I LOVE a good combo. Johnnie’s is good beef. There was better just down the street (Michael’s Beef House, on North Avenue) but it’s under new management and not as good as it used to be- still VERY good. We went to Johnnie’s for Italian Ice but their beef is very good. I get the combo- so you get the Italian sausage on the beef sansdwich. Usually folks eat it as a sandwich, but I take the sausage out and eat it with a (plastic) knife and fork then eat the beef sandwich. I get my beef “dipped” so the bread is soggy with a jus. My wife likes hers dry. I always get sweet pepper- I don’t enjoy the hot peppers- it’s a green bell pepper that’s cooked in the a jus… dang it, now you got my mouth watering. If you go to Johnnie’s, get the Italian ice. Make sure you ask for “no lid” because then they mound it up like an ice cream cone (if you get a lid, they level it off). Best Italian lemonade by far. (Some of my family like the Italian ice on Taylor Street- you can get cantaloupe or watermelon or… But Johnnie’s is just lemon and it’s way better than anything on Taylor Street.
Honestly, Portillo’s is about as good as any Mom & Pop place for Italian beef with sausage. But the lemon ice at Johnnie’s is worth the trip to that wretched jungle (that’s what Dad used to call the Chicago area).
I love Gene & Jude’s but your cousin is right- it’s just a hot dog stand. I think Guy Fieri went to Gene & Jude’s for ‘Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives’. It’s iconic. Get a double dog and be sure to get sport peppers (those I like!). Fries- fresh cut and real greasy come with, piled on top of the hot dog. If I had to choose… I’d go to Johnnie’s. I guess. Maybe. If I was close by and missed Gene & Jude’s I’d be sad.
Bring cash- they don’t take cards. Johnnie’s might, but Gene & Jude’s is cash only.
(This post was last modified: 05-05-2025, 10:50 PM by srjdsmith.)
Honestly, Portillo’s is about as good as any Mom & Pop place for Italian beef with sausage. But the lemon ice at Johnnie’s is worth the trip to that wretched jungle (that’s what Dad used to call the Chicago area).
I love Gene & Jude’s but your cousin is right- it’s just a hot dog stand. I think Guy Fieri went to Gene & Jude’s for ‘Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives’. It’s iconic. Get a double dog and be sure to get sport peppers (those I like!). Fries- fresh cut and real greasy come with, piled on top of the hot dog. If I had to choose… I’d go to Johnnie’s. I guess. Maybe. If I was close by and missed Gene & Jude’s I’d be sad.
Bring cash- they don’t take cards. Johnnie’s might, but Gene & Jude’s is cash only.
