Frequently
Asked Questions

Chicago-style Italian beef is slow-roasted, thinly sliced seasoned beef served on Italian bread and topped — or fully dipped — in savory gravy, known as “au jus” or “the jus.” It’s a classic Chicago sandwich tradition born from Italian immigrant communities near the old Union Stock Yards, and it has become the city’s most iconic street food. Order it dry (less gravy), wet (extra gravy), or dipped (the whole sandwich dunked in jus for maximum flavor).

Bari Beef is a family-owned company founded in 1973, built on a tradition of slow-roasting only the finest, choicest cuts of beef and simmering them in authentic Italian spices. That same Chicago flavor trusted by restaurants and served at family tables for over 50 years is now available to ship nationwide — cooked fresh daily and packed with pride.

Yes! Bari Beef ships Italian beef packs anywhere in the continental U.S. so you can enjoy authentic Chicago Italian beef at home — no matter where you are. Each pack arrives ready for you to heat and serve.

Yes — shipping is FREE. Visit our shop page for full details on our current shipping offer.

Absolutely. That’s exactly the point. Bari Beef ships complete kits with everything you need — beef, gravy, giardiniera, and bread — so you can recreate an authentic Chicago Italian beef experience right at your own kitchen table, coast to coast.

The #1 Family Pack ($119) includes everything you need for 12 quarter-pound sandwiches:

• 3 lbs thinly sliced Italian beef
• 1 half-gallon (64 oz) Italian style gravy
• 4 twelve-inch Gonnella French bread loaves
• 1 pint Bari Hot Giardiniera

The #2 Party Pack ($139) is built to feed a crowd — enough for 24 quarter-pound sandwiches:

• 2 — 3 lb sliced Italian beef packs
• 2 half-gallons (64 oz each) Italian style gravy
• 8 twelve-inch Gonnella French bread loaves
• 1 pint Bari Hot Giardiniera

The #3 Bulk Pack ($159) is perfect for big parties or stocking up:

• 4 — 3 lb packs thinly sliced Italian beef
• 4 half-gallons (64 oz each) Italian style gravy

The #4 Meal Kit ($99) is a complete dinner kit — enough for 8 quarter-pound sandwiches:

• 2 lbs thinly sliced Italian beef
• 1 half-gallon (64 oz) Italian style gravy
• 8 six-inch Turano par-baked French bread loaves
• 8 oz Bari Hot Giardiniera

Based on quarter-pound (4 oz) sandwich portions:

• Meal Kit (#4): ~8 sandwiches
• Family Pack (#1): ~12 sandwiches
• Party Pack (#2): ~24 sandwiches
• Bulk Pack (#3): ~48 sandwiches (beef & gravy only)

Yes! In addition to Italian beef, Bari Beef offers giardiniera, Italian sausage, meatballs, and other specialty items — available online and at our factory store in South Elgin, IL.

Italian Stallions are a bold, ready-to-cook product featuring Italian beef, melted cheese, and spicy giardiniera all wrapped in a perfectly baked roll — sold as 60 per case ($120). Perfect for catering, events, and restaurant menus. Please note: a deep fryer is required to fully cook Italian Stallions.

The Chicago way — choose your style:

• Dry: Less gravy ladled on the sandwich. The beef stays juicy from slow-roasting but the bread holds its texture.
• Wet: Extra gravy poured generously over the beef. The classic Chicago choice for most fans.
• Dipped: The whole assembled sandwich is dunked into the au jus. Maximum flavor, glorious mess. Welcome to Chicago.

Add sweet peppers for mild flavor or giardiniera (hot peppers) for authentic Chicago heat.

Yes! Bari Beef has a factory store open to the public at:

710 Schneider Dr, South Elgin, IL 60177

Stop in and pick up Italian beef (3, 4 & 5 lb fresh-packed packs at $9.50/lb), Italian sausage (hot or mild 5 lb rope, $20), meatballs ($36 / 5 lbs), giardiniera, sauces, and more specialty items.

Monday — Friday: 7:00 am — 3:00 pm
Saturday & Sunday: Closed

Call ahead at 847-695-7555 if you have any questions before your visit.

Absolutely. Bari Beef has been a trusted wholesale supplier to Chicago-area restaurants, delis, and catering operations for over 30 years. We supply Italian beef, Italian sausage, meatballs, and giardiniera in bulk quantities. Call us at 847-695-7555 or visit the factory store in South Elgin to discuss wholesale pricing and volume orders.

Call us at 847-695-7555 or reach out through our contact page. When you reach out, include your event date, quantity needed, and delivery location so our team can guide you toward the right products and pricing.