Lunch at Langer's Deli - MacArthur Park

photos courtesy of El Niño Angeleno’s iphone

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I had lunch today at the famous Langer's Deli in MacArthur Park. A Los Angeles institution established in 1947 by Mr. Al Langer, Langer's Deli serves up some of the best eats in the city and if you are from the East Coast you surely will not be disappointed. Located at 704 South Alvarado Street, Langer's came close to shutting its doors in the early 1990s when MacArthur Park was riddled with a drug and gang problem which caused many long time and new patrons to stay away from the historic neighborhood it so proudly served. This Los Angeles icon was soon saved by the Metro Red Line, which made it fast, safe and easy for downtown and Miracle Mile workers to satisfy an afternoon craving of pastrami, corned beef, rye bread and clam chowder. Al Langer passed away in 2007, but the tradition carries on with his family running the deli with all the enthusiasm, great food and excellent service that Al operated it with. Proceed with caution though, although I have seen more straw fedora hats appearing in this neighborhood and I hear the word "Loft" spoken here and there, this area is not super gentrified yet but the prices sure are. A pastrami sandwich is 15 bucks, but well worth it and better than Jerry’s Deli any day of the week. I think I used to pay about 6 bucks for the Pastrami there back in the 1980s. We used to grab a pastrami sandwich on Saturday afternoons and then return in the evening to go dancing at Vertigo, a nightclub which was located in the classic art deco building on Park View and 6th Street many years ago. Vertigo had a small cameo in the 1986 film Less Than Zero starring Robert Downey Jr, Andrew McCarthy and Jamie Gertz

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To get to Langer's, just jump on the Red Line and exit Westlake station and walk half a block east. Happy Eating !

http://www.langersdeli.com/about-langers-delicatessen-restaurant