Hershel's East Side Deli
Terminal Market, 1136 Arch Street, Reading, Philadelphia
(215) 922-6220
Recent Reviews
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I didn’t realize I was craving the sandwich until I saw it. And it tasted even better. Wish I lived closer.
Went there twice in the past week from how good it was. I ordered the pastrami with Swiss and coleslaw and I was amazed by the amount of flavor it had. I only sat max 5 minutes waiting in line and for my food to be ready. I can’t say this is as good as Katz Deli in New York, but it surely is up there!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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 don’t wear white.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Pastrami Reuben. That is all there is to say.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Best corned beef special you will ever have
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
It's a hectic place in Reading Terminal, so service & atmosphere scores will not be high. It's about the food, we had corned beef Ruebens, best ever.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Reuben Sandwich
Pastrami is awesome 👌
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Hershel's Pastrami Sandwich, Hershel's Brisket
Wow! 1/2 the price of the famous Katz Deli NYC and twice as good. Amazing sandwich spot. Loaded up and the line moves quick at lunch (not long either)
Dare I say that this place is better than Katz deli in New York City?
The pastrami sandwich as a Rachel and it was the best meal I had all day. The cheese, sauce, and cabbage really makes that sandwich flavorful!
If you don't mind eating in the busy reading terminal market, it's an amazing place to eat.
The waitress was super friendly!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
They have an amazing pastrami sandwich!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Tried the smoked sandwich and pulled pork sandwich here — both were delicious! The meat was tender and full of flavor. The staff were super friendly and welcoming, which made the experience even better. Great spot if you’re craving good BBQ and good vibes.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The servers were very friendly. Generous with meat portions (for $12-$15 per sandwich).
My only issue is that the meat was cooked with little to no seasoning. Basically boiled… In order to enjoy your sandwich, you needed to add coleslaw, mustard and A LOT of salt & pepper.
Some seasoning is needed for quality cuts of meat like brisket and corn beef…
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 5
I eat a lot of pastrami. Not very often, but I seek it out when I know there’s a chance it might be good. This is hands down the best I’ve ever had out of nearly 100 places I’ve tried. And yes, I’ve been all over NYC. Try it and you’ll know. These guys know what they’re doing.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This was the best Pastrami Sandwich I ever had. And the Rye bread was to die for! So delicious.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Hershel's Pastrami Sandwich, Pickles
A top tier Jewish deli. The sandwiches are what they are known for and with good reason, but they also fried me up some fresh latkeys too! Not as good as my mom's but that wouldn't be a fair comparison anyway
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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