The best Matzo Ball Soups in NYC

2nd Ave Deli is universally regarded as one of the gold-standard delis in New York City. Though the original location is no longer around, and most of its newer storefronts aren’t even on Second Avenue, its bowl of matzo ball is indisputably one of the city’s greatest. With a perfect balance of veggies, dill, and a fluffy matzo ball, we used 2nd Ave’s bowl as the benchmark for comparing the rest of our picks.

Some head to the pharmacy—I head to Sarge’s Delicatessen and Diner. Whenever I have a scratch in my throat, I nearly rejoice in the excuse to call up Sarge’s Deli and order a pint of their massive matzo ball soup.

Though it opened in the mid-‘60s, it still stands out compared to many of its old-school competitors.

Most bowls are typically filled with more noodles than vegetables, and prefer salt and schmaltz to dill and other herbs. Sarge’s is not pretentious; it’s heavy, filling, and downright delicious.

Katz's Delicatessen is New York City. Whether you’ve been living in NYC your whole life or are just visiting for a few days, you’ve likely eaten at Katz's. Most know them for their pastrami and corned beef, but Katz’s has also been serving matzo ball soup since the 1880s. Each bite takes you back to that era—salty, rich, and superb.

Opened in 1938, B&H Dairy stands as one of the only old guard kosher dairy restaurants left in Lower Manhattan. Following kashrut, or kosher rules and guidelines, meat and dairy cannot be eaten in the same meal—so most restaurants serve either meat or dairy, not both. At a dairy restaurant, you'll typically find vegetarian or pescetarian dishes. As such, they’re also the only spot on this list serving a completely vegetarian matzo ball soup.

B&H is the embodiment of old school. The whole restaurant is the size of a school bus, and guests have to nearly climb over others to get to their seats. But what B&H lacks in space, it makes up for in charm. The staff are so friendly, chatty and serve their iconic dishes in near seconds. Though the dish has no meat, it’s still packed with umami and flavor, with a noticeably peppery broth and ball to pair.

Just across the street from B&H is Veselka, whose consistent popularity keeps its unique Ukrainian and Eastern European dishes in the New York City dining zeitgeist.

The matzo ball soup is very simple, yet super flavorful. With a plain chicken broth, a pair of matzo balls, and a sprinkling of herbs, it’s the perfect accompaniment to their signature pierogies and stroganoff.

Located on the Upper West Side, visiting Barney Greengrass feels like spending a day in NYC from a century ago. Most people come to Barney Greengrass for its sturgeon and salmon. I, however, came for the soup. Like some of the other NYC institutions on this list, you can actually order it by the quart nationwide via Goldbelly.