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- Thread starter Tomateaux Quinoa Gumbeaux
- Start date
@ORD_Buckeye any other recs for things to do or places to eat in the UChicago area? Will likely check out the Oriental Museum next time I’m in town.
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ORD_Buckeye
Wrong glass, Sir.
Not sure if you're a hat guy or not, but the best hatmaker in the world isn't in London but in Chicago: Optimo Hatmakers. Their show room is on Dearborn Street in The Loop.
A couple of doors down from them is a small men's shoe shop that sells Alden (overpriced/average quality) and Edward Green from England (maybe the best shoes and boots in the world). I know, coming from the Southeast, any type of shoe is considered fancy, but the Edward Greens are worth a look.
Appreciate it!
And yes not just the southeast but Slidell, where Hokas are considered to be “fancy” shoes
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Damn shame. I must have been from a while ago, back when Bourdain was still on the Discovery Channel.
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The 8 Best Hot Dogs in Chicago
Hot dogs are practically everywhere in this city. These are a local expert's favorites, thanks to no-nonsense charm and a climbable mountain of toppings.
The Vienna Beef Factory Store
3847 S Morgan St, Chicago
The Vienna Beef Factory was started by two Austrian-Hungarian immigrants, Emil Reichel and Samuel Ladany, who began selling their franks at the World’s Fair in Chicago in 1893. Now, Vienna Beef manufactures most of the actual hot dogs you’ll find at stands throughout Chicago. This means the hot dogs from its own little stand, across the street from its factory, have to be exactly right. And they are. If you want a hot dog done strictly by the rules, this should be your yardstick. Vienna Beef’s hot dogs come with all the toppings—mustard, onions, tomatoes, relish, pickle spear, sport peppers, and celery salt—on top of a natural-casing dog that has a snap to it.
There are other dishes on the menu like Italian beef sandwiches (a story for another day), Polish sausages, and Reuben sandwiches, but you’re really just here for the dog. Maybe two. And make absolutely sure to pick up a package of the natural-casing frankfurters from the refrigerated case, because they’re weirdly difficult to get your hands on at a grocery store.
Order: A regular hot dog with everything on it.
Local legend Murdock eating a classic Chicago dog at Vienna Beef Factory Store.
Vienna polish beef sausages, available to purchase at the store.
Superdawg
Multiple locations
It took me a while to come around to Superdawg’s contribution to Chicago’s hot dog scene, but I’m glad I did. I’m clearly a latecomer, since this wonderful hot dog joint has been around since 1948. It was originally opened on the Northwest side of Chicago by a then newlywed couple, the late Maurie and Flaurie Berman. Superdawg’s skinless dog is manufactured specifically for them, and it’s a big beefy one that’s much bolder in terms of seasoning than your typical Chicago dog. They come topped with mustard, piccalilli (which is their term for neon green relish), onions, sport peppers, and a pickle spear. But my favorite part about a Superdawg is that it comes with a delicious pickled green tomato wedge on the side, which no other hot dog stand that I’ve visited does.
Plus, ordering through the loudspeaker by your car is really fun. Don’t forget to take a photo of Maurie and Flaurie, affectionately represented by the two massive hot dog mascots on top of both location’s buildings. (Maurie is the one in the strongman outfit, flexing, and Flaurie is in the blue skirt, standing bashfully—or as bashfully as a hot dog can stand.)
Order: Don’t ask for a hot dog here; ask for a Superdawg. It comes in a small box that’s absolutely crammed with crinkle-cut fries. If you have any room left, try to sneak in an order of fried shrimp, which are massive and fried to perfection.
The Superdawg, with a side of tomato and crinkle-cut fries.
The hot dog sculptures atop Superdawg were modeled after the stand's original owners.
Redhot Ranch and 35th Street Red Hots
Multiple locations
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There’s two restaurants called Redhot Ranch on the North Side of Chicago, and one stand on the South Side called 35th Street Red Hots, right by what old-timers call Comiskey Park (where the White Sox play). Despite the name differences and various locations, they all serve the same hot dogs and are under the same ownership. These three spots were started by experienced restaurateurs Jeff Greenfield and the late Barry Nemerow. All three locations have a small but exemplary menu of hot dogs, burgers, and fried shrimp.
Here, an “everything” dog means a depression-style hot dog, which comes topped with yellow mustard, onions, relish, and sport peppers. Each dog comes tightly rolled up with the fries, making this a fully rounded meal.
Order: A double dog with everything. These natural-casing hot dogs are fairly slim, which is why I like getting a “double,” which literally just means two hot dogs are shoved into one bun. I’m going to warn you, though, this architecture means there’s a lot of pressure on the bun, which inevitably falls apart as you’re eating it. Don’t be embarrassed; it happens to everyone. Revel in the mess.
The double dog: two small hot dogs topped with mustard, onions and sport peppers.
Jimmy’s Red Hots
4000 W Grand Ave, Chicago
Jimmy’s is a workhorse of a hot dog stand. It’s open until 1 a.m. daily, rain or shine. Because of that, it’s a get-in-get-out sort of place, and has been since 1954. There’s no seats, just a standing counter to eat at, and there’s always a steady stream of customers popping in and out.
If you want to experience a version of true, no-bullshit Chicago, visit Jimmy’s and order a hot dog with “everything.” In this case, “everything” means a depression dog: yellow mustard, onions, relish, and large sport peppers (which, in this case, I suspect are actually serranos). Oh, and Jimmy’s is vehemently “no ketchup,” which means you can’t even ask for packets of it with your fries. Instead, ask for the homemade hot sauce, which is compelling for its smoky-sweet flavor, laced with habaneros.
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Order: A hot dog with everything, and ask for a side of hot sauce for your fries. Then get out of line as quickly as possible.
The line at Jimmy's Red Hots.
Byron’s Hot Dogs
Multiple locations
Byron’s Hot Dogs is one of the more unique stands in Chicago, started in 1975 by Byron Kouris, the son of Greek immigrants. Kouris died in 2012, and there’s only two stands left, but they’re beloved. The family-owned joint is known for serving one of the most over-the-top hot dogs I’ve ever seen. If you ask for a hot dog with everything on it, you’re going to get one loaded with—prepare yourself for this: yellow mustard, onions, relish, tomato slices, cucumber, lettuce (you read that correctly), a pickle spear, bell pepper, sport peppers, and celery salt. It is as difficult to eat as you might imagine.
Order: A regular hot dog gets drowned in this veritable produce aisle of a hot dog, so order a jumbo dog, which balances out the salad on top with the right amount of beef.
The Wieners Circle
2622 N Clark St, Chicago
The Wieners Circle is a legendary, rowdy place for late night food, where the staff openly heckles you (don’t be surprised if you hear a bunch of F-bombs hurled your way). It was formerly co-owned by Barry Nemerow, of Redhot Ranch and 35th St. Red Hots. The Wieners Circle serves some of the best hot dogs in the city. During the day, however, you get a more subdued atmosphere, where you’ll be treated to much more gentle conversation, if that’s what you’re into. The food here is stellar, from the dogs to the hand-cut fries (get a cup of tangy cheddar spread on the side, for dipping). Oh, and take a gander at the sign outside, which usually displays pointed political messages that don’t pull any punches.
Order: A char dog with everything, which features all the familiar ingredients including tomatoes and a pickle spear.
The char dog with everything.
Jeff’s Red Hots
3901 N Cicero Ave, Chicago
Jeff’s Red Hots was established in 1977, and sits on the corner of Byron and Cicero, just south of a hectic six-corner intersection that never seems to calm down. Jeff’s is about as classic as a hot dog stand gets in Chicago, serving up gyros, Italian beef sandwiches, pizza puffs, and other staples, along with, of course, hot dogs.
What’s unique about this particular dog, however, is that there’s an additional ingredient included on the “everything” dog: sauerkraut. Aside from Byron’s, there’s not a lot of hot dog stands that add to the long list of Chicago hot dog toppings, which is what makes Jeff’s worth the visit. The sauerkraut adds a fermented tang that none of the other classic ingredients in a Chicago dog provide.
Order: A hot dog with everything. You’ll be asked if you also want sauerkraut, which you can ask to omit, if you’re a purist.
Dave’s Red Hots
3422 W Roosevelt Rd, Chicago
Dave’s Red Hots in the Lawndale neighborhood has the distinction of being the oldest hot dog stand in the city. Once you walk in the front door, you can just feel the history seeping through the dark wood-paneled walls, small booths, and standing countertop. It’s been open since the 1930s (the actual date is murky), and there are only five options on the menu: hot dogs, Polish sausages, Italian beef, salami sandwiches, and pastrami sandwiches. If you’re feeling wild, you can get your Polish sausage deep-fried for an extra charge.
Interestingly enough, if you ask for a hot dog with “everything,” the default toppings are yellow mustard, thinly sliced pickles (which fit perfectly on the hot dog), and sport peppers. That’s it. You can, however, ask for relish and onions as well, which I recommend. Each dog comes with a hefty quantity of hand-cut fries, and if you’re so inclined, you can ask for ketchup packets or a side of cheese sauce.
Order: A hot dog with everything, plus relish and onions.
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