An interesting new blog called Angelenos Rite of Passage (mission: It all started with a conversation. Turned into a list. Now it’s a challenge. Thus begins our adventure to fully see and know the soul of Los Angeles…) included coverage of Langer’s Deli recently:
We all took our first bites, and a moment of OMG, shut the front door, glossed over us – this was unbelievable. Every pastrami sandwich before this was a joke.
Congratulations are in order to Jonathan Gold, David Sax and Ed Levine – all great friends of Langer’s Delicatessen-Restaurant – who were winners of coveted James Beard Awards, as reported by Kevin Roderick at LAObserved.com.
We are proud of our friendships with all three individuals – Jonathan for his long-time championing of Langer’s hot pastrami on the pages of the LA Weekly, David for his recent book “Save the Deli” which courageously named Los Angeles as America’s deli capital and singled out Langer’s for distinction, and Ed for his ongoing support of Langer’s through his newest venue, SeriousEats.com.
Congratulations to all from your friends at Langer’s.
Los Angeles-based food (and whiskey) review site Sku’s Recent Eats takes on the age-old Katz’s (New York) versus Langer’s Delicatessen-Restaurant (Los Angeles) “which pastrami is better?” debate, and we’re pleased with the outcome:
Katz’s makes a great pastrami sandwich, no doubt about it, but I’m proud to report to all you LA civic pride advocates that Langer’s is indeed better. I view Katz’s meat as the best of the deli pastrami. It is well spiced, tender and full of spicy, meaty flavor, but it is ultimately a great version of the same pastrami you get at every deli in the City. Langer’s, on the other hand, is an entirely different beast. It has very little in common with traditional, sliced deli pastramis. It’s moist and thick and almost more of a meat entree than a cold cut. Biting into a Katz’s sandwich is extremely satisfying, but biting into a Langer’s sandwich is a near religious experience.
And then there is the bread.
Gianpiero Leone of El Niño Angeleno had a great post about visiting Langer’s recently on his well-written blog:
I had lunch today at the famous Langer’s Deli in MacArthur Park. A Los Angeles institution established in 1947 by Mr. Al Langer, Langer’s Deli serves up some of the best eats in the city and if you are from the east coast you surely will not be disappointed.
TravelandLeisure.com, a division of American Express Publishing, has released their “Best Restaurants in Los Angeles” listing – running through every letter in the alphabet (so yep, 26 entries, or 5 pages of web reading – but worth it!). Every selection was interesting and thoughtful – and some were fun while others were obscure enough to make you think, “Hmmm, maybe i don’t know Los Angeles cuisine that well!”
We’re excited that Langer’s Delicatessen-Restaurant made the listing for D – as in “Deli”:
Like vintage Buicks and aging divas, old delicatessens preserve themselves well in the southern California sunshine. Canter’s, Nate ’n Al, Greenblatt’s: all unimpeachable specimens. But the sine qua non will always be 63-year-old Langer’s (pastrami sandwich $13), source of the finest pastrami this side of the Hudson. The meat—smoky around the edges, Kobe-tender, and bursting with beefy juice—requires not a smidge of seasoning, though mustard comes standard. And the rye…Good Lord, the rye: par-baked daily at Bea’s Bakery, in Tarzana, then finished in-house till it’s plush in the center but crisp at the crust. Finally there’s the setting: brass chandeliers on a dropped-panel ceiling; a malt machine; a case of cakes the size of truck wheels. Dare you? Yes. Yes, you do.
Click here to read the complete article at TravelandLeisure.com
Now here’s something that we’re really proud of – a diorama of Langer’s created by the young and talented Miss Jocelyn Gee!
Jocelyn was given an assignment at her nearby elementary school to create a diorama of her favorite place. She chose Langer’s. Note the details like the menu boards, the food on plates at our counter, the counter seats, the attentive server, and even the “7th and Alvarado” Los Angeles City street sign.
It’s absolutely perfect and we are proudly displaying it on our refrigerated cooler – so make sure you check it out and take a photo of it next visit!
And to our friend Jocelyn – thank you very much. You are forever part of our Langer’s family.
The Salty Lawyer paid her first visit to Langer’s Delicatessen-Restaurant recently, despite being so physically close to the store (she works as a Deputy Public Defender downtown):
Believe it or not, I’d never been to Langer’s before yesterday. I wasn’t sure what to order…but I was in the mood for something hot, crunchy and gooey. So a grilled pastrami with sauerkraut it was.
Langer’s Delicatessen-Restaurant would like to extend our heartfelt thanks and sincere gratitude to our good friends at Radio Korea AM 1540 in Los Angeles, who hosted a fantastic golf tournament at Old Ranch Country Club in Seal Beach, on April 5, 2009.
Norm Langer participated, playing a full 18 holes for the first time in nearly two years after two major knee-replacement surgeries. He shot pretty well (considering the 2-year layoff, of course!) and had a great partner in Michael Kim of Puente Hills Hyundai.
Langer’s Delicatessen-Restaurant sponsored the 9th hole at Old Ranch proudly, as well.
For those who do not know, Langer’s Deli is a regular advertiser on 1540 KMPC, Radio Korea. Our spots run in the Korean language (to match the rest of the programming) where they serve to let our Korean neighbors know about our delicious pastrami and other great deli items.
The Daily Trojan’s website – written and produced by students at the University of Southern California – recently published a new “Gingersnaps” entry by columnist Mimi Honeycutt, focusing on her recent intake of television cooking shows. In it, she finds a great Langer’s Delicatessen-Restaurant mention from her review of “The Best Thing I Ever Ate”:
Many of the restaurants are in New York City, but don’t discount Los Angeles for eating options. The legendary Number 19 from Langer’s Deli and the Brazilian Chicken Pot Pie from Wood Spoon have both made an appearance.
Impress all your friends when you suggest a seemingly random restaurant for a Saturday lunch. Most of the dishes do not actually come from fancy restaurants, so even broke college kids can enjoy fine dining.
Famed guide publishers Zagat (as part of their Zagat Buzz Los Angeles online community) posted a great article recently entitled “Where to Eat Around Dodger Stadium.” The article includes Langer’s Delicatessen-Restaurant as well as a whole host of fantastic and iconic LA eateries. This one is a definite must-click – if this list doesn’t make you hungry, nothing will!
But as much as LA loves its Dodger Dogs, the stadium is surrounded by many worthwhile dining destinations. Indeed, there’s a tradition of grabbing a bite before a game – back when he was manager, Tommy Lasorda could often be found eating lasagna and ravioli at the now defunct Little Joe’s Italian Restaurant in Chinatown.