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    Al's Beef

    4.3 (476 reviews)
    Open 10:30 am - 12:00 AM (Next day)

    Order Al's Beef Takeout or Delivery

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    AL'S BEEF ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Touristy
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Al's Beef

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    Regular Beef
    Taylor H.

    Really good italian beef! I see why people recommend this spot. Staff was super nice and our food came out quickly. I highly recommend the spicy giardiniera. The chicago dog was delicious as well! I have had better italian beef sandwiches in the city, but this is a solid spot.

    Martina W.

    Perfect order!! My Italian beef was dipped with peppers (which is the only and best way to eat it). It was wet but not sloppy. The fries taste just like I remember from my childhood. I will definitely be back at this location.

    Vibe
    Tray

    Good Italian beef. Better than Portillo's. Got it dry and loved the sauce on the side. 7/10. Didn't know it came with nothing on it so next time I'll probably add some spicy giardiniera. Service was great I ordered it for pickup and they were kind.

    Regular Beef dipped
    Taylor N.

    Great delicious and easy to order beef sandwich. Best fries I have had and add cheese it made it made it even more delicious.

    Beef Italian dip dip with sweet peppers
    Roman B.

    Place was popping and people were looking for something to warm up their bellies for that cold day in Chicago. I got the Italian Sausage with beef, extra dipped and fries. This was my first time trying one of these in Chicago and I must say, I'm glad I picked it. Super juicy, fries were perfectly crispy and crunchy. The dog combo extra dipped was out of this world ( from an Cali perspective haha), id definitely try it again. I also added the sweet peppers, nice touch

    Dipped Italian Beef with Provolone and Giardiniera
    Matthew N.

    Recently stopped by Al's Beef on a late Friday night and had a great first experience. It wasn't too busy, which made for an easy visit. Since it was our first time, we used the self-serve kiosk to browse photos of the menu and decided on a dipped Italian beef with provolone and giardiniera, plus a side of chili cheese fries. The food came out quick and fresh. The Italian beef was the star! Juicy from the dip, loaded with tender, flavorful beef, and perfectly balanced with that slightly zesty, tangy kick from the giardiniera. Pro tip: eat it standing and leaning forward like the mural on the wall suggests, unless you want those delicious juices all over yourself. The chili cheese fries were generously loaded, though I wish the fries themselves were a bit crispier. Still satisfying, just not quite as crunchy as I expected. Overall, a solid spot for an authentic Italian beef and one I'd gladly come back to.

    Regular Beef
    Mark H.

    Great Italian beef sandwich, service was great and food came out quickly. Sandwich was kind of bland in my opinion but I think next time I'll get it dipped in gravy. Will definitely be back!

    Jumbo Italian beef
    Joseph A.

    If you're frequent on food tv channels, you'll likely have seen a show that's showcased Al's Beef. While waiting around for a spot at the bar at Bavette's which was nearly impossible for a Friday night, I noticed Al's was a few blocks. Figured while in town, might was well try this iconic eatery. Al's known for Italian beef which I've never had. Closest thing I've had is a French Dip. Had a big Italian beef sandwich and instantly became a fan. The thinly sliced beef has a lot of flavor since it's marinated in its jus. It's not too salty and I added provolone and sweet peppers. Came here twice while in town and second time around, I got the gravy on the side. The first time, the bread was soaked and the bread fell apart towards the end. Good quick eats. Worth a try.

    Regular beef, soaked, with sweet and hot peppers
    Ken A.

    A lot of times you go to these iconic spots and they don't live up to the hype. This is not one of those spots. Krystal took our order with a smile, as she would with any tourist or regular. Our regular beef with hot and sweet peppers, soaked, sandwiches were ready in a few minutes and we scarfed them down immediately. The beef was hot and flavorful and the bread was wonderfully soft and damp. The first taste almost hits a bit salty, but your tastebuds reset with a few more bites and you get the layers of flavor from the juice and heat from the peppers. And I don't know how, but all that sloppy, juicy goodness never bleeds through the wrapper, onto the table. Brilliant!

    Regular Beef
    Lisa W.

    This location is nice. The other one I went to near the university was sort of dumpy. Not sure if this is new, but it's small inside and there was a line when we went. We ordered and waited for someone to leave and got their table. Maybe like a 5 minute wait on a Saturday afternoon. I got the regular beef, added the hot giardiniera and dipped it. It was good but super messy. Lots of beef. I like me a good beefy sandwich. Not a sandwich you can take to go, need to eat it hot and sit down since it gets messy.

    Stanley H.

    Walked in the rain to get here and it was worth it! I got a beef sandwich and cheese fries and both were delicious! I'm used to portillos in California, and this blew it away! I considered trying the original portillos while I I was here visiting but didn't get the opportunity. Please open in California!

    Regular Beef with Fries and cheese sauce on the side
    Jordan C.

    First time in Chicago so I had to try the national sandwich of Chicago! Al's beef has been serving up Italian Beef sandwiches since 1938. They have won several awards for their sandwiches and are said to have the best Italian Beef in Chicago. With all this being said, this was certainly a must eat on my trip! Their menu consists of their famous Italian beef, along with Chicago dogs, burgers, sausage sandwiches, chicken, and fries. There is definitely something for everyone here. The inside is casual and reminiscent of a fast food eatery. Really liked the yellow accents throughout the restaurant. I will also note that it was extremely clean inside, which is always appreciated. Ordering is simple and they will call your ticket number when your food is ready. All the food is served made to order and very fresh and doesn't take too long to come out! I ordered the Regular Beef, wet, with both hot and spicy peppers per the workers suggestion. Ordering the sandwich wet simply means the bread is dunked in the gravy/aus jus. If you want the real deal, this is how you order it. The peppers are optional as well, but complete the sandwich. The sandwich consists of their famous Italian beef roasted and sliced, served on freshly baked French bread. I can see why this sandwich is so highly regarded. The Italian beef that is made in house each day is tender, flavorful, and just perfect! It isn't chewy or tough either. The sweet and spicy peppers paired nicely with the savory beef. And the fresh French bread covered in the gravy--phenomenal! The gravy adds a lot of flavor to the sandwich. You do have to eat it quickly, otherwise the bread will fall apart, oh but it is so worth it. I got fries with a side of cheese sauce to go with the sandwich. By far some of the best fries I've had. Not super crispy, but not soggy either, the texture was just right. They were salted perfectly and dipping them in their velvety cheese sauce was a treat! A regular sub is roughly 6 inches and quite filling. The sandwiches are stuffed with ample amounts of beef. The price is also excellent considering how much you get. Overall, I would say Al's Beef lived up to all its praise. My sandwich was very memorable and was like nothing I'd had before. Everything is so fresh, between their beef, bread, and fries, it is all made in house. This isn't just some fast food spot, it is an institution. I was impressed with everything I ordered, especially the fries. They take a lot of pride in what they serve. This is evident in their customer service. If you are visiting Chicago, don't think, just go--you won't regret it!

    Alexander Y.

    Came to Al's Beef based on the recommendation of my friends from Chicago. After all, I can't come to Chicago and not get an Italian beef and a Chicago-style hot dog! Since I was visiting from out-of-town, no question that I was gonna get both a beef and a hot dog. Ordered a regular Beef & Sausage Combo and a Chicago Style Dog. The beef and sausage was...truly fantastic! Got it dipped and it was as meaty as I had hoped for. Very very tasty! The Chicago Style Dog was exactly what I expected. The pickle, tomatoes and mustard complement the beef really well. Staff here are great. They move really fast, which mattered as the line got super long after we got here. Food came out within 10 minutes. Super quick! Al's Beef really knows what it's doing! Ended up getting a Polish sausage to-go a few days later, and that didn't disappoint either! Super super good.

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    Al's Beef Reviews in Other Languages

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    Devil Dawgs-Gold Coast

    Devil Dawgs-Gold Coast

    4.4
    (304 reviews)
    0.5 mi
    Locally owned & operated
    Outdoor seating

    Devil Dawgs was a great stop! Service was fast, there were plenty of menu options to choose from,…read moreand everything came out quickly. It's a small spot with outdoor seating, but it has a laid-back vibe that makes it enjoyable. The hot dogs were delicious, and the cheese curds were rich, buttery, and a perfect side. Overall, I really enjoyed my visit and would definitely come back to try more items from the menu. If you're in the area and craving a great hot dog, this place is worth checking out!

    I wanted to love this place. I really did…read more The hot dog looked beautiful. The fries smelled promising. Hope was alive. Then tragedy struck. I asked for extra sport peppers... and they never made it into the bag. The peppers that did survive then launched itself onto the ground after my first bite, never to be seen again. A lone pepper remained. A true Chicago casualty. I ordered ahead for pickup at 12:15, and while it was ready on time, I think it had been sitting for a bit because everything was cold by the time I got back. The fries had good flavor but had sadly crossed over into soggy territory. The sauces were tasty (and generously portioned), but paying $1 each bruised my sauce-loving heart just a little. One thing that genuinely surprised me was the seating. The inside is tiny, and almost all of the seating is outdoors. It had me wondering... what exactly happens here in a Chicago January? Do we all just huddle around our hot dogs for warmth? Overall, it wasn't a bad meal, it just didn't live up to the hype for me. Maybe I caught them on an off day, because I can definitely see the potential.

    Photos
    Devil Dawgs-Gold Coast
    Devil Dawgs-Gold Coast
    Devil Dawgs-Gold Coast

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    Jim's Original

    Jim's Original

    4.2
    (796 reviews)
    1.9 mi
    $

    A LOCAL CLASSIC! I…read moreloved this spot so much I ended up coming back twice. It has that classic late night comfort food vibe and feels like one of those staple spots you have to try at least once. First night I ordered a polish hot dog with everything on it and a fish sandwich w/ extra grilled onions. Super cool that your order comes with fries and I added a cheese cup both times. In my opinion the fries were mid the first go around, but second time they were better. Definitely tasted better dipped in cheese. They were kinda airy in texture, if that makes sense. Polish hot dog was around a 6.5-7/10 for me. It did taste better warmed up the next day. What I was most obsessed with was the double cheeseburger and fish sandwich! both were easily a 10/10. Super good prices and worth the money. Also, the chile peppers were sooo bomb and hotter than I expected ! I wanted to eat them all, but they were packing some serious heat! The lemon Italian ice is where it's at, make sure to order one! You can also mix it with strawberry, but both times people recommended the lemon and now I see why. The line gets super active and busy past 10-11pm, but during the daytime it's way less crowded. Even when it gets packed the line moves pretty quick. They stay open late and close at 1am which is nice.

    The smell of caramelized onions hits pretty much immediately as you approach the window. No line…read moremidday. We were served quickly and got the polish sausage that comes with fries. Both were nice and hot. Fries were crispy and that first snap into the juicy sausage was worth the trip. No seating, so be prepared to eat in your car and get a bit messy. Also be warned the peppers are legitimately spicy, those serranos had my partner sweating. Glad I tried it, but not something I'd eat all the time, great late night drinking kind of food.

    Photos
    Short line today
    Short line today
    Before.... Polish Sausage Sandwich
    Before.... Polish Sausage Sandwich
    Sign from around the corner.

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    Sign from around the corner.
    Superdawg Drive-In

    Superdawg Drive-In

    4.0
    (2.1k reviews)
    10.7 mi
    $$

    A Chicago institution…read more A Superdawg hot dog with fries and a chocolate malt is a perfect meal. The car hop service takes you back in time.

    Flew into Chicago late, wanted a taste of Chicago but didn't want to head back into the city so…read moredecided to try Superdawg (on our list for a while). It was almost 11pm (they're open until 2am on Fridays.) and there were at least a dozen other vehicles in their drive-in stalls. Ordered their specialties, a Superdawg and Whoopskidawg with Superfries, Chocolate Super Malt and Black Kows. Service was fast and friendly at 11pm on a Friday. We were eating in our rental car in apx 10 min. It was cool to eat outside on a warm July night in a classic, 1950s style drive-in. The food was excellent, flavorful and fresh. I normally avoid krinkle cut fries because they are usually frozen and mushy or mealy. Not Superfries. These fresh cut fries were practically fried mashed potatoes. We loved them! The drinks were perfect. The Black Kows is basically a root beer float and served with an extra root beer "sidecar." Our only complaints were about errors with the garnishes. We specifically said we wanted all the garnishes on both dawgs and they only gave us the standard grilled onions on the Whoopskidawg and forgot the sport peppers on the Superdawg. Otherwise we loved everything. We might go back next week (before we fly home) because I really want to try their Whoopercheesie Burger and maybe a Supersundae. (Menu Descriptions/Prices) Superdawg Not a wiener - not a frankfurter - not a red hot - but our exclusive... Superdawg™. On a poppy seed bun, we tenderly place the loveliest, juiciest creation of pure beef hot dog (no pork, no veal, no cereal, no filler), formally dressed with all the trimmings, escorted by our often imitated, but never equaled, Superfries™. Served with all the trimmings - golden mustard, tangy piccalilli, kosher dill pickle, chopped Spanish onions and a memorable hot pepper. $9.30 Whoopskidawg Our char-broiled version of a Romanian, Hungarian, Polish sausage; basted in our special sauce, and served on a Whoopskiroll™, with grilled onion and a pickle. $12.05 Superfries For extra pleasure an extra measure of Superfries™. $4.35 or $6.95 - Try 'em with cheese! Supermalts and Supershakes A full pint of smooth creamy refreshment so thick we put straws in them only to prove that you can't draw them through. (We will gladly thin them down, if you prefer them that way.) Flavors: double rich chocolate, mellow vanilla, real-fruit strawberry or pineapple. $5.80 - Regular $7.10 - Large Black Kows A beverage--a dessert--a snack. Chunks of ice cream floating in a foamy sea of root beer. You can drink it. You can eat it. You can do both at once. $6.20

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    Maurie and Flaurie
    Maurie and Flaurie
    Cheese burger
    Cheese burger
    Superdawg box

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    Superdawg box
    The Wieners Circle

    The Wieners Circle

    3.6
    (1.2k reviews)
    2.7 mi
    $

    Must stop in Chicago…read more It is a little sketchy at night. Don't come for the service, come for the experience. Prepare to tip. Get the Chicago Dog, Fries with a cheese cup and shake. Have fun,

    Stopped in this place to burn some time and was well worth it. Order a variety of dogs, but they…read moregive you what they want!! They give you, the traditional Chicago Dog, which was super spicy and really good. I did come back that next morning because inwanted to video the girls because rhe are funny and rude but real funny with the rudeness!!! They were super slammed with a lot of families with lots of kids, so you really couldn't give or get the full language attention needed for the video experience Inso was hoped for!! Both visits were super cool and exceptional.I recommend if you're new to chicago pick the time stop.In order some ketchup it willl be quite the experience *WINK *WINK* When you walk in, you place your order first and pay second then you wait for them to prepare and bag it unless your eating in.. Conversational extras are expected and will be given back if you dare... The decor is typical outdoor dining and the indoor area is for ordering and takeout!! I wish I could post the shirt video from my first visit but it will probably get pulled... Awesome experience!!!

    Photos
    Late Night Stop @ The Wiener's Circle.2622 N Clark St, Chicago, IL Chicago Institution.Hot Dogs Char Burgers Char Polish.Great Fries.Cool!
    Late Night Stop @ The Wiener's Circle.2622 N Clark St, Chicago, IL Chicago Institution.Hot Dogs Char Burgers Char Polish.Great Fries.Cool!
    Char Turkey Burger w/Cheese & Grill Onions @ The Wiener's Circle.Chicago, IL Hot Dogs Char Burgers Char Polish.Great Fries.Cool!
    Char Turkey Burger w/Cheese & Grill Onions @ The Wiener's Circle.Chicago, IL Hot Dogs Char Burgers Char Polish.Great Fries.Cool!
    Char dog and fries.

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    Char dog and fries.
    Byron's Hot Dog

    Byron's Hot Dog

    4.0
    (338 reviews)
    4.4 mi
    $

    As a world-famous hot dog sculptor and reviewer, I have sampled dogs from every corner of the…read morecivilized world. Yet somehow, I had never tried a true Chicago-style hot dog. That changed when I arrived at Byron's Hot Dogs, an old-school Chicago stand near Wrigley Field that locals and visitors consistently praise for its classic dogs, friendly service, and affordable prices. The location was warm and welcoming, and the staff patiently explained the entire process. You order at the counter, then move down the line while they build the dog to your liking. They also serve burgers, Italian beef, Polish sausages, gyros, fries, and plenty of other options, but I had come for one reason: to experience the Chicago dog in its natural habitat. Then came the great ketchup controversy. I asked for ketchup and was informed that this was a serious violation of Chicago law. Apparently, ketchup does not belong on a Chicago hot dog, and requesting it is roughly equivalent to insulting the Cubs, deep-dish pizza, and the city flag all at once. Unwilling to abandon my artistic vision, I snuck across the street and purchased a bottle. When I returned, I applied a small amount to my hot dog. The moment the ketchup touched the bun, the lights flickered and a smoky figure appeared above the counter. He introduced himself as Ketchu-Potl, ancient deity of forbidden condiments. He cursed me to spend the rest of my life receiving mustard packets whenever I ask for ketchup. Worse, every hot dog I order now arrives with one single mysteriously warm tomato slice in my pocket. Despite the curse, the hot dog was excellent. The classic toppings were fresh and flavorful, and Byron's even offers its own variation with additional lettuce, cucumber, and green pepper--essentially turning the hot dog into a salad on a bun. Byron's is a casual, no-frills spot with a welcoming atmosphere, quick service, and plenty of outdoor seating. It's also a much better value than buying a hot dog inside Wrigley Field. As a lifelong hot dog enthusiast, I'm thrilled to have finally experienced the real Chicago version. Just remember: order it with the works, skip the ketchup, and never underestimate the wrath of Ketchu-Potl.

    Stopped by for a char dog with all the toppings, and it was delicious--fresh, flavorful, and…read moreexactly what I was craving. Everything was prepared quickly, and the ingredients tasted fresh. The cheeseburger looked fantastic too; I was tempted to order one after seeing it come out of the grill. I'll definitely be back to try the burger next time! Highly recommended if you're looking for a great Chicago-style bite. President Barack Obama approved

    Photos
    Byron's Hot Dog
    Chicago Dog
    Chicago Dog
    Inside

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    Inside

    Al's Beef - sandwiches - Updated August 2026

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