The Absolute Best Reuben Sandwiches In The US

The Reuben sandwich is an undeniable deli classic. And for good reason: There's some inexplicable magic that happens when tender slices of corned beef are layered over melted swiss cheese, a bundle of pungent sauerkraut, and a healthy drizzle of tangy Thousand Island dressing, all of which are usually served on buttered and toasted rye bread. The Reuben is a textbook example of a sandwich that's greater than the sum of its parts, and each ingredient complements the others in a way that creates a complex and wildly delicious flavor profile.

The exact place of origin of this sandwich, however, seems to be up for debate. While some say the Reuben hails from Omaha, Nebraska, others insist a famished actor in New York City wandered into an iconic deli and inspired the sandwich (via GrubAmericana). Regardless of how the Reuben came into existence, most sandwich-loving deli-dwellers will agree that it's one of the tastiest handheld offerings around. 

That said, there can be slight variations in its execution and overall quality. Is the corned beef made in-house? Is the rye bread baked on-site? There can be vast, discernible differences between Reuben sandwiches from deli to deli, from how thick the meat is sliced to the style of dressing used. There are various versions of the sandwich that are served all over the U.S., and among these, some are truly incredible.

Established in 1915, Attman's Deli has since become an iconic stop along Baltimore's famed "corned beef row" (via Baltimore Sun). For those unaware, corned beef row is a section of East Lombard Street in Baltimore that was home to a cluster of bakeries, markets, and delis during the early 20th century. These days, the once lively corned beef row has reportedly simmered down some, with only a few historic posts like Attman's Deli that have withstood the test of time.

The menu at Attman's is truly massive: there's so much on offer that each page will have you squinting your eyes like you're trying to read the fine print on the Declaration of Independence. But with dozens of high-quality classic and signature sandwiches, taking the time to thoroughly scan the menu and soak it all in is totally worth it. 

The corned beef Reuben is served with the usual condiments and trimmings that you'd expect, but it's generously stacked with expert precision. Even renowned chef and cookbook author J. Kenji Lopez-Alt gave Attman's his seal of approval, praising the deli's tender, steamed corned beef (via Serious Eats). When a famous chef gives the corned beef his blessing, you know you're in for a real treat.

Now that you've feasted your eyes on so much corned beef, are you ready for a unique twist on the classic Reuben that offers up something refreshingly different? Skipper's Smokehouse in Tampa, Florida specializes in what it calls "Floribbean cuisine," an inventive culinary fusion of the flavors found in Florida, Louisiana, and the Caribbean. As you can imagine, the menu at Skipper's Smokehouse looks a lot different from the ones you'll find at a traditional deli.

As far as we're concerned, the crowning jewel of the menu is the blackened grouper Reuben sandwich, which has been featured on Travel Channel's "Man v. Food" and "Best Sandwich in America" (via World Food Championships). The grouper Reuben switches out the corned beef for freshly-blackened fish, and while that may sound a bit bizarre to some of you, you should know that professional food guru Adam Richman absolutely loves it. 

Those with a more adventurous appetite will be pleasantly surprised to see some other dishes on the menu, like smoked gator ribs, crawdaddy mac-and-cheese, and fried gator tail. True to form, Skipper's blends regional cuisines to great success, adding inventive twists on classic dishes that are mouth-watering and surprisingly delicious. There's clearly a lot to love at Skipper's, with cheap beer on draft, a one-of-a-kind Reuben, and homemade key lime pie.

A two-time recipient of the James Beard Foundation award, Langer's Deli has been in operation since 1947 (via Langer's Deli). Langer's Deli is best known for its pastrami, which is made in-house from the restaurant's original recipe and sliced by hand to order. The pastrami at Langer's is so popular that the restaurant estimates it has sold more than 8 million pounds of it since the deli opened up for business.

In fact, when the late Nora Ephron wrote about Langer's in the New Yorker, her opening line lovingly declared that Langer's Deli has the best pastrami sandwich in the world (via The New Yorker). How's that for an endorsement of deliciousness?

But Langers' impressive culinary creations go above and beyond pastrami. Langers' interpretation of the classic Reuben, dubbed the "#88" on its menu, comes with all the traditional ingredients except one: Russian dressing. 

In this case, forgoing the dressing actually works in the sandwich's favor: the absence of Russian dressing puts the flavor of the corned beef more in the spotlight since the lack of dressing makes it easier to appreciate the finer nuances and complexities of the meat itself. However, big fans of Russian dressing's zesty creaminess will be glad to know that it's featured in several variations of Langers' hot pastrami sandwiches, and you can always order some on the side, too.

Hymie's is located on the northwest outskirts of Philadelphia, and it has been in business for more than 60 years (via Hymie's Deli). Hymie's serves breakfast all day, along with tons of deli classics. The menu at Hymie's offers a wide range of dishes, including omelets, signature sandwiches, gourmet burgers, fresh salads, and Philly cheesesteaks. As expected, Hymie's makes mouth-watering Reubens and even offers them in a few different variations.

The Reubens are served with corned beef, pastrami, or turkey, as well as the traditional swiss, sauerkraut, Russian dressing, and rye. For those who want to venture into the breadless territory, Hymie's also offers a Reuben on crispy potato pancakes or wrapped up in a flour tortilla. 

And, those who can't decide between pastrami or corned beef can always opt to have both by ordering "the best of both worlds" reuben sandwich. Another favorite is the "balebos" hoagie loaded with corned beef, pastrami, roast beef, and salami. Pickle lovers will also be happy to know that Hymie's has a pickle bar available (via Trip Advisor). The tasty and massive Reubens at Hymie's are some of the best in the business. 

D.Z. Akin's Deli in San Diego has been open for over 40 years, and it has gradually expanded over the years to become a highly respected, family-owned, and operated institution of deli delights (via San Diego Reader). The menu at D.Z. Akin's is comfortably familiar as it serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, staying true to tradition and mainly sticking to classics like simple cured meat sandwiches and other handheld fare. 

Interestingly, where the kitchen gets most inventive is with its dessert menu, offering up nearly a dozen different interesting milkshakes and a handful of creative ice cream sundaes.

Back on the sandwich side, D.Z. Akin's lists over an impressive 100 options, ranging from the classic Reuben to patty melts and club sandwiches. The Reuben sandwich at D.Z. Akin's is generously stacked, lovingly prepared, and consistently delicious. Another thing we appreciate about the Reuben here is that there are five sides to choose from, which include potato salad or a fruit cup. If you're a fan of corned beef, you'll be pleased to see it featured in dozens of different combination sandwiches across the menu.

New York's oldest deli, Katz's Delicatessen, has been around since 1888 (via Conde Nast Traveler). The Reuben at Katz's is the epitome of perfection: it consists of tender meat layered with gooey swiss, crunchy kraut, and a drizzle of luscious dressing on deli rye. The standard comes with corned beef, but you can swap that out for brisket at no extra charge, but if you ask us, it's worth the extra buck to go for the pastrami instead.

Chef and former "Bizarre Foods" host Andrew Zimmern's go-to order at Katz's is a mixed blend of fatty brisket and pastrami, a sandwich he orders with such consistency that he claims the kitchen starts slapping it together the moment he walks in the door. If you've always wanted to try a Reuben from Katz's but you're way outside the Big Apple, no need to fear: the deli actually has a Reuben package that it ships out nationwide. 

This deal brings everything you need for four loaded Reuben sandwiches right to your doorstep, with two pounds of your choice of pastrami or corned beef, along with a pound of swiss cheese, small jars of sauerkraut and dressing, and half a loaf of rye bread. Katz's gets major points, not only for its top-notch Reubens, but also for making them accessible nationwide for the masses to enjoy.