St. Patrick’s Day calls for one of our favorite Irish classics, and we’re not talking about corned beef and cabbage this time. We’re talking about the ~*reuben*~ sandwich. Corned beef, sauerkraut, swiss cheese, and Russian dressing grilled between two rye toasts…a remarkable coalescence if you ask us. Lucky for you, we’ve rounded up some of the most popular reubens around town! Here are some of our favs:
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1. The Blackthorn Restaurant & Pub
2134 Seneca St, Buffalo, NY 14210 / More Info
This South Buffalo pub has got one heck of a reuben loaded with meat, sauerkraut and melty swiss cheese- all between *Costanzo’s rye You can also expect a side of their famous house-made spicy jalapeño cheddar tater tots, which are TO DIE FOR. And if your friends aren’t into the whole reuben thing, there are plenty of other Irish classics on the menu to get in the St. Patty’s mood.
2. Gene McCarthy’s
73 Hamburg St, Buffalo, NY 14204 / More Info
We all know that this Old First Ward bar has got some of the best food (and beer) around, but did you know that they make a mean reuben sandwich? Pro-tip: if you’re looking to take your reuben experience to a whole other level, try the reuben with half corned beef, half turkey– just do it.
3. Big Ditch Brewing Company
55 E Huron St, Buffalo, NY 14203 / More Info
Beer isn’t the only thing brewing at Big Ditch. Word on the street says they’ve got a crazy good version of a reuben. It’s called a breuben, aka corned beef brined in Excavator rye brown ale for the most flavorful meat, with the usual reuben works. It’s truly something special, if you ask us.
4. Sue’s NY Deli
622 Main St Buffalo, NY 10044 / More Info
If you’re looking for an inexpensive lunch-time reuben, we highly recommend stopping by Sue’s. The corned beef is seasoned to perfection, and the fresh rye is toasted just enough!
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5. Wellington Pub
1541 Hertel Ave, Buffalo, NY 14216 / More Info
This cozy Hertel pub has a pretty extensive menu, and it’s easy to miss the reuben- but it is certainly on there, folks. And there’s no better time than now to give it a shot, rather than getting your usual fish fry or wing order.
6. JP Fitzgerald’s
4236 Clark Street, Hamburg, NY 14075 / More Info
It’s no surprise they made the list… I mean they pretty much have to have a decent reuben, right? But wait, did you know they have 6 different kinds?! There’s the reuben wrap, the reuben flatbread, the reuben burger, the reuben quesadilla, the open reuben sandwich, and the closed reuben sandwich…There’s a mouthful for ya.
7. Joe’s Deli
- 1332 Hertel Ave Buffalo / More Info
- 818 Ellicott St. (inside Oishei Children’s Hospital)
When you’re called Joe’s Deli, you gotta sell a good reuben. Joe’s reuben has a special homemade Russian dressing to give this reuben that extra touch.
8. Brawler’s Deli / Pearl Street Grill
76 Pearl St, Buffalo, NY 14202 / More Info
You can get a great classic reuben here but what makes it is the side of homemade chips. Yum!
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9. Swan Street Diner
700 Swan St, Buffalo, NY 14210 / More Info
Swan Street has that old diner feel which means we can only expect shakes, burgers, and all kinds of sandwich vibes. Their reuben being one of their variety of sandwiches, is made with house corned beef and thousand islands dressing.
10. Cole’s
1104 Elmwood Ave, Buffalo, NY 14222 / More Info
While the traditional reuben is made with corned beef, Cole’s is offering a version where the choice of turkey is also optional as a corned beef substitute.
11. Gabriel’s Gate
145 Allen St, Buffalo, NY 14201 / More Info
If you’ve been to Gabriel’s Gate before, then you know they are capable of making some insanely good dishes. Yes their wings are pretty fantastic but they also make a pretty good reuben.
12. Eddie Brady’s
97 Genesee St, Buffalo, NY 14203 / More Info
Salads, sandwiches, and wraps pretty much sums up the vibe of Eddie Brady’s and we couldn’t be happier about it. Stop by for their reuben which consists of corned beef, sour kraut, thousand islands dressing, and Swiss cheese, all melted to perfection on grilled rye bread.
13. Clarksburg Cider
4493 Walden Avenue Lancaster, NY 14086 / More Info
While Clarksburg is known for their variety of drinks, they also have quite a good reuben. Pair it with a cider for the perfect drink and food combo!
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This post was originally published in 2019 and has been updated.
