"Al's combo: you cannot see the taut, full-flavored Italian sausage buried underneath the beef and giardiniera in this sandwich, but it is a significant presence. No one ever nominated Chicago's Italian beef as one of the prettiest foods, but to those who know and love it, there is nothing more beautiful than this sandwich's exquisite combination of flavors and textures."
Michael Stern
"Here's a side view of the combo, showing the mighty sausage secreted within the bun below the beef."
Michael Stern
"Aside from those at the annual Minnesota Fair, America's best French fries are in Chicago; and Al's serves some of the best of the best. No matter what else you get, you MUST have these. While they are available topped with cheese and/or chili, I recommend them au naturel."
Michael Stern
"A 6' with hot peppers, a 6' with sweet peppers, cheese fries and onion rings. Both sandwiches equally delicious - just depends on your heat meter - fries perfectly covered with ooey cheese and onion rings were nice and crunchy. A definite must eat when traveling to Chicago!"
Jeanne Smiczek
"Messy and delicious"
Ben Weiner
"Al's inclusion of "#1" in the name refers not only to its profession of unequalled excellence, but to the fact that its owners, the Pacelli family, claim to have invented Italian beef back in the 1930s."
Michael Stern
"This downtown Al's is a convenient walk from the hotels and shops on Michigan Avenue. While it lacks the basic street food amenity -- a counter to lean on while you eat -- the cuisine is impeccable."
Michael Stern
The strangest thing about Al's #1 Italian Beef at the corner of Wells and Ontario is that there are tables to sit at. The original Al's out on Taylor Street has high counters on which to lean one's elbows while ingesting a sandwich, thus preventing drippage on shirt and lap. Here, you sit on a chair and eat off the table; and no matter how many napkins you take and no matter how far forward you lean, it is inevitable that shreds of beef and spills of giardiniera will fall onto your clothing.
