Buona is Chicago’s best Italian beef — According to Chicagoans

Buona won the most votes in a recent championship poll taken by WGN News.

Photo bybhofack2 / depositphotos.com

(CHICAGO) Just like their sports teams, Chicagoans tend to have strong opinions about their Italian Beef sandwiches. Ask readers what's the best place to get an Italian beef, and you can end up with many different responses.

But what's the best of the bunch?

Although it comes down to personal preference, taste, and perhaps what you grew up on, WGN News tried to get to the bottom of the best Italian Beef sandwich in all of Chicago. And here is their result.

Buona Beef won the top spot

Buona Beef came out on top of WGN's Chicago’s Best Beef Tournament. The readers poll involved 150,000 votes, took 4 weeks to complete, and was narrowed down from a field of 16 competitors. Ranked in the style of the NCAA basketball tournament, after four rounds the winner was crowned.

The final four included Buona Beef, Johnnie's Beef, Roma's, and Jay's. The championship vote was between Jay's and Buona. Buona won by only 1% of the vote.

Buona Beef — The history

Buona Beef opened its first shop in 1981, later than many traditional Chicago sandwich shops. However, the history of their original recipe dates back to the 1960s. Joe and Peggy Buonavolanto launched the first Buona Beef restaurant in Berwyn using a recipe given to them by Carl Buonavolanto of Mr. Beef.

Mr. Beef and Buona Beef continue to use sirloin, rather than the traditional chuck roast or bottom round. “It’s a three to four-day process to make Italian beef,” Carlo Buonavolanto told Chicago Eater. “You marinate it, then you cook it, then you chill it, slice it and you make the perfect sandwich.”

Buona Beef marinates the thinly sliced sirloin in gravy made from beef drippings, which makes all the difference, according to Buona's website.

Buona Beef today

Presently, Buona Beef operates 26 locations across Chicago and the suburbs. Every location uses the same, original recipe. The restaurant also offers Chicago-style hotdogs, Nashville chicken sandwiches, cheeseburgers, and vegan Italian beef sandwiches.

And if you're simply craving some delicious Italian bread soaked in gravy, minus any meat or other fillings, Buona offers a gravy bread on the menu.

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