Besides Chicago-style lasagna/pizza, the other must-eat Chicago delicacy is the Italian Beef Sandwich. They say the best can be had at Al's Beef in Little Italy (where else would it be located?). It's the typical Italian eatery, and by that, I mean photos of every famous Italian who ever passed through Chicago covering its walls. If I were you, I'd order mine with peppers (otherwise, it may be a little bland) and dry (otherwise, it may be a super hot mess).

Good joint to grab a classic Italian Beef. It was packed inside so we caught a bench in the parking lot, as it's located in a nice spot. Sandwich was flavorful but the actually beef could've been a bit more tender. Definitely recommend getting it dipped.

Was visiting family in Michigan so drove to Chicago for the day. We wanted to try a Chicago Dog and this place seems like the real deal! Got the combo plus we shared a beef sandwich. Great food but my only complaint is the fries are soggy! But who am I to complain because you can just tell this place is a Chicago staple! Would I come back?...Yes!

There are many great eats rooted in Chicago's history and Al's Beef is no exception to that. Unlike the deep dish pizza where you could use a fork/knife, you just have to dive into the deep end with these Italian beef sandwiches. As soon as you walk inside you can see and feel the history flowing through the walls with all of the pics of celebrities that frequent this local establishment. The interior is just as original and dark as their legendary recipe. My fiancé and I shared the Al's Big Beef loaded with both the sweet and giardiniera peppers with a side of fries. Don't forget to ask them to have the sandwich dipped in their au jus/gravy. If you don't you're not getting the full experience! As you unwrap your sandwich you can see the juices permeating through the paper which is a good sign that the bread really soaked up all of the delicious flavor. Each bite is incredibly MEATY and tender with juice coating the inside of your mouth so it never gets dry. The fries are actually well seasoned and the slight crispy exterior pairs well with this messy yet addicting sandwich. The only reason I knocked off a star is because the staff was not as lively and welcoming as I had seen online. Even when I saw the owner and showed my excitement it seemed impossible to get a smile back and almost felt like the staff just wanted to get us out the door even though there was no line behind us. Overall the food is worth a trip, but the entire staff could certainly have been more friendly.

I mean come on, who doesn't love Al's Beefs? They do it right every time. Whew whenever I'm craving an Italian beef, this is where I go. This location has been open since 1938. So with that being said it's the BEST! Made fresh and hot every time. Italian beef, with nacho cheese slightly dip it every time. Yum. I also love their natural fries.

The hype about Italian beef is a real thing if you're not from the Midwest. I grew up not knowing what Italian beef was and found out from a friend I know that lives in Chicago. Italian beef at Al's is very good, the spice, sauce, and bread all come together for a classic sandwich. Al's is famous and they live up to Chicago's best.

Came here on a whim after driving to Mario's Italian Ice (a must try) and saw this place from across the street. What better place to stop and try a beef dip sandwich than in little Italy? Have to say this place had to have been one of the top meals we tried while visiting Chicago. Ordered the Italian beef and got it dipped in au jus. The meat was well seasoned, tender, and the au jus with the peppers really made the sandwich come together. If you're a texture person, obviously a sandwich dipped in au jus won't be for you as of course it will make the bread soggy. The star of the show here for me though was their polish hotdog. It came on a soft poppy seed bun, well seasoned polish dog, good amount of onions, relish, and mustard. It was so good I ate two. I wish we could have visited this place at the start of our trip because we definitely would have made the trip back more than once. This place definitely feels like it been a Chicago staple for years, nothing seems like it's been renovated for quite sometime but it adds to the character of the place. A few counter style seats available and some picnic tables outside but definitely more of a grab and go type of spot.

Ha! I finally made it back to Chicago to avenge my food foible! After a long day touring, Al's Beef delivery sounded like the perfect remedy, and this time it certainly was! I don't love delivery apps, but what they provide is a more thorough way to browse a menu! Hahahaha not this time Al! I got one of the best sandwiches of all time! Simply the big beef with hot peppers and provolone added. Dipped of course! The delivery came lightning fast and just long enough my sandwich was perfectly soggy- YES THAT'S A THING! Hot peppers totally worked in harmony with the insanely savoury beef (do not make the mistake of added a sausage *combo*). The beef and bun are so tender and juicy, you don't want to mess with the recipe!

BACKGROUND When a tourist (like me) inevitably asks, "What food do I have to try when I visit Chicago?", the answer usually includes Italian beef since it originated from Chicago and is now considered a staple of the Windy City. There's contention about which restaurant has the best Italian beef, but after sifting through many reviews and comments, Al's Beef, specifically the one on Taylor Street, came up often. I also chose this spot because it's not super out of the way, and it's right across the street from Mario's Italian Lemonade, another highly recommended restaurant, which I planned to hit up after. My friend and I arrived at around 5:00 PM on a Wednesday. There was one small group already eating in the corner, but nobody was in line. When I walked in, the first thing I noticed was that the interior seemed a little bit dingy and had an old-fashioned vibe, exemplified by the pictures hanging up on the wall and their menu sign design. FOOD Because I've never had Italian beef before, I did some research about the most traditional order beforehand. I ended up ordering "beef, dipped, hot", referring to the regular Italian beef ($9.25), dipped in jus, with hot peppers (giardiniera) ($0.90). The beef was very tender. And because I requested dipped, the bread was a little soft and moist but not sopping wet. This was my first time having giardiniera, and it was just okay; I'd probably try sweet peppers next time just to compare. Eating this dish was messy, so I'd recommend just going for it since there's no way to eat it prim and proper. Just make sure to have napkins close at hand. Now that I've tried Italian beef, I probably wouldn't go out of my way to get it again (don't crucify me, native Chicagoans), but it was great to experience it at least once. SERVICE After walking in, we stood in front of the counter so we could look up at the menu sign. The employee only waited a couple of minutes before abruptly asking if we were ready to order. That irked me slightly since we would obviously go up to the counter once we finished deciding. And there was nobody waiting behind us in line, so there wasn't any reason to rush us. But at least the service was quick, and they handed us the food while we were paying for the order. They don't ask for a tip, but there is a tip jar if you're feeling openhanded. TIPS Note that this establishment is supposedly cash-only (I didn't try paying with a card), but there is an ATM inside if you forget to bring cash, but beware of the service fee mentioned in other Yelp reviews. If you want to eat inside, there is a corner with counter space and bar stools. Alternatively, if you want to eat outside, there are picnic tables in front of and next to the restaurant.