Famous 4th Street Delicatessen - Iconic Deli in Philadelphia

A great place -- the real deal. Some of the best comfort food around! Huge sandwiches, good soup, pastries, Dr. Brown's, what more could you ask for? The corned beef was not dried out at all (I would get the extra-lean next time, though the normal was not fatty at all), good pastrami, good bread. The kreplach and the matzoh ball left a bit to be desired (both of them were too dense), but the soup was fulfilling and at least completely recognizable for what it was (I've had some places claiming to serve kreplach that are serving something more like gyoza...). Beside the very good food, it's just a great atmosphere and great people. I look forward to going back!

In order to have the word “famous” in your name, you have to have pretty good food and the Famous 4th St Delicatessen definitely lives up to its name. We got the matzoh ball soup and the egg salad sandwich, everything was amazing. It was like eating the best home cooked meal at a restaurant. Yes, it is a little pricey but the portions are huge so the value ends up being pretty good. I heard one woman saying that she had enough leftovers to eat for the next three days. Big up also for the fries. Also a bonus appreciation for the cookie given at the end which was delicious and also tasted like it was made with love from your mother’s kitchen. I’ve taken one star off because my fiancé was looking to eat kosher and as it turns out, nothing in this restaurant is kosher (several reviews say it is and I thought it was important to note that it’s not the case).

I was a regular at the 4th Street Deli for many years until January 2019, when I radically changed my diet and shed 50 pounds. I haven’t visited the deli since 2019, but I stopped in for a special treat: a hot pastrami sandwich (zaftig, to go) in December 2025 to share with my girlfriend. It did not disappoint. Solid 5 stars. Pastrami was excellent and the sandwich was HUGE. We could only finish half of the sandwich between the two of us. I rate it just as good as Katz’s in NYC, (without the long line). The cakes and deserts in the display cases also looked amazing, just as I remembered them! Overall, excellent experience and delicious sandwich. Highly and enthusiastically recommend the 4th Street Deli in Philadelphia.

We love the history here. The overall architecture and decor, antique freezer box doors, tile floor, the specials menu from 1941, the ambiance. Clean and cozy. Friendly staff. Elizabeth L. is an excellent hospitality professional. Our split sandwich was delicious. We still took some home. We'll be back.

December 2025 I've been on a bit of a quest for the perfect corned beef and salami sandwich, and I'm pretty sure I just found it here. I've tried a lot of places, including those in New York City, Baltimore, North Jersey, Chicago, and other areas known for authentic Jewish delis. But something about this one just hit differently. The corned beef and pastrami here might honestly be the best I've ever had. They slice it thin, it's packed with flavor, and the sandwich is absolutely massive. I'm talking two to three people could easily split this thing. In fact, I'm planning to use the meat from half of mine in an omelette tomorrow morning, and I'm genuinely excited about it. We also ordered a BLT, which was also excellent. The bacon was cooked to that perfect medium-crispy texture, and the sandwich itself was huge, just like everything else here. The sides were great, too. The potato salad was unique, fresh, and delicious, and the delicious potato cakes were a nice surprise. Even the pickle that came with it was notably good, and they give you a chocolate chip cookie at the end, which was a nice touch. Now, it wasn't cheap, as we paid almost $50 for two sandwiches. But honestly, these things are so enormous that you're really getting four meals out of it. And the quality is there: delicious, fresh ingredients, authentic preparation, the real deal. When you break it down that way, it feels worth it. I'm not sure when I'll get back there, but I'm already looking forward to my next visit. If you care about amazing deli food, this place is definitely worth checking out.

4th Street Delicatessen is a one of a kind city deli with tons of history and character. We ordered the Zaftig pastrami sandwich on rye, and it was absolutely worth it — the pastrami was piled high, tender, and full of flavor, and the rye bread held everything together perfectly. The portions are generous, so definitely come hungry. The service was great. Keira was friendly, attentive, and welcoming, and they even gave complimentary cookies at the end, which was such a nice touch. Parking is tough, but that’s expected in the city. It is on the expensive side, but honestly, with the location and portion sizes, what can you expect? Overall, great food and great service.

This isn’t a trendy brunch spot. It’s a generational, Philadelphia institution. Portions are massive, flavors are classic, and you leave full with no regrets. We made our way through the classics. Matzo ball soup, latkas, pastrami, stuffed cabbage. All amazing and worth coming back. This place is the real deal.

What an incredible first experience at 4th Street Deli! I felt like we stepped back in time which was magical. We tried many things and loved them all - corned beef Reuben, stuffed cabbages, potato pancakes, kishka, cheese kugel and fried krepich. We also brought home some goodies - chocolate chip cookies, coconut macaroons, apple strudel and an eclair! The portions are LARGE and you'll get multiple meals out of your dishes! Absolutely incredible and I can't wait to go back.