Where to Eat in Cleveland: Polish Boy and the Local Classics

Where to eat in Cleveland depends on what you want to taste. For the city's signature food, order a Polish Boy at Real Smoq'ed BBQ on Lorain Avenue, corned beef at Slyman's in St. Clair-Superior and pierogi at Great Lakes Brewing Company in Ohio City, then branch out to pho, dim sum and cannoli, all inside the City of Cleveland.

Cleveland's best-known foods are the Polish Boy, the corned beef sandwich, pierogi and ballpark mustard, according to Destination Cleveland. This guide explains each one, then lists 12 places we confirmed are open on their own official sites.

What is Cleveland known for eating?

Cleveland is known for four foods: the Polish Boy, corned beef sandwiches, pierogi and ballpark mustard. Destination Cleveland, the city's official visitor bureau, names all four as the city's quintessential bites.

What is a Polish Boy?

A Polish Boy is a Cleveland original: kielbasa (Polish sausage) in a bun, topped with french fries, coleslaw and barbecue sauce. Destination Cleveland credits Virgil Whitmore as its reputed pioneer in the 1940s. Eat it with a fork and a stack of napkins.

Polish Boy counters in Cleveland open, move and close often, so confirm hours before you go. Real Smoq'ed BBQ on Lorain Avenue, below, lists a classic Polish Boy on its own menu, and Great Lakes Brewing Company in Ohio City serves a "Polish Boy" loaded fries version. Destination Cleveland keeps a longer list at thisiscleveland.com.

What is Cleveland-style corned beef?

Cleveland corned beef means a deli sandwich piled high with brisket, a local favorite that the city's take-out counters treat as a daily staple. Slyman's, below, is our pick.

What is ballpark mustard?

Ballpark mustard is Cleveland's own brown mustard, the one you get on a hot dog at the game. Bertman Original Ball Park Mustard sells it online and lists where to buy it on its official site, bertmanballparkmustard.com. The company also makes a Beer Mustard using Great Lakes Brewing Company's Dortmunder Gold lager, a Cleveland-on-Cleveland pairing. Bertman is a Cleveland company with no storefront we could confirm, so it is not a pick below.

What are pierogi?

Pierogi are filled dumplings from Central and Eastern Europe, usually potato and cheese, often browned in butter with onions. In Cleveland they show up on menus all over the city, from taverns to brewpubs.

How we chose

Every place below has an official website that shows it as operating, a street address inside the City of Cleveland, and a specific dish we can name. We dropped places whose official pages were down or which reports say have closed, including Sokolowski's University Inn in Tremont, which its own site lists as temporarily closed. Hours change, so treat the hours below as typical and check each official site before you go.

One note on boundaries: Mister Brisket, a corned beef deli and butcher with its own site, is at 2156 S. Taylor Rd in Cleveland Heights, which is just outside the city, so it is not listed.

Where should you eat in Cleveland?

These 12 places are open and inside Cleveland: a Polish Boy counter and five local classics first, then six more that round out a food trip.

1. Real Smoq'ed BBQ, near West Side

Real Smoq'ed BBQ is a family-owned barbecue restaurant at 3829 Lorain Avenue on Cleveland's near West Side, and it is the place in this guide to order a classic Polish Boy: all-beef fried kielbasa topped with slaw, fries and barbecue sauce. It also serves slow-smoked meats and soul food. It is typically open daily from late morning into the evening, later on Fridays and Saturdays. See realsmoqedbbq.com.

2. Slyman's, St. Clair-Superior

Slyman's is a corned beef take-out counter at 3106 St. Clair Avenue in St. Clair-Superior, Cleveland. Its official site bills it as the biggest and best corned beef in Cleveland, so the corned beef sandwich is the order. It is typically open weekdays only, from early morning to mid-afternoon, and closed on weekends, so plan a weekday lunch. Visit slymans.com.

3. Superior Pho, AsiaTown

Superior Pho is a Vietnamese restaurant at 3030 Superior Avenue East in AsiaTown, Cleveland. Its pho broth follows a family recipe that simmers for a full day. Also order The 7C, a banh mi thit with house-made roast pork and pate. It is typically open Tuesday through Sunday and closed Mondays; check superiorpho.com for current hours.

4. Great Lakes Brewing Company, Ohio City

Great Lakes Brewing Company's brewpub is at 2516 Market Avenue in Ohio City, Cleveland. It pours Dortmunder Gold Lager and Edmund Fitzgerald Porter, and its loaded short rib pierogies come topped with short ribs braised in that porter, the order that ties together two Cleveland classics. Its "Polish Boy" loaded fries pile Cleveland-made kielbasa, coleslaw and porter barbecue sauce on fries. It is typically open daily, with shorter Sunday hours. See greatlakesbrewing.com.

5. Guarino's, Little Italy

Guarino's is an Italian restaurant at 12309 Mayfield Road in Little Italy, Cleveland, and it says it has served the neighborhood since 1918. The menu runs through house favorites, pizza and pasta, and cocktails and dolce. The site lists no hours, so call (216) 231-3100 or check guarinoscleveland.com before you go.

6. Lucky's Cafe, Tremont

Lucky's Cafe is a bakery and brunch cafe at 777 Starkweather Avenue in Tremont, Cleveland. It says its food, pastry and bread are made by hand. It is typically open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. every day except Tuesday, and it posts separate weekday and weekend menus. Details at luckyscafe.com.

7. Prosperity Social Club, Tremont

Prosperity Social Club is a Tremont bar and restaurant at 1109 Starkweather Avenue, Cleveland, with pierogies on its official menu: served with caramelized onions and sour cream. It also lists a Polish breakfast and a Euro platter. It is typically open afternoons and evenings, with a Sunday brunch start. See prosperitysocialclub.com.

8. Presti's Bakery, Little Italy

Presti's Bakery is at 12101 Mayfield Road in Little Italy, Cleveland, and it typically opens at 6 a.m. daily, closing in the evening most days and mid-afternoon on Sundays. Order a cannoli, the Little Italy classic; Destination Cleveland points visitors to Presti's for cannoli, tiramisu and cassata cake. Hours are at prestisbakery.com.

9. Li Wah, AsiaTown

Li Wah is a dim sum and Chinese restaurant at 2999 Payne Avenue in Asia Plaza, AsiaTown, Cleveland. Dim sum is the reason to go, with separate food, take-out, drinks and boba menus on liwahrestaurant.com. It is typically open daily.

10. Hofbräuhaus Cleveland, Downtown

Hofbräuhaus Cleveland is a German beer hall at 1550 Chester Avenue in Downtown Cleveland, close to the Midtown line. Order the pretzel with bier cheese and a house beer; the full menu is on hofbrauhauscleveland.com. It is typically open daily, and the kitchen closes an hour before the restaurant does.

11. Mitchell's Homemade, Ohio City

Mitchell's Homemade's flagship Ohio City Kitchen & Shop is at 1867 West 25th Street in Ohio City, Cleveland, a short walk from the West Side Market. Order a scoop or two of ice cream. It is typically open into the evening every day. See mitchellshomemade.com for current hours.

12. West Side Market, Ohio City

The West Side Market is a public market at 1979 West 25th Street in Ohio City, Cleveland. It opened in 1912 and is topped by a 137-foot clock tower, and its official site counts more than 60 small businesses inside. It is typically open Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with shorter Sunday hours, so check westsidemarket.org first. Eat your way through the stalls and walk over to Mitchell's Homemade afterward.

How do you eat all the Cleveland classics in one trip?

Use this checklist to eat the city's classics in one visit:

• Weekday lunch: corned beef at Slyman's in St. Clair-Superior
• Polish Boy: Real Smoq'ed BBQ on Lorain Avenue, with plenty of napkins
• Afternoon: pho or banh mi at Superior Pho in AsiaTown, or dim sum at Li Wah
• Late afternoon: cannoli at Presti's Bakery in Little Italy
• Dinner: pierogies at Great Lakes Brewing Company or Prosperity Social Club
• Dessert: ice cream at Mitchell's Homemade in Ohio City
• Anytime: browse the West Side Market in Ohio City
• Mustard: buy a jar of Bertman Original Ball Park Mustard for home

Which neighborhoods are best for eating?

Ohio City and Tremont are the easiest Cleveland neighborhoods to walk between restaurants, and Little Italy and AsiaTown are good for one cuisine in a compact area. See our guides to Ohio City, Tremont, Little Italy, AsiaTown and St. Clair-Superior, or browse more at Cleveland food and dining.

Last verified: November 2026.

Frequently asked questions

What is the most famous food in Cleveland?

The Polish Boy is Cleveland's best-known original sandwich: kielbasa in a bun topped with fries, coleslaw and barbecue sauce. Corned beef, pierogi and ballpark mustard are the other local classics, according to Destination Cleveland.

Where can you get good corned beef in Cleveland?

Slyman's, at 3106 St. Clair Avenue in St. Clair-Superior, is a take-out corned beef counter that bills its corned beef as the biggest and best in Cleveland. It is typically open weekdays only, so check slymans.com before you go.

Where can you eat pierogi in Cleveland?

Great Lakes Brewing Company in Ohio City serves loaded short rib pierogies topped with short ribs braised in its Edmund Fitzgerald Porter. Prosperity Social Club in Tremont lists pierogies with caramelized onions and sour cream on its menu.

Where can you get a Polish Boy in Cleveland?

Real Smoq'ed BBQ, at 3829 Lorain Avenue on Cleveland's near West Side, lists a Polish Boy of fried kielbasa topped with slaw, fries and barbecue sauce on its official menu. Great Lakes Brewing Company in Ohio City serves a Polish Boy loaded fries version.

Who invented the Polish Boy sandwich?

Destination Cleveland credits Virgil Whitmore as the reputed pioneer of the Polish Boy in the 1940s. The sandwich is kielbasa in a bun with fries, coleslaw and barbecue sauce.

What neighborhoods are good for eating in Cleveland?

Ohio City and Tremont are good for walking between restaurants, Little Italy for Italian bakeries and dinner, and AsiaTown for pho and dim sum. St. Clair-Superior has the corned beef counter Slyman's.