We were reading a chicagoist story in which the writer notes with amusement how the new Texas edition of Al’s #1 Italian Beef has been such a local hit that they’ve repeatedly run out of food. They point out, sort of in passing, that only the original Al’s, in operation since 1938 on Taylor Street, actually roasts the beef in-house. All the others (including the only one we’ve ever been to, in River North) get their beef from a commissary. And that, presumably, makes a difference. If chicagoist says it’s so we’ll accept it although we don’t really know for sure if that’s true. We thought the Italian beef we’ve enjoyed at Al’s on Ontario was extraordinary. Our question: is the original even better?