Sausage
Traditional:
Frank's Bratwurst
For 50 years, the Ratschki family has served authentic German sausage so good there’s no need for toppings. When you hit the West Side Market spot, slather on some sauerkraut and call it a day: These fried sausages come packed with flavor.franksbratwurst.com
Modern:
Happy Dog
Dream big at this local Instagram-worthy hot spot where you can top your classic all-beef hot dogs, vegan dogs and pork kielbasas with 50 different sides such as pickled banana peppers, Spaghetti O’s, Cheetos and more. happydogcleveland.com
Pierogi
Traditional:
Sokolowski’s University Inn
Little legendary pockets stuffed with cheddar and potatoes, these old-school renditions come served in a pool of butter and onions. Made from a 97-year-old tried-and-true recipe passed down from Polish immigrants, pierogies here are a delicious glimpse into our past. sokolowskis.com
Modern:
Lola
Made with his grandfather’s dough recipe, Michael Symon has elevated his refined beef cheek pierogies to the top of every Clevelander’s wish list. Be sure to nab a bit of the accompanying wild mushrooms and mouth-watering horseradish creme fraiche with each bite. lolabistro.com
Polish Boy
Traditional:
Hot Sauce Williams
The Polish Boy is as Cleveland as it gets. While it’s still debatable who first created the sausage sandwich, Hot Sauce Williams serves the city’s most popular renditions topped with comforting crinkle-cut french fries, creamy coleslaw and barbecue sauce. Debate decided: We’re all winners.
Modern:
Banter
So good it landed on the Food Network’s 2020 list of best sandwiches in America, this take on a Polish Boy comes stacked with a mountain of coleslaw, rivers of house-made barbecue sauce, house-made frites (this a poutine spot after all) and a butcher-made kielbasa. bantercleveland.com
Taco
Traditional:
La Plaza Supermarket
Come here for authentic tacos with only the most classic accompaniments. At an affordable price of just $3 each, longtime faves include carne asada and al pastor, simply garnished with just onions and cilantro. The hardest part might be deciding which of the eight salsas to try them with (we’re fans of the salsa verde).
Modern:
Barrio
Be your own mad scientist at this local chain of taco spots. Pick your shell (the green goddess option sees a soft flour shell bound to a corn hard one with a rich layer of queso and guacamole), protein (opt for the Coca-Cola marinated steak or Thai chili tofu) and then layer on cheeses and topping for wild, tasty combos. barrio-tacos.com
