A few things are undisputed about the Italian Beef Sandwich: it originated on the “Sout” Side of Chicago by Italian immigrants, is served in hundreds of places around the city and when made correctly should leave a trail of juice down your arm.
USA TODAY 10Best and Sandwich America set out to find the best Italian beef in the state of Illinois. To do so, we recruited a panel of local food experts to nominate their favorites before handing things over to our readers, who have been voting daily for their favorites for the past four weeks.
Two eateries dominated the battle for top honors, and in the end, it was Novi's Beef that earned the crown.
The top 10 winners in the category Best Italian Beef in Illinois are as follows:
- Novi's Beef - Berwyn
- Buona - Chicago
- Original Mr. Beef - Homer Glen
- Portillo's - Various Locations
- Fabulous Freddies Italian Eatery - Chicago
- Tony's Italian Beef - Chicago
- Jay's Beef - Chicago
- Bob-O's Hot Dogs - Chicago
- Johnnie's Beef - Elmwood Park
- Al's Italian Beef - Chicago
In Depth: How Chicago's Best Italian Beef Ended Up Outside the City
A panel of experts picked the initial 20 nominees, and the top 10 winners were determined by popular vote. Experts Beth Peterson (Yummie Nation) and Dawn Reiss (10Best Local Expert) were chosen based on their knowledge of the Illinois food scene.
Additional nominees for Best Italian Beef in Illinois included Augustino's Rock and Roll Deli in Carol Stream, Bari Italian Subs in Chicago, Bombacigno's J & C Inn in Chicago, Fontano's Subs in Chicago, Frangella Italian Market in Palos Park, Joe Boston's Italian Beef in Chicago, Luke's Italian Beef in Chicago, Mama D's in Lemont, Pop's Beef in Chicago and Scatchell's Beef & Pizza in Cicero.
Congratulations to all our winning sandwich shops!
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The Experts
Jennifer Daskevich
After winning the World Sandwich Championships,... Read More
After winning the World Sandwich Championships, Jennifer took her love of America’s first and still favorite “hand held device” better known as the sandwich, and founded Sandwich America, America’s comprehensive sandwich driven meal occasion platform. Jennifer believes that “a sandwich is the only food genre that is good for breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, or a snack.” Jennifer has won numerous cooking competitions and is a restaurateur, wine sommelier, award winning food photographer, TV food personality with NBC Affiliate WFLA in Tampa and appeared on FYI’s original series World Food Championships. She looks forward to embarking on The Great American Sandwich Trail this summer. Socialize with Sandwich America on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Jennifer Daskevich

After winning the World Sandwich Championships, Jennifer took her love of America’s first and still favorite “hand held device” better known as the sandwich, and founded Sandwich America, America’s comprehensive sandwich driven meal occasion platform. Jennifer believes that “a sandwich is the only food genre that is good for breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, or a snack.” Jennifer has won numerous cooking competitions and is a restaurateur, wine sommelier, award winning food photographer, TV food personality with NBC Affiliate WFLA in Tampa and appeared on FYI’s original series World Food Championships. She looks forward to embarking on The Great American Sandwich Trail this summer. Socialize with Sandwich America on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Terry French
Terry French, The World’s Extreme Chef, has cooked... Read More
Terry French, The World’s Extreme Chef, has cooked in 86 countries and traveled around the world 8 times. His global-to-local cuisine perspective and belief that “ hand-held ” food is the carrier of food culture may seem in stark contrast to his being born and raised in Evansville, Indiana. But diversity and uncommon is Terry defined. Winning Food Network’s World Extreme Chef in 2012 celebrated his amazing and adventurous life and his “French’s KISS” belief to food – Keeping it simple and sustainable. From Ice fishing with his father and cooking with his mother as a boy to hosting Taste Asia in Times Square, Terry French makes every meal a cuisine adventure. Terry believes that “Hand-held foods and sandwiches are the global cuisine language. From Thai street food to Philly cheese steaks – the world eats with our hands for centuries and now more than ever”. Follow Terry’s Extreme Chef adventures on Facebook and Instagram .
Terry French

Terry French, The World’s Extreme Chef, has cooked in 86 countries and traveled around the world 8 times. His global-to-local cuisine perspective and belief that “ hand-held ” food is the carrier of food culture may seem in stark contrast to his being born and raised in Evansville, Indiana. But diversity and uncommon is Terry defined. Winning Food Network’s World Extreme Chef in 2012 celebrated his amazing and adventurous life and his “French’s KISS” belief to food – Keeping it simple and sustainable. From Ice fishing with his father and cooking with his mother as a boy to hosting Taste Asia in Times Square, Terry French makes every meal a cuisine adventure. Terry believes that “Hand-held foods and sandwiches are the global cuisine language. From Thai street food to Philly cheese steaks – the world eats with our hands for centuries and now more than ever”. Follow Terry’s Extreme Chef adventures on Facebook and Instagram .
Beth Peterson
Beth Peterson is a Fox's Master Chef Alum,... Read More
Beth Peterson is a Fox's Master Chef Alum, award-winning competitive cook, named the 2013-2014 World Food Recipe Champion, former restaurateur, food writer, and Chicago food expert. Rooted in Chicago’s southside, A Midwestern girl through and through. As the founder of a web platform called Yummie Nation, Beth is dedicated to all things food and lifestyle. The dynamic online gathering of the best bloggers and influencers in food and entertaining brings together influencers, brands and consumers all for the love of food.
Beth Peterson

Beth Peterson is a Fox's Master Chef Alum, award-winning competitive cook, named the 2013-2014 World Food Recipe Champion, former restaurateur, food writer, and Chicago food expert. Rooted in Chicago’s southside, A Midwestern girl through and through. As the founder of a web platform called Yummie Nation, Beth is dedicated to all things food and lifestyle. The dynamic online gathering of the best bloggers and influencers in food and entertaining brings together influencers, brands and consumers all for the love of food.
Dawn Reiss
Dawn Reiss is an awarding-winning journalist who... Read More
Dawn Reiss is an awarding-winning journalist who spent two years covering the trial of former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich for TIME magazine/Time.com. Her work has been published in 30+ outlets including: Travel + Leisure, USA Today, Chicago Tribune, AAA Living and Plate magazine. For assignments, she has eaten crickets in Cambodia, gone dog sledding in Alaska, written about estate plan essentials, iPhone apps and interviewed the likes of Maya Angelou, Justin Bieber and Bob Costas. Although she started her career as a sports reporter at the Dallas Morning News and St. Petersburg Times, she still likes the competitive nature of any industry.
Dawn Reiss

Dawn Reiss is an awarding-winning journalist who spent two years covering the trial of former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich for TIME magazine/Time.com. Her work has been published in 30+ outlets including: Travel + Leisure, USA Today, Chicago Tribune, AAA Living and Plate magazine. For assignments, she has eaten crickets in Cambodia, gone dog sledding in Alaska, written about estate plan essentials, iPhone apps and interviewed the likes of Maya Angelou, Justin Bieber and Bob Costas. Although she started her career as a sports reporter at the Dallas Morning News and St. Petersburg Times, she still likes the competitive nature of any industry.