Hershel's East Side Deli - Philadelphia

Ordered Pastrami and Brisket Sandwich. Good price. Good portion. Taste very good. Recommended.Food: 5/5

This is the spot! I met Novia, one of the bakers of the Jewish Apple Cake and she was so friendly and answered so many questions I had. The Apple Cake was delicious and I even got to see her preparing it. If I didn't have a flight to catch, I would have waited for the hot one to come out of the oven. Great apple flavor, moist and the perfect amount of cinnamon. The next time I visit- I am going to try the Pastrami Rachel. That and the Pastrami Reuben are two of the top sellers. I am a bigger fan of coleslaw- so the Rachel is the way to go for me. Overall, I went pretty early on a Thursday to the market. I made it through lines in a breeze and even striked up some great conversations with locals. Everyone was super friendly and helpful when I had questions. I really can't wait to go back again. And of course to see Novia as well.

This Jewish-style deli serves their famous Reuben sandwich with your choice of bread (I chose pumpernickel), swiss cheese, and a 2-inch-high stack of thin-sliced corned beef with an amazing Reuben dressing and kraut, all pressed in a sandwich presser. Truly scrumptious!

A fantastic and juicy pastrami sandwich that I'd highly reccomend to anyone that is even remotely a fan of salted cured meats. Yes odd way to start a review but you try thinking of something original after like 30 of these and without using ChatGPT. It is good. Very very good. I've loved this place for years and I would struggle to think of anywhere in Philadelphia or even New York that makes a better pastrami on rye.It's an old fashioned Jewish deli. No frills. No fuss. Right in the middle of reading terminal market. You can order to go, but they also have a counter with service. I usually take it to go but I was really hungry this time and flying solo, so no need for a table. Server was super nice.I went for the Pastrami Rachel. It's a pastrami on rye with coleslaw, Russian dressing, swiss, grilled. I wasn't always a fan of the grilling but nowadays I think it's critical. Anyways for the important part: the pastrami. It is very very difficult for me to verbally stress how incredible the pastrami itself is. You miss this when you sit at the counter, but if you order directly from the front, you can see the good folks chopping up that juicy, delicious, fatty hot piece of heaven. It's honestly a treat for the eyes. You take a bite, it melts in your mouth and the juices start flowing. That woman that George briefly dated on Seinfeld was onto something: Pastrami is the most sensual of all the salted cured meats.10/10 eat there. Also the potato salad, macaroni salad, and cheesecake are good but I didn't get them this time.

So damn good. This was my first time and she recommended 1/2 pastrami and half corned beef. What a great recommendation. (Pastrami was my fave). I enjoyed watching them prep more of the brisket and the convo with the guy working.High recommend.