PASTRAMI SHOWDOWN Edition

Jenna Flexner

6 days ago

6 min read

Foodie Files Spotlight

THE BEST PASTRAMI SANDWICH

IN LOS ANGELES

The Search for the Pastrami Crown of Gold - PART ONE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFPGImPlQHQ

Our family definitely doesn’t agree on everything, but on one thing there has never been any doubt. Langer’s Deli has the best pastrami sandwich in town. Countless birthdays have been spent sinking our teeth into that perfect ratio of thick, juicy meat and just the right amount of crispy, buttery rye bread. Over the years we have developed our own favorite version, the #10 (you must ask for it GRILLED), combining cole slaw, Thousand Island dressing (Langer’s calls it Russian...potayto-potahto) and grilled rye with their signature thick, warm pastrami. (FUN FACT: Their source, RC Provision in Burbank, delivers it to the iconic Alvarado location where it is steamed for five hours to Langer's exact custom spice rub and trim specifications.)

We love it so much, that when we heard some people actually prefer OTHER pastrami sandwiches in LA, curiosity got the best of us, and we decided we MUST conduct some serious scientific research and find out if our first love, Langer's, was in fact, our one true love.❤️ Hence, this Pastrami showdown ensued. Nothing serious, just letting it happen naturally as we found ourselves in different parts of town, near each restaurant.

Four locations made our final cut based on two criteria: 1) Commenter recommendations, and 2) an old school vibe that has stood the test of time. Initially, five spots made the cut, but after trying the 5th (Canter’s Deli) we decided not to include it, because imho it’s just not competitive with the others.

Here they are in order of visit:

* Brent’s Deli in Northridge

* Johnny’s Pastrami in West Adams

* Johnnie’s Pastrami (no relation) in Culver City

* Langer’s Deli in West Downtown

The tour took 2.5 years to naturally happen. With Canter’s Deli turning 95 this month, and hours long lines to get their anniversary special 95 cent pastrami sandwich, this contest has oddly good timing. TODAY LA published a ranking that puts the best pastrami sandwich in this order:

1) Langer’s (West Downtown)

2) Brent’s Deli (Northridge)

3) The Hat (Alhambra)

4) Daughter’s Deli (Fairfax)

5) Johnny’s Pastrami (West Adams)

6) Canter’s Deli (Fairfax District)

7) Gold Bahn (Long Beach)

8) Arts Pastrami’s (Sepulveda Food Truck near LAX)

We started our journey at the farthest away spot, Brent's Deli in Northridge, and that video is above. If you haven't already, scroll back up and check it out, but in the meantime, here is the lowdown on Brent's.

This one shocked me. Brent’s absolutely nailed the ratios: thick, moist grilled rye, plenty of warm, juicy medium-thick pastrami without going absurdly overboard, melted Swiss, and (spoiler alert) the best coleslaw of all four contestants—sweet, creamy and not too tangy. I still remember that first bite. Somehow those simple ingredients come together into this ridiculously delicious combination of sweet and savory, soft and crunchy, juicy and crisp. Anyone who knows me knows Asian food is my jam. I love layers of flavor, spice and complexity. Yet somehow this big Jewish deli sandwich barges its way past all of that and sits on my personal food throne. I often think people throw around “must try” way too easily. But I genuinely think Brent’s pastrami sandwich is one of those foods that might forever change the way you think about a sandwich. Isn’t that reason enough to go? :). So far, this challenge is off to a very good, very scrumptious start.

The next stop in our quest for the best was Johnny's Pastrami in West Adams. Check out our video below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FIAwKljrS0

I’ll admit it. I didn’t give Johnny’s Pastrami much hope. I’d tried it a few years ago, and remembered the pastrami being so smoky I wondered if someone had accidentally dropped the bottle of liquid smoke into the pot. Well…apparently Johnny’s didn’t get the memo that I’d already written them off. 😂

This time was completely different. The marbled rye isn’t my favorite—I’m a regular rye guy—but hey, it sure beats a baguette. And then there’s that pastrami. It’s cut SO thick that you look at it and think, There’s no way I’m chewing through that without a dental plan. Wrong again. It was absolutely delicious—juicy, incredibly tender, and almost like a rib that falls off the bone. The coleslaw was good, although Brent’s can sleep comfortably knowing its coleslaw crown is safe. But at Johnny’s, the pastrami is the star anyway. It is truly a delicious sandwich. Is it the best pastrami sandwich in Los Angeles? You’ll have to keep following along. But it is absolutely one of the best. And considering Johnny’s is ridiculously easy to reach from the 10 Freeway, it’s practically a crime not to pull off and try it at least once. Which, coming from the guy who had already decided he didn’t like it, is probably the best endorsement I can give. And on a side note, their Johnny Fries (hand-cut french fries topped with that addictive diced pastrami, melted Swiss cheese, caramelized onions, and Thousand Island dressing) are INSANELY delicious, and our daughter Lila's most favorite food in town.

And that, Dear Reader, is the end of Part ONE! Check us out next month for our September Edition, Pastrami Showdown Part TWO, for the last two reviews, and the OFFICIAL crowning of the WINNER! Until then, happy eating!

Erik and Jenna’s

Entertainment Picks

Big Night

A delicious reminder that excellence takes passion

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQQhoYLsoHI

If you haven't seen Big Night, put it on your list. This 1996 gem, starring Stanley Tucci and Tony Shalhoub, is a beautiful, funny, and ultimately bittersweet story about two brothers who care so deeply about their restaurant—and about making truly exceptional food—that they refuse to settle for anything less. And that felt like the perfect movie to pair with our search for LA's finest pastrami sandwich: because the best food isn't just made; it's obsessed over.

Big Night tells the story of two Italian immigrant brothers, Primo and Secondo, who pour everything they have into their struggling restaurant, Paradise. Primo, the chef, is uncompromising about his food. Secondo, the businessman, is increasingly worried about keeping the doors open. Their philosophies couldn't be more different—but both are driven by the same thing: the belief that what they are creating should be exceptional.

And that’s what makes Big Night so good. It isn't really a movie about a restaurant. It's about craft. About what happens when someone cares so much about doing something well that “good enough” simply isn't an option.

The performances are fantastic. Stanley Tucci plays Secondo with a perfect mix of charm, ambition, and desperation, while Tony Shalhoub's Primo is the heart of the film—a brilliant, stubborn chef who would rather serve something magnificent to a handful of people than compromise his standards for a packed dining room. Isabella Rossellini brings warmth and complexity to Gabriella, and Marc Anthony makes an early appearance as Cristiano, the young dishwasher whose enthusiasm adds some much-needed lightness to the brothers' increasingly tense world. And then there’s Ian Holm as Pascal, the larger-than-life restaurateur whose promise of bringing celebrity and success to Paradise sets the whole story in motion.

At its core, Big Night asks a question that applies far beyond Italian food: How much does it matter to be exceptional at what you do? Our answer, when it comes to food, is a lot. 😊

Big Night leaves you feeling warm, hungry, a little nostalgic, and reminded that there is something wonderful about people who care deeply about getting something exactly right. Watch it for the food, stay for the story, and then venture out and tell us where YOU think the best pastrami in LA can be found.

We love hearing from past clients, and meeting new ones! We are happy to be a resource for any real estate needs, so don't hesitate to reach out.

Until the next adventure,

- Erik & Jenna

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