Smoked fish and cream cheese with bagel
Food - Drink
Ranking The 13 Best Jewish Delis In NYC
By FLETCHER HUNTLEY
13. Mile End Delicatessen
Inside the Mile End Delicatessen in New York
Named after a former predominantly Jewish neighborhood of Montreal, Mile End Delicatessen offers Montreal-style bagels topped with smoked salmon, brisket, or whitefish salad.
Caesar salad with dressing on the side
If you dine at this tiny, sleek eatery, you can order some creative modern takes on traditional Jewish fare like schnitzel nuggets or the "Jewlius Caesar" salad.
Poutine, with fries, gravy and cheese curds, served on a plate with a fork
Mile End is one of the best places for poutine in America, with six types of the cheesy, gravy-covered mound of goodness that is one of Canada's greatest gifts to the world.
A plate of pierogies
12. PJ Bernstein
Cherry blintzes on a black plate
Since 1965, PJ Bernstein in Manhattan has had a long menu of Eastern European and Jewish staples from pierogies and blintzes to gefilte fish and latkes with applesauce.
Matzo brei as served at a Jewish deli
Be sure to try the matzo brei, which is crushed-up unleavened bread, aka matzo, softened in water, mixed with eggs and milk, and either scrambled or fried flat like a pancake.
Hot pastrami sandwich served at a deli
You can peruse the appetizers and order to-go at the long glass counter or sit at one of the tables in the simple, cozy dining area if you want to dine in.
Round loaves of challah bread
11. Gottlieb's Restaurant
Gottlieb's Restaurant exterior sign in New York City
Located in South Williamsburg, which houses the densest populations of Hasidic Jews in New York, Gottlieb's menu serves delicious, authentic kosher eats in a classic setting.
Matzo ball noodle kugel with a side of pickles and challah bread
The menu has mostly stayed the same for 50 years, with some Hungarian dishes like beef goulash and cherry soup, chicken lo-mein, and no less than six types of noodle kugel.
Brisket beef
10. Sarge's Delicatessen & Diner
Dried herring as available at a dei
For over 55 years, Murray Hill staple Sarge's Delicatessen & Diner has been serving classics like pastrami and hot brisket sandwiches, as well as herring and smoked fish platters.
Latkes served at a deli
The dining room looks straight out of 1964, which is when Sarge's first opened its doors. Tiffany lamps and tufted booths give the deli an authentic old-school diner look.
Pastrami sandwiches stacked on top of each other
9. Frankel's Delicatessen
Frankel's Deli sign in New York City
While it might have a different tenure than some of the other delis on the list, Frankel's became an instant classic when it was opened in 2016 by two brothers from New York.
Frankel's Deli sign in New York City
They borrowed their design aesthetic from the traditional Jewish delis, with white tiled walls, refrigerated display cases, and frosted glass lamps hanging from the ceiling.
Challah bread with an egg
People line up in Brooklyn for Frankel's bacon, egg, and cheese on their signature challah bread. While not strictly kosher, the food matches the décor: a modern take on a classic.