The sandwich is juicy, packed with meat, and both perfectly sweet and mildly spicy. It may help to know how to order, so you might want to practice before you go.
Al's #1 on Taylor Street can be fairly credited for making Italian beef a Chicago icon, especially considering how good the sandwiches still are today.
It's rumored that the first Al's location braises and slices its beef in-house. The beef also tastes a little different, supposedly due to sweeter spices used in the braise.
At Orleans-based Mr. Beef, not only are the sandwiches good, but the welcoming personality of the owners and their loyalty to customers also keep Chicagoans coming back.
Buona Beef is a great place for Italian Beef, but you have to go to the right place. The one at Rate Field, where the White Sox play, would be a good choice.
Carm's Beef specializes in Italian ice, so if you want a beef-and-ice combination, this is the place to go. It's also a great place if you're a giardiniera fiend.
Carm's uses a mix that has green jalapeños, which adds a unique, fresh flavor, and it also serves one of the best breads. Go for a hot, dipped Italian beef for the best experience.