I grew up in the bubble of east Mesa, a suburb of Phoenix. Langer's is located in an area of L.A. that is nothing like this bubble. However, I must say that this pastrami sandwich is so incredibly delightful that it is worth shuffling past the interesting mix of characters in the area surrounding Langer's. This was Visit #2 to the deli. Visit #1 was merely by accident when we thought we would explore "Historic Filipinotown" on our way to Melrose (being half-Filipino, I thought this could be mildly interesting at best). We ended up not even finding "Filipinotown" but instead stumbled across Langer's. The exterior looked familiar though I couldn't figure out where I had seen it before. Then...boyfriend to the rescue! Making him watch all those episodes of "The Best Thing I Ever Ate" paid off--"wasn't that on The Food Network?" I googled it--now that I am finally a big kid with internets on my phone, thanks again to the boyfriend--and YES, it was featured on BTIEA. I am a huge fan of the pastrami sandwich but I actually didn't take Langer's very seriously when featured on BTIEA. The guy who talked about it was some annoying contestant on "The Next Food Network Star" (I don't even think he actually won..yet they still gave him his own show..what??). This guy is not someone I respect as a food authority.
I must say I'm glad my hunger and love of pastrami sandwiches set these opinions aside. We decided to park and entered the charmingly dated deli. Upon both visits, the place was packed but we were seated almost immediately. We split the #19--the # you must try if it's your first visit. It had been a few months since we had been there, so Visit #2 was scheduled into our weekend. Oh boy, was I excited for Visit #2!! Ahh...the smell of artificial cherry port-a-potty air freshener drifting from the nearby shops has never smelled sweeter. I still had to order the #19--hot pastrami, freshly made coleslaw, Russian dressing, and Swiss cheese on rye bread--their most popular sandwich.
Mmmm. Pickle on the side too?!?! (the perfect appetizer). Happy. So.Very.Happy.
Their rye bread is the perfect introduction to the amazing medley within. The bread is soft and moist with a pleasing crust (not too crunchy where it crumbles all over the place and not too chewy where you are forced to take awkward bites). Their secret? It's double-baked. They receive the bread parbaked from the bakery (parbaked = 80% done = cooked on the inside with undercooked exterior). When they are ready to use the bread, it is baked at a moderate temperature until golden brown in color, giving it that slight crunch. The amount of caraway seeds are enough to add that distinct flavor without overpowering other flavors. I don't usually like coleslaw unless it is 1) freshly made and 2) light on the mayo. Their coleslaw meets both these requirements and provides a light, crisp texture that is amplified by the tangy Russian dressing. Finally, there is the pastrami. Layers of tender, shredded hot pastrami that has a good mix of salt, spice, and mild sweetness.
We also ordered some of some crinkle cut fries because it's nearly impossible to resist accordion-shaped potatoes. Some places fail to cook a standard french fry correctly but Langer's gets it right--crisp exterior that hasn't become soggy from absorbing excess oil with just enough salt where you don't feel your hands and feet puffing up afterwards.
For me, 1/2 sandwich is the perfect amount BUT because we were going somewhere after lunch, I was in a tough spot. Waste the other half? Let it sit out x 5-6 hours and risk foodborne illness? Go against what I preach to my patients and eat the other half?? The boyfriend had already finished an entire sandwich so he said NO THANKS as I offered the second half. Despite the mounds of pastrami on the sandwich, it is actually not overly filling. I was able to finish most of the second half (large lunch = lunch/dinner that day). My belly left very happy but still not stuffed to the point of heartburn.
Oh, and it gets even better.....
And, as usual, no trip to Langer's is complete without a homeless person sighting. This time it was a near-toothless woman sleeping outside the deli entrance who awoke to enjoy a smokey treat and gather change. Yup, this area is definitely nothing like east Mesa.
Tip for your Visit #1 to try the #19: There is a designated Langer's parking lot (free parking for an hour) across the street from the deli.
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THE SCORE:
Nutrition: 1
Taste: 5
Ambiance: 3
Overall: 4.5
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