Hershel's East Side Deli — Restaurant in Philadelphia

I stopped by Herchel’s East Side Deli on a weekday morning just before 11am—only two people ahead of me in line, which felt like a small win given how crowded Reading Terminal can get.

I ordered the pastrami. They press it hot and crisp on the grill, then wrap it up tight with a pickle spear on the side. The sandwich is huge—heavy, warm, and absolutely loaded with pastrami.

The pastrami itself is excellent. Thick-cut, smoky, super tender, and piled on generously. It’s got that nice peppery crust on the edges and a deep, meaty flavor without being overly salty. The coleslaw adds a bit of crunch and tang, and the melted cheese + Russian dressing pull the whole thing together.

Be warned: this is not a dainty sandwich. It soaked through one layer of the wrapper and left my hands a little greasy, but that kind of comes with the territory. You don’t eat this with manners—you eat it with napkins.

I made it through a little over half before tapping out. Definitely big enough to split or save for later.

Staff were friendly and efficient—no fuss, just good energy behind the counter.

If you’re at Reading Terminal and not sure where to start, this is an easy win. Come hungry, and maybe...

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...

Reading Terminal Market is packed with some amazing, delicious food options. One of my favorites for grabbing a nice sandwich or plate of meat is Hershel’s East Side Deli. It’s one of the best Jewish Delis outside New York. In fact, Hershel, a Polish native, was a chef at New York City’s famed Katz’s Deli for more than 40 years. It is an authentic deli experience and they do a great job with their meats (like the juicy, house-cured pastrami). The deli has been serving up the classics since 2000, including matzo ball and chicken noodle soup, latkes, kugel, hot dogs, potato knishes, bagels with lox, New York–style cheesecake, and, of course, hot deli sandwiches stuffed with homemade corned beef, pastrami, or brisket. Their food is made from scratch daily, the meat is carved to order, and the staff are happy to honor special requests. If you go during lunch time, it will be busy and a long line will wind around the counter, but it moves fast, so get in line, spit your order out loudly, watch them prepare it, and then dig into your meal. Go with the pastrami, brisket, or corned beef – you...