The Overstuffed Sandwiches From This New York Deli Are the Stuff of Dreams

If there's one type of restaurant that triggers my nostalgia hardcore, it's the old-school kosher deli. I grew up in these places, and while other kids were indulging in Twinkies and Doritos, my junk food of choice was corned beef piled high on a deep-fried knish. It's getting harder and harder to find this kind of place anymore. Many have closed their doors as the old guard of restaurateurs retires, and others have changed their menu to fit newer tastes. But the good news is, at the best deli in New York, some things never change. The 2nd Avenue Deli has been serving nourishing chicken soup, massive sandwiches, and old-school Jewish recipes for over half a century. While the current location isn't the original, it captures the spirit of these legendary restaurants in a way few do, and it's still so popular that it even has a second outpost now.

The current 2nd Avenue Deli isn't the original location—that one closed not long after the death of the original owner—but the restaurant is currently run by his son and has done the original's legacy proud, so proud that the 33rd Street location has been joined by an outpost on the Upper East Side that has an attached bar.

At both locations, you'll find a traditional deli counter filled with old-school breads, salads, and pastries straight from Jewish tradition, as well as some legendary meats, including the world-famous pastrami and corned beef. As this is a kosher restaurant, the entire menu is dairy-free.

There are a few dishes that every deli is judged by, and one is the chicken soup. The matzo ball soup here is iconic. The matzo ball is larger than life, and the broth is the best medicine on a cold winter's day. Larger than life is a bit of a pattern here. Long before people ordered food for the 'gram, the massive double-decker and triple-decker sandwiches at the 2nd Avenue Deli were the talk of the town. There's no limit to the combos you can have here, but there are smaller options if you want them.

Of course, if you want to go even more indulgent, replace the famous rye bread with potato latkes as the buns for a crispy, greasy sandwich sensation that has to be tried at least once.

Make sure to save room for the restaurant's famous desserts, including rugelach, rainbow cookies, and other classic treats, all made dairy-free. The restaurant has such a big fanbase that many of its most popular dishes can now be ordered nationwide on Goldbelly.

Have you tried the massive sandwiches at the 2nd Avenue Deli? If not, tell a friend and head to the best Deli in New York. Some of these might require a buddy to finish! You can see the whole menu on the website of the 2nd Avenue Deli, and the Facebook page of this iconic New York deli has even more mouthwatering pictures. This deli will make a fantastic stop to refuel while you're on a New York literary day trip. If you're looking for a place to stay in the area, the Arlo NoMad, located in the middle of one of the most exciting areas of New York City, is only a few minutes away.

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