The Best Italian Beef Sandwiches In The U.S. (And Only Five Of Them Are In Chicago)

Restaurants

Casual Dining

The Best Italian Beef Sandwiches In The U.S. (And Only Five Of Them Are In Chicago) By Julia Lauzon Nov. 16, 2025 7:40 am EST

Italian beef sandwiches have been part of Chicago's food culture since the 1920s. While passionate debates are still held today over who exactly invented the sandwich, the idea likely spawned from Italian settlers who, upon purchasing tougher yet less expensive cuts of meat, would roast them slowly in the meat drippings, eventually piling the meat on Italian bread.

The sandwich is traditionally garnished with a combination of fermented vegetables called giardiniera , which may be offered with different spice levels depending on the restaurant. Each eatery often has its own secret twist on the recipe, but some of the more com