Al's Beef
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Talk about over indulging! Make sure you walk here and walk home, your stomach will thank you. Best place to get a Chicago dogs, Chili Cheese dogs and the famous Al's Beef Sandwich. Fries were a hit too! Definitely a must and add this to your list for Chicago Eats. It's an order at the register and find a table dining experience. Food is prepared pretty quickly and people are in and out!
Brought my partner here to try Chicago's classic italian beef sandwich at Al's and it did not disappoint! We got the hot giardinara on the side since we don't eat too spicy typically, but it wasn't very spicy at all! Quick and friendly service. Definitely recommend the sandwich dipped!
One of Chicago's most renowned Italian Beef Sandwiches, originating in 1938. A special trip to try it, and it was truly satisfying. Regular Combo: A combination of beef and sausage. The meat portion was very generous; the beef was thinly sliced but juicy and not dry or hard at all; the sausage had a rich smoky flavor, not too salty, and tastes a lot like Harbin red sausage. Al's Classic Hand-Cut Fries: They were piping hot when I received them, so touching! I couldn't taste the hand-cut texture, but there was a spice powder similar to salt and pepper, and the flavor was quite good.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
Great delicious and easy to order beef sandwich. Best fries I have had and add cheese it made it made it even more delicious.
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.
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.
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!
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!
23 days ago
First time in Chicago and have been wanting to try an Italian dipped beef sandwich. To my surprise, I consider this one of the best meals I've had thus far on my trip. Went on a rainy Saturday afternoon with the queue out the door but was moving at a good pace. Staff was friendly and food came out very quickly, a key trait of a well ran establishment. I got the regular beef sandwich with sweet and spicy peppers, and a side of fries. I love that the sandwich was soggy but held itself together, and the flavor was amazing in itself as well. Definitely coming back here when I find myself back in Chicago! read more
24 days ago
We finally made it to Al's Beef. The beef was really good. I like mine dipped and it held up pretty well. I also had an order of fries which were very good. If you are in the area, it is definitely worth doing by here. read more
1 month ago
Holy sandwich..... Had been to a different location years ago, but saw this was a 5 minute walk from my hotel and had to go. Spot was super cute. Staff was also incredibly friendly. There was a girl in front of me asking for guidance on what to order, since she was coming from out of town, and he helped perfect her order, and I followed suit, with both peppers and wet. So good. Juicy, good portion of meat, and great flavor. Will be back. read more
Talk about over indulging! Make sure you walk here and walk home, your stomach will thank you. Best place to get a Chicago dogs, Chili Cheese dogs and the famous Al's Beef Sandwich. Fries were a hit too! Definitely a must and add this to your list for Chicago Eats. It's an order at the register and find a table dining experience. Food is prepared pretty quickly and people are in and out! read more
Brought my partner here to try Chicago's classic italian beef sandwich at Al's and it did not disappoint! We got the hot giardinara on the side since we don't eat too spicy typically, but it wasn't very spicy at all! Quick and friendly service. Definitely recommend the sandwich dipped! read more
One of Chicago's most renowned Italian Beef Sandwiches, originating in 1938. A special trip to try it, and it was truly satisfying. Regular Combo: A combination of beef and sausage. The meat portion was very generous; the beef was thinly sliced but juicy and not dry or hard at all; the sausage had a rich smoky flavor, not too salty, and tastes a lot like Harbin red sausage. Al's Classic Hand-Cut Fries: They were piping hot when I received them, so touching! I couldn't taste the hand-cut texture, but there was a spice powder similar to salt and pepper, and the flavor was quite good. read more
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. read more
3 months ago
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. read more
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. read more
4 months ago
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 read more
6 months ago
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. read more
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. read more
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. read more
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! read more
4 months ago
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! read more
1 year ago
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. read more
Review for the out of towners: Solid spot. Came here and order the big version of the pork and beef sandwich. I thought I overheard the smaller one was 5" and the larger one was 7". I ordered the larger one and since it was pork and beef it came as a link of well grilled pork sausage topped with the specialty beef. The beef is so prevalent that I thought it was just going to be grounded pork mixed in but hidden underneath the beef was the sausage. I also got the hot gardiniera which made the sandwhich a bit wet on top. IMO adds a bunch of flavor. Great location, served very quick, and nice interior. The only thing that knocks it down to four starts is the size of the sandwich and price compared to the more notable place up the street. read more
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! read more
Very, very impressed!! I'm not much into roast beef sandwiches, and yet absolutely loved this Chicago staple upon trying!! Al's Beef is one of those 'must visit' food spots for Chicago visitors - at least that's what I found in my pre-visit research (or just Chicago's Italian beef sandwiches in general). I admittedly wasn't super excited, as like I said, I don't care a ton about roast beef or roast beef sandwiches. But alas, I've never had a Chicago version before, and it's one of their staples, so I decided it was worth a try.... ...and glad I am that I did!!! We got our regular beef sandwich in the 'wet' style where I guess the whole thing is dipped, and we also added some sweet peppers and provolone cheese to it. The price was quite reasonable, just under $10 for the regular. Upon trying, I was met with a wave of 'WOW'! The mix that's used for the beef and the dip they put the sandwich in really do taste great!! I was also pleasantly surprised that it didn't seem too soggy for eating, which is something I was a bit fearful of for the 'wet style'. Honestly, everything on the sandwich went together just right and created a real subtle but also noticeable mixture of flavors! The fries were also perfectly crispy/crunchy on the outside and deliciously hot, mushy, and soft inside. I was very impressed with these sandwiches, and definitely think it's worth a visit while in Chicago - even if you're not a huge meat eater/roast beef person! read more
1 month ago
1 year ago
After some late night drinking. I came here on a whim to grab something and line my stomach before bed. Great choice. Got here 10 minutes before closing on Thursday night. 4 people were here as they were winding down. There were about 10 people working still. Which meant my food came out super quick and delicious. From order to in my hands was about 8 minutes. I took my order to go. When I arrived I told them that it was my first time and he said "don't worry. I gotchu" and picked the roast beef sandwich dipped and made it spicy. It came out just how I liked it. I would absolutely come back again and I'd suggest to everyone to get it dipped. Meaning get it dipped in their sauce which just made it juicier. Plenty of seating for about 50 people I would say. They have a bunch of different food options but most of them hoovered around 10 dollars. read more
20 days ago
15 days ago
Credit where credits due, Portillos put me onto Chicago Italian beef sandwiches. So when I heard that Als is OG, I had to check them out! Fantastic. I ordered the big beef and to my surprise (and mild self loathing), I felt like I could inhaled another one. The beef is moist and succulent and the peppers on top are a must. I will say Portillos holds its own against Al's in terms of flavor, but don't sleep on Al's at all. Check them out! read more
wowza. I needed that. the polish dog was alright but that burger... it was like that scene in ratatouille when ego is taken back to his childhood. so delicious. every one of my tastebuds were titillated and delighted. I savored every bight. she was a sloppy experience with a handful of napkins needed but that's how you know she was a goooood burger read more
"You've gotta try Al's," my marketing guy would tell me every time we were in Chicago for the past three years. So finally, on a crummy, rainy, Spring day, I walked a half mile to Al's in downtown and it was absolutely worth it! Ordering is probably easier when you speak the language of beef sandwiches. I'm not fluent, so it took me a second to work out what I wanted. I went with the wet Italian beef and fries and I was NOT disappointed. Food comes out reasonably quickly. You're going to wait a few minutes during the lunch rush, but it's not bad at all. Oh, and PLEASE listen for your number. The space isn't very large. Seats aren't too plentiful, but you can definitely grab a spot if you keep your eyes open. The food is coming in a bag, so you can also get it to go. Service is brisk, but not as brusk as I thought it might be. Overall, I would definitely go back! read more
6 months ago
In 2018 I went to a different location of Al's and one of the lowlights from my review was something like " It's a shame I had to come all the way to Chicago to get the worst Italian beef sandwich I've ever had." This review is at the opposite end of the spectrum. I got a regular beef, dipped and it was everything an Italian beef should be. Thin and tender meat, flavorful gravy, great bread that soaked it up, but stayed intact. I regret not getting a big or a jumbo version, but it was mid afternoon and I wasn't sure what dinner plans would be tonight so didn't wanna be stuffed. I'm trying to figure out now if there's any way I can get back before my flight leaves later in the week! read more
3 months ago
I went to this place to try their traditional beef sandwich, and it did not disappoint. I ordered the regular size with sweet and spicy chiles, wet but not dipped. The sandwich was very tasty, and the portion was generous. The chiles gave the meat a great balance of flavor and just the right kick. There was no line, and the food came out quickly. Overall, a solid and satisfying beef sandwich. read more
I was visiting a friend and wanted to stop at one of the iconic Italian beef shops and there was an Al's location around the block from the hotel. We decided to pick up a sandwich to go for a late night snack. The counter service was quick but definitely a little chaotic given the late night. I was shocked by how packed the sandwich was, it was super dense with meat!! We got it wet with giardinera but i think we should've gotten cheese too and maybe even the whole sandwich dipped. It felt a little bland to me. I'd try it again, just with a different order next time! read more
8 months ago
We wanted an Italian beef sandwich and one of the best is Al's. We walked in and you need to go to the other side to order, but the line moved quickly and we got our food in under 10 minutes, from ordering to picking it up. Nice quick sit down place with great food! read more
First time having a Chicago beef and this was a good first experience!! We got it dry with the gravy on the side to keep it a little cleaner since we were splitting the sandwich. We used the whole container of gravy and probably could've had more. Added the perfect amount of juice to help get all that meat down lol. The fries were fried fresh and reminded me of Five Guys but better. Super cute place and loved sitting at the window and people watching. read more
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Al's Beef - sandwiches - Updated August 2026
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