{"id":1365,"date":"2025-05-23T11:30:59","date_gmt":"2025-05-23T15:30:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eportfolios.macaulay.cuny.edu\/nyfoodatlas\/?post_type=locations&p=1365"},"modified":"2026-04-17T16:16:08","modified_gmt":"2026-04-17T20:16:08","slug":"katzs-delicattessen","status":"publish","type":"locations","link":"https:\/\/openlab.macaulay.cuny.edu\/nyfoodatlas\/locations\/katzs-delicattessen\/","title":{"rendered":"Katz’s Delicattessen"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By the early 1900s, New York\u2019s Lower East Side was overflowing with Jewish immigrants fleeing persecution in Eastern Europe. Many came from places like Russia, Germany, and Poland, bringing with them religion,language, and food shaped by centuries in their small, tight-knit shtetls. Meat was once a luxury, but in America, it became more accessible. That shift gave rise to the Jewish delicatessen: simple storefronts where immigrant families could serve hearty sandwiches, like pastrami and corned beef in a simple and affordable setting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A classic pastrami sandwich from Katz\u2019s Delicatessen, famous for its generous portions of flavorful smoked meat. (Photo credit: Zheng Zhou) <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Among the most famous of these delis is Katz\u2019s Delicatessen. First opened in 1888 as Iceland\u2019s Delicatessen, the shop quickly gained popularity for its flavorful meats and welcoming atmosphere. In 1903, Willy Katz joined the business, and in 1910, his cousin bought out the original owners and renamed it Katz\u2019s. Located on Ludlow Street, Katz\u2019s grew alongside the Jewish community in the Lower East Side. Every Friday, families would gather there for franks and beans before sundown, creating traditions that turned a storefront into a communal hub.
Katz\u2019s is known not only for its iconic pastrami on rye but also for its energy. The walls are covered in retro photos, the line of people holding tickets to order is long, and the countermen still hand-slice the meat while keeping everything moving. The store refuses to modernize, holding on to its neon signs, aging walls, and time-tested recipes. It has appeared in countless films and shows, most famously in When Harry Met Sally, which features the famous quote \u201cI’ll have what she\u2019s having\u201d. While most delis have vanished from the city, Katz\u2019s endures as a living monument to New York\u2019s immigrant past and the enduring flavors of Jewish tradition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/div>
205 E Houston St, New York, NY 10002<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
By Ben Alter
Learn about the smoky, hand-sliced pastrami that\u2019s been drawing huge crowds to the Lower East Side for over a century.
Campus: Queens College
Professor: Archie Porter
Location: 205 E Houston St, New York, NY 10002
References: Merwin, Ted. Pastrami [On] Rye : An Overstuffed History of the Jewish Deli. New York ; London, New York University Press, 2018.\n

\u201cOur Story – NYC\u2019s Oldest Deli.\u201d Katzsdelicatessen.com, 2025, katzsdelicatessen.com\/our-story Accessed May 2025.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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