Italian beef
Italian beef sandwich | |
| Type | Sandwich |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | United States |
| Region or state | Chicago, Illinois |
| Created by | Multiple claims |
| Serving temperature | Hot |
| Main ingredients | Roast beef, French bread |
| Variations | Multiple |
| Part of a series on |
| Steak |
|---|
An Italian beef is a sandwich of American origin, originating in Chicago, made from thin slices of roast beef simmered and served with a thin gravy on French bread. Common toppings are a choice between spicy giardiniera (called "hot") or mild bell peppers (called "sweet"). The entire sandwich is traditionally dipped in the juice the meat is cooked in before serving with a side of French fries.
The sandwich traces back to Italian-American immigrants in Chicago as early as the 1930s, but the exact origin is unknown. The sandwich gradually grew in popularity and was widely eaten in the city by the 1970s and 1980s. The sandwich saw a substantial rise in popularity with the 2020s television show The Bear, set in a fictional Chicago restaurant which specializes in the sandwich.