"This old-school deli is one of our favorite restaurants in all of LA, and also the best all-around deli. There are always large groups of neighbors swapping gossip, book clubs fighting over plot points, and regulars who haven’t cracked open the menu in three decades. Speaking of the menu, there are over 650 items on it, so you’ll need to come in with a game plan—or just borrow ours: The black pastrami Reuben (swap in curly fries), stuffed cabbage, split pea soup, the latke and blintz sampler, and a nap in the car." - brant cox, sylvio martins
"Brent's certainly has its iconic dishes—black pastrami reuben, stuffed cabbage, and a latke and blintz sampler—but this isn’t one of those delis where the quality drops off if you stray from a few specialties. Every page of this encyclopedic, 650-item menu hits—and that's exactly why we put it at #1. Plus, the people-watching is unmatched. Come any day of the week, and you'll find this Northridge institution packed with families, hungover college kids, book club gatherings, and solo diners who haven’t opened the menu in three decades." - brant cox, garrett snyder
"“Whenever I need a quick, easy, straight-to-the-system jolt of comfort, I turn to two things: Italianamerican and Brent’s Deli. The first follows a (then) 32-year-old Martin Scorsese as he interviews his parents about everything from post-war Italy to the family’s famous meatball recipe. And while it’s fun to see his childhood home (and to watch him squirm while his mother chastises him), what’s really great is his parents’ banter - relentless, borderline-mocking, and always full of love, it’s obvious that these two have spent a very full life together. Pair this with the pastrami Reuben sandwich from Brent’s Deli (which is served on rye and can be made with curly fries), and you’ve got a one-way-ticket to serotonin town. Both their Westlake and Northridge locations are available for takeout and delivery, call (805) 557-1882 or (818) 886-5679, or find them on various delivery platforms.” -KH" - brant cox, kat hong, brett keating, james montgomery
"If there were any restaurant in LA that could convince us of the existence of a pure, intrinsic good, it would be Brent’s. This iconic Jewish deli has been serving The Valley since the ’60s, and has over 650 dishes on its menu that are guaranteed to bring you back from any existential spiral. The matzo ball soup is a must, the stuffed cabbage is too, and make sure to get at least one order of their black pastrami Reuben - served on rye and topped with crunchy sauerkraut and house-made Russian dressing, this massive sandwich can go head-to-head with any pastrami in town, and most importantly, can be served with curly fries. Both their Westlake and Northridge locations are available for takeout and delivery, call (805) 557-1882 or (818) 886-5679, or find them on various delivery platforms." - kat hong
"LA’s Jewish deli scene has old standbys like Nate 'n Al's and Canter’s, new classics like Wexler’s, and the home of the greatest pastrami sandwich in existence—Langer’s. But the best overall deli? That's Brent’s. There are certainly iconic dishes—black pastrami reuben, stuffed cabbage, and a latke and blintz sampler—but this isn’t one of those delis where the quality drops off if you stray from a few specialties. Every page of this encyclopedic, 650-item menu hits. Even though the Valley institution in a Northridge strip mall opened in 1967, it’s still always packed with families, hungover college kids, book club gatherings, and solo diners who haven’t opened the menu in three decades." - garrett snyder, brant cox, cathy park, sylvio martins