Illinois Italian Beef Sandwiches Big Enough To Share
When hunger strikes hard, nothing satisfies quite like a juicy Italian beef sandwich piled high with tender meat and dripping with flavor. Illinois has perfected this messy masterpiece, and some spots serve portions so massive you’ll want someone to split them with.
I’ve tracked down the best places where sharing isn’t just suggested – it’s practically required.
1. Johnnie’s Beef in Elmwood Park
Walking into Johnnie’s feels like stepping back to when sandwiches were built to impress. Beef literally cascades over the edges of their French bread, making every bite an adventure in napkin management.
After you’ve conquered one of their legendary sandwiches with a friend, their famous Italian ice offers the perfect cool-down. Locals have been making pilgrimages here for decades, and one look at those overflowing portions explains why.
2. Mr. Beef on Orleans Downtown Chicago
River North’s most famous beef joint doesn’t mess around with portion sizes. Their beef-and-sausage combo turns a simple lunch into a full-blown strategy session requiring architectural planning and serious napkin reserves.
Going dipped with hot giardiniera transforms your meal into something wonderfully messy. Two people can barely finish one of these monsters, especially when the bread soaks up all that incredible juice.
3. Al’s Number One Italian Beef
Al’s flagship location in Little Italy has earned its reputation one ridiculously oversized sandwich at a time. I’m not exaggerating when I say their jumbo portions border on absurd – you’ll wonder how they even fit that much beef on bread.
Sweet or hot peppers pile on extra bulk to an already hefty creation. Splitting one means both people leave satisfied without that uncomfortable too-full feeling.
4. Scatchell’s Beef and Pizza in Cicero
Since 1953, Scatchell’s has been drowning sandwiches in juice the way grandma intended. Their old-school beef stand approach means every sandwich gets that perfect juice-to-bread ratio that modern places sometimes miss.
Decades haven’t changed their generous portions one bit. You’ll need a partner to properly appreciate these beauties, especially when the bread gets gloriously soggy from all that flavorful au jus soaking through.
5. Buona Beef in Berwyn
Family recipes passed down since 1981 create the kind of tender, slow-roasted beef that makes you understand why people drive across town. Buona’s regular size already qualifies as shareable, but their large is downright ridiculous.
Wet and dipped options ensure maximum juice absorption into every fiber of that bread. When a family business perfects something over four decades, you can taste the dedication in every messy, delicious bite.
6. Pop’s Italian Beef and Sausage in Orland Park
South-siders know Pop’s builds beefs that command respect and require reinforcements. Multiple Chicagoland locations haven’t diluted their quality—each sandwich still arrives loaded beyond reason.
Their classic combos add Italian sausage to already generous beef portions, creating a protein overload situation. You’ll earn a loyal following too if you introduce friends to these hefty creations that have kept customers coming back for years.
7. Portillo’s Hot Dogs Across Illinois
Everyone recognizes that Portillo’s sign, and their Italian beef lives up to the hype every single time. Their standardized portions mean you know exactly what monster sandwich you’re getting at any location across Illinois.
Consistency matters when you’re planning to share, and Portillo’s delivers reliability along with flavor. The beef comes piled so high that cutting one sandwich in half gives two people a genuinely satisfying meal.
8. Francesca’s by the River in St. Charles
Not every great Italian beef comes from a casual stand—Francesca’s proves fine dining can handle this Illinois classic. Their upscale approach means artisan bread and premium ingredients without sacrificing that essential massive portion.
Sharing one here feels special, almost romantic, especially with Fox River views. Sometimes you want that same satisfying beef experience but with cloth napkins instead of a mountain of paper ones.
9. Jay’s Beef in Niles
Walking into this northwest suburban gem feels like stepping back to when portion sizes actually mattered. Jay’s has built a reputation on sandwiches that make your jaw drop before you even take the first bite.
Their signature beef creation comes loaded with tender, juice-soaked meat that practically spills over the edges of the French bread. Ordering the large means committing to a meal that could honestly feed three people if everyone’s being reasonable about it. The secret lies in their slow-roasted preparation method, which keeps the beef incredibly tender while soaking up maximum flavor from their special gravy.
10. Ricobene’s in Bridgeport
South Side locals have sworn by Ricobene’s since 1946, and their legendary breaded steak sandwich proves why traditions endure. This isn’t your typical Italian beef – they’ve taken the concept and supersized it with a twist that keeps people coming back generation after generation.
Picture a massive breaded steak cutlet topped with mountains of Italian beef, all crammed into a roll that barely contains the chaos. The combination of crispy breading and tender beef creates texture magic that regular sandwiches simply can’t match. Split between two people, it becomes the perfect shared experience rather than an overwhelming solo mission.
11. Beef-A-Roo in Rockford
Up in Rockford, this regional chain has mastered the art of the shareable beef sandwich with a uniqueness all its own. Beef-A-Roo puts a northern Illinois spin on the classic by offering cheddar cheese sauce as an optional topping, which sounds wild but tastes absolutely incredible.
Their jumbo beef sandwiches arrive stuffed with seasoned meat that’s been simmered to perfection in their signature au jus. The bread holds up remarkably well even when you order it wet, which is essential when you’re splitting a sandwich and don’t want it falling apart halfway through.
