Share(312) 226-4017
1079 W Taylor St
Chicago,
IL
60607
41.8694
-87.6537
Neighborhoods: University Village / Little Italy, West Side
What People Are Saying About Al's No 1 Italian Beef
The Editor
Contributor
Citysearch
In Short – Amid a sea of authentic Italian delis and hearty, pasta-heavy restaurants, is this beacon of Chicago-style beef. This mostly takeout joint draws clued-in tourists, zombie-eyed UIC students and locals stopping for a regular fix: The shredded beefs with jus-sopped French bread. Although it's hard to pass up the namesake sandwich, hot dogs, Polish sausages and hand-cut fries are also offered for munching as well. –
07/02/09
one of the best in the city
by bigfrank75 at Citysearch
i only went there once and id admit it was good the beef was juicy and they put mozz on it amen the cheese fries are great and if ur inside get the refills on soda it can get busy at times so be patient and enjoy
- Pros: good beef made right the fries ar the way they shold be
- Cons: it's not public transit friendly since im not a walker
06/09/08
The best beef you can find
by KSLY at Citysearch
Al's serves the best beef I have ever had and probably will have. Great service, great food, and good prices make for one of the best dining experiences. Not full of memorabilia, and not a lot of ambiance, but still a must do if in Chicago.
- Pros: Great food/prices
- Cons: Not an exciting place to eat in
04/08/08
The Best.
by swampdawg at Citysearch
No doubt about it, the beef and the giardiniera at the Taylor Street location are unlike anything else, and you will probably either love it or hate it. Get the sandwich dipped. It's spicy and wonderful. The italian sausage is charcoal grilled and tender. The fries are natural cut and the best I've ever had. Service is generally fast.
On the minus side, the place is a dive, and you might well wonder about cleanliness. No seats save for some newly added outdoor picnic benches. Not the cheapest in town, and portion control can be a problem, so sometimes the sandwich can be skimpy, but order the regular size combo with fries, and you won't go away hungry.
Step up and order like this: "Regular combo, hot, dipped, with fries and a diet coke", then snag a spot on the counter. You're in for a real Chicago tradition...
I've been a regular since 1979. Mr Beef and the others are all good, but there's nothing distinctive about them. Even the other Al's location aren't the same... which must have something to do with the years of accumulated "ambiance" at the original. Go to Taylor Street and get the real thing.
- Pros: The best beef, sausage and fries in Chicago. The authentic Chicago Italian Beef.
- Cons: A little gritty and no seats - so don't bring grandma.
The Details on Al's No 1 Italian Beef
Category:
Restaurants, Catering, Sandwich Shops
Payment Methods:
Cash
Restaurant Special Features:
Local Favorite, Family-Friendly Dining, Late Night Dining, Lunch Spot, Carry Out, Cheap Eats
Cuisine:
Smoking Permitted:
No
