Canter’s Deli: Marilyn Monroe and Taylor Swift Ate Here- And So Should You
- Christianne Klein
- Sep 14
- 2 min read
For me, Los Angeles will always be synonymous with Canter’s Deli. I’ve been going there since I was a little girl, and no trip back to L.A. feels complete without sliding into one of those iconic booths, surrounded by the warm hum of locals and celebrities alike. Canter’s isn’t just a restaurant- it’s an institution, woven into the fabric of Los Angeles culture and history. New York may have Katz’s, but Angelenos have Canter’s. I’ve lived in both cities and eaten at both delis more times than I can count- and I’ll choose Canter’s every single time.
Established in 1931, Canter’s has been serving up old-world Jewish deli classics for nearly a century. Its location on Fairfax has long been a magnet for people from all walks of life: rock stars, movie icons, politicians, and regular Angelenos who crave comfort food with character. Marilyn Monroe dined there, as did Cary Grant and Elizabeth Taylor. In more recent years, you’ll catch everyone from Mick Jagger to Taylor Swift, former President Barack Obama, and Adam Sandler slipping in for a late-night bite. It’s that rare place where Hollywood royalty rubs shoulders with night-shift nurses, artists, and families who’ve been coming for generations.
That magic blend of community and celebrity is one of the reasons Canter’s has endured. It’s a place where you don’t just eat- you experience L.A. itself. Every time I go, I feel like I’m stepping into a piece of history, where old stories linger in the air alongside the smell of fresh-baked rye bread and crisp pickles from the barrel (my favorite hands down is green tomato pickles- I can eat a shocking number of them at once.)
And of course, the food. My order has never changed: the pastrami Reuben. I’ll argue passionately that it’s the best pastrami in the world- perfectly seasoned, smoky bark, tender, and piled high, crowned with sauerkraut, Swiss, and Russian dressing. The first bite is pure joy and instantly transports me back to childhood, when my family would share sandwiches and laugh over bottomless cups of coffee.
My husband, on the other hand, swears by the Brooklyn Ave sandwich- a masterpiece in its own right, with pastrami, corned beef, Swiss, coleslaw, and Russian dressing on rye. We always end up stealing bites from each other’s plates, each convinced we made the better choice.
What I love most about Canter’s is that it never tries to be trendy- it doesn’t have to. It’s authentic, timeless, and proudly itself. Walking through the doors is like entering a living time capsule of Los Angeles. Generations have eaten here, and I know generations will continue to.
For me, Canter’s isn’t just about a great meal. It’s about connection: to the city, to my past, and to a shared legacy of comfort food that has brought people together for decades. It’s not just a deli- it’s home.
Christianne Klein is an Emmy® and Edward R. Murrow Award-winning TV Host, journalist, travel and lifestyle expert, and founder of FoodFamilyTravel.com.
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