Johnnie’s Beef

Johnnie’s Beef is a walk-up Italian beef stand at 7500 W. North Ave. in Elmwood Park, just west of the Chicago city line, that has made the same sandwich since 1961. The menu is short: Italian beef, Italian sausage, combos, fries and lemon Italian ice. Regulars come for a gravy that runs saltier and thinner than most stands and for the Italian ice as a second order. The line outside on North Avenue is long most afternoons and moves faster than expected.

What to know

• The stand opened in 1961.
• Payment is cash only.
• Johnnie’s has no website; the phone is (708) 452-6000.
• The Infatuation’s January 2026 ranking and Choose Chicago’s February 2026 guide both list the stand as open.
• The lot is small, and the 72 North bus is the only transit option.