These Illinois Italian Beef Sandwiches Are Big Enough To Share
Chicago and Illinois are world-famous for one sandwich that towers above the rest: the Italian beef. Piled high with juicy, thinly sliced seasoned beef, dipped in savory au jus, and loaded onto fresh Italian bread, these sandwiches aren’t just meals, they’re legends.
Whether you’re a lifelong local or just passing through, experiencing an authentic Italian beef is a rite of passage.
But here’s the thing: some of these sandwiches are so massive, you’ll want to bring a friend (or two) to help you tackle them. From classic Chicago joints to hidden gems across the state, we’ve tracked down the biggest, most mouthwatering Italian beef sandwiches Illinois has to offer.
Get ready to loosen your belt and grab plenty of napkins!
1. Johnnie’s Beef – Elmwood Park
Johnnie’s Beef has been slinging legendary sandwiches since 1961, and their Italian beef is the stuff of Chicago folklore. When you order here, expect a mountain of perfectly seasoned, paper-thin beef that’s been slow-roasted to tender perfection.
The meat practically melts on your tongue, and the bread, oh, that bread, is crusty on the outside and pillowy soft on the inside, soaking up every drop of au jus like a sponge.
Located at 7500 W North Ave, Elmwood Park, IL 60707, this spot draws crowds from all over the metro area. People line up out the door, especially during lunch and dinner rushes, because they know what’s waiting inside.
The sandwiches here are absolutely enormous, overflowing with beef that cascades over the edges of the roll.
What really sets Johnnie’s apart is their dedication to tradition and quality. Each sandwich is assembled fresh to order, using beef held hot in its seasoned jus, a time-honored Italian beef practice that ensures consistency and flavor.
The staff works with lightning speed, but they never sacrifice quality for efficiency. Whether you go with a classic Italian beef or add sweet peppers and hot giardiniera, you’re in for a treat that’ll have you coming back for more.
2. Portillo’s – Villa Park
When people think of Chicago-style food, Portillo’s immediately comes to mind, and for good reason. Their Italian beef sandwich is a masterpiece of flavor engineering, featuring beef that’s been marinated in a secret blend of spices and slow-cooked until it’s impossibly tender.
Each bite delivers a perfect harmony of savory, slightly spicy, and downright delicious notes that dance across your taste buds.
You’ll find this particular location at 635 1/2 North Ave, Villa Park, IL 60181, and it’s become a beloved gathering spot for families, friends, and hungry travelers. The portions here are genuinely generous—we’re talking about sandwiches that require both hands and serious commitment.
The beef is piled so high that it threatens to spill out with every bite, making napkins an absolute necessity.
What makes Portillo’s special is their consistency and attention to detail. Whether you order it “dry,” “wet,” or “dipped,” they nail it every single time.
The atmosphere is lively and welcoming, with friendly staff who clearly take pride in their work. First-timers often make the mistake of ordering a large, only to realize the regular is already plenty for two people to share comfortably!
3. Buona – Berwyn
Buona has carved out its own special place in the hearts of Italian beef enthusiasts across Illinois. Their sandwich showcases beautifully seasoned beef that’s sliced fresh throughout the day, ensuring every customer gets the most tender, flavorful experience possible.
The meat is perfectly balanced—not too salty, not too bland—just right, with a subtle garlic and herb profile that keeps you reaching for more.
Head over to 6745 Roosevelt Rd, Berwyn, IL 60402, and you’ll understand why this location has such a loyal following. The sandwiches here are genuinely impressive in size, with beef stacked so generously that it almost defies the laws of sandwich physics.
They don’t skimp on the toppings either, offering crisp, tangy giardiniera and sweet roasted peppers that add wonderful texture and flavor contrast.
Buona’s commitment to family recipes and quality ingredients shines through in every aspect of their operation. The bread arrives fresh daily from local bakeries, and the au jus is rich and deeply flavorful without being overly greasy.
Many customers swear by getting their sandwich “dipped,” which means the entire thing gets a quick bath in the savory juice—messy, yes, but absolutely worth every drip and drop!
4. Jay’s Italian Beef & Sausage – Harwood Heights
Tucked away in Harwood Heights, Jay’s has been quietly serving some of the most spectacular Italian beef sandwiches in the Chicago area for years. Their beef is marinated in a proprietary blend of seasonings that creates an unforgettable flavor profile—robust, aromatic, and perfectly balanced between savory and slightly peppery.
The meat is sliced incredibly thin, allowing it to absorb maximum juice while maintaining wonderful texture.
Located at 4418 N Narragansett Ave, Harwood Heights, IL 60706, this neighborhood gem attracts both regulars and newcomers who’ve heard whispers of their massive portions. When your sandwich arrives, you’ll immediately understand the hype: beef cascading over fresh bread, glistening with au jus, topped with your choice of fiery giardiniera or mild sweet peppers.
It’s a beautiful, delicious mess waiting to happen.
What really makes Jay’s stand out is their old-school approach to customer service and food preparation. Everything is made fresh, nothing sits under heat lamps getting sad and dried out.
Many regulars praise the welcoming, familiar service, and the staff is known for being friendly and efficient. Their sausage is also phenomenal, and many people order a combo sandwich that features both beef and sausage, a truly indulgent experience.
5. Tony’s Italian Beef – Chicago
Tony’s has built a reputation for no-nonsense, incredibly delicious Italian beef that speaks for itself. Their approach is refreshingly straightforward: premium beef, time-honored seasoning methods, and generous portions that leave customers satisfied and smiling.
The meat here has a distinctive, deeply savory flavor that comes from slow-roasting and careful attention to temperature and timing throughout the cooking process.
You’ll find this South Side institution at 7007 S Pulaski Rd, Chicago, IL 60629, where it’s been feeding hungry locals and curious visitors for years. The sandwiches are absolutely massive, requiring serious jaw strength and dedication to finish solo.
Each order comes loaded with tender beef that’s been perfectly seasoned and soaked in rich, flavorful au jus that enhances rather than overwhelms the meat.
Tony’s keeps things simple but effective, focusing on quality ingredients and traditional preparation methods. The bread is always fresh, with just the right amount of chew and structure to hold up against all that juice-soaked beef.
Regulars recommend getting extra napkins (seriously, grab a whole stack) and finding a comfortable spot to dig in. The hot giardiniera here has just the right kick—enough heat to make things interesting without setting your mouth on fire.
It’s authentic Chicago beef at its finest!
6. The Patio – Bridgeview
The Patio offers a unique dining experience where fantastic Italian beef meets a welcoming, family-friendly atmosphere. Their beef is tender beyond belief, slow-cooked with a blend of herbs and spices that creates layers of complex, satisfying flavor.
What makes their version special is the perfect balance they achieve between the meat, juice, and bread—each element complements the others without any single component overwhelming your palate.
Located at 9100 S Harlem Ave, Bridgeview, IL 60455, this spot has become a community favorite for good reason. The sandwiches here are genuinely enormous, easily feeding two people with normal appetites or one very hungry person with determination.
They pile on the beef with remarkable generosity, and the quality never wavers regardless of how busy they get.
While The Patio is known for a broad menu beyond Italian beef, its beef sandwiches remain a popular and generously portioned option among regulars.
What sets The Patio apart is their attention to the complete dining experience. The service is warm and attentive, the space is clean and comfortable, and the food consistently exceeds expectations.
Their sweet peppers are perfectly roasted with a slight char that adds wonderful depth, while the giardiniera provides a tangy, spicy contrast. Many customers make this a regular stop, and it’s not uncommon to see families sharing sandwiches while enjoying quality time together.
The value here is exceptional, you get restaurant-quality food at incredibly reasonable prices!
7. Pop’s Italian Beef & Sausage – Evergreen Park
Pop’s Beef has earned a devoted following thanks to their commitment to traditional recipes and genuine hospitality. Their Italian beef is everything you could want: fork-tender meat that’s been marinated and slow-roasted to perfection, creating a depth of flavor that’s both comforting and exciting.
The seasoning blend they use has clearly been perfected over many years, delivering consistent deliciousness with every single order.
Find them at 10337 S Kedzie Ave, Chicago, IL 60655, where locals and visitors alike line up for their legendary sandwiches. The portions are absolutely jaw-dropping—we’re talking about sandwiches that require strategic planning to eat without making a complete mess (spoiler alert: you’ll make a mess anyway, and it’ll be totally worth it).
The beef is piled high and soaked in au jus that’s rich, savory, and perfectly seasoned.
Pop’s keeps the focus where it belongs: on quality food and friendly service. The staff works efficiently but never makes you feel rushed, and they’re happy to explain the menu to first-timers.
Their bread is sturdy enough to handle all that juice-soaked beef without falling apart mid-bite—a crucial detail that separates great Italian beef from merely good. Whether you prefer your sandwich with hot or sweet peppers (or both!), Pop’s delivers satisfaction guaranteed.
This neighborhood gem deserves all the recognition it gets!
8. Roma’s Italian Beef & Sausage – Chicago
Roma’s brings old-world charm and authentic flavor to every sandwich they create. Their Italian beef features meat that’s been carefully seasoned with a traditional blend of spices, then slow-cooked until it reaches that perfect state of tender, juicy deliciousness.
Each bite reveals subtle notes of garlic, oregano, and black pepper that transport you straight to an Italian grandmother’s kitchen, if that grandmother happened to make the world’s best beef sandwiches.
Located at 4237 N Cicero Ave, Chicago, IL 60641, Roma’s has become a neighborhood institution that draws fans from across the city. The sandwiches here are absolutely gigantic, overflowing with beef that’s been lovingly prepared and generously portioned.
They don’t believe in skimping on ingredients, which means you get maximum value and maximum flavor with every order.
The beef is prepared in classic Italian beef style, with slicing and assembly done throughout the day to maintain quality and consistency.
Their hot giardiniera has serious kick—vegetable chunks pickled to tangy perfection with just enough heat to make your taste buds dance. Regulars know to order extra bread on the side to soak up every last drop of that incredible juice.
It’s messy, magnificent, and absolutely memorable!
9. Al’s #1 Italian Beef – Chicago
Al’s claims to be the birthplace of the Italian beef sandwich, and whether that’s historically accurate or not, one thing is certain: they make one heck of a sandwich. Their beef is sliced razor-thin and seasoned with a proprietary blend that’s remained unchanged for decades, creating a flavor profile that’s become iconic throughout Chicago.
The meat is incredibly tender, practically dissolving on your tongue while delivering waves of savory, garlicky goodness.
Head to 1079 W Taylor St, Chicago, IL 60607, right in the heart of Little Italy, and experience a piece of Chicago culinary history. The sandwiches here are massive, piled impossibly high with beef that’s been lovingly soaked in rich, flavorful au jus.
The bread—crusty Italian rolls from local bakeries—provides the perfect vehicle for all that delicious meat, sturdy enough to hold everything together while still maintaining wonderful texture.
Al’s has perfected their craft over generations, and it shows in every detail. The ordering process is efficient, the food arrives quickly, and the taste is consistently outstanding.
Their gravy (that’s what they call the au jus) is legendary, with a depth of flavor that comes from hours of simmering beef drippings and seasonings. Many people order their sandwich “dipped,” meaning the whole thing gets dunked in that glorious gravy—a messy but absolutely divine experience that epitomizes Chicago beef culture!
10. Mr. Beef on Orleans – Chicago
Mr. Beef gained worldwide fame when it became a filming location for a certain popular television show, but locals have known about this gem for decades. Their Italian beef is outstanding: tender, flavorful meat that’s been perfectly seasoned and slow-cooked, then piled generously onto fresh bread.
The beef here has a distinctive flavor profile—savory with subtle hints of garlic and herbs—that keeps people coming back time and time again.
You’ll find this iconic spot at 666 N Orleans St, Chicago, IL 60654, nestled in River North where it’s been serving hungry customers for years. The sandwiches are absolutely huge, requiring serious dedication to finish alone.
They load each order with so much beef that it spills over the sides, creating that perfect messy aesthetic that defines great Italian beef.
Mr. Beef keeps things delightfully no-frills, focusing on what matters most: incredible food and quick, friendly service. The atmosphere is casual and unpretentious—order at the counter, grab your sandwich, and find a spot to dig in.
Their sweet peppers are phenomenal, roasted to tender perfection with a slight caramelization that adds wonderful sweetness. The hot giardiniera brings the heat without overwhelming the other flavors.
The shop is primarily known for its busy daytime and lunch.
Whether you’re a first-timer or a regular, you’ll receive the same warm welcome and outstanding sandwich. It’s authentic Chicago at its absolute finest!
11. Luke’s Italian Beef – Chicago
Luke’s has become a Loop favorite for office workers, tourists, and anyone craving an exceptional Italian beef sandwich. Their beef is remarkably tender, having been slow-roasted with a carefully balanced blend of seasonings that creates wonderful depth without overpowering the natural meat flavor.
Each bite delivers satisfaction, with the beef practically melting while releasing waves of savory, slightly peppery goodness that makes your taste buds sing.
Located at 215 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60606, right in the heart of downtown, Luke’s offers convenience without sacrificing quality. The sandwiches here are impressively large, easily providing enough food for two people to share comfortably.
They pile on the beef with remarkable generosity, and the au jus is rich and flavorful without being overly salty or greasy.
What sets Luke’s apart is their consistency and commitment to fresh ingredients. Despite being in a high-traffic downtown location, they never cut corners or let quality slide during rush periods.
The bread arrives fresh daily and has the perfect texture—soft enough to soak up juice but sturdy enough to hold together. Their giardiniera strikes an ideal balance between tangy, spicy, and crunchy, adding wonderful contrast to the tender beef.
Many downtown workers consider Luke’s their go-to lunch spot, and after one bite, you’ll understand exactly why. It’s comfort food excellence served with a smile!
12. Avanti’s Italian Restaurant – Peoria
Avanti’s proves that incredible Italian beef isn’t limited to the Chicago area—Peoria has its own claim to fame with this beloved local institution. Their Italian beef sandwich showcases beautifully seasoned meat that’s been slow-cooked to tender perfection, offering a flavor profile that’s both traditional and uniquely their own.
The beef here is sliced fresh and piled high, creating sandwiches that are truly impressive in both size and taste.
Find them at 8517 N Knoxville Ave, Peoria, IL 61615, where they’ve been serving the community for years with consistent quality and friendly service. The portions are genuinely enormous—these sandwiches easily feed two people, or one very hungry person with serious determination.
They don’t skimp on ingredients, loading each order with generous amounts of beef, peppers, and their signature au jus that’s rich and deeply flavorful.
Avanti’s brings a full-service restaurant atmosphere to the Italian beef experience, offering table service and a comfortable dining environment. Their bread is always fresh and perfectly suited to holding all that juice-soaked beef without falling apart.
The sweet peppers are roasted to perfection with wonderful caramelization, while the hot giardiniera provides just the right amount of tangy heat. While Avanti’s is broadly known as an Italian-American restaurant, Italian beef remains a well-loved offering among its menu highlights.
It’s proof that great Italian beef knows no geographic boundaries!