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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 from many stops along the way, here are 12 vegan reubens that you won’t want to miss.
(These sandwiches 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
This is the reuben that started it all. (Shown at the top of this post.)
When I first went vegetarian, Follow Your Heart in Canoga Park became a weekly destination. First, I’d feast on this reuben in their café at the back of the grocery store, and then I’d buy all of the ingredients to make my own.
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 32-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, and a generous helping of melty non-dairy cheese on marbled rye.
This sandwich is my first stop in the Windy City, and I’m sure I’m not alone in that.
(Don’t have any plans to visit Chicago? Check out their vegan reuben sandwich recipe.)
Locali – Los Angeles & Venice, California
While Locali is best known for their Badass Breakfast Sandwich, their reuben is not to be ignored.
This small convenience store and deli makes a sandwich that is flavorful and overflowing with tofu deli slices, vegan cheese, sauerkraut, and Russian dressing on rye.
New Pioneer Co-op – Iowa City & Coralville, Iowa
New Pioneer Co-op is a grocery store, but they also happen to make some of the best sandwiches in Iowa.
Their rockin’ reuben is vegetarian by default, but vegan cheese is available. Personally, I opt out on both and replace it with avocado.
Smoky tempeh, crunchy sauerkraut, and dressing made with Vegenaise are a hearty filling. It’s then sandwiched with marbled rye bread that’s made fresh in the New Pi bakery. I’m not typically a big fan of tempeh, but I make an exception for this one.
Native Foods – California, Colorado, Oregon, Illinois, and Washington, D.C.
While the Oklahoma Bacon Cheeseburger will forever and always have my heart at Native Foods, their reuben is still up there in my list of favorites.
It’s packed with seitan and Russian dressing. Plus, the horseradish cheese & sauerkraut are both made in house.
Ethos Vegan Kitchen – Winter Park, Florida
The Tofurky reuben is not on the regular menu at Ethos Vegan Kitchen, but if you happen to be there on a Monday, don’t miss it on the specials menu.
With thin Tofurky slices, sauerkraut, sauce, and toasted bread, it has great crunch appeal.
Homegrown Smoker – Portland, Oregon
I cannot even tell you how much I want to return to Portland, Oregon. One of the top reasons is Homegrown Smoker. This little food truck produces some of the most eye-poppingly delicious food I’ve ever tasted.
Their 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.
Block 16 – Omaha, Nebraska
The reuben at Block 16 features house-made seitan that’s cut into large, toothsome chunks. It’s stuffed into the sandwich along with sweet pickled beets, sauerkraut, and dressing.
This is a savory sandwich with bite.
Champs Diner – Brooklyn, New York
This reuben from acclaimed vegan restaurant, Champs Diner, 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.
Bean Vegan Cuisine – Charlotte, North Carolina
This classic reuben from Bean Vegan Cuisine is 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.
Chaco Canyon Organic Café – Seattle, Washington
This reuben from Chaco Canyon Organic Cafe, called the Mighty Mofo, is topped with seitan, sauerkraut, sprouts, and crisp cucumber.
Unlike many heavy reubens, this sandwich has a freshness and crunch that is unexpected and very welcome.
Plum Bistro – Seattle, Washington
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.
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.
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.