FAVORITE CHICAGO HOT DOGS

I was wondering where locals like to go to get their Chicago Hotdog fix now? I used to go to Hippo's in Schaumberg for Chicago hot dogs. They had a huge Hippo on the roof, great dogs, and beer and rootbeer by the pitcher. It was always alot of fun....good eats and kind of quirky at the same time.... Are they still around? ....Lyn

There are numerous local joints all over the area. For a treat, I prefer Superdawg on Devon and Nagle.

http://www.roadfood.com/Insider/Logbook/Details.aspx?RefID=87&RestExpID=851

I, too, love Superdawg, as well as Poochie's up on Dempster, and the Wiener's Circle. I just posted a review of Gene & Jude's, which is first-rate, too. Chicago is, without a doubt, the great hot dog city.

Here's the non-Insider link to Superdawg
http://www.roadfood.com/Reviews/Writeup.aspx?ReviewID=87&RefID=87

Even better, here's a link to a list of links to all the Illinois Hot Dog stands reviewed on the site
http://www.roadfood.com/Search/SearchResults.aspx?ps=1&s=IL&rt=34&c=&kw=&ob=ri.restaurantname

In Chicago, hot dogs are the single most popular restaurant entree with thousands ordered every day at more than 1,800 hot dog stands. For popularity, the original Chicago hot dog beats all fast food chains combined. 80% of the hot dog stands in Chicago are supplied by Vienna Beef. The Polish is a big brother to the Chicago hot dog. It is larger and spicier than a hot dog. Most places that do hot dogs serve a decent Polish. My favorite hot dog stands are dictated according to the section of the city or suburbs I happen to be in at the time. In Skokie-Poochie's. In Highland Park-Stash's. In River Grove-Gene & Judes. In the city-the Wiener's Circle. I prefer a char grilled Vienna Beef Maxwell Street Polish.

My favorite is a Char Dog from Gold Coast Dogs.

It's never too hard to get a good hot dog here in Chicago, but if I had to choose my favorite places, I'd choose Superdawg with Fluky's running a close second.

I'm a Flukey's man. But for a char dog, either Gold Coast Dogs or Weiner's Circle will do.

There's something about the atmosphere at Flukey's that's just perfect. It hasn't changed in the 25 years I've been going. The same slightly unfriendly old ladies behind the counter. The same cheesy 50's architecture. The fries are top-notch, and so are the dogs.

I'm going to be staying in Downtown Chicago in August, near the Cadillac Theater (Randoph and LaSalle, the map seems to say). I will be carless, which will pose some problems in my dog-quest. What's the best dog within walking distance or convenient by CTA? (Either bus or El is quite acceptable). Thanks.

There is a Gold Coast Dogs (very good imho) at the train station due west of the Sears Tower.

My thanks to everyone who posted about their favorite hotdogs......there are so many good places. It is something that I took for granted when I lived there.....now something I miss VERY much. I'm hoping to get back there this summer and have taken notes of all your great suggestions.

I'd also appreciate info on any other types of sandwich shop specialties that are your favorites.....all info is much appreciated!

Not that anyone was checking up, but my trip to Chicago is past. I hit three doggeries: Portillo's, Gold Coast and Weiner's Circle. Weiner's Circle was the class of the group, but the Polish at Gold Coast held its own, and Portillo's was better than I had expected. All in all, I feel as though I now have some frame of reference the next time Chicago dogs come up.