Johnnie's Beef: an Elmwood Park institution
With lines often stretching out the door and down the street, quick-stop snack shop Johnnie’s Beef attracts legions of loyal fans — thanks to its famous Italian beef sandwiches and Italian ices.
An Elmwood Park institution, Johnnie’s offers a limited menu of sandwiches and sides. The trick is that they do what they do well, and keep things simple.
Chicagoans will come from near and far for the Italian beef, reported to be among the best in the city. Juicy and stuffed to bursting, the beef sandwiches are delicious and can be combined with sweet peppers or even snappy Italian sausage.
The Italian sausage makes a great sandwich on its own, or can be swapped for old-school Chicago red hots. All can be ordered with piping hot fries or a tamale as a side. If in the mood for something a little different, there’s the pepper and egg, or pepper and egg with sausage, but both are only available on Fridays.
Luckily for patrons, Johnnie’s lemon Italian ices are offered daily, and this sweet treat alone is worth the trip. A heaping helping of shaved ice with a sweet tang, it’s a fantastic way to beat the Chicago heat.
If the weather’s nice, then the outdoor picnic table seating works fine for in-house dining. Otherwise, Johnnie’s is strictly to-go, since the small interior's often packed to bursting with customers. Given the incredibly low prices (every item is less than $4), you won’t mind joining in either. After all, the notoriously long and bustling lines are half the fun at Johnnie’s Beef.
- by D.J. Siegel, Chicago Reporter for HelloMetro
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