“Cleveland’s Own” still means something around here. Whether it’s Nobel Prize winner Toni Morrison, UFC Heavyweight Champ Stipe Miocic, the Russo brothers blowing up the box office or MGK filling stadiums with his tours, we’re pretty proud of local kids making good.
And that goes double for a hometown delicacy like the Polish Boy.
This mouth-watering mashup of juicy kielbasa, mounds of coleslaw and fries, slathered with barbecue sauce — all in a bun! — remains a true Cleveland original. Okay, it might sound like a crazy combo at first, but just one bite will make you a believer. Check out our roundup of some of the best spots in The Land to polish off a Polish Boy.
It’s all local, all the time, when Banter’s Polish Boys hit the grill. Gourmet Ohio kielbasa provides the ideal foundation for their house-made BBQ sauce and vinegar-based slaw. Pop in — and fill up — at their Van Aken District location (returning soon to the Detroit Shoreway, as well).
First things first, the traditional Polish Boy can’t be beat. But why not step up to the big leagues with B&M’s “Polish Man?” With an extra helping of beef brisket piled on top, our little Polish Boy is all grown up. [North Randall and Oakwood locations]
All hail, for the Queen of Wings is also Polish Boy royalty. As one might expect from a wings expert, the sauce — Kim’s Original Backyard Barbecue Sauce — steals the show. Kim's also happens to be the personal favorite of Cleveland legend Krayzie Bone. Pro tip: You can even pick up a bottle of sauce for the road. [Cleveland, Euclid and Willoughby locations]
The eye-popping neon sign inside the East Fourth Street restaurant says it all: Eat More Meat. When it comes to Mabel’s spin on the Polish Boy, celeb chef Michael Symon took his own advice. With his “Polish Girl”, Symon ups the carnivore quotient — swapping fries out for chopped pork.
Maybe you’ve seen these Polish Boys featured on the Food Network as one of Michael Symon’s “Best Things I Ever Ate,” or in the pages of “Rachael Ray Magazine.” These gastronomic gurus told the world what we already know: this food truck’s Best Polish Boys more than live up to their name.
Steve’s Lunch, the beloved downtown hangout, closed after a 2015 fire, but its sister location is still going strong out in Brooklyn. Open 24/7, this Biddulph Plaza throwback combines retro-chic with a fresh take on the Polish Boy. Here, the sandwich comes topped with onions and kraut, with the original recipe also available.
Step back into Cleveland food history at either their Harvard Avenue or Mt. Pleasant locations. In the 1940s, Virgil Whitmore — reputed Polish Boy pioneer — dazzled his clientele with this novel mix of kielbasa, slaw and fries. The Whitmore fam still dishes out Polish Boys just like the old days.