The Chicago Traveler

Can you name the seven key ingredients for a Chicago-style hot dog? Here are ten great places to conduct your research (courtesy of Citysearch and Yelp).

10. The Wiener’s Circle. Love it or hate it, this greasy spoon has got a “charm” all its own.
9. Gold Coast Dogs. All ten locations follow the Chicago-style recipe to the ‘T’.
8. Superdawg Drive-In. The winking hot dogs on the roof will be a sight you won’t soon forget.
7. Huey’s Hot Dogs. While serving up great dogs and burgers, this eatery is also well-known for its vegetarian-friendly dishes.

6. Portillo’s Hot Dogs. Both the nostalgia and …read more

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The Italian Beef is a simple sandwich that is unique to Chicago, and there are several places in the city to find this great dish. Of course, just as is the case with pizza and hot dogs, Chicagoans can debate for hours on who has the best. I’ve tried to be as fair as possible with this ranking order, but I’m sure there will still be contention. Be sure to leave a comment or shoot me an e-mail, and let me know what you think!

8. Roma’s Italian Beef & Sausage. For decades, generations of loyal customers have been enjoying this …read more

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The namesake reigns supreme at the small but popular Tony’s Italian Beef. Since 1975, this quick stop has been serving huge portions of food for cheap. Long lines can be found virtually any time of day, as customers come for the breakfast subs in the morning to the burgers and hot dogs in the afternoons and evenings. Indecisive types may want to go straight for the Italian beef; otherwise, they may find themselves overwhelmed by the massive menu of available dishes, including breaded steak sandwiches and “Chickalinis” (breaded chicken breast deep-fried and smothered with tomato sauce and cheese). Whatever you …read more

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Sometimes a good hot dog comes from a good-looking, colorful restaurant like Superdawg or Portillo’s. And sometimes it comes from a place like Fat Johnnie’s Famous Red Hots.
This dilapidated shack/trailer in Marquette Park may not look like much, but it has been serving up some of the best hot dogs and tamales to hungry customers for over 30 years. Open all year, it’s no surprise to see white-collar, blue-collar, and no-collar men waiting in line despite bone-chilling snow or blazing heat. Take a seat at one of the picnic tables (set up during warmer months), and enjoy your hot dog …read more

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