Italian Beef sandwiches and Chicago are synonymous. There's a number of places from chains to hole-in-the-wall joints that sell the things. For those who don't know, Italian Beef sandwiches are shaved pieces of roast beef that's been cooked in italian spices (primarily oregano/basil/garlic based) and served on a hoagie style bun with either mozzerella or provelone cheese, sweet green peppers or spicy giardiniera (kind of a spicy pickled vegetable concoction) - or in my case, with all three. And I like mine dipped in the broth of the meat, knows as "gravy'" to Chicagoans.
I've eaten in a few of them and here's my take on a couple three -
Mr. Beef on Orleans street in downtown Chicago is not affilated with a couple other Mr. Beef's around the city. But it is probably the most famous of the Italian Beef places in Chicago. It's not a big place and there's scant parking around the place. I've been lucky in that my visits have been during the middle part of the afternoon and there have been parking places out front that were open.
A lot of celebs come to Mr. Beef when they come to Chicago - Jay Leno being the most prominent who always talks about Mr. Beef.
Actually, compared to others around town, I think Mr. Beef is good, but somewhat overrated. I don't think it is as good as Johnnie's Italian Beef out in Elmwood Park (see map). Johnnie's is a pretty plain place, too, but I like their sandwiches better than Mr. Beef. Their peppers and giardiniera are better than Mr. Beef - more of a spicy, pickled flavor that I like. And their bread is more soft than Mr. Beef's, too.
Of the chains in the Chicago area, the two that stand out are Portillo's and Al's #1 Italian Beef.
I like Portillo's better than Al's in that I think Portillo's bread is fresher and more soft, their beef is more tender and they have better peppers and giardiniera than Al's. Actually, I think Portillo's is even better than Johnnie's OR Mr. Beef, believe it or not. And it's tough to beat Portillo's Chicago style hot dogs.
I've been told the original Al's down on Taylor Street in the heart of Chicago's Little Italy area is the best of the Al's. I haven't been there, but I'll have to make it a point to give it a shot some time that I'm in there.
But, really, if you think you have access to good Italian Beef sandwiches where you're from, I'm more than sure that any one of these places I've mentioned is BETTER than the Italian Beef sandwiches you have in your area.
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