The Jim Shoe Sandwich
Hailing from the southside of town, the Jim Shoe sandwich is one of Chicago’s lesser known oddball delicacies. French bread, many meats, crunchy veggies, tzatziki AND mustard… strange, sure, but it’s actually bomb… trust. Today I’ll show you how you can make this local icon at the crib so even if you live out of town, you can sample some windy city good-good in the comfort of your own home. 🤘🏼 Adam
Super Submarine (1050 N. Ashland Ave, Chicago IL 60622), this is the place that I stopped off at on a whim. Big love to the dude who let me in the back to film, I can’t remember his name for the life of me but he was a super nice fella. Respect.
P.S. Notice how when you order a canned drink that it says “pop” and not soda… these are the facts.
The Jim Shoe Sandwich
Ingredients
Instructions
- Heat a skillet over medium heat and saute the onions, roast beef, corned beef, gyro meat and giardiniera until warmed through. Transfer the hot mix to a cutting board and chop.
- Slice the French roll lengthwise without cutting all the way through. Lightly toast the inside on a hot skillet.
- Spread tzatziki then mayonnaise and mustard evenly on the inside of the toasted roll. Layer the meat mixture evenly inside the roll. Place mozzarella cheese over the hot meat, allowing them to melt slightly.
- Top with shredded lettuce and tomato slices. Drizzle with tzatziki sauce or sour cream.
- (Optional) Wrap the sandwich in aluminum foil and heat in a 350°F (175°C) oven for 5 minutes to meld the flavors.
- • 6. Unwrap, slice into halves or thirds, and serve with fries smothered in mild sauce and a crispy cold pop.
- Mix everything in a bowl, use immediately or chill for 30 minutes before using for the best flavor.
- Preheat the oven to 300F.
- Sprinkle the eye of round with black pepper and salt well on all sides. Put the beef on a sheet tray fitted with a wire rack.
- Roast for 1-1.5 hours, or until the internal temperature of the middle section of the roast reads 125F. Remove and chill for 2 hours in the fridge before slicing for best results.
Adam's Notes
Build Order:
- Toasted Sub Roll
- Tzat
- Mustard
- Cheese
- Meats/Giard/Onions
- Mayo
- Iceberg Lettuce, sliced thin
- Tomato, sliced thin
The Gyro Recipe

Greek Restaurant-Style Gyros Sandwiches!
Ingredients
Instructions
- Add onion and garlic to a food processor. Pulse the vegetables 5 times making sure most chunks are gone.
- Add the ground meat to the processor along with dried parsley, thyme, oregano, black pepper, paprika, cinnamon, black pepper and kosher salt. Blitz for 15 seconds.
- Add the meat glue and Tripolyphosphate and blitz for another 15 seconds until the meat “rides” the blade of the food processor.
- Transfer the meat mixture to a plastic wrap-lined conical container (like a quart deli container) and weigh it down. Let the gyro set in the fridge overnight.
- The next day, spike the meat onto an al pastor-style meat stand and roast in the oven for 30-45 minutes at 300F until the internal temperature reads 165F. Remove the gyro from the oven and allow to rest for 15 minutes before slicing. Feel free to broil or torch the gyro for extra color.
- Serve with Greek pita, tzatziki sauce, thinly sliced onions, herbs, cucumber and tomato.
- Add onion and garlic to a food processor. Pulse the vegetables 5 times making sure most chunks are gone.
- Add the ground meat and chicken fat to the processor along with dried parsley, thyme, oregano, black pepper, paprika, cinnamon, black pepper and kosher salt. Blitz for 15 seconds.
- Add the meat glue and Tripolyphosphate and blitz for another 15 seconds until the meat “rides” the blade of the food processor.
- Transfer the meat mixture to a plastic wrap-lined conical container (like a quart deli container) and weigh it down. Let the gyro set in the fridge overnight.
- The next day, spike the meat onto an al pastor-style meat stand and roast in the oven for 30-45 minutes at 300F until the internal temperature reads 165F. Remove the gyro from the oven and allow to rest for 15 minutes before slicing. Feel free to broil or torch the gyro for extra color.
- Serve with Greek pita, tzatziki sauce, thinly sliced onions, herbs, cucumber and tomato.
Adam's Notes
- You can sub the protein for chicken, pork, lamb, beef or a combo thereof.
Disclaimer: I earn commission income with qualifying purchases made through Amazon’s Affiliate program and other affiliate links in this description.