The Best Sandwich in Philly is the vegan Reuben at Algorithm Vegan Grill

In “The Best Sandwich in Philly” series, contributors make an argument for what they think is the best — or, at least, their favorite — sandwich in the Philly area. Disagree? Want to tell us about the best hoagie? cheesesteak? Make your case in 300 words or less, and submit it at bit.ly/40JvDBI.

Algorithm, a roving food truck turned brick-and-mortar, specializes in vegan twists on comfort food classics. It’s a place where I, a vegetarian of 18 years, could take my meat-and-potatoes dad. While the entire menu is comfort food like kimchi potato salad and a Nashville hot seitan slider, the standout is the vegan Reuben.

Now, I get that it’s a tough sell: a vegan version of a famous meat-centric sandwich, but hear me out. A regular Reuben relies on corned beef. The bread, cheese, sauce, and kraut often feel like supporting actors just there to amplify the beefy prima donna. But what if every component of this classic sandwich was the star? What if, the same amount of thought and care was put into the rest of the components? Enter Algorithm’s vegan Reuben.

Rather than the traditional corned beef, the Algorithm Reuben uses Unreal Meat Corn’d Beef, slices of plant-based deli meat.

“I love a good Reuben and only up until some years back, [vegetarian versions were] generally tempeh or veggies,” said owner and manager Matt Rafferty, who plans to start making his own vegan corned beef.

Briny, pickle-y kraut is the perfect acidic counterpoint in this sandwich, and Algorithm takes it one step further by making its own carrot and cabbage kraut. The cabbage lends that classic crunch, but the carrot adds a sweetness — a welcome contrast to the pile of Unreal Deli vegan corned beef. But the real crown jewel on this sandwich is the beet Russian dressing. The beets are exactly what a Reuben needs. Beets have an earthiness that l harmonizes with Merzbacher’s rye bread, plus a vegetal sweetness that goes perfectly with the housemade kraut.

Sure, tangy kraut, sweet Russian dressing, and melty vegan VioLife Swiss are all delicious on their own, but together, they make a whole new thing, one that’s gooey, drippy, and savory like the classic Reuben, but with bolder, zingy flavors. The magic of the Algorithm vegan Reuben is that it is so well-balanced.

Like most vegan versions of classic meaty dishes, this isn’t a replacement or substitution but rather an alternate point of view. Vegan food isn’t about omission or deprivation; it’s often about innovation. Eating plant-based means finding new things to love, like beets in a Reuben.

Algorithm Vegan Grill, 705 E. Passyunk Ave., Wednesday to Sunday, 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.