Johnnie's Beef

We followed Mark Wien’s review. We drove out of city for half an hour to get Johnnie Beef Sandwiches. very good tasty beef. We tried both wet and dry sandwiches. Good lime Italian ice you cannot missed.

Lightning fast service and the food was so good! The sausage was very peppery and the beef was so good. I hear that you should order it extra juicy. The Italian ice was one of the best I’ve ever had. A small one would do. I got the spicy peppers with my sandwich but looking back, I think I should’ve gotten the sweet peppers. Fries are good too. They give you ketchup in a cone of wax paper :) their milkshake is decently good and their drinks seemed to be a handcrafted soda that I haven’t seen before. Overall very good experience at this establishment. Cash only, no bathroom on site. There is a gas station down the street, and also a fresh thyme across the street if you want to play frogger.

Been waiting a few years to finally get to this place. Glad I skipped the chains for once and got me a real BEEF. We ordered a sweet beef half dipped and a hot dog with fries. Best beef and fries I’ve had in the city so far. Can’t wait to back and try the sausage as it also looked incredible. Cash only however everything on the menu is under 7 bucks. Johnnies….they got the beef!!!

Listen Johnnie, your Italian Beef is my favorite food in the entire world. I drove 3 and half hours and didn't eat all day in anticipation of the joy that I was guaranteed to experience, until I got to your doors (on the 11th 🤦‍♀) and was immediately punched in the face with this sign. This is not a complaint post..I still love you. I am just wondering if your girl can please get some Italian Beef-Spicy & sweet peppers and dipped mailed to Indiana?!?

There is always long lines when ordering. But not to worry coz service is fast. When it come to food, they serve chicago style italian beef and sausage, and chicago style hotdogs with italian ice. Their menu is focused on these items. No facy menu’s on the list. The food is very nice to try. Ive been here several times and they never disappoint. This plave has been here quiet some time already. There customer keep coming back like me. So their food is a must try here in chicago. Though this place is in elmwood park. Still the food is chicago still. Love it.

This place is fxxKing awesum!!

I been working in the area for like 20yrs and jsut found out this hidden gems!

I ordered the combo Italian beef and sauguage with hot pepper and sweet pepper

I have never had sucha tasty Italian beef and sauguage

The Italian ice is to die for!

Over all, it's a great place. No matter if you order during lunch or dinner hours please expect there a LONG LINE! They alway have ppl in line outside lol. Once you are inside u r probably fifth in line and it will take less than a min once you ordered!

No dine in, they do have outdoor seating, or you can eat in your car just like me or take home

Johnnie's doesn't just serve the best italian beef in Chicago, they serve the best italian beef IN THE WORLD. Get it 'extra juicy' with hot peppers & sweet peppers, and I guarantee it'll blow your mind. The combo (sausage & italian beef) is always a great choice. Their italian ice is good too, and prices are dirt cheap, but they're cash only. Lines can get shockingly long, especially during summer, so be prepared to wait up to 30min--I promise it's worth it! I would eat an italian beef from Johnnie's every day for the rest of my life. It's THAT good.

This place is an awesome dive. There was a line out the door when I showed up around 8pm, but I had my food in less than 5 minutes. Italian beef, wet, with hot peppers was great. Definitely a good amount of spice! Hot dog with everything and fries was also spot on. I dined for under $15, and I think it was a great value. They are cash only, so come prepared.

The best!!! Best beef in, near, outside of Chicago. I travel from city to get this beef. Best beef around. The line moves fast. Cash only. The drink/pop selection is bad. I usually stop at a 711 or gas station on my way here to get something to drink like a coke and I eat my beef in the car in the cold months but in the summer we eat our beers at the dirty disgusting tables ( that no one wipes down) just outside their doors.

5 stars is the only appropriate rating for Johnnies. The beef is perfection. The sweet peppers are tremendous. The Italian ice is the perfect accompaniment, particularly in summer. The hot dog is good if you’re craving one. I don’t care much for the sausage or a combo. There is no other beef I will eat in Chicago (or suburbs).

One of only two restaurants I gave a 5-Star rating to on my 5 day trip to Chicago. Very much worth the wait, and there will be a wait. My wife had the regular and I had the hot pepper. It was amazing!! Simple ingredients done right, small menu and fast staff. Best beefsteak sandwich in the Chicago area that I found. The Lemon ice was very good and so was the chocolate shake. Thanks Johnnie's!!

I am from Texas, so this was my first time at Johnnie's, and it was Awesome. The food and service were great. I especially like the outside tables sharing good food with good people.

My first time trying the Italian beef and fries here was two months ago and haven’t stopped coming back. Eye roll, head nodding good like Keith lee 😂❤ Very quick service, in and out when not busy. Chocolate shake is so good also. $21 for two Italian beefs fries and a shake is awesome. Definitely recommend!

The most delicious food item you may ever eat. Seriously. Lines are always long but move pretty quickly. There’s often no place to sit but you can eat in your car. It’s in the middle of nowhere but it’s worth the drive. Absolutely amazing place. Do not miss it.

Iconic Italian beef and must try for meat lovers, the line outside tells you how good the food is, and the line moves fast :)
I tried the combo sausage & beef, and wow it was super delicious. Looking forward to come back :)

These guys were the best!!! I ordered one italian beef sandwich. I told them I was new to this whole thing and I just wanted it “the Chicago way.” And they hooked me up with an extra sandwich. One dipped. One not. They even gave my gf a large sample of the lemon ice. The sandwiches were delicious. Will definitely be back.

Solid Italian beef and Italian Ice. They were quick and affordable. The security / parking was an awesome source for giving directions to local bars and even gave a history of the area in the middle of winter. Could not suggest a better place. Get it with hot peppers, oil, and dipped. As an outsider I know why there’s hype. Make the trip if you can.

Great place .. right on North Ave. it’s been a staple in Elmwood park …goes way back to 1961 chargrilled sausage is so good .. Beef is good..I also love the combo beef and sausage.. and of course you have to add sweet peppers.. or hit both are awesome!There fries are so good. Yummy pepper and egg sandwich and a good non traditional tamale.They have good hot dogs also. Theres a couple tables outside if you want to eat there.Just a great place to eat if you want beef or sausage! Now.. we can’t forget .. about there Italian ice .. great on a hot summer day!!

Hands down the best Italian Beef and Italian Lemon Ice in Chicago, or dare I say, the Midwest.
As far as service and atmosphere, most people,I assume, would rate that lower than me because one, they're very abrupt and you need to know how to order correctly and two, the atmosphere is very basic. I'm rating the service and atmosphere in context for what the restaurant is and it's perfect. i live in the Philippines now and I wish they could send frozen beef here.

I’ve had a Italian beef sandwich from portillos and it was okay, I had this one and it was 100x’s better lol beef was nice and juicy and tender, the bread was soft and had a nice spice with the peppers on it. I also got a Italian ice and boy was it good! Loved the ice and the flavor, I probably should of got a large hahaha.