Queens, New York’s largest borough, is home to more than just JFK and LaGuardia airports. It’s where some of the best pastrami sandwiches in New York are waiting to be devoured. In theory, putting together any old sandwich shouldn’t take much, but a good pastrami sandwich is an art form. The meat needs the right tenderness, the mustard must have the perfect tang, the pickles need to be fresh, rye bread should be chewy but not annoyingly so, and then there are additions like Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, or coleslaw to consider.
Luckily for Queens locals, there’s no shortage of spots that have perfected the pastrami sandwich. Here’s where to find the best pastrami sandwiches in Queens, New York:
- Rolo’s (853 Onderdonk Ave, Ridgewood): Rolo’s is a bar and grill in Queens that specializes in wood-fired cooking. Their menu features a selection of charcuterie, including paper-thin pastrami, that’s made in-house with no preservatives.
- John Brown Smokehouse (27-20 40th Ave, Astoria): Meats lean on the softer side at this Astoria restaurant that’s all about Kansas City-style barbecue and sweet sauces. Their John Brown Pastrami sandwich, piled high with coleslaw and Swiss cheese on rye, is worth the visit.
- Batesy’s BBQ (6820F Rockaway Beach Blvd, Arverne): If you’re heading to Rockaway Beach, this is a decent pit stop. Batesy’s pastrami sandwich is stacked with Swiss, coleslaw, and house sauce—but only available on Fridays and Saturdays, so it’s worth planning around. And if your group can’t agree on BBQ or pizza, no worries. Batesy’s BBQ is right next door to Boardwalk Pizza, so everyone’s happy.
- Sal, Kris & Charlie’s Deli (33-12 23rd Ave, Astoria): Home of The Bomb, a monstrous sandwich stuffed with turkey, salami, roast beef, pastrami, lettuce, tomato, onions, hot peppers, mustard, mayo, oil, and vinegar. It’s big enough to feed four people (or one very ambitious eater).
- Tony’s Beechhurst Deli (11-18 154th St, Whitestone): If you’re after a proper Italian hero, visit Tony’s. There’s no dedicated pastrami sandwich, but they sell it by the pound so you can always build your own. Grab a sandwich, head to Little Bay Park, and enjoy it with a view.
- Potbelly Sandwich Shop (LaGuardia Airport, Terminal C, East Elmhurst): If you find yourself at LaGuardia’s Terminal C and need a bite before your flight, Potbelly’s pastrami sandwich will do the trick. Is it worth going out of your way for? Not really. But for airport food? Not bad.
Queens has a lot more to offer beyond its legendary pastrami sandwiches: lower prices, less traffic, and more trees.
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