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Best Italian Beef in Chicago

awbrig

By awbrig
in The Heartland: Dining

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awbrig

awbrig

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Posted

I havent been to a lot of places but I would find it hard to believe you can find better than Mr. Beef on Orleans. Get it 'hot and wet' which means w hot peppers and a little au jus. Man, that is good...The place is a hoot to go into too...mostly autographed pictures of Jay Leno all over the place...seeing it's Jays favorite Chicago eatery...

Im having lunch at Portillo's tomorrow to check out their italian beef...

Anyone else have any favorites....

Aurora

Aurora

Posted
Posted
I havent been to a lot of places but I would find it hard to believe you can find better than Mr. Beef on Orleans.  Get it 'hot and wet' which means w hot peppers and a little au jus.  Man, that is good...The place is a hoot to go into too...mostly autographed pictures of Jay Leno all over the place...seeing it's Jays favorite Chicago eatery...

Im having lunch at Portillo's tomorrow to check out their italian beef...

Anyone else have any favorites....

Man, would you have been in the woodshed if you hadn't named Mr. Beef.

I really can't think of any others that I like better.

BTW - Don't get Italian Beef at Portillo's, get a Polish.

awbrig

awbrig

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well we went to Portillo's

My Italian Beef was pretty good...a little soggy but still pretty good...Mr. Beef still rocks over Portillos though

the fries were very good at portillos but again I still like Mr Beefs fries better...

My sons hot dog looked pretty good with poppy seeds on the bun...

ronnie_suburban

ronnie_suburban

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I've been a little down on Al's (Taylor Street) lately because q.c. has been inconsistent and their prices seem to go up regularly, but I had it again last week and thought it was better than it had been in a long time.

I had a "big" beef, dipped with hot and sweet peppers. The beef was flavorful, plentiful and lean; the sandwich wasn't overly-soggy. I was a bit underwhelmed by the sweet peppers which had too much crunch for my liking. The hot peppers were perfect in flavor and quantity.

Still, it was a noticable improvement over the last time I had it (Aug 2001), when I was so disappointed I swore it would be a long time before I had it again. Perhaps they're still inconsistent, but at least I caught them on the right day this time around.

=R=

"Hey, hey, careful man! There's a beverage here!" --The Dude, The Big Lebowski

LTHForum.com -- The definitive Chicago-based culinary chat site

ronnie_suburban 'at' yahoo.com

awbrig

awbrig

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just how bad, exactly, are these italian beef sandwiches for you...I cant imagine they are too healthy...but they are damn good

Rail Paul

Rail Paul

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I'd be interested in doing a taste-off between Buffalo's beef on weck (a sliced roast beef with secret sauces on a kummelweck bun) and Chicago's best "big, wet beef."

They are similar enough in style (shaved beef on a custom made roll with sauces, juices, etc) to make a fair challenge.

Chicagolanders ... what's your best offer?

Apparently it's easier still to dictate the conversation and in effect, kill the conversation.

rancho gordo

Aurora

Aurora

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I'd be interested in doing a taste-off between Buffalo's beef on weck (a sliced roast beef with secret sauces on a kummelweck bun) and Chicago's best "big, wet beef."

They are similar enough in style (shaved beef on a custom made roll with sauces, juices, etc) to make a fair challenge.

Chicagolanders ... what's your best offer?

Chicago has been issued a challenge. New Jersey, you're on!

What..? Secret sauces...kummelweck bun...? No. No. No.

Similar in style? I don't think so.

CHICAGO Italian Beef Sandwiches are in a class all by themselves. The comparison you are making is one of apples to bananas. It doesn't work. The only thing that can be compared to a Chicago Italian Beef Sandwich is another Chicago Italian Beef Sandwich.

It is a matter of degrees. Quality, fresh ingredients, of course; but who serves up the leanest beef and shaves it the thinnest? Who has a mixture of sweet and hot peppers and seasonings (giardiniera) that hits the right note? Who makes the best bread, the right au jus, who has the best technique for dunking the sandwich--making it flavorful and slightly soft on the outside without turning it to mush.

OK, now if all those things are in place, lets talk about the environment in which such a work of art is created. You should be taking a number rather than waiting for a host to seat you. It must have a few hole-in-the-wall qualities. Seat yourself tables is OK, but stools and a counter are better--especially if arranged in a picture window so that you can enjoy your masterpiece while facing the street. What's on the walls? The more kitsch nailed up there, the better.

Everyone has a favorite neighborhood spot, for sure. But everyone knows MR. BEEF.

Rail Paul - I am willing to bet that Awbrig and Ronnie (once he overcomes Al's) would love to join me in escorting you up to the counter at Mr. Beef on your next visit to Chicago.

Oh yes. Mr. Beef is gonna kick your kummelwek buns hard. :cool:

awbrig

awbrig

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Im game, I always love an excuse to goto Mr. Beefs.

Remember, though, its only open for lunch and not open on weekends...

ronnie_suburban

ronnie_suburban

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OK, now if all those things are in place, lets talk about the environment in which such a work of art is created.  You should be taking a number rather than waiting for a host to seat you.  It must have a few hole-in-the-wall qualities.  Seat yourself tables is OK, but stools and a counter are better--especially if arranged in a picture window so that you can enjoy your masterpiece while facing the street.  What's on the walls?  The more kitsch nailed up there, the better.

That reminds of me of one of my favorite aspects of Al's (though I agree that Mr. Beef is better)--the holstered sidearm worn openly by the owner (?) while he's working in the store and making sandwiches. Could anything be more "Chicago" than that? :biggrin:

=R=

"Hey, hey, careful man! There's a beverage here!" --The Dude, The Big Lebowski

LTHForum.com -- The definitive Chicago-based culinary chat site

ronnie_suburban 'at' yahoo.com

Aurora

Aurora

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That reminds of me of one of my favorite aspects of Al's (though I agree that Mr. Beef is better)--the holstered sidearm worn openly by the owner (?) while he's working in the store and making sandwiches.  Could anything be more "Chicago" than that?  :biggrin:

=R=

You are serious! Very Chicago, indeed. I kinda like to see that, but I am too afraid to go and find out.

Has anyone heard from Rail Paul?

Rail Paul! Oh, Rail Paul... :unsure:

awbrig

awbrig

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Hey Gordon,

Never heard of Carms...

The best known in Chicago are Al's Number 1 Italian Beef, Mr. Beef & Portillos's. You cant go wrong w these three..but Ill have to check out Carms...

GordonCooks

GordonCooks

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One of my vendors is a native Chicagoan - He steered me to Little Italy for Carm's Beef and Italian Ice - It was an italian style beef with gravy and the works - tasty. He turns me on to out of the way greasy spoons like Jimmy's, Superdawg, Lou Mitchell's, Charlie Trotter's, etc........kiddin about CT's. Just wanted to get a little rise outta you

awbrig

awbrig

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gravy? as in like brown gravy? true italian beef sanwiches use au jus. If youre getting a sandwich w gravy its not a true Chicago Italian Beef, my friend.

ANd what do you mean by "the works". True Chicago Beef sandwiches come w only one condiment: giardiniera - which is a mixture of peppers, oil and olives - you can usually get it hot or sweet...

GordonCooks

GordonCooks

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I can't attest to an authentic Chicago Italian Beef for lack of experience - It was a italian roll - toasted on the grill in butter - the gravy consisted of meat jus, butter, a little tomato paste ? and the works was Mozzarella, a giardiniera of cherry peppers, hot banana peppers, slices black olive and evoo and garlic. It may also come with fried onions but I ordered without. I don't know if this qualifies as a "Chicago Italian" but the guy who made my "sangwich" did

Aurora

Aurora

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Posted
I can't attest to an authentic Chicago Italian Beef for lack of experience - It was a italian roll - toasted on the grill in butter - the gravy consisted of meat jus, butter, a little tomato paste ? and the works was Mozzarella, a giardiniera of cherry peppers, hot banana peppers, slices black olive and evoo and garlic. It may also come with fried onions but I ordered without. I don't know if this qualifies as a "Chicago Italian" but the guy who made my "sangwich" did

Nope! That ain't it (insert incorrect answer buzzer noise here).

What you were served sounds strangely, and unnecessarily gussied up. The grilled bun with butter is interesting. I've never had one with the gravy that you described. Generally, its just jus. The giardiniera also sounds interesting, but it is more akin to what we put on hot dogs--very vinegar-y. I'll give you the fried onions.

Does this mean that you are in on the Italian beef showdown? There's always room for one more at Mr. Beef. The more the merrier.

We've yet to hear from Rail Paul. :unsure:

Aurora

Aurora

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aurora,

its supposed to be a portillos beef sandwich and a lou malnatis pizza- its from lou's website where you can order both these items...

http://www.deepdishpizza.com/cgi-bin/lmcart.pl

Sorry. The sandwich looks like it has sauce all over it.

I questioned the pizza because...well...we're taw'kin Italian beef here!

I recognize Lou's pizza, first by smell, then by sight.

awbrig

awbrig

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I agree it looks like babecue sauce and the beef is too dark and the rolll inst soggy enough w au jus running off of it and also a true Italian sandwich is wrapped in that paper that is soaked w oil from the sanwich...you know...

Aurora

Aurora

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Posted
I agree it looks like babecue sauce and the beef is too dark and the rolll inst soggy enough w au jus running off of it and also a true Italian sandwich is wrapped in that paper that is soaked w oil from the sanwich...you know...

Exactly, my friend. Exactly. :biggrin:

GordonCooks

GordonCooks

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Posted
I agree it looks like babecue sauce and the beef is too dark and the rolll inst soggy enough w au jus running off of it and also a true Italian sandwich is wrapped in that paper that is soaked w oil from the sanwich...you know...

Exactly, my friend. Exactly. :biggrin:

Next trip to Chi-Town - I'll swing by a Mr.Beef for an authentic representation

Aurora

Aurora

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Posted
Next trip to Chi-Town - I'll swing by a Mr.Beef for an authentic representation

You're almost there. One more thing, it's not "A Mr. Beef." You will be stopping by THE Mr. Beef. To be fair, there is another location, but so what?

Mr. Beef On Orleans (official name)

666 N. Orleans (that's for real)

Chicago, IL 60610

312/337-8500

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