Morty's Delicatessen Hong Kong - Morty's HK

Morty's Wan Chai — pastrami sandwich from Morty’s Delicatessen Hong Kong

The first time we walked by Morty’s Delicatessen in the Star Street Precinct neighborhood of Wan Chai we almost did a double take. Is that what I think that is?? Is that a New York deli right in the heart of Hong Kong?

“It’s been so long since I’ve had a pastrami sandwich” Bryan quipped.

Although we had already eaten that day, we promised to come back . . . soon. Within a few weeks, we found an opportunity to come with a few friends who live in Hong Kong now (but whom we knew in Boston). We had a grand time eating nostalgic pastrami sandwiches, poutine, and beer on tap.

Smoked Meats – Morty’s HK Specialty

Morty’s HK has two locations, one in Central and one in Wan Chai. The restaurant focuses on beef, namely pastrami. The beef goes through a 45 days aging process that includes 20 days of curing, 24-hours of cooking, and then smoked using American hickory and cherrywood chips.

Although their specialty is beef, they also offer smoked duck, turkey, and chicken, all of which they cure and smoke in-house.

The atmosphere is classic New York deli style, with bright red and white tiled walls, high top stools, and shiny glass-top tables.

Other Food

We were excited to see poutine in the menu and had to order it.

I tried the normal pastrami sandwich while Bryan tried the Reuben, which came with the house-cured pastrami as well as Swiss cheese, thousand island dressing, and sauerkraut on house rye [HKD130]

Overall, we enjoyed it quite a bit. The pastrami is very good and quite authentic. I’m sure it’s not as good as Katz’s in New York (which I still haven’t tried!), and I still prefer the smoked meat sandwiches in Montreal (hello Schwartz‘s!).

Neverthless, it is very, very solid and totally hits the spot when we have cravings from pastrami, smoked meat, or a solid Reuben sandwich.

Highly recommended!