Hershels East Side Deli

One of many great delis within the Reading Terminal Market. We got the Hershel's Pastrami, Rachel style (with coleslaw, Russian dressing, and melted cheese). It was really good and definitely big enough to split. The pastrami itself was a little tough in spots but generally very good. Loved the bread and how crispy it stayed despite all the juices! It was very confusing though about where to order and I would have loved some guidance about where the line began and ended and where to place your order.

Here’s the deal. I’m a girl that loves a great sandwich and classic Jewish deli style sandwiches are my favorite. Having eaten at many NYC deli’s and picnicked in Central Park with the best offerings of Zabar’s, I thought I would be pleasantly impressed with the offerings of Hershel’s East Side Deli. I was wrong… I was massively impressed with not only the quality, but the quantity of delicious food. We opted for the Rebekah. The meat was savory, juicy and piled high. The coleslaw was crisp and fresh, and the dressing was amazing. I’m not going to lie… when I’m on my death bed and someone asking me what I want my dying meal to be… this sandwich is going to be on the list. It was so good that when our friend tried a bite of our sandwich, he had to go and get one of his own. Having tried a variety of the Reading Terminal Market offerings, I would rate the sandwiches at Hershel’s the best and Miller’s Twist as a close second. Do not be fooled by the look of this place. From the outside it had a vibe that was reminiscent of a school cafeteria. Yes, the sides are great, but go straight for the sandwiches!

This was by far the best pastrami I’ve ever had. The sandwich was absolutely perfect and every bite was amazing. The Latkes were sooooooo good. They were super crunchy/crispy and pillowy on the inside. They were a little grey? But it didn’t change the flavor to me. Lastly, the matzo ball was super flavorful and the soup was perfectly seasoned. They also had a cute bar you could sit at behind the line. It was a great choice considering all the food at this location, I do think this deli is definitely worth trying it out!

We got a pastrami sandwich, I don't even usually like pastrami but I can tell you this is an amazing sandwich. Incredible cut of meat. Fully stuffed sandwich with excellent flavor. This far exceeded all my expectations.

I never knew you can fall in love with a sandwich?Simply THE BEST pastrami sandwich I've ever had! It can be slightly "too heavy" if you're not used to eat fatty food, but oh my is it worth it! The market is a popular place, so if you go during the weekend the seating isn't quaranteed(I saw there was a 1 hour waiting to be seated on Sat afternoon). I just got it to go. They wrap it in foil and it preserves heat for good 10-20 min.

First time trying Hershel's after watching a bunch of videos online and I must say it was scrumdidilyumchus. We had the brisket sandwich with slaw, the pastrami Reuben and the pastrami Rachel. Pastrami was soooooooo juicy and tasty the brisket was good also but, the pastrami is definitely the go to. Will definitely come back next time I'm in Philly

After so many reviews and videos on YouTube, we decided to go to Hershel's East Side Deli and try the pastrami sandwich. This sandwich you can share, has so many layers of pastrami and is so big, what I really enjoyed is the freshness of each ingredient. I missed out on trying the smoked brisket sandwich; it looked so delicious.

First off, no matter what meat you choose, it's going to be perfect. This is probably the 25th to 30th time we've been here in the last 30 years. We left Philly in 2000 and yet we've truly not missed returning to Hershel's every single trip back to the city! Today was a pastrami Reuben, Jewish apple cake and an egg cream. There really is nothing to say other than perfectly executed sandwich magic!!