You are reading

Actor, comedian Michael Rapaport declared Sal, Kris & Charlie’s in Astoria the best deli in the city

Michael Rapaport raves over long-time staple to Astoria community. (Michael Rapaport photo via Getty Images)

July 14, 2023 By Julia Moro

Actor and comedian Michael Rapaport proclaimed Sal, Kris & Charlie’s Deli in Astoria as the best deli in the city, making the announcement on a Tik Tok recently.

When Rapaport visited his favorite sandwich spot this past week, he posted to Tik Tok, captioning his video, “Sal & Kris is the BEST OF THE BEST in NYC. Period.”

“Alright, I’m gonna make this short and quick. Listen, I don’t do sandwich reviews, because there’s only one place in New York City. You want a true-blue New York hero? Sal & Kris’s Astoria, Queens,” Rapaport raved.

Rapaport took viewers through the deli, showing the deli counter, the salami and cold cut selections, bread, peppers and more.

“If you’ve never had a sandwich from Sal & Kris in Astoria, Queens, you’ve never really had a New York sandwich, trust me,” Rapaport said. “Forget all the rest, classic New York hero– Sal & Kris, Astoria, Queens. This place ain’t for vegetarians, alright, it’s the real deal, New York.”

Located at 33-12 23rd Ave. Sal, Kris & Charlie’s Deli is well-known for its massive, 14-inch-long heroes. The spot was previously reviewed by the New York Times in 2018, which highlighted the “supersized sandwiches” beloved by many. 

“Peppers, spicy not spicy, sweet– the whole deal, the real mcCoy,” Rapaport said. “Sal & Kris, cash only, OG. My suggestion is to start with the Bomb. F*ck all the rest, go with the best.”

The shop as its known today came to fruition in 1987, when Charlie Gordon became the shop’s third owner. Gordon, Astoria’s beloved ‘Sandwich King’ passed away in 2019.

Gordon’s son and owner, John, told QNS Rapaport is “pretty much” a regular.

“He comes about three to four times a year,” John said, who runs the store with his brother Nick. “Whenever he’s feeling hungry.”

Additional reporting by John Schilling. 

email the author: news@queenspost.com

3 Comments

Click for Comments 
Anonymous

Maybe the huge sandwiches will calm him down a bit, and enjoy life. Eat up Mikey, and keep the hell away from Lili Anne, hope the counseling was successful.

Reply
Patrick

He is right. Since 1987
When I believe the father was there. I’ve going. I been to his house to fix his cable.. He was very nice and the sandwiches were great. Had to cut them in 3 pieces

Reply

Leave a Comment
Reply to this Comment

All comments are subject to moderation before being posted.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Recent News

Catch the fall vibe at these western Queens breweries

Sep. 3, 2025 By Jessica Militello

September rings in the start of Oktoberfest from mid-September through October, featuring special brews, fun events and more fall fun. Western Queens is filled with breweries to enjoy seasonal brews, fall flavors and the start of cooler weather as Autumn approaches, making it a perfect time to meet up with friends at these local spaces.

Op-Ed | Four years after Hurricane Ida, Queens deserves real climate resilience

Sep. 2, 2025 By Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas

Four years ago, Hurricane Ida tore through our neighborhoods of East Elmhurst, Corona and Jackson Heights, leaving behind devastation we will never forget. We lost neighbors to the floodwaters. Families saw their homes destroyed, their basements wiped out, their lives upended. Immigrant families—so many of them undocumented—were hit the hardest, often excluded from relief altogether. Ida was not just a storm; it was a wake-up call.