Chicago Italian Beef

Chicago is home to a regional sandwich delicacy called "Italian Beef" which is marinated beef, piled onto sliced Italian bread, topped with peppers, and with "juice" as requested.

As with most Chicago hot dog stands, Italian beef stands are typically single location, sole proprietorships. There are, of course, exceptions such as Portillo's.

Code words:

sweet = add bell peppers, as in beef with sweet
hot = add giardiniera (hot pepper and vegetable condiment), as in beef with hot
wet = add extra juice (marinade)
dry = no juice
combo = combined Italian beef and sausage sandwich


Al's Beef

The original Al's is in Little Italy on Taylor St, which is an interesting, and at times a tough, place. Perhaps not the best in town, but still very good, and the Taylor St location is open late and across the street from Mario's Italian Ice stand.

[Little Italy, just Southwest of downtown]
1079 W. Taylor
Chicago
312.226.4017

[Other locations as well, see web site]

http://www.alsbeef.com/

Buona Beef

In my opinion the best beef sandwich in Chicago.

[Western, collar suburb]
6745 Roosevelt Road
Berwyn
708.749.2555

[Other locations as well, see web site]

http://www.buona.com/html/buona_companies/index.html

Mr Beef

My daily lunch for more years than I care to remember. Made infamous by various late night talk show hosts. Scala meat packing was across the street, up one block to the North.

[River North]
666 N. Orleans
Chicago
312.337.8500

[Cannot find a real web home page for them.]
http://chicago.citysearch.com/profile/3663623

Portillo's

See entry under Chicago Hot Dogs