Chicago gets plenty of credit for Italian beef, and it should. But some of the best sandwiches in town come from old-school Italian delis that also stack cold cuts, fry up meatballs, and slice prosciutto all day long.
These are the kind of places where the sandwich counter shares space with imported pasta, jarred sauces, and freezer cases full of house-made food to take home. Some have been around since the 1930s and 1940s.
Others sit out on the Northwest Side or just past the city line in the suburbs. This list covers eight Chicago-area delis that make a strong case for ordering something other than beef, even if they serve a great one too.
You will find giant party subs, a walk-up window, a famous Sicilian-style market, and more. Save it for your next lunch run or weekend road trip.
1. Bari Foods, Chicago, IL
Three feet of sandwich is a real option here. Bari Foods sells a 3-Foot Italian Sub and a 3-Foot Italian Sausage Sub, which makes it a smart call before any party or game day gathering.
The shop sits at 1120 W Grand Ave, a compact Italian grocery with the deli counter in the back. Sandwiches come on crusty bread with fresh-sliced meats, quality cheese, and house-made giardiniera that adds a nice kick.
Yes, the Italian Beef and Sausage Combo is on the menu. Still, the Meatball Sub, the Roast Beef and Cheese Sub, and a prosciutto and mozzarella sandwich give non-beef fans plenty to work with.
There is even a vegetarian Focaccia Sandwich.
Plan on takeout, since there is no restroom and space is tight. Hours run 8 AM to 6 PM Monday through Saturday and 8 AM to 2 PM on Sunday, with most sandwiches landing in the $10 to $20 range.
2. J.P. Graziano Grocery, Chicago, IL
Back in 1937, Randolph Street was a wholesale market strip, and J.P. Graziano Grocery was already selling Italian goods.
Today the West Loop has changed around it, but the family-run shop is still at 901 W Randolph St.
The sandwich to know is the Mr. G. Ordering it with hot peppers is a popular move, and the cold Italian sub is a close runner-up built with capicola, prosciutto, salami, sopressata, and provolone.
Here is a fun twist. A walk-up window opens in the evenings after the grocery side closes, and that is where Italian beef shows up as one of its exclusive items.
Daytime hours are 11 AM to 4 PM Tuesday through Saturday, with evening window service Thursday through Saturday. Grab a cannoli too, since the shop has a strong reputation for them.
A few tables inside and out handle eat-now crowds.
3. Conte Di Savoia, Chicago, IL
Taylor Street has carried the Little Italy nickname for generations, and Conte Di Savoia has been part of that story since 1948. It feels like a throwback, with shelves of bronze cut pasta and jarred sauces surrounding the counter.
The deli makes its own Italian sausage, so the Italian Sausage with Peppers sandwich is a natural pick. The Meat Ball Sub and the house Italian Sandwich round out the classics, and yes, the Italian beef has a strong local following too.
Coffee drinkers get a bonus. The counter pours espresso and cappuccino, which turns a sandwich run into a proper Italian lunch break.
You can eat in, and there is a free parking lot, free Wi-Fi, and a restroom. Before leaving, it makes sense to grab fresh mozzarella, an antipasto tray, or a pound of assorted Italian cookies.
Hours are 9 AM to 6 PM Monday through Saturday and 9 AM to 4 PM Sunday.
4. Tony’s Italian Deli & Subs, Chicago, IL
A muffuletta is not something you expect to find on the Northwest Side, which is exactly why Tony’s stands out. The Muffuletta Sub sits on the menu next to a Prosciutto Sub and a vegetarian Caprese Sub.
The Italian combo is the headliner, stacked high with premium cold cuts. Hot specialty subs are available too, but the cold side of the menu is where this deli shows its range.
Tony’s doubles as a grocery for imported Italian foods. Much of the prepared food is homemade, including lasagna, sausage, meatballs, ravioli, manicotti, focaccia, and potato salad.
Timing matters. The shop at 6708 N Northwest Hwy is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9 AM to 3 PM and closed Mondays, with no delivery and no restroom.
I would save this one for a Saturday morning, when stocking the fridge for the week makes the trip pay off twice.
5. Fontano’s Subs, Chicago, IL
Some regulars have been ordering here since the late 1980s, and the menu gives a good reason why. Fontano’s Subs keeps things casual inside a small Italian grocery at 1058 W Polk St, close to the UIC campus.
The Blockbuster is the sandwich with a loyal fan base, loaded with Italian meats on crisp fresh bread. Prosciutto and Sharp Provolone is a simpler, salty favorite, and the Chicken Meatball Sandwich offers something you will not find at every deli on this list.
Picky eaters can use the Create Your Own Sub option. A lineup of sauces and giardinieras lets you tune the heat level.
Service is counter only, and college students make up a good chunk of the lunch crowd. Street parking can be tricky, so walking or biking over helps.
Hours are 9 AM to 6 PM on weekdays and 9 AM to 4 PM Saturday, closed Sunday.
6. The Original Nottoli & Son, Chicago, IL
Homemade sausage is the calling card at this Belmont Avenue deli. The Original Nottoli & Son makes its own unique sausages, and that care carries straight into the sandwiches.
The meatball sandwich and chicken parmesan are both made in-house. Cold subs and hot subs fill out the board, and the Italian beef earns plenty of praise of its own.
What really sets this family-owned shop apart is the take-home selection. A freezer section is packed with house-made items, and the counter also offers arancini, pizzas, pastas, salads, and pasta sauces.
Planning ahead is key, because the hours are short. Nottoli is open Wednesday through Saturday from 9 AM to 4 PM only, and Saturday is the busiest stretch.
Free street parking around 7652 W Belmont Ave keeps the stop easy, and party trays are available for bigger gatherings.
7. Alpine Food Shop, Elmwood Park, IL
Sixteen 18-inch subs in about 15 minutes. That is the kind of speed Alpine Food Shop can pull off on a busy Saturday, which tells you how well this counter knows its signature sandwich.
The original Alpine sub is the reason to come. It is a cold-cut submarine piled with Italian meats, and plenty of people order it with mayo.
Do not skip the potato salad. It has become a go-to side for anyone picking up subs here.
The shop sits at 7538 W North Ave in Elmwood Park, just west of the city. There is on-site and free street parking, which helps when you are hauling a stack of sandwiches to the car.
Hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 10 AM to 4 PM and Sunday from 10 AM to 2 PM. Tuesday mornings tend to be the calmest window.
8. Rex Italian Foods, Norridge, IL
Lunch at Rex Italian Foods can easily turn into a full Sicilian-style meal. The Norridge market on Harlem Avenue runs a counter with hot entrees and sandwiches, plus a small seating area for eating right there.
The Italian sub with peppers is the sandwich pick. From there, the hot side includes chicken parmesan, meatball options, a meatball and Romano calzone, stuffed shells, pizza, and both meat and veggie lasagna.
Save room at checkout. Homemade Italian cookies sit up front, and the homemade cannoli is a fitting way to wrap things up.
Rex keeps longer hours than most delis on this list, open 9 AM to 7 PM on weekdays and 9 AM to 5 PM Saturday, closed Sunday. A free parking lot, Wi-Fi, and restrooms make it an easy stop, and it is a welcoming spot for everyone.
Eight delis, eight different reasons to skip the beef just once. Pick one close to home, then work your way around the list.
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