Photo: MEATliquorReubenesque
A Reuben sandwich and a burger in one. A mustard-fried patty with corned beef, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut and a spicy burger sauce. The tangy sauerkraut and salty corned beef make it taste like a New York deli, and it works far better than a mash-up has any right to.
The story
The Reuben has two origin stories and neither side has ever given way. One says a grocer named Reuben Kulakofsky built it during a poker game at the Blackstone Hotel in Omaha in the 1920s. The other credits Arnold Reuben, who ran a delicatessen in New York. What both agree on is the combination — corned beef, Swiss, sauerkraut and Russian dressing on rye — and it works on a burger for the same reason it works on bread: sauerkraut is acid and crunch, and a griddled patty needs both.
What’s inside
- mustard-fried beef patty
- corned beef
- Swiss cheese
- sauerkraut
- spicy burger sauce
- bun
Make it at home
There is no copycat of the Reubenesque yet. Until there is, these recipes on the site come closest to it, judged by what goes into the bun.
- Shares beef, heat and cheese
Sloppy Smash Supreme - Shares beef, a special sauce and cheese
McDonald's Big Mac (Copycat) - Shares beef, heat and cheese
Dean’s Breakfast Burger from Supernatural - Shares beef, heat and cheese
Bet It All On Black Garlic
Similar burgers at other chains
Built around the same things as the Reubenesque.- Harlem Shake · beef, heat, a special sauce and cheese
SignatureHot Mess - Buffalo Burger · beef, heat and cheese
SignatureOld School - Black Tap · beef, a special sauce and cheese
All-American - Hundred Burgers · beef, a special sauce and cheese
Cheeseburger
More from MEATliquor
About MEATliquor
MEATliquor started life as a burger van. The MEATwagon cooked American-style burgers on the London street-food circuit, built a cult following, and in 2012 turned into a permanent restaurant near Oxford Street: dark, loud, covered in graffiti-style art and serving cocktails in jam jars.
A handful of restaurants in London and other UK cities.
Not affiliated with MEATliquor. Trademarks belong to their owners. The photo is credited under it and is used to illustrate this menu item; it comes down on request.