I've had my days of delis, from the classic Billy's in Glendale (my hometown) to Nate 'n Al in Beverly Hills. Anyone who's anyone has done Canter's on Fairfax at 2AM. I haven't done Brent's or Art's Delis in the Valley, but soon enough. But Langer's is the best deli in LA, hands down, if only for their pastrami. Hand-cut and seasoned to perfection, this fabled meat has drawn people from all walks of life to the Westlake corner abutting MacArthur Park for more than 60 years. Al Langer sadly passed away last year at the ripe age of 90, but his son Norm continues the excellence.
Since moving to Downtown, I've relished the opportunity to frequent this deli, which I originally visited back in college. I love the decor inside, a Brooklyn-like vibe of brown faux-leather booths and cheesy linoleum accents. The sweeping windows afford fresh natural light without harsh rays from the sun. The cheery din is the ideal work-lunch crowd.
Then it arrives on a humble platter, the perfect Pastrami sandwich.
Nice crunchy pickles with freshly baked rye bread to craddle the pastrami. A smile will always ensue after a bite of this magic. The texture of the meat is unbeatable - tender, meaty, rich, slightly sweet, peppery, and smoky.
Some generically delicious (I know, weird) fries actually hit the spot. Call me Korean for my love of ketchup (in moderate portions of course).
Proof of my love of Langer's pastrami? I've been here four times in the last four weeks. Each time I get either number 19 (if I'm craving some Swiss cheese) or a number one sandwich. Both feature the legendary pastrami with cole slaw and Russian dressing. One of these days I'll get a plain pastrami sandwich, but I believe that the cole slaw and Russian dressing greatly complement the smokey sweetness of the pastrami.
My favorite drink with Langer's pastrami sandwich? Vanilla Egg Cream, baby. There's nothing better. Get to Langer's before 4PM, when they close every day.
Langer's Deli
704 S Alvarado St
Los Angeles, CA 90057
(213) 483-8050
2 comments:
"Perfect" is a word that gets used too freely, but in the case of Langer's pastrami, it's completely appropriate. Their corned beef is also best-in-class. If you live east of the 405, there's absolutely no reason to eat at another deli.
Plato could write a food blog entry about the formic ideal of langer's pastrami :)
I must try their corned beef and cabbage, that's my second favorite jewish deli dish. Whitefish and lox is a close third.
Post a Comment