Al's #1 Italian Beef (Taylor Street)

The birthplace of the Italian beef sandwich. Al Ferreri and his sister Frances and brother-in-law Chris Pacelli Sr. opened this family beef stand in 1938 on the corner of Harrison and Lafflin, originally called Al's Bar-B-Q because the beef simmered outside. They figured out you could slice the roast thin on a deli slicer, cook it in its own juices with secret spices, and feed twice as many people with a first-rate sandwich. Since they were all Italian — that's where 'Italian Beef' came from. The Taylor Street location is the original, now run by the Pacelli family's next generation. Over 150 culinary awards. Ships nationwide via Goldbelly. This is not a chain — this is where Chicago's signature sandwich was invented.

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