Amazing Italian Beef Sandwich! Al's original location is a great example on why Chicago has the best Italian Beef in the country.

A few months ago, I ordered a polish sausage with the works. Al's Beef workers were busy playing and laughing with each other. When I got to work, I had a DRIED OUT old hot dog. I called, and was told to return after work. When I got there3 hours later, they asked for the old dried out hot dog they mistakenly gave me. They refused to honor my original order! THESE PEOPLE ARE LOUSY AND UNSANITARY! BE CAREFUL IF YOU GO TO THIS NASTY HOT DOG JOINT! You never know if you are eating a sandwich returned by someone else. The workers at Al Beef are discourteous, silly and unprofessional. The manager is a lousy fat ass! read more

Wish I could go 0 stars, WAY TOO EXPENSIVE, POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE. I have had every beef and hot dog in CHICAGO and they are good but I won't be back. They lost it with the franchising. Can't live on the past rep for ever. read more

I don't get this place. Rude people behind the counter. Filthy inside, filthy outside. Sorry, but the seasoning in the Italian beef is sickening. read more

Expensive for no reason, food isn't good at all don't recommend this place ordered the #1 and it was $13 for a like a 6inch Italian beef and wasn't even packed read more

Don't go there when they first open. They gave my wife a sausage that was obviously from the day before. And they wouldn't even replace it when she asked for a 'fresh' one. They lost some good customer's when they did that. read more

recent trips to al's have been saddening, a major disappointment. not only is the beef getting blander, but the sandwiches seem to be getting smaller--neither of which is reflected by menu prices, of course. i need a new go-to beef place. read more

There is better beef in the city. For a place that prides itself on having the "Number 1" beef, it's mediocre at best. On top of it all, service is so sloooow! I'll be heading over to Portillo's when I have a craving for beef from now on! read more

Stopped in last night around 10pm to try their beef for the first time. A chicago native, their beef wasn't too great at all.. Also was treated poorly by the guy running the register. As I walked up and stood there to order, he looked and said "Uh, are you gonna order something?"... well duh why else would I be standing right in front of you. Very rude persona.. Overall, not impressed by neither their food or service. read more

Me and my bf came here with some friends and the stuff here is so expensive... and my bf ordered Italian beef and there was like no meat in it and he went back in and they didn't offer him a new one he had to pay for a new one like that bull.. also the customer service isn't great... horrible workers read more

I lived in Chicago from 1978-1982. At that time cheap, correctly prepared Chicago hot dogs were plentiful. Italian beef too. I just drove through Chicago and took a brief detour to eat. We stoppped at Al's even though I never liked them that much, cause it was near I94. The hot dog I had was pathetic. The roll looked half empty. No pickle spear or tomato. Some relish,onions, sports peppers. Fries were greasy, lukewarm. The rude grunts from servers were same as back in the day. Only reason I ever ate there was proxomity to the fantastic Mario's lemonade. My son's Italian Beef sucked. Good example of a place living on an old rep. read more

Hands down the best beef in ALLLL Chicago land area point blank period!!! This is the original they know how it's done.

They say that Original is the bases of ingenuity....start simple and refine as necessary. Seems as Al's don't seem to share my same vision. Already had my fill of every Subway, Burger King and to a lesser extent McDonald's (Though shots out to them on the Caramel Frappe :)). I decided to spend my lunch break at the jewel of Taylor street that's not Italian cuisine or dessert. I decided on Al's Beef along with the company of my Supervisor. I had the hot dog special and he had the Beef with red peppers easy dipped. Seeing how we work on our feet and there is only counters no seats we decided to take thirty in the work van. I unwrap my hot dog, good sign before I can get it all the way done fries are starting to pour out. The sad part though there was many they were cold and old. My Supervisor ask me what was wrong I promptly exited the vehicle back to get some more fries. I return to the counter and for like a minute I explained that the fries were old to the worker and then two more workers came over to confirm. Really??? So I wait another two minutes and a fresh batch is up. I believe I insulted them because now I have about 14 fries, yes I counted. The hot dog was okay and the bun side with the toasted sesame seed was hard. I figure grin and bear it. The plus side the Mountain Dew was refreshing. So my ultimate feeling was for $5 it wasn't worth it I'm due a $1.50 as far as taste and service. Later, my supervisor concurred that it was okay but not worth the money. So in hindsight it was a learning experience don't eat there again and I'm a fast learner. read more

To be honest, Al's is NOT the place to come for Italian beefs... (try out "Jay's Beef" instead for a better beef). HOWEVER, Al's Beef has THE BEST FRIES IN CHICAGO! Hands down, Al's takes the price for the best tasting, freshly cut, huge value, fries in this great city. Try the beef if ya desire... but come for the fries. Yummy! read more

My first and last time eating here. I heard a lot of hype about how good their beef sandwiches are. They've even featured on the Travel Channel. I ordered the small size beef, dipped, and with hot peppers. It had an unappealing after taste that a Chicago beef sandwich should never have. With that said, the BEST beef sandwiches is the legendary Johnnie's Beef in Elmwood Park!!! read more

I want to give Al's Beef four stars. Really badly, the sandwich was so good, but...... The whole entire meal was this close to being a rip-off. For two regular-sized sandwiches, fries and two drinks(for which they don't even allow refills unless you pay whole price again), the bill is almost $30. All of this for a loose meat sandwich with fries and a drink? Also, the service was kind of rude, but that could just be their shtick. All of that aside, and it was seriously one of the most amazing sandwiches I have ever had. I got a combo sandwich which has an Italian sausage underneath all the beef, dipped (making the bread ridiculously soggy, just the way I like it) and with a combination of hot and sweet peppers. It's the only Italian Beef place I trust since the only other two my family ever swear by are Victoria's (which has been closed for years) and The Patio (but I go to Al's anyway). I hate the prices and the service but I come here and indulge in that amazing sandwich anyway. Go figure. There's nowhere to sit inside but there are benches outside (this isn't always a feasible option though seeing how Chicago weather is). Make sure to bring cash or be prepared to deal with a $2-5 fee at the ATM. Their fries taste quite awesome when smothered in the beef sandwich juice and/or grease and when you're finished eating, take a stroll on Taylor St. It's one of the most interesting areas in all of Chicago in my opinion (one interesting sight that's about 3 or 4 blocks away is the only remaining building of the Jane Addams Homes, the public housing projects my family once lived in). read more

I saw this place first on the show Man vs. Food, and I had to try out the famous Italian beef sandwich for myself. Unfortunately, it wasn't as amazing as I wanted it to be. I think over the years this place's hype has outpaced its actual quality. Now that I've gone once, I don't feel like I ever have to go again. read more

Got a dipped Italian beef, to go. It was SO soggy I had a puddle of beef juice pour out from the bottom of my sandwich when I took a bite. Meat was tasteless. Seriously, not only is it not worth the almost $7 I paid for, but it's gross...and no refunds? Cash only? I feel ripped off. read more

So I thought I'd give this place a try since I was strolling down the neighborhood. Boy was I disappointed! The meat tasted pretty bland and dry (even after being soaked), sauce had a weird taste to it, fries were almost clear, and not to mention the sandwich was wrapped in like 10 layers of paper. It took me almost 5 minutes to get to the dang sandwich! I came in so hungry that I didn't even realize I was going to pay 23 flippin dollars for just two Italian beefs. You're better off going to a local mom and pop diner than paying 23 bucks for wax paper and flavorless meat. Boooo! read more

This place has really slipped over the years and I don't think they should advertise themselves as "No. 1" anymore. The prices are on the high side considering the ridiculously small portions you get. You'd have to double up on some of the orders just to get the same sized sandwiches you'd find at other beef stands. If you're in the neighborhood and wanted something to go w/ your Mario's Italian Ice, then I guess this place will do. But I can think of plenty of other stands that can deliver better goods than Al. read more

Heard a lot of hype about Al's Beef. So I finally make my way over for lunch. The place takes CASH ONLY to keep prices down. Luckily I had a little bit of cash on me that day. The sign says they take cash to keep prices low. Let me get started on the prices. I got the regular Italian beef with hot peppers, fries and a drink. The meal came out to $13. I thought they take cash to keep prices low. The food itself was nothing great. The beef didn't taste good. I wasn't a fan of the taste of the juice or the peppers either I've had better at Portillo's. The fries were soggy too. Plus there isn't much beef for the amount of money. I wasn't impressed. read more

Good not great is perfect way to describe Al's Beef. I would give it three stars, but the excessively high prices and cash only policy brings it down a notch. Its pretty clear they are catering to the tourist or suburban crowd with those prices, not the locals who are just looking for a quick bite to eat. The much superior Johnnies is somewhere around half the cost of Al's (ok....maybe a little bit higher than half but not much). I will say that the beef is well seasoned and the combo sandwich is a little bit above average in comparison to other Chicago offerings. read more

I agree with QueenJean Z.. Over priced and the quality is average. The beef is half the size of Patio and they charge extra for the peppers. Get a life! I knew this place before thay got famous and it was fine. read more

As a new student at UIC I was looking forward to living minutes away from the famous Al's beef....unfortunately it's not what I expected. I was so disappointed in the quality of food served to me. The beef was cold, did not taste fresh. The fries were burnt and over salted. The place is not so clean inside, looked messy and garbages were overflowing. Looks like a hot mess in there. Get it together Al's beef staff... read more

Too much hype for a mediocre sandwich, all 4 of my party agreed. Very disappointing. I much prefer LuLu's on Levitt

Okay, over the years, the portions have gotten smaller and more expensive. That being said, this is still without a doubt my favorite beef in the city. The slightly overcooked, fresh-cut fries are AWESOME, but they should be eaten immediately. Nothing beats a doubleheader of Al's washed down with some Mario's Italian Ice across the street. read more

Are you kidding me? While I admit that I'm not a big Italian beef kinda guy, I thought that I should at least try this, the supposed pinnacle of what Al's has to offer. My verdict? Not good, not big as promised and ordered, and overpriced. Now, I know that peoples' preferences differ, but I'd go somewhere else if I were you. read more

love Al's beef but will never return to this location. just paid around $10.50 for a combo sandwich and fry, I asked for a large cup of water and was told I was only allowed to have a small coffee cup of water. I said no big deal I'll pay for the large cup after which was told that I would have to pay as if I was buying a pop. promptly asked to speak with whom ever was in charge and then I met Oscar. Oscar told me thats the way it was and if I didnt like it that I was just out of luck. SHAME ON YOU ALS BEEF AND OSCAR. read more

I'm an Italian beef fan and Al's beef has a name for their sandwiches. However, I was not impressed. It's expensive for a 5 maybe 6 inch sandwich and it was nothing impressive. It was also a bit spicy which I also did not like. Maybe it's just preference but I was not impressed at all read more

They're OK, but I really don't see what's so special about them. They're mediocre. Pretty average as far as italian beef goes. Really, I don't see why so many love them so much. If you want a good beef? Try Bacci's cheesy beef! SO MUCH BETTER! I don't see myself going back here. Also the venue itself feels uncomfortable and you sort of feel rushed. Nothing special at all and just another average beef joint among the hundreds available in Chicago. Really not worth the money.. read more

How does this place that invented the Italian beef have 3 stars? I'm a Chicagoan and I take offense to this. It's the best beef in the city by a mile. Don't listen to the tourists. read more

Travel Channel sold me on this place but I think they hyped it up a little bit too much. The sandwich was very solid, completely drenched in the broth to make a delicious mess. Even though the peppers and beef made quite a good team together, I think the meat is a little bit overcooked for my liking and that really factors in heavily on the overall taste and texture of the sandwich. Good, but not great, sandwich that drips like it's sweating. read more

I went to Al's beef to get a good sandwich. I got a poorly made combo, they did bother to put the sausage inside the beef the worker simply wrapped the sausage in a piece of paper and threw it in the bag. That was hurtful to see. I got the message and I won't be back read more

If you don't like chewing, this melt-in-your-mouth sandwich is the place to go. It does get a little bit messy if you get the sandwich dipped, but you have to. The way the bread soaks up the juice is unreal. Also, get the hot peppers. read more

Wow what a great Italian Beef . I ordered a big beef extra juicy with hot peppers and fries and was smiling from ear to ear. Sorry Mr. Beef or Portillos or anyone else trying to sell me a beef if I'm within 10 miles of here this will be the Italian Beef Stop. The fries were ok but that juicy spicy sammich pushed it to a full five stars!! read more

Stopped by here on Saturday for the first time since we moved to Indiana 20 years ago. I spent most of my summers as a kid by my grandmothers house two blocks away from Al's. The beef was good but I guarantee you it is not the same recipe as it use to be. Why did you have to change something that was so delicious? I lived on them sandwiches and Italian lemonade from across the street for many years. I was really disappointed. read more

I came to Chicago for the first time recently and the first thing I wanted to try was Al's after hearing all of the good things through the years. However, it was a huge disappointment. The sandwich was pretty small for the price, but i couldv'e forgave that. The meat was just awful...it tasted just like curry, not at all what I had my tastebuds set to. i went with 4 chicago natives and they all agreed that it never tasted like that before. My only hope is that I went on an off day when perhaps a jar of curry sauce might've accidentaly fallen into the gravy. If you want the best beef in Chicago, GOT TO GO TO JOHHNY'S!!! read more

I'm 1/2 Italian and grew up eating homemade Italian sausage. I love Italian sausage and pepper sandwiches. I was expecting this place to be almost as good as if not just as good as my aunt and uncle's stuff. Much to my disappointment, Al's is not "Number 1". I ordered a sausage sandwich and the sausage was dry as if it had been sitting on the grill all day. Also the flavor was a bit lacking. I won't be going back to this place anytime soon. read more

This place is living on a reputation from the past. The owner hasn't put a penny back into the place in years. The beef was pretty much tasteless and overly dipped, the frys were limp and soaked in oil. The employees acted as if their serving you was a chore and the place wasn't very clean. I was a big Al's fan years ago. No more. Go to Portillo's or Buono's if you want consistantly good beef sandwiches. read more

Another example of a restaurant ruined by being featured on a TV show. Jacked up prices. Small portions. Beef sandwich, dipped, with hot peppers and a soda was $10.40. Portion was so small that I was still hungry afterwards. Not a good value. And even with a dip and hot peppers, it was still relatively bland on the flavorful scale. They're resting on their laurels. Shame on them. read more