Langer's Delicatessen
Langer's Delicatessen has been a Los Angeles institution since 1947, and its pastrami sandwich has been called the best in the United States by food writers including Nora Ephron and Jonathan Gold — a claim that is difficult to dispute once you have eaten the Number 19. The Number 19 layers thick-cut, hand-carved pastrami that is steamed until trembling-tender onto double-baked rye bread with Swiss cheese, coleslaw, and Russian dressing, creating a sandwich that is warm, salty, fatty, and tangy all at once. The pastrami itself is cured in-house following a recipe unchanged for decades, with a peppery bark that delivers genuine depth. The diner atmosphere is unassuming and unhurried. Order the Number 19, a side of pickles, and a black-and-white cookie to finish.
