Langer's Deli facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Langer's Deli |
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Exterior of Langer's Deli, taken from the northwest corner of Alvarado Street
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| Restaurant information | |
| Established | 1947 |
| Current owner(s) | Langer family |
| Food type | Delicatessen |
| Dress code | Casual |
| Street address | 704 South Alvarado Street |
| City | Los Angeles |
| State | California |
| Postal/ZIP code | 90057 |
| Country | United States |
| Coordinates | 34°03′22″N 118°16′36″W / 34.0562°N 118.2768°W |
Langer's Deli, also called Langer's Delicatessen-Restaurant, is a very famous delicatessen in Los Angeles, California. It's known for its "kosher-style" food, especially its incredible pastrami sandwiches. You can find it at 704 South Alvarado Street, right across from MacArthur Park.
Langer's opened in 1947. It is super famous for its No. 19 pastrami on rye sandwich. Some people even say it's the best pastrami sandwich in the world! The restaurant says it has sold over 20 million pounds of pastrami since it started.
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The Story of Langer's Deli
Langer's Deli was opened in June 1947 by Albert J. Langer. He wanted to serve the many new Jewish immigrants moving to Los Angeles. Before this, Albert sold a smaller shop he owned. He heard about a sandwich shop for sale on Alvarado Street. With help from a friend, he bought the shop for $14,500.
When it first opened, Langer's only had $500. Albert, his wife Jean, and one dishwasher worked long hours. Corned beef sandwiches cost only 35 cents back then! In the early years, most customers were Jewish immigrants living near MacArthur Park.
Keeping the Doors Open
By the 1960s, many Jewish businesses moved away from the Westlake area. The neighborhood also faced tough times in the 1980s. But Albert Langer kept his restaurant open. He believed customers would still come. By 1990, increased activity in the area made business very hard. In 1993, the restaurant even thought about closing for good.
However, Langer's survived thanks to the Los Angeles Metro Rail's Red Line. The Westlake/MacArthur Park station opened just a block away. This meant people working in downtown Los Angeles could easily take the train to Langer's. This brought a steady flow of new customers. A local leader even joked that building the train line was worth it just to keep Langer's open!
Langer's celebrated its 60th birthday in 2007. On January 23, 2008, the intersection of 7th and Alvarado Streets was renamed Langer's Square. This day would have been Albert Langer's 95th birthday. Albert passed away in 2007. His son, Norm, who started working at the deli in 1962, took over running the restaurant.
How Langer's Operates Today
Langer's Deli is now a large restaurant. It covers about 4,300 square feet at Alvarado and 7th Streets. It started as a small 12-seat place. Over the years, it grew to 137 seats. Albert Langer bought a nearby liquor store in 1953. In 1967, he bought a bank space. He combined these areas to create the restaurant you see today.
Hours and Special Services
Until the 1990s, Langer's stayed open very late, sometimes until 3:00 am. This was for people coming from nearby bars. But because of safety concerns and business changes, they decided to close earlier. Since 1993, the restaurant is open from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm on weekdays and Saturdays. It is closed on Sundays. Sometimes, for special events like anniversaries, they stay open longer.
Langer's is also famous for its curbside service. An employee suggested this idea. He offered to take an order out to a customer waiting in their car. This service became very popular. They now deliver between 35 and 70 orders to cars every day!
Langer's takes good care of its employees. They offer full benefits and support. Many employees have worked there for a long time. Some even work at another famous deli called Canter's. The two restaurants share employees because they need skilled deli workers. The connection between Langer's and Canter's goes back to the 1930s. That's when Albert Langer worked at Canter's before opening his own place.
Adapting to New Challenges
In March 2020, Langer's closed its dining room for the first time ever. This was due to city rules during a worldwide health situation. Norm Langer, the owner, was not happy about it. The restaurant switched to only offering takeout food. The dining room reopened in June 2021. This was when most rules for restaurants were lifted. Norm Langer and city leaders held a special event to celebrate.
A month later, in July 2021, Langer's started asking customers for proof of vaccination. This was to help keep everyone safe from new virus strains. Most customers have been happy about this rule. The restaurant has had to turn away a few people each day. Almost all of Langer's employees are also vaccinated.
Awards and Special Recognition
Langer's Deli has received many awards for its great food and history.
In 1997, the Los Angeles City Council wanted to honor the restaurant. Four years later, in 2001, Langer's won the "America's Classics" award from the James Beard Foundation. This is a very important award for restaurants. Langer's was only the second restaurant in Los Angeles to get this honor.
On May 28, 2019, Langer's was named a Bib Gourmand by the Michelin Guide. This award recognizes restaurants that offer great food at good prices. The famous No. 19 sandwich was also named the best sandwich in California in 2021 by Food & Wine magazine.
