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Categories: Italian, Sandwiches
Neighborhood: University Village"Yum. Close to my office, lots of choices, and tasty? I'm sold. Roly Poly is my new go to lunch spot. There are so many wraps to choose…" read more »
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Great late night spot. Get the Italian Beef sandwich! Beef is tender and juicy, and the spices are just right!
Cash only. Super greasy.
Strike two, Al's. This time I brought enough cash to buy one of your supposedly #1 beef sandwiches.
The small is pretty small. The large is a decent size, but over $7.00? You're kidding, right? Ok, gimme the large because I'm hungry. I want a drink too.
Total is $10.65!?!?! Fine, but this is the last time, AL. Hell, Portillo's is cheaper than this.
I eat my buco-bux beef sandwich. Is there cinnamon or something similar in the gravy? Tastes like Cincinnati chili, not a Italian beef.
This might be the last time, Al. Sorry buddy.
Cash only? No pickles or celery salt? Mediocre hot dog?
I wanted a beef sandwich but only had cash…
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My five stars are for the Italian Beef sandwich. Why would you order anything else here? Perfectly tender meat, bun with just the right consistency, great jardiniere, and a nice flavorful spicy oily juice that is unmatched at any other Italian Beef joint I have found. Just don't adjust your contact lenses until you've given your hands a good scrubbing.
Special bonus: they even have a parking lot! Saving me the cost of bus ride makes this joint a bargain.
Travel Channel sold me on this place but I think they hyped it up a little bit too much. The sandwich was very solid, completely drenched in the broth to make a delicious mess. Even though the peppers and beef made quite a good team together, I think the meat is a little bit overcooked for my liking and that really factors in heavily on the overall taste and texture of the sandwich. Good, but not great, sandwich that drips like it's sweating.
First time in Al's.....
Ordered the regular, not the "big one." You shouldn't charge extra for peppers, it should be included in price.
That said, what a great sandwich, although my cardiac doc might feel differently. The hot peppers are generously sprinkled over the top of the pile of thinly sliced beef. Plenty juicy and delicious. Just the right size sandwich, just make sure you eat it somewhat quickly otherwise it becomes an absolute mess.
Fries were not as good, but were a good accompaniment to the sandwich. Kind of "In and Out" style fries.
Will be back again, hopefully when its warmer so that I don't have to stand to eat (no seating inside).
I had built up an appetite during my stroll through the Art Institute. I had heard about Chicago's famous Italian Beef sandwiches and how good they were. So I knew I couldn't leave Chicago this time without sampling one of these things. We walked a good mile and a half from the museum to, what looked like, the second location of Al's Italian Beef. This place is famous for these things. Al's was featured on such shows as Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations and Man v Food. They're basically steak sandwiches. I don't know exactly what goes into making them, but after your sandwich is ready, they dip the entire sandwich in the juices of the meat. I got mine with both sweet and hot peppers. It was messy, but believe me, it was well worth the mess. SO GOOD!
Fat bomb Italian Beef sandwich!
Great deal, just don't get robbed by ordering it soaked. It's 2 bucks extra and it's the same as not getting it soaked.
Super thin sliced meat, parking, and the spicy peppers/toppings are amazing
Not as good as I wanted it to be. The place is very small and there is no indoor seating. You can stand at two long counters or sit outside (weather permitting). That is rather annoying and they also don't accept credit cards which is always a negative in my book.
The Italian beef is good, not great. The beef was nothing special, definitely not as good as Portillo's! The juice on the beef is too dry and the beef is to shredded. The polish hot dog was a major disappointment, I was expecting a bigger sized polish sausage, but got basically a darker cooked hot dog. And the condiments that they put on their outweighed the taste of the sausage. The fries are pretty good but extremely greasy.
Overall, as much as I want it to be good since I live close by, it just doesn't cut it. Its not bad for a quick bite to eat if you're really hungry, but not a routine place to eat.
A buddy and I went on a beef tasting tour of Chicago one afternoon, sampling the beefs from 3 of the best beefs in town (Al's #1, Mr. Beef on Orleans, and Portillo's) and Al's was far-and-away the best beef.
I ordered my beef with hot peppers and "dipped" (meaning that the entire sandwich gets dunked into the beef juice. It was fantastic. You either eat at a counter inside or a picnic table outside -- just be careful not to drip the juice all over yourself.
The hand-cut fries are pretty good, but not on the same level as the beef. Still, it's a terrific Italian beef.
During my last week in Chicago, I hit some iconic spots. Somehow I had never gotten a beef since I had moved to Chicago (I had gotten one as a tourist-- Mr. Beef on Orleans).
This stuff is as good as I remembered. Great atmosphere. Great food.
Rave rave rave.... as a freshmen in college in Chicago, people told me I had to get Al's. I came, ordered, ate, and thought... man, that was an expensive Italian Beef... my meal came out to $10 for lunch for a sandwich, fries, and drink.
Fast forward 10+ years later to current day, and on a whim, decided to come try Al's once more. This time, small sandwich, no dip, no peppers (blasphemy, I know), and still $6. With my now more discerning palate for food, I will concede that the beef was juicy, and flavorful... but for $6, still not worth the price.
This place is very hyped up... it's a good experience, but for the price, you can likely do better food.
Verdict: Not any time soon will I be back... there are too many other places (even within walking distance) that have better quality to price ratio's for Italian beefs. It's a respectable beef, but the frugal side of me can't accept the quality/quantity of food here for how much is paid out. Sorry Al's!
I have fond memories of this place since I was a kid hanging out at my parents' restaurant down the street. I don't know if I've changed or the beef has. But wow, is it greasy! I'm a junk food junkie with an iron stomach, but this was even too greasy for me. I still ate every bite of it and my fries, I mean it's still food. But the pools of orange grease left on the paper grossed me out. Maybe all the grease is necessary because the meat is really flavorful and juicy.
Greatest Beef on earth :)
Get it with sweet and hot peppers and dipped - all set to wet your pants with beef love. OH - the fresh cuts fries are insanely yummy.
After that run across the street for the best Italian Ice on the planet - what a wonderful little foodie street in Chicago.
If you survive that - your good in my book.
I've heard such good things about this place that maybe I came in with too high of expectations...but I wasn't at all impressed. The prices were high and the food was just average. I don't mind paying extra if what I'm getting is superb, but this...this was not worth it.
Sorry, Al's.
It was pretty good, but super messy with no access to a bathroom (it was kinda gross that I couldn't wash my hands, but at least I found purell in my bag). Also, we had to sit outside which would have sucked if it was raining, but the weather was pleasant and it was nice to people watch and accidentally discovered an Italian lemonade stand across the street.
I love Italian Beef like nobody's business. Al's has good food for anyone's tastes. Italian Beef, hot dogs, Polish, etc. Anything you want, you can probably have at Al's.
Pros: Parking lot, quick service.
Cons: very little seating, high prices (especially considering Carm's is about a block away).
Good place to go in between classes or on the weekend for a quick bite to eat.
This place is just FAR over rated. The beef had grisle every time I was there. The beef quality is average at best ANNNNND the au jus was VERY salty! The Polish was burnt and the meat was VERY greasy with little good meat flavor. And it was great spiting out the little hard balls of fat that were in the sausage.
PLUS the prices are very expensive. $8 for a sandwich and a drink????
NO WAY! Anyone thinks the beef sandwiches are good here has not tasted a truly great one.
Is this the best place to get a famous Italian "Chicago" Beef ?
No.
(Jay's Beef is)
You would think this would be, being in the heart of Chicago's Little Italy.
Don't get me wrong, their beefs are good, but by far not the best.
Over priced and a little over-rated.
Nothing to write home about, but nothing to rant about either.
To exit on a positive note, very good fries and excellent people watching.
. Juicy beef
+
Italian seasonings
+
hot peppers
+
bun dunked in au jus
=
messy hands, dripped white shirt (and I forgot my tide stick), peppers stuck in my teeth, and oily lips
....all which can be solved with a fresh shaved italian ice from Mario's across the street.
*see photos: my sandwich http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Don't listen to the guy below me. What the hell does a New Yorker know about Italian Beefs anyway? Especially a "health-conscious" one... ::shakes head::
They have great Italian Beefs here. I like 'em hot and wet. Their hand-cut fries are awesome. Really, what more do you want from an Italian Beef stand? It's not complicated, people. Yes, they have raised their prices here. And they charge extra for peppers. But that's a minor offense for a place that has been serving up Italian Beefs since 1938.
When you want to eat greasy but DELICIOUS, quick food in the UIC area, this is the place to come. The beef is fantastic. Dipped and with peppers is the only way to go, yeah it's messy but if you don't have end up with some of your Italian beef on your clothes, it's not an Italian beef worth eating. Get the cheese fries, yeah they're terrible for you but oh man they're so good, and this isn't an everyday meal. It's a lot of food and a lot of flavor for little money, definitely check this place out.
Is this stuff even considered edible!?!?!
If the American Heart Association got a hold of one of Al's Italian Beef Sandwich, I would no doubt that this sandwich would replace Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo as being the worst food for your heart!
In all seriousness, people can actually swallow this stuff!?!?
Pros:
- None! Except if you're looking for Cardiac Arrest!
Cons:
- Restaurant is extremely dirty
- The staff can't take an order right
- The food is cold
- The sandwich bread is best described as an oil sponge
- Oil seepage from the food alone will rip through Kevlar!
- Sodium Poisoning! Overdosed with salt!
- Did I mention the excess oil?
In all honesty, I can't imagine anyone being able to stomach one of these sandwiches! When first unwrapping the sandwich, I attempted to pick up the consumable and found that my hands were smothered in oil. The bread had literally absorbed all of the oil from the sandwich and could hold no more. The wrapping itself became see through after about 2 minutes of being placed in it! I tried about one bite of the Beef and Sausage combo and wanted to kill myself.
Me thinks eating 2 tablespoons of butter is healthier than this stuff!!!
What's a matter with you, Al!?!?! Did you have a triple bypass and hate the world so much that you want to relinquish it on everyone!?!? You must be into S&M!
There was no saving grace about the food served at this restaurant. It will kill you! It will make you want to kill yourself! You'll be begging for a stomach pump!
Did I mention I threw up on several occasions after taking just 2-3 bites? And this is with me throwing away the bread!
Simply put... Al's Italian Beef = Suicide Method # Whatever...
This restaurant should make anyone go vegetarian!
The juiciest most memorable sandwich I've ever had. Mmmmmmmmm
Amazing. First of all, I must say that I'm not to into Italian beef...it's just not my thing. However, Al's blew me away with the first bite. The beef and the pepper were the perfect balance. I was scrapping the oil-drenched paper for slivers of beef and hot pepper...that's how much I liked it. I've never had a craving for Italian beef before but I know I will from now on!
Pretty expensive for the sandwich so I can't justify giving it the full 5.
The greatest Italian beef in the entire world!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Only downside, they don't use gloves ( which bothers me) and its pricey.. but good :) :)
When at birth you are given the name 'Al' it seems that the odds are in your favor for getting into the Italian Beef business. With minimal research you will find that this is a reasonable assumption. More power to 'em...it lends itself well and just isn't a fine dining kind of name. 'Al's Trattoria' or 'Chez Al' don't ring out like "Al's No. 1"
This location might be the best known in the Chicago metro area for what it is, does, and sells. Decided to break my four day turkey blitz yesterday and stopped in as a passerby though it is has also a been a destination in past visits.
Great sandwiches but note that even 'not dipped' is pretty much dipped anyway. I've never ordered them 'dipped' but if I did would it come in a pint glass? You could hold Al's up against any other place (even another "Al's") and argue which is better but it really just depends on your personal taste. I taste meat.
Nice big parking lot (maybe the only one) on a very dense section of Taylor St.
no seating, high prices, middle of the road quality. Don't get me wrong its a nice place to eat, but is definitely not a first choice for a beef or any food - its basically good if you are in the neighborhood
Pretty good hot dogs and good Italian Beef! Great for a quick bite on the go. Just remember no inside seating, some benches outside, but enough parking to eat in the car with the AC on on a hot humid Chicago day.
This is a great Chicago beef hands down. I'm not hardcore enough to get it dipped but its already sopping wet enough without having it dipped that you should get it dipped when you feel like getting gravy all over yourself (I feel that way at least once a week). Either that or eat it from a bowl. The strong sweet smell comes from all the spices that its been simmering in all day which you'll either love or don't really care for.
If you are feeling like a tremendous glutton then get the beef and sausage combo. This particular sandwich had to have been invented by someone who was either really fat or really stoned or a combination of the two. I don't really care for it but my dad loves em. The fries are okay but nothing to write home about. They're natural cut with the skins still on them which I happen to love but they're also deep fryer sponges and will make you even sleepier than if you had the beef by itself.
Parking is a huge pain in the ass on summer nights especially on the weekend nights because of Mario's across the street so if you're driving be prepared to either wait for a spot in their lot or park two blocks away.
recent trips to al's have been saddening, a major disappointment. not only is the beef getting blander, but the sandwiches seem to be getting smaller--neither of which is reflected by menu prices, of course.
i need a new go-to beef place.
Best beef in the city, without a doubt. Fabulous fries. Not a cheap excursion--nearly $10 for a… Read more »
Al's is way overrated and overpriced. If you're looking for a value go some place else.
I ordered a "Big" Combo (Italian Beef/Sausage) sandwich and it cost me 9.85 (including tax). Keep in mind this is just for the sandwich only!! It just isn't right that you spend that much and don't even get fries and a drink.
The Big looked like a regular sized sandwich. This had me perplexed so I googled the site, and the Big is only 8" just 2 inches longer than the 6" regular but at almost double the price. What a total rip off.
The sandwich was good, but nothing special when compared to Ricobene's or Mr. Beef.
Pros:
- Close to Mario's Italian Ice
Cons:
- Over-priced
- Out door patio had flies all over.
- Don't take credit card. Cash only.
Fantastic! Got a regular Italian beef dipped (submerged in au jus before served) and it was amazing. Fries were enough for two people. A must do when visiting Chicago.
I normally don't eat a big lunch. Today was different, my body was craving meat. Taylor Street is is just a couple of blocks south of work. Plenty of time to pick up an Italian beef from Al's. I've been there twice before and knew what to expect.
In the past I remember the beef being OK. This time I knew exactly what to ask for. A small beef, dipped with sweet peppers. No fries or drink. The cost, just under $6.
I brought it back to work and ate the whole thing. Deliciously dipped and very messy!
The originator of Italian beef, so the legend goes, the beef and sausage combo was ok with sweet peppers, better with hot peppers, always dipped, but what seals the deal here are the french fries with blue cheese! Covered with a combination of blue cheese dressing and blue cheese crumbles, they are to die for. Never again will chili cheese fries ever compare. Sitting outside at the picnic tables on a sunny day watching the world go by is always a plus as well.
I stopped for a sloppy beef with sweet peppers while driving back into town and I wasn't disappointed. No need for fries and no need for drink
There aren't too many better things than getting home and eating a beef over the sink with a glass of priorat. The jus is fantastic. It almost tastes of cardamom. When it soaks the bread making it almost impossible to eat with sleeves on is when you have hit the beef jackpot.
I can not claim to have sampled a wide range of beef at every local beef joint, but I know meat and I know that Al's on Taylor is worth the trip and it was certainly a fantastic sandwich.
it's been a while since I had an Al's beef, so after reading Richard A.'s review I jumped in the car & picked one up. I somewhat agree with his review.
The beef is not overrated, but it is overpriced. I don't go to Al's as often anymore because the bang for your buck is no longer there. I would rather pick up a Portillo's beef and an order of chesse fries for the price of a combo. Not as good, but pretty damn close.
Chicagoans are just as opinionated about their Italian beef as they are about their pizza and hot dogs. So when a restaurant claims to have the best beef in town, they'd better prepare themselves for plenty of heat.
Al's has some of the best Italian beef in town... depending on who you ask. There are just as many people who drive away from this place as there are people who flock to it. But among the many customers salivating over Al's dishes are several celebrities, as the numerous headshots lining the walls attest. From Jay Leno to Governor Rod Blagojevich, all sorts of famous names have headed to this greasy spoon on Chicago's south side.
When Al's isn't catering to celebrities, the restaurant is usually full of hungry locals and students from nearby UIC. As most of them know, there is more to an Italian beef than just its beef. All of the ingredients have to come together in harmony, including the bread, the jus, the peppers, and Al's distinctive fennel-infused giardinara. You'll likely take your sandwich to go; there's not any seating: just an elbow-high stainless-steel counter on which to enjoy your grease and gravy. Perhaps it's better that way though: there's less chance that you'll mess up your shirt if you stand while you eat.
Whether you get the namesake beef, hot dogs, or Polish sausages, be sure to grab plenty of napkins. Oh, and one downside: try to get the hand-cut fries while they're fresh and crisp. They tend to get limp when they sit under the heatlamps.
Beef is great with a dip and the fries are greasy. This place is an institution and should be open 24 hours. My only complaint is the lack of seating or a TOGO window.
They are the best place to grab a Beef or a combo.
Fantastic Chicago tradition. Al's Italian Beef is ONE OF THE BEST italian beef joints in the country, if not the best. IF you are in chicago and never tried Italian Beef, then you need to check this out. Its like a roast beef sub with soggy gravy soaked bread and peppers
with some delicious fries. You can also get hotdogs and etc. But you are here for the Italian Beef. The prices are good and this hefty greasy dish if sure to satisfy anyones hunger. Again this is a rooted chicago style favorite, usually very busy especially during lunch.. so go late afternoon or late morning.
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How can anyone think this is anything less than 5 stars? Get a beef dipped with hot peppers, fries, and you're golden. I'm salivating thinking about it.
Best beef I've ever had, and missed it tremendously when I lived outside of Chicagoland. Even now, it's a solid hour drive in the summer, and we make the trip just for a beef. Or combo. Don't be dumb when you order (hot dog with ketchup) either.
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