California’s Hidden Deli Serving The State’s Most Loved Pastrami Sandwich
Last summer, I found myself wandering through a side street in East L.A., stomach growling, when I spotted a line snaking out of a tiny deli.
Curious, I joined the queue and ordered something called the #7. One bite of that saucy, meaty masterpiece and I understood why locals guard this spot like a state secret.
Today, we’re pulling back the curtain on California’s most beloved hidden pastrami gem.
A Nearly Century-Old Legacy Begins
Domenic Pontrelli opened this humble deli back in 1929, right when the Great Depression was knocking on America’s door.
That same year, he moved the operation to Alpine Street in Lincoln Heights, planting roots in what would become L.A.’s Little Italy.
While the city grew and changed around it, this corner spot stayed true to its working-class origins.
Generations of Angelenos have shuffled through those doors, chasing the same comfort their grandparents craved nearly a hundred years ago.
The Angiuli Family Takes the Reins
By 1959, the Angiuli family stepped in and gave the deli a new chapter.
Johnny and Frank Angiuli officially bought the business in 1974, transforming it from a basic grocery into a hot-sandwich powerhouse that specialized in piled-high deli creations.
Their vision was simple but brilliant: keep the recipes authentic, pile the meat high, and treat every customer like family.
That approach turned a neighborhood joint into a destination worth driving across town for, no matter the traffic.
The Legendary #7 Sandwich
Ask any regular what to order and they’ll point you straight to the #7: roast beef and pastrami dunked gloriously in tangy tomato sauce. It’s messy, it’s indulgent, and it’s absolutely worth every napkin you’ll need.
The combination sounds wild on paper, but one bite proves why this sandwich has cult status.
Tender meat meets zesty sauce in a dance that’s been perfected over decades, creating something that tastes like home even if you’ve never been there before.
Food Network Fame Arrives
Guy Fieri rolled up in his signature convertible and put this little deli on the national map when Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives featured it in the “L.A. Eats” episode.
Suddenly, the secret was out and tourists started mixing with the old-timers at the counter. The exposure could have changed everything, but the deli stayed humble.
Same recipes, same no-frills vibe, same family running the show. Fame didn’t spoil the magic; it just meant longer lines and more people discovering what locals already knew.
Celebrating 90 Years Strong
When 2019 rolled around, the deli threw a massive 90th anniversary block party that shut down Alpine Street.
Neighbors, regulars, and pastrami pilgrims gathered to celebrate nine decades of sandwich excellence and community spirit.
There were speeches, laughs, and enough sandwiches to feed half of Lincoln Heights.
The event proved this wasn’t just a restaurant; it was a living piece of neighborhood history that people genuinely loved and wanted to protect for future generations.
Expanding to Los Feliz
In 2021, the family decided to test the waters with a second location in trendy Los Feliz.
The expansion brought their famous sandwiches to a new neighborhood hungry for authentic eats without the drive to Lincoln Heights.
Still, the Alpine Street original remains the beating heart of the operation.
It’s where the magic started, where the recipes were perfected, and where locals still prefer to get their pastrami fix. Some things just can’t be replicated, even by the same family.
A Patriarch’s Lasting Impact
Giovanni “Johnny” Angiuli, who helped transform the deli into a L.A. institution, passed away in February 2025 at age 81.
His passing marked the end of an era, but his recipes and vision live on through family members who continue the tradition.
Johnny wasn’t just a businessman; he was a neighborhood fixture who knew customers by name and their sandwich orders by heart.
His legacy isn’t measured in profits but in full bellies and happy memories shared across generations.