Al's #1 Italian Beef — Restaurant in Lake View Township

Came here on a Sunday afternoon right before the lunch rush and it took less than 5 minutes for me to get my food. Italian beef with provolone, hot giardiniera, and sweet peppers, all dunked in drippings. The sandwich was rich and hearty. You can taste the oregano, garlic, red peppers, etc. that go into the roast. The heat of the giardiniera adds some attitude, and the sweet peppers bring you back to earth and also add a little texture. The bread that they use is airy enough to hold just the right amount of drippings to make the sandwich wet and decadent, but it also has enough integrity and chew so that it doesn't fall apart, even after being dunked. Their fries are well seasoned and crispy (you won't need ketchup). They don't skimp on the portions, either. I got the jumbo because I was afraid that they would, but I was full after eating half of the sandwich. However, that didn't stop me from eating the other half because it was just that good.

Definitely worth a visit if you're...

I just wish there was a 0 star option I just had regular beef sandwich and I don’t think i have ever had any food product as poor as this s....t! They may as well put ground beef In there because that was the exact texture of the beef and it tasted like sand! Absolutely no seasoning in there, no juice and two whole peppers dropped on top. I am not exaggerating when I say this was without doubt the worst food product I have ever tasted anywhere in Chicago perhaps around the world.

Edit : I have had Al’s beef in downtown location before and it couldn’t have been more night and day! Downtown location had one of the Italian beefs I had comparable with portillos. The thing I had here was more comparable to a roast beef that was left out to dry...

Place is clean, food is good, prices are reasonable, and the service is great and the ppl are friendly. What more could you ask for? Only thing is, i dont know if the famous italian beef sandwich is so great. Seems to me to just be a hot beef sandwich. Dont get me wrong. It was very good. But nothing a regular person who can cook a roast couldnt pull off. I did expect something extraordinary when i tried chicagos famous italian beef. Maybe a signature dipping sauce or house spices, or something that is a house “secret”. So i rate it high for quality and restaurant experience, given that the staff here are awesome, but i dunno that its that origional. BUT, they do know how to cook beef, ill give em that. And as a french fry lover, they have...