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While there are many great places to grab an Italian beef in town, there’s something particularly special about eating one at Chicago’s oldest beef stand. Al’s Beef may now be a local chain, but the original location has been serving the messy sandwiches since 1938, and it’s worth a pilgrimage. What makes Al’s so good is its thinly sliced beef, finely chopped giardiniera, and secret-recipe sauce. Order yours how you like it (we get it dunked in gravy and decked out with sweet peppers and giardiniera, but you do you), assume the Italian beef-eating stance (standing and leaning over the counter in an attempt to keep your shirt clean), and take a big bite. 1079 W. Taylor St., Little Italy