12 Restaurant Chains That Serve the Best Reubens
When it comes to delightfully sloppy, savory hot sandwiches, it's hard to compete with a Reuben. The classic grilled sandwich—made with sliced corned beef, melted Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and either Thousand Island or Russian dressing, all piled high between two slices of toasted rye bread—has been a diner favorite for decades.
It's a very specific formula and one that is hard to mimic. Few other sandwiches can match the exact tanginess.
Some of the best Reubens in the country are found at local deli shops—you know, the ones with the long lines that can wrap around the block, if you don't time your visit correctly. Some delis bring visitors in from far and wide just to get a bite, like Katz's Delicatessen in New York City. Other urban areas in the United States will likely have at least a half-dozen mom-and-pop-style delis for you to choose from.
For those times when you can't find a family-owned deli, there are several restaurant chains across the country that serve up tasty Reubens. As you will see, most of the restaurant chains that offer great Reuben sandwiches stick to that original tasty formula.
Schlotzsky's
If you're looking for the authenticity of a deli but the accessibility of a nationwide chain, look no further than Schlotzsky's. The vast majority of locations can be found in Texas, but you can get your sandwich fix in several other states as well. When those cravings hit, order up Schlotzsky's Reuben. Made with pastrami instead of corned beef, this version not only includes the traditional Swiss cheese, sauerkraut and Thousand Island dressing, but also adds Schlotzsky's signature sauce on a sourdough bun.
Mr. Pickle's Sandwich Shop
Mr. Pickle's Sandwich Shop is a small chain of fast-casual eateries found mostly in central California, but you can find other locations up and down the West Coast and into Arizona. It offers a wide variety of hot and cold sandwiches, including its Reuben, made with pastrami, Swiss, sauerkraut, and Thousand Island on toasted marble rye. And you can't forget about Mr. Pickle's fresh-baked cookies that come with your sandwich.
Jason's Deli
There's a lot to like about fan-favorite restaurant chain Jason's Deli, starting with its free ice cream that comes with every meal. But, before you dig into dessert, order the Reuben the Great sandwich, made with your choice of half a pound of hot corned beef or pastrami, Swiss, sauerkraut, and Thousand Island Dressing on toasted marbled rye. Customers can also build their own sandwich, in case you want to add any extra ingredients to personalize your Reuben.
Culver's
Fast-food chain Culver's is known far and wide for its tasty ButterBurger. Its menu is filled with other hits, too, like hand-churned frozen custard and its patty melts. Culver's is one of the few fast-food chains to include Reubens on its menu. Culver's makes its Grilled Reuben Melt with hand-trimmed, lean corned beef, which is "cured in delicately seasoned brine and slow cooked," according to the restaurant. Add to it real Wisconsin Swiss, sauerkraut, and Thousand Island dressing on toasted rye bread, and you have the makings of one delectable lunch.
Veggie Grill
Mendicino Farms once served a vegetarian Reuben sandwich with plant-based corned beef from Unreal Deli, but Redditors noted that it was removed from the menu in 2023, with one mourning the loss: "They don't have it anymore, but that was the best one!" Meanwhile, California-based chain Veggie Grill launched its own Reuben on rye bread in 2020, made with the same Unreal Deli plant-based meat. It also includes "whiskey dill sauerkraut, provolone, and special sauce on griddled rye bread," according to the restaurant. Of all the vegetarian Reubens around, one Redditor asserted, "Honestly, the best one I have had is Veggie Grill!" The poster then went on to comment, "It's just straightforward- nothing that shouldn't be there, and the meat is tasty. Plus, it's grilled and very comfort foody."
Bennigan's
Reuben sandwiches are a mainstay at Irish pubs in America. Thankfully, Bennigan's was able to bring what customers love about Irish pubs nationwide, and the restaurant chain has been making a comeback in recent years. The classic Reuben on the Bennigan's menu is made with all of the usual suspects: sliced corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, and Thousand Island dressing served on Rye bread. There are no surprises here, but Irish pub aficionados probably wouldn't want it any other way.
Beef O'Brady's
As the name implies, you won't have a hard time finding a meat-centric sandwich like a Reuben at Beef O'Brady's. Its original Reuben sandwich is made with thinly sliced Angus corned beef, with the classic toppings including Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and Thousand Island dressing on grilled rye bread.
Which Wich
Ordering a sandwich is a little different at Dallas-based chain Which Wich. Customers scribble their orders on brown paper bags, which their food later gets stuffed into. The options at Which Wich include classics as well as build-your-own creations. For the standard fare, the chain's Reuben Wich comes with exactly what you would expect: corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, and Thousand Island dressing. Feel free to add your own personal touch the next time you order one.
Arby's
Arby's may not be the first chain that comes to mind when you're trying to think of a place to grab a Reuben sandwich, but its fans will put any naysayers in their place. The corned beef Reuben at Arby's comes with exactly what you would expect: corned beef, Big Eye Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and Thousand Island dressing on marble rye bread. One fan of the sandwich took to Reddit to voice their support: "Honestly, I love Arby's Reuben. It's not the best Reuben by any means, but it's cheap and delicious. The bread is really good." Could you find a better Reuben at a small deli shop? Perhaps, but when it comes to price and accessibility, it's hard to argue with Arby's.
Publix Deli
Supermarket chains are not always thought of as the go-to place to grab a tasty sandwich, but those typical conventions are thrown out the window if you live near a Publix. The grocery store chain, located across the South, is known far and wide for its deli sandwiches, or "Pub Subs." Customers can order whatever they can find on one sandwich for a personalized meal, but the classics are available as well, including Reubens. The ones from Publix come standard with Boar's Head hot corned beef, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and dressing on rye bread.
Togo's
Togo's Pastrami Reuben comes with a quarter pound of hot pastrami topped with melted Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and Thousand Island dressing. Fans of pastrami have other options to choose from as well, including a classic hot pastrami sandwich and a pepper jack melt. One customer noted on Reddit that Togo's Reuben had the distinction of its soft roll, which made the chain "the only place I've found that served Reubens on a soft roll that could contain the sandwich contents without harming me while eating it. Sliced rye, when toasted, shreds the roof of the mouth and, when not toasted, becomes a soggy mess."
Jersey Mike's
Customers raved over the Grilled Pastrami Reuben from Jersey Mike's. Unfortunately, like all good things, the sandwich started disappearing from menus, and customers feared that the Reuben made with Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and Thousand Island dressing was permanently discontinued. Several Redditors noted that their locations still had the Reuben as of spring and summer 2023, with one noting, "We still got the 'strommi at our locale in New Mexico." Others suggested that if the Reuben were to come and go from the menu, it may just "be a regional item only." The hype is certainly there for the Reuben from Jersey Mike's, so the chain may want to consider reinstating it as a regular menu item everywhere.
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