# Pastrami, where have you been all my life? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 20, 2009, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pastrami-where-have-you-been-all-my-life/514506 "2009-10-20T18:09:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![shelbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@shelbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shelbo)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2009, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pastrami-where-have-you-been-all-my-life/514506/21 "2009-10-20T21:22:24Z")
The best sandwich known to man is the #1 at Langer’s Deli in Los Angeles (pastrami with cole slaw and russian dressing). Their [home page](http://www.langersdeli.com/) has a photo - don’t look if you’re hungry! (Actually, the photo has cheese added, which makes it a #19 or something. I’ve never got past #1.) " . . . bite into a Langer’s pastrami sandwich: thick slices of hand-sliced meat, glistening with peppery fat, as dense and as smoky as Texas barbecue; thick-cut seeded corn rye, hot, crisp-crusted and soft inside, with a slightly sour tang that helps tame the richness of the meat; a dab of yellow mustard as important to the whole as a sushi master’s wasabi. The fact is inescapable: Langer’s serves the best pastrami sandwich in America." - Jonathan Gold, Pulitzer Prize winning food critic for the LA Weekly ---
**Author:** ![Mahna\_Mahna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e47c2d/32.png) [@Mahna\_Mahna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahna_Mahna)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2009, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pastrami-where-have-you-been-all-my-life/514506/22 "2009-10-20T21:52:40Z")
> [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](#): > > I’ve also heard good things about Montreal Smoked Meat, which **Mahna Mahna** suggested. Does anyone know if this is available anywhere in the NY area? If it is, it’s probably pastrami in disguise. 🙂 New Yorkers do a lot of things right, but smoked meat isn’t one of them. (I won’t even start on the bagel thing, either) Hie thee to Montreal, then hop in the nearest cab and ask them to take you to Shwartz’s. Once you get there, ask the waiter to bring you a smoked meat sandwich (medium-fat, if you please) with a side of fries, a kosher dill and an ice cold cherry pop. Trust me, you won’t regret it. Though if you really must, [Lesters](http://www.lestersdeli.com/frameset.htm)in Montreal does ship worldwide. It’s not as iconic as Schwartz’s, but it’s still better than what you’d find in NYC. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2009, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pastrami-where-have-you-been-all-my-life/514506/23 "2009-10-20T22:07:57Z")
[Quote=Onomatopoeia] I deserved that for not reading the rules first. Duly noted. [/quote] It’s not a problem. I really did mean to put a 😉 in there, just to make clear that I wasn’t trying to be an asshole or anything. 🙂 > [@tr0psn4j](#): > > Knead, you managed to screw my healthy lunch over and make me get a pastrami sandwhich from Johnnie’s Pastrami. > > Thanks! Happy to help! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2009, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pastrami-where-have-you-been-all-my-life/514506/24 "2009-10-20T22:13:06Z")
> [@shelbo](#): > > The best sandwich known to man is the #1 at Langer’s Deli in Los Angeles (pastrami with cole slaw and russian dressing). [Junior’s deli](http://www.jrsdeli.com/welcome.html) on Westwood also does a mean version of that sandwich. I just stopped by there this morning to pick up a loaf of fresh-baked rye. ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2009, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pastrami-where-have-you-been-all-my-life/514506/25 "2009-10-20T22:54:31Z")
> [@The\_Hamster\_King](#): > > [Junior’s deli](http://www.jrsdeli.com/welcome.html) on Westwood also does a mean version of that sandwich. I just stopped by there this morning to pick up a loaf of fresh-baked rye. I have to agree that Juniors make a fine sandwich. Good choice. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2009, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pastrami-where-have-you-been-all-my-life/514506/26 "2009-10-20T23:03:28Z")
At the Kosher Deli! Sure your sandwich costs $ 15 dollars but it also weighs 5 pounds. 😉 For me though, I can’t get down with a deli that refuses to serve me cheese. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2009, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pastrami-where-have-you-been-all-my-life/514506/27 "2009-10-20T23:04:43Z")
I’ve been disappointed by most of the deli ruben sandwiches I’ve had. Most have been made with red corned beef-like “pastrami”. I remember real roumanian pastrami-the meat is dark, with lots of garlic flavor. Where do they make this stuff today? ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2009, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pastrami-where-have-you-been-all-my-life/514506/28 "2009-10-21T01:05:32Z")
Corned beef and pastrami half and half, with swiss cheese and Russian dressing on rye. That is as good as a sandwich can get. ---
**Author:** ![Mame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/858c86/32.png) [@Mame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mame)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2009, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pastrami-where-have-you-been-all-my-life/514506/29 "2009-10-21T02:01:44Z")
**ralph124c** , could be you are thinking of [basturma](http://www.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/89/Basturma_or_Pastroma_from_Armenia_1.JPG&imgrefurl=http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Basturma_or_Pastroma_from_Armenia_1.JPG&h=1704&w=2272&sz=840&tbnid=gVyyhc-FEX7sIM:&tbnh=112&tbnw=150&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dbasturma&hl=en&usg=__8mIJJd3lId4FZjuvlteTsLypWcE=&ei=0WjeSpLRDdKCkAXWuqAS&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=4&ct=image&ved=0CBQQ9QEwAw) rather than [pastrami](http://www.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=http://z.about.com/d/bbq/1/0/e/W/pastrami.JPG&imgrefurl=http://bbq.about.com/od/beef/ss/aa051109a.htm&usg=__Fg5w3u9xRz4_suHuoerUv5RHoMM=&h=600&w=600&sz=188&hl=en&start=69&tbnid=LlbKfoFXnoH6_M:&tbnh=135&tbnw=135&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dpastrami%26ndsp%3D18%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26start%3D54)? There are variations in styles of both basturma and pastrami, but in general basturma is a much drier, denser darker meat. And by god is it great in scrambled eggs! And with blue cheese. ~earthquake like rumbling noises~ OK, lunch time. ---
**Author:** ![detop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@detop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/detop)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2009, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pastrami-where-have-you-been-all-my-life/514506/30 "2009-10-21T02:03:53Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > \Where do they make this stuff today? Montreal. That’s what Montreal smoke meat is. We use the Rumanian recipe. ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2009, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pastrami-where-have-you-been-all-my-life/514506/31 "2009-10-21T02:07:00Z")
> [@Dangerosa](#): > > Pastrami and schmear. That’s cream cheese. Yeah, I know, don’t knock it until you try it. Do the regular customers just say “Give me a Pat-schmear”? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2009, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pastrami-where-have-you-been-all-my-life/514506/32 "2009-10-21T02:13:39Z")
> [@Mame](#): > > **ralph124c** , could be you are thinking of [basturma](http://www.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/89/Basturma_or_Pastroma_from_Armenia_1.JPG&imgrefurl=http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Basturma_or_Pastroma_from_Armenia_1.JPG&h=1704&w=2272&sz=840&tbnid=gVyyhc-FEX7sIM:&tbnh=112&tbnw=150&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dbasturma&hl=en&usg=__8mIJJd3lId4FZjuvlteTsLypWcE=&ei=0WjeSpLRDdKCkAXWuqAS&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=4&ct=image&ved=0CBQQ9QEwAw) rather than [pastrami](http://www.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=http://z.about.com/d/bbq/1/0/e/W/pastrami.JPG&imgrefurl=http://bbq.about.com/od/beef/ss/aa051109a.htm&usg=__Fg5w3u9xRz4_suHuoerUv5RHoMM=&h=600&w=600&sz=188&hl=en&start=69&tbnid=LlbKfoFXnoH6_M:&tbnh=135&tbnw=135&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dpastrami%26ndsp%3D18%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26start%3D54)? > > There are variations in styles of both basturma and pastrami, but in general basturma is a much drier, denser darker meat. And by god is it great in scrambled eggs! And with blue cheese. > > ~earthquake like rumbling noises~ > > OK, lunch time. See what I get for looking at other threads first? Beaten! I like basturma-and-feta sandwiches. Fortunately, there are two Russian delis in town. ---
**Author:** ![Stan\_Shmenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/94ad74/32.png) [@Stan\_Shmenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stan_Shmenge)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2009, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pastrami-where-have-you-been-all-my-life/514506/33 "2009-10-21T02:27:07Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Food threads generally go here. > > The only place to get semi-decent pastrami near my place is at [The Hat](http://www.thehat.com/). Good, but not transcendent. Langers. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2009, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pastrami-where-have-you-been-all-my-life/514506/34 "2009-10-21T02:47:54Z")
If you want the real thing, haul your ass to the 2nd Avenue Deli in NYC. (I don’t know where they are now; I know they’re no longer on 2nd Avenue.) ---
**Author:** ![Mooch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mooch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mooch)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2009, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pastrami-where-have-you-been-all-my-life/514506/35 "2009-10-21T14:29:52Z")
Oh goddamit this thread is making me hungry. It’s also reminding me to make pastrami this fall so I can make [this](http://blog.ruhlman.com/ruhlmancom/2009/07/homemade-short-rib-pastrami-i-am-not-the-first-asianjewishdeli-says-hes-been-doing-it-for-months.html) sandwich. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2009, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pastrami-where-have-you-been-all-my-life/514506/36 "2009-10-21T15:27:57Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > If you want the real thing… Depends on how you define ‘real thing’. For some, ‘real’ pastrami can only be had from Jewish delis. For me, I like the swimming-in-juice variety from a particular Italian market. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2009, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pastrami-where-have-you-been-all-my-life/514506/37 "2009-10-21T15:37:40Z")
> [@Mooch](#): > > Oh goddamit this thread is making me hungry. You? I’m having a devil of a time convincing myself that I shouldn’t go back for another round today! ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2009, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pastrami-where-have-you-been-all-my-life/514506/38 "2009-10-21T15:39:24Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > You? I’m having a devil of a time convincing myself that I shouldn’t go back for another round today! Go back! Give in! This time try it with kraut, or not. But either way take the plunge, you won’t regret it. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2009, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pastrami-where-have-you-been-all-my-life/514506/39 "2009-10-21T15:47:40Z")
I’ve never been much of a kraut fan. I know I really should give it another try, with my [del]middle-aged[/del] maturing taste buds and all, but I’m still unable to talk myself into it. Between egg rolls, red cabbage, and good cole slaw, I feel like I’ve made tremendous progress over my childhood refusal to eat cabbage, but for some reason, I’m just not ready to go kraut just yet. One of these days, the cook or the waitress will goof and I’ll wind up with a Reuben when I ordered a Rachel/Philadelphia, and I’ll just dive in. It’s bound to happen. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Ecks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bcef8e/32.png) [@Johnny\_Ecks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Ecks)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2009, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pastrami-where-have-you-been-all-my-life/514506/40 "2009-10-21T15:57:54Z")
Last time I was at the Second avenue Deli, I got the instant heart attack- a giant pastrami sandwich with fried potato pancakes instead of bread. Heaven! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pastrami-where-have-you-been-all-my-life/514506.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pastrami-where-have-you-been-all-my-life/514506.md?page=3)