Chicago's Best Italian Beef Sandwich Restaurants

In Chicago, residents like to root for da Bears and da Bulls, but they also like to eat da beef. Specifically, they like Italian beef, which is a local delicacy that can be found throughout the city. A traditional Italian beef sandwich consists of thinly sliced beef that is soaked in a beef broth and then served on Italian bread. The sandwich is often topped with green peppers or sweet peppers. It can be messy to eat, especially if you choose to have it "dipped", which means soaked in the beef broth or au jus. The mess is well worth it though, because Italian beef sandwiches are delicious. Italian beef sandwiches can be difficult to find outside of Chicago, so whenever I am in town I make sure to get one. Here are some of the best places to get an Italian beef sandwich in Chicago:

1. Al's #1 Italian Beef serves up my favorite Italian beef sandwich in all of Chicago. A dipped Italian beef sandwich with sweet peppers from Al's will make your mouth water. Al's fries are also excellent and go well with the sandwich. There are two locations to choose from, with one on the south side and one on the north side. The original Al's is located at 1079 West Taylor Street on the south side of Chicago. On the north side, you can go to their other location at 169 West Ontario Street. Al's has been serving great Italian beef for nearly seventy years and consistently wins awards for the best beef in Chicago.

2. Mr. Beef is another top choice for Italian beef sandwiches in Chicago. Jay Leno is a big fan of Mr. Beef and his pictures hang on the walls here. Mr. Beef is located at 666 North Orleans Street on the north side of Chicago. It is close to Al's Beef on West Ontario Street, in case you want to do a little taste-test between the two.

3. Johnnie's Beef is located at 7500 W. North Avenue in Elmwood Park, a suburb west of Chicago. The line outside of Johnnie's is a good sign that the food is good. When you are done enjoying one of their delicious Italian beef sandwiches, you can also get some great Italian ice for dessert.

4. Luke's Italian Beef, located at 215 West Jackson inside the loop, is a popular lunch spot for business people working downtown. Luke's is popular because they serve large portions of tender beef and great fries. If you are craving an Italian beef and do not want to venture out of your office or hotel room, Luke's even delivers.

So, if you find yourself in Chicago, pick up an Italian beef sandwich at one of these great locations. They taste great and will satisfy your hunger, especially after a long day of cheering for da Bears and da Bulls.