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Don’t impose your regional favorites on the rest of us
Tuesday, Apr 7, 2026 - Posted by Rich Miller * Block Club Chicago…
1) I have said before that a sandwich identified mainly with our largest city should not be the state sandwich. Don’t get me wrong, I love me some Chicago Italian beef sammiches. (Try Roma’s. It’s the best hole in the wall joint on the Northwest Side, IMHO.) I really do strongly believe that a regional favorite shouldn’t be imposed on everyone else and that the city folks oughta back the heck off and stop constantly imposing their culture on the rest of us. /half-snark 2) I was born in Kankakee and grew up in rural Iroquois County. Before I wound up in Springfield, I lived in northwest Illinois, northern Illinois and east central Illinois. I have family in Pontiac and southern Illinois and have long traveled most of the state. I never even so much as heard of a horseshoe until I moved to Springfield. It’s a sandwich specifically identified with the state’s capital city. So, again, a micro-regional favorite should not be imposed on the entire state. That’s just silly. Plus, it’s an open-face sandwich. That’s a totally different category, albeit delicious. * So I have come up with my own proposal. Admittedly, this idea probably won’t go over well with some people, and the first half of it does require a bit of a definitional stretch. But I think this proposal best represents all of Illinois. 1) Just about everywhere I go in Illinois, I see taco stands and restaurants. Chicago and some suburbs, in my opinion, have the best tacos outside Mexico. And I know of great taco spots all over this state. But is a taco a sandwich? Heck yes! 2) Walk into any “real” diner throughout Illinois and an open-face hot roast beef sandwich with mashed potatoes and brown gravy is on the menu. It’s ubiquitous and fabulous. This is an absolute no-brainer. * Therefore, be it resolved that Illinois’ official state sandwich shall be the taco, and Illinois’ official state open-face sandwich shall be hot roast beef. Discuss. And if you disagree, I’ll just start off by saying: “Bite me.” Pun intended.
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- Marge - Tuesday, Apr 7, 26 @ 9:15 am:
- Candy Dogood - Tuesday, Apr 7, 26 @ 9:16 am:
===And if you disagree===
I was not expecting disappointment at Rep Ryan for introducing a bill that serves no purpose but to divide our state further while ignoring that in Illinois we serve up a lot of very good sandwiches to be immediately subverted to tacos and hot roast beef.
I think this is much more controversial than pie and support a constitutional amendment to bar the legislature from imposing a ’state sandwich.’
If you have never stepped foot into Ricobene’s I don’t think you should be voting for or proposing this legislation. Even Maid-Rite deserves some kind of mention. This is an area of governing in which there is no right answer and one who thinks there is a right answer probably cooks their chicken in a crock pot with water and no seasoning, not even salt or pepper.
But if we are to have something forced upon us, at least taco is overly broad and robs all of our other great sandwiches the same and ‘hot roast beef’ is at least something they threw on our plate at elementary school. Hot turkey sometimes appeared around Thanksgiving too.
- Homebody - Tuesday, Apr 7, 26 @ 9:21 am:
Wait a second, what are the rules for posting memes without getting deleted? I promise not to abuse, I’m just really, really curious now.
On topic: I really don’t like “official state ______” in general for anything that people care about at all, especially in large states with regional differences. Seems like a recipe (pun tastefully (pun intended) intended) to just create a new dumb fight over something meaningless that does nothing but remind people of regional differences. Symbolic measures should be silly feel good stories to bring people together, not remind people of differences.
To some extent, I like Rich’s silly solution, if only because it makes us focus on real questions like “is a taco a sandwich” which inevitably invites the counter argument that says “if a taco is a sandwich, then a Chicago dog must also be a sandwich.”
- Benjamin - Tuesday, Apr 7, 26 @ 9:24 am:
If you really wanted to spark angry discussion, Rich, you should have suggested that they make the state sandwich be the hot dog.
- George Ryan Reynolds - Tuesday, Apr 7, 26 @ 9:27 am:
What should the official state pizza be?
(runs away)
- Kapulet - Tuesday, Apr 7, 26 @ 9:29 am:
Springfield’s Bernie’s and Betty’s has an Italian Beef Horseshoe that is the best of both worlds and the best horseshoe in the world.
- fs - Tuesday, Apr 7, 26 @ 9:42 am:
==What should the official state pizza be?==
Maybe the pizza (generic) should be the State sandwich
- Braceville Brad - Tuesday, Apr 7, 26 @ 9:53 am:
The line at Portillo’s in Springfield is quite long at all hours of the day……
- Leap Day William - Tuesday, Apr 7, 26 @ 9:56 am:
I grew up in East Central Illinois, far away from Chicago and Springfield, yet both horseshoes and italian beef made regular appearances at my family’s table growing up. Dad was the cook and I can guarantee he spent no appreciable time in either of those two cities, let alone to the point where he would’ve developed a taste for them. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
All that is to say, I’m team Italian Beef because a horseshoe isn’t a sandwich, it’s a gift from the lord of fatty foods.
- TNR - Tuesday, Apr 7, 26 @ 9:58 am:
I get the idea of trying not to make a regional food an official statewide food, but the main argument for the beef sandwich and/or the horseshoe being the official state sandwich is that both are essentially unique to Illinois. They are hard to find anywhere else. The taco is most certainly not.
- Kaizen - Tuesday, Apr 7, 26 @ 10:03 am:
Roma’s has great fries!
- Nope. - Tuesday, Apr 7, 26 @ 10:08 am:
A taco is not a sandwich.
Invitation to bite you…is accepted.
- Grandson of Man - Tuesday, Apr 7, 26 @ 10:18 am:
The taco is definitely a sandwich, would vote for that. The open roast beef sandwich with mashed potatoes and gravy was classic diner food, jukebox and cigarettes type of places, 24 hour joints, etc.
- Jibba - Tuesday, Apr 7, 26 @ 10:18 am:
They seriously don’t have open faced hot roast beef sandwiches everywhere? My world is rocked.
- Michelle Flaherty - Tuesday, Apr 7, 26 @ 10:24 am:
All I see is the BIMP
- Not Rich - Tuesday, Apr 7, 26 @ 10:24 am:
Never take food advise from a downstater
- Rudy’s teeth - Tuesday, Apr 7, 26 @ 10:29 am:
Gyros and saganaki would like a word. Miss the days when Halsted Street was filled with Greek restaurants…especially Rodity’s. OPA.
- TreeFiddy - Tuesday, Apr 7, 26 @ 10:30 am:
My group chat with the friend from Chicago and Taylorville was blowing up last night with this debate. It’s the kind of debate that almost broke up a nearly 20-plus year friendship.
- Candy Dogood - Tuesday, Apr 7, 26 @ 10:31 am:
===saganaki===
This is a discussion about sandwiches. Choosing a state fried cheese would be another controversial topic.
- benniefly2 - Tuesday, Apr 7, 26 @ 10:31 am:
A taco is a taco, not a sandwich. A Mexican sandwich is a Torta. Torta’s are delicious.
Didn’t imagine that I would be re-engaging with a “Is a hot dog a sandwich?” type discussion today. Thank you for the much needed distraction.
- JS Mill - Tuesday, Apr 7, 26 @ 10:34 am:
=Rich, you should have suggested that they make the state sandwich be the hot dog.=
Yes, with ketchup.
Come and get me.
On a serious note, that the legislature is spending any time on this issue just tells me how unserious they are. This is more of a newspaper survey kinda thing.
- Because I Said So - Tuesday, Apr 7, 26 @ 10:35 am:
Ain’t no way a taco is a sandwich.
- Annon'in - Tuesday, Apr 7, 26 @ 10:40 am:
Never thought of Horseshoe as a sandwich. Best beef generally at Als or Mr. Beef. Hot dog might have better statewide appeal or just any selection at Manny’s. Springfield once had real beef from a little place across Monroe from DH Brown’s. Can’t really count Portillo’s
- Socially DIstant Watcher - Tuesday, Apr 7, 26 @ 10:42 am:
Ok, but when they get around to declaring a state pet, I still want them to give my pet the title.
- Tom - Tuesday, Apr 7, 26 @ 10:56 am:
Italian Beef should and will be the State sandwich. Hooray for Rick Ryan! A taco is a taco, and a Horseshoe is a heart attack. Long live “the beef” (with hot peppers, dipped).
- Amurica - Tuesday, Apr 7, 26 @ 10:57 am:
Forget them all and make the state sandwich the giant fried pork tenderloin sandwich.
- H-W - Tuesday, Apr 7, 26 @ 10:58 am:
Corn Dog. Made in Illinois. Ubiquitous.
Nuf’ said.
- AlfondoGonz - Tuesday, Apr 7, 26 @ 11:07 am:
A taco is not a sandwich, as evidenced by the torta, which is.
I don’t have a horse in the state sandwich race. I just hope to see the contestants at the finish line.
- G'Kar - Tuesday, Apr 7, 26 @ 11:15 am:
The pork tenderloin sandwich says “hold my beer.”
- Jerry - Tuesday, Apr 7, 26 @ 11:16 am:
It depends on where the Bears wind up.
- Proud Sucker - Tuesday, Apr 7, 26 @ 11:17 am:
I am very torn. I grew up in portage Park so, Roma’s was a twice or thrice weekly treat. I then went to Illinois Tech (nee IIT) for college so, came to rely on Ricobene’s for my beef fix - also got hooked on Connie’s (but we have been warned off discussing pizza).
So, in the sense of promoting peace, I’d suggest that Oscar Mayer bologna on Butternut bread be the official state sandwich - it already has a jingle.
- Joe Bidenopolous - Tuesday, Apr 7, 26 @ 11:24 am:
I second making the state sandwich a hot dog and ending two debates at once.
- Not related - Tuesday, Apr 7, 26 @ 11:25 am:
Amurica - When we combine with Indiana we will assume their state sandwich which is the pork tenderloin.
Which Illinois specific sandwich appears on more menus in all the counties in IL. Maybe Springfield can put together a committee to find the answer.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Apr 7, 26 @ 11:28 am:
===state sandwich a hot dog===
How are *Illinois* hot dogs different or more special than everyone else?
- Politix - Tuesday, Apr 7, 26 @ 11:31 am:
If not an Italian beef, it’s an Italian sub. I been eating Frankie’s in OakBrook Terrace my whole life - none better.
- Leap Day William - Tuesday, Apr 7, 26 @ 11:34 am:
== How are *Illinois* hot dogs different or more special than everyone else? ==
It’s Passover, so the correct question here is “Why is this hot dog different than all other hot dogs?”, and the answer is because Illinois hot dogs are Vienna Beef hot dogs and all others lesser by comparison.
- Anon221 - Tuesday, Apr 7, 26 @ 11:34 am:
What… no vote for the hamburger? Mr. Quick was my favorite as a kid. Chopped grilled onions, ketchup, pickles fresh off the grill… and only around $1 or less…mmmm.
Info here is from Google Search and AI generated -
“Illinois, particularly Chicago and central Illinois, is central to hamburger history. Key milestones include the 1917 debut of bun-served burgers at Chicago’s Drexel’s Pure Food, the founding of White Castle in 1921, and Steak ‘n Shake in 1934 in Normal. Illinois also hosted the first Ray Kroc McDonald’s franchise in 1955.
Key Historical Highlights in Illinois
Chicago (1917): Drexel’s Pure Food is often credited with serving the first hamburger on a bun.
White Castle (1921): While starting in Kansas, the chain became an early fast-food staple, heavily influencing the Midwest.
Steak ‘n Shake (1934): Founded by A.H. “Gus” Belt in Normal, Illinois, it was a pioneering “steak burger” restaurant that grew from a gas station.
McDonald’s (1955): Ray Kroc opened his first McDonald’s franchise in Des Plaines, Illinois.
Henry’s Hamburgers (1950s/60s): Based in Chicago, this chain had over 200 locations in the early 1960s, challenging competitors with its drive-in concept.”
- Streator Curmudgeon - Tuesday, Apr 7, 26 @ 11:45 am:
==Forget them all and make the state sandwich the giant fried pork tenderloin sandwich.==
We downstaters (but not as far south as Springfield) like to clog our arteries with a tenderloin sandwich. LaSalle County has some great ones.
Luckily Chicago has not discovered it yet or there would be a statewide shortage.
- Candy Dogood - Tuesday, Apr 7, 26 @ 11:50 am:
===state sandwich a hot dog===
These crock pot chicken in water with no seasoning folks have shown up in droves today.
- Think Again - Tuesday, Apr 7, 26 @ 11:52 am:
“giant fried pork tenderloin”
yes vote for the pork, very Apropos for the ILGA
- Brave New World - Tuesday, Apr 7, 26 @ 11:59 am:
My vote is for the distinctly IL Horseshoe sandwich. That said, IL should also be proud of the Chicago style hotdog. Which of course, is distinctly IL and the proper way to prepare a hotdog.
- I-72 Blues - Tuesday, Apr 7, 26 @ 12:06 pm:
Pork tenderloins are far more of a downstate thing than horseshoes.
- River Heights PI - Tuesday, Apr 7, 26 @ 12:12 pm:
Let’s just make it a tuna salad sandwich so no one is happy.
… but a hot dog is, in fact, a sandwich. Don’t act like you’re above a good hot dog.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Apr 7, 26 @ 12:13 pm:
===and the proper way to prepare a hotdog===
Meh. It’s like eating a salad. Just too much stuff. I prefer celery salt and mustard.
- Bloom-al guy - Tuesday, Apr 7, 26 @ 12:22 pm:
Pork Tenderloin…full stop!
- TinyDancer(FKASue) - Tuesday, Apr 7, 26 @ 12:25 pm:
= What… no vote for the hamburger? =
“Cheezborger! Cheezborger! You want doublecheez?!?Who’s next!?! WHO’S NEXT!?!”
Except I’d vote for the Hackney burger.
- Amalia - Tuesday, Apr 7, 26 @ 12:31 pm:
Team Beef. Cause a good beef…whether sandwich or disagreement…is always great.
- Josh Evans - Tuesday, Apr 7, 26 @ 12:32 pm:
I motion to table your motion. When appropriate, I would offer a motion to adopt the bread, ruffles chips, and mustard as the official Illinois state sandwich.
- H-W - Tuesday, Apr 7, 26 @ 12:44 pm:
The pork tenderloin sandwich is a knife and fork meal, with a drab pickle slice and a bun imitating a roll. It is also too “Iowan” and “Indianan” to be inferred as “Illinoisan.”
I still say the Corn Dog. If you want, you can hold it by the breading and eat it like a sandwich and then lick your fingers (although the stick is a nice touch). /s
- Frida's Boss - Tuesday, Apr 7, 26 @ 12:44 pm:
Is a corndog a sandwich?
- John Parker - Tuesday, Apr 7, 26 @ 12:51 pm:
No respect for the Mother-in-law (Tom Tom tamale with chili on a hot dog bun), the Gym Shoe/Jim Shoo (gyro meat, corned beef, and Italian beef topped with tzatziki, mayo, mustard, and spicy giardiniera), or the sweet steak (shredded steak & sweet red sauce on a roll)?
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Apr 7, 26 @ 12:53 pm:
===No respect for the===
C’mon. If you’re gonna nominate a state sandwich, try something that people have at least heard of.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Apr 7, 26 @ 12:54 pm:
===Is a corndog a sandwich? ===
At this point, why not?
- thingamajaig - Tuesday, Apr 7, 26 @ 1:01 pm:
Why don’t we just put it to a vote? Surely, the state’s population outside of Chicagoland has the numbers to dictate what the state’s sandwich oughta be. Surely…
- Excitable Boy - Tuesday, Apr 7, 26 @ 1:09 pm:
- ===Is a corndog a sandwich? ===
At this point, why not? -
Of all the options presented I would take a Miller’s Corn Dog over any of them. And to the best of my knowledge they are exclusive to Illinois.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Apr 7, 26 @ 1:09 pm:
===Surely, the state’s population outside of Chicagoland===
This is exactly the smug attitude I referenced in the post.
- Benjamin - Tuesday, Apr 7, 26 @ 1:15 pm:
===How are *Illinois* hot dogs different or more special than everyone else?===
I’m just reminding everyone of the great “is a hot dog a sandwich?” controversy of 2015-2016. You know, back when this was the most important thing we had to worry about.
- Hal - Tuesday, Apr 7, 26 @ 1:26 pm:
This is an excellent debate, with Italian beef, the horseshoe, tacos, corn dogs and more all claiming a legitimate part of the title.
The real question is, what is the average man or woman on the street in the 60548 saying about it?
I would imagine they must be experts.
- Stephanie Kollmann - Tuesday, Apr 7, 26 @ 1:27 pm:
Pork tenderloin nominees should move to one of the boring states where boring food is more popular. If you’re going to clog your arteries with something giant and fried it should taste like something.
Agree on tacos.
Used to eat those beef (and turkey) open faced diner “sandwiches” all of the time as a kid and haven’t thought of them in a long time. Yes, ubiquitous. And nostalgic. A winner in the open-faced category over the horseshoe but definitely not suitable for the main sandwich category.
When it comes to honoring those diners, though, I would prefer to nominate the cream of chicken rice soup so thick you can stand a spoon upright in them. Mmmmm.
Or maybe the francheesie. NOT the bacon one. That has/had a lot of downstate reach.
- B Jean - Tuesday, Apr 7, 26 @ 1:29 pm:
Southern IL is known for BBQ. I won’t go so far as to say that it should be the state sandwich, but pulled pork is my favorite.
- Davis - Tuesday, Apr 7, 26 @ 1:45 pm:
The Italian Beef at Johnnies on North Avenue in Elmwood Park.
The best taco, Taqueria La Katarina on Auburn in Rockford (Al Pastor with homemade corn tortillas).
- Flapdoodle - Tuesday, Apr 7, 26 @ 2:00 pm:
If the state sandwich is supposed to be one distinctively associated with Illinois, then I submit that NONE of the suggestions made here satisfy that criterion. On oath, I have seen every one of these suggested delicacies on menus in other states, often not even in the Midwest.
If, OTOH, the state sandwich is supposed to capture the essence of Illinois, to express something of the origins and melding of its various peoples, then I submit that given the taco is *not* linguistically recognized as a sandwich even by its originators and that Italian beef refers only to a single albeit important ethnicity in the State’s evolution, both are hereby disqualified from consideration.
A state sandwich must reflect the state as a whole, be found throughout the state as a menu staple in establishments where common Illinoisans commonly take their meals. It must reflect the common sense, down-to-earth, let’s-get-to-work qualities that have typified Illinoisans throughout the State. It must nourish character and body both, and taste pretty darn good, too.
And so, fellow CapitalFaxers, I am proud to second Rich’s nomination of the open-faced roast beef sandwich, thick slices of beef supported by a mound of mashed potatoes, on bread or toast, all drowned in brown gravy, with the vegetable of the day in a supporting role. Pepper and salt to taste.
- Pot calling kettle - Tuesday, Apr 7, 26 @ 2:09 pm:
The Italian Beef was invented in Chicago, is a classic throughout Illinois, and it’s becoming an icon for the state via the expansion of Portillo’s and the popularity of The Bear. (BTW, the beef needs to be sliced very, very thin; absolutely not, under any circumstances, shredded.)
Now, the open-faced roast beef smothered in gravy was my go-to sandwich as a kid. I used to alternate between mashed potatoes and fries as a side. I still love it; although, I now call it a heart-stopper special and do not indulge as frequently as I otherwise might.
I guess both of my votes are for beef.
Taco should be its own category so we can argue about the State Taco next week. (It could be a fish taco made with copi.)
- Rahm’s Parking Meter - Tuesday, Apr 7, 26 @ 2:14 pm:
I am on the Johnnie’s bandwagon like Davis but I go to the Arlington location.
- JS Mill - Tuesday, Apr 7, 26 @ 2:25 pm:
====Surely, the state’s population outside of Chicagoland===
This is exactly the smug attitude I referenced in the post.=
Sorry, both comments made me laugh, especially the use of “smug”. Not sure why, but it just hit me a certain way.
=I guess both of my votes are for beef.=
This one as well. As a transplanted cook county native I get two votes as well (as it always has been am I right or what?) and they both go for Vienna Beef Hot Dog with ketchup and mustard (that is my olive branch to the fascist anti-ketchupers).
- H-W - Tuesday, Apr 7, 26 @ 2:28 pm:
I like how all the political types here are getting along so well, even the conservatives among us.
From the smash-burger to the corndog, some items are truly Illinoisan. Some are more Midwestern than Illinoisan (the pork tenderloin), and others just good ole diner food from across America (open-faced sandwiches and the so far ignored, steam burgers).
We have hot dogs (and Chicago dogs, but not brats nor Polish sausages) mentioned.
But as to the main contenders - the Italian Beef the Horse Shoe (what about its Pony cousin?) - I think there is a clear and present favorite.
And that will be determined by the fate of this bill.
- Lurker - Tuesday, Apr 7, 26 @ 4:34 pm:
The official sandwich should be the hot dog (and no, not the Chicago dog; and yes, a hot dog is as much a sandwich as a taco)
The open sandwich should be the nothing. They’re gross.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Tuesday, Apr 7, 26 @ 4:40 pm:
Rich -
Not to drag Kwame Raoul into the mix, but under the landmark Supreme Court case in 2006, White City Shopping Center, LP v. PR Restaurants, LLC, the Court found that a burrito - and by extension a taco - is not legally a “sandwich.”
The case arose when Quizno’s filed suit to prevent a Mexican restaurant from opening in the mall, claiming it had exclusive contract to be the only “sandwich” shop.
While not controlling (it was Massachusetts) the case is dispositive and often cited.
Both the plain dictionary definition of sandwich and the culinary history make clear that The Earl of Sandwich meant “served between two slices of bread.”
An Indiana judge recently ruled that tacos are “a Mexican sandwich”, which just reminds you that there are a lot of idiots in Indiana. A taco is not a “Mexican sandwich” any more than a Philly is an “American taco.”
As the case makes clear, neither a horseshoe nor an Italian beef (stuffed roll) nor a hotdog (stuffed bun) are “sandwiches” either.
The horseshoe is akin to a “skillet” and the latter two fall in the category of “handhelds”.
I agree with you it is nonsense to have a “State Sandwich” when there is no clear statewide consensus.
You can make an argument for pulled pork in Murphysboro, catfish along the Mississippi River, country-fried steak across the heartland and so on. Yeah, the Italian beef has its lovers n Chicago, but are we just going to ignore the ubiquitous polish sausage and gyro? Equally working class, equally beloved, and equally delicious.
Historically, you have to atleast consider the 1/4-pounder, since McDonald’s got its start in Des Plaines.
I hope this throws a wrench in the works.
- YDD
- Peoria Pete - Tuesday, Apr 7, 26 @ 6:31 pm:
2 sandwiches more common:
1) Fried Pork Tenderloin…..Popular in most of the state, just not Chicago. Forget the frozen ones. The best ones are pounded out in the back kitchen. Generally available between I-70 & I-80. Also seen in Iowa & Indiana.
2) Grilled Butterfly Pork Chop…..IL pork producers were selling these at the HOI Fair in Peoria back in the Sixties. Realize that it also has origins on Chicago Maxwell Street.