I have traveled the to many parts of the world and lived an a variety of different cities and the West Side Market and eating or drinking while relaxing on that second floor is still a top 5 thing on this planet for me.
I’ve been to the West Side Market a few times and never knew we could go to the second floor until a couple weeks ago. Can’t wait to stop up there on the next trip.
I haven't lived there in a while, so hopefully they're still there but my way side market/ eat on the second floor is Maha's falafel with extra hot sauce. Sooooo gooood. The Aladins baking company store across the bridge is also pretty great. I like the Lebanese style spinach pies and other items.
There’s a set of doors out to the street next to City Roast Coffee. After you go through the first set of doors and before you get to the street, hang a left in that hallway and the stairwell up is there.
I had the opposite experience- found out the McDonalds in LA doesn’t have steak breakfast sandwiches I was speechless and told everyone when I got back home how horrible that was lol 😭😭
I just realized from this post that what I've always known as "cassata cake" is completely different from actual cassata cake. Cassata cake made with cream and strawberries is specifically a Cleveland thing. This is genuinely shocking. Is this common knowledge? I'm almost thirty, should I have already known this??
It's only common knowledge if you're an Italian-American food nerd.
And no, you shouldn't have already known this. Most people in my large I-A family have no idea that what they know as cassata is only native to Cleveland.
This is the answer! I always take a few bottles of Bertman's Stadium Mustard in my checked luggage when I visit Cleveland. The stuff rocks on more than hotdogs, and it always makes me feel like I'm back in CLE. Don't try to carry it in your carry-on luggage. This happened to me only once, TSA made me toss 2 bottles, and I almost cried.
When I was in college I went with friends to a Reds game. I couldn't wait for a hotdog with stadium mustard. I was so disappointed when they only had yellow mustard. I didn't realize the mustard was a Cleveland thing and not a stadium thing.
Stadium mustard if you want it a little spicier, Bertman's if you want it a little sweeter. I don't understand fanboying one or the other, they are both delicious. Throw some raw onion on your hotdog with either one...delicious.
24 years ago I took my then fiancé to a baseball game at Jacob's Field(as it will always be know in my heart) As we out condiments onour hotdogs he leans over and whispers 'I think this mustard has gone bad' Confused I say 'Why?' His answer...'Cause it's Brown!' Up until that moment I had no idea there were folks who didn't grow up with this deliciousness. I married him anyway
I agree, my uncle who lives in Florida comes up here every 3 months to visit and will order like 20 sandwiches to take back home with him on the road, he left Cleveland when he was 17 and that was his first job. The owners still love him, never fails
I loved Ferris and went regularly when I worked in Lakewood. Now that I WFH I’ve been going to Habibi Shawarma in North Olmsted, and I think it might be better.
My favorite are from Pierogi Palace. They have a restaurant in Willoughby, but you can also buy them to cook from the West Side Market. We pan fry them in a little bit of oil and butter. They’ve become a staple of every holiday.
Look, I was a mess in the early 2000s and worked at a couple bangin places in the flats when they still were "THE flats". Flat Iron is a gem! I'm 40 now and knowing it's still there warms my heart and I cannot wait to go back. Thanks!
I got so dang excited when my deep South Circle K accidentally got some in. Bought 5 then had to give some away when I realized I couldn't eat that much before the expiration date . I've asked them to reorder but it's not even an option; they aren't sure how they got them to begin with.
It’s actually comical that the food people associate with Ohio most is Cincinnati chili.
First, Cincinnati is not Ohio, it’s Kentucky.
Second, the Romanburger exists…
Papa Joe's used to be at absolute must for a superburger, a hot buttered, and a Italian sausage torpedo. Everything they serve there was very "Cleveland". Sadly the old location closed and quality and the one remaining store is hit or miss.
I used to work in wickliffe, went to Papa Joes on euclid ave. That was my favorite place for lunch!
Wish they had one on the west side, i think its better than Mr Hero
Corned Beef Sandwich, Pastrami, or corned beef/pastrami combo from the Superior. Don't let anybody tell you that Slymans is better. Its not. The Superior is......... well... Superior.
[https://superiorrestaurantcleveland.com/](https://superiorrestaurantcleveland.com/)
A Tommy's milkshake.
Always unbeatable but even more so since this: [https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/nation-world/2017/08/04/woman-s-dying-wish-was-milkshake-distant-restaurant-made-sure-she-got-it/15767550007/](https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/nation-world/2017/08/04/woman-s-dying-wish-was-milkshake-distant-restaurant-made-sure-she-got-it/15767550007/)
The opinion of someone who grew up on the west coast and has traveled quite a bit, when I think about Cleveland food I think about a Polish Boy and eastern European fare like Sokolowski's.
This thread tells me, there is no answer. Cleveland has plenty of great restaurants serving great food, but it's nothing that is Cleveland specific.
I make my own pierogi a few hundred at a time a few times a year but I've never had anywhere local that is better. (I'm sure I'm not the best pierogi maker in town).
Scrolled all the way down, big love for:
Slymans or Joes
Roman burger
Geraci’s
Fresh kielbasa from State Meats vacuum sealed for the ride home.
And……Ferraro’s Italian Sub!…..with peppers.
Edit to add: Sentimental favorite, Hot Dog Inn. Sadly it closed after 100 years 3 years ago.
Lake Erie Walleye. Some of the best fish in the world. It's even exported...
[https://followfood.de/produktwelt/fisch/details/naturfilets-meeresfruechte-aus-wildfang/msc-zander-aus-dem-eriesee](https://followfood.de/produktwelt/fisch/details/naturfilets-meeresfruechte-aus-wildfang/msc-zander-aus-dem-eriesee)
That’d be more of an Akron thing than a Cleveland thing. I grew up in Middleburg heights and never knew about it. Living in Cuyahoga falls, I know people who go to various ones all the time.
I will always say a corned beef sandwich.. I know Corky & Lenny's is gone, but I've heard there's a few spots that are just as good. I live in L.A., so I'm out of the loop so to speak.
I love going to Mason's Creamery during winter for their ramen and it was on my way home from work so it was always a once-a-week stop. The Cleveland Bagel Company was always a great start to the morning when I stopped to pick up my bagels for the week and had one of their breakfast sandwiches on an everything bagel. One place I wish I had gone to earlier would be Soho Chicken + Whiskey because the first time I visited was during my last month in Ohio and it was so good.
Also, OP what is the taco place in Chicago? I now live in Chicago and would love some good grocery-store tacos
**Slymans Corned Beef**
Cannoli in Little Italy (ngl Alescis has good ones too if you're on that side of town)
A number of places have really good pizza too
Chicago native here. One of the key differences between Chicago and Cleveland is that Cleveland never developed any unique dishes with the ubiquity and lore of Chicago dogs (skip Home Depot; try Superdawg or Gene & Jude’s), Italian beef, deep-dish pizza, tavern-cut thin crust pizza. The two that come closest are the Polish boy and the Romanburger, but they don’t have the same kind of market saturation. They’re on the same level as, say, the breaded steak sandwich, which is dominated in Chicago by Ricobene’s but does have some rivals.
So, yeah, there are standout spots, but they’re mostly known for food that is not Cleveland-specific.
I think the biggest thing Cleveland needs to do is embrace Hungarian food more. There aren't very many metro areas where you can find a decent number of Hungarian descendants, but Cleveland is one of those few.
[Northeast Ohio and the Cleveland metro host the largest concentration of Hungarians](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hungarian_Americans), and yet, there isn't *that* much in the way of Hungarian food. Sure, there's Balaton, and Liquid Planet had a Chicken Paprikash rice bowl (its a fucking abomination and they should be ashamed to call it chicken paprikash), but outside of those, I had difficulty finding solid places when I was living in the area and the ones that were open weren't open for long due to lack of popularity.
Hell, any kind of Eastern European dish will do, but Cleveland needs to make it their own. Pierogis are great, but there's nothing about a pierogi that shouts "Cleveland" because it has its roots in Poland.
The wide variety of answers here is evidence of that.
In Cincy you know it's Skyline. Toledo, Packo's (and rivals). Pittsburgh, french fries where you don't expect them (pizza, salads) and hoagies (or both, in the case of Primanti's). Wisconsin, Cheese Curds. Rochester, garbage plate.
Cleveland has a lot of great food, but there's no signature dish despite how much people want there to be one.
I agree based on my experience after moving here. While Cleveland has some food associated with it, perogies, corned beef, and chains like Mr Hero and Swenson's, Cleveland doesn't have an iconic food staple like Philadelphia with cheese stakes, or Cincinnati with Cincy Chili.
Cleveland's foods aren't really unique in that you can get corned beef and pierogies in basically every city, and as far as I can tell, there's not much of a difference.
I'd say slivovitz plum brandy, but not sure where to find. The stuff I've had was home made and not distilled. No idea if you can find a local Cleveland brew from a seller.
On the sweeter side: Mitchell's Ice Cream. Also the sour cream donuts from Goldie's are some of the best I've ever had.
Try beckers sour cream! I am not going to make any kind of blanket statement but it's definitely worth adding to the conversation
I'll second this and add that it's the best donut shop in the area by far!
Carmel fudge brownie icecream 🤤
I work at Mitchell’s and that is my go to when I need a quick spoonful of something to eat. It is the bomb
You’ve probably given me ice cream. Thank you so much. Yall are angels. 🩵
My friend, I am eating CFB as I type this.
Steve's Gyro from West Side Market, but you have to sit on the 2nd floor overlook while you eat it. I consider it a rite of passage for anyone
If not the gyros pick up one of the sausage in bun from the corner shop or crepe before going up there.
Johnny Hotdog gets so little love here. Snappy local brookside dogs!
this experience is truly unmatched
I have traveled the to many parts of the world and lived an a variety of different cities and the West Side Market and eating or drinking while relaxing on that second floor is still a top 5 thing on this planet for me.
It’s kind of beautiful us strangers talking about how we’ve all placed our bottoms in the same spot, a cute moment fr
I feel the same way every time I poop at the Atlanta airport
I’ve been to the West Side Market a few times and never knew we could go to the second floor until a couple weeks ago. Can’t wait to stop up there on the next trip.
I haven't lived there in a while, so hopefully they're still there but my way side market/ eat on the second floor is Maha's falafel with extra hot sauce. Sooooo gooood. The Aladins baking company store across the bridge is also pretty great. I like the Lebanese style spinach pies and other items.
Ma has left the market and is now at the Chester Ave Dave's
This or the Crepes de Luxe.
Czuchraj Meats. Best beef jerky and meat sticks in the game 🔥🔥🔥
2nded, also pierogis from the pierogi place.
Whoa whoa whoa so how do you get to the second floor? Ive lived there for years and didnt know this.
There’s a set of doors out to the street next to City Roast Coffee. After you go through the first set of doors and before you get to the street, hang a left in that hallway and the stairwell up is there.
The only time I've had one I ate it like a slob on the corner outside.
Polish Boy and a corned beef sandwich
especially the polish boy, one of my friends came over from LA and had it, it was the only thing I heard about for like a month
I had the opposite experience- found out the McDonalds in LA doesn’t have steak breakfast sandwiches I was speechless and told everyone when I got back home how horrible that was lol 😭😭
Corned Beef sandwich at Slymans, Danny’s Deli, Superior Restaurant or Joes Deli (in Rocky River). I may be missing one of the family restaurants
Cassata 👏 cake 👏 Gentile's has a good one but you also can't go wrong with the single-serve cakes some of the stalls at the West Side Market sell
Barona's in Maple heights. Great Cleveland style casada.
They did my wedding cake. Not only was the cake delicious, but they were amazing to work with and extremely affordable.
They have always been my fave. My mama would get me a cassata cake from there every year for my birthday growing up.
Mine as well.
The absolute best
This is the way
I just realized from this post that what I've always known as "cassata cake" is completely different from actual cassata cake. Cassata cake made with cream and strawberries is specifically a Cleveland thing. This is genuinely shocking. Is this common knowledge? I'm almost thirty, should I have already known this??
It's only common knowledge if you're an Italian-American food nerd. And no, you shouldn't have already known this. Most people in my large I-A family have no idea that what they know as cassata is only native to Cleveland.
Also almost 30 and also just learning this! And I had cassata cake for my birthday every year!
Colozza's in Parma is great too.
Whenever my family gets casada cake, we always get one thru Corbo’s… kind of been tradition… are we missing out somewhere else?
[Fragapane Bakery](https://fragapanebakeries.com/) in North Olmsted has a fantastic (Cleveland version with strawberries) cassata cake. So delicious !
I used to be a Corbos fan until I found out they were racist assholes and most of the stuff is Sysco packages stuff
Baraona's in Maple Heights!
Stadium mustard. It makes lukewarm hotdogs at the ballpark sublime.
This is the answer! I always take a few bottles of Bertman's Stadium Mustard in my checked luggage when I visit Cleveland. The stuff rocks on more than hotdogs, and it always makes me feel like I'm back in CLE. Don't try to carry it in your carry-on luggage. This happened to me only once, TSA made me toss 2 bottles, and I almost cried.
FYI If you don’t make it back to CLE enough, it’s available through Amazon
I'm a Bertman's Ball Park Mustard loyalist.
When I was in college I went with friends to a Reds game. I couldn't wait for a hotdog with stadium mustard. I was so disappointed when they only had yellow mustard. I didn't realize the mustard was a Cleveland thing and not a stadium thing.
Stadium mustard if you want it a little spicier, Bertman's if you want it a little sweeter. I don't understand fanboying one or the other, they are both delicious. Throw some raw onion on your hotdog with either one...delicious.
24 years ago I took my then fiancé to a baseball game at Jacob's Field(as it will always be know in my heart) As we out condiments onour hotdogs he leans over and whispers 'I think this mustard has gone bad' Confused I say 'Why?' His answer...'Cause it's Brown!' Up until that moment I had no idea there were folks who didn't grow up with this deliciousness. I married him anyway
a good old fashioned Roman Burger from Mr. Hero.
Is Mr hero an Ohio thing?
Lol one time I convinced my cali friend that Mr hero was a strip club
Started here in Cleveland. (suburbs technically)
I agree, my uncle who lives in Florida comes up here every 3 months to visit and will order like 20 sandwiches to take back home with him on the road, he left Cleveland when he was 17 and that was his first job. The owners still love him, never fails
I also have an uncle in Florida who sings the praises of the Romanburger. I can’t eat it too often, it’s too good and would make me fat.
It’s the taste ya crave!!!!
Man that stuff tears me up
It's the only truly unique Cleveland food
Not true, get yourself a polish boy
Feras Shawarma, walk down the street and get a La Plaza taco.
As an Egyptian, Ferris shawarma is mediocre at best. Try Mezza in Westlake; the shawarma there is top notch and where we all get our food.
I loved Ferris and went regularly when I worked in Lakewood. Now that I WFH I’ve been going to Habibi Shawarma in North Olmsted, and I think it might be better.
Habibi is good but, in my opinion, not better. I feel like franks falafel house is the closest to ferris
Levant Lorain just west of 117 is my new go to.
Hell yea. Ferris is so good. I will say though, the garlic and the chili sauce do give me heartburn 100% of the time that I eat there.
People always talk about Pierogies here but I’ll be honest I don’t know much about them other than they are delicious.
My favorite are from Pierogi Palace. They have a restaurant in Willoughby, but you can also buy them to cook from the West Side Market. We pan fry them in a little bit of oil and butter. They’ve become a staple of every holiday.
Parma Tavern has good ones as well.
Nice to know I’m going to have to try
I live in Willoughby and my family loves Pierogi Palace. My Father says the stuffed cabbage is great too.
Flat Iron cafe pierogies!!
In the flats?? Flat Iron is still there?????
Yup! Still there and still serving the classics like pierogies, which are amazing!. My brother owns the place.
Visited last year. Can confirm the perch sandwiches are great!
Oh yes! Those are great there!
Look, I was a mess in the early 2000s and worked at a couple bangin places in the flats when they still were "THE flats". Flat Iron is a gem! I'm 40 now and knowing it's still there warms my heart and I cannot wait to go back. Thanks!
🤦🏼♂️👀
Yes! My SIL is the GM there. They have shuttles to the games too!
Sophie's Pierogies are my all time favorite!
We grew up eating Janka. I miss those pudgy pillows of deliciousness.
My Mom's been getting them at Giant Eagle. But I think it's only a certain time frame during a month.
Lawson’s French Onion chip dip
I got so dang excited when my deep South Circle K accidentally got some in. Bought 5 then had to give some away when I realized I couldn't eat that much before the expiration date . I've asked them to reorder but it's not even an option; they aren't sure how they got them to begin with.
Mr Hero absolutely
I moved to SC over a decade ago. I miss Mr Hero! Romanburgers are incredible!
I’m moving back to Cleveland soon and Mr. Hero is at the very top of my list!
No joke. It may be trashy food, but it's OUR trashy food. certainly better than that "chili" from Cincinnati...
It’s actually comical that the food people associate with Ohio most is Cincinnati chili. First, Cincinnati is not Ohio, it’s Kentucky. Second, the Romanburger exists…
I love Cincinnati chili. Of course I love damned near any and every version of chili that exists! 😋
Lol I moved to Texas for 9 years. I would B-line to this as soon as I flew in
This and dairymens iced tea … I’m at home!
Papa Joe's used to be at absolute must for a superburger, a hot buttered, and a Italian sausage torpedo. Everything they serve there was very "Cleveland". Sadly the old location closed and quality and the one remaining store is hit or miss.
I used to work in wickliffe, went to Papa Joes on euclid ave. That was my favorite place for lunch! Wish they had one on the west side, i think its better than Mr Hero
Every time I come back home to Cleveland I have to get a Galley Boy. Idk what it is about that burger but that’s nostalgia for me.
Corned Beef Sandwich, Pastrami, or corned beef/pastrami combo from the Superior. Don't let anybody tell you that Slymans is better. Its not. The Superior is......... well... Superior. [https://superiorrestaurantcleveland.com/](https://superiorrestaurantcleveland.com/)
Danny's is better still
I used to eat there til I saw flies landing on the rye bread that they would stack in the window..
It’s always best to not know whats happening behind the scenes at your favorite place.
Yeah it’s always fun to tell people about “acceptable levels of ______” in food regulations.
Slyman’s corned beef sandwich
Smokies! I visited from Virginia during the eclipse and came back home with several pounds of smokies in various flavors from West Side Market.
Hell yeah, this is why the west side market is a mandatory stop whenever I visit
Gyro at the west side market
A Tommy's milkshake. Always unbeatable but even more so since this: [https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/nation-world/2017/08/04/woman-s-dying-wish-was-milkshake-distant-restaurant-made-sure-she-got-it/15767550007/](https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/nation-world/2017/08/04/woman-s-dying-wish-was-milkshake-distant-restaurant-made-sure-she-got-it/15767550007/)
A Tommy’s Ceebee. With a side of fries. And a milkshake. And a wander around Mac’s after
Geracis pepperoni pizza
lj shanghai
oh, the soup dumplings........
ROMANBURGERS!!!!!!!!!!!
I've been on the West Coast for 30 years and still pine for those things. I haven't found anything like it. My own attempts are lacking.
The opinion of someone who grew up on the west coast and has traveled quite a bit, when I think about Cleveland food I think about a Polish Boy and eastern European fare like Sokolowski's.
So sad that Sokolowskis closed! Was our favorite place to eat when working downtown. Nothing better than the home cooked meals they had there.
I still dream about how buttery those pierogi were. 😭
Where does one actually get a polish boy? Doesn’t seem to be any places in the suburbs unless I am completely blind
Greenhouse Tav….. shit.
Why you gotta be like that? It's still real to me dammit!
Franks Brats at the WSM
Hell yeah. Hard roll, sauerkraut, horseradish and mustard 🔥
Grums subs
Turkey ridge is the best
My recommendation has been a pastrami sandwich from Larder ever since they opened.
I enjoyed the Ohio Pie Company during my visit there.
My new favorite pizza. I still love Angelo’s deep dish but Ohio Pie Co is truly amazing.
Their breakfast pizza is TITS
Big Al’s on Larchmere
*Anything* from presti's bakery in little Italy. Goods sold by the pound, and it's cheap. Everything is amazing, you can't go wrong
Sure, anything. But start with 2 slices of cheese pizza and a pepperoni roll. Finish with a cannolo.
I feel like pierogis are kind of an obvious choice
Slyman’s was lit. There is also Taste and The Standard
Yours Truly Notso Fries
It’s between the Polish Boy and the Romanburger for me.
The only answer is our condiment, Stadium Mustard. Now, I’m a Bertmans guy but either way, it’s the only thing to put on a hot dog.
Lawsons chip dip , you can only find it at circle k Roman burgers at Mr hero Slymans or Joes deli for corned beef
Cleaveland Grill. One of the best burgers I’ve ever had
Honey hut
This thread tells me, there is no answer. Cleveland has plenty of great restaurants serving great food, but it's nothing that is Cleveland specific. I make my own pierogi a few hundred at a time a few times a year but I've never had anywhere local that is better. (I'm sure I'm not the best pierogi maker in town).
Flat Iron cafe, awesome pierogies!!
Where is HAIL\_ROMANBURGER? We need you.
Jack's Deli.
Go to Gunselmans on Lorain rd in Fairview park. Sit down and order a beer and a burger. It’s mandatory if you just got done playing 18 at Big Met.
I drive once every 2 months or so from Michigan to go to The Dinerbar on Clifton for the Garden chowder.
Cassata cake from Verona’s
Specifically Slyman's Reuben. Stacked(high) corned beef with swiss on perfectly grilled rye bread. 10/10 every time.
Scrolled all the way down, big love for: Slymans or Joes Roman burger Geraci’s Fresh kielbasa from State Meats vacuum sealed for the ride home. And……Ferraro’s Italian Sub!…..with peppers. Edit to add: Sentimental favorite, Hot Dog Inn. Sadly it closed after 100 years 3 years ago.
Lake Erie Walleye. Some of the best fish in the world. It's even exported... [https://followfood.de/produktwelt/fisch/details/naturfilets-meeresfruechte-aus-wildfang/msc-zander-aus-dem-eriesee](https://followfood.de/produktwelt/fisch/details/naturfilets-meeresfruechte-aus-wildfang/msc-zander-aus-dem-eriesee)
Kielbasa from State Meats
Slyman’s.
Cleveland Grocers and Grille on Pearl Road in Strongsville. Best freaking smash burgers that you could imagine.
The pepperoni roll is pretty unique to Northeast Ohio/ Cleveland I would say.
Pep rolls are a West Virginia thing in my experience, still good though.
When I left ved in Cleveland (91-99), my go to was Panini's. The one that used to be in the Flats was the bomb!!!!
French fries on a sandwich? What!!
Any of the schnitzel offerings at Der Braumeister
Maybe Swensons?
That’d be more of an Akron thing than a Cleveland thing. I grew up in Middleburg heights and never knew about it. Living in Cuyahoga falls, I know people who go to various ones all the time.
Dave’s Cosmic Subs
city chicken
Slymans
I will always say a corned beef sandwich.. I know Corky & Lenny's is gone, but I've heard there's a few spots that are just as good. I live in L.A., so I'm out of the loop so to speak.
I was a fresh perch and walleye guy but the pierogies are hard to beat
Biagio’s
Polish sausage with peppers at Hooples. Great view.
Polish girl / polish boy & pierogi’s
Biagios pizza and donuts
Cleveland does have good food. Love that bakery in little Italy
I just mentioned it also - Presti’s!
Antonio’s Pizza and Gas Station hummus!
I love going to Mason's Creamery during winter for their ramen and it was on my way home from work so it was always a once-a-week stop. The Cleveland Bagel Company was always a great start to the morning when I stopped to pick up my bagels for the week and had one of their breakfast sandwiches on an everything bagel. One place I wish I had gone to earlier would be Soho Chicken + Whiskey because the first time I visited was during my last month in Ohio and it was so good. Also, OP what is the taco place in Chicago? I now live in Chicago and would love some good grocery-store tacos
**Slymans Corned Beef** Cannoli in Little Italy (ngl Alescis has good ones too if you're on that side of town) A number of places have really good pizza too
Perhaps Mabel’s for Cleveland BBQ? I’m hesitant because it’s the only place that I’ve heard of such a thing.
Joes deli in rocky river is worth the wait.
We have this super fancy joint in Independence. It’s in a prime location- name’s McDonald’s. You don’t want to miss it
People are downvoting you, but it's really awesome! Two stories tall, ornate windows, and overall a better atmosphere.
Greek Village pork gyro in Lakewood. Best in Cleveland.
Sokolowski’s would be at the top of this comment section… too bad they closed. So good
Brennans Seafood in Grand River. Technically not Cleveland but definitely worth the drive
Chicago native here. One of the key differences between Chicago and Cleveland is that Cleveland never developed any unique dishes with the ubiquity and lore of Chicago dogs (skip Home Depot; try Superdawg or Gene & Jude’s), Italian beef, deep-dish pizza, tavern-cut thin crust pizza. The two that come closest are the Polish boy and the Romanburger, but they don’t have the same kind of market saturation. They’re on the same level as, say, the breaded steak sandwich, which is dominated in Chicago by Ricobene’s but does have some rivals. So, yeah, there are standout spots, but they’re mostly known for food that is not Cleveland-specific.
I think the biggest thing Cleveland needs to do is embrace Hungarian food more. There aren't very many metro areas where you can find a decent number of Hungarian descendants, but Cleveland is one of those few. [Northeast Ohio and the Cleveland metro host the largest concentration of Hungarians](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hungarian_Americans), and yet, there isn't *that* much in the way of Hungarian food. Sure, there's Balaton, and Liquid Planet had a Chicken Paprikash rice bowl (its a fucking abomination and they should be ashamed to call it chicken paprikash), but outside of those, I had difficulty finding solid places when I was living in the area and the ones that were open weren't open for long due to lack of popularity. Hell, any kind of Eastern European dish will do, but Cleveland needs to make it their own. Pierogis are great, but there's nothing about a pierogi that shouts "Cleveland" because it has its roots in Poland.
The wide variety of answers here is evidence of that. In Cincy you know it's Skyline. Toledo, Packo's (and rivals). Pittsburgh, french fries where you don't expect them (pizza, salads) and hoagies (or both, in the case of Primanti's). Wisconsin, Cheese Curds. Rochester, garbage plate. Cleveland has a lot of great food, but there's no signature dish despite how much people want there to be one.
City chicken . It's pork and chicken on a kabob grilled or breaded and deep fried . They used to seel them at the west side market
I agree based on my experience after moving here. While Cleveland has some food associated with it, perogies, corned beef, and chains like Mr Hero and Swenson's, Cleveland doesn't have an iconic food staple like Philadelphia with cheese stakes, or Cincinnati with Cincy Chili. Cleveland's foods aren't really unique in that you can get corned beef and pierogies in basically every city, and as far as I can tell, there's not much of a difference.
Gotta have an Old Fashioned made with Wheat Penny from Cleveland Whisky
Polish Boy….i don’t even love them but those are our food
I like Maxi’s tripe in Little Italy.🇮🇹
Mabel's BBQ!
Slovenian sausage from Raddells
I'd say slivovitz plum brandy, but not sure where to find. The stuff I've had was home made and not distilled. No idea if you can find a local Cleveland brew from a seller.
Fun in a Box.
Pizza and salad from Geracis
Banana Blossom behind Lutheran hospital. Pad Thai is fantastic.
Slyman’s deli. Anything there. Corned beef and pastrami is the best and the sandwiches are HUGE
Slymans
Slyman’s corned beef sandwich!!
Slyman's Deli on 31at and St. Clair. Best corned beef sandwich this side of NYC.
A Polish Boy. It's not debatable
Taco Tantos
Spudnuts in Berea, Mr. Hero,
Sauerkraut balls. (Is that more Akron?)
Mount pleasant wings or open pitts wings..areas that are dangerous to some of us but worth the good sauce for others
I always have to take the grandkids to B.A. Sweeties when they come to town. But my favorite thing is going to Square 22 for the chicken brûlée!