Little Joe's Homemade Beef and Sausage (Countryside, IL)

Its not often I find a beef spot that I previously had no knowledge of but it happened this past week in Countryside. Little Joe's was found on accident after driving to Novi's to sample their beef which was also for the first time after hearing about it on previous post's around here. Novi's was ok and ill give them another chance but I thought the beef at little Joe's was really good and up to par with my current starting five which is why I make the post.

I kind of decided to drive around after the beef at Novi's to see what else was in the area worth trying. So after being ready to give up after numerous offerings of the usual fast food, I found Lil' Joe's tucked into a strip of other business's hidden behind...you guessed it, one of those Al's beef/Nancy's pizza franchise's. The sign said "homemade beef since 1969" and the place looked like it hadnt changed much inside and that was all I needed to give it a try, that and the fact there were about 10 people eating in and taking out of Joe's while there was one person in the drive thru at Al's and no one inside.

Beef was sliced thin in a red gravy served on fresh bread with hot peppers in the style of "Mr. Beef" but much more hot. I think I now have a 6th man for my all-Chicago beef team but ill have to give the place a few more try's before I can put them on my list. I was also told by the lady at the counter that they have a great meatball sandwich that is very popular. Anybody else been? what did you think?

Little Joe's
20 E. Plainfield Road
Countryside, IL 60525
(708) 352-9696

Little Joe's has excellent beef.

I thought that they might have been in danger when that Al's/Nancy's combo went in over there but thankfully they've been holding their own.

Little Joe's has an excellent IB. A good value too. Another place you should check out is Scatchell's on Cermak Rd. just east of Cicero Ave.

Cogito wrote:Little Joe's has an excellent IB. A good value too. Another place you should check out is Scatchell's on Cermak Rd. just east of Cicero Ave.

Scatchell's has a good beef indeed, ive been there a few times and always enjoyed it and I would put it on my beef team as a key reserve player.

Pretty cool. You know, I am almost 2000 miles away, but I maintain that the Beef-A-Thon should not be retired...there are probably several dozen places like this that many have never heard of or been to that deserve to be taken into consideration.

Another one or two for my hit list for my next visit!

I love Little Joe's. They have a limited menu but everything is very good. I like their dogs(snappers) and sausage just as much as their beef. They have a homeade giardiniera that is very good and unique. It's sweeter than most others I've had and made with a lighter oil. It can sometimes make the food a little oily but it's a good blend. I love that they continue to thrive despite Al's moving next door into a better spot for foot traffic.

Little Joe's is pretty darn good beef.

I worked with a woman who used to live in that area. Then got married and moved to the north side. During her first pregnancy she hounded her hubby so much one day for a Joe's beef that he had to drive there to get one for her. Now that's a craving!

I too have noticed many folks at Little Joe's and one or two at Al's. Why they would put one so close to a GREAT beef stand is beyond me.

I got back to Joe's today and im glad to say it was no fluke. The first thing I thought today when enjoying a Joe's IB was "this is what the beef's at Mr. Beef used to taste like". Its really a melt in your mouth type beef, very tender. The giardinara is not hot at all and loaded with celery much like that served at Mr. Beef.

The meatball was also above average and worth getting again even though there were just two meatballs they were large. If LJ's was a little closer to me, they would see me in there often. Another big plus is this has to be the best place to get a beef and a beer, which they have on tap.


beef wit hot


meatball with sweet

Based on the responses here, and other good word of mouth regarding Little Joe's, I went there for lunch today. I came away not very impressed. The sandwich was on the small side, but the beef was flavorfull, however the giardinera was a pretty bad representation of what I like on my IB sandwich. Mostly celery, and very few peppers, and very little heat. The giardinera is an important component of a great IB sandwich, I want a giardinera that is hot, full of peppers, and not full of filler(celery,carrots, cauliflower, etc). This IB sandwich fell short in my humble opinion.

Overall kind of disaapointed in Little Joe's, I only get out of the office for lunch once every 2 weeks or so, and I kind of feel like I wasted one of these outings. Ill stick with Pauls in Westhester for an IB close to my work, otherwise Johnnies in ELmwood Park for other times.

Okay. Where is Paul's in Westchester. I'm always looking for a new, great IB spot.

thick wrote:Okay. Where is Paul's in Westchester. I'm always looking for a new, great IB spot.

Maybe here?

Paul's Pizza
3044 Wolf Rd, Westchester
(708) 531-9080

Panther in the Den wrote:

thick wrote:Okay. Where is Paul's in Westchester. I'm always looking for a new, great IB spot.

Maybe here?

Paul's Pizza
3044 Wolf Rd, Westchester
(708) 531-9080

thats the one, N.E. corner of Wolf & 31st street.

Not as good as Johnnies, but a good beef, with good giardinera.

Made a return trip to Little Joe's today for lunch, felt like driving around a little in the convertable.

I was craving an IB sandwich, and didnt want to settle for the chemical tasting versions I have been getting @ the Willowbrook POrtillos, and didnt have the time to get to Pauls, or Johnnies.

Glad I gave this spot a second chance, their giardinara is still a weka point(needs more peppers and less celery), but the sandwich was good. Flavorfull beef, moist, just nice.

I also had a hotdog, really nice, I asked for hot peppers and insted of the typical sport pepper it came with kind of a hot pepper slaw. I ate the dog to fast to see if it was the same as for the IB, nut it appeared different.

Overall a good meal.

The hot peppers on their dog are the same giardiniera they use for their beef. I like it on their beef and dogs but could see someone looking for a more traditional giardiniera or sport peppers being surprised. I agree that it could use more peppers for heat's sake.

lunch does not get much better than a jumbo natural casing dog with their giardinara, and one of their Italian Beefs with xtra giardinara. Both good, Im kind of ready for a nap.

Originally I was not a fan of the giardinara Lil Joes is using, but I am becoming more of a fan. THeir light mix really allows the beef to shine through, while the different cut of celery really adds some crunch. It could use a few more peppers in the mix, and maybe some olives, but thats nitpicking.

A few months ago I got to try Little Joe's in Countryside.



I thought the beef was very respectable but not among my favorites. Credit to them for doing things somewhat differently, even though the result is not exactly to my liking.



People aren't kidding when they say their giardiniera has a lot of celery. This photo shows the sandwich exactly as unwrapped. You might be able to make out a micro-flowerette of cauliflower to the right of center and a single slice of serrano pepper almost hidden at the far left. Surprisingly the girdiniera has a slight kick, certainly more than appearances would suggest. Beef and gravy have a somewhat unusual spice profile of allspice and clove (or some similar combination). I'd eat another Little Joe's beef without complaint but wouldn't for a second think about traveling from Chicago for one.

Little Joe's Italian Beef & Sausage
20 E Plainfield Rd
Countryside IL
708-352-9696

Lil Joes is at least a twice monthly stop for lunch. Hot dogs are always a good option, I have had less than stellar versions of the IB perhaps once or twice, I blame that on when I went, after 2 p.m., and the lack of a steady turnover of the beef.

Typical order is a dog and a beef, but last week I went with my first combo from Lil Joes, might be how I roll from now on.

this isnt Johnnies in Elmwood Park or Al's on Taylor, but a solid IB thats for sure.

Today was one of those Beef and sausage combo days where everything came together. Beef nirvana

Perfect sausage to beef ratio, good bread, tender slices of beef, juicy sausage, and the giardinera had a much heavier pepper to celery ratio than I have seen @ Lil' Joe's before. Large rough cut slices of hot peppers, and that oil that coats your hands and face.. mercy..

fantastic.

Back to back Wednesdays and for once i brought my camera..

decided i had enough cash on hand for Little Joe's - $6 in bills and a couple bones in change. Combo, hot and a medium Pepsi came to a little over $8, all good.

Combo was spot on, fresh beef, juicy sausage, soaked but resiliant bread.. Nice pile of giardinera with a smatter ing of hot peppers.

Glad this place is maybe 10 mins from the salt mines.







Really reconisidering the IB, and combo hierarchy in Chicagoland lately. My last 2 visits to johhnies have been average as has a recent visit to Al's on Taylor....

I'm undecided as to what the ideal order is for these sentiments, but here goes:

Great pictures.

I'm in Bangkok.

You bastard.

sasando wrote:I'm undecided as to what the ideal order is for these sentiments, but here goes:

Great pictures.

I'm in Bangkok.

You bastard.

thanks, after 20+ visits I finally had my camera...

I bet you are eating just fine in Bangkok.

but I can definitely understand the craving for a combo, or an IB sandwich when out of Chicagoland.

Had my first Little Joe's beef yesterday. VERY impressive. Giardiniera was the weak point, but the beef itself was the best I've had in quite some time. All in all, it reminded me of Pop's. Very thinly shaved beef, standard Chicago beef bread choice, and light, homemade giardiniera. I am very fond of Pop's beef as well, but the giardiniera is a huge variable. At times it can add serious heat, but for the most part it's only mildly hot.