The 8 Most Delicious Deli Sandwiches in NYC
Few culinary items define New York like the famed deli sandwich. From the towering pastrami at Katz’s to the legendarily fluffy egg salad at Eisenberg’s, here’s our roundup of the tastiest ‘wiches in town
February 13, 2015, Kathleen Squires
New Yorkers didn’t invent the deli, though you would think that we had, what with the pride in which we proffer — and consume — deli sandwiches. Like much of the city’s best foods, the Europeans brought the deli concept to NYC. We took it, put our own distinct stamp on it and ran with it. From Jewish noshes to Italian heroes to modernized mash-ups, here are eight of the best between-breads around town.
Katz’s pastrami on rye (Photo: Owlpacino/Flickr CC)
Pastrami at Katz’shttp://katzsdelicatessen.com/
Despite the famous movie scene shot at this Lower East Side icon, don’t “have what she’s having.” Sally had a turkey on white. Go with what Harry ordered: pastrami, the king of all deli meats. At this 127-year-old palace, the elaborate smoking, rubbing, curing and boiling process results in a warm, melt-in-your-mouth meat pile — a particularly sublime sandwich when wedged between slices of rye bread ($18.45). 205 E. Houston St., 212-254-2246, katzsdelicatessen.com
Mile End Deli reuben (Photo: Mile End Deli)
Reuben at Mile End Delihttp://mileenddeli.com/
Known for introducing “Canadian pastrami” to NYC, the Reuben at this Montreal-inspired deli has garnered hearty praise across the city. The Reuben may have originated at Reuben’s Delicatessen, a landmark German deli in NYC, but Mile End has risen to the challenge with its own terrific take: hot turkey and corned beef with Swiss, sauerkraut and Russian dressing on pumpernickel($13). 97 A Hoyt St., Brooklyn, 718-852-7510, mileenddeli.com
Pho Real at Sunny and Annie’s Gourmet Deli (Photo: Sunny and Annie’s)
Pho Real at Sunny and Annie’s Gourmet Delihttp://www.sunnyandannies.com/
NYC’s melting pot history is cleverly reflected in this roast beef sandwich, a reinvention of the emblematic soup of Vietnam ($6.99). It’s a juicy, spicy, crisp and cool combination of beef with bean sprouts, basil, cilantro, avocado, tomato, onion, hoisin and Sriracha, served hot or cold, on a roll. Its unique flavor, and the fact that the deli is open 24 hours, has made it a late-night post-bar favorite in the East Village. 94 Ave. B, 212-677-3131, sunnyandannies.com
The Italian Special at Faicco’s Italian Specialties (Photo: Yelp)
Italian Special at Faicco’s
A Village destination for all things Italian since 1900, Faicco’s made its name with its homemade sausage. Its fatty meats, however, come together brilliantly in the Italian Special ($12), a salty stack of prosciutto, cappy ham, soppressata, mozzarella, red pepper or sundried tomatoes, lettuce and tomato, graced with house Italian dressing. 260 Bleecker St., 212-243-1974, no website
Real American Hero at No. 7 Sub (Photo: No. 7 Sub)
Real American Hero at No. 7http://www.no7sub.com/index.php
While the Ace Hotel location renovates and the Dumbo site hibernates for winter, The Plaza Hotel branch is where the new traditionalists come to get what Serious Eats once called “mad scientist sandwiches.” While No. 7’s offbeat combos (zucchini parm with BBQ potato chips, for example) grab the headlines, its all-American assemblage of turkey, bacon, avocado, pickled jalapenos and smoked French dressing ($14) deserves equal buzz for sprucing up the classic club. One W. 59th St., 646-755-3228, no7sub.com
The Bomb at Sal, Kris and Charlie’s Deli (Photo: Yelp)
The Bomb at Sal, Kris and Charlie’s
Who says that foot-longs can only be reserved for hot dogs? The Bomb ($7.50), a 12-inch hero, should really be called The New York Giant. A massive torpedo of Corona Bakery Boys bread is filled with ham, turkey, salami, pepperoni, mortadella, American, Swiss and provolone, lettuce, tomato, onion, roasted pepper, Italian dressing, mustard and mayo. For explosive appetites only. 33-12 23rd Ave., Astoria, 718-278-9240, no website.
Eisenberg’s egg salad sandwich (Photo: Garrett Ziegler)
Egg Salad at Eisenberg’s Sandwich Shophttp://eisenbergsnyc.com/
A vegetarian favorite, this sandwich is as delightfully old-fashioned as the lunch counter it’s served in. Eisenberg’s egg salad ($6.50) is legendarily fluffy, and there’s even a cult for layering it with the house’s famous tuna salad ($8) for a particularly creamy combo. When served by a guy in a white paper hat, and washed down with a classic egg cream, it doesn’t get any more quintessentially New York than this. 174 5th Ave., 212-675-5096, eisenbergsnyc.com
Carve grilled portabella sandwich (Photo: Mary-Louise Price Foss)
Grilled Portabella at Carve Unique Sandwicheshttp://carve.cc/
Though the notion of deli sandwiches invokes images of meat, that doesn’t mean that vegetarians can’t find a good grinder. Au contraire at this Hell’s Kitchen all-nighter, a favorite for the Broadway chorus set after curtain call. A roll stuffed with grilled portabella, pesto, spinach, tomato, roasted peppers, mozzarella and balsamic ($7) helps keep many a dancer’s body full, and toned. 760 8th Ave., 212-730-4949, carve.cc
Few culinary items define New York like the famed deli sandwich. From the towering pastrami at Katz’s to the legendarily fluffy egg salad at Eisenberg’s, here’s our roundup of the tastiest ‘wiches in town
February 13, 2015, Kathleen Squires
New Yorkers didn’t invent the deli, though you would think that we had, what with the pride in which we proffer — and consume — deli sandwiches. Like much of the city’s best foods, the Europeans brought the deli concept to NYC. We took it, put our own distinct stamp on it and ran with it. From Jewish noshes to Italian heroes to modernized mash-ups, here are eight of the best between-breads around town.
Katz’s pastrami on rye (Photo: Owlpacino/Flickr CC)
Pastrami at Katz’shttp://katzsdelicatessen.com/
Despite the famous movie scene shot at this Lower East Side icon, don’t “have what she’s having.” Sally had a turkey on white. Go with what Harry ordered: pastrami, the king of all deli meats. At this 127-year-old palace, the elaborate smoking, rubbing, curing and boiling process results in a warm, melt-in-your-mouth meat pile — a particularly sublime sandwich when wedged between slices of rye bread ($18.45). 205 E. Houston St., 212-254-2246, katzsdelicatessen.com
Mile End Deli reuben (Photo: Mile End Deli)
Reuben at Mile End Delihttp://mileenddeli.com/
Known for introducing “Canadian pastrami” to NYC, the Reuben at this Montreal-inspired deli has garnered hearty praise across the city. The Reuben may have originated at Reuben’s Delicatessen, a landmark German deli in NYC, but Mile End has risen to the challenge with its own terrific take: hot turkey and corned beef with Swiss, sauerkraut and Russian dressing on pumpernickel($13). 97 A Hoyt St., Brooklyn, 718-852-7510, mileenddeli.com
Pho Real at Sunny and Annie’s Gourmet Deli (Photo: Sunny and Annie’s)
Pho Real at Sunny and Annie’s Gourmet Delihttp://www.sunnyandannies.com/
NYC’s melting pot history is cleverly reflected in this roast beef sandwich, a reinvention of the emblematic soup of Vietnam ($6.99). It’s a juicy, spicy, crisp and cool combination of beef with bean sprouts, basil, cilantro, avocado, tomato, onion, hoisin and Sriracha, served hot or cold, on a roll. Its unique flavor, and the fact that the deli is open 24 hours, has made it a late-night post-bar favorite in the East Village. 94 Ave. B, 212-677-3131, sunnyandannies.com
The Italian Special at Faicco’s Italian Specialties (Photo: Yelp)
Italian Special at Faicco’s
A Village destination for all things Italian since 1900, Faicco’s made its name with its homemade sausage. Its fatty meats, however, come together brilliantly in the Italian Special ($12), a salty stack of prosciutto, cappy ham, soppressata, mozzarella, red pepper or sundried tomatoes, lettuce and tomato, graced with house Italian dressing. 260 Bleecker St., 212-243-1974, no website
Real American Hero at No. 7 Sub (Photo: No. 7 Sub)
Real American Hero at No. 7http://www.no7sub.com/index.php
While the Ace Hotel location renovates and the Dumbo site hibernates for winter, The Plaza Hotel branch is where the new traditionalists come to get what Serious Eats once called “mad scientist sandwiches.” While No. 7’s offbeat combos (zucchini parm with BBQ potato chips, for example) grab the headlines, its all-American assemblage of turkey, bacon, avocado, pickled jalapenos and smoked French dressing ($14) deserves equal buzz for sprucing up the classic club. One W. 59th St., 646-755-3228, no7sub.com
The Bomb at Sal, Kris and Charlie’s Deli (Photo: Yelp)
The Bomb at Sal, Kris and Charlie’s
Who says that foot-longs can only be reserved for hot dogs? The Bomb ($7.50), a 12-inch hero, should really be called The New York Giant. A massive torpedo of Corona Bakery Boys bread is filled with ham, turkey, salami, pepperoni, mortadella, American, Swiss and provolone, lettuce, tomato, onion, roasted pepper, Italian dressing, mustard and mayo. For explosive appetites only. 33-12 23rd Ave., Astoria, 718-278-9240, no website.
Eisenberg’s egg salad sandwich (Photo: Garrett Ziegler)
Egg Salad at Eisenberg’s Sandwich Shophttp://eisenbergsnyc.com/
A vegetarian favorite, this sandwich is as delightfully old-fashioned as the lunch counter it’s served in. Eisenberg’s egg salad ($6.50) is legendarily fluffy, and there’s even a cult for layering it with the house’s famous tuna salad ($8) for a particularly creamy combo. When served by a guy in a white paper hat, and washed down with a classic egg cream, it doesn’t get any more quintessentially New York than this. 174 5th Ave., 212-675-5096, eisenbergsnyc.com
Carve grilled portabella sandwich (Photo: Mary-Louise Price Foss)
Grilled Portabella at Carve Unique Sandwicheshttp://carve.cc/
Though the notion of deli sandwiches invokes images of meat, that doesn’t mean that vegetarians can’t find a good grinder. Au contraire at this Hell’s Kitchen all-nighter, a favorite for the Broadway chorus set after curtain call. A roll stuffed with grilled portabella, pesto, spinach, tomato, roasted peppers, mozzarella and balsamic ($7) helps keep many a dancer’s body full, and toned. 760 8th Ave., 212-730-4949, carve.cc