Pete’s Roast Beef – The 2024 Beef Champion
When it comes to Boston’s finest roast beef sandwiches, Pete’s Roast Beef stands as the clear winner, earning the title of “2024 beef champion” according to customer reviews. The secret to their success lies in their perfectly executed fundamentals. Customers rave about the “great roast beef, super rare, awesome tangy bbq sauce, perfect crispy bun” that makes every bite exceptional.
The quality here doesn’t stop at the sandwich itself. Reviewers highlight that the “onion rings sliced thin so super crunchy and a perfect amount of batter to onion ring” while praising the “great service” and noting that “food came out quickly”. Despite being a smaller establishment with limited seating, Pete’s has mastered the takeout game that defines modern roast beef culture.
Kelly’s Roast Beef – The Original North Shore Legend
Kelly’s Roast Beef opened in 1951 and still operates the same walk-up-window location on the beach in Revere, along with a few others in the area. This legendary spot has earned its reputation through decades of consistent quality and innovation in the roast beef sandwich game. Their famous “Surf and Turf” combines two Kelly’s specialties: a lobster roll and a roast beef sandwich, with the thinly sliced roast beef piled on a seeded roll that’s grilled and crusty, making it perfect to sop up any condiments.
What sets Kelly’s apart is their role in establishing the North Shore roast beef culture. The “North Shore style beef sandwich features roast beef that is cooked nicely rare” with the “3-Way” presentation being the default – rare beef with mayonnaise, American cheese, and barbecue sauce. However, Kelly’s uses a sesame seed bun rather than the larger Kaiser roll that some consider the gold standard.
Al’s Italian Beef – Chicago’s Sandwich Pioneer
Al’s claims to have invented the Italian beef sandwich in 1938 at a little stand in the Little Italy neighborhood as a way to stretch expensive meat into a filling meal, and the recipe hasn’t changed at all since then. This Chicago institution proves that sometimes the original really is the best. Their giardiniera has more red peppers in it than most, making the color distinct from other spots…