The Reuben sandwich is a hot grilled sandwich made of stacked corned beef, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut and Thousand Island dressing on rye bread. The sandwich is often attributed to New York, but Nebraskans take issue with the claim and insist they are the home to this sandwich.
The story goes that Reuben Kulakofsy, a Lithuanian-born grocer, invented the sandwich for his weekly poker game held at the Blackstone Hotel around 1925. The sandwich soon appeared on the hotel menu and on other menus around the state.
10Best and Sandwich America enlisted the help of some local foodies to nominate their favorite Reuben variations in Nebraska, and our readers have been voting daily for their favorites for the past four weeks. The results are in!
The top 10 winners in the category Best Reuben in Nebraska are as follows:
- Crescent Moon - Omaha
- Sips & Subs - Lincoln
- Gerda's German Restaurant and Bakery - Omaha
- Wohlner's Neighborhood Grocery and Deli - Omaha
- Barrett's Barleycorn Pub & Grill - Omaha
- J. Coco - Omaha
- Wilson & Washburn - Omaha
- Localmotive - Omaha
- Toast - Lincoln
- Bison Witches Bar & Deli - Lincoln
Rachel P. Grace, author of Omaha Food: Bigger Than Beef, helped us select the 20 nominees, and the top 10 winners were determined by popular vote.
Additional nominees included The Diner, The Drover Restaurant & Lounge, Goldbergs in Dundee, Jackson Street Tavern, Jimi D's, Louie M's Burger Lust Cafe, Omaha Press Club, Over Easy, Shirley's Diner and Worker's Take-Out (all in Omaha).
Congratulations to all our winning Reubens!
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The Experts
Rachel P. Grace
Omaha-based writer Rachel P. Grace has spent more... Read More
Omaha-based writer Rachel P. Grace has spent more than a decade in the food and beverage industry, developing a deep appreciation for all the dedicated work happening behind the scenes. She has always felt particularly connected to the Reuben, mostly due to the fact that the version of the sandwich with turkey is named after her. Her collection of stories about the city’s food scene, Omaha Food: Bigger Than Beef, is available now on The History Press/Arcadia Publishing.
Rachel P. Grace
Omaha-based writer Rachel P. Grace has spent more than a decade in the food and beverage industry, developing a deep appreciation for all the dedicated work happening behind the scenes. She has always felt particularly connected to the Reuben, mostly due to the fact that the version of the sandwich with turkey is named after her. Her collection of stories about the city’s food scene, Omaha Food: Bigger Than Beef, is available now on The History Press/Arcadia Publishing.
Jennifer Daskevich
After winning the World Sandwich Championships,... Read More
After winning the World Sandwich Championships, Jennifer took her love of America’s first and still favorite “hand held device” better known as the sandwich, and founded Sandwich America, America’s comprehensive sandwich driven meal occasion platform. Jennifer believes that “a sandwich is the only food genre that is good for breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, or a snack.” Jennifer has won numerous cooking competitions and is a restaurateur, wine sommelier, award winning food photographer, TV food personality with NBC Affiliate WFLA in Tampa and appeared on FYI’s original series World Food Championships. She looks forward to embarking on The Great American Sandwich Trail this summer. Socialize with Sandwich America on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Jennifer Daskevich
After winning the World Sandwich Championships, Jennifer took her love of America’s first and still favorite “hand held device” better known as the sandwich, and founded Sandwich America, America’s comprehensive sandwich driven meal occasion platform. Jennifer believes that “a sandwich is the only food genre that is good for breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, or a snack.” Jennifer has won numerous cooking competitions and is a restaurateur, wine sommelier, award winning food photographer, TV food personality with NBC Affiliate WFLA in Tampa and appeared on FYI’s original series World Food Championships. She looks forward to embarking on The Great American Sandwich Trail this summer. Socialize with Sandwich America on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Terry French
Terry French, The World’s Extreme Chef, has cooked... Read More
Terry French, The World’s Extreme Chef, has cooked in 86 countries and traveled around the world 8 times. His global-to-local cuisine perspective and belief that “ hand-held ” food is the carrier of food culture may seem in stark contrast to his being born and raised in Evansville, Indiana. But diversity and uncommon is Terry defined. Winning Food Network’s World Extreme Chef in 2012 celebrated his amazing and adventurous life and his “French’s KISS” belief to food – Keeping it simple and sustainable. From Ice fishing with his father and cooking with his mother as a boy to hosting Taste Asia in Times Square, Terry French makes every meal a cuisine adventure. Terry believes that “Hand-held foods and sandwiches are the global cuisine language. From Thai street food to Philly cheese steaks – the world eats with our hands for centuries and now more than ever”. Follow Terry’s Extreme Chef adventures on Facebook and Instagram .
Terry French
Terry French, The World’s Extreme Chef, has cooked in 86 countries and traveled around the world 8 times. His global-to-local cuisine perspective and belief that “ hand-held ” food is the carrier of food culture may seem in stark contrast to his being born and raised in Evansville, Indiana. But diversity and uncommon is Terry defined. Winning Food Network’s World Extreme Chef in 2012 celebrated his amazing and adventurous life and his “French’s KISS” belief to food – Keeping it simple and sustainable. From Ice fishing with his father and cooking with his mother as a boy to hosting Taste Asia in Times Square, Terry French makes every meal a cuisine adventure. Terry believes that “Hand-held foods and sandwiches are the global cuisine language. From Thai street food to Philly cheese steaks – the world eats with our hands for centuries and now more than ever”. Follow Terry’s Extreme Chef adventures on Facebook and Instagram .
