ISO... Barbecue Beef Sandwich

No. I’m not talking about a brisket sandwich (like from Smoque) but rather something served at hotdog and beef stands around the city.

I found one yesterday that pretty much fit the bill...
Bob-O's Hot Dogs
8258 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago
This sandwich reminded me of a Sloppy Joe but with chopped, thin sliced beef. Good flavor from the onion and peppers coming through. A bit of a vinegary tang.

It must be pretty popular there as there are two sizes available and a gent ordered a large one right after me.

The tradition from what I recall is the beef is throughly coated (soaked) in the sauce. If a tangy barbecue sauce is used it can be overwhelming...

(too tangy)

From what I understand it used to be a menu item prominently displayed on their exterior signage. Al’s Beef, Margie’s (RIP), Henry’s...



I would imagine the one from Russell’s would almost be in this style (not soaked, mild sauce).

I remember a sandwich I received at the Jo Daviess County Fair in a booth run by the 4-H Club. A disappointment as it was ground beef in a tangy sauce.

I remember, back in the day it would be a menu item I would often order but it was so long ago that I really don’t remember its flavor profile?

Could it of been the tangy sauce I now don’t prefer?

Russell's has both evolved and stayed the same; most annoyingly to my extended family the sauce is now served in heated squeeze bottles for dine-in rather than the signature cups, and they're crabby about giving out more than one (a perfect form factor for fry-dipping). Secondly as observed in the main thread, they've run a smoked beef brisket sandwich alongside the traditional beef sandwich for the past few years, served on a brioche bun with a thicker sauce provided. It's actually really good when fresh.

Their traditional beef and pork sandwiches are not bathed / held in sauce, but rather blandly steam-roasted, shaved, and then they get one healthy squeeze of sauce in the back, as shown on their website. You add more at the table (it sometimes takes a lot to make it palatable). I like the shaved pork rather than the shaved beef. Mickey's on Harlem has the bathed-in-sauce BBQ Beef on French Bread more immediately akin to the one you have posted. I do have a soft spot for this category of sandwich, which I also associate with collegiate dining halls.

Chickie's in Hillside has it on their menu. I've never ordered it, but it looks like it's served on a French roll. The Nicky's by my house on 46th and Pulaski definitely had it when I was growing up, but I haven't looked for it in ages. Looking at an online menu, they do still appear to serve it. When I've had it, it was basically the same as an Italian beef, except doused in barbecue sauce.

Damn. Now I have a taste for one of these bad boys. It's probably been about 30 years since I last had one.

Binko wrote:Chickie's in Hillside has it on their menu. I've never ordered it, but it looks like it's served on a French roll. The Nicky's by my house on 46th and Pulaski definitely had it when I was growing up, but I haven't looked for it in ages. Looking at an online menu, they do still appear to serve it. When I've had it, it was basically the same as an Italian beef, except doused in barbecue sauce.

Damn. Now I have a taste for one of these bad boys. It's probably been about 30 years since I last had one.

Thanks! Chickie’s does have it on the menu.

Checked the 3 Nicky’s and saw it on the menu on Cicero.

I have always enjoyed a good bbq beef sandwich. My go to spot in the neighborhood is Beefy's at 5749 S Harlem, Chicago.

Panther in the Den wrote:From what I understand it used to be a menu item prominently displayed on their exterior signage. Al’s Beef, Margie’s (RIP), Henry’s...

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As I understand it, at Al's and Margie's "barbecue" referred to sausages cooked over live coals (a common earlier use of the term). If that's the Henry's on Ogden in Cicero, I think you're correct that the sign refers to the beef-in-sauce sandwich.

At Morry's Deli in Hyde Park you can get a BBQ pastrami sandwich (as well as beef). You can even get an Italian sausage covered with the stuff. I'm not saying you should get it.

Panther in the Den wrote:No. I’m not talking about a brisket sandwich (like from Smoque) but rather something served at hotdog and beef stands around the city.

I found one yesterday that pretty much fit the bill...
Bob-O's Hot Dogs
8258 W Irving Park Rd, Chicago

This sandwich reminded me of a Sloppy Joe but with chopped, thin sliced beef. Good flavor from the onion and peppers coming through. A bit of a vinegary tang.

Great post, you must have read my mind. I was at Bob O's just last week when I spied this new (to me) item on their menu.

It is indeed, Sloppy Joe-like, in a good way. Tender shredded beef in a not too sweet sauce - it wouldn't surprise me if it was made with Italian beef "crumbs". A nice light lunch especially for the price, which was as of last week $1.75, a bargain!

Rene G wrote:As I understand it, at Al's and Margie's "barbecue" referred to sausages cooked over live coals (a common earlier use of the term). If that's the Henry's on Ogden in Cicero, I think you're correct that the sign refers to the beef-in-sauce sandwich.

I have also heard this about Al’s and it was mentioned, way back in the day they also used to also slow cook their Italian Beef in a pan over live coals.

Thanks!

Panther in the Den wrote:Checked the 3 Nicky’s and saw it on the menu on Cicero.

Went to my local Nicky's on 46th and Pulaski for lunch today to order the BBQ beef. It's pretty much as I remember it from last having it 30 years ago or so. It's literally a regular Italian beef (the guy even dipped it in juice) served with barbecue sauce (tangy, non-smokey kind, something like the Open Pit original). Even was given the option of sweet or hot like an Italian beef. I actually was going to order it with pickles and onions, and then just ended up getting it hot (with giardiniera.) It did the job and might be nice as a change of pace, but I prefer just a regular Italian beef.