The sandwich came wrapped in paper that was already losing the fight. The beef was thin and wet and tasted of salt, garlic, and long practice. It had been cooked by men who understood there was no point arguing with hunger. You ate it standing because sitting would have seemed too civilized.
The bread held for as long as bread can hold against a flood. Then it surrendered with dignity. The peppers were sharp. The gravy ran down your wrists. You did not mind. There are meals that ask for manners, and there are meals that ask only that you finish them.
When it was over, there was nothing left but stained paper and the feeling that something honest had happened. The sandwich did not pretend to be refined. It was made for workers, for travelers, for men who had spent the day carrying things heavier than opinions.
It was a good sandwich. The best food usually has no interest in convincing you of that.
T
TRACY R
1 contributions
Didn't like
• 15/08/26
• DoorDash order
I usually love Al's but the meat was sparse in the Jumbo Beef so not worth the price and the Italian Sausage was overcooked and hard as a hockey puck.....
K
Kathryn A
2 contributions
Didn't like
• 2/09/26
• DoorDash order
Well, I was very, very sad. I was born in Chicago and grew up eating a Vienna beef hotdogs and Italian beef sandwiches as a child. Every time I visit from my home in Texas, or before that my home in California, these were the two things I was anxious to get. I excitedly ordered on, a rare treat, with DoorDash to have these things delivered to my hotel. However, as good as the hotdog and the Italian beef sandwich were, and they were, all of the condiments I had requested weren't there. There were no napkins, no forks, no ketchup for the fries, no salt no pepper no hot mustard… These are all things that make the meal, the meal! I was a little disappointed there weren't hot peppers on the Italian beef sandwich, also as I ordered specifically. When I called to ask about the missing items, the gentleman on the phone was extremely rude, said he was sorry and that's all he could do. He didn't offer to have the item sent over, he didn't offer the next time I came. I was in town to do anything… Bad business and left a really, really bad taste in my mouth about this restaurant. For that reason alone, I absolutely cannot recommend. There's plenty of other places in Chicago that have equal as good hotdog and Italian beef. I wish the man had been kinder and more compassionate instead of the creep that he was.
T
Tasha J
5 contributions
Loved
• 12/03/25
• DoorDash review
I have not yet found a better Italian beef then Al's. This is the best beef yet. I have been eating at Al's beef for over 20 years, the taste never changes, the quantity doesn't change, and the texture of the meat hasn't changed. I will forever be an Al's beef fan.
D
Daija H
2 contributions
Didn't like
• 2/09/26
• DoorDash order
worst meal ever. fries riddled with oil. tamale tasted like glue. hot dog came with a mound of relish and 1 sport pepper. never again.
