17 best Italian beef sandwich spots in Chicago

17 best Italian beef sandwich spots in Chicago

The Italian Beef Sandwich originated in Chicago. It is often served on French bread with au jus, nicely seasoned thin beef slices, and toppings like hot peppers and giardiniera.

17. Freddy's Pizza - Cicero

Though Freddy's Pizza's most recommended items are the Italian ice and lemon chicken, the Italian Beef is decent and is one of the restaurant's most reviewed items on Google.

16. Jr's Red Hot - Armitage Ave

Like a few on this list, JR's Red was in the Top 20 of Yelp's list of best Italian beef sandwiches in Chicago. Their Italian Beef sandwich is served with thin slices of beef and d'amato's French bread, and the customers can choose to have them dry or dipped.

15. Johnny's Beef & Gyros - Lincoln Park

Johnny primarily focuses on serving its customers classic American and Greek Eateries. It is mainly known as a hamburger place, but one of its most recommended items is Italian Beef.

14. Roma’s Italian Beef & Sausage - Cicero Ave

Roma's is a counter-serve food establishment with a vast menu consisting of various items from pizzas, empanadas, sandwiches, and burgers. Though there is variety in the options for sandwiches, one of the most recommended ones is their Italian Beef Sandwich, made with a unique blend of spices and tender and juicy beef that is said to melt in your mouth.

13. Luke’s Italian Beef - W Jackson Blvd

Luke's Italian Beef serves Italian Cuisine other than the ionic Chicago Italian beef sandwich. Their vast menu includes sandwiches, salads, hot dogs, desserts, etc. Their Italian Beef Sandwich is made with the in-house recipe and thin, tender, and juicy beef slices.

12. Carm's Beef and Italian Ice - Polk St

Carm's Beef is a counter-serve establishment serving Items like meatballs, cheeseburgers, Italian sandwiches, and more in Little Italy since 1929. Satisfied customers often raise Carm's homemade Italian Beef Sandwich for its tender and juicy meat.

11. Pop’s Italian Beef & Sausage - Kedzie Ave

This Counter-serve establishment is available in multiple locations in Illinois, but in Chicago, it is located on Kedzie Ave. It serves Italian beef sandwiches in three sizes: Baby Beef (3 inch), Italian Beef (6 inch), and Super Beef (9 inch). Pop's Italian Beef Sandwich is wet, flavorful, and juicy.

10. Serrelli’s - North Avenue

Serrelli's is the place to visit if your goal is not just Italian eateries but also groceries. Their Italian Beef Sandwich is often praised for having a good amount of beef slices and beef juice.

9. Bob-O's Hot Dogs -Irving Park Rd

Bob's Hot Dogs is considered to serve one of the best Italian beef sandwiches in Chicago, and it was even awarded the Best Beef award by Chicago Magazine in 1978. Their Italian Beef Sandwich is served on French bread with homemade Italian beef, which is praised for its bread and flavorful meat, aus jus, and even the hot pepper mix.

8. Portillo’s - Ontario St

Portillo's fast food restaurant in Illinois is available in multiple locations like Ontario St, Elmhurst, etc. Their most recommended items are their Italian Beef Sandwich and the Chicago dog.

7. Scatchell's Beef & Pizza -Cicero

Scatchell's Italian Beef Sandwich might not be everyone's pick for the best Italian beef sandwich in Chicago, but it is definitely in many people's choice. According to Google Reviews, though the dipped Italian Beef sandwich might be a little small, the bread is soaked and holds the beef juice well without falling apart. In contrast, the beef is cut thinly, and the season makes the sandwich flavorful.

6. Tony's Italian Beef - Pulaski Rd

Tony's Italian Beef has been serving the community since 1975. This long-standing business's sandwich options include an Italian beef sandwich, a Big Italian Beef sandwich, a beef sausage combo, and more.

5. Ciccio Italian Beef - Grand Ave SA-16

Ciccio Italian Beef Sandwich might not be everyone's cup of tea, but many who have tried it do recommend it. The sandwich is served on crispier bread to ensure it doesn't become a soggy mess when using extra gravy, and the beef is slow-cooked to make it tender.

4. Mr. Beef - Orleans St

A filmy fact: Mr Beef inspired the popular television series The Bear. Now, onto their Italian Beef Sandwiches. According to a customer Adam Haas on Google review, the Italian Beef from Johnnie’s was one of the best he had ever had, and even goes on to recommend this place for a true Chicago experience.

3. Bari Foods - Grand Ave #1

Bari Foods is an Italian Deli and Grocery that offers almost everything Italian, including Italian Beef Sandwiches. Their Italian beef sandwich is enormous (even when you order the small size because it is 9") and is housemade. Customers can also have add-ons like cheese, chili, homemade peppers, etc.

2. Johnnie’s Beef - Elmwood Park

Johnnie'e Beef is a cash-only hotdog stand in Elmwood Park. Their Italian Beef Sandwich is known for its wet/dipped sandwich and flavorful, meaty beef. According to a customer Eric Dowling, the place is very much like the first season of the show, The Bear, and he further says that what makes Mr.Beef’s Italian Beef Sandwich delicious is the jus on the bread.

1. Al’s #1 Italian Beef - Multiple Location

Al's Beef has Multiple locations, and most of its branches are well known for serving good Italian beef sandwiches, but Taylor St. is more prevalent among customers. As the place credited with creating the popular Chicago dish, Italian beef, it is no surprise that its Italian Beef sandwich is one of the best in Chicago. The Beef sandwich is praised for having tender and flavorful meat.