Kosher delis in New York City
December 6, 2016 10:30 AM   Subscribe

Please recommend to me your favorite *kosher* delis in New York City. I'm specifically looking for restaurants that are certified as kosher and serve classics like pastrami and corned beef (like Second Ave. Deli and Pastrami Queen), not those that call themselves "kosher-style" or just "Jewish" delis (such as Katz's). Anywhere in the five boroughs is great. Thanks!
posted by Conrad Cornelius o'Donald o'Dell to Food & Drink (25 answers total) 7 users marked this as a favorite
 
B&H Dairy, Ben's Kosher Deli
posted by Cosine at 10:46 AM on December 6, 2016 [3 favorites]


In the city your choices would be second avenue or ben's deli on 38th and 7th ave. Ill be honest that neither of them really wow me. Im curious to see if other folks have suggestions.

outside manhattan ive wanted to check out Ben's Best in Rego Park in Queens, but its pretty far outside my normal travel circuits. Have also read good things about Mill Basin Kosher Deli, and despite having family somewhat nearbye, I have to admit we haven't tried it.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 10:47 AM on December 6, 2016


How kosher is certified kosher for you?

Sadly, there really aren't any left in Manhattan and I am not sure about outer boroughs. The 2nd Avenue Deli , Ben's Delicatessen and Fine and Schapiros on west 72nd are the only ones I can think of that almost-qualify, but neither is certified by organizations that Orthodox Jews would eat at (they are open on Saturdays and Jewish holidays and take other shortcuts that are fine with other branches of Judaism but don't work for people who stick to Glatt Kosher).
posted by Mchelly at 10:56 AM on December 6, 2016


Response by poster: I'm fine with Second Ave. Deli levels of kashrut. Any type of certification is fine with me.
posted by Conrad Cornelius o'Donald o'Dell at 10:59 AM on December 6, 2016


This might be a useful jumping-off point, though not sure when it was last updated.
posted by limeonaire at 11:01 AM on December 6, 2016


Also The Kasbah Grill (formerly the Kasbah Deli) on West 85th is Glatt and has fantastic deli sandwiches, but it's not a traditional NY Deli - it's a mix of Ashkenazi and Mizrahi options, plus a heavy dose of Lubavitcher Rebbe videos. Also it's a steakhouse now. Definitely worth a trip - there's no place like it - but might not scratch the itch you're aiming at.
posted by Mchelly at 11:01 AM on December 6, 2016 [1 favorite]


I'll vouch for Liebman's in the Bronx.
posted by neroli at 11:05 AM on December 6, 2016


Just a friendly word of advice... If you are looking to go to a specific deli mentioned here on a Friday night or Saturday, you may want to call ahead (or google search) to confirm they'll be open.

Bringing it up because mchelly's recommendation, The Kasbah Grill, is Glatt and closed on Shabbat. But also, some Jews will consider Pastrami Queen, 2nd Ave Deli (and even Ben's Kosher Deli, mentioned above) "kosher style" because they are open on Shabbat. Even though they serve only kosher meat and are strictly fleischig.
posted by zarq at 12:27 PM on December 6, 2016 [2 favorites]


Mill Basin Deli has the best pastrami I've ever had. They have a kosher certification, but they are also open on Saturdays.
posted by Lycaste at 1:09 PM on December 6, 2016


Ben's. Followed by Fine and Schapiro.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 1:57 PM on December 6, 2016


Response by poster: Appreciated. I keep kosher (which is why I asked this question) and am familiar with all these nuances.
posted by Conrad Cornelius o'Donald o'Dell at 3:23 PM on December 6, 2016 [1 favorite]


Isn't this what Mendy's is all about?
posted by taltalim at 3:41 PM on December 6, 2016


Mendy's has a few locations around Manhattan- IMO their meats are very good but most of what goes with it is nothing to make a special trip for.
posted by Mchelly at 4:20 PM on December 6, 2016 [1 favorite]


Kossar's (next to Donut Plant) in LES has really great bagels!
posted by oceanjesse at 4:39 PM on December 6, 2016


Jay and Lloyd's in Sheepshead Bay is fabulous.
posted by MeadowlarkMaude at 5:16 PM on December 6, 2016


Seconding Fine & Schapiro! My personal favorite- not at all fancy or hip and everything you want in a kosher deli.
posted by Admiral Viceroy at 6:02 PM on December 6, 2016


If you're willing to venture outside Manhattan, Harold's Deli in Edison NJ is what I think of when I think of a kosher deli.
posted by Pickman's Next Top Model at 6:36 PM on December 6, 2016


Response by poster: Harold's is not kosher.
posted by Conrad Cornelius o'Donald o'Dell at 7:17 PM on December 6, 2016 [2 favorites]


Loesser's Deli in the Bronx. A tiny traditional hole in the wall, perhaps the last of the real old style neighborhood delis. From northern Mahatten (GW Brisdge area) ake the #7 bus going north on Broadway and get off at 231th Street. Opened by Freddie Loesser 60 years ago with his Bar Mitzvah money, he still runs it as a one man operation, making the cole slaw fresh daily. Liebman's is two or three bus stops away, and also great expecially for the appetizers: whitefish salad and mini hot dogs wrapped in knish dough stand out.

If You find yourself in Newark, NJ, there is Hobby's deli, open only for lunch. They cure their pastrami in vats in the basement for the pure locavore terroir of downtown Newark. Non- Kosher , though. And do not eat any other "pastrami" offered to you in the State of New Jersey, under any circumstance.

If you find yourself in Brooklyn, it is worth checking out the relative new comer Mile's End, opened by Montreal expats and serving a very good house made "smoked meat" sandwich, similar to Chez Schwartz Deli in Montreal (which I consider better than the pastrami from Katz' Deli since they switched their suppliers a couple of years ago.) They just opened a branch in Manhatten on Bond street.
posted by zaelic at 1:52 AM on December 7, 2016 [1 favorite]


Oops. Mile End is not Kosher either.... go with Liebman's or Loesser's.
posted by zaelic at 1:53 AM on December 7, 2016


Subsational in Flatbush. http://www.subsational.net/ The product is simple and very tasty. Ave. P but worth the trip.

Also, not from a religious perspective but from a truth-in-advertising perspective, it is actually kosher. I personally will eat Hebrew National, but something rubs me the wrong way about making money off of non-religious people who don't know the difference.

Deli Casbah, mentioned above, http://www.kasbah-grill.com/, is real tasty, but I've never had their sandwiches. What I would personally get is the Mizrachi burger/kufta burger (not sure what it's called) and a double order of meat cigars for an appetizer. Surely you have more than one meal in the city, right?

Mendy's and Fine and Shapiro are dreck--I anti-recommend.

What you're looking for WAS the now-closed Grand St. Deli on the LES, but alas. :(
posted by 8603 at 7:16 AM on December 7, 2016 [1 favorite]


B&H, mentioned above, is great for dairy. https://www.yelp.com/biz/b-and-h-dairy-new-york-2 It, too, has a bad hashgacha, but for dairy, who cares?
posted by 8603 at 7:17 AM on December 7, 2016


I miss Noah's Ark on the LES. These days... Mr. Broadway exists, and it's okay (and Glatt Kosher), and I assume you already know about it. (And, yes, you can still order a standard pastrami sandwich, even if they've pared back the menu.)
posted by Shmuel510 at 8:08 AM on December 7, 2016 [1 favorite]


Looking again at Subsational's menu (out here in exile), it may look like they do not make a deli sandwich. Sure they do. Just ask for the kind of sandwich you want.
posted by 8603 at 1:21 PM on December 13, 2016


Also not yet mentioned--Pastrami Queen on the East Side, http://pastramiqueen.com/. Another doubtful but actually existing kosher supervision. I have not personally eaten there, but it is supposed to be fantastic, way better than Fine & Schapiro et al..
posted by 8603 at 1:24 PM on December 13, 2016


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