When Irish immigrants came to America in the 19th century, they often substituted corned beef for bacon. It was inexpensive and the salt-cured product became even more popular during WWI and WWII when fresh meat was rationed. Corned beef and cabbage became the Irish-American equivalent of the popular Irish dish of bacon and cabbage.
Wisconsin was appealing to Irish immigrants who came to the United States in the mid-1800s because they were used to farming and the land here was not that much different from home. Our state’s Irish heritage means that we have more than our fair share of Irish pubs and restaurants. They’re not the only places to get a great Reuben in Wisconsin, but they make up a good portion of the places on this list.
There are a bunch of different stories about the origin of the Reuben sandwich and none of them are Irish, but since it uses the time-honored Irish-American favorite of corned beef, it’s been co-opted by many Irish restaurants and synonymous with St. Patrick’s Day. In no particular order, here are 13 great places to get a Reuben in Wisconsin:
- Stalzy’s Deli - Madison
Facebook/Stalzy’sDeli
Facebook/Stalzy’sDeli The beef here is cured for weeks, the saurekraut is made in house and so good, other restaurants buy it from them to use in their own recipes and the whole thin is then griddled to give it a buttery, delicious crunch. Located at 2701 Atwood Ave, Madison, WI 53704.
- Benji’s Deli - Milwaukee
Facebook/Benji’sDeli
Facebook/Benji’sDeli This place is more than 50 years old and still going strong. The corned beef comes in thick slices and if you want something totally different, the Reuben soup is the way to go. Located at 4156 N Oakland Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53211 and 8683 N Port Washington Rd, Milwaukee, WI 53217.
- The Monarch Public House - Fountain City
TripAdvisor/Island_GirlMN
Monarch Tavern First built in 1894, it’s the oldest operating tavern in Wisconsin. The Reuben here is served with sweet potato fries an on a delicious rye. Located at 19 N Main St, Fountain City, WI 54629.
- Gray Dog Deli - Mineral Point
Facebook/GrayDogDeli
Flickr/JeffreyW The sauerkraut here is drunken and the bread is toasted to perfection. Located at 215 High St, Mineral Point, WI 53565
- Jake’s Deli - Milwaukee
Facebook/JakesDeli
Facebook/JakesDeli It’s the brine that makes this sandwich so special. It helps that they’ve had 60 years to perfect it. It’s on Miller Bakery rye and one of the best things you can have in Milwaukee. Located at 1634 W North Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53205.
- Main Street Bourbon Room - Green Bay
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Facebook/MainStreetBourbonRoom A full half-pound of meat plus beer-soaked kraut make this a sandwich you’re going to talk about for awhile. Located at 1335, 1279 Main St, Green Bay, WI 54302.
- Erin’s Snug Irish Pub - Madison
Facebook/ErinsMadison
Facebook/ErinsMadison The flavor from the dark marble rye gives a depth to this Reuben. The thick-cut beer is amazing, as well. Located at 4601 American Pkwy, Madison, WI 53718.
- McBob’s - Milwaukee
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Facebook/McBob’s The critic’s choice winner as best Milwaukee Reuben, this one gets a kick from horseradish mustard. They’ve also developed a Reuben burger that’s weird and wonderful. Located at 4919 W North Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53208.
- Ye Olde Shillelagh - Manitowish Waters
TripAdvisor/MaryW
Flickr/Jeffrey W Folks say to order any and everything that come with the corned beef. The Reuben is melty and wonderful. Located at 35 Tower Rd, Manitowish Waters, WI 54545.
- Ginny’s Cupboard - Sparta
Google/KarenErtl
Wikimedia/BennyFrantzDale This Reuben is pressed flat like a panini to make it extra toasty and delicious. Located at 127 N Water St, Sparta, WI 54656.
- Rochester Deli - Waukesa
Facebook/RochesterDeli
Facebook/RochesterDeli Just look at the grill marks on that dark rye. The great, thick corned beef and flavorful Swiss make this one of the best in the state. Located at 143 W Broadway, Waukesha, WI 53186.
- The Hungry Peddler - La Crosse
TripAdvisor/MrBula
TripAdvisor/SteveF Crispy toasted rye, amazing side options and even a Reuben omelet make this a great place to get corned beef. Located at 3429 Mormon Coulee Rd, La Crosse, WI 54601.
- Lucy’s Delicatessen - Chippewa Falls
TripAdvisor/DoreenM
Facebook/Lucy’sDeli The Reuben is a special here, so make sure to check the menu. But if you manage to catch it, you won’t be disappointed. Located at 2404, 117 N Bridge St, Chippewa Falls, WI 54729.
Where is your favorite place to get a Reuben in Wisconsin? Let us know in the comments.
Facebook/Stalzy’sDeli
The beef here is cured for weeks, the saurekraut is made in house and so good, other restaurants buy it from them to use in their own recipes and the whole thin is then griddled to give it a buttery, delicious crunch. Located at 2701 Atwood Ave, Madison, WI 53704.
Facebook/Benji’sDeli
This place is more than 50 years old and still going strong. The corned beef comes in thick slices and if you want something totally different, the Reuben soup is the way to go. Located at 4156 N Oakland Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53211 and 8683 N Port Washington Rd, Milwaukee, WI 53217.
TripAdvisor/Island_GirlMN
Monarch Tavern
First built in 1894, it’s the oldest operating tavern in Wisconsin. The Reuben here is served with sweet potato fries an on a delicious rye. Located at 19 N Main St, Fountain City, WI 54629.
Facebook/GrayDogDeli
Flickr/JeffreyW
The sauerkraut here is drunken and the bread is toasted to perfection. Located at 215 High St, Mineral Point, WI 53565
Facebook/JakesDeli
It’s the brine that makes this sandwich so special. It helps that they’ve had 60 years to perfect it. It’s on Miller Bakery rye and one of the best things you can have in Milwaukee. Located at 1634 W North Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53205.
Facebook/MainStreetBourbonRoom
A full half-pound of meat plus beer-soaked kraut make this a sandwich you’re going to talk about for awhile. Located at 1335, 1279 Main St, Green Bay, WI 54302.
Facebook/ErinsMadison
The flavor from the dark marble rye gives a depth to this Reuben. The thick-cut beer is amazing, as well. Located at 4601 American Pkwy, Madison, WI 53718.
Facebook/McBobs
Facebook/McBob’s
The critic’s choice winner as best Milwaukee Reuben, this one gets a kick from horseradish mustard. They’ve also developed a Reuben burger that’s weird and wonderful. Located at 4919 W North Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53208.
TripAdvisor/MaryW
Flickr/Jeffrey W
Folks say to order any and everything that come with the corned beef. The Reuben is melty and wonderful. Located at 35 Tower Rd, Manitowish Waters, WI 54545.
Google/KarenErtl
Wikimedia/BennyFrantzDale
This Reuben is pressed flat like a panini to make it extra toasty and delicious. Located at 127 N Water St, Sparta, WI 54656.
Facebook/RochesterDeli
Just look at the grill marks on that dark rye. The great, thick corned beef and flavorful Swiss make this one of the best in the state. Located at 143 W Broadway, Waukesha, WI 53186.
TripAdvisor/MrBula
TripAdvisor/SteveF
Crispy toasted rye, amazing side options and even a Reuben omelet make this a great place to get corned beef. Located at 3429 Mormon Coulee Rd, La Crosse, WI 54601.
TripAdvisor/DoreenM
Facebook/Lucy’sDeli
The Reuben is a special here, so make sure to check the menu. But if you manage to catch it, you won’t be disappointed. Located at 2404, 117 N Bridge St, Chippewa Falls, WI 54729.
Looking for more great Wisconsin sandwiches? Check out 13 Wisconsin Sandwiches You Have To Try Before You Die.
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