It was just okay. I'm guessing Chicagoans have their preference and if this is it, food for you. Not for me though.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 5
Nick Dhillon
One of the best sandwich we had in Chicago.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Trey Best
Came to Chicago and was told I had to try this out. I enjoyed the sandwich, it was messy and flavorful. Next time in Chicago I'm going to the original store but great food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: French Fries, Sandwich, Dipped, Wet, Italian Beef and Fries
Blake Jackson
Really Italian beef, but I found it made the bread a bit too soggy. The service isn’t as fast as some other Italian beef places, but overall it was pretty good.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Sandwich
Jeff B
Dipped Beef sandwich with hot peppers were fire!!! Loaded with meat!!! The Chicago dog was flavorful with peppers pickles and mustard and no ketchup jajaja
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Mitch Writt
Took a day trip to Chicago and stopped here for lunch. The Italian beef and chili cheese fries were both elite. Busy spot but fast service. Can’t wait to go back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Family Movva
As incredibly deliciously tasty and greasy as I remember from college days and just as good as at the original on Taylor St. Fond memories of many years of studying and working fuelled by Al's!!
Get the regular combo (beef and sausage) for the best experience. The wet is good enough to already make the bread fall apart, dipped will get you a soggy mess without a fork in sight!
Keep many napkins handy and your shirt protected! Oh and get the giardiniera, hot preferred for the best pigout experience.
The handcut fries are very good, though I remember at the original they were a tad more greasy if that can even be imagined!!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fresh Cut Fries, Wet, The Combo
DONSANDWICH
The absolute best Italian Beef in Chicago!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
romero perez
A must whenever in Chicago!
Conrad Zbikowski
I visited Al’s Italian Hot Beef on a Thursday at 4:45 pm. Like other establishments in River North, the main entrance had a few steps. There was an accessible ramp out the back door. I ordered three “Diet Beefs” (e.g. Italian Beef without bread). The portion size of a Diet Beef ($8.50 October 2025) is about the same portion of Italian Beef as the Regular Beef ($9.25, October 2025). I did add both Sweet Peppers and Spicy Peppers. The sweet peppers were Green Bell Peppers and the Spicy Peppers looked to be pickled Banana Peppers. I also ordered an Original Depression Polish sausage sandwich with hot dog bun ($8.99, October 2025). The Italian Beef was delicious and well seasoned. The fat had rendered and I recommend the “Diet Beef” to enjoy that au jus beef flavor. The Polish sausage was fried and this dried it out a little. As a big guy, two Diet Beefs and the Polish and fries was very filling. I am settling down a little and then will finish that third Diet Beef later. It’s now 5:21 pm and there are three tables of guests. This is a Pepsi establishment.
Do not come to this Al’s. The manager is very mean and doesn’t treat people with disabilities right even when I showed him the nice review I wrote with me having autism. Go to Al’s on Taylor.
Sophie
This was our first stop after arriving in Chicago and it did not disappoint. We went to a couple other places that have similar menus, and Al’s was far superior. We got the Chicago dog with everything, fries, a beef sandwich dipped, and also a tamale. All excellent. Service is fast and efficient. Don’t miss this place!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Hot Dogs, French Fries, Sandwich, Dipped
Steve Iniguez
Very average Italian beef from the famous Al's #1..quite disappointing
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: French Fries, Sandwich, Dipped, Hot Giardiniera, Sandwich and Fries
Dave
The best Beef sandwich ever. You can't go wrong with Al's Beef. A lot of bold flavor. Delicious
It was just okay. I'm guessing Chicagoans have their preference and if this is it, food for you. Not for me though.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 5
One of the best sandwich we had in Chicago.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Came to Chicago and was told I had to try this out. I enjoyed the sandwich, it was messy and flavorful. Next time in Chicago I'm going to the original store but great food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: French Fries, Sandwich, Dipped, Wet, Italian Beef and Fries
Really Italian beef, but I found it made the bread a bit too soggy. The service isn’t as fast as some other Italian beef places, but overall it was pretty good.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Sandwich
Dipped Beef sandwich with hot peppers were fire!!! Loaded with meat!!! The Chicago dog was flavorful with peppers pickles and mustard and no ketchup jajaja
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Took a day trip to Chicago and stopped here for lunch. The Italian beef and chili cheese fries were both elite. Busy spot but fast service. Can’t wait to go back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
As incredibly deliciously tasty and greasy as I remember from college days and just as good as at the original on Taylor St. Fond memories of many years of studying and working fuelled by Al's!!
Get the regular combo (beef and sausage) for the best experience. The wet is good enough to already make the bread fall apart, dipped will get you a soggy mess without a fork in sight!
Keep many napkins handy and your shirt protected! Oh and get the giardiniera, hot preferred for the best pigout experience.
The handcut fries are very good, though I remember at the original they were a tad more greasy if that can even be imagined!!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fresh Cut Fries, Wet, The Combo
The absolute best Italian Beef in Chicago!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
A must whenever in Chicago!
I visited Al’s Italian Hot Beef on a Thursday at 4:45 pm. Like other establishments in River North, the main entrance had a few steps. There was an accessible ramp out the back door. I ordered three “Diet Beefs” (e.g. Italian Beef without bread). The portion size of a Diet Beef ($8.50 October 2025) is about the same portion of Italian Beef as the Regular Beef ($9.25, October 2025). I did add both Sweet Peppers and Spicy Peppers. The sweet peppers were Green Bell Peppers and the Spicy Peppers looked to be pickled Banana Peppers. I also ordered an Original Depression Polish sausage sandwich with hot dog bun ($8.99, October 2025). The Italian Beef was delicious and well seasoned. The fat had rendered and I recommend the “Diet Beef” to enjoy that au jus beef flavor. The Polish sausage was fried and this dried it out a little. As a big guy, two Diet Beefs and the Polish and fries was very filling. I am settling down a little and then will finish that third Diet Beef later. It’s now 5:21 pm and there are three tables of guests. This is a Pepsi establishment.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Do not come to this Al’s. The manager is very mean and doesn’t treat people with disabilities right even when I showed him the nice review I wrote with me having autism. Go to Al’s on Taylor.
This was our first stop after arriving in Chicago and it did not disappoint. We went to a couple other places that have similar menus, and Al’s was far superior. We got the Chicago dog with everything, fries, a beef sandwich dipped, and also a tamale. All excellent. Service is fast and efficient. Don’t miss this place!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Hot Dogs, French Fries, Sandwich, Dipped
Very average Italian beef from the famous Al's #1..quite disappointing
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: French Fries, Sandwich, Dipped, Hot Giardiniera, Sandwich and Fries
The best Beef sandwich ever. You can't go wrong with Al's Beef. A lot of bold flavor. Delicious
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The specials were unique and creative.
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