoked fish; see our guide to New York bagels.
Expect queues at lunch and weekends. Check opening hours; kosher delis close for the Sabbath and Jewish holidays.
Deli lingo
| Say | Meaning |
|---|---|
| “Pastrami on rye, mustard” | The classic order |
| “Lean” or “fatty” | How much fat you want on the meat |
| “Full sour” or “half sour” | How pickled your pickles are |
| “Egg cream” | The chocolate-seltzer drink |
| “To share” | Two plates for one sandwich |
What it costs (2026)
| Order | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Pastrami sandwich at a famous deli | About $25–35 |
| Matzo ball soup | About $10–15 |
| Knish | About $5–9 |
| Egg cream | About $5–8 |
| Halal cart plate | About $10–14 |
Plan your budget with the USA food budget calculator and see tipping in the USA.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most famous deli in New York?
Katz’s Delicatessen on the Lower East Side, open since 1888.
Is New York deli food halal?
Traditional delis serve no pork, but the meat is not halal-slaughtered. Choose meat-free items, or find halal pastrami at halal delis and butchers.
How much is a pastrami sandwich at Katz’s?
About $25–35 in 2026.
What is an egg cream?
A drink of chocolate syrup, milk and seltzer. It has no egg and no cream.
See all United States food guides, including Texas BBQ.
Sources
- NYC Tourism – official tourism site.
- Katz’s Delicatessen and Jewish deli.
