Is Katz's worth it?

Worth it if…Lives up to the hype · −7Lower East Side Jewish deli open since 1888, famous for hand-carved pastrami on rye

Worth it, with conditions. 4.5 on 56,066 Google reviews; recent reviewers repeatedly say it 'lived up to the hype' — rare for an icon this famous.

Hype66How famous and hyped it is

Reality59Evidence-based, votes take over as they come in

The gap−7Lives up to the hypeHow we score

4.5 ★ Google · 56,066 reviews— hypegap votes · be one of the first

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One of the few famous NYC food stops where reviewers consistently say the food matches the hype.

Why Reality is 59

Lives up to its fame4/54.5 on 56,066 Google reviews; recent reviewers repeatedly say it 'lived up to the hype' — rare for an icon this famous.

Value for money3/5About $29 for pastrami on rye is high, but it's genuinely enough for two.

Can’t get it elsewhere4/5Hand-carved pastrami at this level and in this 1888 setting is hard to replicate elsewhere in the city.

Easy to do2/5Hour-long weekend queues outside, a ticket system that confuses visitors and crowded seating.

What people loved

Pastrami is hand-carved, tender and peppery — reviewers say it lives up to the legendSandwiches are huge; one is enough to split, which softens the priceGenuine 1888 New York institution with celebrity photos and the When Harry Met Sally tableLines move faster than they look and staff stay efficient at peak timesLong hours, including all night from Saturday into Sunday

What wore them down

A pastrami sandwich is now about $29 before taxWeekend waits regularly hit 45–60+ minutes, standing outside on Houston StTicket-and-counter system is confusing for first-timers; losing the ticket can mean a feeBeyond pastrami (and corned beef), items like the frankfurter and turkey Reuben are called unremarkable or overpriced

Know before you go

See something out of date? Fix it right here.

Booking: No reservations for counter service; queue outside, take a ticket, order at the carving counter or wait for a table-service seat.

Pastrami sandwichAbout $28.95 before tax (raised in 2025 from roughly $25–27); big enough for two to shareSource · Checked Oct 16, 2026

Ticket systemEvery adult gets a paper ticket at the door; counter orders are written on it and paid at the exit. Lost tickets can be charged (author cites $50)Source · Checked Oct 16, 2026

PaymentCounter service pays at the register on the way out; table-service section takes cardsSource · Checked Oct 16, 2026

Hours8 a.m.–11 p.m. Mon–Thu, to 11:30 p.m. Fri, open 24 hours Saturday into Sunday (Google)Source · Checked Oct 16, 2026

LinesWeekday waits up to 45 min 1:30–4 p.m.; weekends 45+ min from noon to 8 p.m., sometimes over an hour 1–4 p.m.Source · Checked Oct 16, 2026

Time neededAbout 1–1.5 hours including the lineSource · Checked Oct 16, 2026

Getting thereF to 2nd Ave (about 3 min walk); ~25 min by subway from Times SquareSource · Checked Oct 16, 2026

Opening hours (Google)

Monday: 8:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Thursday: 8:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Friday: 8:00 AM – 11:30 PM
Saturday: Open 24 hours
Sunday: 12:00 AM – 11:00 PM

In their words

“Some places become famous because of the hype. Katz’s is famous because it truly deserves to be.”

Cristiano Vasconcelos · Google review · 3 months ago

“It can be a little chaotic, but that is part of what makes the visit fun.”

Patric Nouaille · Google review · 2 months ago

“The frankfurter on the side was fine, nothing remarkable, and to be honest we barely touched it.”

mutoni Faith · Google review · 4 months ago

“Keep in mind that the portions are huge - one serving was more than enough for me.”

Maksim Safiullin · Google review · 4 months ago

Tips from people who went

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One thing people should know

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Questions people ask

How much is a pastrami sandwich at Katz's?

About $28.95 before tax as of August 2025, up from roughly $25–27.

How does the ticket system at Katz's work?

Each adult gets a ticket at the door; your counter order is written on it and you pay at the register on the way out. Don't lose it — a fee can apply.

How long is the wait at Katz's Deli?

Up to 45 minutes on weekday afternoons and 45 minutes to over an hour on weekend afternoons; go before 1 p.m. or after 4 p.m. on weekdays.

Is Katz's open 24 hours?

Only from Saturday into Sunday; otherwise 8 a.m.–11 p.m. (11:30 p.m. Friday), per Google.

Can two people share a Katz's sandwich?

Yes — guides and reviewers say one pastrami sandwich is enough for two.