A Visit to Zingerman's Delicatessen

We've eaten a wide variety of sandwiches in many different countries during our travels. In fact, longtime readers of Taking on the World will remember our visit to Turin, Italy and our encounter with the largest sandwich in the world.

Believe us, then, when we say that what is quite possibly the best sandwich in the world can be found in the state of Michigan in the United States. That sandwich, of course, is the #2—the exquisite Reuben sandwich from Zingerman's Delicatessen in Ann Arbor.

We've been receiving the Zingerman's catalog in our mailbox for something like a decade (if you like food, signing up to receive this fanciful presentation of culinary delight is definitely worthwhile), so making a stop at Zingerman's HQ was a critical part of our Michigan experience.

The store itself is a somewhat unassuming brick affair sitting at the intersection of Detroit and Kingsley Streets in downtown Ann Arbor. The exterior is a bit misleading, though, because once you've walked through the doors, you'll find all manner of delicious foodstuffs lining the shelves.

As much as we enjoyed browsing the grocery part of the store (where we picked up some bread for lunch on the road the next day and some fantastic fermented hot sauce from Ann Arbor's The Brinery), our true target was the shop's legendary deli counter so we could try one of their famous Reubens.

#2 Zingerman's Reuben

The #2 Zingerman's Reuben is made from just a few ingredients — Zingerman's corned beef, Swiss Emmental cheese, Brinery sauerkraut, and Russian dressing on grilled, hand-sliced Jewish rye bread (capitalization per the Zingerman's menu).

It was, in short, a delicious experience. Tears of joy may have been shed.

But don't just take our word for it. We suggest you try one of these sandwiches for yourself. Zingerman's Delicatessen is located at 422 Detroit St., Ann Arbor, MI 48104. Consider visiting if you're traveling anywhere nearby. It's definitely worth a detour.