548 N Wells St

Occasion: Guys trip to Chicago. Party of 3. Restaurant: Visited the one in Little Italy. Kind of a hole in the wall with a counter to eat at and a few tables outside. The restaurant is just what we expected and added to the overall experience. Weather was great this fall afternoon and we sat outside. Food: We had 2 Big Beef combos and one regular combo. All of our sandwiches were dipped and packed full of meat. The sandwiches exceeded our expectations and were so filling we ate only a few of our french fries. However their fries were good. Overall: Met/exceeded our expectations and would definitely return next time I am in Chicago.

I'm a tourist and I haven't tried Mr. Beef, so take my review with a grain of salt. I came here because I had to have an italian beef in Chi-town and Mr. Beef closes at 4:30 on weekdays. For those of you from out of town, Italian beef is a Chicago staple. It's like their version of a french-dip. They take roasted beef in a bollilo and they'll either pour gravy over your sandwich or dunk it. I was told that the traditional way is to dunk it, so that's what I did. It's not a pretty sandwich, but the sandwich is pretty tasty. It's messy, so you'll need a bunch of napkins, but the au jus gives an undeniable juiciness. I got it with sweet peppers and spicy giardinera and I'd recommend that you do the same. I feel that this is something that you absolutely have to have if you come to Chicago. I'm told that Mr. Beef is awesome, but Al's Italian beef is also really good!

The restaurant looked very new and clean, with good - fast service. The price for Italian sandwiches seemed reasonable, but higher than competitors that are also good. The sandwich was very tasty and filling, and required me to use a lot of napkins! (A good sign..)

Of course after watching The Bear, we wanted to go to Mr. Beef. However, it was negative 7 degrees and Mr. Beef closed for the day. We took a quick jaunt over to Al's on recommendation from a friend who is Chicago native. We got the big beef with hot giardiniera and split it. I thoroughly enjoyed it, but there was a particular seasoning that my husband found to be too much. Not sure which one but it was a little off putting to him. The restaurant was FREEZING like they didn't have a heater and had a generally cold, sterile feeling. The manager seemed to be doing measurements for making changes to the space so was a little distracting while he was using his laser measure. We ate and split pretty quickly.

Very fast service and great taste! Sandwich was well dipped, sausage was nicely cooked, and the fries accompanied both perfectly!

When we came to Al's Beef for lunch, the line was out the door, and that's when you know the food is going to be delicious! There's a kiosk in the back right corner of the restaurant that not many people seemed to know about. Even after ordering, it was still a decent wait, which was understandable considering how crowded it was. There was some seating inside, but it was super crowded when we went. We just did takeout and ended up eating it somewhere else. We got the Italian beef sandwich, loaded fries with bacon cheese and green onion, and a hot dog Chicago style. All the food was delicious, but my favorite was probably the fries.

A Dipped Big Beef with Provolone and Sweet Peppers was as delicious as always. But I only received one Green Pepper in the entire sandwich, which was thoroughly drenched with Meat Gravy. Homemade Cheddar Cheese Fries and Regular Fries were very good but arrived barely warm. Diane observed that her Cheese Dog had a noticeable snap to the Dog. The Cheddar Cheese Dogs were smothered in cheese. Our order was called within five minutes of ordering, but the Fries were clearly not made to order. Nevertheless, they added to the enjoyment of our lunch.

What a unique flavor, never had anything like it. Definitely a must try while in Chicago! Service was AMAZING! The owner of that location a was super nice and helpful to us newbies of the Italian beef sandwich!

Went for Dinner Food - 5/5. Italian beef sandwich had stacks of thinly sliced beef, which created a layered density that had a delicate yet firm bite. The thinness also helped it soak up the broth, which gave it a savory flavor. It actually reminded me of hot pot, with how the meat was thinly sliced and flavored by broth. The bread soaked up the broth as well, but maintained its structure leading to a nice chew. Peppers gave a vibrant freshness to what would otherwise be stacks of the same flavor. Service - 4/5. Quick and friendly service. Value - 5/5. The regular beef sandwich was loaded with beef and of good size for a price tag of $9. It was delicious and showcased the Italian beef specialty of Chicago. Peppers were only an extra $0.75, which is very reasonable. Excellent spot to experience classic Italian beef. Parking - Street (Metered)

This is a nice place. Good crew working here. The Chicago dog, which was OK. It was pretty good, not perfect. The fries were a nice surprise and quite tasty. I was told the beef was the best in town by a friend who has lived here for 31 years. I found it to be good but not great. I've had a few that were better, but it was very pleasant and my dining companion and I enjoyed our time here.

Al's did not disappoint. This was a delicious sandwich. A little messy with the fully dipped with the sweet and spicy peppers. I also had provolone cheese . This was amazing. Very flavorful. I loved it and will definitely go back. The service was really fast and the restaurant was small, nice, and clean. I had the choice Chicago dog or Al's. I am glad I chose Al's.

I've been meaning to try Al's Beef ever since I moved to Chicago, and I finally made it over this weekend. I ordered a regular-sized Italian beef "wet" with hot peppers and provolone, the buffalo blue cheese loaded fries, and a tamale. The Italian beef was just okay for me. I know the "right" way to eat it is without cheese, but I prefer mine with cheese, which was a bit lacking in quantity. Personally, I prefer the Italian beef at Portillo's. If I go back to Al's, I'd probably try something else, like a burger or hot dog, because the regular size wasn't as filling or flavorful as I expected. Now, the buffalo blue cheese fries were on a whole different level--some of the best loaded fries I've ever had. I would absolutely order them again, no hesitation. If you're going to try one thing other than the Italian beef, make it those fries. As for the tamale, it was similar to the Italian beef--just okay for me. Overall, next time I'll definitely go for a hot dog or burger!

This was our fist time here and I have to oh my god!! This sandwich was on fire . It was so freaking delicious. I highly recommend the Chicago style it's a dipped sandwich with peppers. Man I wish they had this in Dallas , TX. I will definitely be back here and the staff was great. Thanks for the recommendation.

My husband liked this place so much we came back twice during our visit to Chicago. We first ordered the Chicago dog, which was tasty but I thought it was a little salty. The fries were good though. I love the toppings. We then came back and got a beef sandwich to go. This one was amazing! So tender and flavorful. I would recommend this one over the hot dog. Service was friendly and they are fast. The guy was very patient with my questions. Bathrooms clean.

This place is pretty good. It depends on what you are looking to experience. Four of us walked from the lake, great neighborhood, little Italy, U District. We all had beef sandwiches. The beef folks is perfect. The fries are awesome. Customer service sucks. But I don't think that's important to them. The lady at the register was a bitch. I could not understand her and she ridiculed me for asking for dipping sauce. No beer. Good outside seating. If you want a hot delicious sandwich and nothing more? Stop by.

Regular Beef Chicago style dipped with provolone. Great flavor, in the au jus. The bread was kind of chewy. The bread to meat ratio was off, not enough meat for the thickness of the bread. Beef was tender and flavorful. Loaded Fries Thin cut fries. Perfectly salted and enough cheese to have some on every fry bite. Bacon was fresh and plentiful. Green onions were fresh. Very tasty, overall.

Glad to have had this as a part of our Chicago experience this weekend! It's classic Chicago vibes. Quality Italian beef. I think we learned about it from Somebody Feed Phil originally. I don't think Italian beef is my typical preference, but it was really fun to try. The fries were actually awesome. Good flavor & crisp. I'm curious about the hot dog--bet it's fantastic. The combo sandwich comes with both Italian beef and a sausage in the middle. I added provolone and ordered it dipped. It's great with the soggy bread actually. The line is super long & takes a little while, but after you order, the food comes quick. And it seems pretty fresh since they're just cranking it out nonstop.

A week and a half ago me and my bf were in Chicago to attend a show and after I booked our hotel, I looked on the map to see what was near by to grab a bite to eat and I came across Al's Beef. I did see Mr. Beef was within walking distance, but by looking at the pictures for this place and how the line is going out the door, I just didn't think the juice was worth the squeeze at this time. In the future we would love to give them a try, but we just didn't feel like dealing with a long line. Al's was super close to us and we went over the menu before we walked over to do a to go order. When we walked in the store was clean and the staff was friendly. Being as hungry as I was I went with the big beef with provolone dry with gravy on the side and the bf went with a regular combo which is an Italian sausage and Italian beef on the same sammy. He got his with provolone and a side of sweet & hot giardiniera with gravy on the side. We got a small fry to share and I loved the hand cut and as I always said in a prior post I am a sucker for hand cut taters. The sandwich was everything I hoped for, delicious af! The beef was tender and the bread? It's just like how I like my crust when eating New York slice. It was soft and has a little chew to it and it was fresh. The flavor of the gravy was everything I look for in a good au jus. My eyes were bigger than my stomach, so I enjoyed the other half for breakfast. Normally that is something my bf will do, but it was that good that I didn't mind it in the morning. Would definitely recommend.

Was only visiting for the weekend and needed an Italian beef sandwich and this really hit the spot. I ordered it wet with both hot and sweet peppers. It was pretty messy but really good. The restaurant is big and clean with plenty of tables. I would definitely come back

Get the Italian beef. We added peppers and topped with gravy. Delicious. I'll come back for that. The hot dogs just aren't for me. Just get the beef, fries and cheese sauce. Spot on.

Being the woman of the people, I had to try what that particular city is known for. I ordered the Chicago dog which is a Vienna Beef hot dog topped with mustard, relish, onion, sport peppers, tomato, pickle spear, celery salt on poppy seed bun & served with fries. It was different but good. The Vienna hot dog was on the skimp side. Nothing too spectacular but it was good.

My homies and I while visiting Chicago did a science experiment and visited Al's and another place for lunch. The other spot one Place is small so it's hard to find a seat. The food wasn't bad, but it was not stellar. Very soggy and greasy and just felt rushed. Staff was too busy to really make us feel welcome and I don't blame them

Had to try an Italian beef, which was a delicious mess. I got it dipped with the hot and sweet peppers to make sure I was being authentic. There is plenty of meat, and I ended up ordering the medium size (there are three choices) that is 7". The peppers gave the sandwich a nice punch, and I destroyed the sandwich pretty quickly. If you're looking for a good Italian beef spot, I'd definitely come by. Be careful though - it's an absolute mess to eat so don't wear something nice.

For starters I absolutely love Chicago and the food scene here unmatched! I've been visiting Chicago twice a year the last couple years and was unable to get an Italian Beef until now. The sandwich taste like a bite of Chicago history. I ordered a Jumbo beef with Loaded Fries and was able to get a Regular Beef free! The sandwich is HUGE and the beef is flavorful and so tender. The broth is amazing as I ordered mine dunked! The Loaded fries were also Top Tier and much better than Loaded Fries I've had elsewhere. I can't wait to grab another one when I return next year. For any tourist I highly recommend trying this sandwich. It's a true taste of Chicago!

Hubby and I were visiting chicago and one of his friends recommended this place. It was great and food was delicious! would definitely go back here again but with gloves bc it can get really really messy! or maybe it'd be even better if they can provide plastic gloves and or untensils for their customers.

I get it but just okay. There's other beef sandwiches I prefer but I get why it's such an iconic dish. Of course we got it wet, with hot giardiniera, and immediately you get this intense beef flavor. If you just get it with the beef and nothing else, it does get boring, which is where the giardiniera comes in. That or the sweet peppers will help make it a much better sandwich. Beef itself is super soft and since the sandwich is dipped in the jus, it is a messy messy sandwich. It's filling and really for a quick casual meal, it'll do the job. We also got a Chicago dog and gotta say, we much prefer the dog here!

No visit to Chicago is complete without a visit to an Al's #1 Italian beef. We went to the one downtown and it did not disappoint. We had the regular beef, which is plenty food for one person, with cheddar cheese sauce. I had mine dipped, which makes it very messy and extremely delicious. So good it's hard to describe. We got the buffalo fries, which were covered in a blue cheese dressing and buffalo sauce. The fries themselves are fresh cut and perfectly fried. They were very good. If you're downtown and don't want to travel too far for an Italian beef sandwich, this Al's location is on point.

I did not know what to expect, but my wife and I split a hot dog and an Italian beef with hot and sweet peppers dipped in jus. The Italian beef was life changing. Did not think it would be as good as it was. The hot dog was very good as well, but took a back seat to the sandwich

I liked this fast food style Italian beef. food came out quick and the kitchen and front was very clean event with the high turnover of locals and tourists dining here.

solid beef sandwich, cheap, very messy but tasty. orders are ready very quickly. grab a ton of napkins and dip as much as you can

After a day of walking all over the city, we couldn't bring ourselves to go out again for dinner, but we knew we wanted an authentic "Chicago" meal. We DoorDashed Al's Beef to the hotel and had a great experience! Our meals arrived hot, perfectly packaged, and man... the Italian beef was DELICIOUS. I enjoyed mine "wet" and the sauce with the beef was to die for. I couldn't have asked for a better casual meal after a full day of exploring the city. Next time we're in town, we'll visit the location itself!

On a conference weekend in Chicago, I'm conducting an informal search for the best Italian beef. A colleague who lived in the area recommended Al's as the top spot. Made the trip to Al's and was pretty happy with the sandwich. I get mine wet, not dipped. I don't like when the roll disintegrates under the volume of the juice. Als put together a solid sandwich. The beef was delicious and plenty wet. The juice was a little spicy which was a nice surprise. The fries were lacking a bit. The flavor was there but I think I got the end of a batch because my bag was filled with a bunch of little nubs. Beyond that, it was great

I'm from LA and am more into French dip. I really didn't like the flavor or the wetness of this sandwich. It was a travel experience. One and done. Service was very friendly.

We ordered Al's for delivery on our last night in Chicago so we weren't expecting perfection since we weren't eating it fresh. Well, we were wrong. We ordered the beef dry with sauce on the side and that wound up being perfect. The bread wasn't soggy at all and it was delicious! We also shared some cheese fries which were fresh and the cheese sauce was surprisingly good. This was my first Italian beef IN Chicago and I loved it!

I am not a fan. Happy I tried it. I wanted the all the way sandwich. I should have gotten the sweet peppers instead of the hot peppers. For those of you who love hot, this is for you. Service was prompt, friendly, and fast. Max said the fries were very good. Make sure that if you take an Uber, you mention this location. There is another on the other corner and that one doesn't exist.

You have to try Because it's Chicago !!! Got the hot dog and beef sandwhich i had no idea you can ask for dry with the sides without the sides beef on the side now I know!! it was delicious either way definitely do research on how you like it I persoanlly don't like it soaking wet especially the bread i like it more damp must try! the owners are nice yes theres a line but not crazy

Came here and had the beef and then the beef had me. It was good until my colon practically fell out after sitting on the throne 2 hours later. The beef dip was delicious, but believe it was the chili cheese fries that did me in. Skip the fries as they are greasy and the chili & cheese leaves a lot to be desired. 4 stars on the beef dip 2 stars on the chili cheese fries 3 Stars total. Btw order is the beef dip sauce on the side or else you will have a hot mess.

Thanks love (Bonnie C.) for finding this place! Didn't know Chicago was known for Beef sandwiches and now I know and so glad I was able to try it! Self-serve Kiosk is available, along withe ordering with staff member Plenty of seating available- typical 4-seater table along with tables with 2-seater high chairs, bathrooms are available customers too Regular Beef "Wet" - tender, flavorful and good amount of seasoning for the Beef that wasn't overly salty - we also split this since we were going to eat more later lol it's a good amount of filling and a perfect "appetizer" (like a 3inch sub haha) if you're not wanting a full meal - happy having the beef dipping broth (like a consomé) on the side vs completely submerged in it I did leave wanting more though haha which means... highly recommend for you to check out!

This was my first time trying an Italian Beef and I was a little bit let down. The beef was a little bit tough and there was barely any peppers in there. Al's was recommended on ChooseChicago.com as one of the places to go to for Italian Beef but I believe there are way more places that would have better sandwiches. Overall, the Sandwich was alright.

I went here to try the Chicago Italian beef sandwich and this place was popping on a Monday lunch. We waited 15 minutes in line and another 20 minutes for the food, though it was somewhat worthwhile. We got the big beef sandwich dipped and made it hot Italian beef by adding hot giardineira for $1.40 extra and some sweet peppers as well. The sandwich was soggy as we chose it dipped, but it had nice flavor and there was a good amount of beef in it. The sandwich was spicy but not super spicy - it was tolerable and enhanced the experience. This is one of the few iconic "Chicago" American food that I would eat, as deep dish and the Chicago hot dog are not really my cup of tea.

Al's Beef's hotdog is as good as the legendary Chicago hotdog in town. They call it the "Chicago Dog", which I ordered with everything. It was devine. I loved the pickled green relish that seems to be the staple. I never craved hotdogs until I tried their Chicago Dog. I can't wait to return to get another bite. I also did love their hamburger with everything. Then the topper was the best which was their traditional "regular beef," it comes "regular" wet, with the sweet peppers, and the provolone cheese. Of course, a small side of fries to top it off. This is my Chicago favorite! My favorite!

Great service and quick this small restaurant has amazing beef sandwiches . Order aus jus or dipped . sandwiches served with peppers and layers of tender beef very juicy and spicy and a bit salty. . Fries are home fresh cut . Device people very helpful. Clean tables and restrooms. A great place to get the food Chicago beef sandwich for a great price

We came here on a Saturday. It was not as busy as we have seen on others pages. But as we ordered it started to get busier. The staff are so nice and friendly. The staff was moping the floors before the big crowd came. They have a menu on the wall bu the cashier and they also have a iPad with the menu. Al's beef offers sausages. So you can opt to have the beef and post sausage together. Or just a hot dog. They also have fries and you can also add topping if you choose. We tried the regular size beef sub with a side of dipping sauce.the roll is so soft and fresh. The dining sauce was a bit salty. But it's like a consome. Similar to dipping a birria taco. The beef slices were so thin, moist and delicious. The regular size is like a 6 in subway roll. If you want to add cheese it's an extra cost. Adding peppers is also extra cost. The sauce was the cheapest at .25 cents. Once we finished we looked to the right side and there was another Al's Italian beef. I would like to come back one day to try the fries or hotdog.

Had to try an Italian beef in Chicago and saw that this spot was rated the best beef sandwich in the city. We got the big beef dipped and hot and sweet with some provolone cheese which was enough for two people. Ordered at the counter and didn't have to wait too long for our food to be ready. This sandwich was really messy but so flavorful! It's a classic hearty sandwich and the peppers give it a nice crunch too. We devoured the whole thing and it was a really messy meal but very delicious! Very casual lunch spot and I would definitely come back.

First time at Al's Beef... I'll tell you what, it didn't disappoint! Regular Beef ( dipped, hot giardiniera, and provolone) was the perfect combination for every single bite. Just a warning, dipped means the bread is soaking with gravy, but that's what makes every bite so special. The hot giardiniera added just the right amount of heat to take this to the next level. The service is on point and fast! A good amount of seating and kept clean.

Come hungry!! I'm not even joking, you want to work up an appetite to truly enjoy this spot. Bomb.com. The dipped beef was delicious. The broth added a new layer of flavor to the bread and sandwich. Polish dog flavor was unreal. The greasy dog, tangy relish, and seeded bun. Service was quick, despite a line. Fast service is an A+ in my book. Ambiance is rustic and casual. BONUS: all the guys in my group eat a lot and loved this place. A couple shared with their girls friends and ended up ordering another sandwich. Size up if you're sharing hehe

My partner was so excited to try Chicago Italian beef and so was I. We came on a suuuuper hot and humid day so unfortunately my appetite was on the lower end. I got mine with sweet peppers and giardiniera and my partner got just giardiniera. He loved his, I thought it was too oily for my taste, but could also have been the heat and humidity affecting it. Dont get me wrong it was definitely oily, as in drenched thru two wrappers, but tasted pretty good. Overall would I go out of my way to come back here? No, but I do think it's still worth checking out if you've never tried it.

Classic and must go chicago experience. This was our first stop upon arriving and it did not disappoint! We ordered the jumbo sandwich with provolone cheese and both peppers added. We also ordered cheddar cheese fries! I found the sandwich to be super messy and while lots of juices were dripping out, the meat itself didn't taste all that flavorful to me! The cheese fries were large and yummy but this wasn't cheddar cheese (seemed more like nacho cheese!) The service was quick and the workers were kind. Overall atmosphere felt like a classic fast-ish food joint but was clean and worked for us. Glad we stopped here and experienced this classic spot -- try it out for yourself!

I get it wet with hot giardineira and it's RIDICULOUS. But dipped is even better...as is when you add provolone. The sausages are great too! I got a Polish Maxwell St style and that came with fries which are PHENOMENAL. Like uber crispy even when round and thin (which would normally be soggy).