This NYC-Style Arkansas Deli Serves Pastrami Sandwiches Worth The Drive

A New York-style pastrami sandwich is coming out of a kitchen inside a gas station. It shares space with a convenience store and a smoke shop.

I love how unexpected that sounds.

The pastrami is one of the top sellers here. It comes stacked with Swiss, lettuce, tomato, mayo, and mustard.

Fries and a drink ride along with it.

Nothing waits under a heat lamp, either. Every order gets cooked fresh, so the food reaches you hot.

I think that promise alone makes this little Arkansas counter worth a closer look.

The menu doesn’t stop at sandwiches. Halal cart plates, all-day breakfast, and baklava boxes all share the spotlight.

What makes this unassuming gas station deli taste like a little corner of Manhattan?

A Gas Station Address That Hides A Big City Appetite

Gas pumps outside, New York flavor inside. NYC Express Deli – Springdale works out of a gas station, sharing its roof with a convenience store and a smoke shop.

That setup gives it a no-frills corner spot feel. Honestly, it fits the big city theme pretty well, since plenty of great New York food comes from tiny counters.

The family behind the deli had a clear goal from day one. They wanted to cook everything to order and season it properly.

They also wanted prices that let people eat there twice a week, not twice a year. I like that thinking a lot, because it treats good food as everyday food.

The idea was to park a New York corner right here in Arkansas. Think of the halal carts and quick delis that feed busy city streets.

So don’t expect fancy decor or white tablecloths. Expect a counter, a kitchen, and food made right after you order it.

That kind of honest setup has its own charm. You come for the meal, and the meal is clearly the star.

Fill up the tank, fill up yourself. Efficient, right?

The Pastrami Sandwich Deserves Two Hands And Extra Napkins

Big, flavorful, and a bit messy. That’s the honest description of the pastrami sandwich, one of the best sellers on the menu.

It comes loaded with pastrami, Swiss cheese, lettuce, and tomato. Mayo and mustard pull everything together.

Fries and a drink come with it, so you’re not hunting for extras. That’s a full meal in one order.

Grab a stack of napkins before you sit down. A sandwich this full doesn’t stay tidy for long, and that’s part of the fun.

Hungry folks can also look for the larger size on the menu. It comes on a longer roll and makes a serious lunch.

Every sandwich gets made to order, too. So the pastrami lands on your roll fresh, not after sitting around for an hour.

I think that’s why the pastrami gets so much attention here. It’s the headline act in an Arkansas deli built on New York ideas.

Is it worth a road trip? If deli meat piled high makes you smile, I’d say the answer is pretty clear.

Just don’t wear a white shirt.

Halal Cart Plates That Taste Like A Manhattan Sidewalk

Anyone who has stood in line at a New York halal cart knows the smell. Chicken, spiced rice, and a drizzle of creamy white sauce.

The deli calls its Chicken Over Rice the one that started it all. That tells you how central these plates are to the menu.

Lamb Over Rice and Mix Over Rice are also on the board. Mix gives you both meats, which is handy for indecisive eaters like me.

Want something different? Try the Chipotle Chicken Over Rice, the Falafel Over Rice, or the Flavored Salmon.

There’s also the Coco Mix, a name that makes me curious every time I read it. It’s one of the more unusual picks on the list.

Sauce matters a lot here. The signature white sauce shows up often, and jalapeño white sauce or chili honey sauce may join in.

Halal-certified items are clearly marked on the menu. That makes ordering easy for anyone who follows halal guidelines.

Pastrami may sell the trip. These rice plates might be why you come back next week, too.

Breakfast Never Clocks Out At This Counter

Eggs at 10 at night? Totally normal here.

Breakfast runs from opening to closing, following the New York rule that breakfast doesn’t watch the clock.

The BEC is a classic pick. It stacks beef bacon, egg, and cheese with a swipe of mayo.

Then there’s the Pastrami E&C, which brings pastrami, egg, and cheese together. It’s a sneaky way to get the star meat at any hour.

Simpler options are on the menu as well. You’ll find a plain Egg and Cheese and a Grilled Cheese.

An Omelette with Cheese rounds out the morning lineup. It’s a good pick if you want eggs without the bread.

I love this setup for night owls and late shift workers. Not every kitchen in Arkansas will make you breakfast near midnight.

It also works for early risers, who can stop in when the doors open. Either way, the eggs get cooked to order.

Breakfast for dinner used to feel like a treat. At this deli, it’s just another menu choice.

Lawn Chairs Inside Make The Mood Pleasantly Laid-Back

Yes, there are actual lawn chairs inside. That one detail tells you a lot about the vibe at NYC Express Deli.

The atmosphere is about as chill as it gets. It leans into old-school deli energy instead of trendy design.

Seating is limited, so plan accordingly. Many folks grab their food to go, especially at busy lunch hours.

Still, the space gets credit for being super clean. That matters a lot when a kitchen sits inside a gas station.

I find the lawn chairs kind of charming. They feel like a backyard cookout that wandered into a New York corner shop.

Don’t come expecting a long, fancy sit-down dinner. Come expecting a quick, tasty meal in a relaxed little spot.

Since food is cooked to order, you may wait a few minutes. A casual seat makes that wait feel easy.

Bring a friend and some patience. The chairs are comfy enough, and the food is the real reason you came.

Honestly, where else will you eat pastrami in a lawn chair?

Cooked-To-Order Means Your Food Never Naps Under A Lamp

Heat lamps are banned in spirit here. The deli’s rule is simple: nothing sits waiting for you.

Every plate and sandwich gets cooked after you order. That means your fries, meat, and rice start fresh.

The tradeoff is a short wait, especially when the kitchen gets busy. I think that’s a fair deal for food that hasn’t been sitting around.

Got time to spare? Call ahead or order online so your meal is closer to ready when you arrive.

This approach also fits the family-run feel. The kitchen is small, and the people behind it are focused on each order.

Staff have been known to remember regulars and their habits. Extra white sauce for one customer is a good example.

That personal touch feels a lot like a real neighborhood deli in New York. You’re a face, not just a ticket number.

So use the wait wisely. Browse the store, chat with your crew, and get ready for something hot off the grill.

Patience pays off in fries form.

Chopped Burgers And Phillys Give Pastrami Some Friendly Competition

Pastrami may get top billing, but it has rivals on this menu. The Famous Chopped is a big one.

It’s a chopped burger with grilled peppers, onion, and American cheese. Fans of the New York chopped cheese will spot the inspiration right away.

The Philly Cheese Steak is another popular choice. It gives you a hearty option when pastrami doesn’t call your name.

Gyros are here too, in lamb and chicken versions. They’re a nice middle ground between a sandwich and a rice plate.

Vegetarians aren’t left out. The Falafel Wrap brings crispy chickpea goodness in an easy handheld form.

I like how this lineup mixes deli, bodega, and street cart favorites. It feels like several New York blocks packed into one kitchen.

Group orders get easier with so many choices. One person grabs pastrami, another gets a gyro, and somebody else claims the chopped.

Then everyone trades bites, naturally. That’s half the fun of a menu this varied.

Just try not to argue over the last fry.

Save Room For Horchata Cake And Hand-Boxed Baklava

Dessert might be the biggest surprise at this gas station deli. The sweets go well beyond a basic cookie.

Horchata Cake leads the list. It’s soft, sweet, and full of creamy cinnamon flavor, like the popular rice drink turned into cake.

The Mix Baklava Box is another treat worth grabbing. It features flaky phyllo, crushed pistachios, and honey syrup.

Each box is packed by hand. The deli even calls its baklava among the best, which is a bold claim I respect.

Then there’s the Dubai Chocolate, packed with top-tier nuts. This trendy treat has taken over social media lately, so its spot here feels very current.

I love that the dessert menu mixes cultures the same way the main menu does. Cinnamon, pistachio, and chocolate all get a turn.

A baklava box also travels well. It makes an easy gift if you’re heading to a friend’s house afterward.

Or keep it for yourself. Nobody has to know how many pieces disappeared on the drive home.

Plan Your Late-Night Pastrami Run To South Pleasant Street

Late cravings finally have a home in Northwest Arkansas. The deli stays open until midnight every day of the week.

You’ll find NYC Express Deli – Springdale at 1003 S Pleasant St, Springdale, AR 72764. Pull in with the gas station in sight, and the deli is inside.

This Springdale shop was the first location to open, back around mid-2025. It got the whole operation rolling in the region.

A second location later opened on West Hudson Road in Rogers. Still, the original spot holds that first-store bragging right.

Hours start in the morning and stretch deep into the night. Check the current schedule before you go, since opening times can shift.

Lunch can get busy, so give yourself a few extra minutes. Cooked-to-order food is worth not rushing.

Want to skip the line? Delivery apps and online ordering make grabbing a pastrami fix even easier.

Either way, this Arkansas deli makes a fun stop on any Springdale outing. One sandwich in, you might start planning the next visit before the foil hits the trash.