Pat Bruno's latest Chicago hot dog reviews

From Pat Bruno, food reviewer at the Chicago Sun Times:



5 to try: Hot dogs
July 7, 2006





JIMMY'S RED HOTS
4000 W. Grand; (773) 384-9513

VIBE: 50 years and counting and not much to look at other than the counter guys going about their work with a passion. The solid line of fryers that receive the fresh-cut potatoes for the fries, the sign above the counter that shouts "Red Hots." Pure Chicago hot dog stand from end to end.

FLAVOR: It's all about those "red hots" and Polish here. Vienna beef dog with all the Chicago trimmings (onions, mustard, relish, sport peppers) with an order of slim yet properly greasy fries.


KIDS: Yes.


COST: $


GENE & JUDE'S
2720 River, River Grove; (708) 452-7634

VIBE: Jude DeSantis and Gene Mormino got this place going way back when, and it seems that if ever there was a long-standing queue for a hot dog, this is the last place standing. An amazing display of hot dog fanatics show up here every day all year long.


FLAVOR: Excellent snap to the Vienna beef dogs. Single or double, lay on the condiments, and the good and greasy fries are piled on top of the hot dog, so the idea of feasting on a hot dog takes on new meaning.


KIDS: Yes.


COST: $


SUPERDAWG DRIVE-IN
6363 N. Milwaukee; (773) 763-0660

VIBE They don't make them like this anymore. I truly hope this hot dog stand/drive-in, a riot of retro and ravishing good hot dogs, never goes away. Superdawg has been written up in hotsy-totsy food magazines, so you know when you're good it shows.


FLAVOR: The "superdawg," a snap-to-each-bite beauty, dons its layers of condiments and wears them all quite well. Mustard, onion, pickle, relish, tomato, poppyseed bun. Hot dog and fries get squeezed into the signature red box, so have a picnic (there are picnic tables near where you park your car).

KIDS: Of course.


COST: $


THE WIENER'S CIRCLE
2622 N. Clark; (773) 477-7444

VIBE This free-standing shack of a hot dog stand defies the use of the word "atmosphere," yet oozes with it, right down to those marvelous women who take your order and throw it right back at you (in more ways than one). This place has a cult following as deep as die-hard Deadheads.


FLAVOR: Vienna beef strikes again. Fine hot dog with that Chicago-snap and pop. Steamed poppyseed bun. Mustard, relish, pickle, tomato, peppers. Not in love with the onions here, though. Fries are the chunky kind, which are not my favorite, but do in a pinch (you gotta have fries with a dog).


KIDS: Mostly adults and those with the late-night hungries come here, but kids are welcome.

COST: $


MR. BEEF ON ORLEANS
666 N. Orleans; (312) 337-8500

VIBE What's Chicago's premier beef stand doing selling hot dogs? According to Christopher and Todd, "Customers kept asking for hot dogs, for a little change of pace, so we decided to do a classic Chicago hot dog." Other than adding hot dogs, nothing much has changed here; you can still get one of the best beef sandwiches in town.


FLAVOR: The hot dogs are from Vienna, eight dogs to the pound. They are boiled, the poppyseed bun is steamed, and the condiments are all that you'd expect from a classic Chicago hot dog: mustard, relish, onion, tomato, pickle, sport peppers and celery salt. Good fries. Mr. Beef does some fine chili, too, so have the chili dog; you will love it.

KIDS: Yes.


COST: $

I would have thought Hot Doug's would make the list

I've never heard of Jimmy's Red Hots. It's quite an out of the way location, however.

Flukey's on Western Ave., by the way, is no more. The name has changed, so I can't be certain the product will be worth eating.

Thanks for posting! Over the last several years, I'm glad to see the dog getting more coverage as it well deserves..

Ditto on the thanks. It's fun to know what's happening throughout the realm of Hotdogdom. More info from the Southwest, the South and New England would be appreciated: journalists' top ten lists, essays on styles of dogs, opinions, etc.
The Bear

Flukey's is gone? Waaaaah! I didn't get to go before it closed. So sad. It was a childhood favorite.

I'm surprised they didn't be a little more specific about Wiener's Circle being decidedly not child friendly after 10pm or so. Was I the only one with negligent parents who would keep us out that late? They never took us to the Wiener's Circle that late or anything (until we were over 18, anyway) but that's not something someone would want to find out the hard way.

I shouldn't say this, but I think I like Superdawg better than Wiener's Circle. My aunt's cousin owns the place, so you didn't read this. I haven't been to Hot Doug's yet, though- mmm, duck fat fries.

Hallelujah!! I was looking through one of those junk mail magazines of coupons before I threw it away and while the original Fluky's on Western may be no more, but they have a location in Buffalo Grove and Lincolnwood Town Center! Is it safe to assume the food is the same? Do they still lave the hot dog shaped gum?