Cleveland has plenty of famous foods, but none carries the city’s personality quite like the Polish Boy, a grilled or smoked kielbasa on a bun, buried under french fries, coleslaw, and barbecue sauce. It is messy, filling, and so local that many people outside Northeast Ohio have never heard of it.
The six spots below range from a barbecue joint serving since the 1960s to a family carry-out that grew out of a 2021 food truck, and each one puts its own spin on the classic. Grab extra napkins, check the hours before you go, and get ready to plan a Polish Boy crawl across The Land.
1. Real Smoq’ed BBQ, Inc., Cleveland, OH
Walls lined with music memorabilia set the tone at this Lorain Avenue counter serve in Ohio City. The real headliner, though, sits on the menu with a label that says it all: the Classic Polish Boy Sandwich, marked as the best seller.
What makes this version stand out is the house barbecue sauce. It is the signature finishing touch that ties together the sausage, fries, and slaw, and it is a big reason first-timers leave as fans of the sandwich…