Living in W Rogers now for 6mo, it was FINALLY time to check out Max's Italian Beef...
Except I wasn't in a mood for a beef, I was in the mood for a burger.
Nice looking place, clean. TV on to Travel Chanel and Bizzare Foods with Andrew Zimmern. Place has a decent sized menu, maybe a bit too big? When a joint is trying to please EVERYONE it can sometimes start to fall short on other things.
OK, so their burgers are 1/4lb or 1/2lb and either "build your own" or go with one of the ULTIMATE Burgers.
I'm usually a Blue Cheese and Bacon burger guy... But I remembered the controversy about this place naming their fries Ghetto Fries... and I saw they has a Ghetto BURGER...
BBQ Sauce, Merket Cheddar Cheese, Onion, Italian Beef au Jus, Hot Giardinara
It was OK. Burger was pretty dry. Messy sandwich to eat as well as things started slopping out of quickly. Had to get a spoon so as to try to bring ingredients BACK to the burger.
Fries are SYSCO/ Industrial. Just edging to being over done.
Wish places would get back to CUTTING whole potatoes and dropping them into the fryer vs the frozen bag.
It's an OK place. May come back to try the Beef Sammich, but certainly NOT the 3' Challenger, that's ridiculous.
I love the ghetto fries here! Sometimes the fries come out a little too crispy, but the sauces and toppings bring everything together well! My other favorites include the chicken caesar salad and the italian beef (dipped with peppers)... mmmm! The restaurant is small and a little greasy, but the food is great!
Review Source:The parking is generally not good at the times that I've been there, and the restaurant tends to have dirty tables and chairs pulled out---basically it's a messy looking place with THE BEST ITALIAN BEEF I'VE EVER HAD, and I've lived in Chicago all of my life.I usually get my food to-go. They basically have fast food style seating, and at least one TV on. Unfortunately (or fortunately) I've been coming here for at least 20 years now and have never tried anything else---just can't pass up the Italians. Oh! great fries though.
Review Source:A fantastic beef stand, never anything less than superb Italian beef. It's all I have ever eaten here, since my father brought me as a child. The homemade giardinera, perfect balance to a dipped beef. Wife and kids order burgers and grilled polish sausages, both tasty. The fries are always cooked to order, so hot and fresh. Another reason to like Max's, they put the giardinara on the table.
Review Source:This place is a disappointment; I don't know how they got so many good reviews.
Came here for lunch with friends.. got the Italian beef, ghetto fries, pizza fries, cheese burger, regular burger anddddd everything sucked.
The Italian beef was dry and the bread tasted like it was a day old (I couldn't tear it in half!) and there wasn't enough gravy on the thing.
Their ghetto fries are nothing special, to me it tasted like greasy potatoes soaked in BBQ sauce.
The food took forever to come out, parking lot is extremely small.
Thankfully this was not my first time trying Italian beef because if it was, I don't think I'd ever want to eat it again.
One of the top 5 places for Italian Beef within city limits.
Home-made from scratch daily with fantastic sweet or spicy peppers and delicious jus. They've been at it for many years and are widely regarded as a Lincoln Square/Rogers Park staple for that one item. "Ghetto fries" have cheese, onions, gravy, and some other stuff. Totally gross and delicious.
The rest of the food is overpriced including the drinks. The clientele is kind of weird. A 'real Chicago' slice of life worth visiting, but you have to order correctly here or you may be disappointed.
I've been passing this place for over 20 years and FINALLY stopped in because of a GrouponNow ($3 off). How sad that I've been missing their Italian beef all these years. Definitely better than Al's (I'm SORRY, Al's. You were my first, so I'll always love you). Just barely a close 2nd to Johnny's. Soooo flavorful, lots-o-beef/sandwich, (is it me or has Al's been holding back?) I'm salivating while writing this. GO FOR THE BEEF!!
Review Source:We really liked the Italian Beefs..but the cheese on the fries wasn't good...i was expecting a nice thick melted cheddar cheese, but the look and taste wasn't good at all.
They use Merkts cheese which is more of a thicker paste taste/texture and personally I prefer the "regular" cheese fries.
Had 2 hot dogs, an order of fries and a drink.
It's the standard of all stands..and my order.
It was $9.30 for that...when most are between 6-7 dollars in the neighborhood..and it took about 20 minutes to get my order.
dog was fine..diced onions crisp...relish neon but stale.
no sport peppers even when ordered..
fries were underdone..and were from a bulk commercial batch..
laughed a little..as they were pimping their "gheto fries" on all of the signage in the store which looked hand cut.
Maybe they should have included that for the price? but it would have not changed the quality of the fries..and all of the topping would have just added to the muck.
drink was watered down even with the ice.
Other nice aspects..ketchup, salt and pepper were provided at each table as well as their own concoction of hot pepper sauce.
Maybe it was a bad day and they were out of product...
I'll go back in a few months to review again..
Max's Italian Beef is what will be waiting for me at the Pearly Gates. I have read some of the negative reviews and I have noticed several things in common: 1.) Many of these wackos order the wrong stuff. One lady ordered a fricken chopped salad. 2.) Â They are looking for health food. This place has fries smothered in cheese, beef gravy, and the kitchen sink. If you want health food move to California buddy !
Review Source:This place is great. Don't pretend like you're not going there to get something fatty and greasy. They execute with flavor though, as many other reviews point out.
It's cash only. There's an awesome hot dog man statue in the store self-immolating with a ketchup bottle. They make a good burger and a great italian beef. They have excellent ghetto fries. The stuff even holds up well when you carry-out.
What a dump!
Their floor was so filthy. Â There's a Home Depot nearby. Â Why not buy a mop? Â The tables were worse. Â The guy at the counter saw me sit at a dirty table and didn't bother cleaning it. Â There was 3 different soda flavors on my table. Â
I paid over 10 bucks for a burger, fries and drink. Â I wouldn't mind too much, except it tasted like crap. Â For 4.00 it would've been an average meal. Â 1/4 lb my ass! Â The patty was like 1/8 lb. Â It was an extremely thin patty and it was overcooked. Â Thin overcooked burgers are the worst. Â It's like eating a chocolate chip cookie but you don't taste any chocolate. Â Special sauce?! Â It's special alright...
I'd rather give 10.00 to a homeless person (but if he spent it at Max's, I'd kick his ass).
They have a very nice HD TV though.
My family has been going to this establishment for the last twenty or so years. Needless to say, my family are suckers for the Italian beef and sausages.
My family is quick o take me here every time I go visit Chicago. And anytime family comes to visit here in Las Vegas, we always make sure they bring us some of the Italian sausages. Their Ghetto Fries are great as well. Cheese, gravy, well done fries, plus more !
Their giardiniera is one of a kind. Unlike mos other places, it's free and you get as much as you want. Though it may be too spicy for some.
Overall, definitely recommend this place if you're in the area.
Italian Beef Crawl Stop #2: Max's Italian Beef (12:52PM)
We were in for some multi-generational goodness and stopped in for some Max's. Friends who lived nearby told tales of the beef and one friend said his uncle moved to San Francisco and made sure to get a Max's Italian Beef sandwich every time he came back to Chicago because it was his all-time favorite. We packed Max's to the brim and I took in the scene and enjoyed the old school diner feel to the place. We got a free round of beer at Max's since we were such big Italian beef lovers.
The Italian beef sandwiches began to roll out in swift order and there were Italian beef sandwiches everywhere! Dry beefs, wet beefs, hot beefs, sweet beefs! It was a veritable tour de beef all with the delicious beef juice flowing into the bread. The peppers were in their own pails, home made peppered laced with spice to make the beef a perfect blend of juice and heat. We spooned out the peppers from the pail and loaded up our sandwiches with them. Â I was impressed by the beefitude but found the meat itself slightly dry but still with more than enough room to be delicious. The juice flavor, the bread, the peppers were all in the clutch so this beef is still one of the greatest you'll find. There are no losers in the Italian Beef Crawl!!!
Max's is completely unremarkable. Â The beef is the same as you'll find in any number of joints in the city. Â The giardiniera is unique, but it's not for everyone, and not to my liking. Â It's satisfactory, but that's about it. Â It's something you'll eat when no one else can come up with a decent alternative.
Max's is expensive compared to similar places, but their specials are pretty good. Â Cash only, which can be a pain in the ass. Â Cashiers can be a little arrogant at times. Â News flash: Â You're working at a fast food place.
They like to tout their pepper and egg sandwich. Â Pass. Â It's a misnomer. Â This is actually an omelet sandwich. Â I'm used to fluffy, buttery eggs in my P&E sandwich. Â These eggs are actually overdone. Â If you like pepper and egg sandwiches, do not get suckered into buying one at Max's. Â You are officially warned.
Max's is a place I frequent about once a year, just to reinforce why I don't go there more often. Â There are several places within a short drive that are far superior to this.
If you want a good beef with really good giardiniera and live in the area, Max's satisfies. They also have a unique selection of really good, but really bad for you cheese fries. So far I have only tried the Ghetto fries and Caesar fries. Both are spicy and tasty. They also have the best giardiniera I've come across from a hot dog stand type place. It has olives in it which is an added bonus. The only negative thing I have to say is that it is a little pricey, but if I've come across coupons for buy one get one free beefs in free papers and they are also in the Entertainment Book.
Review Source:Oh no no no no no. Â There is no excuse not to have fresh-cut fries at a hot dog stand in the city of Chicago, especially when you are dressing them up with all sorts of bric-a-brac. Â Why say you are going to paint a food masterpiece and then crap out on the canvas? Â Why, Max's, why? Â Only two reasons are possible: either cheap or lazy. Â Two things I don't look for in a restaurant, sorry.
I tried their Italian Beef a few years ago and tried again this past week with regrettable results. Â Beef was overcooked, curling and tough from sitting in the gravy too long, I guess, and sweet peppers were straight-up undercooked green peppers. Â I felt pretty sick almost immediately after eating. Â The counter guys were really nice and the place was very cute and fun with clouds and Chicago scenes painted on the walls, but in my opinion there needs to be a little more attention to the food on a managerial level. Â I won't be back unless I get amnesia.
Took me like 4yrs of living by here, not catching them when they were open and so on, to finally try this place. I am now on a quest to find the best Italian beefs in town. There, of course, are more than just one. However, Max's Italian Beef  is not one of them. Oh, poo.
Have you seen my Italian Beef scoring card from another review? Yea, I'm asking like you should have already. That's just how big my ego is. But let me help you out just in case you're not "in the loop." <a href="http://www.yelp.com/user_details_review_search?userid=T2-nZ41zcT02fdbFHFYhzw&q=al%27s">http://www.yelp.com/user…</a> Â
Ok, so let's proceed then with Max's Score:
A. = Satisfactory
B. = Satisfactory
C. = Satisfactory
D. = Excellent Â
So, overall, the Italian Beef at minimum met my satisfaction. But then why just 2 stars? I can't eat fried food and my side options were severely limited. I got a tamale, which are made by Tom Tom. It was yuck-yuck. It tasted like dry pasty meat encased in undercooked grits. My only other non-fried option outside of that was chili mac. With an Italian beef? Hell no! If this were just a quick food stop stand, I could be more forgiving. But it had a decent seating area w/ a TV which just makes a difference for me. If I'm sitting down to take my time to eat, I'd like a good side option.
Other reason just 2 stars? My sweet peppers, tasted like just regular green peppers. I may need to add a grading option for the peppers from now on. I was bamboozled.
Last reason. 1 Italian Beef, 1 little tamale, 1 small drink = $10.03. Geeeeeeeeeeez! For a satisfactory Italian Beef, a yucky tamale, usurper green peppers, and run-of-the-mill pop. . . . Â high treason.
I have had Max's beef and Italian sausage combo with hot peppers twice now. Â I have gotten it to go each time. Â I always seems to be passing by this place. Â The beef is thicker cut than I am used to and the sausage could use some more spice, but this is a decent combo. Â The gravy has a distinct brownish orange color to it and a spice I just can not identify. Â I like it, but it would not be my go to beef if I was in search of the best. Â If you are driving by it is worth a stop.
Review Source:Spent another 9 bucks here to get ghetto fries, a cheeseburger and a small drink. I left quite full, but I also felt like an idiot for spending 9 dollars on food that just wasn't that great. The burger was tiny, and tasted like any run-of-the-mill hot dog stand burger. It was decent but nothing special. The ghetto fries, well they weren't really my thing. They ruined everything I liked about the ordinary fries, by becoming a wet soggy mess. I also didn't really care for the cheese, it had a gritty texture. They were ok, but I enjoyed my plain fries more. I'm taking off a star from my previous review just because nothing I've eaten here is good enough to warrant  the steep prices, and other places know how to cook fries too.
Review Source:Really friendly service. Â Smiles all around. Â Genuine ones too, not the, "Welcome to ____, may I take your order" forced kind. Â It's an Italian beef place, so I ordered an Italian beef - dipped, w/ hot peppers. Â They forgot the peppers, but I know that if I had said something about it, they would've fixed the problem without a hint of trouble and given me loads extra for my troubles. Â I didn't care that much about the peppers, so I didn't remind them, but the impression I got from this place is that they'll bend over backyards to make you happy.
I wish I could be just as positive about the food. Â The beef was too thick for my taste and was sort of bland. Â The juice the sandwich was dipped in was spicy. Â Usually I'm all about spicy things, but it tasted weird. Â I'm sure there's a better qualifier, but I'm too lazy to think of one, so weird it is. Â The sandwich wasn't bad enough to throw away, mind you, but it also wasn't good enough to warrant another visit. Â The fries, on the other hand, were very good. Â They have several different "topping" options to choose from, like the ghetto one everyone else has written about. Â That one seemed too busy for me, so I went with the standard chili cheese fries. Â It was a meal in itself.
So there you have it. Â 3 stars - almost all for the great service, only a little for the fries. Â I mean, yeah, the fries were good, but, come on, they're just fries.
I will say right off the bat that if my friends weren't regulars to this place I would have never thought of stopping in on my own, just not my usual cup of tea, that's all. Â Cash only, super-friendly owner-operated classic Chicago Italian Beef joint. Â That being said, I would have felt more comfotable in this place if I aged 20 years, had a beer gut and was wearing a Bears Jersey. Â My cholesteral jumped 200 points by walking into the door. Â If you are looking for (not really greasy, but greasy style food) an unhealthy flashback to when Americans couldn't care less about what it does to your body food. Â Go here. Â The chili was really good, the vegetable sandwich was nicely done, too much cheese for me, but otherwise great. Â The fries- perfect. Â If I liked this kind of food I would rate higher, but again, not really my style.
Review Source:My review stays at 3 stars, but today it is a solid 3 stars. I was stuck in the house for various reasons and decided to do a major cooking session. (Yes, on occasion, I do indeed cook) I did not want to start  fixing lunch for myself, so I ordered in. All I wanted was a cheeseburger .... a big old cheeseburger with grilled onions, mustard and a touch of ketchup. Well I ordered from Max's to give them another try.
I must say, the service was wonderful. The man on the phone couldn't have been nicer and the older gentleman who made the delivery was a real charmer. He was equally nice the last time he delivered here too.
The cheeseburger was good, not world class but exactly what I was hankering for. I will order burgers from them again when the crave hits. If I am out and about there are better burgers to be had in the area, but for delivery, it worked out fine.... fine as frog hair!!
Me and my fellow co-workers get take out from Max's often. I usually get a beef dipped with sweet and hot peppers and a side of fries. I love the spicynees of the juice the beef is cooked in. It is always nice and spicey hot. The fries are always freah and hot and they give you a lot of fries. Definitely one of the best beef's in the city.
Review Source:Hot dog was above average, with good snap. Â Ghetto fries are a good idea, but were not incredible, which I think they have the potential to be--the cheddar sauce was very good, but the problem is the base fries that are of the thick-cut, mealy, slightly undercooked variety. Â I find their various fry-topping offerings intriguing, but am put off by fry texture and alienating service.
Review Source:I just had the Ghetto Fries, sans gravy, and they were great. Â Really good cheese sauce, not like the fake nacho cheese. Â I thought the place was really cool. Â The people who worked there were cool, too. Â My "dining partner" very much enjoyed his double bacon cheeseburger! Â I am not sure about the Beef, but from what I saw the burgers looked great.
Review Source:Max's burgers are absolutely terrific. Some of the best I've had since moving here. The Italian beef is solid, not mind-blowing, but the real strength of the place is the fries.
The fries at Max's are like six-stars good every single time. They have *exactly* the right amount of salt, they're always cooked to perfection, and -- most importantly -- they are always, always, always fresh. They don't keep fries sitting around, ever -- they cook them per order, and they're always incredibly hot and insanely good. Also the Ghetto Fries are awesome. Greasy, sweet-y, chili-like, and fantastic.
The only strike against Max's is that they close way too early and they're closed on Sundays. Seriously though, the fries more than make up for it.
Max's has a decent beef sandwich. Â Decent. Â I haven't had anything there but the beef or the fries, so I can't speak for anything but that. Â But then again, 9/10 times, you go to a beef place for a beef, so I guess that's the most important.
The beef wasn't bad, but it just doesn't leave me with that craving of wanting another one the next day. Â In fact I'm still feeling a little queasy from it. Â Regardless of that, the beef was thicker than most places. Â It was also overcooked. Â It was however, spiced enough and cut into perfect sized pieces. Â Their gravy is unique, it's a reddish hue and definitely doesn't taste like anything else I've had before. Â To put it in perspective...it's better than Al's, but nowhere near as well-rounded as Johnnie's.
One unique thing about Max's is their giardiniera. Â Not only is it free, but you get to put it on yourself...from a small bucket on the table! Â Pretty cool.
I don't know when or if I'll be going again, but if I do, I'll skip the beef and try the Ghetto Fries. Â Apparently this has overtaken their beef sandwich as their most popular/flagship product.
Now for the ancillaries...
Max's itself is a cool looking place over on Western a bit south of Peterson. Â It's not easily accessible from any El lines, but the Western bus stops right there. Â There's a cool old 1950's sign/menu on the inside, make sure to check it out. Â .40c for a beef in the 50's? Nuts!
Also, they have a strange looking metal horse...thing...out front. Â It's worth the gaze as you walk in.
I guess that's about it. Â Go to Johnnies if you want to fall in love, go here if you're just hungry. Â Really.
First I love the cow sculptures in the front. Â Inside I think the mural is cool. Â The chopped salad is a great substitute for LEY restaurants. Â Plus, if you live in the area you can get a coupon for buy one salad get one free, which I always take advantage of. Â The salad has tons of blue cheese and a very light honey mustard dressing that tastes great with all the veggies. Â So far this place has my 2nd favorite Italian Beef. Â It's a bit more flavorful than Al's, but not as good as Portillo's. Â The prices are really reasonable and the meal is filling.
Review Source:Lived in the area for a while and finally stopped in. Â Not bad but nothing special.
I am weird and asked for a hot dog bun without the hot dog but all the condiments. Â It took 3 people and 5 minutes to figure out what I wanted. Â And they charged me MORE than a normal hot dog! Â WTF! Â However, they made up for it by making the BF a free pepper and egg sandwich. Â
Also ordered their cheese fries. Â I have never been one to pass up cheese fries but I didn't even eat half of them! Â They were fine but nothing special. Â
Guess I will just stick to Byrons!
Max's is an alright place , it did little to stand out either way. I got the burger and the Italian beef when I went there a few years back. Beef was good , as was the burger but I had better of both. Was there before the whole Ghetto fries "controversy" , I might have liked it better with all the fervor against it. One of many halfway decent neighborhood fast food joints. If I was in the neighborhood , I wouldn't hesitate stopping by , yet I don't feel this is a destination spot.
Review Source:This place is about 3 blocks from my apartment, so we had to try it after moving. I'm not an italian beef person, but my compadre had it and thought it was really good - and he was stoked that they had deep fried mushrooms. I had a burger and mozzarella sticks, and both were really good. Not a lot of fast food places sell cheese sticks, so that was a plus in my book!
We also had a couple shakes, and they were yummy. There's no doubt in my mind that we'll be back, though with Wolfie's and U Lucky Dawg (also owned by Max's) almost as close, we'll probably visit those places too.
You - "Tempe, you're a vegetarian. Â Why would you be writing a review about an Italian Beef joint in Chicago?"
Me - "Have you eaten at Max's? Â Did you let the juice from the dipped sandwich drip down your elbows onto your well done friench fries?"
I used to eat meat when I lived outside Chicago and every time I return I pretend that it didn't actually come from a cow like the giant one outside the restaurant. Â (What's up with me and reviews of places with large statues of livestock? Â Do I sense a theme?)
I have never had an Italian Beef sandwich to equal Max's. Â The bread is soft, the meat is seasoned perfectly, the hot peppers are just right and my brother goes nuts for the cheese fries. Â I would give it 5 stars except I can't eat there more than once a year!
My mouth is watering just thinking about it...
Quintessential Chicago hot dog stand. Â I've been eating here for over 30 years and I can't visit the "old neighborhood" without stopping in. Â One of my favorite beefs in the city and I love beef sammiches! Â You gotta' have the giardiniera. Â Looks a little weird with all of the red oil and stuff, but yum-o! Â The fries are great too, always hot & crispy. Â I've NEVER had a bad experience here!
Review Source:First, in repsonse to Julia K., Fluky's died a long time ago. Â I'd say not long after they moved North of Pratt to their final location. Â I know, 25 years ago as an 8th grader I walked to lunch there quite a bit (Note to you younger yelpers - there actually was a time when a grade school student was allowed to leave school grounds to get lunch then come back.)
I grew up equidistant from Fluky's and Wolfy's. Â Killing off Fluky's was no crime. Â Anyways, back to Max's. Â Apologies to this place because I passed your door a thousand times without coming in as a youngster, then finally did as a very young adult, and really enjoyed the food.
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