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

Al's Beef - Regular Beef with Fries and cheese sauce on the side - Sandwiches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

3-ish stars rounded up. The roast beef was a little on the dry-stringy side but the bread was spongy-soft (absorbed the beef drippings so well!). Kinda skimpy on the fixings on the Chicago dog, but still gets the job done if you're craving a Chicago dog. Fries are the type that are greasy to the touch; not my fave style of fries but I know it's a well-liked one to others. Super friendly lady at the cashier (all smiles, patient, and offered menu help)! Also fast service (got my order within a few minutes). I visited on a Saturday late afternoon and it was very chill here (also shoutout to the early 2000's era music playing :p it was a vibe). Overall I'd say it's not a bad food spot at all if you want a quick bite and want to be a little away from the Magnificent Mile crowds. read more

(Kari's Rating 6.5/10) Finally made my way out here and it was alright. My go to is normally Portillo's Italian beef, but I wanted to change it up. It's a little stop in place and they have a pretty small seating area, but I went on a day where it wasn't super crowded. Beef was pretty typical, I think I enjoyed the gravy seasoning more on this one over Portillo's, but I did like Portillo's spicy and sweet peppers a little bit better. I don't like my bread, saggy, so I was able to get the dipping gravy on the side. Service is pretty quick as it's just a small sit down place. It wasn't too loud, so you could have a conversation with the person next to you, but I imagine it would be much louder if you went on a Friday or Saturday night. I probably wouldn't stop in again but it's a nice place to go to. If you have people from out of town they don't wanna go to Portillo's. read more

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! read more

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

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

Al's Beef - Regular beef, soaked, with sweet and hot peppers - Sandwiches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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

Al's Beef - Beef Italian dip dip with sweet peppers - Sandwiches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Love the sandwiches here. I had never had an Italian beef sandwich before Al's, and I'm afraid it may have ruined me for others. Deeeelish. We came in for an early dinner and the spot was very lightly busy. No line, and we got our food super fast. We got the medium size sandwich traditional, with the sweet and spicy peppers. I got mine dipped all the way through and my wife tried it with just the meat dipped. The flavor was terrific and it had the perfect kick to it. I was a huge fan of the portion of the meat and the flavor - love it when I get both! For next time, I think I'd maybe skip the dipping of the bread. It can get a little messy. My wife's sandwich was a little less messy, and I'm already a little clumsy on my own, so I think I'd want to reduce the wetness a bit next time. The place was clean and well taken care of. The employees helped with a couple recommendations and steered us right. What more can you ask for? read more

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

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

I came here for lunch and was really pleased with my combo sandwich which had both Italian sausage and shaved beef. It was really filling! I shared fries with my family. The soda selection was limited with Pepsi products so I tried the Pepsi zero which was actually decent, as I normally am surrounded by Coke products. Price was affordable and fed the family of four for $60. We used the kiosk to order as there was no line for the kiosk. I like how they have a hand sanitizer by the drink dispensers as the wet sandwiches can get messy. My daughter says that her Italian sausage with cheese sandwich was not warm even though the taste was excellent, so she thought that was strange. Husband liked his regular Italian beef (wet). Son did not like the wet so it would have been better to get him a container with a dipping sauce for his regular Italian beef sandwich which I saw some ladies had for their sandwich. It was $60 for four people which I found reasonable for such a filling meal with an incredible about of protein. read more

According to my husband - who is an expert when it comes to beef sandwiches, this is one of the best. This location is right in the heart of the city and was abuzz with activities. Fries are top notch and the atmosphere made this Chi Town native feel right at home. read more

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

See all

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

See all

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

See all

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

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

I was in Chicago for two weeks with no idea about how I was going to fill my days. The first meal I had after getting off of the plane was at this Al's location. Italian Beef, wet, with cheddar and hot peppers. This. This is what I would spend my week doing. I went on a quest to find the very best Beef in the city. Devil Dawgz, Luke's, Portillo's, Mr. Beef... I tried as many as I could get my hands on. All were good, none were as good as Al's. I confirmed this by returning to Al's on my final day in town. There's just something about the quality of the ingredients and the way they're balanced that made it stand head and shoulders above the competition. I can't dock them a star for being located in Chicago instead of NYC where I live. I wish I could, but it wouldn't be fair. read more

We were tourists but HOLY CRAP best Italian beef I've had out of the five or so I've eaten in my life. I was delighted. The wait was short. And the dipped version is FAR superior, trust me. read more

See all

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

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

Oh wow, I was not expecting to be so impressed with this place because how good can beef sandwich be? Let me tell you... First, I don't eat bread or fries often, so I'm quite picky when I do. The fries were hot, fresh, perfectly salted, and a great combination of crunchy and soft. I don't like when all of my fries are crunchy or they are all soft. Yeah, it might be a bit weird, but that's just my style. The beef dipped sandwich w/sweet peppers and cheddar cheese was fire! Super juicy, perfectly flavored (not too salty) even with the cheese, and the meat melted in my mouth. I'm going to visit this place once more before leaving Chicago - ok maybe twice! I waited less than 10 min around 145pm. So delicious, and less than $15! TIP: Women, even if they tell you that the bathroom is open and to go in it they will still give the key to someone else. Someone popped in on me while I was using the restroom but thank goodness I was only washing my hands. That's the only reason I took off a star. 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

Al's Beef - Chicago Polish & Cheeseburger - Sandwiches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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

See all

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

Al's Beef - Dipped Italian Beef with Provolone and Giardiniera - Sandwiches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

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

See all

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

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

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

See all

Stopped here for lunch with a local friend, and the famed Italian beef lived up to its reputation! I had the combo which came with fries and a drink. For around $18, it was a good value for the amount of food. There's limited barstool seating, but it seemed most people carried out. Also, for those who haven't tried it before, this place is cash only. Will definitely stop again on my next visit to Chicago. read more

Ordered a few things to try. Amazing Italian beef sandwich; the meat was amazing, but the gravy was cold, unfortunately. Chicago Hot Dog was very good and maybe the best sports I have ever had. The cheese fries left a lot to be desired. I will definitely recommend this spot! 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

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

See all

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

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

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

See all

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

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

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

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

food: it was fine, filling but not a ton of flavor imo. definitely need to order again and add cheese service: na got delivery ambiance: na read more

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

I was kind of underwhelmed by this place. My wife and I stopped by before leaving Chicago and we had such a great Chicago dog at Portillo's down the street that we wanted to try another place! I felt adventurous and opted for the italian beef with sweet pepper but definitely regretted it. She got the Chicago-style hot dog, which tasted alright but I think we both preferred Portillo's to Al's. My beef sandwich was pretty dry. I now see why they recommend the dip because at times it felt like I was eating paper :/. I really wanted to enjoy this place but felt let down based on the reviews and recommendations online. The fries were also stale when we got them so overall just not the best food here but it wasn't the worst either! read more

No other purveyor of a 'beef' is more ubiquitous than Al's. Yet no other purveyor of a "beef" will disappoint you more than Al's. It's not so much that the stewed meat inside your sandwich is overcooked and resembling sawdust; nor is it the fact that the giardiniere costs extra and is more bland than public radio; nor is it even the pictures of long forgotten food celebs on the wall gaslighting you as to the gloriousness of an Al's beef; but it is all these things, the gestalt of awfulness that makes you wish you had just said no. Of course the judicious among us will not judge the Chicago Italian beef by the subpar version served at Al's. But what about those diners out there, with little in their pockets and less in their brains, who have heard tell of the Italian beef and figure - "hey, this place Al's has a butt-load of locations, that must mean they know what they're doing. Let's give it a try." So the plebes will be let down. They will slander the name of the Italian beef. And they wouldn't have; if Al's was better read more

Excellent. Better than a beef I had elsewhere. I ordered this one wet. I wish I had ordered hot peppers rather than sweet. Clean, bright location. Staff was friendly. read more

See all

Delicious beef. Different from Buona Beef. Their French fries were spectacular. It was pretty busy when I was there too. That beef... perfection in my mind. Had a different flavor and was so good i could not "believe I ate the whole thing" as the old commercial went. I ate the fries on the way home. Those things were so good, there were none left by the time I actually got home! Can't wait to return! Yummy! read more

See all

Being a first timer in Chicago, trying the Italian beef here is a no brainer. I ordered the regular beef one with everything on it. I got the meat dipped but not the whole sandwich. The result was a pretty wet food, so I was glad I didn't get the whole thing dipped. One thing I didn't like was that they didn't inform that the toppings they as was going to cost more. Not a problem for me but would've been great for people that are mindful at spending. The beef was really juicy with the pepper complimenting it pretty well. It did have a kick to it, but it was fine to me. We got a side order of fries and I thought it was big and crispy! Overall, it was a great introduction food to Chicago and definitely woke me up after that long flight. read more

We were visiting Chicago and I wanted to have Al's. Ive had it once when they had a shop in Dallas but its been a long time. We took the train from the lop and walked about 3-4 minutes to this location in River North. I ordered a big beef with hot pepers and it was good. Pretty spicy actually. I enjoyed my sandwich but to be honest I prefer portillos beefs. read more

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

See all

Dipped beef sandwich was delicious, but having to spend almost an extra dollar for hot giardineira is a bit annoying.

We just HAD to try the famous Al's beef, as it was recommended to us from our friends! We got them 'dipped', or you can have them 'dry'. The dipped version was flavorful and a lot of fun to eat, but very messy! The cheese fries were hot a gooey. This is a great stop for lunch or dinner if you're in Chi-Town! read more

See all