First time in Chicago so I had to try the national sandwich of Chicago! Al's beef has been serving…read moreup 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!

3-ish stars rounded up. The roast beef was a little on the dry-stringy side but the bread was…read morespongy-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.

The only reason I'm giving it a 4/5 is because for $19 I wish the sandwhich was bigger (or the…read moreprice was lower...). I'm not going to lie... I can't stop thinking about the sandwich I ate here. They have two vegetarian options on their menu and I went with the Modena sandwich. It was perfectly sweet, a little salty and had the most delicious pistachio cream. The focaccia bread it was made on was perfectly chewy as well. I wish they had more sides on their menu so I could try!

Lizzano is a true neighborhood staple--we've ordered from here and stopped in at least 10-15 times…read moresince they opened, and it never misses. The bread is always fresh, the ingredients taste high-quality, and everything just hits. Our go-tos are the Il Carnivoro, Sicilla, Piccante, and the Italino... but honestly, I'd trust anything on the menu at this point. Also, their happy hour is such an underrated gem--Wednesday through Sunday from 5-7pm. They do 50% off Italian boards (perfect for a girls' night) and $9 spritzes. We're heading there this week and already looking forward to it.

Just ordered tavern style mushroom/truffle pizza and it is truly the BEST I have ever had and I'm a…read moredeep dish Lou Malnati's fan! MUST try and thank you for making such a great pizza. We will be back!!

From the moment you walk in the door, Zarella feels like the proper Italian night out and well…read moreworth the 30 day wait to get a prime time reservation. The decor has beautiful art and dark wood all around, making it a cozy experience that's not too crowded or loud. Service is excellent and our server was attentive, making the birthday celebration of the evening extra special. The food....out of this world. One of the best tavern pizzas in the city. Food reviews: Truffle and mushroom tavern--light and well balanced. Delicate sweet notes from the red onion balance out the earthiness of the mushroom, truffle and charred crust. Cheese doesn't overwhelm the pie and compliments all ingredients with a salty bite Spicy vodka and sausage--so different than the first pie but equally as delicious! Vodka sauce has a deep flavor with only subtle heat. Sausage packs a ton of flavor. Heavier of the two pies since it had more cheese on it but my husband enjoyed Chocolate peanut butter sundae--birthday celebration treat brought by our server! Wow it's a must order. The puppy chow was an insanely smart ingredient to add for texture and bit of chocolate. Can't wait to return to try another specialty pie!

Love this little hidden gem. We have now visited the…read moreScottsdale, Arizona and Chicago, Illinois restaurants. The salad is huge! My friend and I split it, and there was still some left over. The salad is delicious and I particularly love the avocado on top and the quinoa crunch. The service was quick. You order at the counter and then they bring your food out to you. The price is reasonable. We sat outside on the patio on this beautiful spring day. Indoor seating is offered as well. Great place to pick up a healthy meal.

Love the not so fried chicken sandwich . We ordered ahead of time .it was still a few minutes so…read morethey brought it too our table! Well lit cute farm booths. Nice weather permitting outdoor tables . I wish there were more locations , I found it first in CA. I want to try the Salad some day! I love the bread . Potato salad was good. Open one I Pleasant Prairie WI lol . I love driving a distance to partake in this fave of ours !

Great place. Good prices and friendly people. If they don't have what you want, talk to them they…read morewill stock it in the future.

Delicious sandwiches ! Did carry -out x 2 while visiting Chicago ; but very nice , casual area to…read moreeat in

I had a traditional Chicago-style hot dog, fries, and a slice of their famous chocolate cake. I'm…read morenot usually a big fan of hot dogs, but this one was better than expected. The real highlight for me, though, was the chocolate cake -- incredibly soft, rich, chocolatey, and moist. It was the perfect dessert after dinner. The restaurant itself is super cool and full of old Chicago memorabilia and vintage items that make the place feel unique and fun to explore. If you're visiting town, it's worth stopping by just for the atmosphere alone. They also have a huge food selection and a full bar, so there's something for everyone. The service was great, and despite how busy the place can get, they have plenty of lines for self-service and ordering at the counter, which keeps things moving smoothly. Overall, a really fun spot to grab food while visiting Chicago.

Portillo's honestly feels like one of those classic Chicago hallmark staples that you almost have…read moreto try at least once when visiting the city. The atmosphere, history, and overall hype surrounding it definitely add to the experience. However, in my personal opinion, the ambience and reputation outweighed the actual quality of the food! I ordered the spicy chicken sandwich combo along with a classic hot dog. The customer service itself was actually very nice and prompt. The cashier helping me was friendly enough to let me sample their spicy chipotle-style sauce/spread that comes with the chicken sandwich, and honestly, that sauce was delicious. That said, I have to admit the hot dog itself was pretty underwhelming. I know Chicago-style hot dogs are iconic, but I personally felt like I've had better-tasting hot dogs from a Dodger Dog or even Costco. The relish here tasted oddly artificial to me -- almost like a strange paste consistency that I just couldn't get into. Maybe it's just my Los Angeles taste buds talking, but honestly, some of the best hot dogs I've had are from the street vendors off Hollywood Boulevard with the grilled onions, bell peppers, mustard, mayo, ketchup... you know exactly the kind I'm talking about!! Overall, I'd still recommend trying this place at least once simply because it's such a well-known Chicago institution, but for me personally, the food didn't fully live up to the hype.....

We stopped in and a coffee and quick bite for breakfast. The staff was nice and it was super cute…read moreinside! I ordered a hot tahini caramel latte with oatmilk and really really enjoyed it. I ordered the breakfast bowl and didn't really care for it. It was very very spicy (i figured it would be a little spicy but nothing like this) and the flavors didn't mix well in my opinion. It looked good, but I really wish I would've ordered something else.

Finally stopped into Fairgrounds Coffee after walking by it a hundred times. Grabbed a cold brew…read moreand a tuna avocado melt to go. The cold brew was awesome, they have several roasts on tap and even ask what kind of roast you want, which was a cool touch. Waited about 15 minutes for my sandwich, which was totally fine considering how busy it was. There's tons of seating inside, so it'd be a great spot to post up with a laptop or just relax. Tried the tuna avocado melt when I got home and it was perfect fresh, flavorful, and came with some crispy tots on the side. Solid portion and not too pricey. Definitely above-average food for a coffee shop. I'll for sure be back soon.

Egg & Cheese Bagel! Delicious food and exceptional customer service. Naval (I believe is the front…read morecashiers name if I remember correctly) and the rest of the staff was friendly, attentive, and awesome. The ambiance and vibe is great. Perfect place to hangout with friends, or spend some alone time doing work. I will definitely be returning!

I have been here before and will definitely keep coming back here for the sweet treat and the…read moredessert. It's always so good and they have a lot of seating late night to sit and yap with friends.

Great lunch/breakfast spot with fast service and simple/fresh sandwiches…read more The oven roasted turkey sandwich was great, tasted like something my grandma would make me (in a good way). Will be back.

food: really good deli for pastrami or corn beef. good portion meat in sandwiches, really like…read moreoverall consistency. i will say the pickle given wasn't my favorite as it tasted like a very light salt brine. tip: buy your own sweet pickles and add them at home service: nice staff ambiance: very small interior but i love the vibe and great for a weekday lunch or something

Well done he deli sandwiches are delicious but the wine options absolutely rock. The location is…read morewell organized and stocked, and the people are THE BEST!

Great convenience/specialty market/deli. Haha they really do it all! Amazingly huge breakfast…read moreburrito really cooked and prepared to order (though because of this and the popularity of the place, expect a wait). I wish they had salsas or condiments to go with the deli food though. Other than that, this place was fun to browse and see all the different fun items and local goods they had. Decent prices too.