New York and Los Angeles—two iconic cities, quite far apart, but they often find themselves at odds about many things.
Take city planning, for instance. Should they prioritize pedestrians or vehicles? And what even counts as “cold”? Is it time to ditch the shorts when it’s just below freezing, or do we really start bundling up when the temperature dips to a bone-chilling -59 degrees?
And let’s not forget about possibly the most crucial debate: which city boasts the better pastrami?
Food enthusiasts and casual eaters from both coasts have engaged in this tasty rivalry for years. Despite their differences, there’s a common thread—both cities have a deep-rooted Jewish deli culture.
In New York, Katz’s Delicatessen on E. Houston Street reigns supreme, often referred to as the best deli worldwide. It’s a place made famous by that iconic scene in “When Harry Met Sally.”
While Langer’s in Los Angeles might not have as high a profile or as many cinematic nods, it has carved out its own niche just off 7th Street and Alvarado, close to MacArthur Park.
Established in 1888, Katz’s has become a culinary institution in New York, known for its catchy slogan, “Send Salami to the Army Boy,” and often has queues stretching down the block.
Langer’s, founded in 1947, offers a more laid-back vibe resembling a traditional California coffee shop, where locals from various walks of life come together.
Nora Ephron once described Katz’s famous No. 19 special as a complex flavor experience reminiscent of a “symphony orchestra.” (She noted the delightful contrasts: “Soft but crunchy, soft but chewy, peppery but sour, smoky but tangy.”)
But how do they hold up in today’s comparisons? To celebrate the launch of the California Post, we decided it would be fun to pit Langer’s against Katz’s and see which really stands out.
Blind taste tests were conducted in both offices, serving up generous samples of pastrami, rye, and mustard, inviting the tasting teams to pick their favorites.
Here’s what unfolded.
weight of new york
Langer wins — 4-3
In midtown Manhattan, just before a weekend snowstorm, a group of seven tasters sat down to sample two identical platters: one from Langer’s (labeled “Pastrami 1”) and another from Katz’s (“Pastrami 2”). What followed was both surprising and illuminating.
First up was Langer’s, with tasters enjoying the pastrami solo before turning it into a sandwich with crunchy rye and mustard. Next, they tackled Katz’s portion. Each participant was asked to rate their sandwiches from 1 to 10.
“I think I’m going to have an orgasm like Meg Ryan after eating this,” remarked Andrew Cote, giving Langer’s an 8.5. “It’s really good.” He even suspected it might be Katz’s.
On the other hand, Steve Cuozzo, a knowledgeable New York restaurant critic, found Langer’s decent but unexceptional, giving it a mere 6. “The bread is too big, and the cuts of meat are too thick.”
Lifestyle Director Natasha Perlman, who has a background in salt beef from the UK, found Langer’s tasty but lacking in the mustard-and-bread combo, rating it 6.5.
Eustacevic called Langer’s “delicious”—pointing out it wasn’t overly salty and had a standout rye. She gave it an 8.
When it came time to try Katz’s, Cote thought the meat looked better, but, upon tasting it, deemed it “fattening” in a negative sense, rating it 6.
Cuozzo quickly recognized Katz’s. “This is a taste of New York,” he claimed, awarding it an 8. He appreciated its robust flavor.
Perlman praised Katz’s mustard but criticized the rye, ultimately scoring it a disappointing 5.5.
After gathering additional opinions, the New York team ultimately declared Langer’s the surprising winner by a narrow margin.
“Katz’s has a reputation, but when you’ve been doing it right for years, the food often speaks for itself,” reflected Langer’s owner Norm Langer when told of the results.
battle of los angeles
Katz knocked out of bounds, 5-2
At the California Post’s new Century City office, another group of seven tasters came together to compare the same two platters. This time, they were hoping to find a different outcome.
Katcy Stephan from Page Six Hollywood was drawn in by the seeded bread from Langer’s but only opted for one slice. She rated it a 6, finding it average.
Ryan Kostecka, the sports editor, joked about the California flair while enjoying Langer’s and agreed it was “new and good,” also giving it a 6.
Dylan Hernandez found Langer’s to be “delicious and fatty,” offering it an 8, while Edward Lewis was even more impressed, scoring it a 9. He described it as “tasting like pastrami.”
Luisa Rodriguez echoed the enthusiasm with a score of 9, while Ben Brown felt it was somewhat greasy, rating it at 6.5.
Excitement seemed to peak when they got to Katz’s sandwiches.
“Oh, this is everything. It’s so good,” declared Stephan, giving it a 9.
Kostecka noted the depth of flavor, attributing it to years of craftsmanship, which earned it another 9.
Hernandez, an L.A. native, humorously asked for mercy before naming Katz’s as his favorite with yet another 9.
After scores were tallied, Katz’s emerged victorious, much to everyone’s surprise, with a final tally of 5-2 in favor of New York.
