Reuben in Omaha: Where to Eat the Sandwich

Reuben in Omaha starts with the story that the sandwich was created at the Blackstone Hotel, and you can still look for versions of it at an alehouse that calls itself home of the famous Blackstone Reuben, at a long-running Dundee tavern, and at kitchens that smoke their own corned beef. Order two and compare the rye, the kraut and the dressing.

This page covers the Omaha origin story, where to look for the original recipe, tavern and house-smoked versions, what makes a good Reuben and how to plan a crawl. It describes the sandwiches rather than naming places, because menus change.

Where does the Reuben in Omaha come from?

Omaha's account is that the Reuben was created at the former Blackstone Hotel in the 1920s, with a poker game in the story. The sandwich is corned beef, sauerkraut and Swiss cheese with Russian or Thousand Island dressing. A rival New York claim exists, so treat the story as the city's own telling. Order the sandwich as written first and judge it against the others. The sandwich is a good test of a kitchen because every part of it can be done well or badly, from the rye to the melt of the cheese.

The Blackstone District, west of downtown, is where Omaha sends you for the original recipe.

Where can you eat the Blackstone Reuben?

An alehouse in the Blackstone District calls itself the home of the famous original, and another place in the district serves Reuben egg rolls, rolled by hand in house with corned beef, cabbage, Swiss and a house sauerkraut blend.

If you want to compare, order the sandwich first and the egg rolls to share. They are the same flavors in two shapes, which makes a useful test of whether you care more about bread or crunch.

What is a Dundee tavern Reuben like?

Dundee taverns also list Reuben sandwiches. A tavern Reuben is typically built on rye with thin-sliced corned beef, house sauce, kraut and Swiss, served with fries. Order it with fries and a pickle, the classic tavern way.

A house sauce is the tavern's variation on the dressing, so ask what is in it if you have allergies. A sandwich with a house sauce is worth rating on the sauce alone.

Where can you find a house-smoked Reuben?

Some Omaha kitchens smoke their own corned beef and dress the sandwich differently, for example with a beet horseradish dressing on Russian rye in place of the classic Russian dressing. Ask the server what the dressing is before you order.

Rate the corned beef and the bread separately. If the beef is smoked in house, the smoke should show in the first bite.

What are the Reuben-inspired dishes in Omaha?

Reuben-inspired dishes turn up elsewhere too, from Reuben nachos at pubs to a cooked sausage made with corned beef, Swiss and sauerkraut. Ask when you visit whether the dish is still on the menu. The flavors travel well into snacks, so a plate of Reuben egg rolls or nachos is a good way to share the idea among a group that cannot agree on a full sandwich.

What makes a good Reuben?

Four things matter: the rye, the corned beef, the kraut and the dressing. The rye should be toasted enough to hold the filling without turning hard. The corned beef should be sliced thin and warm. The kraut should be tangy rather than wet, and the dressing should bind the sandwich without drowning it. A melted layer of Swiss cheese ties the rest together. Judge each part, write down what stood out, and you will soon know whether you prefer the classic or one of the variations in this guide.

How do you plan a Reuben crawl in Omaha?

Pick two places and order the same thing at both. Share the sandwich, so you can try more. The places are in different parts of town, so plan a drive between them.

Eat the sandwich warm, since the cheese and the bread change quickly. Tell the server about allergies, because the sauces differ and rye bread has its own ingredients.

How do you rate Omaha Reubens with Mosey?

Rate the sandwich, not the building. In Mosey you can name the dish, add a tag such as Great Value or Group Dining, and attach a photo of the cross-section. A note like "rye toasted well, house sauce, kraut a little mild" is what the next Reuben hunter needs.

Start a list called Omaha Reuben crawl and send the invite link to a friend so they can add their own pick. Follow friends to see what they rated and saved, and tag who you ate with so each of you can rate the same sandwich. The ratings page explains rating by the dish.

What else should you read?

The Blackstone District guide covers the neighborhood, and the best steak in Omaha guide covers the other thing the city is known for. See the Omaha page, the Nebraska page and the US food guides.

Before your next sandwich, open the Mosey app, rate the Reuben by the dish and add it to a list.