Reuben sandwich

The Reuben sandwich is an American grilled sandwich comprising corned beef, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and Russian dressing or Thousand Island dressing, grilled between slices of rye bread. The sandwich is traditionally grilled or toasted until the bread is crisp and the cheese has melted.

The Reuben is commonly associated with kosher-style delicatessens in the United States, particularly in cities with large Jewish immigrant communities such as New York City. Despite this association, the sandwich is not considered kosher under traditional Jewish dietary law because it combines meat and dairy products.

The origins of the sandwich are disputed. One popular account attributes its creation to Reuben Kulakofsky, a grocer from Omaha, Nebraska, who is said to have requested the sandwich during a poker game in the 1920s. Another claim credits Arnold Reuben, owner of Reuben’s Delicatessen in New York City, with inventing it earlier in the 20th century.