Once a concoction of old world innovation and available ingredients, Chicago’s Italian beef has soared to become a delicacy. Through it’s many iterations, the tried-and-true format has remained — hearty slices of beef stuffed into a French roll topped
with peppers and doused with jus. Newer variations allow for melted cheese and others have even begun selling meat-free versions.
The Bear shined a spotlight on Italian beef, and chefs around the country started to create their own versions. Though the more recent seasons of the FX show have moved away from the sandwich, Chicagoans remain enamored and ready to argue over which stand serves the best one. Follow Eater Chicago’s guide to find the most sought-after beefs in the city.
— Additional reporting by Ashok Selvam
Johnnie's Beef
7500 W North Ave, Elmwood Park, IL, 60707
(708) 452-6000
The best Italian beef in Chicago will always spark debate, but Johnnie’s comes closest to consensus. Its sandwich is considered by many to be the shining standard others strive for — a perfect balance of sweet or hot peppers and well-seasoned beef that soaks up all the jus. The line often snakes out the door and it’s easy to understand why. This is an iconic bite that every Chicagoan and tourist should experience. There’s a second location in Arlington Heights.
The Original Nana's Hot Dogs
The Original Nana’s Hot Dogs [Official Photo]" />
1102 E Irving Park Rd, Streamwood, IL 60107, USA
(630) 289-2226
Visit this hot dog stand in Streamwood for a host of greasy delights. The tender housemade beef arrives thinly sliced and covered in a gravy that’s full of dried herbs. There’s also a cheesy beef variant and a mini beef for folks who want a smaller sandwich to pair with an excellent Vienna Beef Depression Dog.
Mr. Beef and Pizza
3917 N Harlem Ave, Chicago, IL 60634, USA
(773) 283-7444
The Mr. Beef name carries a lot of weight. Fortunately, this Northwest Side spot, which is unaffiliated with the River North institution (that’s the restaurant The Bear takes inspiration from), lives up to the legacy. Cheese isn’t a standard Italian beef topping, but diners can get their sandwiches with mozzarella, American, or cheddar here. A nice mix of herbs and spices seasons the meat while the giardiniera is flecked with red pepper flakes for an extra kick.
Santa Masa Tamalería
7544 W Addison St, Chicago, IL, 60634, US
(312) 982-9306
This Northwest Side Mexican restaurant specializes in tamales. One of the stars is chef Danny Espinoza’s Italian beef creation — served with vinegary giardiniera that will remind diners of escabeche, the Mexican pickled veggies found on many tables at taquerias. No, this isn’t a sandwich, but fans of the original will enjoy this genre-bending variant.
Jay's Beef
4418 N Narragansett Ave, Harwood Heights, IL 60706, USA
(708) 867-6733
What sets Harwood Heights favorite Jay’s apart from the competition is its quality accoutrements. The sweet peppers sing, the hot peppers are a pleasant mix of celery and jalapeños, and cheeseheads can add provolone or American cheese to their sandwich.
BiXi Beer
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2515 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL, 60647, US
(773) 904-7368
We can hear it now — there are too many fusion offerings on this list that don’t represent true Italian beef. We get it, but what if it’s possible to push the dish in exciting new directions while honoring the standards that make it great? Enter BiXi Beer from chef Bo Fowler, who’s known for her fanatical devotion to sourcing and not taking shortcuts. The weekend brunch menu features an Italian beef bao, comprised of Slagel Farms beef and giardiniera seasoned with Sichuan chiles and peanut oil.
Kasama
1001 N Winchester Ave, Chicago, IL 60622, USA
(773) 697-3790
From stunning Instagram-friendly pastries to traditional Filipino dishes featuring modern twists, there’s tons to love about Kasama — the world’s first Michelin-starred Filipino restaurant. Chef Tim Flores even manages to put his own spin on Chicago’s revered Italian beef with a Kasama Combo sandwich that layers shaved pork adobo with longganisa sausage and giardiniera. It’s an ingenious riff that’s every bit as good as the original, if not better. Skip the long lines by ordering ahead for pickup.
Bari
1120 W Grand Ave (at N May St), Chicago, IL 60642
(312) 666-0730
The beloved Italian deli and grocer in West Town is famous for its selection of subs, but don’t overlook the Italian beef. The meat is tender, juicy, thick-cut, and served on a roll that stands up to the beefiness. Get it with the extremely hot house giardiniera for a kick that’ll humble even the most seasoned spice fanatics.
Chef Ciccio – Beef, Balls, and Beer
600 East Grand Avenue SA-16, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
(312) 877-5639
Widely known as one of the most touristy corners of Downtown Chicago, Navy Pier is also home to one of the best Italian beefs in town. Longtime beef maker Mario Ferraro launched Ciccio in January 2023, stunning critics with tender meat cut slightly thicker than most and crusty rolls that hold up even when soaked in jus. In Ferraro’s telling, his father Sam Ferraro began selling Italian beef in 1935, which would make him one of the earliest documented Italian beef vendors in town.
Bob-O's Hot Dogs
8258 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago, IL 60634, USA
(773) 625-9840
Though Bob-O’s originally started as a hot dog stand, Italian beef is now arguably the main attraction. Beef connoisseurs would do well to head to Dunning for a terrific sandwich featuring meat made in-house. It’s seasoned, sliced, and cooked daily and should be coupled with an order of the impeccable hand-cut fries.
Kindling
202 S Franklin St, Chicago, IL 60606, USA
(312) 789-5992
James Beard Award-winning chef Jonathon Sawyer has taken on the task of creating what might be Chicago’s most opulent Italian beef at his Downtown restaurant. The sandwich takes each component to its most over-the-top form: The beef is sourced from a farm in Georgia and its bread is from 3D Baking, a well-regarded local commercial bakery. Chicago’s famed J.P. Graziano provides the giardiniera, and those who like to gild the lily can add raclette cheese whiz for a slight upcharge.
Carm's
1057 W Polk St, Chicago, IL, 60607, US
(312) 738-1046
While the giardiniera isn’t as formidable as Al’s, which is just down the street, the beef at Carm’s is worth a visit, bathing in a garlicky jus. The move here is to order sweet peppers — they won’t overwhelm the sandwich. Carm’s has been around since 1929.
Al's Italian Beef
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1079 W Taylor St, Chicago, IL, 60607
(312) 226-4017
The purported origins of the Italian beef sandwich can be traced back to a Little Italy stand. That’s where Al Ferrari and his sister and brother-in-law, Frances and Chris Pacelli Sr., set up shop in 1938 and started selling what would become one of the city’s most iconic foods. Today, the beef remains unchanged — marinated in secret spices and dipped in gravy. So stop in, assume the proper upright eating stance, and savor a bit of Chicago history. Al’s now has multiple locations around the city and suburbs.
Scatchell's Beef & Pizza
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4700 W Cermak Rd, Cicero, IL 60804, USA
(708) 656-0911
The eye-catching signs and bright lights outside this longstanding shack beckon passersby in for a messy-yet-glorious Italian beef sandwich. It features finely-shaved meat, fantastic gravy, and crunchy giardiniera made with celery and red pepper flakes.
The Duck Inn
2701 S Eleanor St, Chicago, IL 60608, USA
(312) 724-8811
As its name suggests, duck headlines the menu at this cozy, retro-themed gastro-tavern. But chef-owner Kevin Hickey also delivers Midwestern comfort fare, including a Decent Beef sandwich. His take on the Chicago classic features thinly-sliced prime rib and beefy jus flavored with Calabrian chilies, garlic, oregano, basil, and rosemary. The beef is tucked inside a crusty Italian sub roll and topped with optional accompaniments like giardiniera, sweet peppers, and melted cheese. Diners can also dial up the decadence by adding black truffle shavings.
3 Little Pigs
964 W 31st St, Chicago, IL, 60608, US
+13128688832
Henry Cai’s “untraditionally authentic” Chinese restaurant started out of his kitchen during the pandemic, and has now grown to several locations across town. The menu offers imaginative items like a salt-and-pepper chicken sandwich and lemon pepper chicken with mild sauce. But the hot pot beef sandwich may be Cai’s finest creation. On the surface, it’s a beef dripping in chili-oil-soaked giardiniera. What pushes the sandwich over the top is the cup of hot pot broth that accompanies it. For those who like their beefs dipped, this is the way.
Novi's Beef
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6746 Ogden Ave, Berwyn, IL 60402, USA
(708) 749-0895
Established in the ‘60s, Novi’s is an mainstay out in southwest suburban Berwyn. The thick-cut beef marinates in gravy laced with 15 different spices, and the hot giardiniera, a reddish blend of celery and chili oil, bursts with heat — a must for spicy food lovers. The restaurant offers catering packages and ships its sandwiches, too.
Can't Believe It's Not Meat
1368 1/2 E 53rd St, Chicago, IL 60615, USA
(773) 675-8208
With three locations, this mini-chain specializes in meatless versions of Chicago classics. The Italian beef comes with cheese and uses slices of soy instead of beef. The danger here is the sodium level, but for a meat-free option, this one is very good.
Tony's Italian Beef
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7007 S Pulaski Rd, Chicago, IL, 60629
(773) 284-6787
South Siders swear by Tony’s, where the thick-sliced beef satisfies and the giardiniera contains garbanzo beans. Traditionalists will be happy with the standard beef sandwich but for an unbeatable combo, order it with Italian sausage. The restaurant also sells beef by the pound in party trays.
Mugshots Sports Bar & Grill
13031 W 143rd St, Homer Glen, IL 60491, USA
(708) 981-3925
The family who founded Mr. Beef on Orleans (and subsequently sold the restaurant in 1979 to the current ownership) ran their own beef stand in Homer Glenn, also named Mr. Beef, until the pandemic forced it to close. However, the owner of a nearby bar, Mugshots, bought the restaurant’s equipment with a promise that they’d open up their kitchen to the Mr. Beef crew when the time was right. For the past few years, Carl Bonovolanto Jr. has been serving up the same family Italian beef recipe that Mary Bonovolanto came up with decades ago.
Luke’s on Harlem The Original
3130 North Harlem Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60634, United States
(773) 889-4000
Another classic of old school Chicago fast food, Luke’s on Harlem the Original has been serving up homemade Italian beef sandwiches and Italian ice since 1981. Fanatics can stick to the classic set up or spice things up by adding marinara sauce or even a slice of cheddar cheese. For the most convenience, Luke’s still runs a drive-thru, making it that much easier to pick up an Italian beef on the go.
