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Wagshal’s pastrami
A hot pastrami sandwich from Wagshal’s.
Gabe Hiatt/Eater D.C.

18 Places for a Hot Pastrami Sandwich in D.C.

From a traditional style on rye to sandwiches with more unconventional toppings

by Tim Ebner Updated
8 comments / new
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A hot pastrami sandwich from Wagshal’s.
| Gabe Hiatt/Eater D.C.
by Tim Ebner Updated
8 comments / new

The best pastrami sandwiches have a melt-in-the-mouth quality that can render most condiments obsolete. Although D.C. isn’t known for its delis, pastrami can still be found in a variety of shapes and sizes all over the metropolitan area.

There are the legacy operations that serve it sliced (Wagshal's, Deli City, and Loeb's) and new kids on the block with unorthodox toppings and spins on the deli meat. Take the pastrami tacos at Call Your Mother, for example, or the Reuben grilled cheese at TallBoy.

This hot pastrami map is meant to help satisfy cured meat cravings in D.C. and the surrounding suburbs.

Have anther favorite pastrami sandwich? Share in the comments.

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Parkway Deli & Restaurant

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This legendary Jewish deli packs in crowds and has a front sandwich counter that serves an 8-ounce hot pastrami sandwich for $8.95.

8317 Grubb Rd, Silver Spring, MD 20910
(301) 587-1427
(301) 587-1427
View this post on Instagram

Pastrami and Corned Beef

A post shared by Stephen Kaiser (@kaiser.222) on

Also featured in:

Wagshal's Deli

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Find sandwich salvation at Wagshal's Deli in upper Northwest. The deli counter is known for its pastrami sandwich and smoked brisket. The “super double” packs pastrami and corned beef into a triple decker. There's also a market area where customers can buy to-go cuts of pastrami. The Wagshal’s butcher shop is a few doors down.

4855 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20016
(202) 363-5698
(202) 363-5698
Wagshal’s pastrami Gabe Hiatt/Eater D.C.

Also featured in:

Call Your Mother Deli

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There are many ways to sample hot pastrami at this toasty-hot bagel shop. The Greenberg ($15) is a half-pastrami, half-brisket sandwich served on a challah sub roll. There’s also pastrami fried rice and a “Jew-ish” taco with brisket, pastrami, cheese, jalapenos, cilantro, onion, and lime.

3301 Georgia Ave NW, Washington, DC 20010

Also featured in:

Casolare Ristorante + Bar

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The weekend brunch at Casolare features a Roman Jewish menu that includes pastrami and jalapeno hash topped with a poached egg and creamy Hollandaise sauce for $15.

2505 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20007
(202) 625-5400
(202) 625-5400

Also featured in:

So's Your Mom

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This Adam's Morgan deli with a slightly offensive name serves one of the cheapest pastrami sandwiches in town for just $4.95.

1831 Columbia Rd NW, Washington, D.C. 20009
(202) 462-3666
(202) 462-3666
View this post on Instagram

Monday, let's get this bread.

A post shared by 730dc (@730dc) on

Also featured in:

Deli City

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One of the best places in D.C. for hot pastrami is sandwiched between a Northeast strip club and a Metro bus depot on Bladensburg Road. Find a car, check the business hours, and bring cash only. It may sound difficult, but it's worth it for the pastrami.

2200 Bladensburg Rd NE, Washington, D.C. 20018
(202) 526-1800
(202) 526-1800

Also featured in:

Stachowski Market & Deli

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Size really does matter at Stachowski. There's more than a pound of pastrami between two slices of rye. And, really it goes without saying — it takes a monster appetite to gobble down this $15.99 sandwich.

1425 28th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20007
(202) 506-3125
(202) 506-3125

Also featured in:

Harvey's Market

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The butcher shop in Union Market sells steamed pastrami on rye with Dusseldorf mustard and a bag of chips for $12.

1309 5th St NE, Washington, DC 20002
(202) 544-0400
(202) 544-0400

TallBoy Bar

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At this reincarnation of the Smoked and Stacked sandwich shop, former partner Marjorie Meek-Bradley's pastrami lives on in a grilled cheese Reuben. Now that it’s a bar, the place serves several other grilled everal other grilled cheese sandwiches available until last call.

1239 9th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
202-465-4822
202-465-4822
TallBoy mural Rey Lopez/Eater D.C.

Also featured in:

Blue Duck Tavern

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Chef Adam Howard’s BDT Reuben is available on the lunch menu. It’s served in a traditional style and features beef sourced from Creekstone Farms in Kansas.

1201 24th St NW, Washington, DC 20037
(202) 419-6755
(202) 419-6755

Also featured in:

Bub and Pop's

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The Hebrew Hammer is a popular sandwich with the Dupont Circle crowd. It’s piled high with pastrami, brisket, roast turkey, kosher salami, spicy mustard, Thousand Island dressing, Swiss cheese, and slaw.

1815 M St NW, Washington, DC 20036
(202) 457-1111
(202) 457-1111

Also featured in:

Neopol Savory Smokery Georgetown

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In its recently opened Georgetown store, the Baltimore-based smokery with a presence in Union Market has branched out from smoked salmon and started curing its own pastrami.

3210 Grace St NW, Washington, DC 20007
(202) 629-2932
(202) 629-2932
Gabe Hiatt/Eater D.C.

Loeb's New York Deli

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To find true love at Loeb's order-up the Times Square. It's a pastrami sandwich that comes served with a fried egg, american cheese, steak, and Russian dressing on an onion roll.

1712 I St NW, Washington, D.C. 20005
(202) 965-5632
(202) 965-5632

Carving Room Kitchen & Bar

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The Carving Room uses a nine-day dry curing method for its pastrami sandwich, which comes on rye with a slab of mustard for $14.

300 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
(202) 525-2116
(202) 525-2116

GW Delicatessen

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Hurry over to Foggy Bottom before the GW students crowd this beloved college deli. At GW Delicatessen the hot pastrami comes served at both breakfast and lunch, either on a bagel or sandwich.

2133 G St NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
(202) 331-9391
(202) 331-9391

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Red Apron Butchery

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Nathan Anda’s butcher shop takes pastrami seriously with two varieties — a wagyu beef and a “porkstrami.” The latter is topped with bacon-braised sauerkraut and mustard aioli.

709 D St NW, Washington, D.C. 20004
(202) 524-5244
(202) 524-5244
View this post on Instagram

☝️this is what your lunch should look like

A post shared by Red Apron Butcher (@redapronbutcher) on

Also featured in:

Chutzpah Real New York Deli

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This Fairfax deli serves traditional pastrami sandwiches and monster combinations such as the "Fuggedaboudit,” which adds corned beef and chicken liver in the mix. Signage everywhere encourages customers not to embarrass themselves by asking for mayonnaise.

12214 Fairfax Towne Ctr, Fairfax, VA 22033
(703) 385-8883
(703) 385-8883
View this post on Instagram

✡️

A post shared by Jason W (@jrwamp) on

Celebrity Delly

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Hot pastrami makes its way into several pastrami sandwiches here, from the "New Yorker" to the "Mighty Milty." Find it in some combos, too.

7263A Arlington Blvd, Falls Church, VA 22042
(703) 573-9002
(703) 573-9002
Celebrity Delly [official]

Also featured in:

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Parkway Deli & Restaurant

8317 Grubb Rd, Silver Spring, MD 20910

This legendary Jewish deli packs in crowds and has a front sandwich counter that serves an 8-ounce hot pastrami sandwich for $8.95.

8317 Grubb Rd, Silver Spring, MD 20910
(301) 587-1427
(301) 587-1427
View this post on Instagram

Pastrami and Corned Beef

A post shared by Stephen Kaiser (@kaiser.222) on

Wagshal's Deli

4855 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20016

Find sandwich salvation at Wagshal's Deli in upper Northwest. The deli counter is known for its pastrami sandwich and smoked brisket. The “super double” packs pastrami and corned beef into a triple decker. There's also a market area where customers can buy to-go cuts of pastrami. The Wagshal’s butcher shop is a few doors down.

4855 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20016
(202) 363-5698
(202) 363-5698
Wagshal’s pastrami Gabe Hiatt/Eater D.C.

Call Your Mother Deli

3301 Georgia Ave NW, Washington, DC 20010

There are many ways to sample hot pastrami at this toasty-hot bagel shop. The Greenberg ($15) is a half-pastrami, half-brisket sandwich served on a challah sub roll. There’s also pastrami fried rice and a “Jew-ish” taco with brisket, pastrami, cheese, jalapenos, cilantro, onion, and lime.

3301 Georgia Ave NW, Washington, DC 20010

Casolare Ristorante + Bar

2505 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20007

The weekend brunch at Casolare features a Roman Jewish menu that includes pastrami and jalapeno hash topped with a poached egg and creamy Hollandaise sauce for $15.

2505 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20007
(202) 625-5400
(202) 625-5400

So's Your Mom

1831 Columbia Rd NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

This Adam's Morgan deli with a slightly offensive name serves one of the cheapest pastrami sandwiches in town for just $4.95.

1831 Columbia Rd NW, Washington, D.C. 20009
(202) 462-3666
(202) 462-3666
View this post on Instagram

Monday, let's get this bread.

A post shared by 730dc (@730dc) on

Deli City

2200 Bladensburg Rd NE, Washington, D.C. 20018

One of the best places in D.C. for hot pastrami is sandwiched between a Northeast strip club and a Metro bus depot on Bladensburg Road. Find a car, check the business hours, and bring cash only. It may sound difficult, but it's worth it for the pastrami.

2200 Bladensburg Rd NE, Washington, D.C. 20018
(202) 526-1800
(202) 526-1800

Stachowski Market & Deli

1425 28th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20007

Size really does matter at Stachowski. There's more than a pound of pastrami between two slices of rye. And, really it goes without saying — it takes a monster appetite to gobble down this $15.99 sandwich.

1425 28th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20007
(202) 506-3125
(202) 506-3125

Harvey's Market

1309 5th St NE, Washington, DC 20002

The butcher shop in Union Market sells steamed pastrami on rye with Dusseldorf mustard and a bag of chips for $12.

1309 5th St NE, Washington, DC 20002
(202) 544-0400
(202) 544-0400

TallBoy Bar

1239 9th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

At this reincarnation of the Smoked and Stacked sandwich shop, former partner Marjorie Meek-Bradley's pastrami lives on in a grilled cheese Reuben. Now that it’s a bar, the place serves several other grilled everal other grilled cheese sandwiches available until last call.

1239 9th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
202-465-4822
202-465-4822
TallBoy mural Rey Lopez/Eater D.C.

Blue Duck Tavern

1201 24th St NW, Washington, DC 20037

Chef Adam Howard’s BDT Reuben is available on the lunch menu. It’s served in a traditional style and features beef sourced from Creekstone Farms in Kansas.

1201 24th St NW, Washington, DC 20037
(202) 419-6755
(202) 419-6755

Bub and Pop's

1815 M St NW, Washington, DC 20036

The Hebrew Hammer is a popular sandwich with the Dupont Circle crowd. It’s piled high with pastrami, brisket, roast turkey, kosher salami, spicy mustard, Thousand Island dressing, Swiss cheese, and slaw.

1815 M St NW, Washington, DC 20036
(202) 457-1111
(202) 457-1111

Neopol Savory Smokery Georgetown

3210 Grace St NW, Washington, DC 20007

In its recently opened Georgetown store, the Baltimore-based smokery with a presence in Union Market has branched out from smoked salmon and started curing its own pastrami.

3210 Grace St NW, Washington, DC 20007
(202) 629-2932
(202) 629-2932
Gabe Hiatt/Eater D.C.

Loeb's New York Deli

1712 I St NW, Washington, D.C. 20005

To find true love at Loeb's order-up the Times Square. It's a pastrami sandwich that comes served with a fried egg, american cheese, steak, and Russian dressing on an onion roll.

1712 I St NW, Washington, D.C. 20005
(202) 965-5632
(202) 965-5632

Carving Room Kitchen & Bar

300 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

The Carving Room uses a nine-day dry curing method for its pastrami sandwich, which comes on rye with a slab of mustard for $14.

300 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
(202) 525-2116
(202) 525-2116

GW Delicatessen

2133 G St NW, Washington, D.C. 20037

Hurry over to Foggy Bottom before the GW students crowd this beloved college deli. At GW Delicatessen the hot pastrami comes served at both breakfast and lunch, either on a bagel or sandwich.

2133 G St NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
(202) 331-9391
(202) 331-9391

Related Maps

Red Apron Butchery

709 D St NW, Washington, D.C. 20004

Nathan Anda’s butcher shop takes pastrami seriously with two varieties — a wagyu beef and a “porkstrami.” The latter is topped with bacon-braised sauerkraut and mustard aioli.

709 D St NW, Washington, D.C. 20004
(202) 524-5244
(202) 524-5244
View this post on Instagram

☝️this is what your lunch should look like

A post shared by Red Apron Butcher (@redapronbutcher) on

Chutzpah Real New York Deli

12214 Fairfax Towne Ctr, Fairfax, VA 22033

This Fairfax deli serves traditional pastrami sandwiches and monster combinations such as the "Fuggedaboudit,” which adds corned beef and chicken liver in the mix. Signage everywhere encourages customers not to embarrass themselves by asking for mayonnaise.

12214 Fairfax Towne Ctr, Fairfax, VA 22033
(703) 385-8883
(703) 385-8883
View this post on Instagram

✡️

A post shared by Jason W (@jrwamp) on

Celebrity Delly

7263A Arlington Blvd, Falls Church, VA 22042

Hot pastrami makes its way into several pastrami sandwiches here, from the "New Yorker" to the "Mighty Milty." Find it in some combos, too.

7263A Arlington Blvd, Falls Church, VA 22042
(703) 573-9002
(703) 573-9002
Celebrity Delly [official]

Related Maps