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Deli · Jewish-American · NYC

Katz's Delicatessen Menu: Pastrami, Corned Beef & NYC Deli Classics

Full Katz's Delicatessen menu — every category, from the legendary pastrami and corned beef sandwiches to matzo ball soup, potato knishes, latkes, and egg creams. One of New York City's oldest and most iconic restaurants, open on the Lower East Side since 1888.

Open since 1888Lower East Side, NYCDeli · Jewish-AmericanSingle location"When Harry Met Sally" deli
Jump to full menu Cheapest items
Sample · $$

Signature items

Pastrami SandwichSignature
Corned Beef SandwichClassic
Matzo Ball SoupHouse-made
Potato KnishNYC staple
Egg CreamNYC original
Jump to: Signature sandwiches Soups Knishes & latkes Breakfast History & about FAQ
Quick answers

Common questions about Katz's Delicatessen menu

The four things people most often look up about Katz's — answered in one glance.

Must-order item
Pastrami Sandwich

Hand-carved, cured and smoked in-house. The definitive NYC pastrami.

Best soup
Matzo Ball Soup

Golden chicken broth with a large fluffy matzo ball. A Friday staple.

NYC-only classic
Egg Cream

Chocolate syrup, milk, and seltzer. Invented one block from Katz's.

Film fame
"I'll Have What She's Having"

The When Harry Met Sally scene was filmed at the table near the window.

Menu highlights

What to order at Katz's Delicatessen

Six essential Katz's dishes — the items that define the menu and have kept New Yorkers (and tourists) coming back for over 130 years.

Signature

Pastrami Sandwich

Katz's most famous item. Cured-and-smoked beef navel, hand-carved and piled on rye with mustard. In continuous production since 1888.

Classic

Corned Beef Sandwich

Brined for weeks, steamed to order, hand-carved thick on rye. The second pillar of the Katz's menu.

Soup

Matzo Ball Soup

One large, fluffy matzo ball in golden chicken broth. A Friday and weekend institution.

NYC icon

Potato Knish

Baked or fried dough filled with seasoned mashed potato. One of the great NYC street-food snacks.

Drink

Egg Cream

Chocolate syrup + milk + seltzer = the classic New York fountain drink. Invented in the Lower East Side neighborhood.

Brunch

Bagel with Lox & Cream Cheese

Toasted bagel with smoked Nova Scotia salmon, cream cheese, capers, and onion. Available all day.

Browse the menu

Jump to a category

All Katz's menu categories with item counts.

Signature Sandwiches7 itemsSoups3 itemsHot Plates & Entrees5 itemsKnishes & Latkes3 itemsAppetizers & Sides6 itemsBreakfast5 itemsDesserts & Drinks6 items
The full menu

Every item on Katz's Delicatessen's menu

All categories below. Items are consistent across Katz's single location. Tags flag vegetarian and vegan items.

About pricing. Katz's Delicatessen does not publish current menu prices online. Prices are omitted here to avoid misleading visitors. For current pricing, visit katzsdelicatessen.com or call the deli directly at (212) 254-2246. Prices at Katz's reflect New York City premium deli pricing.
Signature spotlight

The dishes that define Katz's Delicatessen

If you have never been to Katz's and want to know what is genuinely distinctive — these are the dishes that have made it a New York City institution.

Since 1888 · Signature

Pastrami Sandwich

Katz's cures and smokes its own beef navel in-house using a process unchanged for over a century. The meat is hand-carved at the counter, piled thick on rye, and served with deli mustard. Widely considered the definitive pastrami sandwich in New York City.

Classic · House-cured

Corned Beef Sandwich

Brined for weeks, steamed to order, and carved thick by hand. The corned beef at Katz's is silkier and less smoky than the pastrami, with a deeply savory brine flavor. Many regulars consider it even better than the pastrami.

Soup · Friday staple

Matzo Ball Soup

Golden, clarified chicken broth with a single large, fluffy matzo ball. Made fresh daily. A Friday and weekend institution at Katz's — the Jewish deli equivalent of a French onion soup at a Parisian bistro.

Vegetarian · NYC street food

Potato Knish

A large baked dough parcel filled with seasoned mashed potato. The knish arrived in the Lower East Side with Eastern European Jewish immigrants in the late 1800s. Katz's version is one of the few remaining places serving it exactly as it was a century ago.

NYC original · Counter drink

Egg Cream

Chocolate syrup, whole milk, and seltzer water — no eggs, no cream. The egg cream was invented in the Lower East Side in the 1890s, within a few blocks of Katz's. One of the last places in the city to order one at a proper counter.

Film location · 1989

"I'll Have What She's Having" Table

The table where Meg Ryan's character faked an orgasm in the 1989 film When Harry Met Sally is marked by a sign overhead. The scene has become one of the most famous in romantic comedy history — and one of the main reasons tourists seek out Katz's.

Dietary guide

Vegetarian, vegan, and dietary notes at Katz's

Katz's is a meat-forward deli, but several menu items are vegetarian and a smaller number are vegan. The kitchen is not a dedicated vegetarian kitchen — most preparation surfaces and equipment are shared with meat products.

Katz's is also not certified kosher, despite the Jewish deli food tradition. Meat and dairy are served in the same meal; the deli is open seven days a week including Saturday.

Cross-contact is possible. Confirm with the restaurant if you have a serious allergy.

  • Vegetarian items: Potato Knish, Kasha Knish, Potato Latkes, Coleslaw, Potato Salad, Macaroni Salad, Egg Cream, Bagel with Cream Cheese, Cheesecake, Rugelach
  • Vegan items: Pickle Platter, French Fries, Fountain Soda, Coffee
  • Not kosher: Katz's is not certified kosher
  • Gluten-free: Limited options; most bread and knishes contain gluten
  • Allergens: Dairy, gluten (wheat), and eggs are present throughout the menu
Visiting tips

How to order at Katz's Delicatessen

Important

Keep your ticket

When you enter, you receive a paper ticket. Every item ordered at the counter is punched on your ticket. You pay on the way out based on the ticket. Losing the ticket results in a fixed charge. Do not lose your ticket.

Ordering

Order at the carving counter

Walk to the deli counter and order directly from the carver. The pastrami and corned beef are carved to order in front of you. It is common (and expected) to tip the carver — those who do often receive a small taste of meat before their sandwich is finished.

Pro tip

Ask for a taste

The counter carvers at Katz's traditionally offer a taste of the meat before finishing your sandwich. It is one of the quiet rituals of ordering at a real New York deli and a sign of the quality they are proud of.

Sharing

One sandwich is enough for two

The pastrami and corned beef sandwiches at Katz's are extremely large. Many first-time visitors split a sandwich and add a bowl of matzo ball soup. This is a completely acceptable and economical way to experience the menu.

Payment

Cash or card (now accepted)

Katz's was cash-only for most of its history but now accepts credit and debit cards. Having some cash is still useful during busy periods when lines at payment can be long.

Timing

Go on a weekday if possible

Weekend lines at Katz's can be very long, especially at brunch and lunch. Weekday visits (especially weekday mornings and mid-afternoon) are significantly calmer and give you a better experience of the deli's atmosphere.

About Katz's Delicatessen

New York City's most iconic deli, open since 1888.

Katz's Delicatessen opened on the Lower East Side of Manhattan in 1888 — when the neighborhood was a center of Jewish immigrant life in America. The deli became a gathering place for the Ashkenazi Jewish community and has served pastrami, corned beef, knishes, and matzo ball soup with little interruption for over 130 years.

The deli is family-owned and remains at its original location at 205 East Houston Street, on the corner of Houston and Ludlow. It has survived two World Wars, the Great Depression, decades of New York City urban change, and the COVID-19 pandemic. The interior — with its long counter, communal tables, hanging salami, and walls covered in celebrity photographs and memorabilia — is essentially unchanged from its mid-20th century appearance.

Katz's is perhaps best known internationally as the location of the "I'll Have What She's Having" scene from the 1989 film When Harry Met Sally, directed by Rob Reiner and written by Nora Ephron. The table where the scene was filmed is permanently marked.

The deli ships pastrami and corned beef nationwide via its online store. For a full-size New York deli experience, however, only the original location on East Houston will do.

1888Founded
1Location
135+Years open
LESManhattan, NYC
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Common questions

Katz's Delicatessen — frequently asked questions

Quick answers to what people most commonly ask about Katz's Delicatessen, its menu, history, and visiting tips.

What is Katz's Delicatessen famous for?

Katz's Delicatessen is most famous for its hand-carved pastrami and corned beef sandwiches — widely considered among the best in New York City, if not the country. The deli has been open since 1888 on the Lower East Side of Manhattan and is also famous as the location of the When Harry Met Sally "I'll Have What She's Having" scene, filmed at Katz's in 1989. Katz's is also known for its matzo ball soup, potato knishes, latkes, and egg creams.

Does Katz's Delicatessen still accept cash only?

Katz's Delicatessen was famously cash-only for most of its history, but the deli now accepts credit and debit cards in addition to cash. There is also a well-known ticket system: guests receive a paper ticket upon entry and each item ordered is punched on the ticket; the ticket is settled at the exit. Losing your ticket results in a charge.

Where is Katz's Delicatessen located?

Katz's Delicatessen is located at 205 E Houston Street, New York, NY 10002, on the corner of Houston and Ludlow Streets in the Lower East Side neighborhood of Manhattan. It is accessible by the F/M subway lines at the 2nd Avenue station. Katz's has operated from this single location since 1888.

What are Katz's Delicatessen hours?

Katz's Delicatessen is generally open Monday through Wednesday 8 AM to 10:45 PM, Thursday 8 AM to 2:45 AM (open through Thursday night into Friday morning), Friday 8 AM through the weekend continuously (Katz's stays open 24 hours over the weekend), and Sunday through 10:45 PM. Hours can vary around holidays — confirm current hours at katzsdelicatessen.com before visiting.

What is the Katz's pastrami sandwich — and what makes it different?

The Katz's pastrami sandwich is a generously hand-carved pile of cured-and-smoked pastrami on rye bread with deli mustard. What sets it apart is the in-house curing and smoking process: the beef navel is seasoned with a dry rub, cured for days, then smoked and steamed — a process Katz's has not significantly changed since the 1800s. The meat is carved by hand at the counter, not machine-sliced, and the portion size is famously large. A common comparison point: Katz's pastrami is fattier and smokier than many deli competitors, with a pronounced peppery bark.

Is Katz's Delicatessen kosher?

Katz's Delicatessen is not certified kosher, despite serving classic Jewish deli food. The deli operates seven days a week (including the Sabbath), serves pork products (hot dogs made from all-beef, but beer is served), and does not maintain the separation of meat and dairy required for kosher certification. Many of the individual menu items (pastrami, corned beef, knishes) are rooted in Ashkenazi Jewish food traditions, but Katz's itself has never sought kosher certification.

Can I order Katz's Delicatessen online or ship a pastrami sandwich?

Yes. Katz's Delicatessen ships pastrami, corned beef, and deli packages nationwide via their online store at katzsdelicatessen.com. You can order pastrami kits (meat, rye bread, mustard) or full sandwich packages for overnight or 2-day shipping. In-person ordering is also available for takeout and dine-in; third-party delivery apps (DoorDash, Uber Eats, Grubhub) serve the immediate Lower East Side area.

What is an egg cream and does Katz's serve one?

An egg cream is a classic New York City fountain drink made with milk, chocolate (or vanilla) syrup, and seltzer water — no eggs, no cream, despite the name. It was invented in NYC's Lower East Side in the late 19th century, the same neighborhood as Katz's. Yes, Katz's serves egg creams as one of their signature drinks, alongside the deli food. It is one of the few remaining places in the city to order an authentic egg cream at the counter.

What scene from When Harry Met Sally was filmed at Katz's?

The famous When Harry Met Sally scene filmed at Katz's is the "I'll Have What She's Having" scene, in which Sally (Meg Ryan) fakes an orgasm at a deli table to prove her point to Harry (Billy Crystal). The scene was filmed on location at Katz's in 1989 and is one of the most quoted moments in romantic comedy film history. A sign above the specific table where the scene was filmed now reads "Where Harry Met Sally."

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