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If there’s a vegan reuben on a menu, I have no choice but to order it. While I have sampled reubens at many stops along the way, here are 9 vegan reuben sandwiches from restaurants across North America that you won’t want to miss.
This reuben round-up includes sandwiches from California, Colorado, Illinois, Florida, New York, North Carolina, Washington, Oregon, and Ontario.
Vegan reubens consist of an intoxicating mix of sauerkraut, creamy dressing, and a briny, toothsome filling. That filling can be seitan, tofu, tempeh, Soy Curls, even a jackfruit sandwich.
I often make reuben sandwiches & dishes at home (like this reuben-inspired nourish bowl.) And when I travel, a vegan reuben is a standard order whenever I see it on a restaurant menu.
If you share a similar passion, you’ll want to check out this vegan reuben round-up from restaurants around North America. And if there’s a reuben you love that’s not on the list, please let me know in the comments!
(The sandwiches below are in no particular order. My favorite vegan reuben is always the one that’s right in front of me.)
Follow Your Heart – Canoga Park, California
The vegan reuben at Follow Your Heart is the sandwich that ignited my passion for them.
Yes, that’s the same Follow Your Heart that makes Vegenaise, salad dressing, and non-dairy cheese. Before they became a distributor of plant-based foods, they were a café in Canoga Park. The café & grocery store that started it all is still there today.
When I first went vegetarian, Follow Your Heart was a weekly destination.
First, I’d feast on the seitan reuben in their café at the back of the grocery store. Then I’d buy all of the ingredients to make my own at home using their cookbook.
This sandwich is perfection in its simplicity – seitan made in house, a generous layer of sauerkraut, dressing made with their very own Vegenaise, and a pickle on top. Vegans have a choice of Follow Your Heart cheese or cottage style tofu.
It may not be as flashy as some of the other sandwiches on this list, but hot damn, it’s good.
The Chicago Diner – Chicago, Illinois
The Chicago Diner is synonymous with its reuben. It’s the sandwich for which this 36-year-old eatery is known.
The paper-thin slices of seitan are marinated in a mixture of spices, pickle juice, and beet juice for mouth-puckering flavor. It’s then topped in sauerkraut, dressing, grilled peppers and onions. It’s finished with a generous helping of melty non-dairy cheese on marbled rye.
This sandwich is my first stop whenever I’m exploring vegan food Chicago. And I’m sure I’m not alone in that.
Don’t have any plans to visit Chicago? No worries! You can make their vegan reuben sandwich recipe at home. It’s the official recipe from their cookbook!
Nooch – Windsor, Ontario
Did you know that Detroit can see Canada from its house? This summer I spent a little time exploring vegan Detroit.
Then I traveled across the border to Windsor Ontario, so that I could grab a vegan reuben from Nooch. It’s an all-vegan eatery that specializes in comfort food.
The vegan reuben is loaded with seitan corned beef, sauerkraut, non-dairy provolone, and Thousand Island dressing. And of course, it’s served on marbled rye, which is the cherry on top in the reuben sandwich experience.
Is that a side of vegan poutine next to it? Yes. It. Is.
Locali – Southern California
Locali is a small convenience store and deli with multiple locations in Southern California. They serve a flavorful reuben sandwich, overflowing with tofu deli slices, vegan cheese, sauerkraut, and Russian dressing on rye.
And side note, if you’re there at breakfast, the Badass Breakfast Sandwich is legendary.
Ethos Vegan Kitchen – Winter Park, Florida
If your travels take you to Disney World, sneak away from the house of the Mouse to visit Winter Park. There are so many fun vegan options around Winter Park, including Ethos Vegan Kitchen.
Ethos is a vegan diner with lots of classic American favorites, including a Tofurky reuben. It is filled with thin Tofurky slices, sauerkraut, sauce, and toasted bread. It has great crunch appeal.
(Check out this post on Ethos Vegan Kitchen to see the other things I got the last time I was there.)
Champs Diner – Brooklyn, New York
Champs Diner in Brooklyn has a classic diner aesthetic & menu to match. The serve up comfort foods aplenty, including a flavorful seitan reuben.
It is stuffed with grilled seitan, sauerkraut, melty cheese, and Russian dressing on toasted marbled rye. It’s a hearty sandwich that goes down delightfully well.
To see the other things I ate while I was there (including vegan mozzarella sticks!), check out this post on Champs Diner.
Bean Vegan Cuisine – North Carolina
Bean Vegan Cuisine in Charlotte & Asheville serves up homestyle vegan eats – including Southern favorites like fried pickles and slow-cooked collard greens.
They also deliver a very tempting reuben. It’s topped with thinly sliced house made seitan, melted Daiya mozzarella, sauerkraut, and thousand island dressing.
The folks at Bean don’t skimp on the toppings. That makes this reuben all comfort food pleasure.
(Check out everything I ate while I was there in this post about Bean Vegan Cuisine. I also created a recipe inspired by their sweet & smoky vegan collard greens.)
Plum Bistro – Seattle, Washington
Plum Bistro in Seattle is on the fancier end of the dining spectrum. It’s an intimate dining space with large windows along one wall.
This reuben at Plum Bistro is topped with their own house-made tofu pastrami, pickled purple cabbage, and thousand island dressing. What really takes it to the next level is the layering of melted vegan cheese inside.
Heads up: The reuben is only available on their lunch menu. You can’t get it at dinner or brunch.
(To see everything I ate while I was there, check out this post on Vegan Seattle.)
Homegrown Smoker – Portland, Oregon
I cannot even tell you how much I want to return to Portland, Oregon – again & again. One of the top reasons is Homegrown Smoker. They produce some of the most eye-poppingly delicious food I’ve ever tasted.
The reuben is not on their regular menu. However, it does come up as a special on occasion. (Don’t be too sad if it’s not on the menu while you’re there. Everything they make is incredible.)
The Homegrown Smoker reuben is made with seitan pastrami that has been double smoked for an intense smokiness that I love. It’s served with sauerkraut, grilled onions and peppers, and a creamy remoulade sauce.
(To read about everything I got the last time I was there, read this post about vegan Portland.)
Is your favorite vegan reuben on this list? Tell me all about your top pick in the comments.
Originally posted April 2015. Content and photos updated August 2019 to add Nooch in Windsor & remove reubens that are no longer available.
Caitlin says
If you are ever in Toronto, Ontario check out the Ruben at Hogtown Vegan. It’s incredible!
Cadry says
Awesome! David ate at Hogtown Vegan while in Toronto on a business trip. He said it was fantastic. (He didn’t order the reuben. Weirdly, he’s not into them, but he has other fine attributes to make up for that transgression.) 😉 I’d love to visit Toronto someday.
Doug says
I knew about the Chicago Diner and Native Foods, but the rest of these are new to me! Hoping to get to Portland this year, and now I know we will have to check out Homegrown Smoker. Thanks for posting this comprehensive list!
Cadry says
Oh, I hope you’re able to make it to Homegrown Smoker. What they are doing is so unusual for a vegan business. I don’t know of anyone else doing something similar with a smoker, and their food is off the charts. I ate a lot of delicious things in Portland, but Homegrown Smoker was easily the most memorable.
cookeasyvegan says
There aren’t many places I can have a reuben (or even a sandwich) unless I’m willing to endure gluten-induced abdominal misery. BUT, there was a great bbq jackfruit sandwich at the Green Owl in Madison, and a great soy curl version at Homegrown Smoker. Now that I’ve read your post, I may have to make my own.
Cadry says
If you ever make it to Kansas City, the jackfruit reuben at FUD can be made gluten-free. It’s great that there are lots of options for making one at home in terms of fillings with Soy Curls, portobello mushrooms, jackfruit, or even just avocado. I’ll look forward to seeing what you make!
River says
You have given me reuben envy! The Native Foods and the Locali reubens are so colorful. I wonder if they use beets to get that lovely pinkiness going on?
Cadry says
That would be my bet. The Chicago Diner recipe definitely uses beet juice, and so that’s what I’d assume about Native Foods and Locali too.
Julz says
Wow… now that is an assortment of deliciousness. I want them all! Great post!
Cadry says
Thanks, Julz! They are all so good and surprisingly different for being the same type of sandwich. I’d happily eat all of them all over again!
Joey says
Sadly reubens are not a thing here – I don’t think I’ve ever seen a vegan one (or non-vegan one for that matter) on a menu anywhere. You’ve just given me inspiration to make one at home- they look great!
Cadry says
Aw, too bad! In addition to the Chicago Diner recipe, the reuben recipe in Vegan Diner by Julie Hasson is terrific. I think you’d love either one!
KZ says
Oh these all look good! I like the one at Champs. It has a great dressing!
Cadry says
Oh, I’m so bummed that I missed Champs when I was in NYC last fall! I’ve heard such great things about it. Hopefully it won’t be too terribly long until I”m back in New York again.
Becky Striepe says
Oh man, I love a Reuben. You’re making me so hungry!
Cadry says
I know the feeling! I was getting so hungry while writing this post, and you can bet that last night I had sauerkraut with dinner!
Ashley F says
This is my new bible – I heart this more than I can express. Iowa City, I’m coming for ya!
Cadry says
Ha! I’m honored to have created the world’s newest religious text. If you make it to Iowa, let me know. We can make it a date! 🙂
Veganopoulous says
oh wowwwwwwwwwww! I would happily choose any of those at random. Funny, I had zero interest in trying a Reuben before I was vegan but since going vegan I love them. Same with gravy! There’s a place here in Melbourne called True North who do a fab vegan Reuben 🙂
Cadry says
That’s so interesting! I love it when that happens that the plant-based version appeals in a way that the meaty version never did. Similarly, David is a million times more interested in vegan cheeses than he ever was the dairy-based ones.
I hope to visit Melbourne someday. I’ll put True North on the list! (I’ll go Down Under for True North. Ironic!)
Kylie @ FotV says
I just ate dinner but this post is making me HUNGRY!!! I can’t believe I lived a block away from Locali and never tried the Reuben! I always went for the BLT or the Bad Ass Breakfast sandwich….I guess I’ll just have to go on a vegan Reuben road trip 😉
Cadry says
Well, I don’t know if it was a total loss since you did get the Bad Ass Breakfast Sandwich out of it. That thing is nuts and so good! But yes, a vegan road trip is in order. You’re going to love it! 🙂
Susan says
Reubens are not really a common thing in Australia, I didn’t even know about them until I started amassing vegan cookbooks. I have made a couple, but am yet to have one when eating out, even on my US adventures. However, all that will change on the 7th of June this year, when I arrive in Chicago for two and a half days of eating. I shall get off my bus from Indianapolis, get myself to Chicago Diner, wedge my giant suitcase somewhere, and order this before I go to my AirBnB. Probably with a side of mac and cheese and an extra side of waffle fries. Not that I have thought about it or planned anything at all. 😉
Cadry says
Ha! I love this comment so much. Clearly we plan our vacations the same way. Before we go on a trip, people always ask what I want to do while I’m there. I hesitate on whether or not to lay out all of the dishes I want to eat and restaurants I want to visit!
Jo says
The best Reuben I’ve ever had was at Strong Hearts Cafe in Syracuse, NY. Amazing!
Cadry says
Oh, thanks for the heads up. I just looked it up online, and the pictures look fantastic!
Randi (laughfrodisiac) says
Oh my goodness that Native Foods one is CRAZY!!!!! It looks like meat ahhh! I want all of these nowww.
Cadry says
Yes, writing this post made me unbelievably hungry. I want to start my way at the top of the list and work my way down all over again. 🙂
Mike says
I’m also a huge vegan reuben fan. This post pushed the craving for a reuben over the top the other night, and I had to get one from Native Foods in Chicago.
I know that you are in Iowa – if you are ever traveling through Rockford, IL, the reuben at Pig Minds Brewing, a vegan brewery, is a MUST. It’s made with soy curls, which is a bit sloppy, but the salty/sweet/sour flavors in their version are spot on with the crunchy and gooey textures you want in a reuben. It’s my all-time favorite – beating out even the venerable Chicago Diner reuben. Plus, the beer at Pig Minds is solid; it’s a total hidden gem in Rockford, where one would never expect a vegan brewery to crop up.
Cadry says
Oh, man! I am SOLD! I have been wanting to make a trip to Pig Minds Brewing ever since I heard about it many months ago. I’d have to go about 45 minutes out of my way to hit it on a trip to Chicago (it’s north instead of south), but this sounds totally worth it! We have some friends who are really into brew pubs. We’ll have to wrangle them for a road trip. Thanks for the great tip, Mike!
Alina says
The most epic Reuben I’ve ever had was at Rebar in Victoria, BC: they make it with tempeh, some kind of beet-based sauerkraut, and a creamy, cheesy sauce; then they grill the whole shebang. This sandwich is so big that it will feed two hungry adults, especially if ordered with a side of their rosemary potatoes!
Cadry says
That sounds amazing! I hope I’m able to try that someday.
kiki says
Yes! My boyfriend and I were there last summer and the reuben was insane! I still think about it!
Doug Kalish says
I share your love of Reubens…and I found a new Reuben that is worthy of the list. In London, Rudy’s Dirty Vegan Diner in Camden Market. It was seriously outstanding!
Cadry says
Oh, my goodness! What a great tip. Thanks, Doug. I’d love to get back to London to try it.
Lydia Webster says
If you ever find yourself in Berkeley, CA, try the Reuben from the Butcher’s Son! I personally haven’t tried it but everything else there is so delicious, I’ll bet it’s good too!
P.S. Your love for Reubens is inspiring.
Cadry says
I would love that! I’ve heard so much about Butcher’s Son. I really hope to visit one day.
P.S. That’s so sweet of you to say!
Felicia says
I’m on a similar quest to try every vegan Reuben I find! It all started with the Reuben at the Cornerstone Cafe in Guelph, Ontario. It’s TO DIE FOR😍
Cadry says
That’s so fun that we’re on a similar quest, Felicia! If I ever make it to Guelph, I know where I need to go first.
Veggivet says
If anyone is traveling through upstate New York and is near Albany, a stop at Berben & Wolff’s vegan deli for its amazing Reuben will be well worth it!
Cadry says
Thanks for the tip! I hope I get a chance to try it someday!