Buona Beef Information

Buona was founded in 1981 by Joe and Peggy Buonavolanto in 1981. Four decades, three generations, and more than 30 restaurants later, Buona has become a Chicago area tradition and is widely recognized for serving one of the city's best Italian beef sandwiches. Joe and Peggy's dream was to work side-by-side with their children to create a business that would sustain their family for generations. Today, Joe beams with pride as he sees his five sons (Carlo, John, Joe Jr., Jimmy, and Don) and many of their children working together to keep the dream alive. The family remains committed to preserving Chicago's authentic food traditions by remaining true to family recipes and time-honored methods for making their signature Italian beef sandwich. The menu is a mix of tradition and innovation, as the family continuously draws culinary inspiration from the city they call home. The restaurants are part of The Buona Companies, which is wholly owned by the Buonavolanto family. The Buona Companies brand portfolio includes Buona Restaurants, The Original Rainbow Cone (est. 1926), Beyond Catering, and Authentic Brands of Chicago, the company’s USDA production facility.