Reuben Sandwich appears as a signature dish in 1 United States cities. See each city's local variant and where to eat it.
Reuben Sandwich · New York City
Hot grilled rye sandwich layered with thinly sliced corned beef or pastrami, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese and Russian dressing, pressed in a buttered cast-iron pan until the bread crisps and the cheese melts.
The Reuben's origin is disputed between New York and Omaha. The New York claim credits Arnold Reuben at Reuben's Restaurant in Midtown Manhattan, who created a 'Reuben Special' around 1914, though his original used ham, turkey and coleslaw rather than the now-canonical corned beef and sauerkraut. The Omaha claim credits Reuben Kulakofsky and chef Schimmel at the Blackstone Hotel around 1925; the Blackstone version went national after winning a 1956 sandwich contest. The Midtown deli version is what survives in New York today; Katz's, Pastrami Queen and 2nd Avenue Deli all run defensible versions.
Where to eat in New York City:
- Katz's Delicatessen
- Pastrami Queen
- Sammy's Roumanian Steakhouse