I'll have to check out Johnnie's and Mr. Beef. There are a few smaller places on the South Side that have some decent beef. I'll let you know.

Have to say that Johnnie's beef I like better due the spicing of the beef, but the hot giardinara at Al's is unique, good and unlike anywhere else so it is a very good beef IMO. (hence eating two sandwiches today at the FT Al's Beef Do w/andrzej in town).

I like Ricobene's. They are excellent! I even like it better than Al's. Al has teamed up with Connie's Pizza, and is selling their items together. Ricobene's is cleaner than Al's, and better quality. Plus, my Dad grew up with the family, and my Aunt still goes to church with them.

hey denise, got an address for them?, always looking to try a new place to me.

Even better, check out this link!
 

the link to Ricobene's didn't work denise, fyi

Upon some searching, looks like the original location is at 252 W 26th St, Chicago, but there are locations eleswhere. The breaded Italian steak sandich is "the big one Chicago made famous". With a quote like that, I'll have to try one.

As I stated, with a tag line like that, I had to try it.

Was downtown today, there are various Ricobene’s, I went to the 60 E Lake St location.

Client had the Italian beef and I the breaded Italian steak sandwich w/red sauce and cheese, we split the sandwiches.

Seeing as this is the beef thread, I’ll review that first. GARLIC and GARLIC. Slivers of garlic and the beef were put on a greasy garlic bun. I LOVE garlic but it was way too much, so thumbs down on the Italian beef at Ricobene’s. Tried the beef on its own and it was a bit tough.

The breaded Italian steak sandwich was for sure a good sandwich, I wouldn’t use the tag line that Ricobene’s uses to describe it, but the sauce, breaded steak, roll and cheese all came together to make it a very memorable sandwich and probably a unique sandwich in Chicago. I will go back and have another at some point.

Portillo's is awesome!

Sorry to hear about the Garlic and that it was tough. Maybe they didn't mix the Garlic in well. I have had theirs before, from the one on Pulaski and one in Orland Park. They were good. Actually they were better than the one on Lake street. I used to work in Amoco, and ate at the Lake Street location, occasionally. I like the steak better and their pizzas are good too.

Forgot to mention, I got the thread to work, from the Google Search. I copied and pasted the entire thread, and it came up fine.

Has Anybody Had 'em shipped
 

If so, how well does the Portillo's or Al's product travel...

Love these sandwiches.

First, I have to give a vote to Pops...there's a couple of locations in the southern suburbs. They make a great beef sandwich. Second, for those of you not living in this area anymore try loutogo.com It's Lou Malnati's website, but you can order Poritllo's beef, Malnati's Pizza, Carson's ribs, and more!

You may want to PM andrzej - I think he took some (Al's) with him or had some shipped to FL. Although I notice he's currently suspended. :eek: I don't know what, if anything, that means for PMs. Also, as noted above, Loutogo will ship them. But, didn't I read that Portillo's has recently opened a shop in LA? I thought I saw this on Ellen awhile back.

I don't know about Portillo's, but Joe Mantegna (the actor from Chicago) opened an Italian Beef stand somewhere in the LA area (Burbank maybe?) called Taste Chicago. Anyone tried it?

There is one in Buena Park, CA http://www.portillos.com/portillos/locations/