Best beef and sausage combo in Chicago

Two and half years ago when I had some down time before I moved out of Chicago I tried my best to do a mini tour of places to see who had the best combo. I always have had Johnnies on North Ave in Elmwood Park/River Forest and started out there to use that as a reference point.

I drove over to the closest Mr. Beef on Harlem to try that first and found the beef to be bland, but the sausage to be decent. The only thing that had much flavor was the giardiniera.

Carms in Hillside was good, but not as good as Johnnies. Their sausage was chargrilled, but the beef only had a little flavor to it.

Frankies on Addison and Austin was about as good as Carms.

Al's #1 on W. Ontario downtown was really good, I would rank it up there with Johnnies. The sausage was chargrilled and the beef was spicy and flavorful.

Probably the best combo I have had, however, was at D'Agostino's in Carol Stream (I think). I don't know if it is still there, but it had a very spicy sausage, char-grilled and very flavorful, spicy beef. They put red sauce on it, which actually made it perfect. It didn't take away from the sandwich at all. It made for a very sloppy lunch, but one packed in with flavor. Does anyone know if this place is still around?

Of the places I know that are still in business, I would rank Johnnies and Al's #1 as the best combos. Who would you say has the best?

There's more than one Mr Beef? I thought it was a single location on Orleans....

The Johnnie's in Arlington Heights is in a building that used to say Mr Beef out front. Probably no connection, who knows.

The one on Ogden near Harlem goes by the name "The Original Mr. Beef", although there is no relation to Mr. Beef on Orleans.

There are a few other places scattered about with Mr. Beef somewhere in the name.

However, there are no Mrs. Beefs.

They have a few locations, but the original is on Orleans.

quote:

Originally posted by slackademic

They have a few locations, but the original is on Orleans.

I am pretty sure that the other locations have never been affiliated with the Orleans Stand.

Sounds like Ray's Pizza in NY to me.

HERMS PALACE IN SKOKIE IS BY FAR THE TASTIEST BEEF/COMBO AROUND,ALS SECOND

Your Caps Lock is on.

I'll second the vote for Herm's (and leave the CAPS off).