Essen NY Deli

Midwood has a sizeable Orthodox Jewish population, so it’s no surprise that one of our favorite Jewish delis is in this South Brooklyn neighborhood. There’s nothing touristy about Essen, it’s a deli that exists to serve its community — and to make the best pastrami sandwich in New York. Yeah, we said it. This isn’t a monstrous, too-big-to-eat affair. The pastrami is juicy, thinly-sliced, and piled high between two slices of soft rye bread. The matzo ball soup and latkes are both exemplary, and if you’ve never had a pastrami egg roll, you should try one here. The menu is divided into two sections: Jewish deli and takeout-style Chinese. Both are worth ordering from.