Katz’s Delicatessen
205 E Houston Street
It might be impossible to look up a list of “things to do” New York and not find Katz’s Deli on there. The kosher deli has lived on the Lower East Side in one form or another since 1888. It started as Iceland Brothers on Ludlow Street and moved to an empty lot at 205 Houston Street—its permanent home—where it has been slinging various sandwiches pastrami platters, meats and pickles since the 1930s.
Katz’s has a rich history in this part of the city. It grew from a neighborhood, family-run business supporting newly immigrated families in the area, to sending food to these family’s sons during World War II using the slogan: “Send A Salami To Your Boy In The Army.” Katz was also a common meeting place for entertainers with the rise of Yiddish Theater in the 1930s and 40s.
Katz’s has continued to draw celebrities. The walls are covered with famous faces from all fields and industries that have come by to chow down. And since the 1980s, Katz’s has been famously recognized from the iconic When Harry Met Sally scene.
The deli remains as much a cultural landmark as it is a place to eat. The ritual of grabbing a numbered ticket, watching the cutters work behind the counter, and navigating the bustling dining room is part of the experience. It’s loud, crowded, unapologetic, and that’s very much the point.
For first timers and lifelong New Yorkers alike, a visit to Katz’s is less about chasing nostalgia and more about participating in a living piece of the city’s fabric—best enjoyed with a Pastrami on Rye and a side of pickles.
