Came here to try some of Chicago's iconic foods! Big Beef - my first beef sandwich and WOW! I'm not a fan of sandwiches, but I couldn't put this down. I wasn't expecting it to be so rich and full of flavor. Bonus points for the bread soaking up the soupy sauce! Be warned this will be a messier eating experience. Chicago Dog - my first Chicago dog! To be honest, to me it tasted like a hamburger except sub the bread for a hotdog bun, sub the patty for a hotdog, and don't add ketchup. So glad I tried this, though! Super friendly staff and plenty of seating! Diner vibes in there. read more

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

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I'm a tourist and I haven't tried Mr. Beef, so take my review with a grain of salt. I came here because I had to have an italian beef in Chi-town and Mr. Beef closes at 4:30 on weekdays. For those of you from out of town, Italian beef is a Chicago staple. It's like their version of a french-dip. They take roasted beef in a bollilo and they'll either pour gravy over your sandwich or dunk it. I was told that the traditional way is to dunk it, so that's what I did. It's not a pretty sandwich, but the sandwich is pretty tasty. It's messy, so you'll need a bunch of napkins, but the au jus gives an undeniable juiciness. I got it with sweet peppers and spicy giardinera and I'd recommend that you do the same. I feel that this is something that you absolutely have to have if you come to Chicago. I'm told that Mr. Beef is awesome, but Al's Italian beef is also really good! read more

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we had to wait about 20 minutes in line on this Saturday afternoon and ordered our beef sandwiches to go. they absolutely delicious! i got provolone and it was just so good. the bread was soft and fresh and the side of gravy was so delicious and tangy and delectable. also the service was really great- the employee who handed me my sandwich was warm and friendly. excited to get my italian beef sandwich craving fix here moving forward also i was pleasantly surprised as the price was very reasonable as well. it was $10 for a decent sized sandwich, very filling and fresh and delicious. read more

If you're a fan of beef, this is the place to go! Let's get into it.. Ambiance - Al's Beef is located on a corner and has ample seating inside. This location can accommodate both small or larger groups. The decor was okay, but looked clean and had a good beefy vibe. Service - Al's Beef is deli style, so you order your food at the counter and then return when your order was called. Being a Beef novice, I found the staff's recommendations helpful and they led me to a great experience. Food - I got the regular Beef and while I was wondering if I went too small, I can safely say it was quite filling! I got my Beef dipped with peppers and hot giadineria (sp) and the flavor was outstanding. I grabbed four napkins thinking that'd be enough, but that lasted me maybe half of my sandwich. It's a messy, but glorious, sandwich. Overall, my first foray into Chicago cuisine was a home run and I'm excited to try other local favorites. I would definitely return for another! read more

Al's Beef - Dipped beef with hot giadineria and peppers. Fantastic! - Sandwiches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The BEST meal we had in Chicago! Al's beef is a classic Italian beef spot and it's always packed! But if you order online and then walk in to pick up, it's sooo much faster than waiting in line to order. For my meal I had an Italian beef dipped and with a sweet pepper. It was the perfect amount of flavor and tenderness and I absolutely devoured it. I also had a bite of their hot dog and fries. I think the hot dogs at other places in Chicago are a bit better but I loved how seasoned the fries were! Overall will definitely be recommending this spot to all of my friends. read more

This place is a must in Chicago. I shared a big beef and chili cheese fries with my fiancé and that's all we needed. You order then seat yourself, it can be a little hard to get a table but people seem to come and go fairly quickly. It gets busy and I understand why. Another place I want to return next time I'm in Chicago! read more

Al's Beef - Big Beef and Chili Cheese Fries - Sandwiches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Mediocre at best. Polish meat was extremely dry. Fries were soggy. Italian beef was nothing special. Ordering process on a kiosk sucks. Go somewhere else. read more

Al's Beef - The Original Depression Polish - Sandwiches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

For us, a visit to Chicago always includes a visit to Al's #1 Italian Beef. This time we visited the North Wells location. It was as delicious as we remember. Kudos to the team for such an excellent sandwich and quick, friendly service. Highly recommended. read more

Italian beef is probably one of my favorite things to get in Chicago, and Al's is the gold standard. Definitely get both the sweet peppers and the giardiniera! read more

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

When we came to Al's Beef for lunch, the line was out the door, and that's when you know the food is going to be delicious! There's a kiosk in the back right corner of the restaurant that not many people seemed to know about. Even after ordering, it was still a decent wait, which was understandable considering how crowded it was. There was some seating inside, but it was super crowded when we went. We just did takeout and ended up eating it somewhere else. We got the Italian beef sandwich, loaded fries with bacon cheese and green onion, and a hot dog Chicago style. All the food was delicious, but my favorite was probably the fries. read more

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

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I'd like to preface that I'm not the biggest carnivore, so if you are I think you'd like this place a lot more. I ordered the diet beef and added the peppers and celery. A peeve of mine is that none of the beef sandwich options come with any sort of vegetable so when you add them on the price just gets quite high; otherwise you just have a not well rounded sandwich in my opinion. The beef with the vegetables was pretty tasty and filling for the time being, but I'm not sure I understand the hype. Some of my friends also mentioned their beef sandwiches being really soggy which may just be the vibe of the sandwich, but it seemed to make it less enjoyable to eat. Service was quick though which was helpful as we were on a bit of a time crunch read more

A Dipped Big Beef with Provolone and Sweet Peppers was as delicious as always. But I only received one Green Pepper in the entire sandwich, which was thoroughly drenched with Meat Gravy. Homemade Cheddar Cheese Fries and Regular Fries were very good but arrived barely warm. Diane observed that her Cheese Dog had a noticeable snap to the Dog. The Cheddar Cheese Dogs were smothered in cheese. Our order was called within five minutes of ordering, but the Fries were clearly not made to order. Nevertheless, they added to the enjoyment of our lunch. read more

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Al's is mostly known for their Italian beef sandwiches but there are other things you could try out. I only had their Italian beef but it was so good, I had to get it twice in my trip. I'd recommend ordering an Italian beef, dipped and adding hot and sweet peppers. Their sandwiches are very filling, so go when you're hungry. read more

Al's Beef - Italian beef, dipped, hot and sweet - Sandwiches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The service is excellent. The person taking our order friendly. We placed our order quickly. We got our food in less than five minutes. The food was hot and fresh. My Italian beef with provolone cheese and fries were very tasty. The meal was filling. The place is clean and though busy, wasn't too loud. I'd continue to come Al's anytime I come to Chicago! read more

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

My husband and I stopped in here for lunch on our first day in Chicago bc we wanted to try a hot beef sandwich. While we had high hopes, neither of us loved the sandwich bc it had cinnamon in the dip and we are neither one a fan of cinnamon in savory dishes. I will say that the fresh cut fries were delicious though. read more

Al's Beef - Hot beef sandwich and fresh cut fries. This is the large 9" sandwich - Sandwiches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I got my beef sweet hot and dipped with cheese. The bread is great and is probably the standout. The sweet peppers are really good and I enjoyed them. The hot peppers are also great, not as much of a kick as I would like but still fine. Dipped was a good idea since I wasn't eating in the restaurant. Not sure how you'd eat this wet since it gets SO sloppy. Goes everywhere. The biggest disappointment was the lack of flavor in the meat. It was cooked fine, it's just a ton of shredded beef. I really didn't feel like it had much flavor. When you dip it it tastes better but to be honest it kinda felt like plain beef going into plain beef broth. Just not that interesting. To be honest I just don't get the hype. Good sandwich, but not a great one. read more

This is a nice place. Good crew working here. The Chicago dog, which was OK. It was pretty good, not perfect. The fries were a nice surprise and quite tasty. I was told the beef was the best in town by a friend who has lived here for 31 years. I found it to be good but not great. I've had a few that were better, but it was very pleasant and my dining companion and I enjoyed our time here. read more

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What a unique flavor, never had anything like it. Definitely a must try while in Chicago! Service was AMAZING! The owner of that location a was super nice and helpful to us newbies of the Italian beef sandwich! read more

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Was recommended to try this spot for the iconic Italian Beef sandwich - it is a small spot with a line/steady stream of patrons, so you know it is good! We tried two varieties - the dipped and wet. I personally preferred the dipped for the full flavor profile. We also had a side of their topped fries with cheese that were divine. read more

I had to try Al's Beef since I was in Chicago and it says to be #1 for Italian Beef. I got the Italian Beef and a Chicago Dog. Both were good but I can't say it was anything special. The Italian Beef was bit more on the salty side but besides that it wasn't too bad. The Chicago dog wasn't bad either but more of the pickle, relish, onions, and tomatoes to fill the bun instead of the hot dog. read more

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

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I got a regular Italian beef sandwich with both sweet and spicy peppers and the person at the cashier recommended to have it dipped so I did. I wasn't a fan of the dip sandwich if I ordered it again I would have it dry and just dip my sandwich as I eat because the sandwich got soggy very fast and by the end of it it just evaporated from my fingers. Overall, the meat was very good. I don't know if this is a crime, but I wish it had cheese on it. But I respect it and it's glory. I don't think I would order it again, but it would be something that I take a bite of if my friend ordered it. The gravy sauce was absolutely delicious again. The sandwich would probably be way better if I just got it dry and dipped it myself. read more

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

An amazing Italian beef and Chicago dog! The beef was juicy and we added sweet peppers to the sandwich. Plenty of seating and friendly staff. read more

Delicious food! Fast service! Get the beef sandwich dipped, it's definitely worth it! read more

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

Food was fine but service was awful!!! Tried to stay and eat our food but gaslight my group of girls that he said our food was only to go and was actively kicking us out to eat on the curb 5 minutes after they closed. The manager was not happy with us being respectful eating quickly in the place and was yelling at other customers to get out ASAP instead of us having the time time quickly eat our meal. Very disappointed since there is a difference in 5 minutes versus if we were 15-30 there after closing. read more

When in Chicago YOU HAVE to go to Al's Beef. Its a staple to stop by here and try out the Italian beef sandwiches. You can either order online or in person but they work hard and fast. When we got here line wasn't too bad probably only a 5 min wait or so. Only trouble was getting a table to sit. We got two beef sandwiches. One dipped and one without with everything on it. The first bite was like a taste of heaven it was so delicious. read more

Fantastic.....simply fantastic. Have not been here in 20+ years, and my how it has changed.....they actually have chairs now! The beef was exactly what was expected - juicy, tasty, messy, and freaking wonderful! The surprise of this trip was the french fries.....hands down fantastic. If you want a true taste of Chicago, this is a must-stop dining experience. read more

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I came during lunch and there was a decent amount of seating. I got the italian beef and sausage combo and added sweet peppers. The sandwich was dry and not moist at all. I felt like I needed to drink water to wash it down. Service was nice and quick. read more

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

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The beef sandwich was tasty. Moist, not dry. The dipping sauce/gravy was tasty too. I like that there are pickles and hot peppers available too since I like to eat those to cut the grease. I'd reccomend! read more

My husband and I were visiting Chicago for his 30th birthday, and Al's Beef was on his must-visit list--and it did not disappoint! I had the regular Italian beef sandwich, wet, with everything on it, and it was absolutely incredible. The meat was tender, the bread was soft, and the flavors were out of this world. We loved it so much we went back the very next day, and now that I'm home, I'm already craving another one! This is definitely a spot I'll have to hit every time I'm in Chicago. read more

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

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I've been meaning to try Al's Beef ever since I moved to Chicago, and I finally made it over this weekend. I ordered a regular-sized Italian beef "wet" with hot peppers and provolone, the buffalo blue cheese loaded fries, and a tamale. The Italian beef was just okay for me. I know the "right" way to eat it is without cheese, but I prefer mine with cheese, which was a bit lacking in quantity. Personally, I prefer the Italian beef at Portillo's. If I go back to Al's, I'd probably try something else, like a burger or hot dog, because the regular size wasn't as filling or flavorful as I expected. Now, the buffalo blue cheese fries were on a whole different level--some of the best loaded fries I've ever had. I would absolutely order them again, no hesitation. If you're going to try one thing other than the Italian beef, make it those fries. As for the tamale, it was similar to the Italian beef--just okay for me. Overall, next time I'll definitely go for a hot dog or burger! read more

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My husband liked this place so much we came back twice during our visit to Chicago. We first ordered the Chicago dog, which was tasty but I thought it was a little salty. The fries were good though. I love the toppings. We then came back and got a beef sandwich to go. This one was amazing! So tender and flavorful. I would recommend this one over the hot dog. Service was friendly and they are fast. The guy was very patient with my questions. Bathrooms clean. read more

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

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Check out girl was polite but not very warm or helpful. Just matter of fact like we were an inconvenience. As for the food. It was 'ok'. Was disappointed based on the reviews from friends. Nothing g more than a glorified steak sandwich from Jimmy John's. read more

Of course after watching The Bear, we wanted to go to Mr. Beef. However, it was negative 7 degrees and Mr. Beef closed for the day. We took a quick jaunt over to Al's on recommendation from a friend who is Chicago native. We got the big beef with hot giardiniera and split it. I thoroughly enjoyed it, but there was a particular seasoning that my husband found to be too much. Not sure which one but it was a little off putting to him. The restaurant was FREEZING like they didn't have a heater and had a generally cold, sterile feeling. The manager seemed to be doing measurements for making changes to the space so was a little distracting while he was using his laser measure. We ate and split pretty quickly. read more

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The Italian beef at Al's was delectable - perfectly dipped and complimented with the hot giardinieria peppers. The restaurant is fast casual and our order came out fast. There's street parking available, which was a pleasant surprise. I'd definitely return. read more

Al's Beef - Jumbo Beef with Hot Giardiniera - Sandwiches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This place is pretty good. It depends on what you are looking to experience. Four of us walked from the lake, great neighborhood, little Italy, U District. We all had beef sandwiches. The beef folks is perfect. The fries are awesome. Customer service sucks. But I don't think that's important to them. The lady at the register was a bitch. I could not understand her and she ridiculed me for asking for dipping sauce. No beer. Good outside seating. If you want a hot delicious sandwich and nothing more? Stop by. read more

Al's Beef - Beef sandwich. Perfect. - Sandwiches Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Regular Beef Chicago style dipped with provolone. Great flavor, in the au jus. The bread was kind of chewy. The bread to meat ratio was off, not enough meat for the thickness of the bread. Beef was tender and flavorful. Loaded Fries Thin cut fries. Perfectly salted and enough cheese to have some on every fry bite. Bacon was fresh and plentiful. Green onions were fresh. Very tasty, overall. read more

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

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Glad to have had this as a part of our Chicago experience this weekend! It's classic Chicago vibes. Quality Italian beef. I think we learned about it from Somebody Feed Phil originally. I don't think Italian beef is my typical preference, but it was really fun to try. The fries were actually awesome. Good flavor & crisp. I'm curious about the hot dog--bet it's fantastic. The combo sandwich comes with both Italian beef and a sausage in the middle. I added provolone and ordered it dipped. It's great with the soggy bread actually. The line is super long & takes a little while, but after you order, the food comes quick. And it seems pretty fresh since they're just cranking it out nonstop. read more

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

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The staff was super friendly and helpful but the Italian beef sandwich was not good. Maybe it was an off night but that meat tasted weird. Fries were 10/10 read more

Al's Beef's hotdog is as good as the legendary Chicago hotdog in town. They call it the "Chicago Dog", which I ordered with everything. It was devine. I loved the pickled green relish that seems to be the staple. I never craved hotdogs until I tried their Chicago Dog. I can't wait to return to get another bite. I also did love their hamburger with everything. Then the topper was the best which was their traditional "regular beef," it comes "regular" wet, with the sweet peppers, and the provolone cheese. Of course, a small side of fries to top it off. This is my Chicago favorite! My favorite! read more

A week and a half ago me and my bf were in Chicago to attend a show and after I booked our hotel, I looked on the map to see what was near by to grab a bite to eat and I came across Al's Beef. I did see Mr. Beef was within walking distance, but by looking at the pictures for this place and how the line is going out the door, I just didn't think the juice was worth the squeeze at this time. In the future we would love to give them a try, but we just didn't feel like dealing with a long line. Al's was super close to us and we went over the menu before we walked over to do a to go order. When we walked in the store was clean and the staff was friendly. Being as hungry as I was I went with the big beef with provolone dry with gravy on the side and the bf went with a regular combo which is an Italian sausage and Italian beef on the same sammy. He got his with provolone and a side of sweet & hot giardiniera with gravy on the side. We got a small fry to share and I loved the hand cut and as I always said in a prior post I am a sucker for hand cut taters. The sandwich was everything I hoped for, delicious af! The beef was tender and the bread? It's just like how I like my crust when eating New York slice. It was soft and has a little chew to it and it was fresh. The flavor of the gravy was everything I look for in a good au jus. My eyes were bigger than my stomach, so I enjoyed the other half for breakfast. Normally that is something my bf will do, but it was that good that I didn't mind it in the morning. Would definitely recommend. read more

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

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