What if you could grab a tray and slide down the buffet of your dreams, with all of your favorite iconic Cleveland eats in one place? If we could build and stock that buffet, it might include the following morsels.

Polish Boy What: The glorious, messy marriage of kielbasa, cole slaw, french fries and barbecue sauce Why: Every city has its claim to fame, and in Cleveland, our fate will forever be intertwined with the Polish Boy Photo via Wikimedia Commons
Polish Boy Where: Add chili and cheese to your Polish Boy at the famous Seti’s truck perennially parked at Dean Supply; Banter is another great spot for the sandwich. Photo via Seti’s Polish Boys/Facebook
Corned Beef on Rye What: The sandwich stacked high on rye with mustard Why: Nothing fuels a debate in Cleveland faster than asking which shop serves the best version of this Jewish soul food Photo via Scene Archives
Corned Beef on Rye Where: Slyman’s has long been the home of Cleveland’s best-loved corned beef, but Jack’s Deli, Corky & Lenny’s and Mr. Brisket ain’t chopped liver either Photo via Scene Archives
Paczki What: The deep-fried, jam-filled, doughnut-like Polish pastries Why: The pre-Lent Paczki Day celebration is Cleveland’s favorite way to exalt our temptations before we give up everything fun Photo via Samosky’s Home Bakery/Facebook
Paczki Where: Visit the Slavic Village-based Seven Roses Deli for authentic Polish fare and make plans to attend Kiedrowski’s Simply Delicious Bakery’s annual Paczki Ball. There’s also Kiedrowski’s, Buettner’s, Samosky’s, Rudy’s and many more. Photo via Rudy’s Strudel/Facebook
Pizza Bagel What: The doughy rolls coated in cheese and tomato sauce Why: Cleveland’s Frickaccio’s was one of the earliest purveyors of the pizza bagel, tempting none other than President Obama, who stocked up on the bagels before heading back to the White House Photo via The Pizza Bagel Lady/Facebook
Pizza Bagel Where: Frickaccio’s has been slinging pizza bagels from the West Side Market for years. Also try them from Buettner’s Bakery. Photo via The Pizza Bagel Lady/Facebook
Bertman’s Original Ballpark Mustard/Stadium Mustard What: The brown sauce we grew up with while watching the Tribe at Municipal Stadium, the Jake, and Progressive Field Why: The sports-associated condiment has deep roots in Cleveland, with Bertman’s battling its rival, Authentic Stadium Mustard, for fans’ loyalty Photo via Scene Archives
Bertman’s Original Ballpark Mustard/Stadium Mustard Where: Find it smothered on Fat Head’s Brewery’s Brewben pastrami sandwich or layered on a Happy Dog hot dog topped with Spaghetti-O’s as a hat tip to native son Chef Boyardee Photo via Scene Archives
Bratwurst Sandwich What: A ‘sandwich’ made with the perfectly spiced German-style sausage Why: Frank’s Bratwurst has been “serving the wurst since 1970,” whether piled high with kraut and horseradish, or served plain with brown mustard Photo via Scene Archives
Bratwurst Sandwich Where: The West Side Market used to be the only place to snag the famous Frank’s, but a brat-mobile launched in 2011 has taken his famous sandwiches to the streets Photo via Scene Archives
Cassata Cake What: The decadently sweet cake that received the Cleveland treatment Why: Cleveland pastry chefs put a local spin on this classic by swapping out ricotta and candied fruit for custard and strawberry filling Photo via Corbo’s Bakery/Facebook
Cassata Cake Where: Stop into Corbo’s Bakery or Baraona’s Bakery, where Cleveland’s take on cassata is a shop specialty. Presti’s is also a good spot for the Italian dessert. Photo via Baraona’s Bakery/Facebook
Pierogi What: Those wonderful potato-and-cheese stuffed dumplings Why: Cleveland’s Eastern European immigrants brought them generations ago, and they’ve been a beloved staple of the city’s cuisine ever since Photo via Scene Archives
Pierogi Where: Your first stop should be Sokolowski’s University Inn, whose name has become synonymous with the dish. Also hit Parma’s Perla Homemade Delight, where dozens of flavors are sold by the, well, dozen Photo via Scene Archives
Chicken Paprikash What: The paprika-stewed Hungarian comfort food Why: With a significant number of Hungarians settling in Cleveland during the 19th and 20th centuries, this traditional dish was a soulful inevitability Photo via Wikimedia Commons
Chicken Paprikash Where: Venture to the Clubhouse, an unpretentious Parma pub, for a home-style meal, or head east to Balaton at Shaker Square. Photo via Scene Archives
Coconut Bars What: The airy, chocolate-dipped cakes dusted in flaky coconut Why: The sweet treats were perfected by Cleveland Jewish bakeries decades ago Photo via Davis Bakery/Facebook
Coconut Bars Where: Peruse the glass cases of Davis Bakery or stop by Little Italy’s bustling Presti’s Bakery Photo via @MBKinhou/Instagram

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