Al's #1 Italian Beef
(312) 943-3222
169 W Ontario St
Chicago,
IL
60610
41.8931
-87.6334
Neighborhoods: Central, Near North Side
Hours:
Mon-Thu 10am-12am
Fri-Sat 10am-3am
Sun 11am-10pm
Price:
$
Parking:
Lot; Street
Last updated 1.30.09
What People Are Saying About Al's #1 Italian Beef
The Editor
Contributor
Citysearch
In Short
Al's is more takeout stand than restaurant: a few tables, some stools with a narrow shelf wide enough to hold a beef and a pair of elbows, and a tiny outdoor cafe. It's known for its Italian beef sandwich: Expect finely shredded beef atop French bread with green peppers or hot giardiniera. Other menu items include hot dogs, Polish sausage, tamales and fresh-cut fries.
User Reviews
redrocket33
May 07, 2009
I see a wide range of opinions here and i think this is why - did you eat at the original on Ontario or one of the "newer" franchised locations? I would be very surprised to read that anyone who already likes italian beef sandwiches, would NOT like a beef from Al's #1. Very surprised! On the other hand, I would NOT be surprised to find out that all (or almost all) of the neg reviews were from folks eating at one of the franchised spots. It is an unfortunate fact that the great majority of franchised businesses have very inconsistent product quality from one location to the next. Of course, that is not to say that you can't get a great beef from a franchised Al's, but if you are reading things about thick slices of beef or bread shortages or gelatinous (sp?) beef juice, those things are quality issues at those locations bc that nonsense would NEVER fly down on Ontario! Ya can't blame the owners at Al's for wanting to grow the biz (and their bank accounts), but it comes with a price. When you allow someone else to put your name on their building and use your recipes you are risking potential damage to your name/reputation.
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savoydog
June 25, 2008
Dripping with goodness this beef sandwich is delicious. The fries are a bit on the greasy side but they satisfy. You must get sweet peppers to top the sandwich!
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redtasha
December 13, 2007
Al's beef on 87th & Stoney Island was definitely a disappointing beef experience for me. First off, I went there specifically b/c they recently opened and the outside looked nice. When I got there they had no bread on the premises and I literally had to wait 20 min for the bread to arrive. Then, they took approximately 15-20 min to make my sandwich. I was standing at the counter and there was nothing but what looked like organized chaos going on behind the counter. I finally got the sandwich home and it was hardly up to par. The meat was sliced in big tough pieces, not thinly shaved and tender like it should have been. I asked for a side of gravy because I like my beef really juicy. The gravy was a reddish color with the taste & consisency of cooking oil-YUK. I know a good beef when I eat one b/c i've been eating at Scatchell's and Chickies for years, unfortunately I moved away. Al's was not good at all. Even though all the staff were really nice & the fries were great I will never go there for beefs again. In the meantime I'll stick to Scatchell's on the West side even if I have to drive a few miles to get it.
read full reviewThe Details on Al's #1 Italian Beef
Save Money:
Check the list of combo specials, especially the extra-large Big Al's Italian beef for just a couple bucks more than the regular version.
Where to Sit:
When it's warm outside, grab a seat in the covered outdoor cafe.
Category:
Payment Methods:
American Express, Diners Club, Discover, Visa, MasterCard
Restaurant Special Features:
Local Favorite, Family-Friendly Dining, Late Night Dining, Outdoor Dining, Lunch Spot, Food Delivery, Cheap Eats
General Info:
Cuisine:
Smoking Permitted:
Yes
