Since its founding in 1888, it has been popular among locals and tourists alike for itspastrami on rye, which is considered among New York's best.[3][4][5]
Each week, Katz's serves 15,000 lb (6,800 kg) ofpastrami, 8,000 lb (3,600 kg) ofcorned beef, 2,000 lb (910 kg) ofsalami, and 4,000 hot dogs.[6] In 2016,Zagat gave Katz's a food rating of 4.5 out of 5, and ranked it as the number one deli in New York City.[1]
According to Katz's chronology, two brothers named Morris and Hyman Iceland established what is now known as Katz's Delicatessen onLudlow Street in New York'sLower East Side. Upon the arrival of Willy Katz in 1903, the establishment's name was changed from Iceland Brothers to Iceland & Katz. Willy's cousin Benny joined him in 1910, buying out the Iceland brothers to form Katz's delicatessen. Theirlandlord Harry Tarowsky bought into the partnership in April 1917.[7] However, according to food writer Robert F. Moss, records atEllis Island indicate that Morris and Hyman Iceland immigrated to the United States in 1902. Moss states that the "Iceland Hyman delicatessen" had only opened by 1911.[8]
The construction of theNew York City Subway'sHouston Street Line in the 1930s required the deli to move to the present side of the street, although the entrance remained on Ludlow Street. The vacant lot onHouston Street was home to barrels of meat and pickles until the storefront facade was added in the period 1946–1949.[7]
In the early part of the twentieth century, the Lower East Side was home to millions of newly immigrated families. This, along with the lack of public and private transportation, forged a solid community such that Katz's became a focal point for congregating. On Fridays, the neighborhood turned out forfranks and beans, a long time Katz tradition.[7]
During the peak of theYiddish theater, the restaurant was frequented by actors, singers and comedians from the many theaters onSecond Avenue as well as the National Theater on Houston Street. DuringWorld War II, the sons of the owners – Lenny Katz and Izzy Tarowsky – were both serving their country in the armed forces, and the family tradition of sending food to their sons became established as the company slogan "Send A Salami To Your Boy In The Army".[7] The slogan was coined by Izzy's mother Rose Tarowsky, whose son served in the South Pacific as a bomber pilot.[9]
The next change in ownership took place with the death of Willy Katz, when his son Lenny took over. In 1980, both Benny Katz and Harry Tarowsky died, leaving the store to Benny's son-in-law Artie Makstein and Harry's son Izzy. In 1988, on the 100th anniversary of its establishment, with no offspring of their own to leave the business to, Lenny, Izzy and Arthur sold Katz's to long-time restaurateur Martin Dell, his son Alan – who was a chef and a manager at a neighboring deli – and Martin's son-in-law Fred Austin. Alan's son Jake joined the business in late 2009 and as of 2020[update] is in charge of major operations.[7][10]
In 2011, the U.S. government sued Katz's for violations of theAmericans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). The lawsuit came after federal officials had read a 2011Zagat guide that ranked the 50 most popular restaurants in New York City and investigated whether they were ADA-accessible; the guide had ranked Katz's 42nd.[11] The restaurant celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2013 by opening a pop-up art gallery next door. The gallery featured original art by local New York City artists withBaron Von Fancy andRicky Powell among the first displayed and others rotated on a monthly basis.[12]
In 2017, Katz's opened its first auxiliary location, in theCity Point development's DeKalb Market Hall inDowntown Brooklyn,[13][14] and also instituted mail-order sales.[15]
In September 2021, it was announced that Katz's Delicatessen would partner withHendrick's Gin to makegin-inspired pickles. Master Distiller Lesley Gracie collaborated with Katz's owner Jake Dell to create abrine that featured gin standardjuniper andcubeb berries, with an additional emphasis oncoriander, a botanical shared by both Katz's pickles and Hendrick's Gin.[16][17] In December 2024, as part of asettlement with the U.S. government, Katz's agreed to renovate its Ludlow Street building to make it wheelchair-accessible.[11][18]
Sign at Katz's encouraging parents to send salami to their sons in the military during World War II
DuringWorld War II, the sons of the owners – Lenny Katz and Izzy Tarowsky – were both serving their country in the armed forces, and the family tradition of sending food to their sons became established as the company slogan "Send A Salami To Your Boy In The Army".[7] The slogan was coined by Izzy's mother Rose Tarowsky, whose son served in the South Pacific as a bomber pilot.[9] It is part of the lyrics of a song in the 1950Martin and Lewis filmAt War with the Army, and referenced in theTom Lehrer song "So Long, Mom (A Song forWorld War III)" in the following lyric: "Remember, Mommy, I'm off to get aCommie, so send me a salami, and try to smile somehow". Katz's continues to support American troops today: the deli has arranged special international shipping for U.S. military addresses only and has been a source of gift packages to troops stationed in Afghanistan and Iraq.[19]
Another of the deli's catchphrases is "Katz's, that's all!", which came about when a signmaker asked Harry Tarowsky what to say on the deli's sign, and Harry replied "Katz's, that's all". This was misinterpreted by the signmaker, who painted the sign as it stands today on the side of the building.
As each customer enters Katz's, a door attendant hands them a printed, numbered ticket. As they receive their food from various stations/areas throughout the deli (separate for sandwiches, hot dogs, bottled drinks, fountain drinks, etc.), employees compute a running total of the pre-tax bill. If several people's orders are combined on a single ticket, a cashier collects the blank tickets.[20]
Katz's Delicatessen Ticket 114-388
Katz's has instituted a "lost ticket fee". If a customer loses a ticket, an additional $50 surcharge is added to the bill. The fee's purpose, as stated by the management, is to encourage patrons to go back and find the lost ticket in the hopes of preventing theft (substituting a smaller ticket for a larger one).[20]
In a scene inEnchanted (2007), Nathaniel (Timothy Spall) contacts Queen Narissa (Susan Sarandon) from Katz's kitchen and then joins Prince Edward (James Marsden) for lunch while trying to silence Pip the chipmunk from spilling his betrayal.[32]
In February 2025, Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal appeared in an advert forHellmann'smayonnaise, which was filmed inside the restaurant and first aired duringSuper Bowl LIX. The advert parodied the deli scene fromWhen Harry Met Sally, with Crystal commenting "I can't believe they let us back in here!". The "I'll have what she's having" line was delivered bySydney Sweeney.[40]
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