Paging Dr srjdsmith, Chicago Question

Was talking to a cousin and he was saying Gene & Jude’s was rally good but Johnnies Beef in Elmwood park is a must have and the Italian beef combo with sweet & hot peppers is off the charts pure Chicago 

What do you have to say about Johnnie’s Beef??

Reply over I. MeWe. Want me to copy here?

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.

Oh man, if you are passing through my area you have to try Marchelloni's. They've only got 2 shops about 10 miles apart but holy Sweet Baby Jesus to they do it right. They do a beef roll, basically pizza dough, cheese and beef folded over on itself that is amazing. Their pizzas are fantastic. But that beef roll I could live on. They have a full menu but I get to the beef roll and stop.

Oh man, if you are passing through my area you have to try Marchelloni's. They've only got 2 shops about 10 miles apart but holy Sweet Baby Jesus to they do it right. They do a beef roll, basically pizza dough, cheese and beef folded over on itself that is amazing. Their pizzas are fantastic. But that beef roll I could live on. They have a full menu but I get to the beef roll and stop.

Going through Chicago to make 1 stop for food on the way to the UP & Detroit on the way down….then Pittsburgh, DC & points south

then we are trying to work in a stop in Dayton for the AF Museum & from their to 80 and west….trying to hit to many places on a limited budget 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

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.

Thanks, did not know if you would see this and my cousin is only on MeWe so I figured why not ask there

Had lost touch with the cousin & he’s a Davenport cop who’s getting ready to retire so he stays off of social media for the most part

Wife and I were talking and neither one of us can remember having a really really excellent Italian ice, always been underwhelmed, not a good taste or strong lemon and always to sweet

Wife hates soggy bread and does not like spicy foods while I don’t mind soggy and love spicy

Want to stop at a Fairway outside of Des Moines for a tenderloin sammich, love a thick juicy tenderloin

Johnnie’s Italian ice is awesome- just the right amount of lemon flavor with little chunks of actual lemons and a great smooth texture- not hard like a popsicle.

Don’t stand in the doorway- you’ll get yelled at. Either wait until there's room inside or wait outside. There’s almost always a line. If the weather’s nice you can eat at one of the little tables outside, otherwise eat in your car.

We’re in the city for my nephew’s graduation from UIC. Taylor street is just a few blocks away and my sister wanted to go there for beef and an Italian lemonade. I repeat my statement: it’s not as good as the places on North Avenue. Michael’s and Johnnie’s have much better beef (combo) and Johnnie’s has WAY better Italian lemonade.

We just drove past Johnnie’s (12:45 pm) and there’s a line of maybe 40 people! The place is always busy!

We’re in the city for my nephew’s graduation from UIC. Taylor street is just a few blocks away and my sister wanted to go there for beef and an Italian lemonade. I repeat my statement: it’s not as good as the places on North Avenue. Michael’s and Johnnie’s have much better beef (combo) and Johnnie’s has WAY better Italian lemonade.

We just drove past Johnnie’s (12:45 pm) and there’s a line of maybe 40 people! The place is always busy!

North Ave is where to go eh…..

We about 90% to hit Johnnie’s, might get 2 & save one for the hotel (wife thinks that’s a bad idea) 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣