Zels Roast Beef

I grew up on Zel’s. As a kid I started with a burger, as a teen I made a meal out of chili cheese fries. And now that in grown it’s a beef sandwich, no peppers extra pickles. I know … pickles? ! On a beef sandwich? ! Gross! No no my friends, pickles is the only way to go, it’s soooo good! I’ve even converted my husband to this standard order.
The beef sandwich is a pretty good size for the money. But it can be a little dry, of course if you’re from Chicagoland you understand you need to order any beef sandwich dipped to really get it right. Each sandwich comes with fries. For an upcharge you can graduate to chili cheese fries, I highly recommend it. It’s a huge order, enough for a meal.
And as long as you’re blowing your diet, go for the shake. The chocolate shakes are rich and thick. My personal favorite is the banana. I’m not sure why, I order chocolate everywhere else, but at Zel’s it’s got to be a banana shake. It’s the perfect gluttonous companion to all of the greasy goodness!

Chicago style hot dog was terrible! The cheese fries are worst. The condiments are generic along with the drinks. Skip this place at all costs!

Ah, Zel’s. This is the kind of place that you’d pass right up. It’s outdated looking on the outside, and doesn’t look like much more than a hole-​in-​the-​wall sandwich shop. And well, maybe that IS what it is, but it is a delicious sandwich shop nonetheless. I’ve been here dozens of times, but most recently this was an idea I suggested to my dad, since we haven’t been in the area in a long time. It’s just as good as I remembered.
We got the standard, classic order at Zel’s– beef sandwich combos. This comes with fries for a price of $ 7.99. Like all beef sandwiches, the meat has a tendency to dry out. Be sure you ask for your sandwich to be dipped (or double dipped) so it comes out pumped full of au jus and soaked in the delicious way that requires you to either eat it with a fork, or dive into a mess face first. The sandwich is typically topped with peppers and pickles, but I always get no peppers, double pickles. You can also get it topped with chili and cheese.
Speaking of chili cheese, we also got an order of chili cheese fries which cost $ 4.99. It sounds a bit steep, but it’s a pretty big portion. I’ve ordered it as my main meal before, in place of my usual sandwich, and it’s so filling that I don’t finish it in one go.
We also got two small banana shakes, which were $ 2.99 each. I don’t know what it is about Zel’s, but there’s something about the place that just requires me to get a milkshake. Maybe it’s nostalgia, or maybe it’s how good and addictive they are, but whatever the reason, even in negative 1 weather, I had to get my shake! They also have chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, pineapple, and butterscotch. These other flavors are okay, but banana just hits the spot, and is my favorite of the flavors.
Though they mostly do carry out, there is room inside to dine in. There’s three or so counters with stools so that you can either dine in, or sit and wait for your order to come up. In the summer months, there’s also an outside area with some picnic tables, but it’s pretty sketchy looking.
Oh, and Zel’s takes American Express, which was a happy accident.
If you’re ever in the area and you’re in the mood for a good, greasy, filling fast meal, be sure to check this place out, but don’t forget your dip and shake.

Love the food here. Their hotdogs are awesome and I am also a big fan of the shakes. Prices are a bit high though.

Food was dry and soggy at the same time? Roast beef had no flavor and the bun was soggy as heck. 9 $ for half of a soggy, dry sandwich. No thank you.

They have raised their prices recently, I went in for 2 chili dogs and fries and a bowl of chili and it was 12 dollars, Wtf? No more for me.

Stopped here for the first time today and had the large beef sandwich with a chili cheese fry, not too bad. The beef was pretty fresh but it did get cold kind of fast. They put pickles on the beef which is unusual, but tasted pretty good. The chili cheese fry was served very hot, which is the way I like them. The place was a little pricy. I had a coupon and still paid $ 13.00 for the beef, CC fry, and a drink. Would I go back? With a coupon, yes. Without a coupon, no. And I’m not saying I wouldn’t go back because the food was bad, just a little pricy for me.

Lovingly friendly staff, always cheerful. Great place for a burger; the mushroom burger is great! But the mainstay is the roast beef, a region tradition for ages. If you ask for it «Juicy» they will smother it in Au Jus. You will have to eat it with a fork instead of like a sandwich, but its so good. Locals carry out but you can eat in. Call ahead and it will be ready when you arrive.

I used to go here all the time and all the ladies knew me and would always hook me up with a discount or a free drink or food. Zels beef is amazing

I’m a big fan of local fast food restaurants, and over all i’d say Zel’s is good… BUT! the little things that they could do better would make a huge difference.
The main thing that I dont like about Zel’s (and the reason I’m writing this review) is that their fountain drinks have this strange cleaning chemical taste… i have never drank more than 2 – 3 sips form ANY drink i have bought in there without throwing it out… god i wish they offered cans of pop
Also the staff is rude and want you to go by their way of doing things even if you’ve never even been there before… also, i was scolded for coming in 10min before closing time
The food IS tasty but a little overpriced
i can get an Italian beef anywhere for $ 6.00
their beef sandwich is similar to any other beef sandwich and its $ 7.99… and they put whole peppers on it with the stems attached
all in all its a solid restaurant, but it feels like the owner never shows up and the workers are running the roost… running it badly

U want a TIP. Get the order straight then ask. Stupid sobs. Ask for a tip. Look stupid and ignorant and mess up order. Text while taking order. Then ask for a tip. I assume ur a lifer. Go picket for a raise For min wage. Oh and the food is not anything special. Dry mediocre beef, ad stupid dumbshit employees. Good luck.

I went in one day and placed my order. When it was time to pay, they asked if I wanted to leave a tip. I said yes, I was going to tip anyway. The problem is the cashier put me on the spot. Afterwards I noticed they had a tip jar full of tips. Good for them I thought. Until I noticed that they asked almost every customer for a tip! Who does that, asks for tips? I felt so uncomfortable and I will not go back again. Asking for tips is unprofessional… The food was ok.

My favorite Roast Beef Hogie, great shakes and chili cheeses fries that will eventually kill you.

My husband wanted to go here and I was so dreading it. I went in looking for a reason NOT to eat here and left with a whole different attitude.
Food was great! Service was fantastic!
I feel bad for turning my nose up at the location. I’m glad I went!

Good food but really long wait times.

FIRST OF ALL!!! I really wish that Zel’s would open up in Chicago, but on the other hand that would be bad because I’d gain a ton of weight.
I’ve been going to Zel’s since I was a little itty bitty girl and I’ll continue to drive all the way up from Chicago when I’m a little itty bitty old lady.
I Love love love their pineapple shakes and nobody can ever steal their pickles and pepperoncini toppings. It’s classic and delicious trademark of theirs. REMEMBER, and I repeat, REMEMBER, to ask for your roast beef double dipped. Open up one of the pepperoncini peppers and let the juice drip into the beef and it’s pure heaven. Combo comes with fries and a drink. It’s best paired up with root beer. So flippin good! Now I have to drive down!

First timer no more. I went here on a suggestion from a coworker after they said good things.
Well to start the place was actually kept up better than it looks from the outside.
However they got my order wrong. I went for the beef/​sausage special but received only an Italian beef. I was also charged more than what was advertised as well.
I thought the beef would be more memorable but it wasn’t, I’ll take Al’s over this any day. No comparison. Come on they had the word beef advertised 30 times on the exterior of the building.
The fries were OK but I only had a few. I couldn’t fathom going for Chili fries after the treadmill time I already owed after all of these carbs.

Only had it once for a reason.

Anyone who wants a really tasty, REAL roast-​beef sandwich with all the fix’ns needs to go to ZEL’s! I’ve had their roast beef loaded with everything as well as their other food and have not been disappointed. Their chili-​cheese fries are simply the best around! I love the simplicity of this place. It breaks my heart to see their other locations with no cars in the parking lot while places just down the street have packed parking lots… people need to go here and find out what real food is all about! Not having «chain recognition» stinks for sure because they beat the heck out of the chains serving roast beef, hot dogs, polish and italian. A few of their other locations are a bit more conducive to dining in, but this location is best for carry-​out.

Same great roast beef products as the Zels on Columbus in East Chicago. The outside is older looking, but inside is clean, and it doesn’t have quite the dining space as the East Chicago location. Lunch traffic was sporadically busy. I’ve heard the burgers are pretty good at Zels also, but will have to try on another visit.

This place used to be better, but it’s still alright. The roast beef sandwiches are still good but the prices are getting a bit high. There’s not much room for indoor eating, but during the nice weather, outdoor seating is available.

I found this place by accident. It is very run down and I would not suggest eating in. I had the Jr. beef with fries and a med Pepsi. If I knew they cut ²⁄₃ off of a Jumbo I would have gotten that because it was a dollar more. But for 7 dollars this was a big rip! I think they paid the rent and utilities with my meal in this neighborhood. The beef was pretty good as were the fries. The Pepsi needed a new syrup bag as it was very weak. The price will keep me from visiting Zels at any location.

Been here a couple of times and the food is ok. If you order during lunchtime, calling your order by phone and pick up will speed up the process. Friendly atmosphere, zelsburger is pretty good as are the chili cheese fries. There it is, que sera, sera.