When it comes to iconic foods in town, corned beef is right up there. Cleveland boasts so many great corned beef spots, it may be the best town for corned beef outside of New York City. With St. Patty’s Day coming up, we decided to highlight the 30 best corned beef sandwiches and hashes in town. Here’s what we came up with.
Slyman’s
3106 St. Clair Ave., Cleveland
16 tons and what do you get? The best corned beef sandwich in Cleveland. They still slice every sandwich to order, and every sandwich still towers above much of the competition. Amaze your friends by ordering in Slymaneze: a “natural” means plain; “original” comes with mustard; and “Smurf” buys you one with Swiss and mustard (which ain’t kosher, by the way).
Photo via Scene ArchivesNick’s Diner
4116 Lorain Ave., Cleveland
We love this funky Ohio City diner. The skillets are the real draw here, but don’t sleep on their corned beef, which is served on rye of course.
Photo via @Icinchic/InstagramJoe’s Deli
19215 Hilliard Blvd., Rocky River
Joe’s is a comfortable, tidy restaurant with a large menu of homey standards, including excellent corned-beef sandwiches, homemade soups, and freshly made Middle Eastern specialties.The breakfast goes until 10:30 a.m. so get there early and try the corned beef omelette.
Photo via Scene ArchivesBig Al’s Diner
12600 Larchmere Blvd., Cleveland
If you miss Mom’s cooking, this is the place to get your fix. Big Al’s has all the comforting favorites and of course you’ll find a delicious corned beef sandwich here. But the corned beef hash is the star of the show – it was featured on the Food Network’s Best Thing I Ever Ate by Michael Symon.
Photo via @JamesBXXL/InstagramJack’s Deli
14490 Cedar Rd., University Heights
When it comes to iconic corned beef in town, Jack’s Deli is certainly up there. While it may be the lesser known Jewish deli in town to the community at large, those in the know swear by Jack’s, and especially their corned beef.
Photo via @LuckysCafe/InstagramExpress Deli
5185 Smith Rd., Brook Park
Yes, Express Deli is a convenience store in the final approach path of planes landing at Cleveland Hopkins Airport, but it is also a 20-year-old family business that strives to make the lives of its customers just a little bit better. By a mile, the best seller at Express is that Reuben wrap. Nearly a half-pound of warm, thinly sliced corned beef is layered into a pita with sauerkraut, garlicky mayo and Thousand Islands dressing. It’s twisted up burrito style, wrapped in paper and foil, and sliced in two.
Photo via Scene ArchivesDavis Bakery and Deli
Multiple Locations
With Wax and Mandel and Pincus bakeries closing in recent years, Davis Bakery is one of the only Jewish bakeries left in town. For baked goods, Davis, which opened in 1939, is known for their coconut bars, their russian tea biscuits and their chocolate chip cookies. But their hot food, like their corned beef, is as good as it gets.
Photo via Davis Bakery/FacebookSouthside Diner
10705 West Pleasant Valley Rd., Parma
The shiny, smile-inducing red and white decor bursts with 1950s kitsch, and while they do the old-fashioned bacon, eggs and toast pristinely, it’s the modern updates that make this place stand out. Yeah, they have a few really good corned beef sandwich, but when they also serve a reuben benedict, reuben tacos, a corned beef omelette and some of the best corned beef hash in town, we recommend trying one of those fun offerings.
Photo via South Side Diner/FacebookYours Truly
Multiple Locations
The quintessential Northeast Ohio diner. It’s been said that if you haven’t had Notso Fries from Yours Truly yet, you’re not really a Clevelander. They don’t serve a corned beef sandwich but the corned beef hash at YT is to die for.
Photo via Scene ArchivesDanny’s Deli
1658 St Clair Ave. NE., Cleveland
“In advance of St. Patrick’s Day, my co-workers celebrated with some sandwiches from Danny’s Deli. Looking back, celebrating in advance while the world was still ‘normal’ was a great idea. I ordered a traditional corned beef sandwich platter with an additional side of coleslaw. The platter included the sammich, french fries, and a dill pickle. The corned beef was juicy and very tasty – just perfect. The coleslaw and pickle were good, but the fries were cold, as expected, because our order was to go and we didn’t eat until about 30 minutes after they were made. I’d definitely eat here again. In fact, we’ll probably do this again next year,” Rodney W. on Yelp
Photo via Scene ArchivesThe Inn On Coventry
2785 Euclid Heights Blvd., Cleveland Heights
The Inn has been serving breakfast and lunch to Heights locals since 1981. Comfort food at its finest is the game here. While the Inn is known far and wide for their outstanding pancakes, the corned beef is top notch here as well.
Photo via @Eddie_Torial/InstagramThe Cleveland Corned Beef Company
5164 Pearl Rd., Parma
For a long time, when it came to corned beef in town, Goodman’s Sandwich Inn was always at the top of the list. That closed in 2011, but was eventually taken over by the Cleveland Corned Beef Company, which offers tasty, lean corned beef that pays homage to Goodman’s.
Photo via Cleveland Corned Beef/FacebookWest Side Market Cafe
1979 West 25th St., Cleveland
For price, ambience, and first-class people-watching, no place tops the West Side Market Café in the venerable West Side Market’s southeast corner. And the grilled corned beef on their reuben is totally next level.
Photo via West Side Market Cafe/FacebookTommy’s Restaurant/FacebookCorky and Lenny’s
27091 Chagrin Blvd., Woodmere Village
The iconic Jewish deli, known for their offerings like knishes, matzoh ball soup and many more wonderful dishes has been going strong in the Eastern Suburbs since 1956. Modeled after famous New York delicatessens like Katz’s and the Carnegie Deli, Corky’s remains a beloved institution, which of course includes their beloved corned beef, especially when paired with latkes.
Photo via Scene ArchivesThe Place To Be
1391 Warren Rd., Lakewood
Good food, great prices and a family atmosphere is the name of the game at this Lakewood greasy spoon. We love everything about The Place To Be and there’s no question their shaved corned beef brisket sandwich fits that description.
Photo via The Place To Be/FacebookMr. Brisket
2154 South Taylor Road., Cleveland Heights
Mister Brisket may not be new, as it’s been in Cleveland Heights since 1974. What started off as a meat supplier, the business began selling their meats by the pound and in sandwich form in 2006. And now, an extra 1,000-square feet will allow for seating for 25 guests and an expanded menu featuring soups, sandwiches and specials.
Photo via Scene ArchivesHatfields Goode Grub
16700 Lorain Ave., Cleveland
We live for the smoked corned beef at Hatfield’s. They smoke their corned beef and then serve it with homemade sauerkraut, swiss cheese, wasabi mayo and mustard and serve it up between two pieces of Texas toast for an absolute flavor orgasm.
Photo via Scene ArchivesGus’s Diner 185
2102 Brookpark Rd., Cleveland
Head to North Colinwood for the perfect comfort food/diner combination at Gus’s. They have one of the more extensive omelette lists in town, but we’re here to talk about corned beef and Gus’s corned beef on rye and their reuben are top notch.
Photo via Gus’s Diner 185/FacebookChicago Deli
34390 Aurora Rd., Solon
Located in an unassuming strip mall in Solon, Chicago Deli may not seem like much from the outside. But inside, you’ll find a Middle Eastern accented deli with tasty items up and down the extensive menu. The reuben is great, as is the corned beef and eggs and the corned beef hash.
Photo via Chicago Deli/FacebookNate’s Deli (Ohio City)
1923 West 25th St., Cleveland
One of the awesome things about the Cleveland food scene is all of the Middle Eastern style delis in town. And while one of those like Nate’s makes really tasty hummus, baba and more staples of that cuisine, they still know how to make a kick ass corned beef sandwich.
Photo via Scene ArchivesKleifeld’s
4048 Erie St., Willoughby
A trip to downtown Willoughby would not be complete with a morning coffee and breakfast stop at Kleifelds Restaurant. This throwback diner compliments the old school Erie Street that anchors historic Willoughby. And what would a throwback diner be without a spot on reuben?
Photo via @Kleifelds/InstagramThe Harp
4408 Detroit Ave., Cleveland
An Irish bar on steroids, the Harp isn’t just your corner joint with a few shamrocks on the wall. It boasts a large Irish-influenced menu and a spacious patio with a view of the lake. The music’s as likely to be rootsy rock or blues as Irish. And the corned beef is perfect Irish-style corned beef, served in a reuben or in a boxty cake, a famous Irish potato pancake.
Photo via The Harp/FacebookLox, Stock and Brisket
3441 Tuttle Rd., Shaker Heights
Yum. The reuben at Lox, Stock and Brisket is really next level. Head to the Van Aken Market District and try this sandwich as soon as you can.
Photo via Scene ArchivesGeorge’s Kitchen
13101 Trisket Rd., Cleveland
Breakfasts here are great, with a number of egg dishes served all day at this iconic Cleveland diner that’s been open for almost 40 years. And the reuben here, served with melted mozzarella instead of swiss, is amongst our favorites in town.
Photo by Douglas TrattnerGrumpy’s Cafe
2621 West 14th St., Cleveland
We go to sleep dreaming about the corned beef reuben from Grumpy’s. This beloved Tremont diner serves their reuben with their special house sauce and it certainly takes the sandwich up a notch.
Photo via Scene ArchivesSuperior Restaurant
3000 Superior Ave., Cleveland
There are those that swear that this deli has the best corned beef in town. While there are certainly a number of joints that could challenge for this title, we certainly won’t argue with those that favor Superior.
Photo via Mr. Brisket/FacebookTal’s Bakery and Deli
5747 Ridge Rd., Parma
When you’ve been in business since 1946, you know you must be doing something right. Their hot corned beef is lean and tasty and what more can you really ask for?
Photo via Tal’s Bakery and Deli/FacebookThe Big Egg
5107 Detroit Rd., Cleveland
Classic American-style diner food is the what’s going on at Big Egg. The restaurant opened as the Egg Palace in 1952 and was changed to The Big Egg in 1970. After closing in 2002, the restaurant re-opened in 2009 in the same Ohio City location. If there’s any sandwich that stacks up with the infamous corned beef sandwich at Slyman’s as far as size goes, its the “Mile High” corned beef sandwich at the Big Egg.
Photo via The Big Egg/FacebookNate’s Deli (Fairview Park)
22098 Lorain Rd., Fairview Park
When you use the same beef product as Slyman’s and Danny’s, you know you’re not messing around with your corned beef. This Fairview Park deli that’s been opened for 30 years recently changed ownership and while they stuck with the traditions, they updated the menu and are knocking out some really tasty deli food, including their a corned beef latka sandwich, a reuben, a New Yorker, a corned beef hash and a corned beef omelet. You really can’t go wrong with any of these corned beef dishes.
Photo Provided by RestaurantJoe’s Deli
11750 Madison Ave., Lakewood
Joe’s in Lakewood is your typical neighborhood deli, specializing in breakfast and lunch, and oh yeah, awesome corned beef. In addition to a traditional corned beef sandwich and reuben, they also have a corned beef sub, a corned beef melt, a corned beef club sandwich, a corned beef burger and basically any other way you can think of to serve corned beef.
Photo via Scene Archives
