I ordered a classic Italian beef sandwich from one of the three Chicago favorites.
Both Al and Buona's beef was a bit overpowering.
The Portillo's sandwich was the best and worth the wait.
I was excited to try Italian beef.
Italian beef is a classic Chicago street food that has only increased in popularity after the debut of The Bear. A chef comes back to Chicago to run his family's sandwich shop that sells Italian beef.
The famous sandwiches are made with slow-cooked, thin-cut roast beef and Au jus on a French roll.
It was about time for me to try Italian beef since I moved to Chicago a year ago.
I wanted to order it at some of the most popular chains so I asked a Chicagoan for recommendations and settled on three: Buona, Portillo's, and Al's beef.
I ordered the original beef with no extra cheese or peppers. On a Saturday, I went to each chain.
I stopped at the first place I went.
The first Buona was opened by the Buonavolanto's. Italian beef is one of the chain's specialties.
There are 26 locations in the greater Chicago area.
The chain was large and friendly.
I was surprised by how large the seating area was and how relaxing it was. There were many places for people to sit.
I wasn't in anyone's way or rushed. The atmosphere was friendly and the employees were kind.
The person who took my order seemed to think I would like the sandwich.
The cashier told me I would see her face a lot after I ordered. I was excited to try the sandwich since she seemed very confident.
The sandwich was put in a paper bag.
Before I took the sandwich out of the bag, I smelled the beef and jus. I had yet to try the other two chains, but I felt like we were off to a good start.
The sandwich was very thin.
I was surprised by the size of the paper. I felt light in my hands after seeing it.
The advertised length of the sandwich was 6 1/2 inches. The width was also 2 inches. It's not a huge deal.
When asked about the discrepancy in size, Buona did not reply immediately.
I told myself that size doesn't matter and that the flavors should speak for themselves.
I had high expectations for the sandwich.
I wasn't sure if I'd be back a lot.
The beef was easy to cook. The flavor was good but the main flavor was pepper. The taste lingered on my tongue even after I finished the sandwich.
The sandwich was easy to eat.
There was a great beef-to-bread ratio and the roll was light and fluffy.
The bread didn't add much to the sandwich. The beef was held in place.
I didn't need a napkin since the beef wasn't very juicy and didn't ruin my fingers. I would have liked it to be more moist.
The sandwich didn't blow me away, but it was a good one.
The measurement is 6 1/2 inches.
The measurement is 2 inches.
There is no waiting time to order.
The wait time for beef is 2 minutes 54 seconds.
The price is $7.59.
The beef on this sandwich was rehydrated and delicious but didn't meet the high expectations of the cashier. I was unsure if the beef was enough to make me a regular.
I went to Portillo's the next day.
Dick Portillo started Portillo's as a small trailer. Hot dogs, chocolate cake, cheese fries, and of course, Italian beef have become a Chicago staple.
The majority of Portillo's 70 locations are in Illinois, but it's also in a few other states.
I immediately felt welcome when I walked in.
As soon as I entered Portillo's, an employee pulled me in on a rope and told me to order in.
Portillo's felt different from the outside. There were props and decorations all over the place, it felt like a train station. I was transported to the 1950's by the music playing in the background.
The lines had about 10 people in them. People were always coming in and out of the store. Two groups were already in front of me when I stood in line.
It was not just a place to eat.
I waited a bit over nine minutes to place my order. I didn't know I was in line for so long.
The ordering system seemed to work well in the crowded place.
The order numbers were called out with phrases like "number 292, you know what to do" or "number 249, you're next in line."
I could not smell my sandwich through the bag.
There were no strong odors coming from the bag or the wrapper.
I was surprised by the thickness of my sandwich when I opened it.
At first glance, it was love at first sight.
When I bit into Portillo's sandwich I was surprised.
I felt that Portillo's Italian beef had layers of flavors that were not present during my visit. The packing of the beef was very generous.
The gravy and beef in Portillo's sandwich was so good that one didn't overpower the other. The seasonings worked well together.
I did not see a measurement for the regular sandwich on the menu, but this was 6 inches long. It was larger than the Buona sandwich.
This sandwich wasn't just put together.
The flavors of the beef were created over time.
The French bread that kept the beef in place was soft and fluffy, which allowed for the tender beef to mingle with the pillows inside. The smell and taste of it was fresh.
Considering how busy the chain was, I was surprised that I was able to taste the time, effort, and care that was put into this sandwich.
It was worth waiting for.
The measurement is 6 inches.
The measurement is 2 1/2 inches.
The wait time is 9 minutes.
3 minutes 48 seconds for wait for beef.
$7.39 is the price.
I initially had doubts about Portillo's because it has "hot dogs" on its signs, but after eating its Italian beef, I was amazed. The entire sandwich was amazing.
I went to Al's beef.
The beef stand that Al's sister and brother-in-law opened in 1938 has been in a different location ever since.
Al's was named the best Italian beef sandwich in Chicago by Chicago magazine in 1980.
Four of the chain's locations are in Chicago.
It was beautiful inside, but Al felt cramped.
The first thing that came to my mind when I opened the doors was bold.
The chairs were bright yellow. The seating area was pretty and clean, but it wasn't as open as it was at other places.
The tables and seating arrangements were very close together, which made Al's feel smaller and tighter. This place looked nice. It made me feel good.
Al had a fast paced energy.
With the hip decor and Jack Harlow and Harry Styles songs playing in the background, Al's felt like a trendy local spot for 20- to 30-year-olds.
There were a few people eating at Al's, but no one was waiting in line to place their order.
I don't know if it was the setup of the restaurant or the attentive workers behind the counter, but Al's felt fast-paced. Even though it wasn't very busy, I almost felt rushed to order.
The messiest sandwich was by Al.
I knew it was going to be a big deal when I got my sandwich.
The paper wrapping of the sandwich was wet. The messiest of the three would require napkins and moist towelettes.
The sandwich wouldn't be wet.
The sandwich from Al's almost tasted like autumn.
The regular sandwich was 5 1/2 inches in length. It was the most well-packed with a thickness of 2 1/2 inches.
I smelled a lot of different spices when I first tried them. The smell of the sandwich made me want to eat it.
The sandwich was salty but it was overshadowed by the spices. I understand what the chain means by distinguishable and unique tastes.
The taste of the beef and its jus reminded me of a fall themed candle.
I didn't know if the beef was good.
The beef had a lot of bold flavors, but I wasn't sure if I liked them with it.
I liked how thick the French bread was and how fluffy it was. This would've been a great thing if I liked it. I wanted to let go of the flavors.
This beef is award-winning, so it could be my personal preference, or I may have just gotten an extra-seasoned batches.
The bread got wet.
The bread became soggy after it soaked up the juices.
I had to be gentle as I picked up the sandwich. The bread could fall apart at any time.
I was happy that the sandwich wasn't too dry. I don't think it would hold up if I ate the rest of it.
I didn't think Al's beef was the best.
The measurement is 5 1/2 inches.
The measurement is 2 1/2 inches.
No wait when ordering.
Wait time for beef is two minutes.
$8.89 is the price.
The execution of Al's beef was not as good as it could have been. I think less could be more for Al.
The amount of meat I got on the sandwich was impressive, but I think there were too many seasonings and spices on it.
I would go back to Portillo's if I needed Italian beef.
Each sandwich had its own taste and appearance. I loved the chain locations for their unique personality and vibe.
Whether you like your sandwiches simple or loaded to the max, there's a chain for everyone.
Portillo's had everything I wanted.
The sandwich was a little too thin and dry for my liking. The sandwich from Al's was too heavy in flavor and jus.
I liked the fresh-tasting bread that Portillo's had. It was fun to visit the location and the vibes were great. I would easily wait 10 minutes to get this sandwich again because I understand why the line was so long. I wouldn't wait long.
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