We were in Chicago for a business trip, and this joint was recommended by our colleague who is a Chi-Towner. He said, Ricobene's is a South Side staple and a far cry from fine dining, but amazing at the same time. We had just completed a long trade show and needed some substance. My coworker ordered a slice of the deep-dish pizza, which she enjoyed. We were a little caught off guard by the crust which had a cornbread taste, but it was delicious, crunchy and not too soggy. I went with the HIGHLY RECOMMENDED breaded steak sandwich. It was super unhealthy, and super delicious, all at the same time (see picture). The show stealer were the fries, which taste fresh and had the perfect amount of grease, which we all loved. If you just want to grab something quick and you are NOT on a diet, this is your spot. The inside is very family friendly; we were amazed that it was so busy at 9pm on a Tuesday. They have a lot of family portraits hung throughout which was neat to see. Did I mention, they also serve beer. Parking across the street under the overpass also added to the ambience/experience. It is akin to somewhere the mob might bring someone before whacking them. This is a great local spot, I will be back! read more

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Heard great things about this place so I came to try it. I got the king original breaded steak with giardiniera and mozzarella cheese. To be honest I was amazed by the size and how tender the breaded steak was. The taste of the sandwich didn't amaze me and all this hype about the sandwich wasn't there at least for me. The marinara sauce was a bit of a mess since it was all over the sandwich. The hot peppers gave it flavor if not all you taste is breadcrumbs and marinara sauce. The place has a lot of room to eat inside. It was a bit warm inside. They also have a parking space in front of their building which was a good thing since they were really busy. If you order any sandwich you can upgrade for 3.99 and get a drink and fries,pasta or onion rings. I also ordered the mozzarella sticks and they come 6 in an order. They were good and had a good amount of cheese you can even do a cheese pull. The cheese fries are really good. They are freshly cut there. The Italian ice was delicious and it is not expensive at all. They have a huge selection of food on their wall menu. It would be nice if they made menus for the tables that way you ain't blocking the line to order and you ain't getting pushed around. Almost forgot they have draft beer starting at $4 bucks to $5 bucks which is not that bad and it's good quality beer. read more

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Everything is good there and the portions are enormous. Cool place to see and visit. I have had the steak sandwich, which is what they are known for, beef sandwich, and pizza slice. All of it good. The steak sandwich was very filling. read more

The sandwiches are incredible. The chicken vesuvio is 11/10 and their meatballs are so tender and juicy. Must try

A place that knows how to treat customers no matter how old !! Didn't even know they made a special breaded steak sandwich til they recommended!! Appreciate it btw !! Vibe was super homey !! Def come back lol read more

The food is the draw here. Just about everything is good here I've been eating here since 1972 and the only thing that I would change if I could is the prices. I can only afford to go there on check day, but I still enjoy it and the food is as great as it ever was Try their fried chicken dinner you can thank me later. Service is as well as can be expected there is always a bunch of hungry folks there but the reason is the food. read more

First came here in college in 1984ish and have been coming here, sometimes at great driving lengths from all over the Chicagoland area, to get a steak sandwich. It was a tiny hole in the wall back then. Now we have a huge restaurant. The steaks are still great to this day. Unfortunately, you used to get a huge sandwich which was usually two meals worth for like $8. Now, for $12 you get a much smaller sandwich. The acceleration in pricing here is far beyond inflation and puts even McDonalds and Portillos pricing to shame. I used to get fries with it religiously but $20 for fast food for one just isn't something I can support. Love these folks but this place has lost its way. read more

Felt like I was inside an alternate Portillos. Ordered, went to wash hands, and the food was ready. We got the breaded steak sandwich and the vesuvio Italian classic. When they said the king size was 8" we thought it wouldn't be enough but were we wrong. This came out and was massive. The steak was nicely breaded and plentiful. Cheese melted all over and the bread not too soft. The vesuvio had a perfectly breaded chicken breast with the right amount of onions and tomatoes. It also came with mayo that tied everything together. Both sandwiches were massive and delicious. Not the cheapest but really fast and worth the visit. read more

Ricobene's - King Size Breaded Steak Sandwich - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Okay so I finally caved in and tried this quaint Italian restaurant a while back -- GREAT DECISION, and I shouldn't have waited. At the outset the staff is courteous and friendly. The food? Well here ya go: The Combination Beef & Sausage was traditional and delicious. The Chicken Parmesan classic and perfectly seasoned. The pizza well above average -- but this is Chicago and there are tons of good pizza options. The star of the show was the incredibly unique "Original" *KING SIZE Breaded Steak Sandwich." It sounded like too much which is why I've driven by this place hundreds of times without stopping. Big mistake! What a treat that sandwich was. Quite an experience. read more

I used to live in Chicago so Ricobene is one of my favorite restaurants in the world. There used to be a few in the burbs too but if I remember correctly, I think this is the last one in Chicago. Whenever I am in the area, I have to get either their Breaded steak with mozzarella cheese, hot AND sweet peppers and extra red sauce OR their Double hot wings with a bed of fries on the bottom. The only reason why I gave them 3 stars this time is my bed of fries was sooooo skimpy probably no more than 10 fries. Especially with the food prices going up, I thought at least I would get the same amount as before which I am a bit disappointed. As you can see in the picture. There were basically NO FRIES visible. However food was still good and I would still go back if I am in the area. I just wish they would pay more attention with the amount of food they give since they are the last Ricobene's and nowadays there are so many choices and competition. I just continue to support their business because it's what I grew up with but not everyone likes 10 pieces of fries under their 15 wings. Hopefully next time will be better. read more

Ricobene's - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The vesuvio chicken sandwich was ok. The chicken was overcooked. It was too heavy on the butter and garlic which made it greasy. The size of a regular is good. read more

Ricobene's - Vesuvio Italian Chicken Sandwich - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Amazing food!! Enjoyed in moderation or your waistline will vanish as quickly as one of their sandwiches!

Absolute Chicago staple. The food is great and the service is fantastic. The ambience is even better. This place honestly reminds me of Manny's Deli but for Italian. read more

Ricobene's - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I had been seeing the world famous Ricobene's arm-length sandwiches all over my FYP and I just had to try it. I've been living in Chicago for a long time, and I can't believe I've never been here before. I believe this place was even featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives but don't quote me on that. There's a free parking lot right across the street along with plenty of paid street parking. This isn't your typical sit-down restaurant, rather it's order from the counter, wait for your food, and then find a table yourself. The menu is extensive, and there is so much to choose from! I highly recommend you try their subs though. The decor is kinda typical for a pizza place, but they've added a few touches here and there. I spent a few minutes looking around all the photos they had on the walls and it's definitely entertaining. The two most recommended sandwiches were the Breaded Steak and the Vesuvio Italian Classic. The king size is HUGE, but can feed and fill-up two to three people easily. The sandwich is stuffed to the brim, so it can be slightly difficult to eat and it can get really messy. Grab lots of napkins! The Breaded Steak wasn't really all it's hyped up to be, but the Vesuvio was mouthwatering delicious. It was by far the favorite of the night. I don't recommend you get fries because it felt like I was eating oil straight out of the fryer. This was definitely an experience! Worth a try if you're in the area. Till next time! read more

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You just need to try the Breaded steak sandwich and Deep dish pizza. Meat try in a lifetime read more

Ricobene's - Deep deep pizza - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Terrible customer service. Walked in and had to wait an hour for food. Order was placed way before other customers and wasn't served atleast 40 people served before I got my sandwich. Doesn't take 50 minutes for 6 mozzarella sticks! The waiters also have bad service and attitudes. Come here with your own judgment. read more

A great late night spot!! Stopped here after a late night out. Got a slice of their pizza and wow!! I think it saved me from a crazy hangover!! The menu is pretty great if you don't want pizza. There are plenty of tables and a parking lot across the street! read more

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The food is great and their servers are wonderful.Cassy you did. A wonderful for being so patient with a difficult woman.lol you are very sweet. I ordered the steak sandwich they were so good made it a combo and zucchini sticks with marinara. All good fantastic. Now if I could ride the bus again to the *,Sox game. Iiss that. read more

The food used to be good. Now the steak sandwiches aren't even toasted and the cheese isn't even melted. Please go back to your old recipes/ways. A long time customer. read more

I was told this is the place to.go for sandwiches in Chicago, and I agree. I ordered (2) Giant Breaded steak sandwiches and the mozzarella sticks for a family of (4) and it was more than enough for everyone. The sandwiches was really good. The wife didn't like it as much as me and the boys did, but she doesn't really like marinara on sandwiches, so take that with a grain of salt. The service was decent and the restaurant itself was pretty nice overall. If you are visiting Chicago, I would definitely recommend Ricobene's. read more

Good, affordable, Chicago pizza joint. Can always come in and grab a good sandwich or pizza by the slice and a nice Italian Ice. read more

Ricobene's - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Ordered 3 different giant sandwiches to share. Breaded steak chicken Parmesan and Vesuvius Thought breaded steak which that's what they are famous for would be my favorite but it was not feel It was a little tough and not a lot of flavor the chicken Parmesan was my favorite and recommend Ordered arancini 2 per order not very flavorful Big place easy to park lot across the street. Staff was good read more

This is a staple of the south side. My favorite thing on the menu is a breaded steak sandwich on garlic bread with cheese and hot peppers. And make sure it's on garlic bread or you miss out on the whole experience. It's so delicious and unhealthy but worth it. They also have great slices !! Definitely try it out if you're in the area. read more

Ricobene's - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I have been coming to ricobene's since I was a little girl with my mother I took my son for the first time Friday I think that was August the 8th or the 9th I'm writing this review Saturday I was very disappointed my husband couldn't eat the pizza I think it was spoiled my steak sandwich l was unable to eat it's just my opinion only try it for yourself but my son hamburger he said was delicious the shake was delicious read more

Gotta play tourist and order a deep dish pizza while in Chicago. Also gotta order a cannoli when cannoli is on the menu (one of my all-time favorite desserts). Also (also) gotta try the breaded steak sandwich since apparently it's a famous item here. Loved the crispy crust of the deep dish pizza, but the fixings were kinda bland. There wasn't much cheese either. Appreciated that the cannoli tasted like an actual cannoli (filling didn't taste like straight frosting like in cannoli that I've had at other places). I can kinda see why people love the breaded steak sandwich; the bread was like soft and chewy pizza bread (so good!) and the marinara sauce was mighty flavorful. The breaded steak didn't do much for me though since it didn't have much of a taste to it (it was just *there*). Perhaps I would've loved the meatball sandwich here much better. Very accommodating delivery service. I had the food delivered to the hotel that I was staying at and the friendly delivery man was very willing to wait at the hotel drop-off loop while I was heading down there from my hotel room. Overall glad that I tried this local business. Pretty decent spot for food in the area! read more

Ricobene's - Four seasons deep dish pizza - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

When I was researching iconic foods to eat in Chicago, other than deep-dish pizza many articles mentioned Ricobene's breaded steak sandwich. Ricobene's is located in Chinatown and can be reached in multiple ways including but not limited to the Red Line, the Green Line, and the 62 bus. When you walk inside it's a huge space with lots of tables. Along with their sandwiches they also sell deep-dish by the slice, normal thin crust pizza, burgers, salads, and sides. We ordered the original king breaded steak ($16.99) and added on sweet peppers and mozzarella ($1 each). The steak was good and the sandwich got messy. The bread got a little soggy but was mostly fine since it was just part of the experience. It felt like I was eating a pizza with the sauce, cheese, and bread but with an added cutlet on top. There was a lot of meat in this sandwich which I loved since that's their money maker. Our order came out in minutes which was nice. My only wish is that the cheese was melted when eating the sandwich. This place is a Chicago staple and if you're going to come here once, make sure you get their breaded sandwich. read more

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Great place to eat before a sox game! Been coming here for years with my husband and we usually always get the breaded steak sandwich with giardanera peppers and fries, but this time I decided to get their chicken parmigiana sandwich and is very tasty! I'm also a big fan of their pizzas and the kids like the hot dogs too! read more

Ricobene's - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Ricobene's is a staple food stop for my boyfriend and I because we live right down the street. We have tried almost everything on the menu. We keep coming back to get their pizza and burgers whenever we get a craving. When the pizzas come out fresh from the oven, they are next level. Get the thin crust if you like your pizza to be a bit more crunchy. Get the pan if you feeling the cheesy, doughy ( but not too doughy c; ) vibes. There is a good variety of toppings to choose from and there is a yummy vegetarian (mushrooms & spinach) option too. If you choose to dine in, there's a lot of tables to sit at. There is also complementary water and utensils that you can grab yourself. All in all, if you are in the Chicago area, Rico's is a must stop if you are a pizza fan. read more

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It's been over a decade since I've been back and the King size Breaded steak is still huge and wonderful! The cheese fries came in a generous portion too. We got our food pretty quickly and the place was lively on a Friday night at 11pm. Definitely must bring out of town foodies as their breaded steak sandwich is a must :) read more

Ricobene's - King Size Breaded Steak Sandwich - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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After living in Chicago for several years, I finally made my way out to Ricobene's to try their famous breaded steak sandwich. Honestly, I can't say I've ever had anything like it. Double (maybe triple) folded breaded steak stuffed into a thin roll, doused with tomato sauce and a healthy serving of mozzarella... sheesh. Think of an over the top meatball sandwich with the meatball subbed for a giant breaded steak. Tasty, yes. Messy af, yes. Worth a try, definitely. I think if I could do over, I'd ask for the tomato sauce on the side. Initial bites you get a nice crunch from the breading, but as you progress it gets soggier and messier. Most disappointing thing was the fries we ordered on the side. Soggy, under seasoned, but possibly intentional after inhaling the sandwich and all that goodness. In addition, we had also grabbed a slice of pizza. They offer pizza by the slice and it was quite enjoyable (toddler approved). There's a dedicated parking lot across the street which I had missed and ended up parking on the street around the corner. Don't be a n00b like me. It's a quick and casual spot. Food comes out almost instantaneous. Last question... where the baby wipes at? Glad I was finally able to check this one off the list. 'Til next time, cheers! read more

Ricobene's - King Size Breaded Steak Sandwich - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Stopped in after a concert and was hungry. We were hungry and ordered a feast lol. Steak sandwich was A++. Chili cheese fries A++. Breaded mushrooms C. Meatball sandwich was a B. If you're hungry late at night this is the place. read more

We went at 7:30 on a Saturday so I get the hour wait for an online order. Decided to grab two slices while we waited. There are four or five different pizzas out so I ask the girl serving them what two of them were & apparently she was tired of answering that question & it showed. $9.50 for two slices of good pan pizza is not bad! Back to the online order...a king breaded steak sandwich, a king chicken vesuvio sandwich, a king meatball sandwich, a pizza puff & three cheese fries. Sandwiches come out & the guys at the counter tell us we're just waiting for the cheese fries. I look in the bag & notice no pizza puff. Counter guy says, 'oh & the pizza puff'. Fries come out & we remind them about the missing pizza puff. Counter guy unpacks the bag, finds no pizza puff, re packs the bag, gets the manager. Manager unpacks the bag, surprise - no pizza puff, re packs the bag. Ten minute wait for the pizza puff. The manager was nice about it all at least. As far as the restaurant itself, lots of tables, decent space in between. All of the food was good, I will say that! Perfect amount of sauce on the steak sandwich, bread not too soggy. Chicken was also good, love the garlic butter on the bread. Meatball sandwich was a little saucy but not bad. Cheese fries are cheese fries. The pizza puff was not one of those frozen numbers you get at sub shop, was more like a homemade pizza pocket. Pizza was good! If you get the chance, try the 'spinach lasagna' pizza. Great combination of spinach & ricotta. Had to try the place once but we probably won't be back. read more

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Ricobene's is truly a Chicago institution I've been to all my life like others. I remember this place before they added that extra dining area to the left of those hard to open doors. They made the doors harder to open to help burn the calories. I'm not saying they're the best or the fastest but they feel like home. You can't expect a fast turn around for good food even if you consider it fast food. They have a pretty varied menu that had me coming back multiple times to try different things. If you havent ventured south of the city you might have seen these guys at the Taste of Chicago with their Breaded steak sandwich. Im a psuedo fan of the sandwich, it's just too big for me. My staples include their soup of the day cream of chicken with rice, chilli or cheese fries. They arent really crispy if thats what you're looking for but theyre good in their own way. Their onion rings include actual onion so you feel no guilt ordering them. Their cheeseburger is pretty good, I mean it's not like those bougee burgers topped with a cage free egg or mineral watered Avocados or anything but it's pretty good. I had a recent bout of the cooties and needed some chicken soup for my soul or sore throat. It tastes like it's made from scratch, not frozen or from a can. It's not the best soup but it was definitely soothing for my throat. The soup was so hot part of my Styrofoam cup was melted in. That was a little concerning to be honest. They offer free parking across the street and street parking is ample. I used a giftcard recently and went over the amount and the cashier didn't bother charging me the remaining amount. The employees in the kitchen look like they're scrambling non stop and the rest of the employees outside seem friendly. I'm honestly not sure if everything tastes good to me because of nostalgia so you should head down yourself and decide. read more

Ricobene's - Chicken noodle soup container melted in... - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Sicilian beef is a classic ! I try to grab one at least 2x a month ! Their food is a Chicago staple

A Chicago icon. The breaded steak sandwich is a staple and not to be the missed. The chicken vesuvio sandwich is a close second. No matter which one you order, make sure you ask for it on garlic bread with cheese. Somehow we always manage to run into someone we know even though we live in the burbs, which is a testament to how popular this place is. Don't stray off the breaded sandwiches and pizza... I've regretted it every time cause those other items lack the flavor that their well known menu items have. read more

Ricobene's - Order counter - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great selection of Italian sausage. Some are by special order when you grill these there is very little grease.

The famous Steak sandwich is still good. I will be back again! Its order and pick up at the counter. Pizza still sold by the slice and the atmosphere is fun. read more

Like a Portillos run by teens-- famous breaded steak was a chewy wet tomato sauce roll, a lot like the bathrooms (they just had a stronger scent of piss). Employees could give a f-- if you need anything. Sad, heard good things but just an overpriced fast food joint set in a stinky garbage can. Never heading back. read more

I got their signature breaded steak sandwich with regular fries. It's a simple formula, tasty sandwich. The "red gravy" tastes like marinara. I always like when there's not too much bread. Good portions of folded steak, not just one thin slice. Are the fries cooked in peanut oil? Whatever it is is delicious. Spacious interior with tables not packed too closely together. Staff were nice. read more

Ricobene's - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Fantastic south side eatery. Brings back memories from the late '80's and early '90's when they were in the brick building under the freeway about a block from the current location. Great food and wonderful service. read more