Gary's New York Deli

How have I lived in Irvine for years and never been to Gary's before today? I can't explain the error, but I can be better going forward. And I will. Wife woke up with a craving for matzoh ball soup, so the search ensued. Until now we would head up to Benji's for our fix. I thought that Benji's was the best (and frankly, only) option for matzoh ball in OC. What do you know, my heart has room for more than one NY deli, and Gary's has moved right in. Perhaps we stayed away because Gary's is located right on PCH and I had feared tough parking? I can't explain, but parking at Gary's on a Thursday for lunch was a snap. Plenty of 2 hour free parking right up front and in the blocks up and down PCH. Denise took our order, and I overheard her telling another customer how they didn't have a full portion of his requested soup, so she wanted to be sure he got a complimentary side to make up for it. I knew right away that we were amongst good people. When our lunch came out to the cute patio, I knew we had found our new spot. A perfect Reuben, cut in half, served on 2 plates with a spear of pickle. Everything about the sando was just right, perfect ratios of meat to cheese to kraut to dressing. And oh that toasty rye. The matzoh ball we came for hit just right. Just broth, noodles, a plump and not too densely packed matzoh ball, and chicken. We also had a nice passionfruit iced tea, fresh brewed, with no sign of bitterness... almost soft on the palate. Just right!I was too hungry for photos, but it looked as good as it tasted, and I can't wait to come back and try more things. Thanks for a great lunch

The Reuben is perfect, the bread they use is delicious by itself, Jewish rye with poppyseed perfectly grilled, vacationing in thousand island, crunchy kraut, blanketed with Swiss. Order this and an egg cream. Thanks Denise!

Another delicious quick easy lunch! Thank you! Absolutely love the street tacos and the hot sauce. Such a cute patio out back to dine in with plenty of shade

I absolutely love this deli! The tuna melt and the turkey sandwich are both fantastic. It's the perfect spot to stop and pick up lunch before heading to the beach for a swim. They have an awesome, big menu, and I can't wait to come back and try more items.Everyone working there was super nice and friendly, making the experience even better. It's a cute little deli spot that's perfect for a beach to-go order. Highly recommend!

Always a great meal at Gary's. First off we need to start by saying that the woman who takes your order with the dark brown hair is such a sweetie. Always so helpful. Our go to is usually a pastrami sandwich but today we tried corned beef on rye, matzoh ball, soup, and of course, the potato pancakes. We love eating out in the back courtyard with our dogs, and they are always so nice to give them a little taste of the fresh turkey which by the way is quite delicious. We usually get our sandwich with extra meat, which is worth it. Just a great little sandwich place with traditional New York deli fare. Parking out front is never a problem or side streets, but do not use the lot in the back. Quite honestly, you should get a sandwich here - they have other varieties and you get to support a small business.

LOVE this place. Everything here is delicious and the lady up front is so nice! She always recommends the best on the menu lol. Definitely my new spot. the street tacos are my absolute favorite.

It's rare these days to find a great deli, especially in the Newport area. Gary's New York Deli is like an old friend that you knew as a kid and is still around. Denise, the owner, is almost always on hand. She knows the business well, learning it " at her fathers knee " All your old favorite deli specials are there as fresh and authentic as always. Denise will make you feel like one of the family. Enjoy!

Ordered a breakfast burrito on a whim and have been having them pretty much daily. They do it right by searing the outside of the burrito to add a nice crisp to every bite. Denise was kind enough to let me order one outside of normal breakfast hours. Not all heroes wear capes. ​​​

best sandwich in Orange County. The pastrami is amazing!! The brisket is really good too and I love the staff. They're great

Fabulous service & delicious food! We drive here from Irvine once a week. Yummy sandwiches.