Chicago-style hot dogs from Hot Doug's
The Windy City is famous for a number of gastronomical delights ranging from deep dish pizza to Charlie Trotter's. But when push comes to shove, and it often does, our favorite Chicagoan contribution to world cuisine just may be the one that you can eat standing up: the Chicago-style hot dog. (For the uninitiated, it's an all-beef dog in a poppy-seed bun topped with mustard, onion, sweet pickle relish, dill pickle, tomato, peppers and possibly cucumber slices.) Whether you're a hot dog aficionado or just want to see what all the fuss is about, check out our Top Hot Dog/Burgers list fresh from the 2009 Chicago Restaurants guide. Just remember, ketchup is verboten!
3324 N. California Ave.; 773-279-9550
This Northwest Side “temple” – the highest-scoring hot dog stand in the history of the Chicago Survey – is lorded over by “rebel-with-a-clue” Doug Sohn, whose “affordable gourmet” “encased meats” include “elk, pheasant, gator” and “cranberry-infused buffalo”, plus there are “duck fat fries” on Fridays and Saturdays; lazy pups lament “lines around the block” (though they “move at an amazing clip”) to get into the “intentionally schlocky” “Elvis-and-sausage–themed” space, which closes at 4 PM daily; N.B. no credit cards.
5700 S. Cicero Ave.; 773-948-6300
6363 N. Milwaukee Ave.; 773-763-0660
This “icon” of “Americana” on the Northwest Side is a “true drive-in” “of the 1950s era”, delivering “dawgs to die for” in “amusing little boxes” plus “deeelicious” shakes and fries – all the ingredients of “perfect summer evenings” (and travelers can get a taste at the Midway Airport outpost); besides, you “gotta love the two flirting hot dogs on the roof”, though smart alecks “don’t understand why there isn’t a little” cocktail weenie up there too, since the couple’s “been standing there for years – perhaps they should lie down!”
225 S. Canal St.; 312-258-8585
159 N. Wabash Ave.; 312-917-1677
1429 W. Montrose Ave.; 773-472-3600
2349 W. Howard St.; 773-338-0900
Terminal 5; 773-462-0125
Terminal 3; 773-462-9942
1845 Tower Dr., Glenview; 847-724-0123
“Drunk or sober”, fans say “arf!” to this litter of “no-atmosphere”, “counter-service” hot dog stands supplying “one helluva” “quintessential Chicago dog” plus “awesome cheese fries”; naysayers neuter this pack, though, vaunting “better versions” of these vittles elsewhere.
2622 N. Clark St.; 773-477-7444
“Gimme a charred red hot dammit!” demand respondents who relish the “funny, filthy-mouthed” “late-night” shtick (from customers and staff) as much as the “outstanding Chicago dogs” and “amazing cheeseburgers” at this “one-of-a-kind” Lincoln Park “sitcom-in-waiting”; still, be warned that “the love goes in the bun, not the decor”, there’s “almost nowhere to sit” and some say “never go here sober.”
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