While visiting with our dear friend Preston, he told us we should go to Canter’s Deli on Fairfax for really good pastrami sandwiches.
Canter’s Deli on Fairfax
So since we were already planning on going to Los Angeles to visit the Original Farmers Market, which was also on Fairfax, we figured we should take his sage advice. And we’re always down for a good pastrami sandwich on rye.
Mid Century decor and the freshly baked cases of goodies at Canter’s
The iconic deli makes you feel like you have step into a time machine and emerged in the 1950s. The decor is very mid century and the food is every bit as good as Canter’s Deli’s reputation!
Canter’s Deli on Fairfax
Smoked fish and other appetizing items in Canter’s display cases
Canter’s has been serving Los Angeles‘ best deli cuisine since they opened in 1931. Their pastrami has been voted the best by the LA Times and LA Weekly. They have very loyal clientele who return again and again for the consistently high quality food that is lovingly managed by third and fourth generations of the Canter family.
From the freshly baked breads to the pastrami to the famous house pickles, Canter’s makes sure that you have a truly traditional and authentic Jewish deli experience.
It all started in Jersey City
Looks like he’s ready for his Bear Mitzvah!
After losing their Jersey City, New Jersey delicatessen in the 1929 stock market crash, Ben Canter and his two brothers head to California with a mere $500 between them. Driven to succeed they opened Canter Brother’s Delicatessen in 1931 in the Jewish center of LA, Boyle Heights.
Our array of goodness from Canter’s Deli on Fairfax
But the neighborhood changed and the business moved to 439 North Fairfax Avenue and the name was changed to Canter’s Fairfax. Then, in 1953, the Canter’s team bought the old Esquire Theatre up the street and moved Canter’s Deli to the larger location where we visited.
Juicy and not too fatty, just how perfect pastrami should be!
CBS studios is just up the block, which means celebrities frequent Canter’s every day. Their catering department caters to many television shows and movies, as well as catering their wrap parties.
Celebrities love Canter’s Deli on Fairfax
Dinner is on the table!
The list of celebrities that have passed through Canter’s doors over the years is a very long one. According to the website: “In the 50s Marilyn Monroe and Arthur Miller ate here, as did Jack Benny and Elizabeth Taylor. Other celebrity noshers include Sydney Poitier, Mel Brooks, Wilt Chamberlain, Charlene Tilton, Brooke Shields, Jacqueline Bisset, Catherine Oxenberg, John Travolta, Prince, Stevie Wonder. Also Buddy Hackett, Olivia Newton John, Muhammad Ali, Monty Hall, Bill Cosby, David Brenner, Rodney Dangerfield, Dick Van Dyke, Shelly Winters, Elizabeth Montgomery, The Cars. As well as Henry Winkler, and Greg Morris. The producer of Miami Vice, Michael Mann, wrote here for hours at a time when he was writing for Vegas. The Neil Simon movie, “I Ought to be in Pictures”, with Walter Matthau was filmed here. Many celebrities who prefer to go “incognito” sneak in around 3:00 am for a late night nosh!”
Our delicious take-out order
Look at that fabulous pastrami sandwich!
Since Steve and I were quite sated from eating our way through the Farmers Market, we decided we should order food for us to bring home. We started with a seeded rye bread and to that we added 3/4-pound of thinly sliced pastrami, 1/4-pound Swiss cheese, some garlicky pickles and sour tomatoes, coleslaw, potato salad and of course, some Russian Dressing!
Just to tempt you a little more I’ve zoomed in just a little
Our car smelled amazing all the way back to Santa Clarita! By the time dinner rolled around we couldn’t wait to dig in to our fabulous Pastrami on Rye sandwiches slathered with some good deli mustard and perfected with a hefty portion of coleslaw and Russian dressing. It was all sooooooo delicious that we were quite pleased with ourselves for buying some extra pastrami!!!
