Al’s Beef

I’d pass on the Italian beef here in a heartbeat. I don’t know if it was just an off day for them but oh-​em-​gee, not so good. I’d opt for the hot dog and fries, three stars for that. Place is somewhat clean and service is quick. Parking is a pain if you want to be right in front. Sad to say, bad experience with the Italian Beef.

Let me start off by saying I am a big fan of beef. I probably have had one every two weeks for my whole life. I am a chicagoan and know my fast food. Having said that, my favorite beef is Al’s on Taylor street (BY far the best). I tried the evanston location when it frst opened up and me and my friends were hugely disapointed. The slices of beef were thick, not nearly as shredded and tasty as some other al’s locations (Ontario/​Higgins/​Taylor) The fries were fine but this is a beef joint — Same spices and everything but they just have not mastered it yet, and I don’t think they ever will because now they are CLOSED

You cannot go wrong if you order Al’s Italian Beef sandwich. This is the number one attraction that has customers, like myself, coming back again and again. Do not even bother with the other items on the menu.
When they ask you if you would like your sandwich ‘dipped’, the answer is always YES.

Portillo’s who?
I’m sorry, but I have a hard time putting Portillo’s beef in the same category as Al’s. I’ve had both places plenty of times and to compare the flavor of the two is just downright wrong. I can’t compare it to the other popular beef places in the Chicago-​land area (Johnnie’s, Mr. Beef, etc.), but this is hands down the best beef I’ve experienced so far.
The «gravy» that they use to soak the beef in is just full of flavors I can’t even describe. If I had to pick a flavor I could only assume it tastes like a unicorn, only because I imagine that unicorns taste delicious. It’s like a rainbow threw up in my mouth… just thinking about it makes me want to go get one after work.
Do yourself a favor, if you’re in Evanston and looking for somewhere quick to eat, stop in at Al’s Beef, you won’t be disappointed.

Portillos has better italian beef although you’d have to drive to Skokie for that. The cheese on the cheese fries congeal to a really, really unpleasant texture. Ugh, gross overall.

I love this place. I love the fries and the no-​bean chili is amazing! Once I had the flu and after eating the layer of onions on top of the chili I could actually breathe again… thanks Al’s! Dare I say this is the best chili I’ve ever had in Chicago even though it’s in Evanston? It is!
I’m also a big fan of the BLTC. A BLT wrap with cheese. It’s not too big, the perfect size for a lunch that’s yummy but not overly filling. Very nice staff! Of all the Al’s I’ve gone to this one is the best.

I LOVE Al’s Beef… on Taylor St. The Evanston location is an embarrassment to the name. Then again, most of the Al’s franchises are not that good. First off, it’s a little overpriced, but I’ll live with that if it’s good. The beef I had was somewhat bland, and the hot giardiniera was weak! Where’s the heat? The Taylor St location has hot peppers with heat, this one has barely any. The owner of the original Al’s was so proud of his hot peppers on national TV vs. Mr. Beef (before Mr. Beef won the Food War showdown 4 – 1). Well, do something about this travesty at your Evanston location will ya?
The bottom line is, I would eat here a lot if they simply tried a little harder to be like the Taylor St. location (as would a lot of people I know). Wake up you idiots!!!
And if you’ve only eaten at the Evanston Al’s, do not go to the Taylor St. location. If you do, you may not want to go back to Evanston anymore!

DISCLAIMER: I am not a fan of Italian Beef at all. I’ve had it before from various places, but I’ve never really gotten what all the fuss is about. That having been said, I have never been to Al’s before, so I figured that if I am going to go to a place that specializes in Italian Beef, I’d better get the Italian Beef!
I got pretty much what I expected. If you like Italian Beef, you’ll probably LOVE the beef at Al’s. It’s not really my thing. I went with the hot peppers (no cheese or sport peppers) along with a non-​dipped version. Even without the dipping, the sandwich was pretty thoroughly soaked and very messy to handle. I can’t even imagine what it would have been like if it were dipped (maybe you’d have to eat with a fork).
Okay, so I’ve established that I don’t really like their most popular meal. Why 4 stars then? Like I said, I’m sure if you like the Italian Beef you will love this place. Also, the fries were very good. They were big and crispy. The only bad thing I can say about them is I ordered a large, while my fiancée ordered a medium, and she somehow got more fries than I did despite paying less. That was kind of lame.
My «large» version of the Italian Beef combo (with fries and a drink) came out to just under $ 10. A little pricey, but they DO have a different $ 5 meal deal each day of the week, so that’s pretty good.
I also really liked the interior of the location. I have walked past the location in Little Italy and noticed that they don’t even have anywhere to sit in there, but this place has plenty of comfy seating. Also, the walls are decorated with Chicago things and the bathrooms have funny signs («If this dispenser is out of paper towels, use your clothes). This particular location was also very clean.
The service was quick and friendly, and I’d definitely go back here if I wanted some quick and cheap for lunch. I’m a fan (just not of the namesake menu item)! Next time I’ll try a cheeseburger or hot dog though :)

Fries with a number of a tasty, fatty, spicy sauces.
Nice workers.
Loud 80s music.
Icy fountain drinks.
Comfy booths.
Nowthat’sa lunch for me!

I have considered proposing to Al’s Italian Beef. I would be in a seriously relationship (at least on Facebook) with Al. This is truly god’s gift to the world, and a taste of heaven in each bite. Hands down one of my favorite spots in Chicago.
I always get the Regular Al with diced onions. As a heads up, they trick you when they ask if you want peppers. They cost extra! I always get onions and it is delish. I get mine lightly dipped because I like the flavor and crunchiness of the bread. However, my friend would take a bath in that au jus if he could, so he lets it rest in that sauce for quite some time. Just a matter of personal taste, but it needs to be somewhat dipped! I have tried the beef and sausage combo, but it took away from the taste of the beef.
I am a HUGE fan of the blue cheese fries. I mean what is not to love about fresh fries, loaded with blue cheese dressing and gorgonzola chunks. I can hear the ambulance en route every time I order this. Sometimes when I am alone, they let me just add a side of dressing and cheese for a $ 1 so I can make my own (instead of spending $ 3.50 for just myself).
Their Chicago dogs are pretty on point as well, and you can get it grilled or steamed. I dig the options!
The guys who runs the counter is really nice and will help out! You also get a 10% Wildcard discount!
FYI — If you dont wash your hands after the beefing experience, you can savor the glory of Al’s all day long. Something to STRONGLY consider.
Thank you Al’s. You are a man amongst boys.

Just thinking about their Italian beef makes me want one right now. My favorite part is the greasy goodness that soaks the bread and makes the sandwich just perfect. The icing on the cake are their peppers. They use real peppers on top that are cooked to perfection. A great combination of hot and sweet. Their combo is also quite delicious where they stick a hot dog and top it off with Italian beef.
I can’t think of a better fast food option than Al’s. I could eat these sandwiches everyday. Every time I’m back in Chicago, I always make a stop. When in Chicago, the Italian beef is just as important to try along with Chicago style deep dish pizza and hot dogs.

I’m not a beef eater (I don’t eat beef, nor do I guard the Tower of London), but I find myself craving Al’s at least once a week. The cheese fries here must have some kind of euphoria-​inducing drug in them… they are SO freaking delicious! If you’re hungover or just craving some greasy goodness, go get these bad boys.
I want to give 3.5 stars, but I can’t bring myself to round up to the solid 4… reason being, they don’t have much on the menu besides the cheese fries for a gal like me (but I expect this, it is called Al’s BEEF, after all…), and if I get a turkey sandwich or something to go with my fries o’ delicousness, I end up dropping about $ 12. That’s craziness.
But, I keep going back, and I will continue to do so… just. can’t. resist. cheese fries.

Second day in Evanston, I decided to see if a Chicago-​style hot dog was different in Chicagoland than, say, LA. I like as much junk on my hot dogs as possible, so tomatoes, onions, mustard, a dill pickle spear, and neon-​green relish sounded like a culinary delight to me.
However, the steamed bun was kind of soggy by the time I got to it, and the whole messy delight started falling apart before my eyes, forcing me to sort of lean way over my wax paper wrapper and wolf the dog down before I ended up with a hill of tube steak and condiments that was more like a mescaline nightmare than a dog named after one of the greatest cities in the U.S.
I should probably give the Chicago-​style dogs another chance, but that mess repulsed even me, though it did not stop me from wolfing the whole mess down.
Someone told me that you go to Al’s for the Italian Beef sandwich, so I returned for a Big Al. OK, I’m going to have to duck and I’m glad no one from Al’s is here in my room right now, because I’m pretty sure every single one of those guys behind the counter could kick my ass, but — bleah! Normally, I’m all for big sandwiches piled high with beef and dipped in some kind of au jus, but this was a big ol’ greasy mess that made me feel kind of ill. I’ve got a cast-​iron stomach (I have to, I’ve been eating my own cooking for almost two months now), and I can’t remember the last time I ate something that was too greasy for ME. This was it.
I know the Chicagoans will think I’m just an effete Angeleno, and truth to tell, maybe 15 years in SoCal has made me soft. But I’ve been having a pretty good time sampling Chicago cuisine (this is a GREAT eating city), and this was not one of those good times.

So, I’m not a big Italian beef sandwich fan… but I wanted to see what all the hoopla was about and ordered the l’il Al while my ½ Italian hubby ordered the Big Al. We shared fries and a drink.
The L’il Al was ok as far as beef sandwiches go… Hubby chomped into his own torpedo sized sandwich, replete with peppers, dipped and looked up with is messy smile and gave it a thumbs-​up. He’s an Al’s fan now.
Next time we go, I’m trying something different — grilled hamburger’s still beef, right?

We came here last month to learn what the fuss is all about with italian beef. Well, now we know! We don’t mean to be blasphemous, but it tasted like a Philly cheesesteak with soggy bread. But it’s DARN GOOD cheesebeef with soggy bread.
The menu is simple. They have all of the meat and grill staples. However, you don’t come to Al’s for a burget. You come for some beef, some grade-​A beefness.
The fries are good too. They make it fresh… a nice plus. Three very solid stars.

Nyet.
1. The fries had a funny taste and left a slick film on the inside of my mouth. Are these things deep-​fried in silicone? Also, they were way underdone.
2. The ketchup is terrible. It’s definitely not Heinz, which is the only ketchup worthy of acknowledgement. Their stuff has a very sweet taste and a sort of chemicaley undertone.
3. I asked for my food «for here» so why wrap up the hot dog in a papery straitjacket, thereby rendering the bun soggy. What is this, Wrigley Field?
4. The Italian beef was simply not good – not moist, not tender, not flavorful. To add insult to injury, they put only two pieces of green pepper on there.
At least the roll was decent. And they have Diet Pepsi instead of Diet Coke. Otherwise, this place fails.
They have quite a large space here, especially for downtown Evanston. Yet I never see it even close to busy. Maybe NU students come here if they’re from other parts of the country and don’t know any better.

Did the rest of youz guyz walk into a different Italian beef joint? I thought this place sucked so hard I’m going to have to break it down to mulitple levels for everyone.
Food: I ordered the #1 which is the regular size sandwich, fries, and a drink. The sandwich was about the size of a jumbo hotdog… in other words, about ¹⁄₃ the size most places serve. Beef was dry despite being dipped. The fries were excellent and the only reason they are getting two stars.
Service: 15 minutes for a beef sandwich. My buddy ordered two dogs, that took them 20 minutes.
Cost: My number one cost me just under 9 bucks. They charge you 45 cents extra for some shitty giardiniera. Who charges for giardiniera on a beef sandwich? Sacrilege, I tell you.
Atmosphere: The place was clean, i’ll give them that. This is most likely because no one actually eats at this place. It reminded me of what Walmart would have designed if they were going into the Chicago Style Beef buisness. Cooke cutter and with no personality.
This place is to Chicago Style Beef as Taco Bell is to Mexican Food. It’s just not the real deal. If your visiting from out of town and want to experience some beef bliss, don’t look here. Drive a bit further South to Edgewater and stop at Patio Beef. For that matter, look for any mom and pop place with a Vienna beef sign and I bet you’ll find a better sandwich.

When it comes to Chicago’s famous Italian beef, quality is hard to find! I know! I’ve run up and down Chicagoland trying to find the best Italian beef sandwich and nothing compares! Al’s Beef is top-​notch and can’t be beat. I’m a traditionalist so I go for a Big Al Italian Beef sandwich drenched in hot beef juice with sweet peppers on top with an order of fresh-​cut fries on the side. If you’re the type that likes add-​ons, you can top that with cheese and other heart-​wrenching clog-​your-​arteries goodness!
If you don’t like Italian beef, I’m sorry but we can’t be friends. It’s okay! Not everyone’s perfect. There are some awesome salads and char-​broiled burgers, too. For dessert, try a famous WunderBar, dipped cheesecake on a stick! Everything tastes great on a stick!
If you’re a real Chicagoan, you’ll eat this sandwich standing up at the bar or at the bar tables, knees bent, biceps flexed, gripped on both sides like a football at Soldier Field, hot beef juice dripping down to the elbows. If you’re a delicate Boystown queer like me, choose a nice old wooden booth and have a go with the fork and knife.
The ambience is great compared to the other Al’s Beef in the city. Its got to be the cleanest! It’s got an upscale, sophisticated flair without losing its blue-​collar Chicago street-​food charm. The manager’s awesome and the boys in the back are some of the friendliest hosts you’ll ever encounter.
Wanna meet a new friend? Take me with you!

Sometimes you just want to eat something unhealthy, wholly unhealthy, disastrously artery-​clogging and simultaneously delicious. Al’s is all this, and more.
Al’s has become something of a running gag at my office. Often, a crude stick-​figure will appear and proclaim «Jim needs more data!» Only, someone will scratch out «data» and write in «Al’s Beef.» This caricature will persist for days, sometimes weeks, as more colorful phrases get thrown into the mixture.
From their messy tamale-​boat, a soupy mass of chili, cheese, and onions dousing an otherwise unassuming pair of tamales, to hotdogs where everything may mean the inclusion of a kitchen sink, this is almost the exact opposite of health food. What is everything, you ask? Onions, a pickle, a bevy of whole peppers, relish, ketchup, mustard, and somewhere in that swimming mass, a hotdog. Word to the wise, don’t order a cheese-​dog with everything, it could get messy.
Take friends here to enjoy the food, take enemies here to hasten their death. Everyone wins!

Al’s is the premier Italian Beef joint, and it is nice to see them expanding from their original southwest Loop location. Their newer Evanston shop is an evolution in the Al’s brand, I imagine. The Original Al’s is small, packed with old photos of celebrities who’s hands have been greased by Al’s delicious Italian Beef. There are no tables, no chairs, and no quarter given to those who are unable to eat at the small counter that goes around the inside of the store or on the trunks of their cars. Plus, you have to wander across the street to wash it down with Mario’s Italian Ice.
In Evanston, things are a bit more upscale. There are tables, chairs, even booths, at this location, and room seems clean and nice – but devoid of the greasy character of the Taylor Street original. The food is still great, I consider Al’s Italian Beef to beef the best, but I’m sure many out there will consider me a madman and a traitor for saying so as allegiances run deep in this city. Their sandwich, which is piled high with their fantastic thin cut, slightly garlicky but still melts– in-​your-​mouth good beef is great topped with sweet peppers and dipped or double dipped. The fries are top notch, and a great way to seal the relationship between you and your cardiologist.
For true Chicago cuisine bliss, head to Al’s for some artery clogging goodness. But if you can, I still recommend taking the trek to the original location on Taylor Street just the enjoy the sights, scenes, and post-​meal Italian Ice. But do that in the summer, at least the Evanston location has a heated area you can sit and eat in.