Corned beef or pastrami? Marbled rye? Help us find best Reuben sandwich in Pierce County

Tacoma is a sandwich town, and Reubens are perhaps the most prolific. Restaurants of varying size and style serve the meat-and-cheese-on-rye classic, and most variations read similarly on paper:

Corned beef or pastrami. Swiss, but sometimes provolone or havarti, an underrated grassy cheese that’s a darn fine melter. Sauerkraut, always. Thousand island or Russian dressing, which are almost the same thing but not quite — the latter zings with horseradish and, originally, called for caviar. Rye, often marbled but occasionally dark or, less commonly, light.

The Reuben is so iconic that many restaurants stock rye bread exclusively for it and it alone. That might be why a couple of Pierce County spots opt for wheat, which might stir some controversy.

Why is the Reuben so beloved? An OK sandwich has stuff on it; a great sandwich, like any great dish, has fat and acid, salt and flavor, texture and bite-ability. The harmony of earthy rye, roasty-toasty, slow-cooked beef (pastrami is extra-spiced and typically a different, chubbier cut of the belly than the standard brisket for boiled corned beef), crunchy, sour kraut and creamy, rich yet tart sauce elevates this American invention. Like most great foods, its origins are contested. Was it Nebraska or New York?

For St. Patrick’s Day, we rounded up 35 restaurants and bars around Pierce County with a Reuben on the menu. One is technically a slider, one adds fried jalapenos and subs coconut tartar (?!), another includes curds and pickles, and two use wheat. Most are classic, but only one can be the best.

Vote for your pick in the survey below. If we missed yours, select “somewhere else” and type the name of the restaurant. If you’d like to share more detail, please also complete the Google form. TNT Diner may contact you for a future story. We won’t share your information with anyone, and we won’t publish your name without permission.

Thanks for participating!

This story was originally published March 10, 2025 at 10:24 AM.