Truth be told. I have never had a Chicago dog. Sure, I have had hot dogs. But a Chicago dog? A genuine Chicago dog? Nope. So I had to make sure that, while staying in downtown Chicago, I found a spot within walking distance where I could enjoy one. Luke's did the job I needed it to do: I got to enjoy a Chicago dog. Luke's does come off as a bit touristy, with bright, cartoon-like decor that sometimes feels like a cross between a Looney Tunes cartoon and a 50s diner. I went to Luke's way after lunch hour, after I needed a break from staring at a screen for hours, wanting to claw my eyes out. I could have opted for a Chicago beef, but I went for the Dog instead because that was what I was after. Aesthetically, it was pretty no-thrills, but flavor-wise, it was good. I washed it down with a root beer. It was a decent experience. I didn't wait long for my dog. Granted, this wasn't during the lunch hour, but I still didn't have to wait more than a couple of minutes, which makes sense since I was just getting a Chicago dog. But I digress. I enjoyed my dog. And all was right in the universe. read more

In town for a conference and had to try a hot Italian beef sandwich. This was a staple location and food. Overall quick process to order. And the sandwiches came out quick. Prices are moderate. The food was a tad bit bland. The fries needed more salt and more salt on the sandwich. There was only ketchup condiment option. There was gross discoloration on the ice dispenser. So just got water without ice. Really good business model. Limited options. Do the sandwiches right. Overall a good place to try to get that traditional beef sandwich. read more

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Started coming here for the Italians beefs and I go back often for their Maxwell polish sausage, both are great but I give the nod to the Maxwell. Don't sleep on the chicken Caesar sandwich, flavorful and filling! Always quick service and it's a nice place to dine in as well. read more

Luke's Italian Beef - 1/2 Chicken Caesar Sandwich - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The perfect spot to grab a Chicago Dog and enjoy some fun, classic diner vibes! The hot dog was delicious, and you can't beat getting a hot dog + a drink for around $10. Such a fun, affordable stop! read more

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Nice little hole in the wall. I ordered an Italian Beef Sandwich and an Italian Personal Pan pizza. The sandwich was moist and beef was tender. The Italian personal pan was meaty, cheesy and full of sauce and the crust was perfectly baked. The staff was efficient and friendly. read more

Luke's Italian Beef - Italian Beef Sandwich - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Wandered over from my hotel with some colleagues. I had the obligatory Italian beef sandwich with hot and sweet peppers. Absolutely delicious. Bread was fantastic and the spice level just on the edge of dang. Visiting the area? This is a solid option! The line ebbs and flows with people at lunchtime always a good sign with all the options in the city. read more

Luke's Italian Beef - Classic Italian Beef Sandwich with Hot and Sweet Peppers. Wet upon request. - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Disappointing. Nice atmosphere, fast service, reasonable prices, hot food. Mediocre taste. I had two slices of pepperoni. They were hot and the first bite was good, however as the meal progressed, I found, I really couldn't finish the slices. The sauce was too sweet. She had the minestrone soup. It was very hot. When asked how it was her reply was "it was soup." Maybe other things on the menu are better. I don't think we will be back. Would recommend that you look at other options nearby. read more

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We came here on a Saturday morning around 11am for a quick bite. The service was quick and the staff was polite. Our food was ready before we turned around to go find a seat. The Chicago Style All Beef Vienna Dog was simple and good. There were so many poppy seeds and I'm not used to having those on my hot dog bun, but the hot dog was great overall. Definitely something to check off while you're in Chicago. The Italian Beef sandwich with American cheese, sweet peppers, and hot peppers was beefy, flavorful, and we loved the combination of the hot and sweet peppers. The restaurant started to fill up as time went by. Good experience overall read more

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I'm not a huge fan of the Italian Beef sandwich to begin with, but having tried several spots, Luke's Italian Beef isn't anything special. The interior was very well decorated, and it seemed like a cool place to meet up, but the food itself was fairly average. To put it in perspective, in the world of subs I would say it is kind of like Subway. Not necessarily bad, but it has nothing that distinguishes it from other spots that might taste better overall. read more

Luke's Italian Beef - Italian Beef Sandwich - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

While exploring The Loop, I stopped by Luke's Italian Beef to try one of Chicago's iconic sandwiches. I ordered the Italian beef, and the first thing that stood out was the speed of service. From the moment I placed my order to the moment the sandwich was handed to me, it couldn't have been more than 10 seconds. The quick turnaround was impressive, but it also made me wonder whether the sandwich had been fully prepared beforehand or simply assembled from pre-portioned ingredients. While that certainly helps keep the line moving, it may have contributed to the overall experience feeling a bit less fresh than I expected. The Italian beef itself was decent and satisfied the craving, with tender beef and the classic Chicago-style flavors you'd expect. However, it didn't particularly stand out compared to some of the other Italian beef spots in the city. It was good enough for a quick lunch in the area, but not necessarily something I'd go out of my way for. Overall, Luke's is convenient, fast, and gets the job done if you're in The Loop and looking for a classic Chicago sandwich, but the food and experience were ultimately just average for me. read more

Luke's Italian Beef - Italian Beef - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Really great Italian beef, could be dipped slightly more. Yet overall great with spicy and sweet peppers, plus mozzarella. Spacious dining space and lots of unique memorabilia inside. Unique interior. Service was quick too. read more

Luke's Italian Beef - Italian Beef Sandwich - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Nothing bad but also not good. Don't go out of your way for this for sure. This was suggested by a local so we took the referral. If it's the only thing you have time for, sure it'll be fine. The beef in the italian beef was bland. I didn't get it wet but it was still moist and the au jus was not flavorful enough. Toppings were fine, sweet, hot, w/cheese. Hot dog (everything on it) was basic. It wasn't our first italian beef or dog of the trip. Service was nice and place is clean, but note there's no bathroom for customers. read more

I'm not sure if this place caters more to tourists or locals, but it got packed regardless! The Italian beef was so delicious, but I shouldn't have gotten the hilt peppers - that's a kind of hot I really can't handle haha! The chicken parm sandwich really didn't hit though, kinda dry and not much flavor, I wouldn't recommend it, stick to the classics. We got there just before the lunch crowd came in, there's a good amount of seating but it's still not a very big space. If you want to grab a quick lunch near Willis Tower rather than in Willis Tower, it's a good choice for Italian beef! read more

Luke's Italian Beef - Inside at lunchtime - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

It was...dry. I got The Italian beef sandwich with mozzarella based on the employee's recommendation. The bun was wet enough to barely hold together but the beef itself was dry and flavorless. The fries were good though. I wish I had gone someplace else for my first Italian beef sandwich tbh. The decor is cute though, so there's that. read more

First Chicago hot dog, DELICIOUS! Peppers were just the right spice too! !!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!

Glad I came to see the bright green relish for myself, first time eating a hotdog Chicago style and I must say I was not disappointed. read more

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I had my best and first Chicago hot dog at Luke's and it was amazinggggggg!!! So good! I will definitely return again when I'm back in town. read more

Luke's Italian Beef - Chicago hot dog - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Sausage pizza slice was overpriced and tasteless. it actually fell apart, so the cheese/sausage part slipped off the crust!!!!! beef sandwich was bland and fell apart in moments. full of fat and gristle. sorry, not going back read more

Luke's found You when I needed You. Decent sized hot dog stand. Pizza, beef, hamburgers, and dogs. Not fancy, but not a dive either. A slice & a pop cost me $10 or $11 Red & white table cloths and bilevel. They were convenient and I was hungry. read more

Just go somewhere else.. Everything is mid or worse. Chili cheese fries taste like canned beans and fries. Beef sandwich lacks flavor and only decent thing was the hot dog but there's way better options. Not to mention aby sauce or chili costs $1 extra read more

Stopped in here after checking into the Hilton across the street. The service was straightforward and as many people mentioned my food was already prepared by the time my transaction went through. I got an Italian Beef Sandwich with Hot Peppers for here and by the time I opened my sandwich the bread was soaked in grease and juice. The beef itself was rather bland and I wish there were more hot peppers added to my sandwich. You can see in the photo how much grease and juice was there by the time I unwrapped and finished my sandwich Also they have a 3% surcharge on all credit card transactions read more

Luke's Italian Beef - Italian Beef Sandwich - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Very fun interior decorating. Beef was decent but not the best. Fries were good and hot- very reminiscent of McD's. Skimpy on the giardiniera tho. Also as a side note: $10 street metered parking for 1.5 hours is a definite negative. read more

Luke's Italian Beef - Inside decor - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The best beef you can get in the loop proper. Lukes is a regular lunch staple for me and for good reason. The cashiers are great and the hot and sweet dipped beef is tasty. read more

Representing 2021 in alphabet series, L is for Luke's Italian Beef. A friend & I were in Chicago on vacation. I had seen the Hancock Tower before he got there. He wanted to see the Willis Tower. I said I'm good, I went to one tower, and the one I read with the better views. But he was dead set on going to the tallest. But in my opinion, when you're that high up what's 100' here or there going to make any real difference. I did my own thing, and we met back up afterward. We went to Luke's for lunch. Wow, the Italian beef sandwich was excellent. If I had been smart, I would've taken a pic of my delicious sandwich, but I wasn't smart in this case, but got pics of the menu & outside. This was an iconic Chicago staple people should try. If I was back in Chicago, I'd go back to Luke's. read more

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I stopped in for a quick bite while I was walking around the city. The deli has sandwiches, pasta, and pizza. Although I can't eat beef, this place was considered the place to go for their Italian beef sandwich. I instead got a turkey sandwich that came with their house made Italian house sauce which paired perfectly with everything in the sandwich. By the time I finished paying sandwich was already wrapped and ready to go! read more

Luke's Italian Beef - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Had the Chicago style beef sandwich with hot peppers and American cheese. I liked it. The peppers were spicy and added a lot of flavor to sandwich. The beef was tasty as well. Loved the roll, very soft and not an overwhelming amount of bread. The fries are really good as well. Classic diner with lots of Chicago sports memorabilia. Lots of seating. Nice service. Food came out quickly. read more

I was recommended Luke's from a friend from Chicago! Superb Italian beef sandwiches, dipped in au jus! Mmm ! Service is fast! The colorful restaurant is appealing. It's a reasonable restaurant in a high dollar neighborhood. Wonderful experience! read more

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In town and saw Luke's and looked interesting. Food (4/5) Italian Beef - heard this was the one to try and I enjoyed it. The beef has flavour and was nice and moist. Yeah it's oily and bit messy but that's way it's supposed to be. Add in some cheese, green and red peppers and it's a nice mix. Service (4/5) Pretty quick turnaround and no issues. Atmosphere (4/5) It's a kitschy kind of Italian diner look but bright , colourful and open. Overall (4/5) I would come back and recommend. read more

Luke's Italian Beef - Interior - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Good hotdog and beef joint. Great location and ample room to sit. Not the best, but a little better than the average Chicago dog. read more

Luke's Italian Beef - Interior - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We got a Chicago dog, Italian beef with sweet peppers, polish dog, and fries. The best thing was the Polish dog- def recommend. Everything else was ok. Fries stayed piping hot. Service was very quick which was nice. It's a retro diner which is cool. read more

Thanks for the 'heads up' Lukes. By the way, the food was amazing and very reasonably priced. read more

Luke's Italian Beef - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Located on W. Jackson Blvd. and S. Wells St. in the Loop. We were on a "foodie tour," and our guide introduced us to Luke's. You go up to the order window, pick up your food and seat yourself. We had their 'Chicago Style All Beef Vienna' hotdog, which is served on a poppy seed bun with relish, onion, mustard, pickle, tomato, celery, salt and sport peppers. As Californian, I expected to have it with ketchup, but I wanted to have it just how it is, Chicago-Style, and I'm glad I left the ketchup out. The bread was so soft, and the hotdog was simply delicious! They serve so many other food options such as pizza, calzones, sandwiches, burgers, pasta, fries, and salads. They even have a couple of meatless options. The restaurant has a classic vibe to this Italian spot. It was very full when we arrived during lunchtime, but there's plenty of seating. I can't wait to try other menu items. read more

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Got an Italian beef with hot peppers first thing in the morning, and Luke's was okay. The beef was cooked to well done, so maybe a little on the dry side for my taste? The gravy was helpful, but absorbed more into the bread instead of back into the meat. The meat itself is a neutral base for the peppers, but could have used some more of its own flavor. Good location for loop activities, but I think there are better Italian beef shops out there. read more

Luke's Italian Beef - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Not sure what happened to this place but it used to be an easy 5 out of 5 every time with probably a top 5 beef sandwich in the city. HOWEVER, something changed and I've had it 3 times in the last year and every time I go away disappointed. There is no taste to the beef or the hot giardiniera. Fries are still good but sadly this place has fallen off a cliff. read more

Luke's Italian Beef - Italian Beef Sandwich - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Wow...my eyes have been opened... Suburbs guy here and i thought it began and ended with Portillo's or Buona for Italian Beef. Wrong!! Stopped in for a quick sandwich before my train. Must of walked past Luke's 100 times. Place was cool, clean, staff was friendly and efficient. Felipa V was really awesome especially. Service was quick and, man, the sandwich was out of this world! Thanks again, Luke's...i will walk by no longer...you are now a stop!! read more

The line moves fast here and service is quick and relatively friendly. The food has flavor and the decor is cool. There is good seating. The only thing that I would say is that their italian beef sandwich is a bit deceiving in price as it is just the bread and meat, anything else is extra. I also wish that their italian beef was more wet. The photo is a bit deceiving because it was moist on the outside but on the inside it was super dry. read more

Luke's Italian Beef - Italian Beef Sandwich - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The hot dogs were great and the seating was awesome. The only recommendation would be to have music in the dining space. It was quiet and odd. read more

Luke's Italian Beef - Perfect - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Such a fun spot! Great Italian beef sandwich here and love the decorations they have up. Service is quick and prices are pretty reasonable especially for the portion size. They also have chicago style hot dogs and pizza. read more

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I love Luke's Italian Beef! It's located in the South Loop downtown on Jackson. I'm honestly surprised I've never reviewed it since I went here so many times. The Italian Beef Sandwiches are the best - make sure to get it dipped in the gravy with hot peppers - delicious. I also really enjoy the pizza & fries there. On Fridays, they have a pepper and egg sandwich which is also amazing. I definitely recommend. P.S - bring cash to avoid the credit/debit card service charge. read more

Luke's Italian Beef - Menu - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Beef with spicy peppers and American cheese which was different and more like gasp a Philly style sandwich not to be named. Huge side of fries that could have been for 3 people. Fast service, not overly busy at 1PM. Not the best but not nad either. read more