Best Deli in LA (Santa Monica, Culver City: price, food, celebs)

[nowincal11]

What do you all think are the best delis (Jewish themed) in LA?

A book came out a year or two ago that said LA has better deli food than NYC now.

Jerry's, Solley's, Cantor's, Art's, Pico??

[BRinSM]

all the jerry's are good. izzy's on wilshire near the ucla hospital is good. nothing beats the pastrami at katz's in nyc though.

[disgruntled la native]

NOT jerrys. Jerrys is the worst deli. and the most overpriced. i cant believe it passes itself off as a deli. $15 for a tiny pastrami sandwich that's not authentic. $9 for watered down matzah ball soup.

my favorites have always been Fromins, Junior's, and Langer's.

Langer's has the best pastrami overall. Juniors and Fromins follow. Fromins also has a great bagel and lox and matzah ball. As does Juniors. Juniors also has good burgers. and other items. So I may say Junior's is my favorite deli.


Izzys and canter's are okay, not as good as the three above in my opinion, but both are open 24 hours which is a plus. Most of the things on the menu at Izzys actually aren't very good.

Haven't been to Art's or Factor's in a while but I don't recall they were particularly good or bad.

[LASam]

The black pastrami on rye from Brent's is a thing of beauty.

[majoun]

Originally Posted by disgruntled la native

NOT jerrys. Jerrys is the worst deli. and the most overpriced. i cant believe it passes itself off as a deli. $15 for a tiny pastrami sandwich that's not authentic. $9 for watered down matzah ball soup.

Jerry's is crap. Roll 'N' Rye in Culver City is also subpar imo.

Langer's has the best pastrami overall. Juniors and Fromins follow. Fromins also has a great bagel and lox and matzah ball. As does Juniors. Juniors also has good burgers. and other items. So I may say Junior's is my favorite deli.

Langer's and Junior's are both quite good. Fromins is the best deli in Santa Monica, which isn't saying that much but it's decent.

Never been to Nate 'N' Al's? Or Greenblatt's?

Izzys and canter's are okay, not as good as the three above in my opinion, but both are open 24 hours which is a plus. Most of the things on the menu at Izzys actually aren't very good.

Haven't been to Art's or Factor's in a while but I don't recall they were particularly good or bad.

Art's is IMO the best deli in L.A. Factor's is quite good. Label's Table nearby is excellent although it has limited hours.
As for Canter's, it's hard to evaluate something that is such an L.A. institution (I read an article that referred to Canter's as "New Jersey's greatest gift to L.A.") , but I dig it. I like Factor's also. Unfortunately many delis in the WeHo/Fairfax/Miracle Mile area and West L.A. have closed. But L.A. being rated as the best deli city must really hurt the NY and Philly people.

There was a Montreal-style deli that existed in Brentwood which I read about after it had closed. Montreal is very famous for its Jewish food just like NY and Philly, I'm not sure how the food was though.

[pbergen]

langer's serves the best pastrami on rye in the city IMO, but i feel the best jewish deli overall is brent's in the valley.

if we're only talking about central LA or the westside, i'd probably list nate 'n al or greenblatt's deli as the best overall. hard to say for sure, because each deli has its strengths and weaknesses.

check out this list of the top five matzo ball soups in LA.

There was a Montreal-style deli that existed in Brentwood which I read about after it had closed. Montreal is very famous for its Jewish food just like NY and Philly

you're absolutely right about montreal having terrific jewish delis. LA could really use a place like this.

oh man, i could really go for some smoked meat and montreal-style bagels right now.

[disgruntled la native]

Originally Posted by majoun

Jerry's is crap. Roll 'N' Rye in Culver City is also subpar imo.



Langer's and Junior's are both quite good. Fromins is the best deli in Santa Monica, which isn't saying that much but it's decent.

Never been to Nate 'N' Al's? Or Greenblatt's?



Art's is IMO the best deli in L.A. Factor's is quite good. Label's Table nearby is excellent although it has limited hours.
As for Canter's, it's hard to evaluate something that is such an L.A. institution (I read an article that referred to Canter's as "New Jersey's greatest gift to L.A.") , but I dig it. I like Factor's also. Unfortunately many delis in the WeHo/Fairfax/Miracle Mile area and West L.A. have closed. But L.A. being rated as the best deli city must really hurt the NY and Philly people.

There was a Montreal-style deli that existed in Brentwood which I read about after it had closed. Montreal is very famous for its Jewish food just like NY and Philly, I'm not sure how the food was though.

Of course I've been to Nate n Al. While it's good, I've never considered it a true deli. A little too Beverly Hills for me. Never actually checked out Greenblatts yet. I remember Nate n Al and Factor's are pretty good for goy food (like pancakes, hamburgers, etc. - while fromins and izzys not so much - never order their rubber pancakes)

I've been to Fromins, Izzys, and Juniors hundreds of times over the years. agreed Fromins is the best in Santa Monica (Izzys - forget it unless it's late at night and Fromins is closed). Junior's is still my favorite overall.

[pwright1]

I stopped in Factors one evening after I drove by and read the sign saying they've been around since 1949. I thought, this place has to be good. And yes indeed it was! The pastromi on rye and the cole slaw were soooo good. Is that part of Pico where the majority of L.A.'s jewish food places are? Are there other areas?

[JohnG72]

Langers pastrami is amazing delicious.

Fair warning about Langers:

1.) Expensive as heck. $15 for a sandwich. Don't #%$ about the price, you've already been warned.
2.) NOT HEALTHY. Lots of fat, lots of grease/oil. Its freaking pastrami, and as its good pastrami, it is not lean in any way shape or form. Again, don't @&#^. You have been warned.

[nowincal11]

Art's and Langers!

Cantor's for the people who want to see celebs.