A trip to Chicago wouldn't be complete without an Italian Beef Sandwich. We knew we were going to check out Mr. Beef, but we figured why not check out another place while we're at it? And, go figure, this sandwich was slightly better than the one at Mr. Beef. They're both stellar and feature irresistibly juicy, tender meat, but I felt like the sandwich here used some spicing that I found very, very tasty. It's so good. I wish we'd had more time to try even more versions of this venerable concoction, but the one at Al's is surely one of the best. read more

Al's Beef - Sandwiches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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It was my first time in Chicago and Al's Beef was at the top of my list of things to try. It did not disappoint. I couldn't spend a bunch of time looking at pictures and reading reviews but I chose a different route. I walked in and told the lovely woman behind the counter "It's my first time in Chicago. What do I get?". She responded "Do you like spicy?" To which I responded "I like spicy, I like cheese, and I like peppers" and the rest was history. The final question..."do you want it dipped?" And I asked "am I supposed to say yes?" And she said "that's right" lol. I don't even know what I got but it was delicious and YES...dip it. It's not going to travel well so eat it there but it's going to be oh so delicious. There were no lines and my sandwich came out before I even took a picture. That's faster than fast food. Stop reading and go! read more

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Delicious! Truly a hole in the wall, authentic Chicago place. We had a classic Italian Beef Sandwich and fries. Both were so flavorful! Perfect spot for a quick supper before a concert at UIC. read more

Al's Beef - Sandwiches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This was so bad we took one bite and threw it away! We ordered gravy for the beef on the side. It was a cup of grease read more

For the most part the place hasn't changed in 40 years. Let's start with what I don't like. I orders 2 beefs, one fry and 2 drinks. When we were about to leave I noticed they have a special price if you order it by saying the special. It should automatically charge you the special price if you make the combo or the cashier who has probably worked there 20 years should do it for you. Especially since it's about $5 per meal. For the same price we could have got another fry and drink. Or the fry and paid $5 less. Ok, that's the bad. For the good. I happen to love the flavor of Al's beef. I also love the fresh cut fries. If I were just reviewing the food it would be five stars. The place is what it is and has been for decades. If you want fancy but mediocre go to Portillo's. Portillo's outgrew their humble beginnings. Al's is still basically a 4 car garage that sells food. They call them stands for a reason. You pretty much stand at a counter and eat. read more

Al's Beef - Beef sweet dipped. - Sandwiches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The best Sandwich I ever had eever had a chicago style will come back. And the service was fast !!! I was worried about it not being seasoned enough it met my standards!! Juicy as well. The hot Dog was so goooodddd the pepper could of been softer but over all I give everything a 10/10 read more

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2025 Chicago. Lunch review. Italian beef. Ordered: Regular combo. Hot (Chiles). Dipped. No cheese. Regular beef. Sweet (Chiles). Dipped. Provolone cheese. Gypsy fries. Overall, interesting au jus flavor. Sweeter, maybe cinnamon? "I'm a fan." read more

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Okay, I don't need to hype up Al's Beef more than it already is. Not going to lie, I do love their food and just how greasy and primal I feel while eating it. Like you need a bunch of napkins while eating a beef & fries from here. Their only downfall is the prices... unfortunately. Their prices will hurt your pocket and unfortunately (again) I would rather go somewhere else because of this. BUT if you have never had a beef from here (or anything in general from here) I highly recommend, you're missing out big time. It's an experience and you'll enjoy it. This is one of those places that if i had friends/family visiting from out of town, I'll take them here to try a Beef. Thank you Al's, see you soon! Good vibes and good times. Personal Review: 8.2/10 read more

Al's Beef - Italian Beef - Sandwiches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Al's on Taylor has the best Italian beef in Chicago. Perfectly soggy, just the right amount of giardiniera and good portions. Staff could be nicer, but it's so good that I don't care. The fries are awesome. I understand why some don't like the slight cinnamon flavor in the beef, but I enjoy it a lot. If you don't like it, I don't feel it's overpowering enough to ruin the entire meal. I am moving from the Chicago area and Al's is one of the things I will miss the most. read more

It's been a while since I have been able to stop and get a beef sandwich and let me tell you something it's was delicious and if you want a really good sandwich this is the spot and if you don't believe me give them a try for yourself read more

Al's Beef - Italian beef sandwich - Sandwiches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Al's has great food for a specific type of meal and feeling. If you want something fast, heavy, meaty or even something subtly nostalgic, then this is your spot. You should not be expecting stellar ambiance or fine dining here, but there's a certain appeal of eating an italian beef on a high stool that hits the spot. Very Chicago. The lady taking orders was very nice and very efficient. The line cooks smiled at us when we came in. People were friendly. I got my beef dipped so it was full of gravy. I liked it dipped, but at the end, the bread was a soggy mess. Good portions. I also got sweet peppers on top but they were a bit stingy with the peppers, and I couldnt really taste them. Nonetheless, still a solid beef. I really enjoyed the fries. They were great. Full of potato flavor, but also plenty of crispy pieces with a satisfying crunch. The hot dog was just ok. read more

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How can this place get only 3.5 stars? Best beef I have had in Chicago. Fresh, delicious, LOTS of meat. Dipped with hot Giardinara. Wonderful. read more

There are many great eats rooted in Chicago's history and Al's Beef is no exception to that. Unlike the deep dish pizza where you could use a fork/knife, you just have to dive into the deep end with these Italian beef sandwiches. As soon as you walk inside you can see and feel the history flowing through the walls with all of the pics of celebrities that frequent this local establishment. The interior is just as original and dark as their legendary recipe. My fiancé and I shared the Al's Big Beef loaded with both the sweet and giardiniera peppers with a side of fries. Don't forget to ask them to have the sandwich dipped in their au jus/gravy. If you don't you're not getting the full experience! As you unwrap your sandwich you can see the juices permeating through the paper which is a good sign that the bread really soaked up all of the delicious flavor. Each bite is incredibly MEATY and tender with juice coating the inside of your mouth so it never gets dry. The fries are actually well seasoned and the slight crispy exterior pairs well with this messy yet addicting sandwich. The only reason I knocked off a star is because the staff was not as lively and welcoming as I had seen online. Even when I saw the owner and showed my excitement it seemed impossible to get a smile back and almost felt like the staff just wanted to get us out the door even though there was no line behind us. Overall the food is worth a trip, but the entire staff could certainly have been more friendly. read more

Al's Beef - Super excited to try Al's Big Beef ($12.31) dipped with both sweet and hot peppers! Loaded with beef! - Sandwiches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Man, I hate to write this... I had a beef "dipped" and fries. The beef was weird. Greasy and orange-ish. Not a good flavor. The portion was small and the price was high. I ate the beef because I was fairly hungry but I wish I did not eat it. Honestly the worst beef I've had in the Chicago metro area. Fries were greasy and not in a good way. Odd flavor and could not eat them. Service was just odd. Nothing like the old neighborhood good way. Any old days they ask you what you want maybe yelling back-and-forth. It was pretty much hurry up. Tell me what you want all good nature. This was indifference. Ambience is where it gets its two stars. This place hasn't changed since the old days. Additionally there's he tried the parking lot for this place, which is almost unheard of in the neighborhood or in most places downtown so two stars for that. It'll be such a long time since I've been here and the reason for that was because my last experience so many years ago, this was subpar in a big letdown. This was actually a little worse so I think I'll skip it next time. Unfortunately there's not too many places in the old neighborhood to get a good Italian beef anymore. I think the patio was the last bastion of Hope and it recently closed. You can still get beefs down there, but I'd set my expectations lower. Drive out a little further For a good beef. read more

I've been a customer of this location since I was a kid. Although I don't eat this type of food regularly like I did as a kid, I was dying for a combo. So I stopped in on my way home about 5 on a Wednesday and ordered a dry combo sweet and hot. There was nobody in there at that time so it was fast. I didn't want the fries, but I still ordered the combo meal because I wanted a drink. I didn't expect a credit for no fries, but don't play games and give me 2 oz. of beef and 1 tiny PC if sausage for over $19.00!! Not happening ever again! I'm sure the employees are encouraged to either weigh the meat for food cost reasons, or be careful to salvage as much as they can so they don't run out - If they do weigh it, then the amount they gave me was less than a half palmfull!! The flavor was consistent with how I remembered it, and I realize food costs have increased along with everything else, but don't give me a 5 inch piece of Gonnella bread and as I said, barely any beef at all. Why didn't I say anything while I was eating at the counter? Probably because the woman behind the counter who rang me up would not be very friendly just the way I heard her talking to co workers and the people who came in after me, and the guy behind the counter who made, it probably wouldn't have cared anyway. The pic is deceiving because it looks like a normal sized combo, but it was NOT! And for +$19.00!!! read more

Al's Beef - Dry combo sweet and hot - Sandwiches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This place is a Chicago icon. I took my son there for the first time, but I grew up in Chicago so I know this place well. Italian beef in Little Italy, a tiny, cramped ma and pa shop, eating on bar stools and narrow metal strips, you won't get a more authentic experience. The wall is filled with photos of famous people visited there. I ordered ours dipped, with hot pepper, the only right way to eat it. It comes in 4 layers of wax paper and it is still leaking the sauce :). It was warm, wet, sour, and spicy. It will be a bite to remember. The service had changed over the years, slightly for the worse. Gone were the old Italian lady and men running their crew of young men. Now it is run by a group of young immigrants. Nothing against immigrants sine I was one landed in Chicago decades ago. Unfortunately the flavor of sandwich also watered down a little over the years. I remember it being mind numbingly salty, fatty, sour, and spicy. Now the seasoning has been pulled back by 20%. Still a great bite. read more

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Been eating at this location for over 30 years! Today my hotdog was dry and condiments were scarce. The fries were overcooked and only a handful. I'm extremely disappointed for my cousin taking a 40 min ride for mediocre food! This used to be the best location! Hate I took a few bites before taking a photo. The Italian beef was decent! read more

Al's Beef - Bitten hotdog...frie and piece of Italian beef sandwich - Sandwiches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I mean come on, who doesn't love Al's Beefs? They do it right every time. Whew whenever I'm craving an Italian beef, this is where I go. This location has been open since 1938. So with that being said it's the BEST! Made fresh and hot every time. Italian beef, with nacho cheese slightly dip it every time. Yum. I also love their natural fries. read more

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The hype about Italian beef is a real thing if you're not from the Midwest. I grew up not knowing what Italian beef was and found out from a friend I know that lives in Chicago. Italian beef at Al's is very good, the spice, sauce, and bread all come together for a classic sandwich. Al's is famous and they live up to Chicago's best. read more

Al's Beef - Sandwiches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Everything was just okay. Beef was not as flavorful as I'd like. Peppers were big. Fries were just okay. It's cold inside and there isn't much seating. Service was adequate. Everything was pricey! read more

Al's Beef - Regular Italian Beef Sandwich - Sandwiches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My coworkers and I decided to drop by Al's Beef for lunch and go across the street to Mario's Italian Ice. Al's Beef claims to offer a 15% first responder discount for CPD and CFD. We all work for the Chicago Police Department and showed the gentleman at the cash register our ID's that state in bold letters Chicago Police Department. He asked an individual who I can only assume to be the manager if we were okay to get the discount. He looks over with this nasty disposition in his tone and voice says, "Chicago Police only". When I stated that we work for the Chicago Police he doubled down with the same nasty delivery in his voice. I think unless you're some sort of a mental defective that people don't generally walk in claiming to work for the Chicago Police for a discount. Did we need to make an arrest for verification? Do the CFD have to save a kitten from a tree for verification? Is it so outrageous that a CPD or CFD employee work in business casual clothing? F'real though what would it have cost him to look at the ID badges closely to read Chicago Police Department? It ain't like we got them out of a cereal box. That tone in the voice didn't make matters any better. You being a manager should know better and approach the public in a better manner. I can imagine how it must be to work with a jerkoff manager like that. No wonder the guy at the cash register had to ask him. Heaven forbid! Not the sacred discount!!!! I know this is most definitely my last time visiting Al's Beef and you best believe I'll be telling people at headquarters where NOT to visit if they want an Italian beef. Do yourself a tremendous favor for better service and a friendlier atmosphere. Go to Ferro's!!!! read more

Food is great . Services is fast . Ambiance is awesome. Been coming here since I was a kid . Food is great

very mediocre compared to the original one. I had this back to back with Mr. Beef and Mr. blows this one out of the water. This feels like someone is trying to franchise something that is very unique to chicago. Anyway, they have a set menu- just get the classic, but you can tell it feels much more corporatized than Mr. Service is fine, and the interior is clean but it juts feels like a sterilized version of Mr. read more

Ha! I finally made it back to Chicago to avenge my food foible! After a long day touring, Al's Beef delivery sounded like the perfect remedy, and this time it certainly was! I don't love delivery apps, but what they provide is a more thorough way to browse a menu! Hahahaha not this time Al! I got one of the best sandwiches of all time! Simply the big beef with hot peppers and provolone added. Dipped of course! The delivery came lightning fast and just long enough my sandwich was perfectly soggy- YES THAT'S A THING! Hot peppers totally worked in harmony with the insanely savoury beef (do not make the mistake of added a sausage *combo*). The beef and bun are so tender and juicy, you don't want to mess with the recipe! read more

Al's Beef - Combo beef- yea there's a sausage in there, but go beef only - Sandwiches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Always have loved Al's hot beef sandwich. Wet. Had to have one while I was is it in Chicago. This is not the location I normally visit. It was and Little Italy. A very small shop, but you get exactly what you want and need. I love mine with a giardinara and wet. It was like I remembered and yummy. read more

Al's Beef - Sandwiches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Went to Al's Beef today the food was terrible fries were burnt and my beef was cold and this was 19.06 .Dont waste your time or money. read more

Al's Beef - Old Fries ,cold Italian beef - Sandwiches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Came here on a whim after driving to Mario's Italian Ice (a must try) and saw this place from across the street. What better place to stop and try a beef dip sandwich than in little Italy? Have to say this place had to have been one of the top meals we tried while visiting Chicago. Ordered the Italian beef and got it dipped in au jus. The meat was well seasoned, tender, and the au jus with the peppers really made the sandwich come together. If you're a texture person, obviously a sandwich dipped in au jus won't be for you as of course it will make the bread soggy. The star of the show here for me though was their polish hotdog. It came on a soft poppy seed bun, well seasoned polish dog, good amount of onions, relish, and mustard. It was so good I ate two. I wish we could have visited this place at the start of our trip because we definitely would have made the trip back more than once. This place definitely feels like it been a Chicago staple for years, nothing seems like it's been renovated for quite sometime but it adds to the character of the place. A few counter style seats available and some picnic tables outside but definitely more of a grab and go type of spot. read more

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What I ordered: 1x big beef, regular and hot, 1x cup of gravy, 1x regular fries What I got: a mouthful of goodness Tucked away behind UIC and located in the heart of Little Italy is an unassuming restaurant selling Chicago classics such as the hotdog dragged through the garden and of course its Italian beef sandwiches. You'll find outdoor seating as well as bar stool seating inside, and it is a quaint little spot. The big beef was just extraordinary. Tender slices of beef adorn the sandwich which I prefer to the more shredded versions that other shops sells. Their hot peppers consists of mainly celery and provides a nice crunch to each bite. Bread was very nice quality and held its own as I dunked it into my side cup of gravy so the overall construction of the sandwich is definitely Top tier. Gravy here is tremendous by the way, almost reminds me of a super rich Italian pho broth. Hits of beef, herbs, and wonderfully aromatic. My only critique is the fries which were pretty hit or miss on crispness, and not seasoned the best. Service was relatively quick, got my sandwich in maybe 3 minutes. Definitely recommend as it's about a 15 min walk from the UIC station. read more

Al's Beef - Al's Big Beef Sandwich - Sandwiches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I really hate to say it, but this is the worst Italian beef period. Its been around 12 years since I came down to Al's on Taylor Street. 12 years ago it was a great beef. They changed the recipe. I use to go to the Patio which had a good beef but I heard it closed down, so I went to Al's and never again. read more

Food was fine but why can't they sell onions? It would have tasted so much better with onions. The attitudes of the employees were so crappy. I also witnessed them doing special favors for customers they knew but for me or my boyfriend their crappy attitude came back. Next time this place gets advertised on tv make sure you remember to mention the no customer service and the stupid attitudes of the staff. Never go back read more

A Chicago tradition. First night we were in Chicago over the holiday weekend headed here. Had never been here before and didn't know what to expect. It is iconic. This location is old. It looks old and used. Cement floor kinda dirty but it kinda added to the experience. I knew what I wanted a small roast beef wet with provolone cheese. It was pretty good. The roast beef kinda tasted like it was made in the morning and we arrived later at night, so I was kinda bummed but it was a lot better than I thought it would be. My hubby didn't know what he wanted and the lady behind the counter was gruff but patient with him and helped him. The portions are great! If you like a gooey sandwich I would double up on the cheese. Wasn't really too bad price wise...I would say fair. Fries were yummy and homemade. Not a sit down place but they do have picnic tables outside and a couple hurry up and eat tables and a sit down bar against the window. It's busy people are in and out consistently for takeout (which means people really like the place!) it's a fun place to go to if you like Italian roast beef and yes was satisfied when I left and happy I had to walk a few blocks to get back to our air bnb! You gotta check it out at least once. Haven't been to the other more modern locations but super happy I came here. read more

Al's Beef - Sandwiches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Was visiting family in Michigan so drove to Chicago for the day. We wanted to try a Chicago Dog and this place seems like the real deal! Got the combo plus we shared a beef sandwich. Great food but my only complaint is the fries are soggy! But who am I to complain because you can just tell this place is a Chicago staple! Would I come back?...Yes! read more

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Al's beef is a chicago staple! Always delivering a consistent product at their little Italy outpost. The beef was tender and juicy and be sure to get it dipped if you love bread soaked in the juice! I just wish they would add more peppers or drop the price of peppers. Seems like it's not a value for the amount you get. read more

Al's Beef - Al's Big Beef Sandwich (dipped) - Sandwiches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Fun atmosphere in the heart of Little Italy but also near University Village near UIC Chicago campus. Lots of students. This place has a nice historic feel esp when you see pics of politicians and local first responders (BTW you get 15% off if you show student ID or if you are a first responder police officer or firefighter). The food is okay but it's the people and the area that make it fun. The hot dog w fries were a decent deal for $5.25 plus tax. Fries alone are $4.30 so I thought why not get a hot dog in addition for $0.95. The fries looked soggy but they weren't and instead they were lightly crispy which I liked. The hotdog wasn't all beef. But when ur hungry you will enjoy it. FREE parking in their own lot. That's a huge plus when you have street parking w meters til about 8pm to 10pm (depends on the area) like most places in Chicago. Also outdoor seating. Enjoy! read more

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Great food loved it will definitely go again family friendly great place to enjoy good fresh food

BACKGROUND When a tourist (like me) inevitably asks, "What food do I have to try when I visit Chicago?", the answer usually includes Italian beef since it originated from Chicago and is now considered a staple of the Windy City. There's contention about which restaurant has the best Italian beef, but after sifting through many reviews and comments, Al's Beef, specifically the one on Taylor Street, came up often. I also chose this spot because it's not super out of the way, and it's right across the street from Mario's Italian Lemonade, another highly recommended restaurant, which I planned to hit up after. My friend and I arrived at around 5:00 PM on a Wednesday. There was one small group already eating in the corner, but nobody was in line. When I walked in, the first thing I noticed was that the interior seemed a little bit dingy and had an old-fashioned vibe, exemplified by the pictures hanging up on the wall and their menu sign design. FOOD Because I've never had Italian beef before, I did some research about the most traditional order beforehand. I ended up ordering "beef, dipped, hot", referring to the regular Italian beef ($9.25), dipped in jus, with hot peppers (giardiniera) ($0.90). The beef was very tender. And because I requested dipped, the bread was a little soft and moist but not sopping wet. This was my first time having giardiniera, and it was just okay; I'd probably try sweet peppers next time just to compare. Eating this dish was messy, so I'd recommend just going for it since there's no way to eat it prim and proper. Just make sure to have napkins close at hand. Now that I've tried Italian beef, I probably wouldn't go out of my way to get it again (don't crucify me, native Chicagoans), but it was great to experience it at least once. SERVICE After walking in, we stood in front of the counter so we could look up at the menu sign. The employee only waited a couple of minutes before abruptly asking if we were ready to order. That irked me slightly since we would obviously go up to the counter once we finished deciding. And there was nobody waiting behind us in line, so there wasn't any reason to rush us. But at least the service was quick, and they handed us the food while we were paying for the order. They don't ask for a tip, but there is a tip jar if you're feeling openhanded. TIPS Note that this establishment is supposedly cash-only (I didn't try paying with a card), but there is an ATM inside if you forget to bring cash, but beware of the service fee mentioned in other Yelp reviews. If you want to eat inside, there is a corner with counter space and bar stools. Alternatively, if you want to eat outside, there are picnic tables in front of and next to the restaurant. read more

Al's Beef - Italian Beef Sandwich - Sandwiches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The worst customer service the employees are so lazy and rude in the front counter. I don't know how he has any business. I mean the prices are sky high. The sandwiches are small and the beef was very salty and if you ask for napkins, they give you an attitude, there's too many other good beef sandwiches in the area and treat you better like cats or patio And half the price read more

Al's Beef - Italian beef sandwich $11 definitely not worth it - Sandwiches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Besides Chicago-style lasagna/pizza, the other must-eat Chicago delicacy is the Italian Beef Sandwich. They say the best can be had at Al's Beef in Little Italy (where else would it be located?). It's the typical Italian eatery, and by that, I mean photos of every famous Italian who ever passed through Chicago covering its walls. If I were you, I'd order mine with peppers (otherwise, it may be a little bland) and dry (otherwise, it may be a super hot mess). read more

Al's Beef - A Regular, Dry Italian Beef Sandwich with Peppers. - Sandwiches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I know it's a local staple- ok, I know. Don't bite my head off! I'm not a sandwich girl- I didn't order. My bf is and HAD to try one before leaving Chicago- he scarfed it down!!! He ordered the classic with cheese and peppers and onions. His one comment was it was a bit soggy. I think this is the "Chicago" style where the sandwich is actually dunked in au jus. Certainly a local thing- Idk if we would be back, but we are glad we crossed it off the list of things to try while in Chicago for the first time! Service was quick like a get in and get out type situation. read more

Al's Beef - The OG Jumbo Beef Sandwich with fries - Sandwiches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

First time in Chicago and this place was delicious . I tried two other Italian beef sandwiches from other spots and this one is still #1 read more

Al's Beef - Beef and sausage sandwich - Sandwiches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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